Progress of Work

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Philippine CebuMission <cebumission08@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:07 PM
Subject: Re: Week!
To: Annika Bruno <annika.bruno@myldsmail.net>


Thanks for sharing the wonderful experiences ..............it is very evident that the Lord is working with you.   Have another great week.   Pres.Hansen

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 11:29 AM, Annika Bruno <annika.bruno@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Dear President!

I am loving the split it was revelation without a doubt.  We had 40 new investigators last week and we find several people a day.  The area is so large and there are people we never would have met if the area wasn't split. 

This week one of our recent converts son's Jassen Velez decided to let us teach him.  He is 21 years old and his mother said he is extremely shy and doesn't like to talk, but he seems to be voicing his concerns with us.  He is a very humble person and we are excited to continue to keep teaching him. 

We have been teaching many children this transfer I can see why Jesus loves the little children.  While we were teaching Grace Oporto the law of chastity and talked to her about being modest she said excuse me ran home and changed into modest clothes!  She is so cute!  Sister Genevievea Diparine is 11 years old and has been going to church with our recent convert Sister Judith Velez.  Her mother and her have a baptismal date.  Jenny her mother is willing to listen to our lessons and we love teaching her. 

Sister Williams and Sister Tumala taught Emerson Ugdiman and he seems to be progressing to his baptismal date. 

We have been walking in the path that the Savior has layed out for us because I feel like all the people we have met this week have been blessings, and I feel a strong love for all the people we have met.

Sister Mitch hasn't been coming to church since her confirmation.  She works with her mother a lot and has been working for the last couple of weeks.  We hope that she does not fall into the devil snares.  I hear the first year of someones joining the church is the hardest on them.  We only are trying to strengthen her testimony.  She is strong in reading the scriptures and her testimony so we will only work hard to help keep her strong. 

This transfer as all my other transfers have been great.  I look back and see the many blessings that heavenly Father has given to me. 

Sister Caluyo has been teaching me a lot and I have made high goals to meet.  The language seems to not be a huge barrier as it once was.  I have set a goal not to speak English this whole transfer I know its hard but possible!  Sister Caluyo has been helping me a lot with the language and I love her for sacrificing her time to help me! 

Thank You President!

Sister Bruno 

Splitting the Area in Cebu City

Nahigugma Ko kaninyo!

First of all I love you!!

This  week is transfers week and the power of three is being seperated. Our area is being split in two and we will have four people in our apartment. Sister Williams is training for the first time, and me and Sister Caluyo are going to be companions. Our zone leader Elder Gubb is transferring and so is our Assistant to the President Elder Gatdula.  Sister Bundac is going home this week and it makes me realize how fast the time has been going by. People I know are going home now!

We had a baptism this week Brother Nelson. He gave  up smoking and drinking. He comes to church faithfully. He is a little bit slow on the processing, but he is a kind person. I know he will  grow through the church. We cleaned out the Pit-os house this week and  are settling into our new apartment in Apas. We need to find an apartment in our area, but haven't seen anything we like yet. We love the house we live in now with hot showers a washing and dryer and all the perks. It's funny what you miss while on the mission and see how many blessing we have.

This transfer I have been getting along with my  companions really well. I love the adventures we have been having.  They are tons of laughs. We laugh at least a million times a day  either joking around or something one of us says. It's much better in life if we can just laugh at the trials we have!

Yesterday was an awesome day. Emerson Ugdiman said he wanted to be baptized, and we all thought he was going to be a lost  cause, because he went on vacation and before vacation he was not  progressing. When he returned though he not only looked older and was  growing up, but the Lord has been preparing him to be baptized. When we asked him what his desire was for baptism he surprised all of us at his  declaration of wanting to be baptized, but knows that he hasn't been going to church so he couldn't. We ensured him that he could go at his aunt's and the Elders over there could teach him. It's sad to give him up  to the elders but if he gets baptized and grows in his testimony I will  make the sacrifice and give him to the elders. We know that the elders  will be better for him being a teenager and not having any brothers in the house it will help.

I miss you all

Love you

You all need to continue to keep you covenants. And don't forget you are special each one of you individually!

Sister Bruno

Baptism in Cebu

First of all I love you!

This week has been good. the mission you really are happy because you have no worries about yourself. We have all the money we need and we get to go into the houses of people all day, and on Preparation Day we get to be tourist (well kind of) and so life is good in the Philippines. I am loving the weather and the people. Coming up in March next transfer we are going to have 4 people in the apartment. Our area is so big President Hansen decided to split the area into two and there will be two companionships. I am really excited I doubt that I will transfer this next transfer I will probably be here for two more transfers if pattern follows, and I will probably lead one of the areas the next transfer. Yey... usually you lead your first area your second transfer but I had two companions so i didn't need to lead the area.

Sister Mitch Minosa got baptized this past Saturday February 12,2011 and confirmed on the Sunday after. She is really fun she is 18 years old and she always just tells me Okay ra na padayan lang (that's okay just continue) because that's my theme phrase this transfer. She has a strong testimony. She teaches her younger sister the gospel and we are teaching her little sister Mannilyn who just turned 13 yesterday and friend Nelson Mansalay. He is in his 40's still single. Nelson is doing really well. He stopped drinking and smoking, and when he was with his friends Mitch told us instead of drinking with them he read his Book of Mormon. We were so proud of him.

Sister Judith Velez baptism is on Saturday she has been an investigator for awhile, and she is finally getting baptized. She was prepared well. Her testimony is growing strong.

Emerson Ugdiman we thought was a golden investigator, but we haven't taught him in awhile because he is always gone when we go to his house. Also he has been out of town. His dad set up an appointment for us to teach him when he gets back from his Lolo's house.

Sister Cheryl Braga also is a friend of Mitch's. She is difficult to teach. She is a little slow, and she hasn't been responding really to the lessons but we are trying.

Last night we were walking and I crossed the street and my companions got stuck on the other side, and a man approached me he was from Africa and asked what I was doing in the Philippines. It's a common question people think when they see a foreigner around I think when they see white people. Especially white girls in the Philippines. I told him how we were missionaries and he said he was a missionary once too and that at his church they visit the prisoners and teach about Christ. He asked a bunch of questions, and when I explained about the basic beliefs he was super interested. He was like we need to meet again so I can invite my friends and I can find out more about your church. I have a feeling he wants to Bible bash, but we made sure their was going to be a female friend there and set a time for Monday Feb 21, 2011 so we will see. We just need to prepare well and not let it turn into an ambush!

I love you all and pray for you. Thanks for the support and love!

Nahigugma ko kanimo
Amping mo (take care yall)
Sister Bruno

Sunny in the Philippines

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Annika Bruno <annika.bruno@myldsmail.net>

Date: Wed, Feb 9, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Subject: Sunny in the Philippines!
To: cebumission08@gmail.com


Dear President Hanson,

This week has been really good. We have been doing a lot of finding, and we
found a man named Leo and a little girl named Rosalyn who live across from the church. Its perfect within walking distance of the church. I hope we see progress in them soon we have given them a Book of Mormon and we are following up on Saturday.

Grace Hardy has a strong testimony and I don't see her falling away from the church especially since she has a strong support from her husband. I'm glad for her baptism last week.

Emerson Udgiman I thought was progressing quickly and was accepting the gospel, but in latest attempts to visit with him and teach him he is always gone from home. He is 16 Years old and his family is a part member family. I really hope we can think of ways to get through to him.


Mitch Minosa has a really strong testimony she is 18 years old and her older brother Rechaldo is a member of the church. She has taken it upon her self to read through the Book of Mormon she is already in Alma! Her baptism is this week February 12, 2011 and we are all excited from her. We are teaching her little sister Mannilyn and she is extremely shy, but is starting to open up to us. She is 11 years old.She has bad vision so we write out the hymns for her to sing and her
assignments.

Sister Cheryl Baraga is learning from us but her learning level is low she has a illness where she has seizures and has a cancer on her face that she is scared to get operated on because of her age. She seems to be progressing slowly, but is still willing to listen so we are taking it slowly with Sister Cheryl.

Nelson Mansalay is progressing well. He has a smoking problem but he says he hasn't smoked since we committed him 2 weeks ago. He usually goes to church with Cheryl and Mitch, but they didn't attend with Nelson and he came by himself! We were all really proud of him, and his progression.

Sister Marilou has a strong testimony, but her live in doesn't want to get married, and she is not attending church. She is growing and learning still, but is having troubles with her live in Michael's gambling problem. They have no money for food and he gambles all the money he makes away.They have 4 kids too. It's really sad to see that he is willing to gamble away what little money they make.

I'm working hard to be 100 percent in all I do. The companionship having two companions is a little rocky, but we are managing. Sometimes I wish I had only one companion I think my language would progress more quickly since they have formed a close bond, and I'm just kind of there. I love them both though and the Lord has reasons for my companionship so I'm trying to enjoy it.

Talamban city area is great the people though are always busy and it's hard to catch most people at home sometimes. We have one inactive family who is always gone from the house, but we have talked with the oldest son many times. Mikee is 18 years old and we convinced him to come to church last Sunday and he was there! I only hope he can be a good example to his family.

The work is good in Talamban and the sun has been shining today so that's a good sign.

Sister Bruno

Work Progressing in Cebu City

Dear Family,

First of all I love you all!

This week has been really awesome.  I got a new companion Sister Caluyo.  My trainer Sister Ramos got transferred after having her just one transfer.  Sister Caluyo though is an awesome addition.  She is our senior companion and she is super humble and meek.  Sister Caluyo is a strong person her mother died while on the mission and she decided to stay with the suggestion from President Hanson.  She is awesome.  We met with Sister Judith and she was an activist against religion in college, but through meeting missionaries she gradually was willing to listen to the lessons.  She has been going to church but has been hesitant in accepting a baptismal date. We met with Sister Judith on Monday, and after just one lesson with Sister Judith Sister Caluyo extended a baptismal date in a genius way and Sister Judith accepted it was beautiful.  Sister Williams even teared up.  And that's how missionary work is done!  Sister Caluyo is basically teaching me things that I will definitely incorporate into my work.  

This week is Sister Grace Hardy's baptism she is an awesome person.  She is outgoing and refuses to let us leave her house without eating something.  Her husband is American from Utah, and is a member.  Sister Grace Hardy has been attending church for way long before i got to the mission.  She just has been reluctant to listening to the missionaries because one missionaries approach she did not like.  When I got to the ward she decided to let us teach her I think our approach was genius or she was just ready to hear the gospel.  She is getting Baptized this week Saturday the Jan 29 2011.  I am so excited for her.  She is my first baptism that I was there to help teach all the lessons.  She is getting baptized only after 6-7 lessons.  We have given her a lot of information, but she has a great testimony and I don't see her turning away from the church in the future.

During teaching Sister Jennale Arinasa her little sister peed on the floor it was so random but that actually happens a lot here during lessons.  I have seen 3 kids already pee on the floor during a lesson.  

Emerson Ugdiman didn't go to church this week so his baptismal date was moved back a week.

Sister Cheryl Sister Mitch and Brother Nelson all has Baptismal dates and they seem ready to accept the gospel.  Sister Cheryl though is a little reluctant coming from a Catholic background.  Brother Nelson may have problems because he smokes but last appointment he didn't smoke for a whole week so hopefully he will keep strong.  

Its crazy because Sister Brand came this week.  She is our younger Batch.  The time is passing by so quickly its crazy!  Sister Brand is in my district though now she replaced Sister Robison.  I was happy and sad about that.  I love Sister Robison she was my first BFF on the mission.  But I am happy to see Sister Brand every week.  

The other day we ran all the way home to make it in time for curfew it was hilarious!

Yesterday we were walking and there was a gust of wind and my skirt flew up I screamed and sister williams and Sister Caluyo turned back to see what happened they were like What happened I told them and they laughed so hard!

Good times on the Mission 

LOVE YOU ALL
Until next week this is the life and stories of Sister Bruno

Sister Bruno   

Facing Opposition

HEY EVERYONE!!

SO DEAR ELDER IS ALIVE!! Hahah so I can get dear elder. I think it takes about two weeks to get but pretty sure that's faster than other mail I already got, two dear elders. So send them if that's all you can do.

The language is still hard I think its because I have three companions and I haven't been teaching a lot. But its okay, I actually just need to focus more... One day this language will come through work and dedication and lots of prayer. Yesterday morning we were running and I slid like 10 feet and hit the cement hard with my knee... I got cement burn bad! Then I got in a fight with the stairs. I got a few bruises but I think I won. :)

Then I got my companion's sickness yesterday and to end the day the members said my companions better sell me for a chicken at the market because I don't really understand the language! Satan is really working hard on me my first transfer but I know I'm on the winning side. I'm just sticking out the bad and offending Satan the best way I know how.

None of our investigators were at church this Sunday but its a new week and there is no holiday! We have a golden investigator Emerson Ugdiman. He is 16 and seems super ready to accept the gospel. He has a part member family I hope we can help him see what he is missing. He came to the temple open house last Thursday so he is taking steps in the right direction.

I miss everyone and hope the holiday was awesome Dear elder me if you have time!!

Nahigugma ko kaninyo

Sister Bruno