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

"Timing Kaayo!"

Maayong palis!

This week was "Holy Week" in the Philippines so...lots of processions, lots of people flooding the Catholic churches. Lots of people passing out crosses and setting up candles and statues of saints. And lots of people at the beach or at relatives homes. We got yelled out by a Catholic father for being non-Catholic, but we also had a friendly chat with a friendly nun! haha

Funny Story: For 3 days we had no water, not just our balay but the whole baranguay! We had to borrow and drag buckets of water from our neighbor! The water was a slight brown color.... On a hopefully unrelated note, the next morning, we were late to District Meeting because I spent the morning throwing up!

Carla wasn't at church for the 2nd week in a row and no has seen her, so we were really worried! She still has no cellphone!

During sacrament,  I was reading in Enos how he "poured out his whole soul" in prayer for his brethren once he had received remission of sin for himself. I thought- can I even DO that? Pour out my whole soul? That thought was with me all day.

After lunch as we prepared to go to work for the day, I was still silently praying we would be able to find Carla. I suggested we kneel to pray instead of standing. We all felt that we should go visit Nanay Edith in Loay, even though it's VERY far. We took a bus and headed out. They were all asleep. So we felt that we should walk to another members' home, even though we knew they weren't home. As I was walking- sun beating down, sweat dripping- I was thinking, "WHAT are we doing right now! We made all the wrong decisions!" Then the song came floating into my mind, "Pray, He is there. Speak, He is listening." and so I prayed as I walked and I felt so confident in our direction. I felt like we were headed in exactly the right direction, even though we were technically LOST haha. Then I hear, "Sister!" And before I know what's happening Carla is wrapping her arms around me and apologizing for not being at church. And she was in awe, she said, "wow, timing kaayo Sister!" I told her it was no coincidence that we both happened to be in the same random place at the same time. I told we had been praying about her all week!

We ended up teaching her and then teaching one of her friends and then setting up return appointments with both of them. We also got Carla's paperwork in so she can go to Youth Conference this April :) Then we were able to get back to Nanay Edith just as she woke up.

Yesterday was the best Easter Sunday ever. Because Easter is about celebrating Christ's resurrection. As a missionary, I know that Christ lives, that He loves us, and that He leads His living church. I also know that He leads us personally. And I am so grateful for that!

Love, Sister Bertoldo

Carla's Confirmation

Carla was confirmed yesterday as a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! It was such a happy day for her.and all of us.

There's not much to report, kay mao ra ang mga adlaw sa mga missionary haha. BUT we're enjoying introducing Sister Pulotu to the area. She is the sweetest Sister ever.

Cebuano fun fact: "baklay" means "to walk" so "Baclayon" essentially means "place where you walk" and so it's a fitting place to do missionary work since we just walk around and around Baclayon all week, haha!

This transfer is going to be great, we are going to see tarsiers, chocolate hills, floating restaurants, the Bohol Bee Farm, and other such P-Day adventures.

It's also going to be great because we get to continue teaching and nurturing both Carla, our recent convert, and Sister Pulotu, our trainee! I'm so excited to see them grow and progress, and to learn from them too :)

Read Alma 37:37 and "counsel with the Lord in all your doings, and he will direct thee for good"

Love,

-sister bertoldo

Padayon Baclayon

This week, I read a Liahona article about how waking up early helps us receive more revelation. So I've been waking up 30 minutes earlier than usual. This week was SO cool. I go to bed with questions and wake up and find answers. I also noticed a pattern of God preparing me daan for experiences. Pananglitan:

1. I studied in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: "we have to comprehend the character of God to fully comprehend ourselves and to know how to approach Him....God sees the secret springs of human action, and knows the hearts of all living." And so I was thinking how to discern others (like we do all day in missionary work) we need to look to God....He is our Guide in discerning others. Later that day, we had Carla's baptismal interview. Some things came up in her interview with the Zone Leaders and then had me come into the office. The Elder who conducted the interview looked me in the eyes, told me the situation, and asked me, "What do you think we should do?" I froze for a sec, like, I don't know! I only have know this person for a month and a half. Then I remembered what I had studied this morning- I may not know, but God knows if she's ready for baptism. I paused then told the Elder exactly what came into my mind- that I felt she was ready. He nodded his head and said he agreed. After we decided that, I felt just warmth and peace in my heart and I was so grateful for the Spirit's guidance. Talking to Carla later, I felt her desire and willingness to follow Christ so strongly and her baptism yesterday was....the. BEST. day. of my life.

2. I read in James 1:1-4 about how we ought to face trials of our faith and "count it all joy" because patience, in her "perfect work", enables us to become "perfect, wanting nothing". I also read that "while we may be ready to move on, having had enough of a particular learning experience, our continued presence is often needed as a part of the learning environment of others" (-Elder Neal A. Maxwell). Then later that day, we had transfer calls. I felt ready to transfer, but it turns out I will be staying here in Baclayon another transfer (Padayon Baclayon!!!) with Sister Smith (yesss!!) and we are team-finish-training a new Sister. Later, Carla told me she prayed all night that we wouldn't transfer, and the new addition to our companionship has been having a lot of homesickness and physical sicknesses, and so I felt that....my "continued presence" is needed here in Baclayon for the learning environments of others, even though I felt personally fulfilled here.

I'm so excited for round 2 with Sister Smith and round 3 in Baclayon! I get to spend more time with Nanay Edith (she has now been hospitalized), I get to continue teaching and nurturing Carla's testimony as a recent convert, and I get to train again! And I am back to the trisome life....!

"Patience is not indifference. Actually, it means we care very much, but being willing, nevertheless, to submit to the will of the Lord and to a "process of time". -Maxwell

As for me, I am so happy to continue to SERVE IN MY SPHERE and COUNT IT ALL JOY!

Some fun things:
1. community service project, we built a house out on a mountainside overlooking Loboc river for a less-active family in our branch!

2. Sister Smith and I bought some fabric, took it to a tailor, who drew a sketch, measured us, and sewed a dress perfectly fitted to us! It was so fun, I have to do it again.

Amping mo kanunay!

-Sister Bertoldo