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

Live-In Partners

Family!

I can't believe how fast the time is going I feel like I just got here yesterday! I'm never going to get used to the time on the mission. It seems like the time goes so fast because its go go go all the time, and I love it.

This last Saturday January 29, 2011 Sister Grace Hardy was baptized it was really awesome. She definitely was one of those people who was ready for baptism. She has one of the strongest testimonies, and she has such a good heart. She always wants to feed us and even if we wanted to we cant escape her house without her feeding us. Her baptism was small, but her sister ended up coming which was good i think for Sister Grace. On Sunday Sister Grace and Brother Hardy came late, because they were coming all the way from Sister Graces home in the Providence and so she wasn't confirmed. She was really disappointed, but we made sure she knew we would do it next Sunday.

On the Dyipney (jeepney) ride the other day the conductor (the man/boy sometimes there are 14 year old conductors who takes the money) the guy asked Sister Caluyo if she was our tour guide. Haha I never heard that one before it was hilarious. I think that's probably what many people think of us when we are walking down the street.

Sister Williams and Sister Caluyo always make sure I say to say Hi to everyone in Bisayan because I "wouldn't want to disappoint my fan club" they are always teasing me about me having a fan club. They tease me about everything actually but its just what I call love.

Sister Mitch Minosa has a baptismal date of February 12, 2011 and she is ready for baptism. Although we didn't assign her to she has begun to read the scriptures from the beginning and she is already in Jacob.

Many of our investigators right now have Law of Chastity problems. Their are many people who have live-in boyfriends with children, so its really difficult trying to convience them to get married. Our investigators are willing it's the boyfriends that are having the issues, and two of them are members. Sister Sally Abella, and Sister Emeley Pardillo both have live-ins that are members it's sad because they are not living their covenants and so they are holding their families from blessings. Its really frustrating!

I love you all and hope all is well!

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