Week 75 (Bacolod) 1 Month Left

Maayong hapon!

So much happened this week! From the announcement about missionaries being allowed to call/text their parents to training in district council to exchanges and working with Elder and Sister Willis to Zone Conference (where we trained again) to a baptism and confirmation to extending a baptismal date for THIS Saturday?!?!! I love serving in Bacolod 2nd Ward and I love serving Heavenly Father and his children. I've never felt so happy or so fulfilled in my life.

I'll attempt to explain in some detail what we did this week:

We gave our first training of the transfer in district council. We trained about becoming a consecrated missionary (see talk by Tad R. Callister) or becoming the Fourth Missionary (see talk by Lawrence E. Corbridge). AWESOME talks to send if you have or know a missionary in the field.

On Thursday, I went on exchanges to Sta. Fe with Sister Johnson and Sister Bise AND Elder and Sister Willis. What a wild day that was. My favorite appointment was with their new convert, Alexi. She is so so amazing and patient and kind and has such strong faith. Despite her 3 boys running around and hitting each other and crying and a toko (large scary lizard) showing up, she was so eager to listen to what we had to share. Her husband works on a different island so she is left on her own to watch over her children. She loves the gospel so much and it is obvious even in a first meeting with her. I love seeing Elder Willis talk to everyone, it is both inspiring and funny, because the Spirit is always so strong when he talks about the gospel and he has no fear even though everyone else is a little afraid of him and speaking English.

On Friday, Zone Conference. Sister Schenk and I gave an awesome training on using family history and temple work in our missionary work because "it is the same great redemptive work" not two different things. Elder Stanger and Elder Yancey (BATCH) also gave an awesome training so it made for a good day all around.

On Saturday, Terrence Joe (TJ), is a grandchild from a large part-member family we've been teaching (Andrea is his cousin) was so so excited to be baptized. We got to the church a little earlier than the appointed time and he and his family and Bishop and some members were already there! We just had one problem: no water! They started filling it yesterday but only 3 inches of water was in the font. Bishop came to the rescue and said we'll go to 1st ward's building (stake center). We planned to take a tricycle but unfortunately, not everyone would fit. We asked TJ what he wanted to do: be baptized with just his two aunts present or next week with everyone else. He said Sisters I want to be baptized today. So to 1st ward we went. He had the biggest smile on his face the whole time. When it came time to bear testimony, TJ, in his childlike simplicity, said he was thankful to be baptized in the true Church of Jesus Christ and that he knows the Church of Jesus Christ was padayoned (like continued) and that Russell M. Nelson is our living prophet today. He sat by Bishop on the stand and Bishop put his arm around him. It was amazing also for TJ's aunt who is preparing to be baptized next month to see how a baptism works and feel the Spirit that was present.

If you remember Dan&Gamay from a past email. They both came to church yesterday! Dan for the first time! We approached him in the sacrament hall and he said "Here I am" in English with a great big smile. He joked at our last lessons saying, maybe we'll even get baptized before you leave. Ahhhh, I hope so :)

Sunday night, we worked with two members from our ward and visited Alvin and Ronello. Alvin is an inactive member and Ronello is his friend. They are about 25 years old. We've been teaching them for a long time now. Ronello has been coming to church for two months and has been taught almost all the lessons! But he did not want to accept a baptismal date. He kinda said he wanted to get baptized but couldn't commit. So at this lesson we talked about the plan of salvation and how Heavenly Father's love for us is so great that he made this whole plan and even sent His Beloved Son to sacrifice himself to give us a way to return to Him. Bishop showed up at this point too. Then the members bore powerful testimony about how they know the Church is true and then I asked Ronello about what he believed to be true. He said he believes Jospeh is a true prophet and he was given power and authority from God and that he believes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church. The members started getting so excited about baptism then Ronello said, but I plan on going back to my original church. One of the members, Brother Pitok, said Brother Ronello, if you know the Church is true, why would you go back to your other church? Ronello said it was because of his friends, he didn't want to leave them. Brother Pitok explained that we each work out our own salvation. Our friends can't save us. If you really want to help them, invite them to come to church with you here. That settled it. Ronello accepted. He went over to the calendar and everyone started talking about when his baptism will be. He said he has work...except for this Saturday. So everyone got so pumped, you can get baptized this Saturday! March 2! Sister and Schenk look at each other like what is happening??? So we plan out so he can finish the requirements before he gets baptized. I said is this what your heart desires Ronello? And he said yes. So now he is getting baptized THIS Saturday??? I love being a missionary :)

LOVE YOU ALL

Sister Bingham