Week 77 (Bacolod)

Maayong aga sa inyo tanan! 
This week went by in the blink of an eye! 

We trained in Talisay District, which was super sadjya (fun)! We had a good time with the backpack activity and helping them understand what kinds of things we carry when we come on to the mission and how we learn to sacrifice those things. Had Mission Leadership Council. We raised some concerns of the missionaries and were able to resolve them as a council. Exchanged with the Talisay sisters. I worked with Sister Bookwalter in my area. 

We had Mission Leadership Council this week! We had a good discussion about some concerns we have in the mission and how to better help the other missionaries be the best they can!

Jonavie and her kids were interviewed for baptism! When we visited her earlier this week, she told us she was grateful that we had come and taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ because otherwise, how would she get back to Heavenly Father? Unfortunately, they didn't come to church yesterday and because of the Lord's standard for baptism. Their baptism has to be pushed back until they show that they are willing to come to church each week and partake of the Sacrament, as that is part of the promise to God that they will make at baptism. I am so brokenhearted that I will not witness their baptism. But I know it is more important that they are qualified to make this sacred covenant with God than that I am present at the baptism.

We had some more awesome lessons with Dan & Gamay. Dan recounted the whole story of Nephi and his brothers getting the plates. He also read about Lehi's dream but had some trouble understanding it and it just so happens that I carry around the picture from the gospel art book so we were able to talk about it and had an awesome discussion. We also taught the 10 commandments to them this week. They have a Catholic background and so they had some statues and saints in their house. We were a little nervous because we didn't want to offend them but we knew that they would have to put Catholic traditions that don't align with the gospel of Christ behind them if they really know this is Christ's restored church. We started talking about graven images and why it's a commandment that we don't have them. I was surprised when Dan asked us what we thought he should do with the saints in his house. He said I've already stopped doing the sign of the cross, saying the Lord's Prayer, the Apostolic Creed, and other things from the Catholic tradition. He wants to align with God and His commandments. In an effort to be respectful, we explained what kind of things you would find in a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' house and that saint statues are not one of them. Dan said, Gamay, let's give them to my siblings. Then he asked if they needed to buy the white clothes for baptism. We laughed, relieved, and said no don't worry about that just bring yourselves and maybe a towel.

Sister Bingham

McDonald's Food Options

Training Meeting

Sugar Cane

Sugar Cane

Sister Bingham and Sister Bookwalter

Bacolod 2nd Ward Meeting House

Bacolod 2nd Ward Meeting House

Bacolod Street

Sister Bingham inside a Jeepney

Streets of Bacolod City


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