Caitlin's Chronicles (Sister Bingham in the Philippines)

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

Leaving the Provo Missionary Training Center Manila Missionary Training Center Balut Manila Temple   American Filipino War Memorial

Dear Parents, This is to inform you that your missionary has arrived safely in the Philippines Bacolod Mission. All were in good spirits this morning as we picked them up from the airport and drove to the mission home. They then had various trainings, lunch, and dinner, and were transported to hosting apartments to stay the night in Bacolod. Tomorrow, they will meet their trainers and report to their new areas. See the attached pictures of their arrival with President and Sister Barredo. Your missionary will be able to email you next P-day (Monday, November 13th , 2017) and let you know how their first week has gone. Thank you all for the support of your missionary and all you do for them. Your support will help them greatly these first few months in the mission field. November Arrivals at Airport November Arrivals at Mission Home

Hey they're giving us some time to email you guys from the Manila MTC! I made it alive and with all my luggage, one of my suitcases was partly opened and I haven't gotten to look through it yet to see if they had to take anything out or messed up my stuff but I should be fine. The flight was so long and I slept for most of it and they fed us really good food. Real ramen as a snack and some bacon w/ eggs and a banana muffin and yogurt for breakfast. And ice cream. It was awesome. I talked to the guy sitting next to me on the flight to LA and so I fulfilled my goal of talking to people. But then I was inbetween missionaries on the other two flights. I don't have my cord with me so I can't upload pictures but they said I'll get to you email you guys again Wednesday (I'm not sure if that's when we leave or when we arrive in our missions). President Carlos told us that we were lucky to arrive on one of the cooler days in the Philippines (ha....it's about ...

My last MTC class just ended. We have dinner and devotional left and a district review of the devotional. Then tomorrow is just shower, clean, pack and maybe some last laundry and off we go! I'll miss it a lot, I have loved the MTC, my amazing teachers, and the friends I have made so so much but I know I will love the rest of my mission even more. I've made a goal to talk to at least one person in all of my rides on jeepneys and walking around and the like. I know that'll be a struggle for me. But I know that through the Atonement I can be more than I am and through the help of God I can do all things. I love my Savior and I love this gospel. I love the hope it brings to my life. I love that families can be together forever. I love that we are all God's children and that He has an individual plan for each of us. Christ knows us and our needs. He aches to help us and bless us but because we have the gift of agency, to choose for ourselves, we have to choose to accept Him...

Sister Bingham ran into Daryl Waite at the MTC.   Daryl served her mission in our Bull Mt Ward for a time.