Well, another week is over and another transfer has begun. Life is so good! I have an amazing new companion, Sister Jackson, from Washington state. She's brand spankin new from the MTC and is a hard worker. We had immediately made a connection and have many one too many things in common. haha. She's hilarious and we have enjoyed every moment with each other so far.
Our new area is in La Carlota 2nd Branch. Apparently about 8-10 years ago the stake had some ridiculously disobedient leaders who were then ex-communicted and then the stake became a district under the guidance of the mission leader. So now President Tobias is in the middle of training the area to become a stake again. Our branch is small, on average 60-65 members on Sundays. Our first night here after transfer morning we already had appointments set up with the other elders who we white washed. They weren't disobedient elders or anything, President just felt they needed the influence of the sisters in one of the branches in La Carlota. SO...here we are!
The members are so fun and kind. We have 3 investigators as of now, all from part member families, which we're pretty excited about. We're focusing on reactivation here, much like in Victorias. However, here, the members seem to be more excited to be involved with the work.
We are teaching a man, Brother Amador, who apparently told the elders that he knew the church was true but wanted to wait 2 years to be baptized to have time to effectively rid himself of all of his issues with the word of wisdom. Well, we decided to pay him a visit. As we walked in he immediately came in and said, "2 years! I told the elders 2 years! I've told all the other missionaries 2 years!!!" So I could tell his heart was definitely a little hard towards us. His wife, who is a wonderful active member, turned to me and whispered, "See...I told you.." to which I immediately walked over to him and introduced myself and asked if we could just visit with him for a moment. He went and put a shirt on and then came in to talk with us. The room was loud and there were kids running around, he was in the middle of cooking their dinner, and the neighbors tv was ridiculously loud....so I felt maybe we should just set another appointment with him, but the thought came to me, "If you don't share something now, you're never gonna get another appointment with him." So I asked him if we could come back on Tuesday and share with him. He said he wouldn't be available and that he wasn't going to listen to our teachings...blah blah blah....so I asked if we could just share with him right then since he was there...despite the distractions. So we did!
I said a silent prayer in my heart and then he asked me to offer the prayer before the lesson. The boy on the computer shut it off and left, the children left the house to play outside and the neighbors turned their television volume way down. As we started talking I was trying to figure out what his issue was that was keeping him from being baptized right now...so I went through the baptismal questions with him...to which he answered them beautifully and had a full understanding of the restoration..except he thought Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon..which we had to clear up. BUT...I asked him why, and he said it as honestly just because he smoked daily and drank coffee. He wanted to make sure he was fully prepared and repentant of his sins. So I felt I should share 2 Nephi 31:10...I explained about how we, as missionaries, were literal representatives of Jesus Christ and that it was as if Christ himself was asking him to follow Him into the waters of baptism.
The last few transfers I have been following the counsel of President Tobias to be bold, but with love. SO....I laid it on pretty thick. Or ....maybe that's not the best phrase...I made it perfectly clear...I basically told him, "Brother, by you knowing that the church is true and not being baptized, you are putting your salvation and happiness in jeopardy. Do you realize if you die tomorrow, you WILL NOT be with your family. It will not happen." He was really quiet for a moment. Then its like his heart was visibly began to soften. He didn't commit to baptism, but...he did commit to goals towards overcoming his addictions. So, we're meeting with him tomorrow to see how he's doing. I think he just didn't have any trust in us. He felt we were just interested in getting him thrown in the water, but in the lesson he felt we actually cared. We love him and were concerned for his family and his happiness. It was beautiful really and I wish I could do it justice by describing it right now.
We also visited a man who hadn't been the church for years and years and years. No one can remember the last time he went to church. We committed him to go, and scheduled for us to pick him up and walk with him to church. Well, we get there on Sunday and he's all excited and dressed and ready to go and before we even shouted that we were at his front gate he saw us and yelled to his wife that we were there. As I spoke with Elder Hamblin about it, he's one of the last elders in the area, he was so shocked that we were able to help him get there.
I'm pretty excited about this new area and the potential it has. Our correlation on Sunday was really good and we now have the beginnings of a ward mission plan.
This week I have training again with all of the leaders and trainers in Bacolod on Wednesday and Thursday with President Tobias. I'm excited for it. Life is really good! The gospel is true and I'm just loving every second of my life.
Some woman on Sunday asked me when I go home and I say, "Oh I still have awhile. I go home in March 2011!" Her response was, "Oh! That's so soon!" I thought my heart fell out of my chest....AH! Then today another elder was like, "Sister Stadler, after this transfer you have only 3 transfers left..that's weird." AGAY!!!! (..that means "ouch" in Ilonggo) I love every second of this work.
Mom, don't worry about my living conditions...I'm ridiculously spoiled right now. I left the mansion and entered into the celestial kingdom housing of the mission. We have the couple missionaries old house with an oven, air conditioning, and a heated shower. I've forgotten what it's like to not freeze when you're bathing. Everything here is blazing hot...except their water, which is always freezing cold. Yeah.....I don't even know. But...my time is up. I'm sure I'll have more to share later.
To the rest of you...share the gospel! I love you all! Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Alright well, family, dear family, have I got news for you?!! Let me tell you about the results of this transfer announcement from this mornings meeting. First of all...this whole week was ...difficult to say the least. We were punted (meaning that people canceled on us) more than ever before in my entire mission. It was like 3 days straight. We had a ward half-day mission that only one young man showed up to and then other plans all fell through too. It was "investigators getting drunk" week and I have decided I hate alcohol even more than I ever did before. Talk about Satan's tool for ruining lives and supporting stupidity. It's not even the fact that as investigators are drunk they get crude and they start to mock us and the church, I'll take a hit for the team, they will understand some day...but when I see them drunk and smoking I see images of everyone I love who is caught in that same web of lies. All I wanted to do was pick up one of our investigators and shake him and say, "LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let us help you...we just want to help." But he won't let us help him, and it kills me. It wasn't just him either.
This was the 3rd week in a row when we didn't have a single investigator that went to church. We had to drop 2 investigators and we're dropping others as well that just aren't prepared for the gospel and they are making it clearly evident through their choices. Emalyn and Recarido are not back from Bacolod yet because they still don't have money to get home. All of our investigators with baptismal dates either moved away randomly without any warning, they are back to breaking the word of wisdom or they don't have enough faith in Christ to live His commandments and witness the blessings.
I was riding on the back of a trik home on Saturday and I was watching the sun set and I just started bawling. Haha...I was looking at the beauty of the area and watching families interact and I was thinking, laziness and idleness will be the death of the Philippines, at least in our area. The tears weren't from frustration or from self pity. I just wish people could realize that wickedness gets them nowhere! And so often we don't want to own up to ourselves being wicked...but if it isn't of God, and if it's not what Jesus Christ Himself would do, then it's of the natural man...therefore it is wickedness. Basically, I dropped to my knees on Sunday and had one of the longest discussions with my Heavenly Father that I've ever had. I love prayer. I don't know if I've ever experienced to much sorrow for another person in my life. Sometime in that moment I remember saying, "Father, help me to prepare myself for the transfer announcements tomorrow and to step up to the challenges given to me."
I assumed I would be staying one more transfer in my area, or transferring to another area and following up a new missionary, but it seems Heavenly Father has other plans for me...AH!!!!!!! hahaha! I am once again being stretched to my limits. There are 3 sisters coming in this transfer. There is an American, a Tongan, and a Filipina (that sounds like a beginning to a bad joke...hahaha). Anyway, it turns out, yours truly, will be training, transferring and...wait for it...white washing an Elders area! Which means...they are pulling out the elders and Me and my Trainee will be taking over their area. I am still in shock. Heavenly Father and President have a little too much trust in me I think. Just when I feel like I am at the lowest of lows....leveled to the dust...I'm gonna put on my big girl panties and deal with it. I have complete trust in the Lord.
I know He is mindful of us and He loves us each. He knows our abilities and He always gives us opportunities to stretch and grow. I just barely read an old quote in a planner that said something to the effect of, "The rising generation today faces the same temptations that the generations of old face, but with different names and titles." It said that Heavenly Father never sets a single one of His children up for failure and that often we are stretched to our ultimate limits, but that we will always be able to overcome IF...we trust in Him. Which is exactly what I will be doing, because lets be honest..if I trust in my abilities...we've got trouble with a capital T!
Buot Silingon.....Magpangamuyo kamo para sa akon ah? Tunghod, kun wa'ay pagpangamuyo, wa'ay pagbulig, kun wa'ay pagbulig halin sa Diyos, wa'ay paguswag, wa'ay kalipayan, wala gid! (translation: Meaning....You all will pray for me, ok? Because if there is no prayer, there is no help. If there is no help from God there is no progression. If there is no progression there is no happiness...none at all!) : ) Alright...moving on.
Sister Ball and Nethercott had a remarkable experience this Sunday with an investigator. I'll give you a small version. They promised a woman who lives in a squatters village, (which means they have like zero money at all, and her husband left her, and she was 3 small children and 2 grown, ages 1,3 and 5....) that if she walked to church (1.5 hour walk) with her babies, she would receive blessings from God so she would have money to feed her hungry children. (Imagine 3 children splitting a ramen pack for their only meal of the day.) So they went there to walk with her, and they started walking. Sister Ball said there was no way they could make it on time for sacrament meeting. Sister Ball was praying like crazy that they would somehow be able to make it to sacrament so she could have a spiritual experience. Sister Ball was holding one of the little kids with a fever and walking, with only 15 minutes until church starts and at least another 45 minutes to go. As Sister Ball is crying, pouring her heart out in prayer to Heavenly Father...enter the tender mercy. A trik driver pulls up and asks if they want to ride. They explain they didn't have any money, so he took off. 10 minutes later, he comes BACK! He asks again if they want a ride and Sister Ball explained they didn't have money and he said he could just drive them for free to the corner...which is still forever away from the church. So they all pile into the trik and the driver ..instead...takes them all the way to church for no fee. I was waiting with my companion at the front of the church as they pulled up outside and Sister Ball was bawling, holding this beautiful little child in her arms. I immediately ran up and grabbed another little girl and carried her into the church. The Lord is so willing to bless us, but so often we need to show our faith first. AnnaLisa HAD to take those first steps to the church, struggling, and THEN...only THEN...the Lord provided a way. I will never forget that experience.
I love this mission! I know this sounds cliche, but there is no where in the world I would rather be than here on the mission. I will miss Sister Ball with all of my little heart. I can't imagine being in another zone from her and not seeing her. We may not see each other again until after I get home. AH! But...let it be according to the Lord's will. I love this gospel. The church is so true! I'm ready for the challenge of the new area and the brand spankin' new companion again, and I have a sure knowledge that through my Faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, miracles will be witnessed. I love you all and think of you often. Stay strong and steadfast, don't do stupid things...don't choose silly Satan over Jesus Christ. Its so not worth it. Just live the gospel! AH! The commandments of God are not for Him, good grief! Every single commandment He has given is for our happiness, our everlasting happiness! He is already all knowledgeable. I love you all and pray for you. Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!!!!!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
This was the 3rd week in a row when we didn't have a single investigator that went to church. We had to drop 2 investigators and we're dropping others as well that just aren't prepared for the gospel and they are making it clearly evident through their choices. Emalyn and Recarido are not back from Bacolod yet because they still don't have money to get home. All of our investigators with baptismal dates either moved away randomly without any warning, they are back to breaking the word of wisdom or they don't have enough faith in Christ to live His commandments and witness the blessings.
I was riding on the back of a trik home on Saturday and I was watching the sun set and I just started bawling. Haha...I was looking at the beauty of the area and watching families interact and I was thinking, laziness and idleness will be the death of the Philippines, at least in our area. The tears weren't from frustration or from self pity. I just wish people could realize that wickedness gets them nowhere! And so often we don't want to own up to ourselves being wicked...but if it isn't of God, and if it's not what Jesus Christ Himself would do, then it's of the natural man...therefore it is wickedness. Basically, I dropped to my knees on Sunday and had one of the longest discussions with my Heavenly Father that I've ever had. I love prayer. I don't know if I've ever experienced to much sorrow for another person in my life. Sometime in that moment I remember saying, "Father, help me to prepare myself for the transfer announcements tomorrow and to step up to the challenges given to me."
I assumed I would be staying one more transfer in my area, or transferring to another area and following up a new missionary, but it seems Heavenly Father has other plans for me...AH!!!!!!! hahaha! I am once again being stretched to my limits. There are 3 sisters coming in this transfer. There is an American, a Tongan, and a Filipina (that sounds like a beginning to a bad joke...hahaha). Anyway, it turns out, yours truly, will be training, transferring and...wait for it...white washing an Elders area! Which means...they are pulling out the elders and Me and my Trainee will be taking over their area. I am still in shock. Heavenly Father and President have a little too much trust in me I think. Just when I feel like I am at the lowest of lows....leveled to the dust...I'm gonna put on my big girl panties and deal with it. I have complete trust in the Lord.
I know He is mindful of us and He loves us each. He knows our abilities and He always gives us opportunities to stretch and grow. I just barely read an old quote in a planner that said something to the effect of, "The rising generation today faces the same temptations that the generations of old face, but with different names and titles." It said that Heavenly Father never sets a single one of His children up for failure and that often we are stretched to our ultimate limits, but that we will always be able to overcome IF...we trust in Him. Which is exactly what I will be doing, because lets be honest..if I trust in my abilities...we've got trouble with a capital T!
Buot Silingon.....Magpangamuyo kamo para sa akon ah? Tunghod, kun wa'ay pagpangamuyo, wa'ay pagbulig, kun wa'ay pagbulig halin sa Diyos, wa'ay paguswag, wa'ay kalipayan, wala gid! (translation: Meaning....You all will pray for me, ok? Because if there is no prayer, there is no help. If there is no help from God there is no progression. If there is no progression there is no happiness...none at all!) : ) Alright...moving on.
Sister Ball and Nethercott had a remarkable experience this Sunday with an investigator. I'll give you a small version. They promised a woman who lives in a squatters village, (which means they have like zero money at all, and her husband left her, and she was 3 small children and 2 grown, ages 1,3 and 5....) that if she walked to church (1.5 hour walk) with her babies, she would receive blessings from God so she would have money to feed her hungry children. (Imagine 3 children splitting a ramen pack for their only meal of the day.) So they went there to walk with her, and they started walking. Sister Ball said there was no way they could make it on time for sacrament meeting. Sister Ball was praying like crazy that they would somehow be able to make it to sacrament so she could have a spiritual experience. Sister Ball was holding one of the little kids with a fever and walking, with only 15 minutes until church starts and at least another 45 minutes to go. As Sister Ball is crying, pouring her heart out in prayer to Heavenly Father...enter the tender mercy. A trik driver pulls up and asks if they want to ride. They explain they didn't have any money, so he took off. 10 minutes later, he comes BACK! He asks again if they want a ride and Sister Ball explained they didn't have money and he said he could just drive them for free to the corner...which is still forever away from the church. So they all pile into the trik and the driver ..instead...takes them all the way to church for no fee. I was waiting with my companion at the front of the church as they pulled up outside and Sister Ball was bawling, holding this beautiful little child in her arms. I immediately ran up and grabbed another little girl and carried her into the church. The Lord is so willing to bless us, but so often we need to show our faith first. AnnaLisa HAD to take those first steps to the church, struggling, and THEN...only THEN...the Lord provided a way. I will never forget that experience.
I love this mission! I know this sounds cliche, but there is no where in the world I would rather be than here on the mission. I will miss Sister Ball with all of my little heart. I can't imagine being in another zone from her and not seeing her. We may not see each other again until after I get home. AH! But...let it be according to the Lord's will. I love this gospel. The church is so true! I'm ready for the challenge of the new area and the brand spankin' new companion again, and I have a sure knowledge that through my Faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, miracles will be witnessed. I love you all and think of you often. Stay strong and steadfast, don't do stupid things...don't choose silly Satan over Jesus Christ. Its so not worth it. Just live the gospel! AH! The commandments of God are not for Him, good grief! Every single commandment He has given is for our happiness, our everlasting happiness! He is already all knowledgeable. I love you all and pray for you. Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!!!!!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Well, this week was remarkably successful. The mission tour went well. We had Elder Ko come and visit our mission. He and his wife are from Korea. His main focus was with working with members and being serious in our teachings, not sugar coating repentance and the Atonement. It was really good. He said a line that really helped me put things into perspective. I raised my hand and asked him during the training, "I've been studying a lot about covenants in my personal study and I came across a scripture Sister Dalton shared in her Conference talk. It said, "Cleave to your covenants". We're suppose to be teaching our investigators to cleave to their covenants, but how can we do that effectively when even the leaders in the church seem to not be cleaving, or even appreciating theirs?" He smiled a little bit and then said, "This is the concern we have within the entire Philippines." Then he went on to say our duty as missionaries is to teach our converts how to cleave to their covenants, so they, in turn, will become leaders and teach those who have not been taught properly. They said there was a point where missionaries in the 80's were pretty much baptizing anyone who would come to church twice. So we have a huge amount of people who are innactive or who aren't really educated when it comes to spiritual things. He then said, and this is what hit me.."To you young missionaries, missionary work is your world! It's everything! You must remember that these Bishops in your ward, these ward members and auxilary leaders they all have additional responsibilities. They have work, and family and they are busy! You are not their top priority. You need to become their friends. Show them you truly understand and care and that you want to help them, not add to their burdens." That hit me! so we've been trying to become their friends and to help the ward.
We just had a half day mission that went beautifully! They showed up an hour late, but THEY SHOWED UP!!! HALLELUJAH! :) We ended up seeing 4 inactive famlies and 2 of the families went to church this week. One of the moms even stood to bear her testimony. She said, "I had my doubts, but when I saw the saints who came to visit me, and then when I walked into church and Bishop immediately greeted me, I realized I was loved. You do truly care about my family." AH! I started crying!! The members were so happy to see them come to church, to see immediate fruits from their labors. This Friday they all volunteered their time again. We also found 2 new investigators in part member families from their efforts! I'm just happy.
I talked to President Tobias about staying one more transfer and it seemed hopeful. haha. Transfer day is on the 17th of this month. He said most people who were just transferred will be staying 4 1/2 to 6 months in their area...so if I stay here one more transfer it will for sure be 6 months here! Man....i'm holding out for it. But of course, I'll go where He wants me to go..meaning Heavenly Father of course.
I still adore my companion. Sister Polido is a machine! She's up for everything and is so humble and willing to learn.
Emayln and Recarido are suppose to come back tonight from their trip to Bacolod. We'll see how things are looking this week. We found out the marriage liscense is way more expensive that we thought it was. Emalyn broke down I guess on the phone talking to Annalyn and said, "I just want to be baptized! I know I have to be married first and we don't have any money to get married." These are moments I wish I could just pull out my wallet and sponsor the wedding, but...that doesn't build faith...nor trust in the Lord. SO....we're gonna see what the Lord's plan is. If there is a will, there is a way! 1 nephi 3:7...Good old Nephi!
As for Sister Ball, She's doing ok. She's had one scenario this week...nope..thats not the right english word...one...episode??WOOHOO! Yes. She has had one 'episode' this week with her health, but it wasn't anything to terrible, just not too fun. As for me, I'm doing pretty good. I'm gaining back some weight. Yeah...thats not good. Not a ton, just a couple pounds, so I'm working on knocking those back off while I can. haha.
I'm glad to hear everyone is doing so well. I got a letter from Miss Sarah Calder!!! I about fell off my chair when I saw it. ha! It was sooooo good to hear from her. I will definitely be contacting her when I get home.
Life is so good. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this gospel. I see it change people's lives daily. I always amazed the individuals that just have the hardest outer shell, they doubt and the looks on their faces when we tell the story of Joseph Smith is always interesting..but if people would just humble themselves enough to pray about it. Try it! How could you not? Test it out, read and study the Book of Mormon and pray, If you'll just try it I know, not..I think maybe..or...quite possibly...nope, I KNOW that you will receive an answer to your prayers and it will be answer that you will never be able to deny. I, myself, have prayed and have had my prayers answered by God through the Holy Ghost. I know that Jesus is the Christ, that He lives. He will come again, and the day is not far distant. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that a man can truly "get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book." I know that Joseph Smith is a remarkably stalwart and powerful man who was a prophet of God and that through him Heavenly Father restored His gospel here on the earth. How grateful I am that we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who is aware of our modern day concerns and trials and who speaks with God about how we can target our modern day enemies, or sins, and face them head on, so they will not become a threat to us. I love this gospel! I love the work.
I love all of you! I continue to pray for each of you. Sorry that I haven't written any of you back. I'm WAY behind in letter writing...but just be patient with me. You'll get a letter sometime here. haha! Until next week, GOD SPEED!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
We just had a half day mission that went beautifully! They showed up an hour late, but THEY SHOWED UP!!! HALLELUJAH! :) We ended up seeing 4 inactive famlies and 2 of the families went to church this week. One of the moms even stood to bear her testimony. She said, "I had my doubts, but when I saw the saints who came to visit me, and then when I walked into church and Bishop immediately greeted me, I realized I was loved. You do truly care about my family." AH! I started crying!! The members were so happy to see them come to church, to see immediate fruits from their labors. This Friday they all volunteered their time again. We also found 2 new investigators in part member families from their efforts! I'm just happy.
I talked to President Tobias about staying one more transfer and it seemed hopeful. haha. Transfer day is on the 17th of this month. He said most people who were just transferred will be staying 4 1/2 to 6 months in their area...so if I stay here one more transfer it will for sure be 6 months here! Man....i'm holding out for it. But of course, I'll go where He wants me to go..meaning Heavenly Father of course.
I still adore my companion. Sister Polido is a machine! She's up for everything and is so humble and willing to learn.
Emayln and Recarido are suppose to come back tonight from their trip to Bacolod. We'll see how things are looking this week. We found out the marriage liscense is way more expensive that we thought it was. Emalyn broke down I guess on the phone talking to Annalyn and said, "I just want to be baptized! I know I have to be married first and we don't have any money to get married." These are moments I wish I could just pull out my wallet and sponsor the wedding, but...that doesn't build faith...nor trust in the Lord. SO....we're gonna see what the Lord's plan is. If there is a will, there is a way! 1 nephi 3:7...Good old Nephi!
As for Sister Ball, She's doing ok. She's had one scenario this week...nope..thats not the right english word...one...episode??WOOHOO! Yes. She has had one 'episode' this week with her health, but it wasn't anything to terrible, just not too fun. As for me, I'm doing pretty good. I'm gaining back some weight. Yeah...thats not good. Not a ton, just a couple pounds, so I'm working on knocking those back off while I can. haha.
I'm glad to hear everyone is doing so well. I got a letter from Miss Sarah Calder!!! I about fell off my chair when I saw it. ha! It was sooooo good to hear from her. I will definitely be contacting her when I get home.
Life is so good. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this gospel. I see it change people's lives daily. I always amazed the individuals that just have the hardest outer shell, they doubt and the looks on their faces when we tell the story of Joseph Smith is always interesting..but if people would just humble themselves enough to pray about it. Try it! How could you not? Test it out, read and study the Book of Mormon and pray, If you'll just try it I know, not..I think maybe..or...quite possibly...nope, I KNOW that you will receive an answer to your prayers and it will be answer that you will never be able to deny. I, myself, have prayed and have had my prayers answered by God through the Holy Ghost. I know that Jesus is the Christ, that He lives. He will come again, and the day is not far distant. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that a man can truly "get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book." I know that Joseph Smith is a remarkably stalwart and powerful man who was a prophet of God and that through him Heavenly Father restored His gospel here on the earth. How grateful I am that we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who is aware of our modern day concerns and trials and who speaks with God about how we can target our modern day enemies, or sins, and face them head on, so they will not become a threat to us. I love this gospel! I love the work.
I love all of you! I continue to pray for each of you. Sorry that I haven't written any of you back. I'm WAY behind in letter writing...but just be patient with me. You'll get a letter sometime here. haha! Until next week, GOD SPEED!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Thanks for the emails and the package! Amanda, Sean and Mom...you are amazing!!! The Jody's fit perfectly and they are already my favorite things to wear. It's so much cooler to wear a Jody! The photos I sent last week I forgot to explain, but the house shots are our home we're renting to stay in. It is literally a mansion! haha! As for the one with the baptism, that was Sister Ball's baptism, the one we filled up the font with..none of our investigators now.
This week has been amazing. We have mission tour right now, which is where one of the Seventy comes and tours the mission. We had conference yesterday, which is why we're emailing today instead. We have Elder and Sister Ko here, they are Korean. They are amazing! The spirit was so strong yesterday in our meeting and I'm excited to start using what we've learned in our ward. I talked with President at the meeting and requested to stay here one more transfer, and he sounded like that was already the plan, but he said we'll of course have to wait and see what the Lord wants to happen. :) That would make it 6 months in my first area and 6 months in my 2nd area! ah! I love Victorias, despite the lack of help in the ward. Pretty much, they said they need to start reactivating or the ward will dissolve. It's...insane. But...ALAS...I have faith! It will work out.
This Saturday we're having a 1 day mission and we're excited to see how the ward members will step up and fulfill their duty with the work. We are here to help them, not for them to help us...which I think they have the wrong idea about sometimes.
As for health, I'm doing great! This week we didn't even buy any snacks.. I'm going healthy gid...and by gid I mean....haha...how does that translate???AH! As in....I'm going to be really healthy. ha! Oh boy.. I'm going to be such a weirdo when I get home. haha!
We had the most amazing lesson with Recarido this week about the Atonement. The spirit was so strong when we were teaching. He was crying as I asked him who Jesus Christ was to him, and to testify about why He was important. I was amazed, sitting there listening to him explain and thinking back about how this man was contacted by the missionaries on the street, and then when the missionaries went to his home he hid, and he used to lie to us all the time and say he just wanted to get showered first and then he would listen to our lesson, but then he'd just leave out the back yard..and now..here is is sitting and testifying and feeling the spirit incredibly strong, witnessing to us that the Savior lives, that he is important. I love the gospel!!!!!!!!
This week's email is going to be a bit shorter. Just to let you know, next week it will definitely be longer. The work is good, my companion is amazing! I love this girl! I continue to put her in situations where she's stretched, and she continues to amaze me. She teaches me things..I'm pretty sure she's training me now! haha! The language is great! I'm still not perfect, I have SOOOOO much to learn, but conversation flows and the lessons are being taught! ha! The gift of tongues is real and the spirit is so real!
I hope all is going well for each of you. Sean, man I love getting your emails! Your talking about building the traditional gravy dam me laugh way hard! The thought of having a meal without rice is absurd to me now. haha! Definitely miss corn on the cob though. Mom, once again, don't send that other dress. It's way way way too expensive...(also..the Liahona has ALL the conference talks in it. I love that talk you brought up. My goal is to read all the talks again before conference.)
I'll share one more experience really fast. The new curriculum focuses a lot on having investigators find for themselves the truth and importance of the Book of Mormon. We were trying to teach Reneboy, but he wasn't there, so I saw an old investigator that we taught only once. I asked him where he was going..he said to town, I asked if we could teach him really fast before he left. He said yes! That never happens. So he's 19, lives right by MeiMei, Annalyn, Emalyn..the whole gang. Well we start teaching about the Book of Mormon and the spirit was so strong! I've never taught it the way we did and after Sister Polido finished the intro to the Book of Mormon I stopped and asked him what he was feeling. I've started doing this immediately when the spirit touches my heart while teaching, to point out what the Spirit is and how it feels. As I asked about how he felt, he looked up at me, his name is Roel by the way, and said, "I feel like I want to change. I feel happy. It just feels good." So then he committed himself to pray and read the Book of Mormon that night and tomorrow we have an appointment with him. We're really excited. At the end of the lesson we taught him to pray and he reluctantly prayed....as he prayed he had to stop for awhile..his voice was shaking. Sister Polido, being amazing as she is...asked him after the prayer how he felt while praying..what his experience was. He stopped and looked up at us, smiled and said, "My heart was pounding, I don't know why. It's not because I was just a little nervous." She explained about the spirit again and I explained that if the things we taught weren't true, the spirit would not be felt. I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never want to stop teaching and sharing and helping people come to Christ!
I love you all and I pray for you daily. Keep up the amazing work. Look for opportunities to serve. Christ lives! I will never deny it! He's already paid the price for all of our sins, all of our faults, just turn to Him. Until next week, God Speed!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. Paul..your line in Ilonggo made me laugh way hard! It said the mountains loved the birds. hahahahaha! And the black dog...yep..that was right! ha! Where on earth did you find it? Dad, awesome with the Book of Mormon reading!! Keep it up! I'm coming up on the 4th time I've read it since I've been out. Uncle Dale...HOW ARE YOU? I need your info so I can write! I hope you're doing well! You're all amazing! love you! Thanks for all the emails and letters permi..and by permi I mean always! AH! I don't know if I'll ever get these words out of my vocabulary. haha!
This week has been amazing. We have mission tour right now, which is where one of the Seventy comes and tours the mission. We had conference yesterday, which is why we're emailing today instead. We have Elder and Sister Ko here, they are Korean. They are amazing! The spirit was so strong yesterday in our meeting and I'm excited to start using what we've learned in our ward. I talked with President at the meeting and requested to stay here one more transfer, and he sounded like that was already the plan, but he said we'll of course have to wait and see what the Lord wants to happen. :) That would make it 6 months in my first area and 6 months in my 2nd area! ah! I love Victorias, despite the lack of help in the ward. Pretty much, they said they need to start reactivating or the ward will dissolve. It's...insane. But...ALAS...I have faith! It will work out.
This Saturday we're having a 1 day mission and we're excited to see how the ward members will step up and fulfill their duty with the work. We are here to help them, not for them to help us...which I think they have the wrong idea about sometimes.
As for health, I'm doing great! This week we didn't even buy any snacks.. I'm going healthy gid...and by gid I mean....haha...how does that translate???AH! As in....I'm going to be really healthy. ha! Oh boy.. I'm going to be such a weirdo when I get home. haha!
We had the most amazing lesson with Recarido this week about the Atonement. The spirit was so strong when we were teaching. He was crying as I asked him who Jesus Christ was to him, and to testify about why He was important. I was amazed, sitting there listening to him explain and thinking back about how this man was contacted by the missionaries on the street, and then when the missionaries went to his home he hid, and he used to lie to us all the time and say he just wanted to get showered first and then he would listen to our lesson, but then he'd just leave out the back yard..and now..here is is sitting and testifying and feeling the spirit incredibly strong, witnessing to us that the Savior lives, that he is important. I love the gospel!!!!!!!!
This week's email is going to be a bit shorter. Just to let you know, next week it will definitely be longer. The work is good, my companion is amazing! I love this girl! I continue to put her in situations where she's stretched, and she continues to amaze me. She teaches me things..I'm pretty sure she's training me now! haha! The language is great! I'm still not perfect, I have SOOOOO much to learn, but conversation flows and the lessons are being taught! ha! The gift of tongues is real and the spirit is so real!
I hope all is going well for each of you. Sean, man I love getting your emails! Your talking about building the traditional gravy dam me laugh way hard! The thought of having a meal without rice is absurd to me now. haha! Definitely miss corn on the cob though. Mom, once again, don't send that other dress. It's way way way too expensive...(also..the Liahona has ALL the conference talks in it. I love that talk you brought up. My goal is to read all the talks again before conference.)
I'll share one more experience really fast. The new curriculum focuses a lot on having investigators find for themselves the truth and importance of the Book of Mormon. We were trying to teach Reneboy, but he wasn't there, so I saw an old investigator that we taught only once. I asked him where he was going..he said to town, I asked if we could teach him really fast before he left. He said yes! That never happens. So he's 19, lives right by MeiMei, Annalyn, Emalyn..the whole gang. Well we start teaching about the Book of Mormon and the spirit was so strong! I've never taught it the way we did and after Sister Polido finished the intro to the Book of Mormon I stopped and asked him what he was feeling. I've started doing this immediately when the spirit touches my heart while teaching, to point out what the Spirit is and how it feels. As I asked about how he felt, he looked up at me, his name is Roel by the way, and said, "I feel like I want to change. I feel happy. It just feels good." So then he committed himself to pray and read the Book of Mormon that night and tomorrow we have an appointment with him. We're really excited. At the end of the lesson we taught him to pray and he reluctantly prayed....as he prayed he had to stop for awhile..his voice was shaking. Sister Polido, being amazing as she is...asked him after the prayer how he felt while praying..what his experience was. He stopped and looked up at us, smiled and said, "My heart was pounding, I don't know why. It's not because I was just a little nervous." She explained about the spirit again and I explained that if the things we taught weren't true, the spirit would not be felt. I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never want to stop teaching and sharing and helping people come to Christ!
I love you all and I pray for you daily. Keep up the amazing work. Look for opportunities to serve. Christ lives! I will never deny it! He's already paid the price for all of our sins, all of our faults, just turn to Him. Until next week, God Speed!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. Paul..your line in Ilonggo made me laugh way hard! It said the mountains loved the birds. hahahahaha! And the black dog...yep..that was right! ha! Where on earth did you find it? Dad, awesome with the Book of Mormon reading!! Keep it up! I'm coming up on the 4th time I've read it since I've been out. Uncle Dale...HOW ARE YOU? I need your info so I can write! I hope you're doing well! You're all amazing! love you! Thanks for all the emails and letters permi..and by permi I mean always! AH! I don't know if I'll ever get these words out of my vocabulary. haha!
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