Hardness of Heart

Dear Family,

I made history this week by being the first sister of my time going on sister companionship exchanges.  It was a great experience.  I really loved my time with Sister Camarillo.  We laughed the whole time, and we had amazing spiritual lessons.  I hope that since we were the guinea pigs that we can continue to do companion exchanges as sisters on the mission.

Today I just got my trunky letter!!  A trunky letter is when they send you a paper asking about what airport you go home to and the correct information, and also it gives my date of release as 26 April 2012!!  By the way I need the new address to give to the office for my travel and such.  Its weird because I will be coming home soon.  I am not sure if I am ready I was really hoping that I could extend, but I think that it will not be possible now.  

Today I went with my district just to tour around.  We didn't do much, but it was also fun.  Making memories that's what the mission is about.  I only have a short time to make the best of the mission.  The time is far spent!

We had zone interview this week, and president call us all to repentance.  I really agree with him though.  He talked about one of the steps of repentance is restitution, and if we don't repent now it will be hard to make a restitution after the mission.  He talked about not following the false doctrine of the mission.  We all love President Schmutz so much.  He is such a bright person.  He is definitely called by God. 

We had a hard lesson this week with an inactive member, and I ended up crying in the lesson, because I felt such sorrow for the hardness of his heart.  I just testified, and then we left.  He wouldn't even give a prayer at the end.  He was Muslim once, and we believe that he is returning to those thoughts.  My only regret is that he restricts his wife from attending church. Its sad to see someone who once was a faithful member of the church, and that went on a mission have to be victim to her choices.  I hope that one day brother will change.

I love you all and if you want to write you better do it soon because I come home in APRIL!!  Haha

Love you

Sister Bruno

Through the Trials Come Many Blessings

From: Annika Bruno <annika.bruno@myldsmail.net>
Date: Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Subject: Week 2
To: cebumissionoffice@gmail.com


Dear President Schmutz,

This week has been interesting.  We just went to the doctors this morning to run some tests that the doctor suggested for Sister Taylor.  She has been getting swollen hands and feet. She has been getting many trials this week.  I remember my first transfer on the mission I also had many trials and  thoughts of going home, but I got through it and I know that she will get through it too.  We are fighting a rough battle, but we will overcome president. 

We had an opportunity on P-day to just sit in the temple waiting area for a few minutes before going back to work, and there Sister Taylor and I had the chance to talk about many things.  I think that Sister Taylor is a little bit sad that she is missing so many things at home like her brother getting engaged, but she understands she is here for a reason, and I am not worried about her because those feelings are natural.  She isn't extremely depressed or anything so I think she is just adjusting.  I was happy to see earlier this morning when we rode the dyipney she I2Led the people sitting next to her, whereas, in the last few days she has been too shy to try.  I can really see the progression of her language and knowledge.  I really am glad that this new training program has come out, because I can see if you are diligent to the study program then the progression is substantially greater compared to when I was trained on the mission. 

Sad to say though our work has been slowing down, because people were busy for the new year's holiday so we got punted a lot!  I have been having problems making the stats, but we have been working hard going out everyday on time working until curfew so I have no guilt just concern for the area.  We have been diligent about the studying and training plan which I find effects the amount of lessons we can get in one day.  I have only made the stats one week the whole time I have been assigned in the city.  I don't know if its because people are busy or if its the training program, and also most days we get punted so we only have one lesson for that day.  It can be frustrating seeing the rest of the district making far above the stats.

President Hansen once said "through the trials comes many blessings", and I have to agree.  We have found another less active family the Recla family that we have started teaching, and they agreed to come back to church this week.  Also while I2Ling we found a man who said his wife is a member and previously his kids would attend church but they have stopped going.  He wants us to come to his house and continue to teach his family.  We also just received a referral from a member for a family of eight.  They have listened to the missionaries before, and they have just moved into the area and they want to continue to listen to the discussions. 

The Alpitche family has come back from vacation, and we are happy to say that brother is cutting down his smoking.  We are helping him slowly go off of cigarettes.  He has gone from 8 to 5 a day now.  We will continue to help him until he can quit smoking.  We have high hopes for their family getting sealed in the temple one day. 

Jeff and Clay are still in the process of planning their wedding, and we found out that they are living in the same house now.  We have encouraged them that if they don't live apart at least don't sleep in the same room.  They have been having some problems with planning their marriage, because although they would like to get married and they have all the requirements the family of Jeff is opposing the marriage.  They are disappointed because they wanted him to go out of the Philippines to work before he would get married.  So they have been having problems getting his parents to sign the marriage papers since his is only 22 years old he needs parents consent.  We will continue to pray for him that they can get married for the sake of the child, and the sake of their family.  We will continue to keep you updated with their progress. 

Sister Jandog is almost at her one year.  She is preparing to enter into the temple.  Bishop advised her to go through the temple preparation class before she is to go through the temple.  It is a 6 weeks class and she is willing to do it in order to enter into the temple.  She is a shy type of person that is faithful in coming to church every week, and I see her testimony growing every day. 

We will continue to strive to do better everyday, and find those in need.  I am also glad of the opportunity to have met your family they are all so kind.  I enjoyed talking with them, and helping in what little ways I could for their stay in the Philippines.
  
Being a trainer allows me to reflect on the feelings I once had as a new missionary, and especially since one of my trainers Sister Williams was the MTC teacher of Sister Taylor.  I never feel frustrated as a trainer.  I just continue to have high expectations for Sister Taylor.  I hope that she will feel that I am a good trainer, and not compare my weaknesses with others strengths in the future.  I only hope I can remain in her memory as a friend. 

Thanks President Schmutz until next week,

Sister Bruno
 

Overcoming Adversity

Dear Family,

 This week has been pretty rough because it was a holiday and no one was home. Either they were not home or they were busy with cooking for Christmas or New Years! We had many trials this week but that's what makes the best stories. So this is what happened my companions feet have been swollen since she got here and the other day her hands were huge and swollen she looked like the Michelin man! We are going to see the doctor today to see whats going on with her. I think it is probably an allergy. We think she might be allergic to the bug repellant which is ironic because its supposed to protect you from sickness not cause the sickness. Anyways we are going to the doctor today which is going to kill our P-day but what can you do sacrifices must be made. We bought new curtains for the apartment which should have been nice but we accidentally bought two different kinds for the living room so they don't exactly match perfectly, but they are okay. I finally bought a pillow after not sleeping with one for a month Ah the simple things in life!!


I FINALLY GOT MY PACKAGE. Thank you for the cookies. Well I bought butter which is pretty expensive here and we don't have an oven or a cookie roller, but I devised a plan to use the toaster oven!! Success! We made cookies last night which takes forever baking them in the toaster over because we can only cook two at a time, but I finally got them cooked. I will most likely frost them tonight. It was fun making them though that's for sure. It made for a good memory. How to make cookies on the mission step one. Use the pots used for boiling water because we don't have a big bowl. Step two make cookies. Step three roll the dough out by pounding it with your hand. Step three cook in the toaster over... Easy bake :) Good times.

We are digging a septic tank for our csp. It brings me back to the time when I would dig in the dirt as a child. We are digging a hole that's our purpose. We didn't get that far last week, but we are going back this week and we aren't sure how long it will take, but its fun.... For new years eve we ate at a members house. We went to bed at 10PM but woke up at 12 because of the fireworks going off outside of our window. It was like a war. The fire works went off until about 2AM. Here for Christmas and New Years they shoot off fireworks, and all of the little kids buy fireworks. You know the saying don't play with matches well I dont think they have ever heard of that saying here. there were 4 and 5 year olds just lighting fireworks and chucking them every way. You have to be on guard as to not get hit by one. Actually we were passing by and I go nailed in the foot with one. It was just a little fire cracker so it wasn't too bad. So we woke up to the boys yelling happy new years. We said happy new years and went back to bed!! Haha the life of a missionary.

We have been teaching Jeff and he and Clay should be married this Jan. His baptism will probably be in February but we aren't sure because he now works on Sundays. He is looking for another job so he can get off on Sundays, but he is pretty new at his job now. I hope he can find another job. Everyone was out of town this past week so we had hardly anyone at church this week.

Our stats crashed and burned, but at least we tried our hardest. I am pretty sure that its because its Sister Taylor's first week. I know the first transfer on the mission is the hardest. Satan really tries to make you quit. We made it through, and Sister Taylor is really trying in the language. I make her teach the first lesson whenever we teach the first lesson, because we have studies it and I have written sentences for her. So the expectation is high because she could train in 12 weeks. The new 12 week training program they want the greenies ready to train after 12 weeks. So I am trying to prepare her for that. Training isn't the easiest, but its a learning experience. I just hope I have one more area, because you how much I love the city! I love you all have an awesome week and if you ever want to write just you know do it before I come home!!

Sister Bruno

Overflowing Font

Dear Family, This week as you all know was Christmas and I have yet to receive that package, but they go to the post office tomorrow so I am hoping to see it then. Its about the thought that counts Thank you all!! My area is Cebu 5th. The temple is my area, and we spend a minute or two in the mission office chatting with the missionaries if we happen to be at the complex. I am back to being informed about everything happening with the other missionaries. But you know me I would rather be in the middle of no where climbing a mountain than in the city. This week was an adjustment getting used to training an American! Sister Taylor! Sister Williams my "trainer" was American but she was Samoan, and this is the first time while I have been on the mission that two white American sisters are together. They say that its because I know the language well. I think it just happen to be destiny. :) Well I thought I would like it which I do, but its a major adjustment. I thought I was training last transfer, but this is really a challenge. I now have to speak English which I have decided I dont like to do now. It hurts my head. I have discovered though it is no longer about me progressing, but rather trying to make history with my greenie! It turns out though that Sister Williams is Sister Taylor's MTC teacher what a small world right! I guess I was mentioned in a couple of classes. One of the greenies that came into the batch with Sister Taylor said that she read my blog. Interesting. Maybe I should try to be more witty or something... well if I had time :) You know You Know never enough time.... So at the baptism of Sister Salve Vismanos the ward mission leader wasn't paying attention to the font, and during the lesson of Sister Monarez the font over flowed! The water swept across the floor and Sister continued her talk. When she was finished Bishop Thelmo and Brother Dover mopped up the floor. After we had a successful baptism. When they said amen all Sister Salve had to do is bend her knees and she was under the water. They hardly needed to put her under the water was so high. For Christmas I got the news that Gen had a baby! Wow was I ever shocked. I guess when you are on the mission your family just kind of forgets about you and assume someone else told you the news!! Can you all send me pictures please! Yey its a boy!! I am so excited to see him when I come home, and Chiara got so big!! She talks now. I love you all, Sister Bruno

A Rat as Big as A Cat

Dear Fams, How are you all?!? I am good still haven't gotten the package but I'm not worried. I'm expecting to get it probably in a month I will let you know. We have transfers again tomorrow and I will be training again. This time for real. I'm not sure who I will train but the odds are I will be training a American! We shall see! I'll let you know next week. This week has been rough in terms of our investigators. Our investigator who was supposed to get baptized this coming Saturday told us that his girlfriend is Prego!! But he is getting married in January so he will at least still be able to get baptized. Its just sad because his girlfriend is a member and they really wanted to get married in the temple. Now they will just have to work things out to be sealed in the temple. its just sad is all. At least we have hope for them since they are getting married and they want to stay close to the church. We shall see what happens. One of our inactive members opened up to us and told us that her step father is a peeping tom and that he threatens her life, but she wont open up to anyone else about it. they tried before to go to the barangay but nothing was done. I just suggested that she talk with bishop, but for now she wont even go to church. We will continue to help her resolve this. CAN YALL SEND ME SOME MUSIC LIKE LDS ROCK OR CHURCH MUSIC... you can probably just send it through an attachment in an email!! Thank you in advance. We have Sister Salve's baptism this Saturday at 10AM I am excited for her! I saw a rat yesterday as big as a cat it freaked me out!! YUCKS! Every companionship in my district will be training this transfer its kind of interesting! Im excited to see what will happen tomorrow!! I love you all See you on SKYPE!! I think maybe Monday morning we will skype but be on Sunday my time just in case either christmas eve or Christmas day DONT FORGET!! Love you Sister Bruno

Reactivating A Family

Dear Family, It seems another transfer is past and gone. Transfer call comes again this coming Monday. Its clear that I will have a new companion, and most likely train again. Same area. I hope though that I have one last area before I come home. I still have 3 transfers after this December. Christmas is coming again and I plan to Skype on Sunday around 7-8AM my time or if not Monday 7-8AM my time. See you all on Skype then huh. So get on all of you and we will figure out everything!! My companion Sister Pangue is super cool. She is only with me for one transfer but she is hard working. She is still learning like any greenie. I wish I had the chance for a short term mission before the mission its an awesome opportunity. She is now prepared to train hehe. We finally got our rice cooker. I have been learning how to cook rice on the stove. Many new skills for when i come home... Except I will probably just use the rice cooker hehe you know American still. We had a zone activity today and we did a play/ dance act. It was fun we played a game you have to blow the flower out of the cup to get the Peso at the bottom... Pictures to come. Brother Alpitche came back to Church this past Sunday his whole family is active now!! All 8 of them its like we just had a new baptism a whole family, but its a better feeling to reactivate members, because I want them to get sealed in the temple!! We will work on it until I get transferred! This past Sunday I was asked last minute to give a talk about the blessings of tithing. I accepted the challenge and then gave a very clear talk. Guided by the spirit! We had many investigators attending church and its a hard topic especially when I know there are many people in the ward not paying their tithing. I am glad that the spirit guided me through the talk and hope that it inspired some to pay their tithing. Last Thursday Dec 8 we had a Christmas devotional. it was way cute. We had some people giving the narration of the Christmas story then we all sung Christmas songs. Our district gave a special musical number. I played the piano... Well I tried hehe We also had a CSP at the High School we taught about 25 students in one class then 25-30 students in another class. We taught about Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom. We commited them to follow the WOW and LOC. It was way fun. That's a recap of our week. Hope you are all doing good. Love Sister Bruno

Training A Short-Term Missionary

Dear Family, It seems another transfer is past and gone. Transfer call comes again this coming Monday. Its clear that I will have a new companion, and most likely train again. Same area. I hope though that I have one last area before I come home. I still have 3 transfers after this December. Christmas is coming again and I plan to Skype on Sunday around 7-8AM my time or if not Monday 7-8AM my time. See you all on Skype then huh. So get on all of you and we will figure out everything!! My companion Sister Pangue is super cool. She is only with me for one transfer but she is hard working. She is still learning like any greenie. I wish I had the chance for a short term mission before the mission its an awesome opportunity. She is now prepared to train hehe. We finally got our rice cooker. I have been learning how to cook rice on the stove. Many new skills for when i come home... Except I will probably just use the rice cooker hehe you know American still. We had a zone activity today and we did a play/ dance act. It was fun we played a game you have to blow the flower out of the cup to get the Peso at the bottom... Pictures to come. Brother Alpitche came back to Church this past Sunday his whole family is active now!! All 8 of them its like we just had a new baptism a whole family, but its a better feeling to reactivate members, because I want them to get sealed in the temple!! We will work on it until I get transferred! This past Sunday I was asked last minute to give a talk about the blessings of tithing. I accepted the challenge and then gave a very clear talk. Guided by the spirit! We had many investigators attending church and its a hard topic especially when I know there are many people in the ward not paying their tithing. I am glad that the spirit guided me through the talk and hope that it inspired some to pay their tithing. Last Thursday Dec 8 we had a Christmas devotional. it was way cute. We had some people giving the narration of the Christmas story then we all sung Christmas songs. Our district gave a special musical number. I played the piano... Well I tried hehe We also had a CSP at the High School we taught about 25 students in one class then 25-30 students in another class. We taught about Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom. We committed them to follow the WOW and LOC. It was way fun. That's a recap of our week. Hope you are all doing good. Love Sister Bruno

Going Home Early From A Mission

HAHAH Mom told me of the Christmas BOX!!! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH I LOVE YOU ALL. I will let you know if it comes in the next month hahah it always takes FOREVER!!! The mission is great. We just found out that one of the Elders in my batch going home will be going home soon because of a heart problem. I have been talking to my companions about what it would feel like to have to go home early. Most have said they would be okay with that hahah!! Well I definitely would not be okay with that. I would only hope that I serve the fullest here on the mission with no regrets and until the end. I would hate to miss the going away parties haha!! We had district activity today, and bought a cake for Sister Gumayao's birthday which ended up in a small cake fight. We are children I know but it wasn't out of control so I feel that it's okay :) Shhh dont tell President in case thats not okay. I have realized on the mission it's about personal worthiness. We have agency. If we used the agency wisely the mission is an amazing adventure. If we use our agency incorrectly the mission is full of guilt and regret. I am glad I am having a blast on the mission. I am starting to adjust to the city, but hope that i will have one last area before coming home. The time is far spent you KNOW!! The elders in my going home Batch are counting down the days and the time is soon approaching, but don't worry you still have some time to make some coming home posters and plan my PARTY...!! Speaking of party its soon CHRISTMAS!! THAT MEANS SKYPE!! I plan to skype on the 25 DEC but Im not exactly sure yet. But plan it to be 25 DEC. It might be 26 DEC whatever I will let you know next week probably. We have a baptism coming up soon. We postponed it for his family to attend. Brother Jeff is what I like to call a Golden Investigator. He has so many awesome questions is amazing how great his faith and testimony is. i feel that rather than us teaching him he is teaching us far more. I like to use his comments in lessons when I teach. He makes everything so clear. I am excited for the transfer. It will be on 21 DEC. It's early this month so it wont be so close to Christmas. I will be getting a full time companion, and will train for two transfers so I will most likely have one more area my last transfer!! I love you all for your sacrifice for me to be on the mission. Keep enduring and living your covenants. Love Sister Bruno PS PLEASE UPDATE ME WITH ALL OF YOUR LIVES!!

Interesting Questions from An Investigator

Dear President Schmutz, I continue to have a positive experience with Sister Pangue. She is willing to work hard even though she is not a full time missionary with no training. I feel this has not only been productive for the mission, but it has also helped her to be ready for her mission. Brother Jeff has decided to move his baptismal date until the first couple weeks of January so that his parents can attend. I feel this is the best decision for him. I believe that he is ready to be baptized, but I am glad we have more time to prepare him for the covenant he is about to make. He has many great questions, and we are sometimes shocked at his knowledge of the gospel and his testimony. Sister Salve is starting to open up. She is not yet ready for her baptism so we will move the date back. At least we see her progression. Sister Neil Jean Alpitche has a great desire to be baptized. Her parents are inactive, but are slowly coming back to church. We feel that she should not be baptized until she has support from her parents. Although she is not a convert baptism she is still someone we have been focusing on. We are teaching her father on the weekends when he is home. They are excited for our family home evening this Saturday at 7PM. If you are available President and would like to attend just let us know. We are happy that Sister Alpitche came to church last sunday although brother did not come with her. She took the leap of faith, and brought her six children with her. She walked with six kids two of them being small children. I feel that brother is soon to follow to come back. We taught the Banono family. The father has been inactive for a long time. He has a problem with drinking and smoking, but we feel this will easily be given up once he once again gains a testimony. It will take time and effort, but we can't let his family try to go alone. I am grateful for the new program it has changed my outlook on the work. I can tell the increase of knowledge. I am grateful for the new questions and concerns of inactive members. I feel this will only strengthen me for when I go home not to become inactive!! I am excited for what next transfer will bring with the new companion. I have enjoyed the time with Sister Pangue training. I will continue to help the work progress here in the Cebu 5th area. Although we had very low stats president this week we really did try our hardest. It takes much more time trying to convince inactive members to let us teach them. I find sometimes we are only getting one or two lessons, because we don't feel it would be appropriate to teach. We have been trying to build trust of the inactive members to open their hearts. We though will not force them to listen to a message if the situation does not warrant. For example we visited the Banono house and brother was passed out drunk. We talked to sister, but we did not teach a lesson. Things like that where there will be no spirit. It also seems we get punted a lot more lately, but it does not frustrate us we just continue. Thank you President for your testimony of the Savior. I have a great hope for my future not only tomorrow or after the mission, but in the life to come all because I know that without a shadow of doubt that Christ lives. He is our advocate at the judgement. Sister Bruno

Cockroaches, Scotch Tape and Serving in A Temple Area

Family, I am reassigned to the Cebu 5th ward. You know when it has a number after it then its a city mission jud! Our area is the temple! At least I still have a place to go every morning to go running. We are working here across from the temple. If we don't have many converts then I am definitely doing something wrong, because I am in the shadow of the temple. We are reopening an area! Did I mention I don't have a companion. Instead I am making history. At the transfer call I had no idea what was going on I was not very well informed. At the transfer meeting I found out that I will be training a district missionary. She has received her call for her mission, but has not been to the MTC yet. She can still talk to her family and such because she has not been set apart and she is still preparing to go on her mission, but I am basically training her. I am her MTC teacher. Her gospel doctrine teacher, and trainer!! We arrived at the apartment yesterday and the floor was covered with cockroaches! No one lived in it for a transfer (6weeks) and it was an elders apartment before so you can just imagine. Luckily earlier that day we all decided for district CSP they would help us move in and clean up the apartment. It was a wreck! It's okay because now its livable. We spent the last two days fortifying the house with scotch tape plastic bags and paper to cover holes where the cockroaches can get in. We are scared to wake up with a cockroach on our face! My companion woke up the first night because she had a nightmare there was one on her face and they were crawling up the walls!! I now sleep under the blanket wrapped like a pig in a blanket tight as can be so I don't wake up with one on my face. They still get in the house so we will still fortify it tonight! Pray for me that I don't wake up with on on my face!! Sister Robison already told me a story of that happening to her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our first day of real work was yesterday. We had people come with us from the ward to show us the area so we were lucky because the area book is no help! There is no maps or anything useful!! The elders fail! Its a challenge but I know it will just take getting used to! Loving the work... You know Working hard and hard working its super serious here in the city so you know... Nahigugma ko kaninjo! Sister Bruno Pictures to come I forgot my card reader to send pictures sorry!!