Caitlin's Chronicles (Sister Bingham in the Philippines)

Maayong aga sa tanan! This week certainly taught me that miracles really do come after the trial of our faith. We met Brother Efren, 57 years old, a while ago because we were teaching his sister and brother in law about the Book of Mormon. After the lesson, we learned that his daughter and her husband are members of the church in Manila and he's been going to church with them until he left to come here to Binalbagan. So of course, we invited him to church and asked to teach him. When we taught the plan of salvation he had questions about where we go after this life and said he wanted to join a religion where it was clear. After the lesson, he said it was all clear to him now. It was so hard because some days we could never find him!! We spent the day before his baptismal interview on a wild goose chase: asking people where he was, walking there only to find that he had just left that area, and so on. The next day, however, we were able to find him and he was interviewed for bap...

Maayong aga! So this week was full of meetings. On Tuesday, Sister Soriano went to the Sister Training Leader and Zone Leader meeting in Bacolod. She's the only STL in our zone so I went with her to Bacolod and proselyted with Sister Aiono and Sister Burkhardt for the day! It was cool to see a new area and how another training companionship works. We finished the day with ice cream so you know it was a good day. On Wednesday we had a meeting with the Zone Leaders to plan the zone meeting for the next day. I helped Sister Soriano with her training but it was kind of funny cause I'm definitely not a sister training leader and I've only been here for a month....Everyone enjoyed joking about that :P We had FHE at a members home one night. It was lots of fun and we laughed a lot. One of the elders taught about the importance of marriage in the temple, and then we played a game. Whoever lost the game was subject to getting lipstick on their face. (Picture included) Poor Bro...

Maayong udto! Last week and this week are so busy! We traveled to Bacolod last week for zone conference, where I got to see Sister Burkhardt, Elder Yancey, and Elder Keller. I was so glad to see them and talk with them even just briefly! I was so so sad to have missed Sister Hostetter, who had zone conference the day before. (If you're reading this I miss you guys lots!!!) Then my companion is a Sister Training Leader so we are in Bacolod right now for a training meeting, I get to just come along for the ride. They have McDonalds and Jollibee here, which of course is American food (plus rice) but's considered high class. Like they open the door for you when you walk in and you don't throw away your own trash. Crazy right? (See the pictures) So this week, Mary Rose (9) and Rizal (14) were baptized. After their baptism, they get to share a short testimony and it was so sweet. Rizal thanked us for teaching him, and then thanked Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson for being p...

Kamusta kamo?! P day feels like it was just yesterday! So much has improved this week! I still am terrible at speaking but I understand more than that first day. I have been coming out of my shell slowly but I'm more comfortable here than that first week. I laughed at something and one of the youth said that was the first time they had heard me actually laugh. That's when I realized that a) huya-gid ako (shy) b) at least I'm getting better. Carlo, 9 years old, part member family, was baptized this week. Carlo is seriously amazing! You can usually find him in the computer shack (figures), but whenever we came by to teach him, he left his games immediately without complaint or stalling. Like what 9 year old does that? He always listened and answered questions and he learned very quickly. We knew he was definitely ready to be baptized and his family attended his baptism so it was a happy day! So in the pictures you will see Joshua holding this giant colorful spider. He t...

Maayong aga! One week down sa field! It's been rough adjusting but I appreciate all your emails and prayers! I am not able to send replies but thank you all and know that you have lifted my spirits! I love you very much!  This week Princess was baptized. I've only known her for a week and a half but I love her very much. She's 11 yrs old. Her best friends, Judy Ann and Junamea were baptized before I got here and they have become my current favorite people. They always make me feel loved and included and try to teach my how to speak. I taught them the first line of the melody of I am a Child of God (Ako Anak sang Dios) on the piano and they loved it! I well definitely be using my piano skills constantly as no one really plays the piano here. Princess told me she felt the Spirit after she was baptized and I'm so glad that she chose to follow her Savior and continues to walk in faith. We're trying to teach her parents and siblings so that they may strengthen ea...

Kamusta kamo?! I am finally in Bacolod! My first area is a little town called Binalbagan. My trainer is Sister Soriano and she's super sweet and very patient with me and my lack of Ilonggo and lack of understanding Filipino culture. She is very good at talking to everyone and inviting them to be baptized and I know I can learn much from her. So quick update on the Manila MTC. They fed us so much food and it was all really good. I noticed that they gave us Americans bigger portions than the Filipinos so I had to ask for less food because I simply couldn't finish it all! We went proselyting in Quezon City for a few hours and although it was in Tagalog and I understood next to nothing it was an amazing experience! Sister Isaac, from Pakistan, was my temporary companion and she assured me she'd take care of me and I just had to bear testimony in English and she'd translate. We taught 3 lessons and I really felt the Spirit! Afterwards, we went to a McDonalds and got ice ...

1st House Bedroom Bathroom - buckets for showering and flushing Karabaw Sister Bingham & Sister Soriano Baptism for Brother Mark James Valentino on a boat November arrivals with trainers