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 

Work in Marigondon Moving Slower

Fams!

Love all of y'all.  

So I have really been worried this week for our recent converts and our investigators.  They really are like family to me.  They still have so many trials to go through.  Louis and Louie though are giving up smoking.  Although its not easy for them, especially since there is so many people that do not want them to succeed in this difficult task, they are making progress.  We bought them candy so that they can substitute candy for smoking.  

Leo's parents are not letting him get baptized.  He really has a desire to be baptized, but they are not supporting his decision.  They support his brothers decision because his brother was a little out of control before and now is straightening out.  For Leo though he is a nice kid and they don't want him to get baptized.  We are doing everything we can to convince them otherwise.  He is 17 years old so he needs their permission.

Bryyel is still going strong he is missionary material! 

Sister Amy is being interviewed this Saturday I hope she makes the right decision.  

Sister Rose is being interviewed this Saturday too and I think that she is ready.  This will be the best step for her to make for her family right now.     

Brother Ronnel really surprised us with his testimony in the lesson the other day.  He is really growing.  I saw him walking down the street from behind when we were going to visit him the other day I recognized him and waved.  He saw only my hand out of the tricycle and he took a tricycle to his house and met us there.  Sister Falculan was laughing because I recognized him even from the back.  I am very observant...  

Growing Learning Living

Still here even though its been 8 months don't forget about me!!

Sister Bruno

Report to Mission President about Progress in Marigondon

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 2012162-prs@ldschurch.org
Date: Wed, May 18, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: Weekly Report Sent on 17 May 2011
To: annika.bruno@myldsmail.net


Thanks for your accountability report sister Bruno. I know that the Lord will continue to lead you along. Have a great week......good luck with your baptisms. Pres.Hansen

Dear President Hansen,

We have been praying really hard for our investigators, and we have four baptisms this coming Sunday May 22, 2011. It really is a blessing for our area. We started with no clear investigators and now we have people ready for baptism. Rochelle, Mirryl, and Rizza Latoga has progressed very quickly. Rochelle and Mirryl kuyoged us to our lessons yesterday to see what missionary work was like. Although they are shy they are starting to learn to break out of their shells.

Amy Junio is progressing, and has mentioned baptism. We are taking it very slowly with her.

Sister Rose Lacsamana we were about to give up on because she kept canceling appointments, but we visited her yesterday and she read through 1 Nephi we were shocked. We thought the worst. It taught me not to expect the worst, but to hope for the best!

Brother James Brian Alphanta is getting baptized this Sunday and he has a strong support from his parents.

We have been BRTing like mad with the Barcenal family and Kenshin and Reymaurth have started to progress. Sister Maura their mother was going to go to church but the father was against it. We really need to focus on the father, but unfortunately is only home in the late evenings.

We never know what to expect with our investigators everyday, but we are working our hardest to help them to gain a knowledge of the gospel and feel that it is true.

Sister Falculan and I have our ups and downs, but she has really taught me a lot about Patience. For this I am grateful :)

Have an amazing day!


Sincerely,
Sister Bruno


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 2012162-prs@ldschurch.org
Date: Wed, May 11, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: Weekly Report Sent on 10 May 2011
To: annika.bruno@myldsmail.net


It sounds like you have a variety of many wonderful contacts. We will keep them in our prayers. Keep up the great work..........Pres.Hansen

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

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

Missionary Marriage Proposal

KAMUSTA MAN MO!

Primero Nahigugma ko kaninyo. Hapit Na Mo-uli! JOKES LANG BITAW!

So  this week has been really fun. Today we baked brownies and cake Sister  Brand and Sister Falculan came over, so it was Sister Caluyo, Sister  Williams, Sister Tumala, Sister Brand, Sister Falculan, and I. We ate  pizza and baked P-day in the mission field good times!  But it wasn't  good for me because I made a pact with Sister Hansen our mission  President's wife that we would lose 2 pounds a week, I'm just going to  have to run super hard tomorrow morning. We have been running in the  morning and we walked up the bukid all day yesterday I'm so sore its  great. President Hansen challenged all of us to go APE in the morning  (Arise, Pray, and Exercise).

HILARIOUS STORY!! My companion just got proposed to over email  BAHAH she is going home in 3 months and the boy I guess has been making plans for their marriage without her knowing, and he wants to come pick  her up and get a temple marriage. Sister Caluyo was like NO JUD!!  hahahahhahahaha I'm dying this is the best story ever! LOL laughing in  the Internet cafe  I about peed my pants. She is like I want to PUNCH HIM way to bother  me with this matter on my mission!! HALA HALA HALA. Some Peoples kids!

This week has been fun of fun times. We basically spent all day  hiking through the Bukid visiting Recent converts that have been  inactive. We visited a recent convert Brother Nelson he is so buotan but he hasn't been coming to church not cool, but I hope our lesson encouraged him to come to conference.

They announced this week at district meeting that P-day next week is on TUESDAY and transfers are 2 days early WEDNESDAY! We all freaked  out hapit na! Hala I cant believe that transfers are so soon! Siguro my companion will transfer I hope they don't take her from me she is an amazing teacher I cant go on without her! Joke Lang but still really  she cant go she is an awesome companion! I most like will stay one more  transfer putting me at 6 months my first area! I will be happy staying  or going I will go where the Lord wants me to go I'm just happy to be  in the Philippines! So many blessings here on the mission my happiness  is great. My disappointment I feel in investigators when they don't  follow a commitment, and how I feel proud when they do. I feel Heavenly  Father shaping me for after my mission. I love the mission and am  grateful to Dad for encouraging me to come on my mission. I am so  grateful for mom raising me in the church, and teaching me the right  values. I am grateful for Gen, Gigi, and Flora's example thanks mga Ate (older sisters) for sticking it out. I am grateful for Desi, Franny,  Michael, and Niki's disapproving looks if I stepped out of line thanks  mga manhod (younger siblings)! Family really is being attacked everyday  STAY STRONG RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO ARGUE!!

PS to everyone who is reading my blog if Dad posts this I am grateful for your friendship and you words of encouragement here on my mission.  I know that God loves all his children. Resist temptation you have agency to choose. Choose the Right!!


Nahigugma Ko kaninyo

Sister Bruno