Week 10 (Binalbagan)
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 threw it at Sister Soriano and all the other kids were laughing because she was afraid of it. I knew that if I didn't want it thrown at me, I'd have to prove I wasn't afraid of the spider. So, I had 15 seconds of insane courage and asked to hold the spider. I neglected to have my companion take a picture but I can assure you I did in fact let that spider crawl around my hand. Afterwards, I looked at the spider and thought to myself "why on earth did I just do that?" but hey they never threw it at me :P
Also this week we were able to have dinner with Brother Nobleza (former member of the Quorum of the Seventy). As Sister Soriano, Elder Heywood, Elder Cabato, and I sat at the table, Brother Nobleza informed us that we would eat til 8 (it was 7) then have a gospel discussion til we had to go home. The food was seriously amazing; pineapple juice, rice with egg and hotdog, sud-an (rice topping) of this delicious meatloaf, potatoes, pineapple, carrots, and other things I don't know. Then for dessert we had cinnamon rolls! Namit-GID. We talked and laughed and it lifted my spirits. Then for our gospel discussion we read in Luke 22:32 (when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren). He asked us these questions: "Can you strengthen your brethren if you are not converted?" Likewise "Are you really converted if you do not strengthen your brethren?" Then we went to Enos and read about how after he had received a remission of his sins, he prayed for his brethren, both the Nephites and the Lamanites. We discussed how we desire to serve the Lord and share the gospel because we, like Enos, have received a remission of our sins and have been converted. We talked about how many are called but few are chosen in D&C 121 as well but I've already written enough so I'll let you study that one out. It was such an awesome experience!
There is never enough time to tell you all the things I wish I could explain. Like how kids run around with giant knives to chop down the sugar cane and suck the sugar out of it (I tried it and wouldn't you know? It tastes like sugar). Or the stress of trying to get investigators to church. Or when you find out an investigator has kept a commitment and felt the tawhay (peace). Or trying to help an investigator realize he is ready for baptism. Or laughing at my terrible Ilonggo with investigators and members a like. I'm so glad for this opportunity and I hope that I can give my best and the Lord will use me to bring others the light and truth of the gospel.
Halong kamo pirme!
Sister Bingham
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 threw it at Sister Soriano and all the other kids were laughing because she was afraid of it. I knew that if I didn't want it thrown at me, I'd have to prove I wasn't afraid of the spider. So, I had 15 seconds of insane courage and asked to hold the spider. I neglected to have my companion take a picture but I can assure you I did in fact let that spider crawl around my hand. Afterwards, I looked at the spider and thought to myself "why on earth did I just do that?" but hey they never threw it at me :P
Also this week we were able to have dinner with Brother Nobleza (former member of the Quorum of the Seventy). As Sister Soriano, Elder Heywood, Elder Cabato, and I sat at the table, Brother Nobleza informed us that we would eat til 8 (it was 7) then have a gospel discussion til we had to go home. The food was seriously amazing; pineapple juice, rice with egg and hotdog, sud-an (rice topping) of this delicious meatloaf, potatoes, pineapple, carrots, and other things I don't know. Then for dessert we had cinnamon rolls! Namit-GID. We talked and laughed and it lifted my spirits. Then for our gospel discussion we read in Luke 22:32 (when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren). He asked us these questions: "Can you strengthen your brethren if you are not converted?" Likewise "Are you really converted if you do not strengthen your brethren?" Then we went to Enos and read about how after he had received a remission of his sins, he prayed for his brethren, both the Nephites and the Lamanites. We discussed how we desire to serve the Lord and share the gospel because we, like Enos, have received a remission of our sins and have been converted. We talked about how many are called but few are chosen in D&C 121 as well but I've already written enough so I'll let you study that one out. It was such an awesome experience!
There is never enough time to tell you all the things I wish I could explain. Like how kids run around with giant knives to chop down the sugar cane and suck the sugar out of it (I tried it and wouldn't you know? It tastes like sugar). Or the stress of trying to get investigators to church. Or when you find out an investigator has kept a commitment and felt the tawhay (peace). Or trying to help an investigator realize he is ready for baptism. Or laughing at my terrible Ilonggo with investigators and members a like. I'm so glad for this opportunity and I hope that I can give my best and the Lord will use me to bring others the light and truth of the gospel.
Halong kamo pirme!
Sister Bingham
 |
| 1st House |
 |
| Kitchen |
 |
| Joshua and the spider |
 |
| me and Sister Soriano |
 |
| Isla Nabuswang The name comes from Nabuang (insane or crazy) and aswang (monster/vampire) |
 |
| Carlo's baptism |
 |
| me Sister Soriano and Jhay-Jhay (17yr YM from the ward, he goes with us to lessons on Sunday evenings) |
It's so fun to read about Caitlin's mission in the Philippines while my daughter Holly serves in Spain. Our girls are so grown up now.
ReplyDelete