Hey family! Just finished a thrilling game of bowling...yep..scored a whoppin' 60!!! WHAT?!!!! Thats right...representing for the Stadler family even in the Philippines! Can I get a HOORAH??? This week has been ..slower, but good. Things are hard when you can't tract, it is way more difficult because you're dealing with people who already know the gospel is true but has turned away from it for one reason or another....and they either hide when you show up or they just don't want anything to do with you, or even better, they just lie to your face about coming and then they don't show up to church. BUT....we have had success with 3 families we have visited so far. So we're pretty happy about that. They have to come 4 Sundays in a row for them to be considered reactivated, and they have come 2 so far. WOO HOO! Also, we have 3 baptisms scheduled this weekend. Keep brother Antonio, sister Ayren and Brother Charlie in your prayers. Satan has been working extra hard on our investigators lately, and it seems to be the same way throughout the mission. We have had to drop a lot of people this last week. The hardest one was Antonio. I had such good and high hopes for him and yet he just wasn't progressing. He was at the beginning and we could see a real change in him. He still has changed a lot since the first day we met him, but it still hurts to let him go. We encouraged him to keep reading and coming to church and to let the missionaries know when he wants to continue. It isn't even the fact that we've spent hours praying, planning and teaching him, but the fact that I'm terrified if he will ever realize the importance of the gospel. It is terrifying to see someone blatantly walk away from truth. I will definitely be keeping him in my prayers. Well, transfer announcements are next week and I can't believe another 6 weeks is coming to an end. This is going WAY too fast to make me happy. There is a group of people who come bowling each week, they come with a group of down-syndrome children. AH...I miss Roxi like crazy every single week when I see them. They love dancing to the music that is playing. One of the boys today came up to me while we were bowling and started talking to me. We became very fast friends. Later he came up and cheered me on as I got gutter balls! haha! He was so cute. I'm beginning to wonder if I want to steer my education paths towards special education. Just a random thought lately. As for the work, we are still progressing. I feel like I'll be leaving. BUT...who knows! Amanda, I got your package and I got Scott Garder's package too! THANKS GID! It was so good to see pictures of everyone! Mom, I did get your email last week. Since we've had the new email I haven't had one problem with email yet! HOORAY! So no worries. Hooray for getting the grocery guy's name! Don't wait to take action. Follow up with him. Next time you shop there, invite him to come to church. As for JoAnne...get er done! Start walking with her. Give her a Book of Mormon. Just be straight forward with people. It is amazing to me how often people are looking for something more in their lives. (it shouldn't amaze me..because the church is true...haha..but it always does). Paul, I wrote you a beastly letter....I figured it should be beastly since I haven't written you yet...sorry! I'm a terrible person. BUT...it takes a month to get there....so...where is an address I can send it to? Just let me know. Sean, thank you so much for the mission donation! I love you like crazy and miss your face. Today I saw at truck like your white one and I had a flashback to me sitting in the front seat and you letting me choose a cd to listen to as you drove me to have a lunch date. I love you tons! You better email me soon punk. Robyn, how is work going? Any recent mexican train extravaganzas? haha! How is Samantha? How is the house search going for you? I miss you like crazy too! Well, I have very limited time this week. I'll try to include a few pictures. AMANDA...I almost forgot...even though I made a thousand reminder notes to myself... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I have a sweet surprise for you..its really little actually...but the computers are all being dumb in Bacolod, so I'll email it next week, ok? Get excited. Stop stressing over being 30, it's just a number. haha. Also, think of the amazing memories you've made in those 30 years! totally worth a few grey hairs! (And that's only the memories I'm included in! HAHA!) Hey, I'm still praying like crazy for your apartment search. You'll find one. Obedience brings blessings. I love you all more than I could ever express by email, letter, or carrier pigeon. Life is good. The church is true! The work of God continues to go forward and will continue to go forward until the "purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say, 'the work is done.'" Be positive, love life and love people! Until next time, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. Longest brown out ever 8am-5pm on Sunday. I thought I was going to melt to nothingness. AH! Everyone stand in front of the air conditioner for me and enjoy every second of it. :)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Alright, funny story to start out this email. So last week we went to go grocery shopping and Sister Flores always buys the meat and then I go get the veggies or fruit we need--its all in the same area so we separate and we can still see each other. Well...this time I decided to go get the meet to mix it up a bit. Well..I've always been terrible and converting pounds to kilos and all that jazz. So I thought she usually gets about 1 kilo of ground beef for us so I can make my famous spaghetti during the week. Yeah....I was wrong. She usually gets a 1/4th of a kilo. Well I had some frozen veggies that I needed to use so in my head I'm thinking.."Alright...We get a normal 1 kilo..but now I'm going to extra so I can experiment with some American goodness scramble...2 kilos should do it!" HAHAHAHAHA! alright...so I step up to the counter and ask the woman for 2 kilos of ground beef. She grabs a bag and starts packing in the beef and I"m thinking.. "She's packing an awful lot of meat....wait! maybe she heard me wrong!" So I ask her to stop and to weigh it where she was at... 1.5 kilos! I realized my error, but thought, WELL....we'll just use a lot of ground beef this week. SO..slightly embarrassed I tell her that's plenty and wait for her to put the price on it. Then I hear Sister Flores.. "Sister Stadler! I already got the meat. What are you getting?" HAHAHAHA! Perfect timing. The woman plops this HUGE bag of meat on the counter. You should have seen Sister Flores' face! She looked shocked for about 10 seconds and then just burst out in uncontrollable laughter. So we ate over 2 kilos of ground beef this week. haha! That's a lot of ground beef. But it was good! :) So...now I know! Hooray for knowledge and from learning first hand.
So the weeks seems to be getting harder when it comes to the work. The wheat and the tares of definitely being sifted when it comes to our investigators. We dropped one boy this week and another 2 or 3 we might have to drop soon too. BUT...Brother Jayson Subrado was baptized on Saturday and he, and we, couldn't be happier for him! These boys who were just recently baptized: Jayson, Gino, Jeonil, Japhet, Froilan, Aram, and Antonio (who will be baptized in 2 weeks) will all have the chance of a lifetime! The youth in the Bago city stake were invited to participate in the cultural events in the Cebu temple dedication in June! They are so excited and we, as missionaries, are incredibly jealous because we are craving the temple! (seriously, when I get back, we might just have to go stay with a friend in Vegas and go to the temple for a full day!) But we are so excited for them to have the chance to be in the temple and be there when the first presidency is there to dedicate it! I have totally taken for granted how many times I have had the chance to witness temple dedications. The adults here have never witnessed one! Only a few of the real pioneers here were able to be at the Manila dedication. Amazing! So we will be able to see it on satellite because there won't be church on that Sunday, just the broadcast in the stake centers. I'm excited for that...and guess what??? GENERAL CONFERENCE IS IN LIKE...2 WEEKS!!!! GOOD GRIEF! I'm so pumped! although we don't see it when you all do...luckies....we have to wait for another week or two to have it rebroadcast here. BUT...its ok! I'm excited for it none the less. Ward one is..well...not progressing. It's pretty much ridiculous. We had interviews with President today and he may put elders in that area specifically for ward one. It's kind of sad that they won't grasp the importance of their callings, or take our gentle guidance as sisters...but somehow people tend to respond when elders tell them they need to reorganize. SO..it will be best for the ward. But sisters will still be in ward 2...which continues to thrive. Transfer announcements are coming soon! I keep having dreams that Sister Flores transfers and I stay....I'm not ok with that. If anyone should transfer..it should be me! haha! She had a dream about that too and another Elder joked about it in the office. I'm starting to worry. haha! Joke! Whatever the results, it will be great. Well, I don't have much else to add. I just love the mission. The work continues to go forth...regardless of the help from the members, and the Lord continues to prepare His elect. I love this gospel and I love the blessings that it brings. I love you all and pray for you every single night. I had a really good experience with prayer yesterday where I had a quality discussion with my Heavenly Father. As I started to pray for each of you individually I had this extreme peace come over me and I knew that you were all being watched over. The thought came to me of the promises our Loving Heavenly Father makes to those who serve Him. I love you all and I hope we can each do our parts in helping the gospel of Jesus Christ move forward. Mom, how is the produce guy? How is JoAnne too? Invite them to church! Well, my time is up. I love you I love you I love you! Stay strong! Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. I'm finally starting to get tan! woohoo! The ward members are all commenting of how I'm getting dark and they all get this sad look on their face and I go to give them high fives with a little "WOO HOOO!!" to go along with it. haha! I love it! hooray! oh! Tara! Thank you for the cd mixes and the valentines card! I've read it only about 10 times...yeah...I'm cool like that. love you!
So the weeks seems to be getting harder when it comes to the work. The wheat and the tares of definitely being sifted when it comes to our investigators. We dropped one boy this week and another 2 or 3 we might have to drop soon too. BUT...Brother Jayson Subrado was baptized on Saturday and he, and we, couldn't be happier for him! These boys who were just recently baptized: Jayson, Gino, Jeonil, Japhet, Froilan, Aram, and Antonio (who will be baptized in 2 weeks) will all have the chance of a lifetime! The youth in the Bago city stake were invited to participate in the cultural events in the Cebu temple dedication in June! They are so excited and we, as missionaries, are incredibly jealous because we are craving the temple! (seriously, when I get back, we might just have to go stay with a friend in Vegas and go to the temple for a full day!) But we are so excited for them to have the chance to be in the temple and be there when the first presidency is there to dedicate it! I have totally taken for granted how many times I have had the chance to witness temple dedications. The adults here have never witnessed one! Only a few of the real pioneers here were able to be at the Manila dedication. Amazing! So we will be able to see it on satellite because there won't be church on that Sunday, just the broadcast in the stake centers. I'm excited for that...and guess what??? GENERAL CONFERENCE IS IN LIKE...2 WEEKS!!!! GOOD GRIEF! I'm so pumped! although we don't see it when you all do...luckies....we have to wait for another week or two to have it rebroadcast here. BUT...its ok! I'm excited for it none the less. Ward one is..well...not progressing. It's pretty much ridiculous. We had interviews with President today and he may put elders in that area specifically for ward one. It's kind of sad that they won't grasp the importance of their callings, or take our gentle guidance as sisters...but somehow people tend to respond when elders tell them they need to reorganize. SO..it will be best for the ward. But sisters will still be in ward 2...which continues to thrive. Transfer announcements are coming soon! I keep having dreams that Sister Flores transfers and I stay....I'm not ok with that. If anyone should transfer..it should be me! haha! She had a dream about that too and another Elder joked about it in the office. I'm starting to worry. haha! Joke! Whatever the results, it will be great. Well, I don't have much else to add. I just love the mission. The work continues to go forth...regardless of the help from the members, and the Lord continues to prepare His elect. I love this gospel and I love the blessings that it brings. I love you all and pray for you every single night. I had a really good experience with prayer yesterday where I had a quality discussion with my Heavenly Father. As I started to pray for each of you individually I had this extreme peace come over me and I knew that you were all being watched over. The thought came to me of the promises our Loving Heavenly Father makes to those who serve Him. I love you all and I hope we can each do our parts in helping the gospel of Jesus Christ move forward. Mom, how is the produce guy? How is JoAnne too? Invite them to church! Well, my time is up. I love you I love you I love you! Stay strong! Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. I'm finally starting to get tan! woohoo! The ward members are all commenting of how I'm getting dark and they all get this sad look on their face and I go to give them high fives with a little "WOO HOOO!!" to go along with it. haha! I love it! hooray! oh! Tara! Thank you for the cd mixes and the valentines card! I've read it only about 10 times...yeah...I'm cool like that. love you!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
HELLO!!! :) I have missed you! How are all of you doing today? I included you all in my fast yesterday. Hey, before i forget, random question, Mom, ask Aunt Vicki if there is anything she knows that helps with hair loss...haha...that sounds really weird. But...I have been losing large amounts of hair each day here when I shower, I'm not bald or anything..but its probably double the amount I used to use each day. Someone told me here it's a lack of zinc in their water, I don't know if that is true, but whatever. So, is there anything I can take to help me with that?
This week was really good, emotional, hard, draining, but rewarding as well. We are no longer allowed to tract at all. Our focus in the mission is retention and reactivation. We are only getting new investigators through members referrals and through part member families. The Bacolod Mission has been the top baptizing mission in the world for many years, it isn't currently, but it has been...the problem is retention. If we can't keep them strong in the church, what is the point of baptizing? So...that is our new focus. We are to have 5 new Melchezidek priesthood holders each week and at least 2 families each month. Anyone who knows anything about missionary work would agree thats a difficult thing to do. BUT...we have faith it will happen. We actually have had 4 families we visited come back to church this Sunday, so we're feeling pretty darn good! Plus we have our 9 regular investigators at church. We are gonna have to drop 4 people this week we think. They are all younger, they seemed really solid and interested in the gospel, but they have stopped progressing. That is one of the hardest things about teaching. You put so much work and effort into someone and then they just don't grasp the concept. But it's ok, they still like coming to church and activities, and they are youth, so hopefully they will continue coming and maybe later the missionaries will pick them back up again. Mom, before I forget, the only beans here are Pork and Beans. So I'm not eating a lot of beans. I tried to go buy some black beans ..they were in this miniscule foil pouch for WAY WAY WAY too much money. But thats ok. I'm eating vegetables. I don't know where you got the "human fertilizer" idea from ...perhaps a dream. haha! I gagged a little when I read that. Um...the vegetables I usually get are ones I can peel because of how difficult it is to really steralize anything here. SO...no worries. Same with fruit, I haven't had an apple with the peel on it for a good 4 months now. Ok...I'm freaking out that I'm a week away from being 1/3 of the way done with my mission. Sister Adams reminded me of that. I told her to stop gyping me of my time! haha! She cracks me up. So transfers are in 3 weeks and its going way too fast to be ok with me. Let me see, what is going on with our investigators? OH!...I spoke with Rodelyn, she was my 2nd baptism here in Bago. She has been missing in action for awhile and yesterday she just showed up at church...I was so excited! She asked if she could speak with me after church about some problems she has been having. So I went to talk with her and she told me all about her Uncle, who is her guardian, and this guy who has been talking to him about marrying her. Everything is so different here. It is crazy...count your blessings for the freedoms you have. Basically, long story short, this guy wants to marry her and she can't stand the guy, but her uncle believes the guy more than her and thinks they are courting. Well, because Rodelyn is denying it, her uncle has cut off all money from her, so she can't take her college exams this week. So..her education is on hold. She asked if I had money to pay for her exam, and she could pay me back. Well, its moments like this where you wonder if it's ok just to break the rules. It's 850 pesos, roughly 10 dollars....and yet I can't do it. Mission rules say we can't lend money. So instead, I explained to her that it isn't allowed, but I would pray for her like crazy. And I said my family would be willing to pray too, So mom, could you put her name in the temple there, Rodelyn Ulberio. Thank you! I asked if she was living the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity completely and the other commandments as well, including tithing. She said yes and started crying, so I testified that if she is doing all she can, the Lord will bless her. It may take some time, but the Lord will bless her. As I sat there comforting her I was thinking, "man...I would give anything to just pull out my wallet right now and give her the money." But then the thought came to me what Elder Oaks said about the Philippines, nothing will help them more than the truths and blessings from living the gospel. She looked at me after we hugged goodbye and we started walking to the waiting shed for her to get a trik and she said, "Sister Stadler! Sagad ka sa Ilanggo na!" Meaning..."Sister Stadler, You're so good in Ilanggo now!" haha! I am definitely not good....but it is coming. I can say so much more than I used to be able to. My trainer complimented me too when I saw her last. So hooray! I knew you would all want an update on the language.
OH!!!! MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess what I got yesterday?????????????? Your package you sent 4 months ago! HAHAHAHA! I was so excited! You should have seen my happy dance! It was intense. The toilet paper came just in time..we just ran out and it was Saturday night. And twizzlers and peanuts!! Good grief...I haven't had twizzlers in forever. My comp figured they must be pretty good when I freaked as I pulled them out of the package. She grabbed one to taste it...HA! You should have seen her face...I told her she didn't have to eat it if she didn't like it. Her response.."....ok...yeah ..I don't like it." haha! I was laughing so hard. she's so dang cute. I would do anything for this girl.
Mom, we get the Liahona, not the Ensign. I miss the Ensign for sure. Everything is like....abreviated versions. Send your articles...I love the articles you send. They are usually inspired too, because they always help me with something I'm currently dealing with. So..the message from Monson was about a firm foundation of faith too....that's a common topic lately. Yesteday I realized how close general conference is again... I was a little too excited I think. I can't wait to hear from the Prophet and the apostles. I just started reading the 2008 general conference magazine again. I just started at the beginning and everything has related perfectly..although I guess that can happen with any talk you read when you're trying to follow the spirit. Di ba? OK, so ...Sean, thank you for the mission support! Britton, your son is so stinkin cute! He totally looks like you too! I love it! Amanda, I haven't read your email yet, except the first line..and you're not boring! Good grief...I miss ya like crazy! I was walking to our next appointment last week and I saw some girl burst out laughing with her sister walking down the street and I teared up a bit. haha! But...then I lost it and just started laughing and my comp I'm sure though I was insane. I remembered the night I went through the temple and then we went to Olive Garden with mom! haha! Holy heck...I don't think I've ever laughed that hard in a public place in my entire life. Mom's response was awesome! I felt like I was like 10 years old again! I loved that day. It is probably one of my favorite days of my entire life so far. I was thinking about it yesterday, my last 2 years of life are so far from what I ever planned, and yet I wouldn't change a single thing. We have had some really hard things we've dealt with as a family. I never thought I would be opening my mission call in Havasu with Paul and Holly on one phone, Mom and Amanda on another phone, Sean and Dad and Dallin there with me in the living room. I never thought I would be going through the temple with mom in a wheel chair...but because of that I was able to have Amanda and Mom there with me--which has been a dream of mine since I was like 12. The blessings of the temple are remarkable. My comp and I taught our beloved Brother Aram about the temple this week and you should have seen his eyes light up. The desire he has to go in undeniable. We both shared our love of the temple and how much we missed it and he was so excited and asked all these questions. These boys are so solid. There are 5 of them that are so solid! Aram is probably the most solid though. He has been doing an in depth study of the scriptures and has questions for us every time we teach him. His last question was about who the Gentile nations are. haha! AND..then he asked about why Nephi was commanded to kill Laban when the 10 commandments say not to kill. HE's just so...AH! He's a future leader in the church. I love this work! I love that I can work with people every day to bring them the gospel. Paul was right. In a letter he wrote me he said, "it seems there are no normal days on the mission." It is so true! They are either SUPER awesome and spiritually high or you're just exhausted and you wonder if you'll ever have a good day again. haha! I know the terrible sorrow and "devastation", as preach my gospel puts it, when your investigators don't keep their commitments, and I know the sweet joy that comes when they do. I love this gospel. I know this church is true! Christ Lives! We need to be firmly rooted in the gospel, because there is no doubt in my mind that big things will be happening in the next few years or so. I miss you all like crazy and you are on my mind often, mostly at night, when I lay down and everything gets quiet and I begin to think and pray about each of you. Let's all be a little better this week that we were last week! Raise the Bar. Until next time, I LOVE YOU!!! God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. MOM! Awesome job with the produce man! Definitely get his name and number, maybe his address and see if you can set up a time to go with the missionaries to visit him. They always are more successful with members present. Just see if he has a time to do it. Even if it's on his lunch break some day or something. His wife may not be receptive at this point, but if he embraces the gospel, she will see the changes, and the spirit will be felt through him. Keep it up! The Lord provides opportunities to teach daily! We just don't notice them. Love you tons!
This week was really good, emotional, hard, draining, but rewarding as well. We are no longer allowed to tract at all. Our focus in the mission is retention and reactivation. We are only getting new investigators through members referrals and through part member families. The Bacolod Mission has been the top baptizing mission in the world for many years, it isn't currently, but it has been...the problem is retention. If we can't keep them strong in the church, what is the point of baptizing? So...that is our new focus. We are to have 5 new Melchezidek priesthood holders each week and at least 2 families each month. Anyone who knows anything about missionary work would agree thats a difficult thing to do. BUT...we have faith it will happen. We actually have had 4 families we visited come back to church this Sunday, so we're feeling pretty darn good! Plus we have our 9 regular investigators at church. We are gonna have to drop 4 people this week we think. They are all younger, they seemed really solid and interested in the gospel, but they have stopped progressing. That is one of the hardest things about teaching. You put so much work and effort into someone and then they just don't grasp the concept. But it's ok, they still like coming to church and activities, and they are youth, so hopefully they will continue coming and maybe later the missionaries will pick them back up again. Mom, before I forget, the only beans here are Pork and Beans. So I'm not eating a lot of beans. I tried to go buy some black beans ..they were in this miniscule foil pouch for WAY WAY WAY too much money. But thats ok. I'm eating vegetables. I don't know where you got the "human fertilizer" idea from ...perhaps a dream. haha! I gagged a little when I read that. Um...the vegetables I usually get are ones I can peel because of how difficult it is to really steralize anything here. SO...no worries. Same with fruit, I haven't had an apple with the peel on it for a good 4 months now. Ok...I'm freaking out that I'm a week away from being 1/3 of the way done with my mission. Sister Adams reminded me of that. I told her to stop gyping me of my time! haha! She cracks me up. So transfers are in 3 weeks and its going way too fast to be ok with me. Let me see, what is going on with our investigators? OH!...I spoke with Rodelyn, she was my 2nd baptism here in Bago. She has been missing in action for awhile and yesterday she just showed up at church...I was so excited! She asked if she could speak with me after church about some problems she has been having. So I went to talk with her and she told me all about her Uncle, who is her guardian, and this guy who has been talking to him about marrying her. Everything is so different here. It is crazy...count your blessings for the freedoms you have. Basically, long story short, this guy wants to marry her and she can't stand the guy, but her uncle believes the guy more than her and thinks they are courting. Well, because Rodelyn is denying it, her uncle has cut off all money from her, so she can't take her college exams this week. So..her education is on hold. She asked if I had money to pay for her exam, and she could pay me back. Well, its moments like this where you wonder if it's ok just to break the rules. It's 850 pesos, roughly 10 dollars....and yet I can't do it. Mission rules say we can't lend money. So instead, I explained to her that it isn't allowed, but I would pray for her like crazy. And I said my family would be willing to pray too, So mom, could you put her name in the temple there, Rodelyn Ulberio. Thank you! I asked if she was living the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity completely and the other commandments as well, including tithing. She said yes and started crying, so I testified that if she is doing all she can, the Lord will bless her. It may take some time, but the Lord will bless her. As I sat there comforting her I was thinking, "man...I would give anything to just pull out my wallet right now and give her the money." But then the thought came to me what Elder Oaks said about the Philippines, nothing will help them more than the truths and blessings from living the gospel. She looked at me after we hugged goodbye and we started walking to the waiting shed for her to get a trik and she said, "Sister Stadler! Sagad ka sa Ilanggo na!" Meaning..."Sister Stadler, You're so good in Ilanggo now!" haha! I am definitely not good....but it is coming. I can say so much more than I used to be able to. My trainer complimented me too when I saw her last. So hooray! I knew you would all want an update on the language.
OH!!!! MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess what I got yesterday?????????????? Your package you sent 4 months ago! HAHAHAHA! I was so excited! You should have seen my happy dance! It was intense. The toilet paper came just in time..we just ran out and it was Saturday night. And twizzlers and peanuts!! Good grief...I haven't had twizzlers in forever. My comp figured they must be pretty good when I freaked as I pulled them out of the package. She grabbed one to taste it...HA! You should have seen her face...I told her she didn't have to eat it if she didn't like it. Her response.."....ok...yeah ..I don't like it." haha! I was laughing so hard. she's so dang cute. I would do anything for this girl.
Mom, we get the Liahona, not the Ensign. I miss the Ensign for sure. Everything is like....abreviated versions. Send your articles...I love the articles you send. They are usually inspired too, because they always help me with something I'm currently dealing with. So..the message from Monson was about a firm foundation of faith too....that's a common topic lately. Yesteday I realized how close general conference is again... I was a little too excited I think. I can't wait to hear from the Prophet and the apostles. I just started reading the 2008 general conference magazine again. I just started at the beginning and everything has related perfectly..although I guess that can happen with any talk you read when you're trying to follow the spirit. Di ba? OK, so ...Sean, thank you for the mission support! Britton, your son is so stinkin cute! He totally looks like you too! I love it! Amanda, I haven't read your email yet, except the first line..and you're not boring! Good grief...I miss ya like crazy! I was walking to our next appointment last week and I saw some girl burst out laughing with her sister walking down the street and I teared up a bit. haha! But...then I lost it and just started laughing and my comp I'm sure though I was insane. I remembered the night I went through the temple and then we went to Olive Garden with mom! haha! Holy heck...I don't think I've ever laughed that hard in a public place in my entire life. Mom's response was awesome! I felt like I was like 10 years old again! I loved that day. It is probably one of my favorite days of my entire life so far. I was thinking about it yesterday, my last 2 years of life are so far from what I ever planned, and yet I wouldn't change a single thing. We have had some really hard things we've dealt with as a family. I never thought I would be opening my mission call in Havasu with Paul and Holly on one phone, Mom and Amanda on another phone, Sean and Dad and Dallin there with me in the living room. I never thought I would be going through the temple with mom in a wheel chair...but because of that I was able to have Amanda and Mom there with me--which has been a dream of mine since I was like 12. The blessings of the temple are remarkable. My comp and I taught our beloved Brother Aram about the temple this week and you should have seen his eyes light up. The desire he has to go in undeniable. We both shared our love of the temple and how much we missed it and he was so excited and asked all these questions. These boys are so solid. There are 5 of them that are so solid! Aram is probably the most solid though. He has been doing an in depth study of the scriptures and has questions for us every time we teach him. His last question was about who the Gentile nations are. haha! AND..then he asked about why Nephi was commanded to kill Laban when the 10 commandments say not to kill. HE's just so...AH! He's a future leader in the church. I love this work! I love that I can work with people every day to bring them the gospel. Paul was right. In a letter he wrote me he said, "it seems there are no normal days on the mission." It is so true! They are either SUPER awesome and spiritually high or you're just exhausted and you wonder if you'll ever have a good day again. haha! I know the terrible sorrow and "devastation", as preach my gospel puts it, when your investigators don't keep their commitments, and I know the sweet joy that comes when they do. I love this gospel. I know this church is true! Christ Lives! We need to be firmly rooted in the gospel, because there is no doubt in my mind that big things will be happening in the next few years or so. I miss you all like crazy and you are on my mind often, mostly at night, when I lay down and everything gets quiet and I begin to think and pray about each of you. Let's all be a little better this week that we were last week! Raise the Bar. Until next time, I LOVE YOU!!! God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. MOM! Awesome job with the produce man! Definitely get his name and number, maybe his address and see if you can set up a time to go with the missionaries to visit him. They always are more successful with members present. Just see if he has a time to do it. Even if it's on his lunch break some day or something. His wife may not be receptive at this point, but if he embraces the gospel, she will see the changes, and the spirit will be felt through him. Keep it up! The Lord provides opportunities to teach daily! We just don't notice them. Love you tons!
Alrighty family, another week down now and we're in the month of march already. that is...insane. this keyboard I'm using is retarded, so please do not freak because I'm not capitalizing things. Before I forget....HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY..tomorrow. :) Hooray for being 22! Do you feel old? I do. blah.
So Froilan Aliosa Gumban had this baptism this week and it went off really well. The spirit was there and we're still teaching other young men that they are referring. Most of them haven't caught the vision of the gospel yet, but a few are elect...you can tell. This week we had stake conference with Elder Keith R. Edwards there from the area presidency. He gave a really good talk that I definitely needed to hear. He said at one point, "The whole gospel message is 'NEVER GIVE UP! Keep trying. Try a little harder each day. We're on the right path, but we just need to be better." It was really good. I missed our stake conferences though. I can truly say now... "Silence is Golden" and mean it. Or perhaps i would change it to, "Reverance is Golden". It is NEVER quiet here Never...so the little moments of silence are amazing.
As for the earthquake...I'm so out of the loop. We didn't have any effects from it. I never know what is going on in the world. That BYU-Idaho devotional was quite interesting to hear about though. I keep having the impression during my study time that time is precious and things will start happening soon. This world is so corrupt and skewed in its thinking. In Elder Edwards talk he quoted a verse...I can't remember where it is, but he quoted a verse that said "that which man glorifies the Lord considers an abomination." Er..something like that. I just completely butchered that. But I started thinking about that. The scriptures prove that. The fall of man in the nations in the scriptures almost ALWAYS starts so simply with the desire for costly apparel and then goes down from there. I see that here in the Philippines. They may live in little homes that have no floor and their children don't have a lot to eat...but when they get all dressed up to go out at night they wear nice clothes, big flashy watches, etc. It is so interesting to me. Of course, it isn't just that way in the Philippines! The whole world is in that mind set. Our priorities are all messed up, and since the world isn't even remotely close to humbling themselves, I'm afraid the world will be compelled to be humble here soon enough.
Let me see..I don't have much else to share this week. We had more teachings than I have ever had before. We are truly being blessed. Life is good, this is the Lord's work. I know it is. I love you all and I keep you in my prayers. If you have specific needs that you're deeling with, let me know so my prayers can be even more specific. Dad, I'm glad you don't need surgery. Sean, are you alive and well?? haha! Write me sometime bud! I miss ya like crazy. Robyn too! How are you doing? Sammi! I think you emailed me more when I was in the US! hahaha! I love you all and hope all is going well. Enjoy these few pictures. The church is true! Christ lives! Till next week, God speed!
Always,
Sister Stadler
So Froilan Aliosa Gumban had this baptism this week and it went off really well. The spirit was there and we're still teaching other young men that they are referring. Most of them haven't caught the vision of the gospel yet, but a few are elect...you can tell. This week we had stake conference with Elder Keith R. Edwards there from the area presidency. He gave a really good talk that I definitely needed to hear. He said at one point, "The whole gospel message is 'NEVER GIVE UP! Keep trying. Try a little harder each day. We're on the right path, but we just need to be better." It was really good. I missed our stake conferences though. I can truly say now... "Silence is Golden" and mean it. Or perhaps i would change it to, "Reverance is Golden". It is NEVER quiet here Never...so the little moments of silence are amazing.
As for the earthquake...I'm so out of the loop. We didn't have any effects from it. I never know what is going on in the world. That BYU-Idaho devotional was quite interesting to hear about though. I keep having the impression during my study time that time is precious and things will start happening soon. This world is so corrupt and skewed in its thinking. In Elder Edwards talk he quoted a verse...I can't remember where it is, but he quoted a verse that said "that which man glorifies the Lord considers an abomination." Er..something like that. I just completely butchered that. But I started thinking about that. The scriptures prove that. The fall of man in the nations in the scriptures almost ALWAYS starts so simply with the desire for costly apparel and then goes down from there. I see that here in the Philippines. They may live in little homes that have no floor and their children don't have a lot to eat...but when they get all dressed up to go out at night they wear nice clothes, big flashy watches, etc. It is so interesting to me. Of course, it isn't just that way in the Philippines! The whole world is in that mind set. Our priorities are all messed up, and since the world isn't even remotely close to humbling themselves, I'm afraid the world will be compelled to be humble here soon enough.
Let me see..I don't have much else to share this week. We had more teachings than I have ever had before. We are truly being blessed. Life is good, this is the Lord's work. I know it is. I love you all and I keep you in my prayers. If you have specific needs that you're deeling with, let me know so my prayers can be even more specific. Dad, I'm glad you don't need surgery. Sean, are you alive and well?? haha! Write me sometime bud! I miss ya like crazy. Robyn too! How are you doing? Sammi! I think you emailed me more when I was in the US! hahaha! I love you all and hope all is going well. Enjoy these few pictures. The church is true! Christ lives! Till next week, God speed!
Always,
Sister Stadler
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