Missionary Weekly Letters - Annika K. Bruno - 27 Jun 2011 - 3 Jul 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Evan Antone Schmutz eschmutz@ldschurch.org
Date: Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Subject: RE: Missionary Weekly Letters - Annika K. Bruno - 27 Jun 2011 - 3 Jul 2011
To: "annika.bruno@myldsmail.net" annika.bruno@myldsmail.net

Dear Sister Bruno,

We are really looking forward to seeing you soon in Baclayon.  I am so convinced that you are right for that area and for Sister Akiaton.  I can't wait to see what wonderful activity comes out of your service there.  You have had great experience in your mission and can provide a wonderful impact on your companion.  Please love her and support her.  Show that obedience and diligence is the only way to serve a mission.  Siseter Akiaton will show you the same qualities right back.  See you soon.

All my love,

president Schmutz

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From: 2012162-PRS@ldschurch.org [2012162-PRS@ldschurch.org]
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 10:43 PM
To: Philippines Cebu Mission President
Subject: Missionary Weekly Letters - Annika K. Bruno - 27 Jun 2011 - 3 Jul 2011

Annika K. Bruno

Phone: 09399369921
Area: Marigondon
Companion(s): Kathleen Y. Falculan

Report period: 27 Jun 2011 - 3 Jul 2011
Area: Marigondon
Companion(s): Kathleen Y. Falculan

Dear President,

This week we have been so blessed its amazing how many blessings we have recieved that we dont deserve. Randy, a recent convert, actually has re-surfaced from laying low, and is now going strong talking about going on a mission again! Louie decided to quit smoking and has gained a strong will to do so. We have high hopes for him. There is a huge group of family and friends we teach each night that are all potential priesthood holders. They have started to refer their friends and the group keeps growing.

Sister Amy is now 75% sure she wants to get baptized which is a huge jump from when she said she was 50% sure. She really has a great desire to learn for herself it is true, and as long as she keeps reading the book of mormon and going to church I will continue to do everything I can to help her reach 100%

Almost all of our recent converts have come back to church which took a lot of work, but through prayers and fasting on our part they have become stronger in their testimonies.

I am grateful for the time with Sister Falculan she has taught me so much, and I wish that our companionship could last my whole mission. She atlast goes home in September, and I fear that she will probably be transfered (we find out a little later today). I have faith though whatever transfers bring that its for the best.

Thank you for your letter last week it helped a lot.

Sister Bruno

Marigondon

New Mission President's Love for Missionaries

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Philippines Cebu Mission <2012162@ldschurch.org>
Date: Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Subject: RE: Missionary Weekly Letters - Annika K. Bruno - 20 Jun 2011 - 26 Jun 2011
To: "annika.bruno@myldsmail.net" <annika.bruno@myldsmail.net>


Dear Sister Bruno,

Thank you for your letter.  I am so thrilled and grateful that you are having great success.  I will be praying for your recent converts and for your investigators along with you.  The spreading of the gospel is so amazing.  I am saddened to hear of the difficulty of retaining converts.  Unfortunately, it is difficult around the world.  There is great truth and prophetic insight in the parable of the soils.  Read Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23.  We have a divine duty to give every new member a friend, a calling and nurturing or teaching in the good word of God - continued gospel instruction.  The most effective way to keep these new members from falling into inactivity is by providing a strong friend, who can succor the weak, lift the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees".  (DC 81:5).  But it will always be true that the seed falls into the soil of the heart and there are different types of hearts and different types of soils.  The great thing is that the convert has felt the spirit and accepted the invitation to enter in at the straight gate through baptism.  So don't be discouraged. We just need to get better at changing soils and hearts to renew testimony, avoid drifting away, and getting the seed deeply rooted.

I love you Sister Bruno.  My dear wife and I have had the most wonderful experience of receiving all your pictures before we came and receiving the gift of the pure love of Christ for each of you.  As I have read each of your letters to the president upon receipt of your call, and have received and read your letters, that love has increased and is now overflowing.  Thank you for your service and for your testimony.  You are a chosen daughter of God, called to mininster for his son in declaring the gospel and teaching the doctrine of Christ.  Please continue in faith to be obedient and diligent.  This mission needs you!

We are excited to meet you and your companion as we visit the Mandaue zone.

All my love,

President Schmutz
________________________________________
From: 2012162@LDSChurch.org [2012162@LDSChurch.org]
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 4:38 PM
To: Philippines Cebu Mission
Subject: Missionary Weekly Letters - Annika K. Bruno - 20 Jun 2011 - 26 Jun 2011

Annika K. Bruno
Phone: 09399369921
Area: Marigondon
Companion(s): Kathleen Y. Falculan

Report period: 20 Jun 2011 - 26 Jun 2011
Area: Marigondon
Companion(s): Kathleen Y. Falculan

[cid:missPhoto.jpg] Dear President Schmutz,

President I just want to say hello and welcome. I am excited to have the opportunity to get to know you throughout the rest of my mission, and hope that you will love Cebu as much as I have come to love it. The people are very kind and they are humble enough to accept the gospel readily.

This week have been a mix of emotions. We have been struggling to keep out recent converts active, and to help them realize the importance of enduring to the end by continuing to go to church, and for them to be active in the church.

We have four planned baptisms this coming Friday 1 July 2011. We are not for sure about the baptism of Sister Amy because she has not said yes or definite no about her baptism, but I pray everyday she will make the decision to be baptized and open the gate.

Bryl Minoza 17 years old is a great example to me. We taught him about fasting this past Monday and on Tuesday he fasted. He has the desire to know the truth. He is going to be baptized this Friday.

Leo Minoza 17 years old his mom said he could be baptized yesterday. She finally gave her permission after not wanting him to be baptized. It gave us the opportunity to start to teach his mother about the gospel so she would let her son be baptized. She actually is slowly listening to the gospel.

Louis Minoza 18 years old stopped smoking. He is so excited about getting baptized he only regrets he could stop smoking earlier.

Sister Anastasia is listening to the gospel she is the Lola of Bryl.

From our recent convert Randy Minoza we have started to teach at least 7 people. He is a strong person. I only hope he can continue to live the gospel and not fall away. He is the example for them since he was the first to be baptized, and to introduce us to them. He is struggling at times but through the members he is becoming stronger.

I see Satan working on these boys especially since they talk about going on their missions. I am worried about their retention, but I have faith God will help them when they need it. I only worry because I meet so many people on the streets while I2Ling that are inactive now. Also some of my recent converts have already fallen away.

I know that this work has been progressing quickly. I am grateful I am a part of it.

Sister Bruno

Marigondon

Leading an Area

HEY!

So almost for sure that Sister Falculan is transferring which for me is bad news for her she is excited.  This area is super expensive and she actually is tired of asking her family for personal money.  But we have been blessed for spending all of our might, mind, strength, and personal money in this area :)

I am finally starting to get this bisayan thing but sometimes I still miss an important word and my translation for the conversation may not be correct.  Its funny most of the time.  I have become super close with everyone here in Marigondon, and am grateful to be the one staying.  If Sister Falculan leaves I will be leading the area.  Which is sooo stressful especially since our area hasn't split yet so we have two wards we  have investigators attend but actually we are part of three wards!!  Talk about a huge responsibility!  Talk about oh so many many pimples :(  

We are going to the aquarium today for district activity I am sooo excited dont worry I will send pictures, but we have to go because we are already late!!

Love you all

Sister Bruno

Four More Baptisms in Marigondon

Dear Fams...

So thanks for the updates its been awhile since hearing from you all.  Its weird to think life goes on while I'm away, but s much has changed.  I'm grateful though I have nothing to worry about except the worries of other people.  Which actually is WAY more stressful than having to worry about my own life haha..

So from your letters you say I sound happy and its so true.  I come home so tired every night and its awesome because we just have so many people to visit everyday.  I have become close with my investigators and I don't want to see the transfer come, because it brings change.  I could be transferring or Sister Falculan could be transferring we find out on Wednesday next week.  Our investigators and recent converts don't want either of us to go, and if possible I hope we both stay one more transfer! 


We have four baptisms planned for this Friday 1 July 2011 Bryl, Leo, Rose, and Amy.  I am so excited for them.

Stay active in the church and always read the Book of Mormon.  Don't ever fall away from the church!  If you do I will come home from my mission and... Well just don't! 

Love you all

Sister Bruno 

Make or Break Moments

Dear Fams!

Nahigugma Ko kaninyo

Welp this week has been so fast.  The time in Marigondon really has been fun.  My trainer went home and my other 2 companions (Sister Williams and Sister Caluyo), President Hansen, and Sister Hansen go home in July this next transfer.

We have some great investigators who are really progressing.  Looking back I see that the Lord really does prepare his children for the gospel.

Ronnel (23 yrs), Harold (27 yrs), and Rolland (30 yrs) came to church this last Sunday and we are bring them to temple tours this coming Thursday.  We are teaching them Word of Wisdom tonight so we will see what happens this might be a make or break moment.

Brother Randy is going to be baptized on 11 June.  We were going to have his baptism on 18 June but he is just really ready so we asked if we could change it because a member of the bishopric id going to get married 18 June and everyone will be at his wedding.

Brother Leo really wants to get baptized, but his father is against it and has not given permission yet, but he has not said no so there is still hope.  Brother Leo is 17 yrs and he is so willing to be baptized he just needs permission from his father.  We plan to teach his father this coming Sunday!

Sister Amy is still reluctant about getting baptized but she is going to church every Sunday and is reading the Book of Mormon despite her eye condition.

Sister Rose missed church this past week so we gave her another baptismal date!  28 June!

Learning everyday and loving everyday.

Love
Sister Bruno

Four Possible Baptisms in Marigondon

Dear Family!

Work here in Marigondon is an adventure. We went to the Manduae stake center at the request of the person in charge of jubilee. They want us now to participate in the program. We actually would just rather go to watch and take pictures, but its also cool that we have to chance to participate now.

We are not familiar with Mandaue so when we were going home we took the wrong Dyipney and had a mini adventure. The adventure was fun but it hurt the pocket book.

We have four baptisms this coming Sunday which is a miracle since we just opened the area, and for this I am grateful. Rochelle Latoga, Mirryl Latoga, Rizza Latoga, and James Brian Alphanta are getting baptized may 21, 2011. We are really excited.

We were going to play volleyball this morning, but it was sprinkling, and here in the Philippines if its raining you will get sick if you get your head wet for too long. So we just went home.

Transfers are coming in one week and Sister Falculan and I don't expect to be transfered.

Our investigator Randy came to church with his friend Leo we didn't expect them to come, but it was a welcomed surprise!

Working hard!

I forgot my camera cord this week so send pictures next week.

Love you all
Nahigugma ko kaninyo

Sister Bruno

Progress in Marigondon

From: 2012162-prs@ldschurch.org
Date: Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: Weekly Report Sent on 19 Apr 2011
To: annika.bruno@myldsmail.net


Thanks for sharing that spiritual moment. You will continue to have moments like that each day as you follow the spirit's directions. Keep up the great work. Pres.Hansen


President Hansen,

Marigondon has been really good. We are finally starting to get some definite investigators. We have progressing investigators who are attending sacrament, and actually we had 8 investigators attend sacrament this past week. We have two investigators Amy Junio and Rose Lacsamana who are progressing towards baptism. We are working with them for their understanding, and brought them to temple tour which helped them a lot. Sister Rose said that going to the temple she felt that our message must be true. It was a big testimony to me of the great importance of temples on the earth today. We are working with a part member family the Lotoga family. The mother is inactive, but the father is very supportive of the kids going to church. He even has been thinking about attending. The children have attended church and the younger ones are receptive so we will keep working with them. It will take time for this family. We don't know what they all feel at this point in time, but we will keep teaching them to help them realize the importance of the gospel in their life. We have an investigator brother Ceasar Padilla who has investigated many churches and we are taking things very slowly with him. We are teaching the Saga family and they are progressing. We had four new investigators this week Kenshin Barcenal, Reymarth Barcenal, Maura Barcenal, and Lotchin Pino they are very smart they really think out our message and i know they will take the effort to find out for themselves if it is true. Brother Raymarth's prayers are very powerful I could see him as a future leader in the church.

Our area requires a lot of work, and we are doing everything we can to help our area progress. Sister Falculan is pushing me to do better every day and my language sky rocketed with her as a companion. We come home very tired every night, and I find that a sign of a successful day!

Thank You President Hansen!

Sister Bruno

Dreaming in the Language

DEAR FAMILY

Nahigugma Ko kaninyo!

Karon semana Lisod Jud kaayo!  Daghan ang among trabajo pero okay ra na! Padayon lang. At least ang akong linguahe palambo jud kaayo ug ang akong kauban si sister falculan nindot jud kaayo niya. Karon semana nay upat ka bago nga mga investigator ug nindot jud sila kay ug smart jud kaayo sila ug naghunahuna sila kabahin sa among mensahe. Dili nagistoria sila oo lang pero nay daghan mga pagutana para kanamo.

The area has been good we are working hard and we are doing our best to find families for our area. I had a dream in bisayan yesterday which I find to be a good sign because I think it must mean I can now understand the language. I can understand Jud pero when I speak its slang jud kaayo. We are so tired after work we go straight to bed. We were in bed asleep by 9:30 yesterday! As in knocked out jud. My companions say I talk in my sleep and I have even said Bisayan words haha!
Some of our new investigators we are going to play volleyball with next pday I am super excited but Sister Falculan is not excited kay she hates volleyball, but she said she will play for the sake of BRTing (building a relationship of trust).

We had a temple session today and we had to take a taxi. Our new area is soooo expensive because we are always taking tricycles to and from places. Its the only mode of transportation and our area is huge! I would just walk every where if i could but Sister Falculan likes to keep a strict schedule. She is awesome. She is so Kugihan its ridiculous. I love her for it! We are always laughing which is good because if we aren't laughing it wouldn't be as fun!

Welps we have an early appointment we have to make!

DONT FORGET IM GOING TO CALL FOR MOTHERS DAY! Im not sure what time yet or what day but I will email again next Wednesday tell me what day and time is probably best and we will work something out!!

LOVE YOU ALL AGAIN!

SISTER BRUNO