Oct 19 Baptism Sa Bay2x, Clapping Ears and Smiling Hearts

Hello Family! What a week we've had! Let me once again start with the most important news... the baptism! Sister Maria Alexandra was baptized this Saturday :) And this will truly be a baptism that can never be forgotten.. because it was IN THE OCEAN! (sa baybay) (pronounced byebye). Yup! TRUE! The baptismal font at the church here broke and canceling a baptism is just not an option. So we found a good spot on the beach in our area where there was little to no people and it was a success! The Elders also had a baptism and it was such a great experience- one that I will always treasure. The spirit was felt so strong and Sister Arcinas' and my prayers were answered that the remembrance of the sacredness of the ordinance of baptism was not forgotten and all went well. I will send pictures when I'm done writing!! Sister Maria Alexandra is so cute! She is a 11 year old little girl. She is next door neighbor and family to our recent converts Jun Jun and Jungarr and also best friends with another recent convert little Sister Zyrell. She would join all the lessons and Sister Arcinas and honestly didn't notice her or focus on her until one time we extended the invitation for them all to keep the Word of Wisdom and she also chanted "YES!" with all the other people and then when we came back she ran up to us and was so excited to tell us that she quite drinking coffee and has been reading the book of mormon and her grandma agreed to give her money to go to church. WOW! So she started coming to church and is just a spitfire little girl!! Her ancient grandma has raised her since birth. She's never met her mother or father. They live a very very very x10000 humble life and it is so sweet to show up to their home (after crossing this crazy bridge) and grandma and Sister Maria Alex is laying out reading the Book of Mormon together. My heart just melts I want to stop time and take a picture every time :)
Let me also tell you all how mind blowingly awesome this mission is. Bacolod Philippines Mission baptized 590 converts in the month of September. That number is unreal and as far as anyone knows here is the highest ever recorded. Ever. I can't explain how amazing this work is! THE WORK OF SALVATION! The Lord is truly hastening His work and I feel like we as missionaries are an a treadmill that keeps increasing in speed and somehow we're just trying to keep up!! This is HIS work and the miracles are from His hand in this work :) I am so grateful to be a missionary!!!
Some heartwarming highlights from this week is one of Sister Lilibeth's sister (Sister NoAnn) is visiting from Manila and she received the Book of Mormon that I sent her through one of her other sisters (I've met Sister NoAnn before but she only stays for a short time when she visits). She bore her testimony as we taught their family and has felt a big difference in her life as she has read the Book of Mormon and is already almost half way done with it! She added even though she has a lot of questions she has the desire to be baptized because of the way she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon. And she came to church for the first time this Sunday!!! I testify of the power of the Book of Mormon!! It is the most powerful tool to missionary work and is the keystone of our religion! If one wants to find our if this church is true, and if Joseph Smith is a true prophet called of God in this dispensation, he/she just needs to read the Book of Mormon, ponder and pray about the things that they have read with real intent to receive an answer from God. This promise is so true! I love the Book of Mormon so much and have felt it's power in my life.
Cadiz 2nd Branch has my heart! :) I love this area so so much!!! The members are soooo sweet!! They really have adopted us and our ears clap and our hearts smile as they express their love and appreciate for all the missionaries and then specifically and genuinely for us as missionaries serving in this branch. It feels so great to feel this love and support from members and when the time comes, I will truly miss Cadiz so much!! I don't have time nor the energy to list the many many ways that these generous people show their love to us. Hard work in each area you serve really pays off!! It means so much to us and all I can say is... work with the missionaries in your wards! Get to know them! Like really get to know them. Grow to love them! And help them! Because this work is nothing except frustration without members! With members it is so sweet and special! It works!


My heart is so happy (and yes I realize how extremely cheesy all my emails sound but I can't help it!!!!!!!) to hear how great everything is going at home!!!! I love my Father in Heaven and feel the Savior's love so strong in my life. I know that He is blessing us and that He loves us all so much!!!

Randoms to add:
* PLEAAASEEEE don't be offended if from this week on I can't reply to your personal emails. I will still send a letter each week and it will be put on my blog and the pictures probably will be reposted on facebook (thank you again Kort!!), but we have a strict amount of time that we are able to email and President Lopez is continually reminding us of this rule. I FEEL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT WHEN YOU EMAIL ME! This is not by any means a request for the emails to stop... I just can't reply. But I love you all so much!!
* There were 12 confirmations in sacrament meeting yesterday. That was exciting for us as missionaries but I think slightly difficult for the members to sit through.
* I surprised myself this week when a member fed us this new type of dried fish and Sister Arcinas mentioned "ehhh I don't want to eat the heaaad" and I took it out of her hand and plopped the dried, fried, fish head in my mouth. AND enjoyed it. WHO AM I?? ;)
* I AM DREAMING IN ILONGGO! I've been waiting for this moment in my mission! I wake up and try and remember if my dream was English or Ilonggo and I just can't remember.. all I remember is understanding whatever was being said or that I was saying... but now I'm sure. It's Ilonggo now! For those of you that have served missions in another language you understand the excitement this brings :)
* But don't get too excited I'm still learning this language!! This week I mixed up the words "fly" (lupad) and "translate" (lubad) as I was explaining about Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon. Always lots of laughs :)

Love you all TONS AND TONS TIMES A BILLION JILLION! :)

Sister Judd