Week 76 (Bacolod)

Maayong aga sa inyo tanan!

Wow does the time fly? Sorry that is how all my e-mails start. It's just so true. I can't believe March has started. It makes me very sad because I love the work I am doing in serving Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and our spirit brothers and sisters. I espcially love Bacolod 2nd ward and all the people I get to meet with each week.

We trained in Bata District and it was a blast! Elder Keller even shared brownies he had made in a rice cooker. 

We did back to back exchanges this week with the Sisters in Silay. I got a chance to work with Sister Robertson one day and then Sister Sta. Barbara the next. It was super fun! 

  

We visited Dan and Gamay this week to talk about the law of tithing and fasting. There was a certain energy and spirit throughout the whole lesson. Dan mentioned that he felt a "fire" inside. I explained that feeling is the Holy Ghost testifying and strengthening your testimony, we have to pray, read, and go to church to keep that fire going our whole lives. We also had Mil, a new member who was baptized in October, with us during the lesson. We had an awesome discussion and I got ready to extend the last baptismal invitation that I'll be able to see go through. I talked about the gospel and how we've seen their faith and willingness to follow Jesus Christ. I testified of the Church being the only church on the earth that has the fullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the authority from God to perform sacred ordinances such as baptism. Then I said, "Himuon nyo bala sundon ang ehemplo ni JesuCristo paagi sa pagpabunyag sa isa ka tawo nga may awtoridad sang Dios?" (Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ through baptism by someone with authority from God?). Before Dan and Gamay could respond, Mil had a comment and decided that was the time to say it. I patiently told Mil that we had asked Dan and Gamay a question. Then we turned to them for their response. Gamay just had a big smile on her face and nodded and Dan said, "I do." We expressed our joy and excitement for them. Everyone got so excited! Dan exclaimed (in English) "We are on fire!" and did this little dance in his seat. It was so funny and we ended up all laughing a bit. Then we explained what they had to do to qualify for baptism and we set a date for March 23. Mil said, Sister Bingham will you still be here? And I said it just so happens that if Dan continues to go to church he will qualify for that day and that is my last Saturday before I leave to go back to America. Dan said see? I said we'd get baptized before you go. I laughed and said it's more important that you are qualified for baptism then if I am here so just keep coming to church and we'll keep teaching to help you be ready. So excited for them!!!!! 

On Friday, we went to teach Ronilo more in depth about the Priesthood. On the way, we got a text from Bishop saying that Ronilo was already at the church with Brother Amante cleaning. So we go and find them cleaning the church and the baptismal font. And Ronilo cut his hair! Again! And shaved his facial hair! We decided he looked sharp and preparing to be a real Priesthood holder. On Saturday, he was baptized! He was so shy to be the center of attention we think. But he still wanted to bear his testimony. In his testimony, he talked about how he has changed and become more faithful to Jesus Christ and how the Spirit testified to him of the truth of the message of the Restoration. One of the members of the bishopric gave the closing remarks who was also at the lesson last Sunday where Ronilo decided to be baptized, and he told the story of what happened that night. It was so awesome and you could tell Ronilo felt the Spirit. Elder and Sister Willis also worked with us that day and got to meet Ronilo and some of the other people we are teaching who will be baptized this month. Sister Jonavie and her kids. Brother Dan and Sister Gamay. We are so excited for them! And we are so grateful for the Spirit that the Willis' always bring when they teach. 

On Sunday, I bore my final testimony in a fast and testimony meeting as Sister Bingham. As I sat back down at my place at the piano, tears began to stream down my face. It hit me that my time left is so short and that soon I will be leaving these people whom I love so much and this work that I can't imagine leaving...

Love you all!

Sister Bingham

Caitlin won't love that I added these 2 photos of her bug-bitten legs, she has posted these on occasion throughout her mission.  I was hoping they would stop finding her so tasty - but apparently, this has been common throughout her time in the Philippines.