My loveliest and sweetest and happiest little family in the whole wide world. Oh how I love thee! Life is so good...let's all just take a moment and think of at least 8 blessings that we have in our lives, I'll go first. (in no particular order)
1. The gospel
2. toothpaste
3. emails from family
4. swedish fish
5. clean clothes
6. chapstick
7. my amazingly hard working and diligent trainee, Sister Polido
8. LAST AND DEFINITELY NOT LEAST.....A wedding and baptismal date set for Emalyn and her boyfriend Recarido on the 18th of September!!!!!!!
Yes, it finally happened! He wasn't progressing and was hiding from us and one day we were getting ready to teach Emalyn and I saw him in the background grabbing his bike. He started wheeling it behind us ..sneaking out and I stopped the teaching and went to ask him if he had just 15 minutes when we could teach him for a second. This man wouldn't even look me in the eye when I was teaching...he's really shy and unsure of himself. Anyway, after much persuasion, he finally stayed and sat. We taught the whole family together, with their 2 little daughters that are way too young to actually follow the lesson, but they were all there! So we had planned to teach him about the holy ghost and receiving answers from it. BUT...I felt we needed to address why marriage is so important in the eyes of God, and right when I started to doubt myself my companion leans over to me and says, "Sister, I think we need to teach marriage." HALLELUJAH! So we taught marriage and then tied in the holy ghost. The spirit was so strong. He committed to come to church and then I asked if when he knew the church was true if he could be baptized and he said yes. They also set a date to go get their marriage license and to be married the first Saturday in September. Amazing! 2 days later we came to teach again and he said he felt good as he was praying about Joseph Smith, but he wanted to keep praying about it and see if the same feeling came again, just to be sure. We encouraged him to do so, and then I felt I should invite him to be baptized on a specific date, so I followed the prompting and...HE COMITTTED! He will be baptized on the 18th of September with his bride to be! What a beautiful little family! I have full faith they will make it to the temple and continue to progress after. Keep him in your prayers please. He usually smokes 2 packs a day and drinks on weekends, but he's given it up ...all at once and he's been holding strong so far. Also, Reneboy, wasn't able to go to church on Sunday because he didn't have money to go...which he could have walked..it would have taken him over an hour...but he could have....so we're pushing his date back another week. He hasn't, however, had a cigarette or touched alcohol or coffee ever since we taught him! I'm amazed what is possible when people have a true desire to change and when the Lord helps them through their faith. I love this gospel!
Well, family, I adore you. I witness so many little tender mercies daily. The gospel is so true! I could never deny it. This week I had an experience where I was praying about the Book of Mormon again, I know it's true, but occasionally I pray to have the spirit reaffirm in my heart that is is true. I don't know if I've ever had a prayer answered so quickly in my entire life. The spirit has never been that strong during our morning studies. Then Sister Ball came in from her study and had me read something and it was another answer to part of my prayer. I love that our Heavenly Father is completely aware of our needs and desires at all times and is so willing to grant us our righteous desires, in His timing. Mom, your missionary experience was awesome!!!! That's funny your forgot the pass along card, but the point is, your testified! You shared a portion of your knowledge. Keep it up! Next time you'll be sure to have the card with you! :) I love you all, you're in my prayers. When I pray for you I have an overwhelming peace that comes, I know the Lord is helping you and providing for your needs. Don't be blind to His bounteous blessings He always gives. Too often we think it's our own doing...when its definitely not. haha! Church is true. Those of you who haven't picked up a Book of Mormon in over a month, pick it up already! Stop chickening out and just do what you know is right already! Go to church! Find Happiness through our Savior, Jesus Christ. He's suffered too much and given all for us. I love you! Until next week,
GOD SPEED!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Well hello hello. How in the world are all of you doing? I hope this letter finds you well. First of all, here's answers to your questions. Mom, yes we do get the full conference Liahona, it is just like the ensign for the conference issues. The full ensigns we do not get though. My stomach has been doing really well lately. Sister Ball's is still the same for the most part. Keep praying for her. She's a tough girl and she's learned to work with the pain. As for my companion being a Filipina and not having to teach the language, that would be false. haha..it's almost harder in some ways. She is fluent in Tagalog...I remember only what we learned in the MTC in Tagalog, if that... So...she doesn't know Ilonggo, and she speaks some English. We use about every language we can to communicate. haha! The easier thing is that she does pick up on the language way faster than an American would, but... I'm still teaching her the language. She's wonderful though. She's such a hard worker and her energy helps to keep me pumped up.
Analyn and Emalyn are not married yet, but they both set new baptismal dates. Did they come to church this Sunday? no! This was one of those Sundays where the missionaries wait forever at the front door, praying and hoping and then it feels like someone stabbed you in the heart. BUT...Reneboy did come. We used to teach him forever ago but he wasn't progressing so we dropped him. Then, last week I saw him and grabbed him to teach him again and the new curriculum says to follow the spirit to commit him to baptism, so I did and he committed! Get this...he used to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day and drink whiskey and we did the word of wisdom lesson with him 2 days ago, he's down to 1 cigarette now and no alcohol. I can see a change that has come over him. It's beautiful. We're really excited for him. Alright, paying for kindergarten now!!! That's ridiculous! What are the school systems over there thinking? As for the pearls, next week he's going to bring some for me to look at and take a photo of for you. They are beautiful. The peach is a light peach and the black is more of a charcoal color.
Sean, I died laughing when you wrote the part about training Elder Neal! I can't even imagine how ridiculous that had to have been....always have to step lightly when opening areas, especially after a situation like that! haha!
Ok, so this week has been really good. The Lord has placed so many potential investigators in our path it is amazing. I used to be so afraid of extending a baptismal invitation within the first 2 teachings but it makes all the difference when you're following the spirit. If you extend it by saying, "When you come to know the things we have taught are true, will you be baptized into the church of Jesus Christ...by one who holds the proper authority?" It doesn't make it seem like we have some hidden agenda! It really helps us to see where the investigators heart is. If they say no, you try to resolve their concern, re-extend, and if they still say no...then you move on because they aren't prepared in their hearts yet. The Lord has prepared too many people to waste time trying to force something on someone. We aren't called to force. We are called to invite.
My little trainee, Sister Polido is a little fire house! She's all about OYMing and will just talk to anyone. I love her to death! I could not have asked for a better trainee. Get this, she knows Sister Hawkes, a teacher in the MTC, because she served in Sister Polido's home town! She used to work with her in her ward and go on splits and stuff with her. She asked me on night during our studies if I knew her and I almost freaked out! haha! So here's a little shout out to her! Sister HAWKES we love you! :)
Well, I don't have much else to add. This week I was reading in Alma 36 and I had been praying to really feel the Lord's love for me that night, it was a harder day, and we had just read that chapter with an investigator the day before so I almost skipped over it, but I felt I was suppose to read it. So as I was reading I could feel Alma's urgency in his explanation...his pleading really, for his son to just live the commandments of God and witness the blessings. When it gets to the verse... I think it's around 24 where he talks about "from that day on he has taught the truth"...or something like that... I felt the overwhelming power from the spirit testifying to my heart and my soul that I am participating in the same work as this magnificent missionary Alma. How grateful I am to share every day about my loving and living Savior, Jesus Christ and His gospel, filled with hope and joy and happiness beyond description. The church is true. IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST LIVE IT ALREADY they would allow themselves to be happy, truly happy. I love you all and pray for you every day. Thank you for your prayers. One day last week as I felt a little discouraged about a few investigators and was on my knees trying to find a way to help them, I once again had this rush of comfort that filled my whole being and immediately I thought, "What time is it in the U.S.?" I realized it was around 8 at night there. I immediately had the image of you all praying for me in your prayers and I was so full of gratitude. This work won't stop, no one will prevail against it. Life is so good. Show your love to all you come in contact with. Be a service oriented people. Find little ways to help this week. So often we get so darn caught up in our list of to-do's that we forget about why we're actually here. Take a step back and just talk to someone who looks a little lonely. And for goodness sake...be happy! You live in a free country where children are healthy and food is in abundance, animals are taken care off, health care is available and insurance is as well. The air is clean, most of you have a car and a home and food in your fridge right now to last the week. That's more than any single one of our investigators. Count your blessings, name them one by one! If you're not sure how to put the next meal on the table or to pay the next water bill...consider the lilies of the fields, how they grow. Keep the Commandments, be obedient, be grateful, and watch the Lord unfold His bounteous blessings and miracles before your eyes. Until next week, GOD SPEED !!!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. MOM!!! I got your package!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the peanuts and the twizzlers and the fruit and jerky...my heavens it could not have come at a better time. That fruit is heavenly! Did you dry that yourself???? Thank you!! LOVE YOU ALL!
Analyn and Emalyn are not married yet, but they both set new baptismal dates. Did they come to church this Sunday? no! This was one of those Sundays where the missionaries wait forever at the front door, praying and hoping and then it feels like someone stabbed you in the heart. BUT...Reneboy did come. We used to teach him forever ago but he wasn't progressing so we dropped him. Then, last week I saw him and grabbed him to teach him again and the new curriculum says to follow the spirit to commit him to baptism, so I did and he committed! Get this...he used to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day and drink whiskey and we did the word of wisdom lesson with him 2 days ago, he's down to 1 cigarette now and no alcohol. I can see a change that has come over him. It's beautiful. We're really excited for him. Alright, paying for kindergarten now!!! That's ridiculous! What are the school systems over there thinking? As for the pearls, next week he's going to bring some for me to look at and take a photo of for you. They are beautiful. The peach is a light peach and the black is more of a charcoal color.
Sean, I died laughing when you wrote the part about training Elder Neal! I can't even imagine how ridiculous that had to have been....always have to step lightly when opening areas, especially after a situation like that! haha!
Ok, so this week has been really good. The Lord has placed so many potential investigators in our path it is amazing. I used to be so afraid of extending a baptismal invitation within the first 2 teachings but it makes all the difference when you're following the spirit. If you extend it by saying, "When you come to know the things we have taught are true, will you be baptized into the church of Jesus Christ...by one who holds the proper authority?" It doesn't make it seem like we have some hidden agenda! It really helps us to see where the investigators heart is. If they say no, you try to resolve their concern, re-extend, and if they still say no...then you move on because they aren't prepared in their hearts yet. The Lord has prepared too many people to waste time trying to force something on someone. We aren't called to force. We are called to invite.
My little trainee, Sister Polido is a little fire house! She's all about OYMing and will just talk to anyone. I love her to death! I could not have asked for a better trainee. Get this, she knows Sister Hawkes, a teacher in the MTC, because she served in Sister Polido's home town! She used to work with her in her ward and go on splits and stuff with her. She asked me on night during our studies if I knew her and I almost freaked out! haha! So here's a little shout out to her! Sister HAWKES we love you! :)
Well, I don't have much else to add. This week I was reading in Alma 36 and I had been praying to really feel the Lord's love for me that night, it was a harder day, and we had just read that chapter with an investigator the day before so I almost skipped over it, but I felt I was suppose to read it. So as I was reading I could feel Alma's urgency in his explanation...his pleading really, for his son to just live the commandments of God and witness the blessings. When it gets to the verse... I think it's around 24 where he talks about "from that day on he has taught the truth"...or something like that... I felt the overwhelming power from the spirit testifying to my heart and my soul that I am participating in the same work as this magnificent missionary Alma. How grateful I am to share every day about my loving and living Savior, Jesus Christ and His gospel, filled with hope and joy and happiness beyond description. The church is true. IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST LIVE IT ALREADY they would allow themselves to be happy, truly happy. I love you all and pray for you every day. Thank you for your prayers. One day last week as I felt a little discouraged about a few investigators and was on my knees trying to find a way to help them, I once again had this rush of comfort that filled my whole being and immediately I thought, "What time is it in the U.S.?" I realized it was around 8 at night there. I immediately had the image of you all praying for me in your prayers and I was so full of gratitude. This work won't stop, no one will prevail against it. Life is so good. Show your love to all you come in contact with. Be a service oriented people. Find little ways to help this week. So often we get so darn caught up in our list of to-do's that we forget about why we're actually here. Take a step back and just talk to someone who looks a little lonely. And for goodness sake...be happy! You live in a free country where children are healthy and food is in abundance, animals are taken care off, health care is available and insurance is as well. The air is clean, most of you have a car and a home and food in your fridge right now to last the week. That's more than any single one of our investigators. Count your blessings, name them one by one! If you're not sure how to put the next meal on the table or to pay the next water bill...consider the lilies of the fields, how they grow. Keep the Commandments, be obedient, be grateful, and watch the Lord unfold His bounteous blessings and miracles before your eyes. Until next week, GOD SPEED !!!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. MOM!!! I got your package!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the peanuts and the twizzlers and the fruit and jerky...my heavens it could not have come at a better time. That fruit is heavenly! Did you dry that yourself???? Thank you!! LOVE YOU ALL!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Well hello!!!! I miss you all so much! Today I was reading your emails and I was thinking about what each of you were doing at the moment i was reading them, it would have been about 8:30 your time. Well my first 3 days of training are over and I'm almost done with the 4th day. :) Sister Polido is my new trainee and I'm already head over heels in love with her. The two American sisters went Cebuano speaking and President stopped during the announcement at trainers and said, "Sister Stadler.....will be training....... a Filipina!" haha He didn't even say her name at first. She's incredibly hard working and has this drive that makes me even more excited about the work. We get along really well and I'm so excited to see the work progress in our area.
I can't believe school started already!??????? What in the world is going on with the school's scheduling now days? Didn't summer last forever for us when we were in school?? And mom is already in her 1st week of seminary! Man....these children have no summer. That's a shame. I feel like we were just celebrating New Years. Where does time go? It's already August. I'm not okay with this. Next thing you know it'll be Christmas again. AH! Speaking of Christmas, and...gifts. I have a man in one of the wards here, Brother Tommy, I've talked about him singing with me before. Well his fiance is in the US and they'll be getting married in December. He's amazing. Well he sells fresh water pearls. BRITTANY AND DAVE....Dave, you asked me about black pearls before I left. Well here's the deal of a lifetime. You can buy a full set of pearls, necklace, bracelet and earrings for 1500 pesos, roughly $31. The necklace is a smaller necklace, but for the size of Brittany's neck it will be perfect. Also, if anyone else would like to order something please let me know. He's using the money to process paperwork for his moving to the US before their wedding. Ok, well, they also have large pearl earrings. They have black pearls, white, peach (my favorite), peacock and this green color. They are all natural and the earrings are 450 pesos a set, roughly $9.50! FRESH WATER PEARLS that are about the size of an m&m or the top of a golf tee. SO...let me know! They have little smaller ones too...but really..the bigger one are better. haha. Alright, moving on.
Oh my goodness, Sean, thank you so much! I'm so excited for the Jody! You have no idea how much cooler the weather is here if you're in a Jody! And they are soooo easy to clean! Also, I am in dire need of some new shoes. I wore holes through mine. haha! So thank you so much! How have you been? You haven't emailed lately, and I love getting your emails....hint hint. : ) Paul and Holly, I died laughing at the whole "bible and socks" thing. That should get to me with no problems. haha! Mom, I think I answered all your questions. OH! ..Aunt Vikki never sent the probiotics, or at least I haven't received them yet. Thanks for putting our names in the temple, our health is doing much better. As for our investigators, they are doing well! We're slowly building our pool back and Annalyn committed herself to be baptized on the 11th of September! Emalyn will be baptized on September 4th and the list just continues to grow. People are receiving answers daily to their prayers about Joseph Smith and the work continues to go forward. I love the gospel! Tender mercies come forth every day. For example, the fact that I can comfortably teach lessons with a new missionary by my side and people will not be focusing on my language, but on the message. Life is beautiful! Thank you Mom and Amanda for the music that was emailed. It is perfect! Also, I received the talk from Brother Brimhall, haven't read it yet but I will tonight in studies. thank you! :) OH Man! I almost forgot! Mom, I was joking about the ear piercing turning purple and swelling! haha! My ears are fine and the other holes are almost all the way gone now. weird no? haha! They look great! OK, but the best info ever. Sister Ball and Sister Nethercott had 3 baptisms this Saturday and we had a brown out and if there isn't electricity there isn't any water either. SO....they have a well in the back shed and we carried buckets of water and filled the font bucket by bucket. Yeah....Satan wasn't holding us back. 3 people were baptized and another child in the church too. 4 baptisms! Nothing was gonna keep them from being baptized. I love the gospel! The church is true! Share it with everyone you meet!
I'm excited you had a white wash in the area, or a double transfer as you called it. Usually that helps give a fresh start to the area. Help the missionaries out. Without members helping, the work can't progress effectively. I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you next week. you are all in my prayers and I feel the effects of your prayers daily! Training is great! I'm exhausted, but it's a good exhaustion! I love you!!!!! Until next week, GOD SPEED!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. let me know about the pearls! They really are beautiful! :)
I can't believe school started already!??????? What in the world is going on with the school's scheduling now days? Didn't summer last forever for us when we were in school?? And mom is already in her 1st week of seminary! Man....these children have no summer. That's a shame. I feel like we were just celebrating New Years. Where does time go? It's already August. I'm not okay with this. Next thing you know it'll be Christmas again. AH! Speaking of Christmas, and...gifts. I have a man in one of the wards here, Brother Tommy, I've talked about him singing with me before. Well his fiance is in the US and they'll be getting married in December. He's amazing. Well he sells fresh water pearls. BRITTANY AND DAVE....Dave, you asked me about black pearls before I left. Well here's the deal of a lifetime. You can buy a full set of pearls, necklace, bracelet and earrings for 1500 pesos, roughly $31. The necklace is a smaller necklace, but for the size of Brittany's neck it will be perfect. Also, if anyone else would like to order something please let me know. He's using the money to process paperwork for his moving to the US before their wedding. Ok, well, they also have large pearl earrings. They have black pearls, white, peach (my favorite), peacock and this green color. They are all natural and the earrings are 450 pesos a set, roughly $9.50! FRESH WATER PEARLS that are about the size of an m&m or the top of a golf tee. SO...let me know! They have little smaller ones too...but really..the bigger one are better. haha. Alright, moving on.
Oh my goodness, Sean, thank you so much! I'm so excited for the Jody! You have no idea how much cooler the weather is here if you're in a Jody! And they are soooo easy to clean! Also, I am in dire need of some new shoes. I wore holes through mine. haha! So thank you so much! How have you been? You haven't emailed lately, and I love getting your emails....hint hint. : ) Paul and Holly, I died laughing at the whole "bible and socks" thing. That should get to me with no problems. haha! Mom, I think I answered all your questions. OH! ..Aunt Vikki never sent the probiotics, or at least I haven't received them yet. Thanks for putting our names in the temple, our health is doing much better. As for our investigators, they are doing well! We're slowly building our pool back and Annalyn committed herself to be baptized on the 11th of September! Emalyn will be baptized on September 4th and the list just continues to grow. People are receiving answers daily to their prayers about Joseph Smith and the work continues to go forward. I love the gospel! Tender mercies come forth every day. For example, the fact that I can comfortably teach lessons with a new missionary by my side and people will not be focusing on my language, but on the message. Life is beautiful! Thank you Mom and Amanda for the music that was emailed. It is perfect! Also, I received the talk from Brother Brimhall, haven't read it yet but I will tonight in studies. thank you! :) OH Man! I almost forgot! Mom, I was joking about the ear piercing turning purple and swelling! haha! My ears are fine and the other holes are almost all the way gone now. weird no? haha! They look great! OK, but the best info ever. Sister Ball and Sister Nethercott had 3 baptisms this Saturday and we had a brown out and if there isn't electricity there isn't any water either. SO....they have a well in the back shed and we carried buckets of water and filled the font bucket by bucket. Yeah....Satan wasn't holding us back. 3 people were baptized and another child in the church too. 4 baptisms! Nothing was gonna keep them from being baptized. I love the gospel! The church is true! Share it with everyone you meet!
I'm excited you had a white wash in the area, or a double transfer as you called it. Usually that helps give a fresh start to the area. Help the missionaries out. Without members helping, the work can't progress effectively. I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you next week. you are all in my prayers and I feel the effects of your prayers daily! Training is great! I'm exhausted, but it's a good exhaustion! I love you!!!!! Until next week, GOD SPEED!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. let me know about the pearls! They really are beautiful! :)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Well hello hello to all of you! My goodness I love you all so much. Ok, so let me give you an update on this week. I spent 3 days in a training directly from HEAVEN! haha! President Tobias had all the zone leaders, district leaders and trainers all meet in a meeting to be taught the new curriculum. basically it's all about being more bold and fulfilling our purpose with more faith and more courage while following completely the promptings of the spirit. It's all about committing to baptism on the first or second time we teach them. That is definitely something we usually don't do, but already missionaries have been putting it into action and we have already begun to witness the miracles of the mission. I'm so excited to see how this goes! They will be starting to train missionaries in the MTC on it in May 2011. So...they are getting all the missions ready for them to come in and hit us with their new training. Too bad I'll already be home! haha! It would be amazing to see a whole force of Heavenly Father's Righteous Warriors coming in to help teach and lead our mission! :) Our area is really difficult right now. Not the area itself, but the fact that we can't be out past dark. So, usually everyone would come back from the training, all pumped, almost like the feeling after a really good general conference, and then want to bust a move in our areas. When we would get home at night it was too late to go out, so that was a little hard, but it's ok. :) Transfer announcements were today. I am officially training and staying in Victorias for another transfer. Sister Ball will be stepping up and becoming a senior and follow up train the girl in the house, Sister Nethercott! hahahaha! So she's transferring, but only into another room in our home and to the other ward. haha! It should be fun. It is just now starting to hit me about becoming a trainer. I think it does something to you and makes you realize how inadequate you are. But...I'm trying to press forward and exercise faith. It's been a hard few weeks to be honest. All of our investigators seem to be choosing to not do what they know they need to do. Emalyn is suppose to be getting her marriage license today, but she didn't come to church yesterday because she went out of town to visit family. Annalyn committed to come, and didn't. Recarido also promised to come, and didn't. Rowena didn't come. Even our recent convert didn't show up on Sunday. His older brother did with one of our little 9 year old investigators. I'm just....I'm not discouraged. But I feel at times like I'm beating my head against a wall. I'm been praying lately to know what I can do more. We've lot so many hours of proselyting this last transfer due to illness, we're not intensely ill, but you can only teach so many lessons with severe stomach cramping and incredible diarrhea. haha! AH!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes I begin to feel like I can't give any more, or maybe that I'm honestly just not giving enough. AND...the fact that our investigators have all come to plateau is just something I normally wouldn't blame on myself, but with missing so many opportunities to teach, that is partly our fault. I was praying a lot about all of this last week and I just wasn't finding peace....until Sunday. I was playing the sacramental hymn at church, 169 As Now We Take the Sacrament, it's my favorite. As the congregation sang "for courage to accept thy will..." I just started crying. I immediately felt a huge rush of the spirit and had the thoughts flood my mind that the Savior has felt everything I am feeling, all the frustration and tension and lack of energy and tears and wishing I could be outside and the lack of support in the ward members and the love we have for an incredibly hard working bishop despite the lack of support from other members....including ward missionaries...He's felt it all! So the thought came to me, "Let it all go Sister Stadler. Focus on Christ, on your purpose, and move forward." AND...so I am. Transfers always offer a new start, and I'm ready for a new start. I love the mission. I say this every email, but I adore these people. The Lord knew what He was doing when He sent me here. I have made life long friends here. Sister Flores goes home on Wednesday and I lost it today hugging her for the last time. We have plans that in 5 years she will come up to General Conference. haha...Part of me feels like I'll never see her again. I'm just a huge emotional wreck right now. haha! But among it all, I just love everything I have been blessed with. I love the gospel, I love my Savior and I know He lives. I will never deny it. You are all in my prayers. Thank you for all of your prayers. I feel the effects of them. Keep praying please. My time is running short, but know that I adore you all. Keep writing. I love the emails and letters, no matter how lame you all think your lives are. haha! They're not lame to me! Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler :)
All my love,
Sister Stadler :)
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