Oh my goodness family, I have about 8 minutes to type, and I don't even know what to say. I have a week left and things haven't been easy in our area. Keep praying for new investigators. We had 3 with a baptismal date and 1 we were extending the next lesson and 3 have moved away spontaneously and the other got a job where he doesn't even have time to take lessons anymore. That was Ricky, MikaJoy, CHRISTOPHER and Ronny. We both cried with Christopher moving. It was completely unexpected but it had to happen. SO...that cut our progressing investigators down a bit. We have faith though. Ricky will be baptized this Saturday and we're pretty excited about it. :)
I found out some pretty bad news. When I fly into Manila, I will be all alone...yeah that's terrifying...I'm gonna just sleep in the hotel and read my scriptures and I think Sister Flores, my followup trainer is trying to get off work to see me..woohoo...anyway...the sad part is..normally you get to go to a temple session, THE TEMPLE IS CLOSED FOR CLEANING!!!!!! I almost cried.
I don't have much info about this week. The work has been hard, but my companion is a gem. It's easy to be happy when you're doing the Lord's work side by side with a best friend. I'm wearing myself out in the work. I hope all is going well for you. You're all in my prayers. I'll see you all next Wednesday no? the 2nd...weird. I'm so excited. I feel like I'm numb to everything right now and everything is in a weird time warp. AH!!!! YOU GUYS I SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!!! ...I feel like it hasn't been long enough for me to come home yet, but...President says it is. I love you tons. Pray for opportunities to serve and share the gospel, and pray for me to have opportunities on the way home too. Love you tons~ Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
p.s. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna bawl when I have to take this beautiful tag off. ah!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna be such a weirdy! Love me anyway!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Well family dear, here we are, another week over and few more to go and life is whizzing by around us. This week we were able to settle in completely to our new home. We don't have tile, its a concrete floor, but it feels like home. We love it. We have a bit of a spider/ant problem, but they are suppose to come spray the house. I don't have a problem with the spiders, but we have found 2 big egg sacks lately...which has send the other sisters into a tizzy! HAHA! But its been fun!
We had our Mission tour on Tuesday with Elder Teh. It was powerfully spiritual. He talked about perfecting ourselves to become better as individuals and therefore, progress the mission. He talked a lot about being worthy to receive spiritual revelation, personal revelation. He talked about the different between standing on edge and the safety from being far from it and not even facing in the direction of Satan's temptations. It is something that I have been applying to post-mission plans also. It seems every time I see President he reminds me of going home and asks about my plans. He keeps telling me to plan ahead to make the adjustment smoother. I think I'm pretty planned. Maybe he thinks I should be more detail. haha!
In the missionary mission tour we had a choir number, the most beautiful arrangement of Love one Another I have ever heard. Then, I sang a solo, "I know that my Redeemer lives." The one that I have sung many times before. I made it until the last verse, just like I always do and I lost it, my legs were shaking ..(Paul Remember when President Wak asked you if you leg was okay cause it was shaking so bad while you were speaking? haha!) I have always had a hard time singing that song because I feel like I am singing my testimony. It's not just any old lyrics, but this time, after what I've seen in the mission, the words hit me so hard. The spirit was strong, and it was hard to finish it, but I did. I was so convinced I would make it through without any problems. Each practice went beautifully and I lost it once in practice, after a particularly difficult day of work. I thought I got the tears all out. BUT. ..sure enough, my tear ducts still react the same way they always did. Well, I sat down thinking, "Stadler....why did you pick that song? You never make it through that song..." But I sang. Elder Teh stood up to share his part of the program. I thought of a scripture, a simple statement, "The song of the righteous is a prayer until God." quoting D&C 25.
Later, during lunch, I had 3 specific elders I had had on my mind that were a little different than other elders. You know, the ones who are incredibly nice, but they just don't clique with the other elders. I had been praying that somehow I could help them to feel the Savior's love for them through me. Each of the 3 came up to me after the meeting and gave some of the most sincere compliments I have ever received. One of them just said, "Sister Stadler, thank you. That is something that I have needed. Thank you.." I love the gospel. Not the way I had planned on helping these elders, and yet, Heavenly Father knows how to help them.
Later in the evening we had the chance to perform a musical number again for a fireside in La Carlota for the members in our district. The member choir sounded wonderful! While I was playing prelude for the fireside everyone was busy talking to their neighbors and chit chatting....not being reverent. THEN...lo and behold, we had a brown out....no electricity and the piano, is electric. So here we are, I wish you could hear the effect when the lights go out. Everyone, no matter where or when we have a brown out ..gasps in unison. Then they all start talking louder. I'm sitting here at the piano, in the dark thinking, how can I help these people prepare spiritually for this message....then it hits me, "You have a loud voice. Grab your hymn book and your flashlight and go invite everyone to sing with you, even though its dark, most of the members have flashlights or they have music memorized."
I hesitated for a moment, but my heart was racing and its one of those do or die moments. SO, I did. I asked the chorister if she felt okay about it, she readily consented and I jumped up and said, "Brother and sisters....(loud talking still...) BROTHERS AND SISTERS....( a slight lull in conversation..) Brother and Sister, hopefully you will listen right now to me. (Silence) Thank you. It is important that we prepare spiritually for this fireside. Would it be okay if we sang some hymns, even though we have no light, to prepare us?" I don' t know what reaction I was expecting, but there was a unanimous "YES!" from the members in attendance. SO here I am, little Arizona girl in the middle of the Philippines, using her diaphragm and lung support to belt out the melody for others to follow in the middle of a dark chapel. The music was beautiful. The spirit was there. We sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and by the end of the song the room was silent and the lights came back on. I returned to the piano and the room stayed silent for the remainder of the prelude.
The fireside was spiritually powerful. Elder Teh loves these people and it is evident. His beautiful wife had a strong spirit with her as well. They are a remarkable couple and they work beautifully with each other. Its a couple you look at and think, "That is what I want to become with a best friend some day." After the fireside President Tobias came up to me and said, "Sister Stadler...do you know how many days you have left?" I just made a furrowed my brow at him, ha...then he said, "I've been thinking. Do you think you could extend for just another....6 months or so?" hahaha! I laughed and said "Sure! no problem!" and then he furrowed his brow at me. haha! I love President so much.
On Sunday we had the pleasure of having Ricky Yanson interviewed by President. With joyful chord, we would like to announce that RICKY CAN BE BAPTIZED!!!!! We plan for having him interviewed again by our district leader this weekend and next weekend, right before I go home, he'll be baptized!!!! I am so excited! He...HE is SOOOO excited! We're really happy for him. This week was a good week. We were busy and we were rejected by many many people, but ...if that doesn't happen daily, then you're not a missionary. I'm eating up the moments I have left here in the field.
This week we were punted by every back up plan we had, and we had a TON Of them. We even went to other less active members and no one seemed to be home. So we were walking down the street trying to find SOMEONE who would listen and we ran into a group of young boys (15-25) that we had talked to before. They never really listened before, they are always joking around and trying to flirt. WELL....you've all seen a little glimpse of the wrath of Ashley.....but the wrath of Sister Stadler is a little more....polished??? If you will? So here I am, picture this with me for a moment....rejected all day, just found out another investigator got a new job and works Sundays now, poor Sister Christofferson is sick and in a daze with her cold and I'm thinking..." WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSE TO GO?!?!?!" And then I see this group of boys. This is a busy street. Trikes are driving all over the place, weaving in and out of traffic, people are trying to sell fish and shoving it in your face, people are making cat calls to us all the time. We walk past these boys and say hi and then I think..Nope! We're gonna talk to them again.
So I walk back. AH....the walk back. People react 1 of 2 ways, they run away or they look shocked, like a deer in headlights and then start laughing. SO..they chose the latter of the two. So here I am, I look to Sister Christofferson and she looks at me like..."I don't even know why we're here right now...you take it.." So I start inviting them to come to church and explaining truths for the Restoration and the whole time they're giggling and shooting looks back and forth and given ridiculous answers to my questions. THEN.. small miracle...a drunk man we know who used to come collect our trash on Thursdays walks by. NOW....normally a drunk many walking by isn't a blessing, but in this case, it was. So he walks by and starts to talk to me and the boys all laugh, thinking its hilarious that he's trying to hold my hand and get close to me. I controlled the situation and told him to take off. He did, and they all laughed and shouted as he walked away. For a split second I thought, stop now. What's the point? The moment is ruined, they are not ready to listen. they are young boys, but then...another thought came...use it! Use an inspired question! Apply training. So I did.
I asked, "Why are you laughing?" they laughed again, so I asked it again, "Why are you laughing? Honestly, why is that funny to you?" They got quiet and they could tell I was serious, then they said, "He's drunk! Really really drunk sis! He can't even walk." And I said, "Where is that man's family? How can he provide for them if he's drunk?" They thought for a second and said, "He can't. His family is probably at home right now." "Exactly! HE can't provide for them. He made a choice that make him drunk. He chose alcohol over his family. Now if He can't provide for their needs ...their temporal needs, how can he provide for their spiritual needs?" They stood there silent and one boy finally said, "He can't. its not possible." AH! I wish you could have seen their faces!!!!! I taught a little about the love of God for us and blessings for our families and then I asked them what their purpose was here on earth and they couldn't give me an answer.
One boy, was 17 was smoking hahaha.... I've been a little bolder in the Philippines than I would be at home. I went to grab the cigarette and said, "Ew! Why do you have that? That's gross and your body is holy!" He got embarassed and hit it. We talked about what they wanted in the future and we have a lesson this week set up with them. We're hoping to get them into smaller groups, or teach them individually. BUT...we'll see if they are serious about it. They know we're serious, that we're not there to flirt. It was funny...later that night as we were lying in bed started to fall asleep Sister Christofferson broke the silence and said,"Hey, remember when you went off with love on those boys today? HAHAHAH!" I love her so much. They reminded me so much of friends from high school. I can't stand to just be silent.
The Gospel is true! I have 2 weeks to work my hardest and wear myself out full time for the Lord. Then I have a lifetime to figure out how to continue doing that every day in my family. Until next week, teach the gospel, know that I love you and...God Speed!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
We had our Mission tour on Tuesday with Elder Teh. It was powerfully spiritual. He talked about perfecting ourselves to become better as individuals and therefore, progress the mission. He talked a lot about being worthy to receive spiritual revelation, personal revelation. He talked about the different between standing on edge and the safety from being far from it and not even facing in the direction of Satan's temptations. It is something that I have been applying to post-mission plans also. It seems every time I see President he reminds me of going home and asks about my plans. He keeps telling me to plan ahead to make the adjustment smoother. I think I'm pretty planned. Maybe he thinks I should be more detail. haha!
In the missionary mission tour we had a choir number, the most beautiful arrangement of Love one Another I have ever heard. Then, I sang a solo, "I know that my Redeemer lives." The one that I have sung many times before. I made it until the last verse, just like I always do and I lost it, my legs were shaking ..(Paul Remember when President Wak asked you if you leg was okay cause it was shaking so bad while you were speaking? haha!) I have always had a hard time singing that song because I feel like I am singing my testimony. It's not just any old lyrics, but this time, after what I've seen in the mission, the words hit me so hard. The spirit was strong, and it was hard to finish it, but I did. I was so convinced I would make it through without any problems. Each practice went beautifully and I lost it once in practice, after a particularly difficult day of work. I thought I got the tears all out. BUT. ..sure enough, my tear ducts still react the same way they always did. Well, I sat down thinking, "Stadler....why did you pick that song? You never make it through that song..." But I sang. Elder Teh stood up to share his part of the program. I thought of a scripture, a simple statement, "The song of the righteous is a prayer until God." quoting D&C 25.
Later, during lunch, I had 3 specific elders I had had on my mind that were a little different than other elders. You know, the ones who are incredibly nice, but they just don't clique with the other elders. I had been praying that somehow I could help them to feel the Savior's love for them through me. Each of the 3 came up to me after the meeting and gave some of the most sincere compliments I have ever received. One of them just said, "Sister Stadler, thank you. That is something that I have needed. Thank you.." I love the gospel. Not the way I had planned on helping these elders, and yet, Heavenly Father knows how to help them.
Later in the evening we had the chance to perform a musical number again for a fireside in La Carlota for the members in our district. The member choir sounded wonderful! While I was playing prelude for the fireside everyone was busy talking to their neighbors and chit chatting....not being reverent. THEN...lo and behold, we had a brown out....no electricity and the piano, is electric. So here we are, I wish you could hear the effect when the lights go out. Everyone, no matter where or when we have a brown out ..gasps in unison. Then they all start talking louder. I'm sitting here at the piano, in the dark thinking, how can I help these people prepare spiritually for this message....then it hits me, "You have a loud voice. Grab your hymn book and your flashlight and go invite everyone to sing with you, even though its dark, most of the members have flashlights or they have music memorized."
I hesitated for a moment, but my heart was racing and its one of those do or die moments. SO, I did. I asked the chorister if she felt okay about it, she readily consented and I jumped up and said, "Brother and sisters....(loud talking still...) BROTHERS AND SISTERS....( a slight lull in conversation..) Brother and Sister, hopefully you will listen right now to me. (Silence) Thank you. It is important that we prepare spiritually for this fireside. Would it be okay if we sang some hymns, even though we have no light, to prepare us?" I don' t know what reaction I was expecting, but there was a unanimous "YES!" from the members in attendance. SO here I am, little Arizona girl in the middle of the Philippines, using her diaphragm and lung support to belt out the melody for others to follow in the middle of a dark chapel. The music was beautiful. The spirit was there. We sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and by the end of the song the room was silent and the lights came back on. I returned to the piano and the room stayed silent for the remainder of the prelude.
The fireside was spiritually powerful. Elder Teh loves these people and it is evident. His beautiful wife had a strong spirit with her as well. They are a remarkable couple and they work beautifully with each other. Its a couple you look at and think, "That is what I want to become with a best friend some day." After the fireside President Tobias came up to me and said, "Sister Stadler...do you know how many days you have left?" I just made a furrowed my brow at him, ha...then he said, "I've been thinking. Do you think you could extend for just another....6 months or so?" hahaha! I laughed and said "Sure! no problem!" and then he furrowed his brow at me. haha! I love President so much.
On Sunday we had the pleasure of having Ricky Yanson interviewed by President. With joyful chord, we would like to announce that RICKY CAN BE BAPTIZED!!!!! We plan for having him interviewed again by our district leader this weekend and next weekend, right before I go home, he'll be baptized!!!! I am so excited! He...HE is SOOOO excited! We're really happy for him. This week was a good week. We were busy and we were rejected by many many people, but ...if that doesn't happen daily, then you're not a missionary. I'm eating up the moments I have left here in the field.
This week we were punted by every back up plan we had, and we had a TON Of them. We even went to other less active members and no one seemed to be home. So we were walking down the street trying to find SOMEONE who would listen and we ran into a group of young boys (15-25) that we had talked to before. They never really listened before, they are always joking around and trying to flirt. WELL....you've all seen a little glimpse of the wrath of Ashley.....but the wrath of Sister Stadler is a little more....polished??? If you will? So here I am, picture this with me for a moment....rejected all day, just found out another investigator got a new job and works Sundays now, poor Sister Christofferson is sick and in a daze with her cold and I'm thinking..." WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSE TO GO?!?!?!" And then I see this group of boys. This is a busy street. Trikes are driving all over the place, weaving in and out of traffic, people are trying to sell fish and shoving it in your face, people are making cat calls to us all the time. We walk past these boys and say hi and then I think..Nope! We're gonna talk to them again.
So I walk back. AH....the walk back. People react 1 of 2 ways, they run away or they look shocked, like a deer in headlights and then start laughing. SO..they chose the latter of the two. So here I am, I look to Sister Christofferson and she looks at me like..."I don't even know why we're here right now...you take it.." So I start inviting them to come to church and explaining truths for the Restoration and the whole time they're giggling and shooting looks back and forth and given ridiculous answers to my questions. THEN.. small miracle...a drunk man we know who used to come collect our trash on Thursdays walks by. NOW....normally a drunk many walking by isn't a blessing, but in this case, it was. So he walks by and starts to talk to me and the boys all laugh, thinking its hilarious that he's trying to hold my hand and get close to me. I controlled the situation and told him to take off. He did, and they all laughed and shouted as he walked away. For a split second I thought, stop now. What's the point? The moment is ruined, they are not ready to listen. they are young boys, but then...another thought came...use it! Use an inspired question! Apply training. So I did.
I asked, "Why are you laughing?" they laughed again, so I asked it again, "Why are you laughing? Honestly, why is that funny to you?" They got quiet and they could tell I was serious, then they said, "He's drunk! Really really drunk sis! He can't even walk." And I said, "Where is that man's family? How can he provide for them if he's drunk?" They thought for a second and said, "He can't. His family is probably at home right now." "Exactly! HE can't provide for them. He made a choice that make him drunk. He chose alcohol over his family. Now if He can't provide for their needs ...their temporal needs, how can he provide for their spiritual needs?" They stood there silent and one boy finally said, "He can't. its not possible." AH! I wish you could have seen their faces!!!!! I taught a little about the love of God for us and blessings for our families and then I asked them what their purpose was here on earth and they couldn't give me an answer.
One boy, was 17 was smoking hahaha.... I've been a little bolder in the Philippines than I would be at home. I went to grab the cigarette and said, "Ew! Why do you have that? That's gross and your body is holy!" He got embarassed and hit it. We talked about what they wanted in the future and we have a lesson this week set up with them. We're hoping to get them into smaller groups, or teach them individually. BUT...we'll see if they are serious about it. They know we're serious, that we're not there to flirt. It was funny...later that night as we were lying in bed started to fall asleep Sister Christofferson broke the silence and said,"Hey, remember when you went off with love on those boys today? HAHAHAH!" I love her so much. They reminded me so much of friends from high school. I can't stand to just be silent.
The Gospel is true! I have 2 weeks to work my hardest and wear myself out full time for the Lord. Then I have a lifetime to figure out how to continue doing that every day in my family. Until next week, teach the gospel, know that I love you and...God Speed!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Hello family dearest! We are currently using email time to hurriedly send emails off and then go clean 2 houses and shop and get ourselves ready for our mission tour/conference tomorrow morning. To put this week into one word it would be EXHAUSTING. I have been worn to my limits and it has been interesting for sure. haha! To be honest the last few weeks have been blending all together so this might be some repeating but I hope not. So..here goes. We were told by the office elders that we have exactly one week to find a home and that it was our top priority. SO this entire week we spend packing stuff and spending our entire days looking for homes, including lunch time. Sister Christofferson and I had a total of 5 proselyting hours this week, ...hahahaha...that should give you a little hint as to how things were.
So right now we're sitting here, next to each other on the computers (oh yeah!! That's definitely okay now for each missionary to have a computer! We're pretty excited about that)...anyway...we're both just looking at each other and saying.."hm...what do we type about?" We actually ended up renting a home that we looked at awhile ago, but when we walked into it to look, it didn't have tile and the boarders were still there. The feeling in the home was kind of dark to be honest. The spirit definitely was not present. BUT...we went back to look at it again, and this time, the boarders were gone and as we walked in we felt good about it. Elder Nasis (our financial secretary) Elder Christopher (Our Supply Manager) Elder Stradling and Elder Gruninger (Our AP's) all helped us to move in on Saturday and Sunday evening. Usually we wouldn't move on Sunday, but we had a deadline and a few large things still had to be moved. AND...this Tuesday, tomorrow, we have the mission tour. Elder Teh will be touring La Carlota and visiting our apartments too, so our home needs to be ready for him.
Its to interesting to me how different the home feels now. We were able to dedicate it and the spirit is strong there. We just cleaned all the screens on the windows today and my goodness that made a huge difference. Now we just need curtains for some privacy. We have a sweet older woman who lives in a room attached to our home and she doesn't understand the concept of not entering our apartment. haha! This morning I was eating my cinnamon toast for breakfast and felt like someone was watching me. I turn around and BOOM! There is sweet little Delia's face on the window. hahahaha! I jumped. But we talked to her today and it should be okay now. She was just offering to help clean the apartment. Thank you for your prayers and your faith in us finding a home. We're happy to have moved and we'll miss the calamansi bush, haha, but we're happy in our home. Who knew one could find such joy in a small home and no carpet, no tile, just cement floors and one bathroom with 4 sisters. :) We're incredibly happy..and who wouldn't be? This week we get to Proselyte again!!!! I miss teaching!
These last few days we've had so many assignments from President that we haven't really felt much like missionaries. BUT...we are and alas..this week we will have wonderful experiences to share.
ALRIGHT...its the moment you've all been waiting for....Erwin Espinosa Joguilon was baptized on February 5th, 2011 at 5:30pm. I cannot even begin to express the joy I felt at his baptism. Brother Paolo, a branch missionary baptized him and did a pretty good job. haha..he was nervous and had to say the words about 8 times before he finally for it, then Brother Erwin's hand didn't go all the way under. So they had to do it 3 more times until Paolo said it right again, then he finally did it right!!! :) The spirit was strong. Sister Christofferson and I sang..it was pretty good. But the best part of it was when they invited Erwin to bear his testimony. I thought for a moment..."Oh no...we forgot to prepare him for this and explain about it.." But he stood up and walked to the front of the room, turned around, smiled...his eyes were shining.
If I could only let you see how he looked the first time we taught him. At the point we ha our first lesson with him he has already been taught by 2 different sets of elders, so I can't even imagine how he was the very first lesson with the elders. But here we was now, his whole countenance had changed and he was honestly glowing. He bore the most pure and sincere testimony I have ever heard in the Philippines. The spirit was so strong and I lost it. I know I have said this before, but I don't think I have ever felt that way before for anther investigator. We worked so hard with Erwin, we cried with him and his family, we laughed with them, we knelt with them in prayer in their humble home and we spend many hours on our knees praying in private, pleading with the Lord for help for him, for his eyes to be opened to His potential. Often I remind him that he is not the only one praying for his family, but that many of you are praying for him and asking about his progress as well. Whenever I mention that he gets a huge smile on his face. The elders who taught him before always ask about him and occasionally I would get a note through our mail here from one of them saying. "Sister Stadler...Baptize Erwin!" hahaha! Well, he is now the newest and one of the cleanest members in the church. I could not be happier.
As for a humorous moment this week...at our new home we have a dog, Sonny, of the woman who lives next to us, Sister Delia. Well we can't let him out of the fence...she's very picky about that. Well on Sunday morning, after having spent most of the night moving with the elders and being completely a totally drained, the dog got out. So we were just gonna let him go because we were going to be late for church if we didn't leave immediately. Sister Christofferson was a little worried..she's a huge dog lover...you all know how I feel about dogs. hahahahaha! So I looked at her face and knew she wouldn't be able to focus at church if she didn't get that dog inside. So I handed her my stuff and took off running after the dog. (SIDE NOTE.....I have been jogging in the mornings with Sister Elwood, another sister in the house. I wanted to shoot myself the first morning. BUT..now it's pretty enjoyable.) SO I take off running after this dog. Well my plan was to just run and pick him up. He's way nice, but as soon as I got to him he started growling...In my mind I pictured me in the hospital on the sabbath with a chomped hand...so I didn't pick him up, but the other sisters came around the corner and it just clicked. We ended up all running back, herding him like a sheep back to the house. hahahaha! It was way funny! But it worked. Then....this is the best part, this morning we look outside and Sonny is definitely just laying outside of the gate...and Sister Delia is totally okay with it. hahahahaha! So....good thing we got a huge work out. Fun fun!
Well I hope everything is going well for all of you. I'm excited to let you know what types of experiences we'll have this next week. I have great hopes for this week. You are all in my prayers. I love you all tons! I need to run and get the houses clean. Share the gospel! The church is true! Until next week, God Speed!
All my mushy gooshy love,
Sister Stadler
So right now we're sitting here, next to each other on the computers (oh yeah!! That's definitely okay now for each missionary to have a computer! We're pretty excited about that)...anyway...we're both just looking at each other and saying.."hm...what do we type about?" We actually ended up renting a home that we looked at awhile ago, but when we walked into it to look, it didn't have tile and the boarders were still there. The feeling in the home was kind of dark to be honest. The spirit definitely was not present. BUT...we went back to look at it again, and this time, the boarders were gone and as we walked in we felt good about it. Elder Nasis (our financial secretary) Elder Christopher (Our Supply Manager) Elder Stradling and Elder Gruninger (Our AP's) all helped us to move in on Saturday and Sunday evening. Usually we wouldn't move on Sunday, but we had a deadline and a few large things still had to be moved. AND...this Tuesday, tomorrow, we have the mission tour. Elder Teh will be touring La Carlota and visiting our apartments too, so our home needs to be ready for him.
Its to interesting to me how different the home feels now. We were able to dedicate it and the spirit is strong there. We just cleaned all the screens on the windows today and my goodness that made a huge difference. Now we just need curtains for some privacy. We have a sweet older woman who lives in a room attached to our home and she doesn't understand the concept of not entering our apartment. haha! This morning I was eating my cinnamon toast for breakfast and felt like someone was watching me. I turn around and BOOM! There is sweet little Delia's face on the window. hahahaha! I jumped. But we talked to her today and it should be okay now. She was just offering to help clean the apartment. Thank you for your prayers and your faith in us finding a home. We're happy to have moved and we'll miss the calamansi bush, haha, but we're happy in our home. Who knew one could find such joy in a small home and no carpet, no tile, just cement floors and one bathroom with 4 sisters. :) We're incredibly happy..and who wouldn't be? This week we get to Proselyte again!!!! I miss teaching!
These last few days we've had so many assignments from President that we haven't really felt much like missionaries. BUT...we are and alas..this week we will have wonderful experiences to share.
ALRIGHT...its the moment you've all been waiting for....Erwin Espinosa Joguilon was baptized on February 5th, 2011 at 5:30pm. I cannot even begin to express the joy I felt at his baptism. Brother Paolo, a branch missionary baptized him and did a pretty good job. haha..he was nervous and had to say the words about 8 times before he finally for it, then Brother Erwin's hand didn't go all the way under. So they had to do it 3 more times until Paolo said it right again, then he finally did it right!!! :) The spirit was strong. Sister Christofferson and I sang..it was pretty good. But the best part of it was when they invited Erwin to bear his testimony. I thought for a moment..."Oh no...we forgot to prepare him for this and explain about it.." But he stood up and walked to the front of the room, turned around, smiled...his eyes were shining.
If I could only let you see how he looked the first time we taught him. At the point we ha our first lesson with him he has already been taught by 2 different sets of elders, so I can't even imagine how he was the very first lesson with the elders. But here we was now, his whole countenance had changed and he was honestly glowing. He bore the most pure and sincere testimony I have ever heard in the Philippines. The spirit was so strong and I lost it. I know I have said this before, but I don't think I have ever felt that way before for anther investigator. We worked so hard with Erwin, we cried with him and his family, we laughed with them, we knelt with them in prayer in their humble home and we spend many hours on our knees praying in private, pleading with the Lord for help for him, for his eyes to be opened to His potential. Often I remind him that he is not the only one praying for his family, but that many of you are praying for him and asking about his progress as well. Whenever I mention that he gets a huge smile on his face. The elders who taught him before always ask about him and occasionally I would get a note through our mail here from one of them saying. "Sister Stadler...Baptize Erwin!" hahaha! Well, he is now the newest and one of the cleanest members in the church. I could not be happier.
As for a humorous moment this week...at our new home we have a dog, Sonny, of the woman who lives next to us, Sister Delia. Well we can't let him out of the fence...she's very picky about that. Well on Sunday morning, after having spent most of the night moving with the elders and being completely a totally drained, the dog got out. So we were just gonna let him go because we were going to be late for church if we didn't leave immediately. Sister Christofferson was a little worried..she's a huge dog lover...you all know how I feel about dogs. hahahahaha! So I looked at her face and knew she wouldn't be able to focus at church if she didn't get that dog inside. So I handed her my stuff and took off running after the dog. (SIDE NOTE.....I have been jogging in the mornings with Sister Elwood, another sister in the house. I wanted to shoot myself the first morning. BUT..now it's pretty enjoyable.) SO I take off running after this dog. Well my plan was to just run and pick him up. He's way nice, but as soon as I got to him he started growling...In my mind I pictured me in the hospital on the sabbath with a chomped hand...so I didn't pick him up, but the other sisters came around the corner and it just clicked. We ended up all running back, herding him like a sheep back to the house. hahahaha! It was way funny! But it worked. Then....this is the best part, this morning we look outside and Sonny is definitely just laying outside of the gate...and Sister Delia is totally okay with it. hahahahaha! So....good thing we got a huge work out. Fun fun!
Well I hope everything is going well for all of you. I'm excited to let you know what types of experiences we'll have this next week. I have great hopes for this week. You are all in my prayers. I love you all tons! I need to run and get the houses clean. Share the gospel! The church is true! Until next week, God Speed!
All my mushy gooshy love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Family, oh family, have I got some news for you. Perhaps you will not be as excited as I am, but, Erwin Joguilon had his baptismal interview and....HE PASSED!!!!! Not just barely passed...no...he is prepared. He passed with flying colors. I honestly do not feel like I have ever worked so hard and prayed so hard and cried so hard with an investigator in my entire mission. Erwin has been taught for over 8 transfers an he was not progressing at all. Something changed when the Sisters started teaching him. Not sure what Sister Jackson and I did to help him, but whatever we did through the spirit, it worked. He was just ready when we arrived I feel, but someone had to fan the flame. He is so excited and we are overwhelmed with joy for him. Feb 5, 2011 is his baptismal date at 5 pm. You're all invited! hahahaha!
As for the Branch, they are doing beautifully. They are progressing slowly and seeing small miracles unfold. Visiting teaching and Home teaching are starting this next week. The Rescue started last week and they are already reaping the fruits of their labors and are excited to see the fruit. We are just elated to see this little branch starting to take control of themselves. The poor family we were working with that didn't have food, the Pacheo's have now moved into a nicer apartment and are planning to go to the temple in May. They are excited and they are doing great things and progressing like crazy. They even gave us a referral for their sister.
I will finish the scripture challenge tonight. I have 17 pages left. President had us read the Book of Mormon in 2 months highlighting the words Jesus Christ, Repentance and Faith. Tonight is the last night of the challenge. I always love reading the Book of Mormon in such a condensed amount of time. The storyline just plays out perfectly. I am in the last few chapters of Ether right now and I'm gearing up for my favorite chapters in Moroni. OH HOW I LOVE THIS BOOK! If the world could only understand the great meaning behind it.
Well, as for the housing situation...turns out President didn't approve the houses for 2 reasons, 1- it was too nice for missionaries. 2- it was too close to the elders, therefore possibly causing future problems with sister/elder relationships. SOOOO...bad news, we have 1 week to find house and nothing seems to be available. We will be fasting yet again to find a home and that is our main priority. SO..this week we'll be teaching our investigators with a baptismal date and then house searching all day until we find one. Its a little....stressful, but once again, with no house, no missionaries. There has to be something out there...a house just waiting for sweet little sisters to live in it. Maybe there is a reason it has taken us this long, maybe we're suppose to meet families to teach...we have met a few. Regardless, this week, we'll find a house.
I don't have much else to add. We've been working hard this week. President put me in charge of 2 other choir numbers, one with missionaries and one with the district members in our branches in La Carlota district. I was a little worried about that...but these singers are incredibly talented. It is going to be beautiful.
I have been teaching Sister Christofferson and Sister Freeman some sign language and trying to remember things....man I miss that. They have been picking that up quickly.
Last night we made lumpia. It's like a small deep fried eggroll....yes..I'm making that when I get home. They are way good! We decided to made some dessert lumpia...which no one does here, but you know...we're American women....there has to be dessert. So we put some banana and sugar and cinnamon in a pan and cooked that up real nice and then deep fried it. HEAVEN!!!! We decided we're gonna make a small business outside of BYU campus called "LUMPIA LANG" which means...only lumpia. Then we'll have all different types of lumpia, savory and sweet. That won't happen, but....we will definitely be making some at home. Imagine if you will....and pumpkin pie lumpia...Ooh Ooh!! Strawberry cheesecake...or Strawberry Rhubard. MAN...strawberries....I don't even remember what those taste like. So many fun things to reunite with.
Christopher and Rex and Ricky are all doing well. Ricky has an interview with President Tobias and he'll see if he is able to be baptized. We're praying for him. We feel like he's really capable of it. We'll see. That will be after the Mission Tour Fireside with Elder Teh on the 8th of February. Keep the house in your prayers. I hope you're all doing well. You all sound like you're doing great. You're all awesome and I love you. I miss you all, but the weeks are going by way too fast. On Sunday I was sitting in the back with my beautiful companion and I just lost it. A woman gave the most beautiful prayer I think I've heard since I've been here. She was honestly conversing with her Heavenly Father for the entire congregation. When the prayer ended I looked at these remarkable people I have been greatly blessed to learn from and study with and laugh with....they will never know the impact they will have on the rest of my life. Heavenly Father knows what He's doing when He sends His missionaries out into the world. Until next week, be good, look for someone to serve daily and ...GOD SPEED!
all my love,
Sister Stadler
As for the Branch, they are doing beautifully. They are progressing slowly and seeing small miracles unfold. Visiting teaching and Home teaching are starting this next week. The Rescue started last week and they are already reaping the fruits of their labors and are excited to see the fruit. We are just elated to see this little branch starting to take control of themselves. The poor family we were working with that didn't have food, the Pacheo's have now moved into a nicer apartment and are planning to go to the temple in May. They are excited and they are doing great things and progressing like crazy. They even gave us a referral for their sister.
I will finish the scripture challenge tonight. I have 17 pages left. President had us read the Book of Mormon in 2 months highlighting the words Jesus Christ, Repentance and Faith. Tonight is the last night of the challenge. I always love reading the Book of Mormon in such a condensed amount of time. The storyline just plays out perfectly. I am in the last few chapters of Ether right now and I'm gearing up for my favorite chapters in Moroni. OH HOW I LOVE THIS BOOK! If the world could only understand the great meaning behind it.
Well, as for the housing situation...turns out President didn't approve the houses for 2 reasons, 1- it was too nice for missionaries. 2- it was too close to the elders, therefore possibly causing future problems with sister/elder relationships. SOOOO...bad news, we have 1 week to find house and nothing seems to be available. We will be fasting yet again to find a home and that is our main priority. SO..this week we'll be teaching our investigators with a baptismal date and then house searching all day until we find one. Its a little....stressful, but once again, with no house, no missionaries. There has to be something out there...a house just waiting for sweet little sisters to live in it. Maybe there is a reason it has taken us this long, maybe we're suppose to meet families to teach...we have met a few. Regardless, this week, we'll find a house.
I don't have much else to add. We've been working hard this week. President put me in charge of 2 other choir numbers, one with missionaries and one with the district members in our branches in La Carlota district. I was a little worried about that...but these singers are incredibly talented. It is going to be beautiful.
I have been teaching Sister Christofferson and Sister Freeman some sign language and trying to remember things....man I miss that. They have been picking that up quickly.
Last night we made lumpia. It's like a small deep fried eggroll....yes..I'm making that when I get home. They are way good! We decided to made some dessert lumpia...which no one does here, but you know...we're American women....there has to be dessert. So we put some banana and sugar and cinnamon in a pan and cooked that up real nice and then deep fried it. HEAVEN!!!! We decided we're gonna make a small business outside of BYU campus called "LUMPIA LANG" which means...only lumpia. Then we'll have all different types of lumpia, savory and sweet. That won't happen, but....we will definitely be making some at home. Imagine if you will....and pumpkin pie lumpia...Ooh Ooh!! Strawberry cheesecake...or Strawberry Rhubard. MAN...strawberries....I don't even remember what those taste like. So many fun things to reunite with.
Christopher and Rex and Ricky are all doing well. Ricky has an interview with President Tobias and he'll see if he is able to be baptized. We're praying for him. We feel like he's really capable of it. We'll see. That will be after the Mission Tour Fireside with Elder Teh on the 8th of February. Keep the house in your prayers. I hope you're all doing well. You all sound like you're doing great. You're all awesome and I love you. I miss you all, but the weeks are going by way too fast. On Sunday I was sitting in the back with my beautiful companion and I just lost it. A woman gave the most beautiful prayer I think I've heard since I've been here. She was honestly conversing with her Heavenly Father for the entire congregation. When the prayer ended I looked at these remarkable people I have been greatly blessed to learn from and study with and laugh with....they will never know the impact they will have on the rest of my life. Heavenly Father knows what He's doing when He sends His missionaries out into the world. Until next week, be good, look for someone to serve daily and ...GOD SPEED!
all my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Alright folks that I love so dearly. Here we are again, another week over and its been said I have 5 little tiny weeks left. It's that time where every single person I know seems to be asking me when I am going home and to be honest, it doesn't bother me anymore. Just like a wise person told me, put your nose the grindstone and work a little harder each time you hear it. AND SO I SHALL! :) The only weird thing is planning events in the branch that are past my returning date. WEIRD!
Oh...speaking of which! Good news!! Mom, the branch just found out that their travel will be completely paid for for the temple trip!!!!!!!!!!!! What a huge blessing no? I was so excited to hear about that. They could however use some money for extra white shirts and ties for priesthood if possible. That won't be nearly as expensive. In our branch council meeting they brought up the need for a skirt for one sister who is planning on going to the temple. I said I could give her one of mine and have it re-sized first. I asked what size she was and they all said, "Sister, you are....not the same size. You are...uh..." HAHAHA! I laughed really hard and said, "Oo, GANI! Tambok ako! Pero tani may fitting anay tapos ihatag ko sa iya!" oops..I mean..."Yes, obviously! I'm fat! but hopefully I can get it fitted before I give it to her." President Tumunong laughed and said, You're not fat sister! You're...uh....how light you are!!!!" ha! followed by a comment, "Sister! You're not fat, you're..American Standard!" They were way funny! No one here is sensitive about their weight, and to be honest...its helped me a lot here. They are way funny! Of course we're all huge compared to everyone here. BUT, we all had a good laugh about it. Sister Christofferson leaned over and said, "Oh man...only in the Philippines would they be discussing your weight in a Branch Council Meeting." haha! I love her and I love the people here! My goodness I will miss them.
As for this week. Thank you so much for your prayers! WE FOUND 2 HOUSES!!!! We were sent on a hunt for 2 different houses and up to this week we haven't even found one. BUT, we fasted and prayed and you all prayed and Heavenly Father definitely provided, as he always does. They are some of the most beautiful homes I can ever seen in the Philippines and for an incredibly affordable price. We are greatly blessed. We are waiting to see if President approves, but we are excited to move in this next week hopefully. It was funny how it worked, neither homes were available for rent, but Sister Christofferson and I talked to the owners and they changed their minds. I never thought in a million years that I would be house hunting on my mission. Let me tell you, apartment searches after the mission are going to be a breeze!!!!! Imagine just logging onto a computer and pulling up all available apartments in the area by the click of a mouse. That is hard for me to imagine. We had the spend lots of proselyting time looking for houses, so this week's work was slower, but next week it should pick up.
Our investigators with a baptismal date are all progressing nicely. Rex and Erwin are both doing great, going to church and loving life. Erwin's date is coming up quickly and we're excited for him. Keep him especially in your prayers. He's doing great with the word of wisdom, but we all know how Satan works in those last few weeks before the baptism and especially right after the baptism as well. Christopher continues to amaze me. His questions are so well thought out and he ALWAYS has questions when we show up. He is now involved with fellowshipping other less active members and investigators. He is golden. This boy reads daily and loves it and in his prayer a few weeks ago actually included that Quincy, a less active friend of his, would realize what's important and come to church and read. She did. :)
Sean, have you found out if you can come to Utah yet? I sure hope so. I've been praying for it. I hope your work has picked up some. How is the economy doing in the US right now anyway? Is work still hard to find? Are stocks starting to pick back up or what? We're out in our own little world out here.
We have no idea what is going on. We heard there have been many storms and natural disasters lately. Does this surprise anyone? Let's take a look at the wickedness of the world. My goodness...the responsibility we have to teach the gospel is tremendous isn't it? And at times it can almost feel more like a burden, no? We're far from perfect, we constantly fall and sin and have so many weaknesses, and yet, we know the truth, and the truth is perfect, so..we must share this beautiful message of hope with others. Step up to the challenge and share the message! :) You will find more joy in that than in any other way man could ever provide.
So nothing too funny happened this week. We were walking one day and had a dog come out of a bush and start running and barking full speed at us. We don't usually have problems with dogs, but this one was angry. It has little baby puppies so we're sure it was just protective. Serves me right for whistling while walking...haha! Well, luckily my companion is the dog whisperer. While I started walking faster and pulled out my umbrella to beat the dog to death she simply turns around and makes a noise that the people do here and the dog starts lunging at her snapping and she does it again and immediately it retreats. Much better alternative to dog innards all over my umbrella.
Also, today I had to go to the city to get my final x-rays. You have to get a set of x-rays to make sure you don't have TB before returning to the states. FUN FUN! But yeah...its over and I'm not too scarred. love you all!!!! The shop is closing. Big hugs and kisses!!! God speed!!!!
Love,
Sister Stadler
Oh...speaking of which! Good news!! Mom, the branch just found out that their travel will be completely paid for for the temple trip!!!!!!!!!!!! What a huge blessing no? I was so excited to hear about that. They could however use some money for extra white shirts and ties for priesthood if possible. That won't be nearly as expensive. In our branch council meeting they brought up the need for a skirt for one sister who is planning on going to the temple. I said I could give her one of mine and have it re-sized first. I asked what size she was and they all said, "Sister, you are....not the same size. You are...uh..." HAHAHA! I laughed really hard and said, "Oo, GANI! Tambok ako! Pero tani may fitting anay tapos ihatag ko sa iya!" oops..I mean..."Yes, obviously! I'm fat! but hopefully I can get it fitted before I give it to her." President Tumunong laughed and said, You're not fat sister! You're...uh....how light you are!!!!" ha! followed by a comment, "Sister! You're not fat, you're..American Standard!" They were way funny! No one here is sensitive about their weight, and to be honest...its helped me a lot here. They are way funny! Of course we're all huge compared to everyone here. BUT, we all had a good laugh about it. Sister Christofferson leaned over and said, "Oh man...only in the Philippines would they be discussing your weight in a Branch Council Meeting." haha! I love her and I love the people here! My goodness I will miss them.
As for this week. Thank you so much for your prayers! WE FOUND 2 HOUSES!!!! We were sent on a hunt for 2 different houses and up to this week we haven't even found one. BUT, we fasted and prayed and you all prayed and Heavenly Father definitely provided, as he always does. They are some of the most beautiful homes I can ever seen in the Philippines and for an incredibly affordable price. We are greatly blessed. We are waiting to see if President approves, but we are excited to move in this next week hopefully. It was funny how it worked, neither homes were available for rent, but Sister Christofferson and I talked to the owners and they changed their minds. I never thought in a million years that I would be house hunting on my mission. Let me tell you, apartment searches after the mission are going to be a breeze!!!!! Imagine just logging onto a computer and pulling up all available apartments in the area by the click of a mouse. That is hard for me to imagine. We had the spend lots of proselyting time looking for houses, so this week's work was slower, but next week it should pick up.
Our investigators with a baptismal date are all progressing nicely. Rex and Erwin are both doing great, going to church and loving life. Erwin's date is coming up quickly and we're excited for him. Keep him especially in your prayers. He's doing great with the word of wisdom, but we all know how Satan works in those last few weeks before the baptism and especially right after the baptism as well. Christopher continues to amaze me. His questions are so well thought out and he ALWAYS has questions when we show up. He is now involved with fellowshipping other less active members and investigators. He is golden. This boy reads daily and loves it and in his prayer a few weeks ago actually included that Quincy, a less active friend of his, would realize what's important and come to church and read. She did. :)
Sean, have you found out if you can come to Utah yet? I sure hope so. I've been praying for it. I hope your work has picked up some. How is the economy doing in the US right now anyway? Is work still hard to find? Are stocks starting to pick back up or what? We're out in our own little world out here.
We have no idea what is going on. We heard there have been many storms and natural disasters lately. Does this surprise anyone? Let's take a look at the wickedness of the world. My goodness...the responsibility we have to teach the gospel is tremendous isn't it? And at times it can almost feel more like a burden, no? We're far from perfect, we constantly fall and sin and have so many weaknesses, and yet, we know the truth, and the truth is perfect, so..we must share this beautiful message of hope with others. Step up to the challenge and share the message! :) You will find more joy in that than in any other way man could ever provide.
So nothing too funny happened this week. We were walking one day and had a dog come out of a bush and start running and barking full speed at us. We don't usually have problems with dogs, but this one was angry. It has little baby puppies so we're sure it was just protective. Serves me right for whistling while walking...haha! Well, luckily my companion is the dog whisperer. While I started walking faster and pulled out my umbrella to beat the dog to death she simply turns around and makes a noise that the people do here and the dog starts lunging at her snapping and she does it again and immediately it retreats. Much better alternative to dog innards all over my umbrella.
Also, today I had to go to the city to get my final x-rays. You have to get a set of x-rays to make sure you don't have TB before returning to the states. FUN FUN! But yeah...its over and I'm not too scarred. love you all!!!! The shop is closing. Big hugs and kisses!!! God speed!!!!
Love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Well, transfer announcments are here and...drum roll please............. I'm STAYING IN LA CARLOTA AND......SISTER CHRISTOFFERSON IS KILLING ME OFF!!!!!!!! WOO HOOOO!!!! I'm way excited and happy..releaved really. But here it is...my last transfer. I can't believe its here and the last transfer felt like it took 4 days to get through. I'm sure it will go even faster. We went to a departure meeting yesterday for Elder Theobald and his batch. He talked to me after and said, "Sister, these next 6 weeks will be the fastest of your whole mission. They fly by.." SO! I'm just holding on and working harder than ever before.
There were only 2 departing missionaries from America. President said in his talk, "This is the hugest batch of foreigners ever...(laughter)." Then he said, "And next transfer will be the record breaking largest foreign departure...Sister Stadler. I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to bear your testimony in this meeting, but this upcoming transfer, in every leadership training we have I want you to bear your testimony." Not sure what that means, but...whatever. ha! There are only 2 of us leaving next transfer, Sister Canaya and I. So yes mom, I will be flying home alone. I'm a little worried, I hate trying to make flight changes, but the mission looks after its missionaries, AND.....good grief I have been watched over here. We know Heavenly Father will watch over me on the flight home. President gave me the option of staying either an additional transfer and going home with Sister Ball or staying an additional 3 weeks and flying home with my batch from IloIlo mission, Jennie?! But...I want to be there so bad for the birth of little nameless baby boy Anderson! :) And I figured you wouldn't like me to stay an extra 3 weeks, so I'm just going to
exercise my faith and make the most of it.
This week was full of craziness. We had exchanges this last week, which after much prayer, I followed a prompting and I had and it turned out to answer many prayers for many sisters. I LOVE THE SPIRIT!!!!! Exchanges were a huge tender mercy for me. Going back to Bago and seeing a few people that I had taught my first transfer was...amazing. Unfortunately, some of them are now inactive because of a lack of fellowshipping. AH! Now true, they could go on their own, and I gave them a good older Sister Stadler talkin to, but Japhet....Japhet is active as ever! He's a counselor in the Young Mens and loving life. I didn't want to go around visiting, because that wasn't the purpose of exchanges. Exchanges are for training missionaries. Experienced missionaries switch into other companionships to help teach and help with concerns in the area. Well, praying beforehand I said, "Father, I would love to go see each person we taught, but let me see those Father who I need to see, if it be thy will." And it was His will.
At one point we really needed a member to come to an appointment with us and no one was in sight. I knew a member's house was around the corner. She was studying for an exam, so I knew that Japhet lived right around the corner from her, but he still had school. We went to his house and he wasn't there. My heart sunk a little bit. So I asked his neighbor if she could tell him that Sister Stadler stopped by. We then went across a large rice field towards the appointment and I
hear..."SIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAIT LANG SIS!!!!!" And I turn around and see a little dot running across the rice field and lo and behold....it was Japhet Villarte! I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest..I was so excited. I have never wanted to hug someone so bad in my entire life....but I didn't. ha! I shook his hand, with the hugest smile ever on my face, haha, and said, "Japhet...you're still strong?!" And he said without a moments hesitation, "Yes Sister, I am. I will always be strong no matter what others choose. The church is true, I will never turn from it." I started tearing up. AH!!!!! I have always felt that I knew Japhet before. There was a connection with him. He bore a powerful testimony in the lesson we taught and testified of prophets and how we have a living prophet. His testimony had depth. It wasn't the light hearted testimony you hear many youth bear.
I was able to see many people during the day...and yes they all made comments on how I was now fluent in Ilonggo. haha! I'm not fluent...I just couldn't speak well to them before. hahaha! Anyway, it was awesome. Sister Nethercott, a sister who was on the exchange, came up to me at zone conference later in the week and said, "Sister Stadler, I know you are inspired. You don't know the number of ways that exchange helped me. You answered many specific questions I had been praying about. I wrote you a letter, but forgot it. Just know that I am very thankful."
I love this work. Zone conference was remarkable. The focus was working with the spirit. To be completely honest, I have become quite comfortable with understanding spiritual promptings. This is something I hope stays with me throughout my life. It has taken time and I have to check myself constantly to see if I am still a worthy
vessel for the spirit to dwell in. I worry that after the mission, once the mantle is removed, the spirit will speak to me in a little different way. BUT...I will find out when I get home. Its easier on a mission..the world is shut out.
This week we were also able to extend commitments to Christopher Barrientos and Rex Jayme for baptism. They readily accepted. Both are remarkable individuals. We are excited! When we committed Christopher I said, "Brother Christopher, we are so excited for you!" and he responded.."Sister, I am excited for myself!" haha! He's solid. I'll have more updates next week. Keep praying for a home for us. We've
looked at many....but they don't seem to be quite up to par....Anyway, keep praying. I love you tons.
You're all amazing. I pray for you often. Sean.....I'm a loser. I had written multiple times in various places to wish you happy birthday last week...did i? no..cause i''m a puts and forgot...but here it is...get ready... HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good grief I love you. Keep praying that you'll be able to go to Salt Lake for the my homecoming. I pray for it daily, multiple times. Surely Heavenly Father will find a way to answers our prayers. I love you all, until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!
All my kisses and hugs from the last 18 months,
Sister Stadler
There were only 2 departing missionaries from America. President said in his talk, "This is the hugest batch of foreigners ever...(laughter)." Then he said, "And next transfer will be the record breaking largest foreign departure...Sister Stadler. I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to bear your testimony in this meeting, but this upcoming transfer, in every leadership training we have I want you to bear your testimony." Not sure what that means, but...whatever. ha! There are only 2 of us leaving next transfer, Sister Canaya and I. So yes mom, I will be flying home alone. I'm a little worried, I hate trying to make flight changes, but the mission looks after its missionaries, AND.....good grief I have been watched over here. We know Heavenly Father will watch over me on the flight home. President gave me the option of staying either an additional transfer and going home with Sister Ball or staying an additional 3 weeks and flying home with my batch from IloIlo mission, Jennie?! But...I want to be there so bad for the birth of little nameless baby boy Anderson! :) And I figured you wouldn't like me to stay an extra 3 weeks, so I'm just going to
exercise my faith and make the most of it.
This week was full of craziness. We had exchanges this last week, which after much prayer, I followed a prompting and I had and it turned out to answer many prayers for many sisters. I LOVE THE SPIRIT!!!!! Exchanges were a huge tender mercy for me. Going back to Bago and seeing a few people that I had taught my first transfer was...amazing. Unfortunately, some of them are now inactive because of a lack of fellowshipping. AH! Now true, they could go on their own, and I gave them a good older Sister Stadler talkin to, but Japhet....Japhet is active as ever! He's a counselor in the Young Mens and loving life. I didn't want to go around visiting, because that wasn't the purpose of exchanges. Exchanges are for training missionaries. Experienced missionaries switch into other companionships to help teach and help with concerns in the area. Well, praying beforehand I said, "Father, I would love to go see each person we taught, but let me see those Father who I need to see, if it be thy will." And it was His will.
At one point we really needed a member to come to an appointment with us and no one was in sight. I knew a member's house was around the corner. She was studying for an exam, so I knew that Japhet lived right around the corner from her, but he still had school. We went to his house and he wasn't there. My heart sunk a little bit. So I asked his neighbor if she could tell him that Sister Stadler stopped by. We then went across a large rice field towards the appointment and I
hear..."SIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAIT LANG SIS!!!!!" And I turn around and see a little dot running across the rice field and lo and behold....it was Japhet Villarte! I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest..I was so excited. I have never wanted to hug someone so bad in my entire life....but I didn't. ha! I shook his hand, with the hugest smile ever on my face, haha, and said, "Japhet...you're still strong?!" And he said without a moments hesitation, "Yes Sister, I am. I will always be strong no matter what others choose. The church is true, I will never turn from it." I started tearing up. AH!!!!! I have always felt that I knew Japhet before. There was a connection with him. He bore a powerful testimony in the lesson we taught and testified of prophets and how we have a living prophet. His testimony had depth. It wasn't the light hearted testimony you hear many youth bear.
I was able to see many people during the day...and yes they all made comments on how I was now fluent in Ilonggo. haha! I'm not fluent...I just couldn't speak well to them before. hahaha! Anyway, it was awesome. Sister Nethercott, a sister who was on the exchange, came up to me at zone conference later in the week and said, "Sister Stadler, I know you are inspired. You don't know the number of ways that exchange helped me. You answered many specific questions I had been praying about. I wrote you a letter, but forgot it. Just know that I am very thankful."
I love this work. Zone conference was remarkable. The focus was working with the spirit. To be completely honest, I have become quite comfortable with understanding spiritual promptings. This is something I hope stays with me throughout my life. It has taken time and I have to check myself constantly to see if I am still a worthy
vessel for the spirit to dwell in. I worry that after the mission, once the mantle is removed, the spirit will speak to me in a little different way. BUT...I will find out when I get home. Its easier on a mission..the world is shut out.
This week we were also able to extend commitments to Christopher Barrientos and Rex Jayme for baptism. They readily accepted. Both are remarkable individuals. We are excited! When we committed Christopher I said, "Brother Christopher, we are so excited for you!" and he responded.."Sister, I am excited for myself!" haha! He's solid. I'll have more updates next week. Keep praying for a home for us. We've
looked at many....but they don't seem to be quite up to par....Anyway, keep praying. I love you tons.
You're all amazing. I pray for you often. Sean.....I'm a loser. I had written multiple times in various places to wish you happy birthday last week...did i? no..cause i''m a puts and forgot...but here it is...get ready... HAPPY BIRTHDAY
SEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good grief I love you. Keep praying that you'll be able to go to Salt Lake for the my homecoming. I pray for it daily, multiple times. Surely Heavenly Father will find a way to answers our prayers. I love you all, until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!
All my kisses and hugs from the last 18 months,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Hello my sweet family! Good grief I love you to death! This week I officially put in my "trunky" papers ...which means I put down information about where I want the flight to fly into and my official returning date was given to me. This is weird. I don't know exactly how to explain what I'm feeling. SO...instead of thinking about it, I'm throwing myself into the work..or trying to anyway. This last week has been a huge blessing and I'm excited to see how this next week will go.
So his week we were punted a lot, but we were able to have 14 new investigators, a record for me on the mission. Here is the greatest part, they were all male investigators, ages 20-30. Talk about potential priesthood holders! :) I was so happy! We have had some wonderful teaching opportunities with them. Pray for us this week that we'll have the opportunity to teach them all again. The first lesson is always easiest. It is the following lessons that can be hard to get in. I adore my companion and we're excited for this next week. We have 9 days left together..unless by some miracle of miracles we stay together and she kills me off in the mission...I would be more than okay with that. We have the exchanges tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous about it actually. We were going to do it last week ,but we rescheduled it for this week. Keep me in your prayers for it, that I'll be guided by the spirit to ask inspired questions and to help them to progress. Keep Sister Christofferson in your prayers too. I think she's a little nervous, but she'll do great! I have huge faith in her because she works by the spirit. I love her tons!
This letter is going to be slightly shorter than the average because I just spent time looking at the BYU website trying to figure out about schooling....that is the last thing I want to think about however. AH! I hate thinking about all of this. It makes me feel....really uneasy inside. I'm so unsure of anything after the mission. I feel like normal conversation with people is going to be difficult. Is it not normal to bring up the doctrine of Christ 3 sentences into a conversation??? hahaha!
Our investigators are doing well. Erwin is still progressing, keep praying for him! He's excited to be baptized, just pray that he can continue to withstand the temptations and to be completely honest with his family.
I feel like this is jumping all around. Right now in my reading I'm in Alma 26. I love this chapter. I love the book of Alma. He's such a wonderful example to us. He and Amulek work miracles together. They are such a wonderful companionship. Alma is the more calm and reserved it seems, while Amulek is the firey one....I feel kind of like that in our companionship! hahaha! I'm Amulek, Sister Christofferson is Alma. I feel she's much wiser than me in many ways as well, even though I'm the senior. I have been so blessed with companionships. Heavenly Father truly knows who we need to be with and what we need to learn from people. I have no idea what this next, and last, transfer holds for me. I feel like my time is ending here in La Carlota, but perhaps I'll have one last transfer here.
We had a solid fireside about starting home teaching and visiting teaching here. As I was teaching about the effects of home teaching I was reminded of something Brother Hansen said to me before I left on the mission. I don't know if he'll ever understand the comfort it brought to me. He just reassured me that he'd look after my family..look after Mom and Dad. I knew he was serious. My heart was calm after that. I love the effect of the truly concerned home teacher and visiting teacher. We're pretty excited to see it start in the branch here.
Mom, give Dale, Dad, and Sean a huge squeeze for me. As for fish, I hated it before my mission. Now..I'm addicted! I can't seem to get enough of it. Hope you all enjoyed your salmon. I have one more request for prayers. Our sweet little home here is in need of being renovated, so we're in the process of looking for a new home. Well, it's been incredibly hard. It's not like we can just go pick up a white sheet or get a real estate agent...its been hard. We haven't found a single house that is up to standard that is available for rent. We have a deadline too, within the next 2 weeks we need to find a home for the 4 sisters, and a set of couple missionaries need a home as well. Please pray for specifics to fit the standards for the mission:
-tile
-2 cr's...er..bathrooms
-complete kitchen
-furnished/painted
-protected, meaning...gated
-3 or 4 rooms
Hopefully nearer to the center of strength in our area too. I know Heavenly Father has plans for us to be somewhere...we just haven't found the place yet. Thank you for your prayers.
This week my eyes have been opened to many things and I feel like I'm constantly finding reasons to be humbled. Its a good thing. I'm an emotional wreck at times, 7 weeks left and it's flying by. I love this work with all of my heart. Thinking about going home is exciting, but my heart aches. I refuse to talk about it usually because it makes me start to cry..to be honest. BUT...I know this won't be my last mission. I'm not trunky. Don't worry about that. I'm completely and totally invested in this great work. I love this gospel with all of my heart. I just re-read a talk by M. Russell Ballard about Pure Testimony from General Conference in 2004. It was as remarkable as ever. How truly blessed we are to know the truth about the gospel! To know that God still speaks with man today! Share that message. Your life will be happier than ever. We came home one night this week to find the other sisters brimming with joy because their day had gone so well. We were also incredibly happy with the way our day went. Sister Freeman said, "What other time in our lives will we have the blessing of having days like this? Effecting the salvation of souls?" Amen. I love this work,and being a bigger part of it. I love you all so much! Until next week, GOD SPEED ! :)
All my love,
Sister Stadler
So his week we were punted a lot, but we were able to have 14 new investigators, a record for me on the mission. Here is the greatest part, they were all male investigators, ages 20-30. Talk about potential priesthood holders! :) I was so happy! We have had some wonderful teaching opportunities with them. Pray for us this week that we'll have the opportunity to teach them all again. The first lesson is always easiest. It is the following lessons that can be hard to get in. I adore my companion and we're excited for this next week. We have 9 days left together..unless by some miracle of miracles we stay together and she kills me off in the mission...I would be more than okay with that. We have the exchanges tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous about it actually. We were going to do it last week ,but we rescheduled it for this week. Keep me in your prayers for it, that I'll be guided by the spirit to ask inspired questions and to help them to progress. Keep Sister Christofferson in your prayers too. I think she's a little nervous, but she'll do great! I have huge faith in her because she works by the spirit. I love her tons!
This letter is going to be slightly shorter than the average because I just spent time looking at the BYU website trying to figure out about schooling....that is the last thing I want to think about however. AH! I hate thinking about all of this. It makes me feel....really uneasy inside. I'm so unsure of anything after the mission. I feel like normal conversation with people is going to be difficult. Is it not normal to bring up the doctrine of Christ 3 sentences into a conversation??? hahaha!
Our investigators are doing well. Erwin is still progressing, keep praying for him! He's excited to be baptized, just pray that he can continue to withstand the temptations and to be completely honest with his family.
I feel like this is jumping all around. Right now in my reading I'm in Alma 26. I love this chapter. I love the book of Alma. He's such a wonderful example to us. He and Amulek work miracles together. They are such a wonderful companionship. Alma is the more calm and reserved it seems, while Amulek is the firey one....I feel kind of like that in our companionship! hahaha! I'm Amulek, Sister Christofferson is Alma. I feel she's much wiser than me in many ways as well, even though I'm the senior. I have been so blessed with companionships. Heavenly Father truly knows who we need to be with and what we need to learn from people. I have no idea what this next, and last, transfer holds for me. I feel like my time is ending here in La Carlota, but perhaps I'll have one last transfer here.
We had a solid fireside about starting home teaching and visiting teaching here. As I was teaching about the effects of home teaching I was reminded of something Brother Hansen said to me before I left on the mission. I don't know if he'll ever understand the comfort it brought to me. He just reassured me that he'd look after my family..look after Mom and Dad. I knew he was serious. My heart was calm after that. I love the effect of the truly concerned home teacher and visiting teacher. We're pretty excited to see it start in the branch here.
Mom, give Dale, Dad, and Sean a huge squeeze for me. As for fish, I hated it before my mission. Now..I'm addicted! I can't seem to get enough of it. Hope you all enjoyed your salmon. I have one more request for prayers. Our sweet little home here is in need of being renovated, so we're in the process of looking for a new home. Well, it's been incredibly hard. It's not like we can just go pick up a white sheet or get a real estate agent...its been hard. We haven't found a single house that is up to standard that is available for rent. We have a deadline too, within the next 2 weeks we need to find a home for the 4 sisters, and a set of couple missionaries need a home as well. Please pray for specifics to fit the standards for the mission:
-tile
-2 cr's...er..bathrooms
-complete kitchen
-furnished/painted
-protected, meaning...gated
-3 or 4 rooms
Hopefully nearer to the center of strength in our area too. I know Heavenly Father has plans for us to be somewhere...we just haven't found the place yet. Thank you for your prayers.
This week my eyes have been opened to many things and I feel like I'm constantly finding reasons to be humbled. Its a good thing. I'm an emotional wreck at times, 7 weeks left and it's flying by. I love this work with all of my heart. Thinking about going home is exciting, but my heart aches. I refuse to talk about it usually because it makes me start to cry..to be honest. BUT...I know this won't be my last mission. I'm not trunky. Don't worry about that. I'm completely and totally invested in this great work. I love this gospel with all of my heart. I just re-read a talk by M. Russell Ballard about Pure Testimony from General Conference in 2004. It was as remarkable as ever. How truly blessed we are to know the truth about the gospel! To know that God still speaks with man today! Share that message. Your life will be happier than ever. We came home one night this week to find the other sisters brimming with joy because their day had gone so well. We were also incredibly happy with the way our day went. Sister Freeman said, "What other time in our lives will we have the blessing of having days like this? Effecting the salvation of souls?" Amen. I love this work,and being a bigger part of it. I love you all so much! Until next week, GOD SPEED ! :)
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, January 9, 2011
This week has been full of fun and hard work, like missionary work should be. First let me give you an update on the investigators. Erwin officially smoked his last cigarette of all time on December 31st, 2010. HOORAY!!!! We're pretty excited for him. Keep praying for him to stay strong and witness the miracles. I really do..honestly...feel like he's made up his mind this time; he's decided he's going to be baptized and he's excited about it. As for Ricky, we're working with the AP's and President to see if he even needs to be baptized. He continues to impress us though. This last teaching we had with him we talked about obeying and honoring the laws of the land. I started to say one of the Articles of Faith and he finished quoting it, from his memory. I was of course surprised and asked him how he knew it, and he said, I couldn't sleep at night, so I started memorizing the little card you gave me with the picture of Jesus on it. YEAH...he's pretty amazing. As for the baptist boy, Alvin Celestial....nice name no? haha! He's celestial alright. I have never felt the spirit so consistently strong while teaching someone. We didn't get to teach him on Sunday, he was out of town, but he is really thinking deeply about things, praying and reading. Right now he's just waiting for an answer. Our other new investigators, Christopher, he's 17 and awesome as well. We gave him the assignment to read the introduction and start in 1 Nephi if he wanted to. Well, he read the intro, the testimony of the witnesses, Joseph's experience, studied the pictures, read the 1st chapter in Nephi and had questions about the 1st chapter. He's also reading, praying and waiting for an answer. I love this work!
Our branch is slowly awakening. We received 5 referrals from them this week for all priesthood age individuals. We're quite excited. We're gaining new investigators by the day and many of them are chosen spirits. We're excited to see the growth. I adore my companion and mom, I too hope I get to stay with her..that she can "kill me off"...as they call it in the mission. BUT...we'll see what the Lord has in store.
This Sunday, Brother Gatucao, the former bishop that we helped to reactivate, bore his testimony. I had chills running up and down my spine and tears in my eyes. When he said to me that first Sunday, Sister, I'm back! HE MEANT IT! HE"S BACK!!!! He was definitely overcome by the spirit while bearing his testimony. He will play a huge role in helping to reactivate other families in the ward. We love him and could not be happier for him and his family who are planning on going to the temple trip together in May. They are sealed already, but he hasn't been to church in over a decade. He's been living the gospel, reading daily, still paying tithing, but not going to church. SO....he's excited to go to the temple as well. It's been a long time.
Ok, as for New Years, we were allowed on New Year's Eve to watch Disney movies again. We had planned a ton of movies, we made tacos, they were delicious..with our homemade soft taco shells....yes!!!! Carrying on the Mexican food tradition in the Philippines! haha! Well then we started watching the movies.....I'm an old woman. I definitely fell asleep in the first movie. ha! The other sister stayed up for 3 after I fell asleep. I was out before midnight. ha! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME! I'm gonna be such a wimp when I get home.
Sister Christofferson and I started an exercise program for the remainder of the transfer. We went jogging this morning and it felt awesome to be up that early and working out.
Today in district meeting while waiting for interviews everyone started joking around about how long it would take for me after I got home to get married. I was freaking out inside. I told them to stop, it wasn't funny, which only caused them to make more ridiculous comments. I'm not ok with that. ha! But to be fair...I did do that to every single sister or elder who went home in the last few transfers. ha! What goes around comes around no?
You know how awhile back I said, "I've noticed a pattern in my mission. Whenever I start to get comfortable Heavenly Father throws in a twist to push me to my limits and cause me to stretch." Well, it has happened yet again. On Friday I got a call from one of our AP's. Our conversation went something like this,
"Sister Stadler! Kamusta ka?"
"Maayo man elder! Ikaw?"
"Maayo, salamat, hopefully you can do a musical number for this coming zone conference..."
"Oo! Pwede gid!..(why am I typing this is Ilonggo...you guys don't know Ilonggo..sorry)Sure! I can do that for you!"
"Actually, that's a joke. That's not why I called. You're be emergency transferred, we had a problem with some sisters."
"WHAT? ....elder that's not funny. you're joking right?"
"...yes. hahahahahah! But really, President would like me to inform you that you are now the Coordinating Sister. You will need to go on exchanges this next Tuesday and Wednesday and fill out the reports and report everything back to President."
"...is this a joke too?"
"No. He'll call you with more information closer to the exchanges. You'll just be over your Zone. But next transfer you'll most likely transfer ..."
SO.....I guess I'm the first Coordinating Sister in the mission. ...no training, just being thrown into the mix. It should be...fun! ha! Keep me in your prayers. I always feel like I have so many weaknesses, I don't know how I can help these sisters which seem so much further along than I am at times. BUT...fun fact, this exchange will be in BAGO! My first area, which should be fun to go back to for 1 day. Anyway, I love the mission, this will be a good experience for me. Who knows what President has in mind for next transfer, but I'm game!
I love you all so much and I hope things are going well for you! You're amazing! Keep writing! haha...in the words of Samantha, "8 weeks left!!!!! MARCH MARCH MARCH!!!!" hahahahahahaha! I'm .....freaking out inside. but, I am excited to see you all again. Sean, you're in my prayers. It's gonna work out. You're gonna be there in Salt Lake. I love you all, until next week, GOD SPEED !
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Our branch is slowly awakening. We received 5 referrals from them this week for all priesthood age individuals. We're quite excited. We're gaining new investigators by the day and many of them are chosen spirits. We're excited to see the growth. I adore my companion and mom, I too hope I get to stay with her..that she can "kill me off"...as they call it in the mission. BUT...we'll see what the Lord has in store.
This Sunday, Brother Gatucao, the former bishop that we helped to reactivate, bore his testimony. I had chills running up and down my spine and tears in my eyes. When he said to me that first Sunday, Sister, I'm back! HE MEANT IT! HE"S BACK!!!! He was definitely overcome by the spirit while bearing his testimony. He will play a huge role in helping to reactivate other families in the ward. We love him and could not be happier for him and his family who are planning on going to the temple trip together in May. They are sealed already, but he hasn't been to church in over a decade. He's been living the gospel, reading daily, still paying tithing, but not going to church. SO....he's excited to go to the temple as well. It's been a long time.
Ok, as for New Years, we were allowed on New Year's Eve to watch Disney movies again. We had planned a ton of movies, we made tacos, they were delicious..with our homemade soft taco shells....yes!!!! Carrying on the Mexican food tradition in the Philippines! haha! Well then we started watching the movies.....I'm an old woman. I definitely fell asleep in the first movie. ha! The other sister stayed up for 3 after I fell asleep. I was out before midnight. ha! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME! I'm gonna be such a wimp when I get home.
Sister Christofferson and I started an exercise program for the remainder of the transfer. We went jogging this morning and it felt awesome to be up that early and working out.
Today in district meeting while waiting for interviews everyone started joking around about how long it would take for me after I got home to get married. I was freaking out inside. I told them to stop, it wasn't funny, which only caused them to make more ridiculous comments. I'm not ok with that. ha! But to be fair...I did do that to every single sister or elder who went home in the last few transfers. ha! What goes around comes around no?
You know how awhile back I said, "I've noticed a pattern in my mission. Whenever I start to get comfortable Heavenly Father throws in a twist to push me to my limits and cause me to stretch." Well, it has happened yet again. On Friday I got a call from one of our AP's. Our conversation went something like this,
"Sister Stadler! Kamusta ka?"
"Maayo man elder! Ikaw?"
"Maayo, salamat, hopefully you can do a musical number for this coming zone conference..."
"Oo! Pwede gid!..(why am I typing this is Ilonggo...you guys don't know Ilonggo..sorry)Sure! I can do that for you!"
"Actually, that's a joke. That's not why I called. You're be emergency transferred, we had a problem with some sisters."
"WHAT? ....elder that's not funny. you're joking right?"
"...yes. hahahahahah! But really, President would like me to inform you that you are now the Coordinating Sister. You will need to go on exchanges this next Tuesday and Wednesday and fill out the reports and report everything back to President."
"...is this a joke too?"
"No. He'll call you with more information closer to the exchanges. You'll just be over your Zone. But next transfer you'll most likely transfer ..."
SO.....I guess I'm the first Coordinating Sister in the mission. ...no training, just being thrown into the mix. It should be...fun! ha! Keep me in your prayers. I always feel like I have so many weaknesses, I don't know how I can help these sisters which seem so much further along than I am at times. BUT...fun fact, this exchange will be in BAGO! My first area, which should be fun to go back to for 1 day. Anyway, I love the mission, this will be a good experience for me. Who knows what President has in mind for next transfer, but I'm game!
I love you all so much and I hope things are going well for you! You're amazing! Keep writing! haha...in the words of Samantha, "8 weeks left!!!!! MARCH MARCH MARCH!!!!" hahahahahahaha! I'm .....freaking out inside. but, I am excited to see you all again. Sean, you're in my prayers. It's gonna work out. You're gonna be there in Salt Lake. I love you all, until next week, GOD SPEED !
All my love,
Sister Stadler
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Alright, this week has been amazing. I adore my sweet companion. I have perhaps never worked as hard as I have this week. We're working on finding new investigators and we found 6 this week, all men. I'm amazed how the Lord provides people when we get stood up for appointments. If we will just do our part, open our mouths and teach whenever we can He will provide. I'll give an experience. With each companionship you have your strengths, well I can honestly say that when teaching with Sister Christofferson our strength is the spirit. I have never felt the spirit so strongly while teaching with any other companion.
Well, one night we were going to visit a less active, Sister Yu, and she didn't really have time when we got there, but I told her it would only take 15 minutes. She is so kind and invited us in. Well we get in her living room to teach her and there is a young man sitting at her table working on a project. He immediately started collecting his things to leave and I felt, he needs to stay, invite him to stay. So I introduced myself and asked a few questions and told him we were going to share a short Christmas message and would love for him to stay. He did. He made it very clear ahead of time that he was Baptist, that he didn't celebrate Christmas personally because it didn't say in the Bible when the actual date of Christ's birth was. Interesting no? So I explained we celebrate Christmas, not as an actual date of the Savior's birth, his literal Birthday, but because we are so grateful for his life and all He did for each of us. He started to soften. Sister Christofferson shared the scripture and the spirit was there. We had shared that specific scripture many many times before and she took it in a different way that we'd ever taken it before. She started teaching about prophets. I immediately started thinking about how I was going to direct what she was teaching in a way to relate to what I was hoping to teach, Christ's earthly ministry. WELL....I immediately caught myself..."STADLER! What are you doing??? Stop planning ahead and pray for him to feel the spirit of what she's saying!.."
So I listened to her teach and prayed that he would feel the truth of the message, that his heart would be opened. I then had a question come to mind that I felt I should ask him. For a moment I pushed it from my mind...(you think I would learn by now...haha)...the question came to my mind again. I almost didn't ask it because of its simplicity. BUT...I did. As Sister Christofferson turned to me for me to testify and teach I asked him, "Alvin, how would you feel if you knew there was a living prophet today on the earth?" This is a classic practice question while doing MTC practices, yet I have never felt so powerfully that it was an inspired question. He was at a loss for words and his face looked puzzled as he pulled away from us physically sitting back into his seat. He was silent for a minute, brow wrinkled and then finally said, "Well, I guess if that was true, we wouldn't need a Bible right? Because there would still be a man who spoke directly to God." His entire demeanor changed. I testified that we did have a living prophet today. The spirit was so strong. I asked him if we could set up a time to return to tell him about how this prophet and how we have one now and without a moments hesitation he responded, "Yes! When?" So we will be visiting him on Wednesday. AH!!!! I love this gospel!!!! It is so true!
One last funny experience. Ok, so this Sunday we had the opportunity to speak. After our talks our branch president spoke and he said something that made me think he had finally lost his marbles! hahaha! He stands up and says they just received a letter from the first presidency and they said that the members of the church were encouraged to get their affairs in order because in the year 2011 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would come again. I looked at my companion and said, "...what?! ..this can't be right. everything inside of me is saying this isn't right.." she said, "I feel the same.." I'm thinking...OH MAN....how do we handle this? Everyone in the congregation became absolutely silent and their mouths were open and you could see worry on some of their faces...then our Branch President said, "By the look on your faces I can tell you're not ready.. we don't know when He will come, but we must be prepared now!" Boy was I relieved to have him admit that was a attention getter only. Incredibly effective though! You're all in my prayers. Until next week, look for missionary opportunities, work with faith and WORK on it...WORK is the key! God Speed! (And Merry Christmas!)
all my love,
Sister Stadler
Well, one night we were going to visit a less active, Sister Yu, and she didn't really have time when we got there, but I told her it would only take 15 minutes. She is so kind and invited us in. Well we get in her living room to teach her and there is a young man sitting at her table working on a project. He immediately started collecting his things to leave and I felt, he needs to stay, invite him to stay. So I introduced myself and asked a few questions and told him we were going to share a short Christmas message and would love for him to stay. He did. He made it very clear ahead of time that he was Baptist, that he didn't celebrate Christmas personally because it didn't say in the Bible when the actual date of Christ's birth was. Interesting no? So I explained we celebrate Christmas, not as an actual date of the Savior's birth, his literal Birthday, but because we are so grateful for his life and all He did for each of us. He started to soften. Sister Christofferson shared the scripture and the spirit was there. We had shared that specific scripture many many times before and she took it in a different way that we'd ever taken it before. She started teaching about prophets. I immediately started thinking about how I was going to direct what she was teaching in a way to relate to what I was hoping to teach, Christ's earthly ministry. WELL....I immediately caught myself..."STADLER! What are you doing??? Stop planning ahead and pray for him to feel the spirit of what she's saying!.."
So I listened to her teach and prayed that he would feel the truth of the message, that his heart would be opened. I then had a question come to mind that I felt I should ask him. For a moment I pushed it from my mind...(you think I would learn by now...haha)...the question came to my mind again. I almost didn't ask it because of its simplicity. BUT...I did. As Sister Christofferson turned to me for me to testify and teach I asked him, "Alvin, how would you feel if you knew there was a living prophet today on the earth?" This is a classic practice question while doing MTC practices, yet I have never felt so powerfully that it was an inspired question. He was at a loss for words and his face looked puzzled as he pulled away from us physically sitting back into his seat. He was silent for a minute, brow wrinkled and then finally said, "Well, I guess if that was true, we wouldn't need a Bible right? Because there would still be a man who spoke directly to God." His entire demeanor changed. I testified that we did have a living prophet today. The spirit was so strong. I asked him if we could set up a time to return to tell him about how this prophet and how we have one now and without a moments hesitation he responded, "Yes! When?" So we will be visiting him on Wednesday. AH!!!! I love this gospel!!!! It is so true!
One last funny experience. Ok, so this Sunday we had the opportunity to speak. After our talks our branch president spoke and he said something that made me think he had finally lost his marbles! hahaha! He stands up and says they just received a letter from the first presidency and they said that the members of the church were encouraged to get their affairs in order because in the year 2011 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would come again. I looked at my companion and said, "...what?! ..this can't be right. everything inside of me is saying this isn't right.." she said, "I feel the same.." I'm thinking...OH MAN....how do we handle this? Everyone in the congregation became absolutely silent and their mouths were open and you could see worry on some of their faces...then our Branch President said, "By the look on your faces I can tell you're not ready.. we don't know when He will come, but we must be prepared now!" Boy was I relieved to have him admit that was a attention getter only. Incredibly effective though! You're all in my prayers. Until next week, look for missionary opportunities, work with faith and WORK on it...WORK is the key! God Speed! (And Merry Christmas!)
all my love,
Sister Stadler
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