Philippines Cebu Mission President Farewell Letter

                                                    ADIEU

                

Dear Elders and Sisters of the Philippines Cebu Mission,  

                          

I am breaking tradition by writing my final letter you as a group rather than responding individually to your emails from last week.  I am profoundly grateful for each one of you and the dedicated efforts you have put forth in serving the Lord.  This is His work, and each of you contributes to the success and progress of the entire mission.  You will be blessed eternally for the sacrifices and selfless work you are devoting to the Master.  Your lives have been interwoven with mine and will remain so after I am released.  I depart with a glad heart and the assurance that your new mission president will bring a special spirit of love which will permeate throughout the mission and into your hearts.  President and Sister Schmutz are called of God, and I have already felt their love for each of you.  They have been praying for you for some time, and have already begun to know you through your pictures and countenances. 

Progress of Work in Philippines Cebu Mission

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Barbara Hansen <bhh1776@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 8:08 AM
Subject: Amazing!!!!
To:

Dear missionaries,  We just wanted to share the June statistics with you and celebrate our success together--100 baptisms!!!  Last week alone, 44 souls opened the doors to salvation.  Almost 10,000 people were invited to learn about the gospel.  President and I are so happy with your hard work and the love you have shown.  We see these statistics, not as a pinnacle or stopping place, but a starting place for President and Sister Schmutz to build on.  We know you can exceed the 1000 baptism mark by December, perhaps even 1100 in 2011!  As a mission, we currently have 531.  Congratulations and padayon palihog!  President ug ako nahigugma ka ninyo. 

Ayo Ayo

Sister Hansen

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! 

Work in Marigondon Moving Slowly

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.  

Mission Changes

Dear F-A-M-I-L-Y!

Are you still alive?  Can someone write me and give me an update?!? I haven't hear from most of you for awhile so just curious how everyone is doing....

The mission is GREAT... 

We just had brother Randy Minoza Ybanez this past Saturday 11 June 2011!  Success!  He is 21 years old and he wants to serve a mission.  We are really excited for him and he seems to be doing great.  We hope that he will continue to have to desire to serve a mission after a year.  Next 11 June 2012 he will serve a mission UNTA (hopefully)!

Another Baptism in Marigondon

Dear Family!

So we had a family home evening at the Latoga families house because it was Joice's birthday yesterday and their mom Michelle's day off was Tuesday this week.  It was really fun.  Actually all the family home evenings we have here in the Philippines are a success because everyone really is willing to participate no matter the game!  I am learning to be chill here on the mission.  I have become shy of sorts I think I picked that up from the culture.  All of our investigators are so shy at first!!  I have come to like the personality so much its become me.  BUT not so much shy because I'm a missionary and its dili pwede to be shy.

Two Brothers Apart

Progress in Marigondon

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.