August 6, 2014 - Ayungon, Negros Oriental

(Adam informed us that his camera is broken.  Pictures this week from some of the other missionaries! - trina)

This has been an exciting week. So the Ayungon area is actually part of Bindoy branch. So our house is in Bindoy and we live with the Bindoy elders, Elders Samon and Nadado, and we go to the Bindoy branch at the Bindoy chapel. To get to our area of Ayungon, we take a pedicab (which are big, car-like versions of tricycles that are more comfortable but less exciting than the tricycles in Escalante), by which we can get to Tiguib, the closest area in our jurisdiction in about 5 minutes' ride. To get to Ayungon proper is 11 kilometers from our house, but I'm not sure how long it takes to get there yet because I haven't gotten there yet.

This is actually from Sister Dolly a Branch Missionary in Escalante, she gave me a bunch of pictures from my time there. There was a large field and a need for perspective.

One family we have visited is the Galleonon family. Johnny and Rosie are a couple with two kids, Johnny gamay (little johnny) and Marc Anthony. They have been investigators for about 3 months, but grabe jud, truly wow on their testimonies. They have not yet been able to be baptised because they are not married. Johnny was married before, and the whole situation here makes that difficult. But they are close to being able to be married, and close to being baptised. They are really just wonderful people. Elder Castro has gotten particularly close with them, and he truly loves them and they love us. Little Johnny is hilarious, he's a super talkative 4 year old, but he is super cute, and rolls his 'r's incredibly well. And Johnny, even though he's still an investigator,has worked with the missionaries on several occasions, and they're at church every week. 

Me outside the Romano balay. Their house is in Anibong, which is a little community built on the side of a mountain falling into the sea, so all of the houses are either on the side of a mountain or built on the water. To get to the Romanos' house, you need to walk on a path they built part out of coral, part of bamboo into the bay to their house. Sister Elizabeth and her husband Ellie Romano are recent converts, and their testimony is simply strong. Ellie was only baptized last week, but the plan is that he can receive the Aaronic priesthood so he can baptize his sons as well. I talked a bit about this with him, and he just understands why this is important. It truly is important to him to be able to do this.

This week has been very good. I'm starting to learn everything it is I need to learn, and I'm trying to do all I can here. This is a super exciting place. Ayungon is trying to have a separate group, but they need a bit more to get there. I know that this branch needs workers here who will truly do all they can to help here. I want to be able to give this help. 

View of the mountains from the sugarcane below.

So this sunday is Special Sacrament in Ayungon. Apparently they have a sacrament meeting by the sea. This is a really cool place to be. Thank you for all that you have given to help me here.  I want to be able to add more than the little verses in between. (as in the book of Omni in the Book of Mormon.  I talked about this in my letter to him this week.)  Ayungon needs an Amaleki.

Love, 

Elder Dunford