Baptism

Today was Vanessa Tagacay's baptism! It was really nice and lot's of people came. She is such a sweet  person and has really studied and prepared herself. She is kind of quiet but just has that peaceful inner strength to her that is so admirable. I guess you call that the Spirit; she just seems to have it. She bore a nice testimony. Her husband is the elders quorum presidents son and has been less active for a long time but has been faithfully coming back. He's kinda quiet too but a really good guy. They can't wait to go to the temple. There were also 2 children baptized. Aliaza Ritual, who is being raised by her grandmother because her parents are "missing in action" , and Edgar Rosales, who has taken a special shine to Sister Gwilliam and gives her a big hug every time he sees her. Little Aliaza bore her testimony and it was so sweet, she just sobbed the whole time but bore a powerful testimony of Joseph Smith and of the gospel. It was a truly inspiring baptism!

Left to Right Elder Sanchez, Victoria, Pres. Tagacay, son of Victor, Victor, Vanessa, Mercy and Vanessa's Baby, Gwinn and Elder Burgos. Great Family!

Rosales Family with Edgar Jr. the one getting baptized.

Tagacay Family with missionaries

Rosales Family. Young Edgar, the one getting baptized really likes Sister Gwilliam.

They are a great family, we will never forget them!

Aliaza with her aunt Marvee and her Grandmother Sister Pagnanawan

Some of the wonderful Punta branch members. We sure love them!

Busy

This really is a busy job! It's a lot of extra work looking after these apartments. Had to go into manila every day this week just learning where everyone is and making sure they have the things they need. We are trying to work it so we can go out at least in the evenings with the missionaries and so far we've been able to. We love sharing the gospel and we sure love helping these people come closer to the Savior. It's so wonderful to see how the gospel blesses lives and it blesses ours in the process. Wish everyone would go on a mission; there is nothing like it.

Apartments with the Forinashes

It always an experience driving in downtown Manila. It's something that cannot be described, it can only be experienced. When you have dogs,kids, parked cars, hundreds of pedestrians, carts, bikes, motorcycles, tricycles, street vendors and two way traffic all trying to get back and forth on streets that at home we would consider only wide enough for one lane, one way, no parking it can get pretty intense. Actually it's pretty much pure madness; but by exercising patience, unconditional love, taking deep breaths and closing your eyes most of the time we seem to some how make it. Whew! We sure love and appreciate all the missionaries.They live in some pretty difficult circumstances sometimes but they love the work and do a great job.

FHE

We joined Brother and Sister Borja for family home evening tonight and had a good time with them. She's the Relief Society president in Carissa branch and he is less active.He feels he has to work on Sundays to support his family. For a lesson I told the story of the boy's triple play in baseball and likened that to being in the right place, at the right time, doing what you are supposed to be doing. I think they enjoyed it. We were also supposed to have FHE with the Gamazan family but the father was sick so we just gave him a blessing.He also is inactive because he feels he has to work on Sunday to support his family. Both these families have great kids. Gamazans have a son on a mission and Borja's have a daughter getting married in the temple in June and a son working on mission papers. Both these brethren are self employed; Borja sells ice cream and Gamazan sells fish and Sunday is their biggest day so it's tough for them to make the decision not to work on Sunday.

Some Made It

Attendance at church was down a bit today and some of our people didn't show, including the Tudtuds, which was disappointing but Eric and Barbie Nudor were there and they loved it! Forgot to mention that we dropped a cake by to Eric on Friday for his birthday and then some cookies today for Barbie's birthday; they loved it! They are really doing well and are wonderful. (He's the guy that got shot and is in a wheelchair that we've been talking about). After church Brother Base went home teaching with me and we had a good time. Met with Ocados, Miagues and Malabanans. Had some good discussions with all of them.Sure wish we could get the Miagues to come to church regularly.There are 4 prospective elders there and they are good young men.

Summer Home and Summer Not

Missionary work can be a bit frustrating because sometimes people who you fully expect will be there when they said you could come back just aren't. But other times they are and it's great! Got to teach Vanessa Tagacay today and she is all ready to be baptized. She is really sweet lady! Her husband, who has not been active, had some concerns that he was not worthy to baptize her but we were able to resolve those concerns and believe he is now ready. He's a really good guy too and it's been wonderful to see the light come back into his eyes. He knows he has been on the wrong path and is now committed to living the gospel. It's amazing and wonderful to see what the atonement of our Saviour can do for people's lives. We also taught the Tudtud family today.They are great and we really hope they make it to church tomorrow.

New Branch

We went to Indang this morning to take some stuff to the Pugsleys. They told us that their new branch had been approved by Salt Lake so that's exciting! Now they can go ahead and rent a place to meet and begin calling leaders to serve. After our lunch and planning with the elders we went to several teaching appointments  and had some good meetings. The work continues to move forward and the Lord is hastening his work.