Ashley needs to hear from you! She says everyone else is getting mail. Please try and stay positive and keep her in your prayers. She's been a little under the weather recently.
She says that she's the first one up in her room (she swears it's true.) Her companion is the one who is hard to get out of bed. Obviously Heavenly Father is helping her out in that regard. She is realizing how much time she has wasted on things that don't matter in the past. You can tell that she is full of the spirit. We are so proud of her and her willingness to serve.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Seventeen and 3/4 months to go...
Kumusta!!!! (hi)
I miss you all so much! I pray for each one of you every single day and think about you often throughout my day. So Monday is my P-day. We went to the temple this morning, it was beautiful and still dark when we got there. Crazy! It was fun to see my whole district in the session together. Let me tell you a little about my district and then I'll tell you a few other random things.
Ok, so there are 8 missionaries in my district, we are small in number, but a powerful and united group. We already love each other so much it's almost weird to me. It's like we have formed our own little family of brothers and sisters! We are a rare district because we are split half and half, 4 elders and 4 sisters. The districts to the side of us have over 14 elders in them each. In 2 weeks we will have two districts leave us and 60 new missionaries who will be learning Tagalog coming in. Here's a brief outline of the members of our district:
Elder Lewis- He is our district leader, from Boston area. He is a funny guy who loves to talk. :) He is really nice. I don't know much else about him. He doesn't have an accent...unfortunately.
Elder Scott- From Springville UT, total computer nerd. Perhaps the smartest person my age I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Ex: he ran his own web business before coming on the mission and had clients from both China and Switzerland including many other places all over the world. We learn something new from Elder Scott every day!
Elder Foulds- From New Zealand, he does have an accent!! AMAZING! He loves the gospel and tells everyone about it all the time. He has only been a member for 3 years and is the only member of his family. They weren't supportive of him coming on a mission. His family consists of his mother and siblings. His dad comes around once in awhile he said. Isn't that sad? He is a remarkable example of diligence and faith!
Elder Pickard- From Hawaii, also has an accent. He is hilarious and loves to laugh. We have a good time.
Sister Adams- Jennie...love her. She is wonderful! You already know about her.
Sister Woodward- From tri cities Washington. Very sweet girl. I'll explain more later, I only have 17 more minutes on my computer. AH!
AND....Last but not least...my amazing companion...
Sister Ball- She is from a farm on Idaho and is a rough and tumble girl. No princesses here! haha! She has a rock solid testimony of the gospel and I am so grateful she is my companion. I wouldn't have it any other way. We were definitely meant to be together.
Our whole district is amazing and I love each one of them. Our district doesn't have one missionary who doesn't want to be on a mission or who doesn't have a solid testimony of the Savior and His Atonement. It makes each day a spiritual feast.
As for me, I have never been happier in my entire life. This is remarkable! I understand now when missionaries say it is the hardest but BEST thing they have ever done in their lives. IT IS HARD!!! The language is insane, but beautiful. When you speak it, its almost like singing. Speaking of which, Sister Ball has a nice voice! We sing and harmonize all the time. Also, I have been mission the piano like crazy and craving to play one each time I walk by it. I have been working on complete and strict obedience as a person goal. I know the Lord will bless me greatly if I am completely obedient. SO..I haven't played a piano because I know it's hard to believe..but Piano time isn't on our schedule! But guess what????? The Lord showed me on of His tender mercies this week. For our Branch, we don't have a piano player. The person who used to do it left last week for their mission. So guess who plays the piano now on Sundays?? That's right! Yours truly, Sister Stadler!!!! OH! It was amazing! Such a blessing to be able to play again and relieve some stress through the keys.
I have already felt the hand of our Heavenly Father in my life since I have been here. I already know how to simply testify in Tagalog. It isn't smooth yet, so the spirit isn't super strong at this point, but by Thursday we will be teaching an investigator the 1st discussion in English and testifying in Tagalog. So let me do a little bit here before I close.
Pinatotohanan ko na muhalaga ang Ebanhelyo. Alam ko na totoong at buhay propeta si Thomas S. Monson. Naramramdahan ko na totoong propeta si Joseph Smith. Nakikita ko na buhay si JesuCristo at Amasa langit. Pinatotohanan ko na walanghanggan ang pamilya. Amen.
So basically I said, I testify that the gospel is very important. I know the true and living prophet is Thomas S. Monson. I feel that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. I see now that Jesus Christ and Our Heavenly Father live. I testify that families can be together forever.
Sa(in) Tagalog..its weird. they don't testify and say I know all the time. they speak in feelings. So the reason their words are so incredibly long is because they tell the definition of a word instead of saying a word. Ex. We would say testify, while they would say, Pinatotohanan (or...one who speaks the truth) pretty much. That's a really rough translation. Anyway, I know this church is true! I know the gift of tongues is real. If I were doing this on my own there is no way I would be picking up on the language like this so quickly and being able to retain the information. I love you all so much! I feel your prayers. Thank you for all you do and for your love for me. I can't even begin to tell you how much you all mean to me and how much I miss you. Remember that all things are possible through Faith. WE are the ones who hold ourselves back.
Mahal kita! ( I love you)
Sister Ashley Stadler
I miss you all so much! I pray for each one of you every single day and think about you often throughout my day. So Monday is my P-day. We went to the temple this morning, it was beautiful and still dark when we got there. Crazy! It was fun to see my whole district in the session together. Let me tell you a little about my district and then I'll tell you a few other random things.
Ok, so there are 8 missionaries in my district, we are small in number, but a powerful and united group. We already love each other so much it's almost weird to me. It's like we have formed our own little family of brothers and sisters! We are a rare district because we are split half and half, 4 elders and 4 sisters. The districts to the side of us have over 14 elders in them each. In 2 weeks we will have two districts leave us and 60 new missionaries who will be learning Tagalog coming in. Here's a brief outline of the members of our district:
Elder Lewis- He is our district leader, from Boston area. He is a funny guy who loves to talk. :) He is really nice. I don't know much else about him. He doesn't have an accent...unfortunately.
Elder Scott- From Springville UT, total computer nerd. Perhaps the smartest person my age I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Ex: he ran his own web business before coming on the mission and had clients from both China and Switzerland including many other places all over the world. We learn something new from Elder Scott every day!
Elder Foulds- From New Zealand, he does have an accent!! AMAZING! He loves the gospel and tells everyone about it all the time. He has only been a member for 3 years and is the only member of his family. They weren't supportive of him coming on a mission. His family consists of his mother and siblings. His dad comes around once in awhile he said. Isn't that sad? He is a remarkable example of diligence and faith!
Elder Pickard- From Hawaii, also has an accent. He is hilarious and loves to laugh. We have a good time.
Sister Adams- Jennie...love her. She is wonderful! You already know about her.
Sister Woodward- From tri cities Washington. Very sweet girl. I'll explain more later, I only have 17 more minutes on my computer. AH!
AND....Last but not least...my amazing companion...
Sister Ball- She is from a farm on Idaho and is a rough and tumble girl. No princesses here! haha! She has a rock solid testimony of the gospel and I am so grateful she is my companion. I wouldn't have it any other way. We were definitely meant to be together.
Our whole district is amazing and I love each one of them. Our district doesn't have one missionary who doesn't want to be on a mission or who doesn't have a solid testimony of the Savior and His Atonement. It makes each day a spiritual feast.
As for me, I have never been happier in my entire life. This is remarkable! I understand now when missionaries say it is the hardest but BEST thing they have ever done in their lives. IT IS HARD!!! The language is insane, but beautiful. When you speak it, its almost like singing. Speaking of which, Sister Ball has a nice voice! We sing and harmonize all the time. Also, I have been mission the piano like crazy and craving to play one each time I walk by it. I have been working on complete and strict obedience as a person goal. I know the Lord will bless me greatly if I am completely obedient. SO..I haven't played a piano because I know it's hard to believe..but Piano time isn't on our schedule! But guess what????? The Lord showed me on of His tender mercies this week. For our Branch, we don't have a piano player. The person who used to do it left last week for their mission. So guess who plays the piano now on Sundays?? That's right! Yours truly, Sister Stadler!!!! OH! It was amazing! Such a blessing to be able to play again and relieve some stress through the keys.
I have already felt the hand of our Heavenly Father in my life since I have been here. I already know how to simply testify in Tagalog. It isn't smooth yet, so the spirit isn't super strong at this point, but by Thursday we will be teaching an investigator the 1st discussion in English and testifying in Tagalog. So let me do a little bit here before I close.
Pinatotohanan ko na muhalaga ang Ebanhelyo. Alam ko na totoong at buhay propeta si Thomas S. Monson. Naramramdahan ko na totoong propeta si Joseph Smith. Nakikita ko na buhay si JesuCristo at Amasa langit. Pinatotohanan ko na walanghanggan ang pamilya. Amen.
So basically I said, I testify that the gospel is very important. I know the true and living prophet is Thomas S. Monson. I feel that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. I see now that Jesus Christ and Our Heavenly Father live. I testify that families can be together forever.
Sa(in) Tagalog..its weird. they don't testify and say I know all the time. they speak in feelings. So the reason their words are so incredibly long is because they tell the definition of a word instead of saying a word. Ex. We would say testify, while they would say, Pinatotohanan (or...one who speaks the truth) pretty much. That's a really rough translation. Anyway, I know this church is true! I know the gift of tongues is real. If I were doing this on my own there is no way I would be picking up on the language like this so quickly and being able to retain the information. I love you all so much! I feel your prayers. Thank you for all you do and for your love for me. I can't even begin to tell you how much you all mean to me and how much I miss you. Remember that all things are possible through Faith. WE are the ones who hold ourselves back.
Mahal kita! ( I love you)
Sister Ashley Stadler
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