Farewell President and Sister Tanner!

The big news this week is that our mission president, President Tanner, finishes his 3 years this June 30 and will be leaving us!! He left us with these words:

Elders and Sisters, these are your days! This is your time! You were chosen to live now because you were strong spirits and our Father knows you can stay strong in mortality even in the face of adversity, IF YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. Please "open the door" (Revelation 3:20) so the Savior can enter your life more abundantly.

We love you all and pray for your eternal joy and peace.

Our new president, President Maughan, will arrive this week and we'll get the chance to meet him at a Zone Conference this July 7. We're all so excited to welcome a new president and help him in his new calling! We hear he has already been studying his Cebuano too!

This week we went to work down in Liloan because one of the sisters has been sick and they needed us to go on splits with them in their area to keep up with all their work. That meant taking time away from our own work, but somehow everything we needed to do got done because as we sacrifice to serve others, God is always there to magnify our own goals and abilities! As of yesterday, we have a new IBD, Catherine Hermosilla, set for July. We used to teach her lola, grandmother, who is a less-active. As we taught and came to love Nanay Minda, she started expressing a desire to come back to church. She came with her granddaughter, who we are now teaching. We also found the home of her daughter, Lesel, who is also not a member. It's really so effective to work through families and referrals in missionary work- the whole purpose and focus of the gospel of Jesus Christ is, afterall, family.

Also this week we had an old British man tell us that we weren't helping anyone by teaching and sharing the gospel- that we should help people physically, not mentally- and that as for himself, he believed in "Mother Nature", not God. I thought, how sad it is that although he can love and appreciate mother nature, he  knows and loves and thanks not the Father in Heaven who created her (Mosiah 4:9, Alma 30:44, Moses, Genesis, etc.) Also, I have seen so many hearts, and therefore lives, change from simply hearing the gospel, reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and living the principles taught therein. Including my own.

I know that this work is the Lord's work. Sometimes it can be frustrating or disappointing to see people reject the truth or fail to live up to our hopes and expectations for them, but God has given each of His children our agency for a wise purpose- he "hath given us a knowledge, and he hath made us free" (Hel 14:30-31). I also know that when his children realize their mistakes and come unto Him in repentance, he is ALWAYS there to receive us (Alma 5:33-34); a pretty big role to emulate as a missionary!

Also this week, Sister Allen and I realized we have a frog swamp living behind our house (the croaking of frogs sounds like straight out of a horror film!), we made stove top 'smores, and we now get called "Amerikana'g Bisaya!" instead of just Americana :) 

I 💙 the Philippines!

Have a great week!

Love, Sister Bertoldo 

Pictures: starfish!, I love the Tanner's!, exchanges with Liloan sisters, and being reunited with Sister Dayhop!

Cebu Temple

Today marks 13 months in the mission.....This week may have been one of my busiest so far in the mish! 

Monday: We met with our sisters in Liloan to go over our STL implementations. Then we had our STL meeting with President and Sister Tanner, and I got to be reunited with some past kabalay and companions!

Tuesday: This day started out with attending a session at the Cebu temple! It was my first time getting to go, so you could say I was kind of excited! The temple really is like a university of sorts- there is always so much more to learn. After the temple, we had our Missionary Coordination meeting with the other zone leaders and sister training leaders, and the best part was at the end. There were 8 missionaries who are going home this transfer, so they all got up to bear their final testimonies- it was one straight hour of listening to such pure and powerful testimony, and I love it! Then getting home we took a 2 hour bus ride (standing up, no more seats!) And that night, the sisters from Camotes came over to start our first set of exchanges.

Wednesday: exchanges! with my former trainee, Sister Dayhop! Oh how I missed that fiesty Filipina! :)

Thursday: Sister Allen and I travelled down to Consolacion to meet with our sisters there and go over our implementations. We also participated in their Zone Training Meeting and gave a workshop about what Sister Tanner taught us in MLC- Sister Allen and I have grown a lot in our companionship unity, and it's been so fun to teach together! Then that night after our work sisters from Liloan came to our house for our second set of exchanges!

Friday: Exchanges! It involved all of our lessons miraculously working out and really getting to hear the heart of these sisters' concerns. I love being an STL because I love learning from the other sisters, and helping them to see their STRENGTHS and how to magnify them!

Saturday: We woke up early and headed down to Liloan again to help with the stake "mini MTC" activity for the youth. Each missionary took 2-3 youth and taught then the basics of missionary work. Then we went out in the city and helped them talk to people and pass out the Book of Mormon and get referral information! They were so cute and nervous, but also excited to share with the people we met! I was blessed to have Sister Tanner come along with me and my group too! Later the youth had a Filipino cultural dance show, but we didn't get to watch, we had lessons and work to do, of course :) 

Sunday: We started the day off with weekly planning, and then I gave the talk in curch since the called person didn't show up. I love giving talks because I get to look out over all the members in the ward and just speak their beautiful language and feel how much God loves them!

The only new news this week is that Ruby is back! Her boss took on another helper. The problem this week is that Roger Jr, right before his baptism, had to take a job in Cebu and now we aren't sure when we'll be able to schedule his baptism. We just continue to pray for him- he wants to go to school and be baptized and go to church, but his parents need the money, they need him to work.

I love this work. Our lives are hard and there are many distractions, fears, concerns, and things getting in the way, but I know that "when we put god first, all other things fall into their proper place, or drop out of our lives" -Ezra Taft Benson

-Sister Bertoldo

Danao, Round 2

So the big news is: wala'y transfer! Sister Allen and I are both staying here in Danao :) I feel like I'm only getting started here so I was so relieved that I'll be staying! Also, we are now the STL's over 3 zones: Consolascion, Liloan, and Camotes, so we'll be delightfully busy this transfer! :)

We have our baptism all set for June 11 for Roger Jr. Maningo and we are really seeing his faith growing! We saw a lot of miracles this week in the Maningo family. The parents are recent converts and the father, Roger, was contemplating taking a job far away in Leyte- he would only be home 1 day in every month for a whole year! Sister Allen and I prayed and fasted for a better job opportunity to come his way or that he would decide not to take it. Then one day we went to teach their family after church and their home teachers were already there. They were teaching them about how important it is to put family and our dedication to God above all else, even work. They shared personal experiences and testimony. This week, we learned that he decided not to take the job. Roger Jr. was offered a job opportunity starting June 15th that allows him to come home every Saturday night to Sunday night. We were so overjoyed to see them exercising their faith in God and being blessed because of it!

The sad new is that one of our investigators, Ruby, is moving to Manila this month! I admit I actually teared up in our lesson with her this morning because I've come to love her so much and she wants to be baptized so much. Also, she will be leaving her husband and their baby for a whole year. She promised to look for a church and to bring her Book of Mormon, but I still cried because even though I trust that God has a plan for her, I won't get to be a part of her journey anymore!

Also this week, I found a new way to tract: I make friends with the children who follow us around. Then they invite us to come teach their family, and help us navigate through all the payags to their balay. I love Filipino bata so much.

I could go on and on about stories from my weeks that have touched my heart or made me laugh, or been so difficult and stressful haha! Suffice it to say that even though all I do is teach, I learn so many more lessons than I'll ever teach and I'm so grateful for that! This time here is worth the sacrifices because the lesson I've learned and the people I've loved are so priceless!

"The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls" -President Spencer W. Kimball

Love, sister bertoldo

Daghan Drama sa Danao

It's been a busy few weeks! I got to skype my family, attend my first MLC, and Sister Allen and I went on 3 exchanges with sisters in our zones and we even got some apartment checks done! Some of the big dramas this week:

1. the sisters living in our apartment with us had to be relocated because they had a stalker in their area...but it worked out because the branch out on Camotes island has been growing so fast and it's about to split into two branches, so President decided to try out having two companionship there to help the split!

2. Our dear President and his wife, the Tanners, go home this June 30th! So we are all wondering what changes will come with the new president! President Tanner gave us the challenge to all read the entire Book of Mormon before he goes home! I started it last week and I'm in Mosiah, so I'm making good time!

3. We focused so much on our less-active members this week and 10 of them came to church on Sunday! Sister Allen was playing the prelude music while I just went around the chapel shaking everyones' hands and there's nothing like a chapel full of people you've been visiting all transfer to warm a missionary's heart! haha.

4. As for our investigators, Ruby and Ken continue to attend church and reject other religions' efforts to "recruit" them... they tell everyone that even though they aren't baptized yet, they know that they have found the true church! We are still working with them on their kasal (marriage) papers....

5. The bishop's wife has been inviting her little brother for years to come to church and he came yesterday! We have an appointment with him later to start giving him the missionary lessons!

6. Early this morning Sister Allen and I went jogging at the boardwalk here in Danao with 2 women in our ward- one who is an RM and one who leaves on her mission in June! There is nothing like laughing with Filipinas, exercising, and staring at the ocean to make me feel rejuvenated!

7. We finally got a blender for our house, so we've been drinking green smoothies every morning!

8. It's mango season in the Philippines, and that means HEAVEN!

9. Roger Jr. Maningo has finally accepted the baptismal date of June 18! His whole family wants to support him and answer all his questions! It was such a spiritual lesson because we were teaching about temple work and family history and they were so interested in doing missionary work for their ancestors and then we asked them shouldn't we start with our immediate family? We just know Roger Jr. is ready for this step and that it will bless his life and family!

I am so grateful that "the Lord has made the sea my path" and to be here in Cebu helping the people here to come unto Christ....I know that "great are the promises of the Lord unto those upon the isles of the sea" and I'm so grateful to be a part of the fulfillment of those promises that they will ALL get the chance to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 10:20-21).

Near Death in Danao

Right now I'm in an internet shop and there is a little Filipino boy touching my arm asking me for pesos...I have no pesos on me and I keep telling him, but he won't stop so I'm just going to keep emailing you all, haha!

This week was great- 2 STL exchanges, and 2 new IBDs! Our IBD's are Ruby and Ken, a young couple that has been wanting to be baptized for a while now, but are still trying to get their "kasal" figured out....but marriage papers cost money, and kwarta is hard to come by! I'm trying to help by paying her mother, a recent convert, to do my laundry for me (she's much better than I am at it anyway, I'll be honest!) and a member has also offered to help them out. Last night we set a baptismal date for them for May 28! I'm feeling pretty hopeful for them!

Also this week, I taught the most lessons EVER in my mission in one week, so that feels good! We found 5 new investigators, discovered an entire barangay of less-active members, and contacted a referral sent to us all the way from SLC, Utah! 

Danao is not as much of a "tourist" city as Tagbilaran was, so people are a lot more shocked here to see 2 young American girls....it's fun though, we always have a trail of children following us and saying "Sister Bertoldo! Sister Allen!" and one day we stopped to buy some mangoes off the street on the seawall, and before we knew it we were surrounded by about 20 kids all watching us eat mangoes....haha, but we were able to talk to some of their parents too- we called it "BRTing the neighborhood"!

On a more worrisome note, I now have some kind of "virus" that gives me a "roaming rash". There are no other side effects so it's not too concerning, and Sister Tanner, the mission president's wife, was kind enough to get me an ointment to help me get rid of it...so it's all good!

One funny story: one day we were trying to find a referral and while we're asking around for her name, this young Filipina invites us in her home and calls her cousin, a sikad driving, to come pick us up. Then Alvin shows up and takes us all over the barangay looking for our referral! Sister Allen and I were just sitting in the sikad like, "what is happening? He's finding our referral for us!" Then Alvin leaves us on the side of the road to go ask some people, and then a giant garbage truck starts backing up and almost ran us over, and we screamed and all the people on the streets screamed, and then Alvin ran over and wheeled the sikad bike out of the way JUST IN TIME. Then he got reprimanded by the onlookers for almost killing his "American passengers" haha, and then we never ended up finding that referral anyway, but we tipped Alvin because we felt pretty bad for all the trouble he went to! Filipino people are possibly the MOST hospitable people on the earth!

I'm sorry, the computer is just not letting me upload or send pictures, but maybe next week!

Love you all!

Sister Bertoldo

Switching Islands

I've been here in Baclayon for 4.5 months, 18 weeks, 3 transfers, 4 different companions, 2 baptisms, various different sicknesses, and TONS of priceless memories....and now I have to say goodbye!

I'm called to serve as a sisters training leader (STL) in the Danao Zone, which means I'm going back to Cebu Island! My new companion is Sister Allen, who is one of my MTC batch! She's great, and I'm excited to learn a lot from her! I'm definitely going to miss Bohol....mingawon na ko og mga Boholano! 

This transfer went by so fast, it seems like just yesterday Sister Pulotu joined Sister Smith and I in our companionship! Training her has been so great, she's the funniest and most proper Tongan I've ever met! She'll be staying here to lead the area in Baclayon, so we've been going over with her how to get to members' and investigators' homes, and how to tell the trayke driver where our balay is! She's going to do awesome :)

This past week Carla got to attend the youth conference, but she had UTI and had to come home one day early! We've been visiting her in the hospital, and we've been so grateful for the wonderful members here in Baclayon branch because they really took care of her; the youth even went as a group to visit her on Sunday!

I spent my last Sunday here in Baclayon branch doing a branch activity: less-active caravan! We got together and split into various groups- Sisters with the Relief Society and Elders with the Branch Mission Leader, and then the branch presidency, and we all went to visit less-active members. Then we met back up all together at Nanay Edith's balay to administer a special sacrament service her. Our transportation was 12 people stuffed into the back of an elf truck, and Sister Pulotu and I almost fell out the back on a sharp turn, haha, but we were okay. As I sat there with wind whipping in my face and blurred palm trees flying by listening to the members here discuss the various needs of the sisters in Baclayon branch, I just thought  man, I love the Philippines, and missionary work, and Baclayon! It was a perfect last Sunday.

Scripture thought for you: "Strengthen your brother in all your conversations, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings." (D&C 108:7)

Both of my companions had a death in the family this week, and I've been so impressed and inspired with the way they chose to handle the natural emotions that come with news of a death- they both turned toward their faith, their testimonies of the gospel, and to comforting and strengthing their families. They both talked about the temple and the doctrines of eternal families that we are so blessed as members of the church to know. 

"There is a connection between heaven and earth. Finding that connection gives meaning to everything, including death. Missing it makes everything meaningless, including life." -John H. Groberg

Amping mo, have a great week!

Love, Sister Bertoldo

Amazing Sights

This weekend was a lot of note-taking, since we watched General Conference Saturday and Sunday and then had a Zone Conference yesterday! Feel gyud ko lamdagan. It was great- learning is a lifelong love!

Besides conferences, we saw a lot of amazing things this week:

1. We had a district activity hiking Cruz Daku, which is a giant cross at the top of a mountain. It was great- you can see half the island of Bohol from the top! Along the trail are various other cement crosses with pictures of Christ and quotes from the Bible...it was amazing!

2. While tracting in Albur, we stopped by an investigator's house we haven't been able to teach in a while. We said "Ayo!" and were answered by one small 4 year old boy who opened the bamboo door. He glared at us and had his hand behind his back. He said his sister and his mom were both gone for the last 3 days. Then his older brother, maybe 6-years-old, pushes his way out, smoking a cigarette that's much too big for his tiny fingers. Seeing his brother's example of "no shame" the younger came out too, smoking. A third boy emerged, same age. All three of them just smoking and staying in the house by themselves for 3 days. There's not much we can do- they aren't our kids....but me being me, I just had to say, "Makadaot ang cigarillo. ayaw ana. Dili na maayo sa inyong panglawas." They just laughed said some rude words and ran into the house. At least I said my piece! Seeing innocence lost so quickly is amazing to me.

3. Teaching Carla a lesson at the beach after she introduced us to her boyfriend. There is NOTHING so great as teaching the gospel on the beach, sitting in a little bamboo hut and staring out at the fishing boats, and the dagat! I love the Philippines. The ocean is amazing.

4. Teaching Carla a lesson with the rubble of her recently demolished home behind her. I told her with confidence that no matter what other foundations fall in her life, the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the "firm foundation" we can all rely on. Seeing her happiness from the gospel despite her trials in life is amazing.

5. We had a turning point this week with our dear sister Mel Luza. She is a less-active member with a very busy life and many kids. She is one of the most hard-working people I've met, working 3 jobs and maintaining the house and family. She has recently expressed some very difficult trials she's been through. For the first time since I arrived in Baclayon in December, she accepted my invitation to come to church with us this Sunday. We finally got to resolve with her her real concerns and she finally softened to the invitation to COME BACK to Christ. The look in her tearful eyes was amazing.

6. For lunch we just ate organic stir-fry, lemongrass juice, and homemade malunggay ice-cream from an organic cafe at the Bee Farm here on Bohol....that ice cream made out of leaves was amazing. 

7. And just before walking into this internet cafe, a komodo dragon on a leash walked by and brushed my leg. It scared me to death, haha, but at least the guy holding the leash had taped its jaws shut... it was pretty amazing too!

Spiritual thought: "No good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly" (read Psalm 84:11 and Doctrine and Covenants 59:23)

Bisaya word of the week: I asked a new investigator how she felt about the message we shared about the restored gospel and she answered in one word: "Lamdagan" which means "enlightened". Best answer I've heard yet!

Love you all,

Sister Bertoldo