"I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord..."

2011-02-26T09:37:00.003-07:00

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!

2011-02-20T12:40:00.003-07:00

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

2011-02-13T11:07:00.003-07:00

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

2011-02-06T11:34:00.004-07:00

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

2011-01-30T15:11:00.004-07:00

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

2011-01-23T11:04:00.003-07:00

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

2011-01-16T13:06:00.003-07:00

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

2011-01-09T11:32:00.004-07:00

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

2011-01-02T09:42:00.003-07:00

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

2010-12-19T12:21:00.003-07:00

My goodness gracious is it really only 12 days until Christmas!? I feel like only last week I was calling home for the first time, one month into the mission. Time is flying by and today someone told me I had a little over 2 months left and I wigged out for a second telling them not to round down, then tears filled my eyes. Ah, the emotions are already starting. This Christmas is going to be absolutely wonderful. We have so many plans and not with gifts or money or food, but with goals we're trying to accomplish in the mission and specifically in our area. Today we had a wonderful Zone Meeting about increasing our faith in finding the elect. It was something I had been studying lately and it wasn't a chance lesson. There have been big changes in the mission and transfers have become completely unpredictable. Its all in the Lord's plan and we're excited to work with our faith, put our comforts out of the way and find the elect.

As for the new companion.... OH MY GOODNESS!!! Heavenly Father answers the prayers of missionaries who are trying their hardest to do His work. Her name is Sister Christofferson and we immediately hit it off. She is perhaps the kindest, most genuine, and humble individual I have ever had the blessing of knowing. She has a strong love for music, a beautiful voice and a rock solid testimony of her Savior. Random fact, her grandmother is none other than Janice Kapp Perry. She plays the flute beautifully as well. Our whole apartment right now is a musical feast. President has created a Christmas devotional for investigators and recent converts and I am in charge of the choir, composed of all hand picked individuals who can sing and read music. I'm pretty excited. Sister Freeman will be playing violin and Sister Christofferson will be playing the flute.

Our plans for Christmas day include Christmas caroling and getting into as many families homes to share a Christmas message about Jesus Christ. Sister Christofferson is honestly an answer to many prayers spent on my knees crying to the Lord for someone who will catch the vision and wear themselves out in the work being led by the spirit. I could not have been happier with the Lord's decision. She had been in the mission for 6 months, but in a Cebuano speaking area. La Carlota is her 2nd area and she'll be learning a new language. :) She's not nervous though and is already doing great. Pray for her and for us. She's from Lehi, Utah and we'll definitely be seeing each other after the mission.

As for Erwin, he just made goals yesterday for his giving up cigarettes and we feel pretty good about it. We'll teach him tomorrow and see how he's doing with his goal. Pray for him to be honest with us. Unfortunately Ricky's baptism did not go through. He didn't pass his baptismal interview for multiple reasons. His understanding of the doctrine is amazing. BUT....as I was asking him questions about his personal information to fill out the baptismal record he wasn't giving me straight answers. SO...turns out he has a past and has to repent of some things. We're trying to find if he's truly accountable for his actions because he has a history of attempted suicide and deep depression. It's been a very sad experience. Elder Scott, our district leader, pulled me aside and asked if I knew about any of it. NO...I didn't. SO, he explained some things to me, very jumbled concerns...I was so confused as to what to do.

As Sister Christofferson and I planned and prepared to teach him she stopped and said, "Well Sister Stadler, we need to be incredibly in tune with the spirit so we can fully discern if he is telling truth and is accountable." Exactly right, and that's exactly what happened. The lesson started off a little rough, we explained about baptism and I was wary to get into questions, but the questions just came. His sister was able to be there for the lesson as well and add greater understanding to the situation, which then caused him to open up. By the end of the lesson my heart was so full and there was great peace in the room. So now we're working on getting some legal verification on things before we give him another baptismal date. Long process, but so worth while. So, thank you for your prayers. Continue to pray for him.

I love you all so much. Pray for me to have the faith to accomplish the work that Heavenly Father has in store for me. I have this overwhelming feeling that something big is on the way. I have such an urgent feeling about this work. At times I feel almost uneasy because I feel this is of such vital importance. The more I read in scripture the more I know it is true. There is such power in the word of God. This Christmas season find a copy of the Book of Mormon and share it with someone. don't chicken out! This is salvation we're talking about. I love this gospel and I love all of you! You're in my prayers. Continue to be a wonderful example to those around you. I look forward to talking to you soon! Press forward ever! We're all called to serve our King. Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-12-12T12:17:00.003-07:00

Hello family!!!!! My goodness I love you all so much! All of my friends that read this too, I love you as well, just not as much as my family. : ) So this morning we had transfer announcements and drum roll please......against all odds...I'm staying in La Carlota!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was shocked! I had already started packing. I am so happy that I'm staying and I feel it is a tender mercy from the Lord. I just....I love these people and I love the work here. Its hard, don't get me wrong, but I love it. My sweet companion will be transferring, which was surprising to us since they usually leave people in their first areas for longer. BUT....President is pulling a lot of weird stuff this transfer. Lots of changes! Those of you that read this from the mission...try this on for size. In La Carlota Zone, Valladolid is closing as well as Bago 2nd ward and possibly the 1st ward too. Pulupandan is having a full white wash. They're putting elders in and pulling sisters. Not sure about the rest of the area but this means I'll be spending Christmas here! AND...with Sister Freeman and Sister Gamil!!!!!!!!! A huge tender mercy from the Lord. I love these sisters so much. As you can tell from my silly photos, I have become quite attached.

Tell Christina I said hello! My goodness I love that girl! Did she even get my letter I sent her? I'm sure she's swamped, but I did send her another letter. Haven't heard from her.

Thanksgiving dinner was delightful, and you can tell in the photos I definitely stuffed myself to maximum capacity. I was dying....haha! But it was delicious. The stuffing was amazing and Sister Jackson made an apple crisp...which was amazing as well! Yes...that is a coconut filled with fruit salad in the photo. That was Sister Gamil's contribution.

This week was pretty uneventful to be completely honest. Sister Jackson was sick for most of the week and then I also had a fever for a day, so our work was pretty little. But I feel fine now. Because we missed so much work we did have to push Ricky's baptism back a week. Otherwise we would have had to marathon teach him. I don't have much else to say this week. I love you all so much and you each have a letter that will be sent this next week, so look forward to that. I promise next week will be longer. I hope you're all doing well. I know that the Lord is watching over you and I have full confidence in Him. I love this gospel so much! Stay strong and until next week, God speed!
all my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-12-05T09:53:00.004-07:00

Well today was a beautifully flaming hot day with more sunlight that I ever thought humanly possible. It was one of those days where you can feel your skin burning while standing in the sunlight. :) Made me miss home for 2 seconds, then I snapped back into gear. Thank you for the emails. You will never know what your emails do for me. They are like a straight shot of adrenaline for a missionary.

Dad, happy early birthday! :) You're 72! Happy Happy Birthday Daddy dear! Happy days will come to you all year..if I had a wish then it would be!!! A happy happy birthday to you from me!!!!!! :) (sing that)

Alright folks...here's some other things I need to say before I forget. A gigantic thank you goes out for the Relief Society sisters from our ward! I was so surprised to get the package and I loved everything in it! Especially the notes! I miss you sisters so much! I ate the beef jerky like it was going out of style...and our adorable Filipina roommate here had never had it, she thought it was heavenly. :) Everything was so well thought out! Thank you so much!

As for our Thanksgiving meal, we will be partaking of it in approximately 2 hours or so. We're pretty excited. Also, if anyone would like to email me some music tracks, christmas music (anything you have) and mo-tab or classical music. I don't really want anything from EFY. I miss classical a lot and hymns. That would be wonderful. Thank you!

Erwin is continuing to progress but very very slowly. We had another wonderful lesson with him this week and he's still in the process of feeling like his prayers are answered about the Book of Mormon. When we were teaching I felt I needed to ask him what his expectations are for receiving an answer and his answer was, "Money and means for my family." So it was good to clear up that he was looking for a sign, but the Lord asks us to work with our faith. So, we'll see. He watched the Restoration video and he liked it a lot.

Rocky Yanson is progressing quickly. He is still set for December 11 and he's incredibly excited, as are we. He was way early to church on Sunday and then was way late leaving, he stayed and stacked the chairs and helped clean up. Yes..he's golden. haha! Our investigators are few, but we're going through referrals right now. The members are finally starting to provide referrals and we're excited to see what will happen. Its a very very very slow process working with the CMIS, but it's slowly working.

Transfer announcements are this next week and I can't believe it's already time to start another transfer. I'm not sure at all if I'll be staying or going. Either way, I will be happy, however I would be so incredibly excited to stay in La Carlota for Christmas. The members have a place in my heart and I love helping them in their branch. I feel like they want to do what is right, its just not what they're used to and they haven't quite caught the vision. It's like they feel its a beautiful idea, but they have real life matters to deal with so they put the branch on the back burner.

This week we were waiting to have PEC meeting (Priesthood Executive Council) with all the Auxiliary and Priesthood leaders...seems odd the sisters would be there no? BUT...when missionary work is involved, we are invited for our part then we're dismissed and they continue the meeting. Well...I asked President when the meeting would be...he scheduled one and I feel like it's maybe the first meeting they've had in a very very long time. ha! But as we were waiting for his counselors to show up he was just talking to me about life and asking some questions about the area and everything and he stopped and said, "Sister Stadler, you are so kind." I just laughed and said, "Oh president..only sometimes." He said," No really, you're just a kind person." and I said..."If you asked my siblings, they might argue that!" He just laughed. :)

I miss you all so much! Missionary work is exhausting. Sister Ball and I talked a lot over sister conference. That was a huge tender mercy. I love that sister with all of my heart and I know Heavenly Father put her in my life to be an eternal friend. She told me, "Sister Stadler...I'm tired. and I still have 3 transfers left." I responded, "ha! I'm tired too. I don't know how elders do it. But you know what my mom would say.." she waited for a second and then I said, "...Suck it up princess!" She just laughed and said, "And this is why I need to meet this wonderful woman!" We're tired, but not too tired. We've worked hard, and yet we feel like we still haven't work hard enough and we're constantly trying to be better and to refine ourselves. We've been sick, we've been rejected, we've been disappointed in investigators, in companions, in ourselves...and yet we have experienced the sweetest joys and the most tender experiences we have ever witnessed in our lives. We have been blessed beyond belief and suffered trials we didn't know if we could endure. The mission is remarkable and shapes us is ways we couldn't have ever dreamed. I love being on a mission and I am excited for these next 2 transfers.

I love you all more than I could express. Enjoy this Christmas season. Share the gospel! Just open your mouths! It's not hard to do..it's a little weird at first, but then it becomes natural to talk of Christ, to rejoice in Christ and to teach of His life. I love you and I will email you all next week! Until next week, God Speed! :) xoxoxox
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Ariel, thank you for your email! Your teaching will be awesome! wish I had a recording of you teaching the elders quorum lesson. remember when you were terrified to be a teacher in the relief society back in our sparks ward? And look where you are now!!! Does the Lord not prepare us for things to come? :) I love you tons!

2010-11-28T10:02:00.003-07:00

Dearest family, I apologize for this late email. We had Mission Sister's Conference this Monday and Tuesday and then President had those of us that were from farther areas stay Tuesday night in the mission home SO....buot silingon...we just barely got back to our area this morning and I am dead beat tired. The conference was absolutely amazing and a spiritual feast, a true answer to many of our prayers. Let me say one thing, I adore our mission president and his beautiful wife. I fully intend to stay in touch with those amazing people for the remainder of my life and on through the eternities. President has such a vision for the mission and has such a strong testimony of obedience and diligence. He is a remarkable example to me. I remember being a little concerned at the beginning of my mission of never becoming close to President Tobias. Well, that was a ridiculous fear. I suppose some individuals never feel that closeness, but that is of their own choosing.

Last night, as the sisters were eating he was playing the piano and I was just sitting on the couch listening. He looked over at me and chuckled after which I requested that he play his saxophone....which he said, "No......well, okay I will for you." haha! So he pulled out his saxophone and started playing a little bit, but he was really full from dinner and he has to take it easy with health stuff anyway, so THEN...he pulls out his guitar and starts playing Blue Moon. MY GOODNESS...that man has so many talents. So I'm sitting there in the mission home listening to oldies and watching the lights on the Christmas tree twinkle and I was thinking about each and every one of you. Funny how the Mission Home feels like home to me now.

Our week went really well. I just want to point out that on the 27th of this month will be my 1 year mark in the Philippines. That is insanity my dear loved ones. That makes it a 14 month mark in the mission itself. Time is flying and life is so good. This week I was speaking to a man who looked somewhat different from most of the people here, Asian, though, none the less. Well he kept answering me and I couldn't understand what he was saying. I kept speaking in Ilonggo to him and finally my companion said, "Sister! he's Chinese...he doesn't know Ilonggo..He's been speaking to you in English this whole time." hahahahahahahahaha! I was dying. K, so then I tried to talk to him in English and it's like someone flipped the dumb switch or something. I couldn't formulate a quality sentence to save my life. So what ended up happening was the man's wife, who is native, would translate what I was saying into English to him! hahahaha! My English is not that bad! We speak in the house all the time. But something switches in my mind when I walk outside that door and it's really weird. Anyway. It was funny.

This week we were able to extend a baptismal date to Ricky Yanson and he answered by saying.."December 11th?...what time do I need to be there?" AH!!!! Yes please! This man was definitely prepared and he continues to progress.

As for Erwin. We had a remarkable lesson with him. We were teaching and I felt like everything he said was just spewing answers he knew was right but wasn't really believing it and as I was teaching I had the impression to just stop talking and ask him what he was thinking about. So I did. It definitely got his attention and he started crying. (This man is no a crier. He is so stubborn and yet I have the hugest about of love for him and his family. He has started reading every day in the Book of Mormon and his understanding of it is beautiful. BUT...he hadn't applied it! He hadn't yet asked if the Book of Mormon was true through Prayer. He's in the process of doing that right now. Pray for Erwin.) Well as he looked up at me and with tears in his eyes he said, "We don't have money. We have bills and food to buy and we don't have any money for it. I don't know what else I can do." My heart immediately felt the weight of his burden. I would have given anything at that time to take his burden and put it on my shoulders. As I taught about the Atonement and the power of prayer and acting in faith, the lesson became a beautiful opportunity to allow him to feel his Heavenly Father's love and concern for him through the Spirit. His whole family was in tears ..as was I..that was a given. I was able to promise as a representative of Jesus Christ that if he were to continue to follow God's commandments to the best of his ability that God would provide for his family. As I gave that powerful promise the spirit was working so strong within me, it was a very sacred experience for me. As we left that night there was a peace in the home that wasn't there when we walked in.

I hugged Sister Joguilon and she held me for quite awhile. She is Erwin's wife and our relief society president. She is an elect lady. I look up to her so much. I left that night thinking, "I have 2 more transfers to make a difference in these people's lives. I've got to wear myself out and make the most of every second here." GOOD GRIEF I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!!

I'm gonna be a such a weirdo when I get home! hahaha! I thought I was still pretty normal. When we were in the mission home there was a movie there he let us watch, it was cute. It had a bit of romance in it, HAHAHAHAHA! You would die laughing if you had watched it with us. You would all be like..."this isn't romance...there is a relationship in the movie." haha! Anyway....there was a scene where a guy walks into a party, it's like a 29 second scene....I covered my eyes. Not even noticing what I was doing. HAHA! Sister Freeman started laughing so hard! Someone in the film said some slang word that every 12 year old says at home, but I've perfected my language and I don't even say little slang words anymore because they aren't feminine. It's funny how blinded we become to things. Well I heard the word and I said, "WOAH! Why are we watching this!????????" The movie was good. IT was a Christmas movie actually, it just had an interesting intro. ANYWAY....my point??? I'm gonna be a total weirdo. And I'll probably start going off in Ilonggo on you all...so get excited! I love you all to death.

In the tradition of the Thanksgiving season let me say I am eternally grateful to be in such an amazing family. Your support of me being on a mission is priceless and I will never forget it. I see missionaries all the time who have no support and my heart hurts for them, and simultaneously I feel such an overwhelming gratitude for each of you. I am thankful for toilet tissue and hot water. I am thankful for dish soap and washing bins and clean clothes. I am thankful for Jody dresses and hammocks and nasty missionary shoes that are worn out and have walked countless miles in order to share the word of God. I am, above all else, grateful for the Atoning sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him, all would be lost. My imperfections are many, and they are being made apparent daily, but through the Atonement, through Him, I can exercise my agency to repent and become clean, again, through His redeeming blood. He lives! For this I am grateful and will forever be grateful. He lives! Do we realize what this means? I will spend the remainder of my days in this mortal existence proclaiming His love and His gospel. Time is flying by, there are so many people who still need to hear the gospel. I love you all! Look for opportunities to teach! You're all amazing! Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!!!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-11-21T08:25:00.004-07:00

Another one bites the dust!!!! (whip sound...) One week down....not enough to go. My goodness time is flying by. Amanda, you are right....6 weeks until Christmas...which I have not been counting down...but every family of every missionary has...haha. Doesn't surprise me. I'm excited to talk to all of you. I miss you dearly but not enough to distract me from the work. First of all, let me answer some questions I realized I haven't answered. Amanda, the other Jody's you've seen in the photos I had made here. Yeah...they aren't quite the same, and the ones Sean and Mom bought me are my favorites because they are so much cooler, but the Jody is a Jody still and it's just nice to have them. They are all amazing at sewing here. My companion has actually talked about having a wedding dress made here before she goes home..she has the exact style of dress she wants and its designer...so it would be WAY WAY WAY WAY cheaper if she did it here. Personally...I'm worried more about finding a groom some day than I am about finding the dress. ha!

Alright, So as for investigators, we're slowly building our pool. We had one we found this week that came to church and wore a white shirt that was his dad's old one. He's 28, from a part member family...his sister is a member. He actually answered a question in Sunday School....I was shocked! I did a little dance in my mind since it wouldn't be acceptable in the church with my tag on. So we're pretty excited about him. His name is Ricky Yanson. Alright, as for the Angelicos....we're gonna give them some space for a bit I think. They just aren't progressing and I think maybe it's just not their time. But...we plan on teaching them still, just not as often. As for the Pacheo family..They are like night and day changes. They have a lightness in their step and a joy in their eyes that wasn't there before. They are now officially reactivated and so happy to be back. We love them! They're little girl is doing so well too. Thank you for your prayers, we feel them daily. We have been working a lot with less active members and it has been wonderful. We love working with them. I'll share more spiritual wise next week. I'm short on time.

Paul, I didn't get the exact date yet, but kono...er...in English..it has been said that I will be leaving here on the 2nd of March, flying to Manila, spending one day in Manila and then fly out the next day. I'm double checking it this week with one of the AP's so you can schedule it in.

Heavenly Father blesses His missionary force. I love you all and I need to get off here because I'm like 3 minutes over time. I love you I love you I love you and I hope to hear from all of you next week. you're amazing!!!! Until next week, share the gospel and.....GOD SPEED!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Sean....thank you so much for the Thanksgiving $$....I am soooo excited! We all are! And..I found a bag! thanks! love you!

2010-11-14T08:11:00.003-07:00

Oh family family, my goodness what amazing emails! :) AMANDA AND JOSHUA CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! And Te! (te means like..i told you so) I knew it was going to be a boy, Holly and I were correct with our guesses. Oh my goodness I am so excited for you two and I'm sure my excitement is nothing compared to yours! And I'm gonna be there for it maybe.

OK, let me give you a short update on this week, and short it will be. Well, mom, Erwin isn't progressing at all and in fact, while we were planning on having his interview for baptism this week, he was planning on breaking the Word of Wisdom yet again. It's ridiculous. We're gonna visit him less frequently for now. I think he needs a break, he's still smoking, but secretly. My fears were confirmed by his wife. The missionaries have been teaching him for over 4 transfers now and it's just not his time right now. He understands everything and could probably teach us the lessons, but until he really believes it...and applies it, it means nothing. SO....with that being said, we have been working like crazy updating our CMIS list for church. Most of our days are spent going to different areas of town and asking if people know where certain people live and if they've moved or passed away. In one day we were able to remove 170+ people from the list. That definitely helps with retention percentages. haha! Our little branch is doing pretty well. Our relief society president, Erwin's wife, is remarkable and has started working with us once a week to go contact less active sisters. Our other time is spend mainly trying to contact priesthood. We have had some members reactivated and next Sunday 2 more will be considered reactivated. It's a very slow process.

President just recently increased our Mission Standards, the goals we have to meet each week and month....it's not going to be easy and it will definitely have to be directly from our loving Heavenly Father. Please keep us in your prayers that we will specifically be able to meet the goals set for us my President Tobias. I know he is a very inspired man who has a vision for this mission and I know he receives revelation for us from God. I have faith, but right now we have 1 progressing investigator. The Angelico family isn't progressing. They promised to come next week to church, I hope they do. Their 14 year old daughter is progressing,and we're hoping they'll catch her wind and fly with it....but they haven't yet.

This week, to be honest, has been a very difficult week. Not a bad week. I don't think I've had a bad week on the mission, just some are harder than others. You all have been asking about what to pray for specifically, well, here are some specific things. Pray for me to be humble, to be sensitive to spiritual promptings and to be endowed with patience. I have been made very aware of weaknesses this week, but it's a constant struggle we have with the natural man no? HA! That pesky natural man that holds us back and keeps us from happiness.

Mom, that two week missionary challenge sounds awesome! Quality commitments are key to helping people repent and come unto Christ. I'll include that in my prayers! I'm excited to hear about your experiences! I can't even begin to tell you how jealous I am that you went to the temple! AH! I miss the temple so much and I can't wait to do our full day temple day when I get back.

The Pacheo family, the family with no food that needed medicine are doing great! They came to church on Sunday and I've never seen them smiling so big! They were so happy to be there, their whole countenance has changed! They are reading daily and praying and fasting and just loving life! Amazing what the gospel does for them! I don't really have much else to add.

Keep me in your prayers. You're in mine every single day! I love you all so much. I love this gospel! I just finished the Book of Mormon again and I am just in love with this book! I can't get enough of it! I was reading in Moroni and I was thinking about how precious Mormon's letters had to have been for Moroni and we get to read them! The last thing he counsels him to do, in chapter 9..I think it's verses 25-26...He says to not be weighed down by the carnage and sin but to be lifted up in Christ. I love it! Of all things he could counsel him, here he is, after witnessing an entire nation destroyed, he's hiding out..literally being hunted for his life, I'm sure he's incredibly lonely, and the best counsel his father could possible give is given. Look to Christ. I echo that same message. For each of you who are weighed down by burdens and feel lonely, as if no one else could ever completely understand, I testify that Jesus Christ does understand because He has already suffered it for you. He loves us with such a pure love. When it feels like you can't go on or you have nowhere to turn, Turn to Him. He knows how to succor His people, (those are Alma's words...not mine) haha! I love this work! I love all of you! Until next week, God Speed! :)
All my Love,
Sister Stadler

2010-11-07T09:32:00.003-07:00

Family family, how I love thee! So this week was pretty crazy with transfers and all that jazz. I, once again, am staying in my area and with Sister Jackson. We're pretty happy about that. Sister Ball was contacted the night before transfers and was told that she was transferring instead of Sister Nethercott. Gotta love revelation. So Sister Nethercott was already packed and ready to go, but she had to unpack everything. But...Sister Ball was pretty happy. She was ready to get out of that area. It was really good to see her this last week. We sang for the departure meeting for the October batch, it was amazing! The spirit was so strong and it was SO hard to say goodbye to each of those elders that were leaving. Each of them have had an impact in my life and So many of them were leadership for me, which has helped me to be a better missionary from following their examples. We all miss them dearly, but they promised to write.....ha! we'll see if that happens. (elders, if you're reading this... don't take offense..keep the promise and just write! haha! Also, Elder Wade!!!! How is your dad? No fair telling me about that. What's going on? He's in my prayers.) The real world hits them and you know...people tend to forget about missionaries. haha! Luckily, I have the best family in the world and you have not forgotten about me.

Amanda, big big lameness that you were late for your appointment! hahahaha! I made a big deal about it and printed it out, not reading any of it and then was on the back of a motorcycle on a trik reading it trying to find out if my guess what right only to find out.....I'd have to wait another week. ha! Oh well, now next week you better not be late. Paul, just when i think your children couldn't possibly get any cuter..they do! A giraffe???? REALLY?! K and Kaitlin is stunning! lock her up now! Man I miss children. The children here are so cute, and all I want to do is pick them all up and love them to death....but I've weaned myself from doing so. It will make it all the more sweet when I get home. I'm excited for your Ward mission plan! Way to be proactive. I never realized how important that calling is to the ward until I came on the mission. You've got your work cut out for you, but...kaya mo na! (you can do it!) Even when the members are being ridiculous, keep it up! Don't lose hope! So often members get burned into their mindset that certain families just don't want to come back..they aren't interested. Well that's Satan whispering in their impatient little ears. People want to feel appreciated and sometimes they just need to feel love before they are willing to make that huge first step back. Too often people feel they are a statistic to the church, if only the members would take time out of their "all too busy" schedule...simplify...(to quote an apostle) ...and choose one family to focus on and fellowship and participate in the Lord's work. AH! Missionary work will be a huge part of my life for the rest of my life. Alright, mom, If you were here, I would have you come speak at our missionary firesides as well. :) You have become so good about missionary work. I love it! Keep it up! I love getting spiritual uplift from all of you. Robyn, I never received the letter from Sara and Sam and all the girls when they were all there with you. They usually email you a copy no? Maybe you could resend it? I received your dear elder about the competition! NATIONALS!!!! My goodness that is crazy! I wish I could have seen it in person. Well, next time you'll be prepared. ;) no? Also, I'll be writing you a letter sometime within in the next couple weeks about the other things in the letter. Sean, you're amazing! How are you? Thank you for helping me in my mission. I'm a little jealous you're all in sweater weather, since I'm still...well...still Sister Stadler just sweating my way through life. ha!

This week we had the baptism of Ramzel A. Pangantihon. He is amazing!!! The baptism was a little rough starting out an hour late, the norm here, and then during the 2nd talk we had a brown out. IT was after 6 at night so it was completely black here. BUT...the work will continue! So this was the elder's first baptism he had ever done, and while one of the witnesses held a flashlight into the font, Ramzel was baptized! Sister Jackson and I sang a musical number, (our voices blend incredibly well together..sometimes I force her to sing with me! haha!) The Spirit was very strong and later, when we visited him on Monday, he couldn't even put into words what he felt. I love that little boy! I heard today from a sister serving in Bago that Japhet, one of my favorite converts, is now a counselor in the Young Mens' presidency and that Irene Valdevieso and her husband have a date set to be sealed in the temple!!!!! I don't think a missionary could ever get better news!

The work was small this week, many meetings and such, but it was good. This next week we're really excited to dive into our CMIS sheet and contact less actives. We have days set for just less active work and we're excited to see what the Lord has in store for us. Mom, I'm confused what you mean about changing islands....I have never once changed islands. haha! I'm still on Negros Occidental. Jennie changed islands, but that's to Iloilo. It does get to raining really hard here in LaCarlota. BUT..we're way safe. No flooding in our area as of yet. I don't have much else to add. Life is wonderful and I am head over heels in love with this gospel. I'll share one thing from my personal study. I was reading in Mormon 6, these verses specifically:

7 And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the aarmies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful bfear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them.

8 And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness of their numbers.

9 And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the ax, and with all manner of weapons of war.

10 And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even my aten thousand who were with me, and I fell wounded in the midst; and they passed by me that they did not put an end to my life.

I was amazed and as I read I began to see the battle before my own eyes. I cannot imagine what Mormon felt watching his own people obliterated. The verse that gets me is 7 and 8...the awful fear of death and the terror..knowing they would die in their wickedness. Can you see it? Can you see the armies coming down to face them and their hearts full of terror and sorrow? As I read this I immediately pictured in my mind the Savior in Gethsemane. There were over 230,000 people who were killed that day, and the Savior suffered for each of them individually. He felt that terror, that fear they were experiencing at that very moment. He already suffered for them! If they would have only put their burdens on the Lord, turned to Him through repentance. They may have still died, but the fear could have been swept away. Mormon and Moroni amaze me.

I love the Book of Mormon and I love how it relates to us no matter what trials we are experiencing. This week, let us all find something we are willing to give up, something to repent of, something to CHANGE...for repentance IS change...so we can become a little more like Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Come unto Him and feel the joy of His redeeming love. I know this church is true! I love it and I enjoy every moment I have to share that with others. I miss you all and I pray for you, but I know you are in the Lord's hands and I have no reason to fear. Share the gospel and make the most of the time the Lord has given to you! Until next week, God Speed! :)

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-10-31T11:09:00.004-06:00

Alright family, hang in here with me. I have a ton to tell you and a little time to type, so here we go. As for the typhoon that some of you may have heard about. Basically, I was sent to the safest island in the Philippines and we only experienced rain and some crazy thunder storms, hence the soaked through Jody photos. But as for problems in the area, none here. As for Amanda and and Paul, thanks for the photos, I've already pulled them up over 3 times a piece looking at them again! haha! Paul, your office looks way nice! It may seem like a normal office there, but I haven't seen anything that nice in...well...13 months. You look so professional in your little coat and Dr. Stadler???? YES PLEASE!!!! Amanda, oh my cuteness! I teared up a tiny bit and my heart started to race when I saw that adorable bump on you! forget about just looking fat. YOU LOOK ADORABLE!!a little tired mind you, but adorable! :) MAN....I will be there for the birth of that child...which I can sense is a little boy. That's my final guess. And you will name him...KoyKoy. After our mission president's son. haha! Just kidding.

Dad! I'm so happy that you just finished the Book of Mormon! I'm even happier that you started again! I'm in Mormon right now and at the rate it's going I'll probably be finishing it again in about a week or two. I have found on my mission that I just can't get enough of that book. No one can even begin to understand how important it is and how it will change their lives until they take the time to read it every single day! And you're doing that! Keep it up! Last week I was really craving your biscuits and gravy! We were all talking about Christmas traditions, and so many foods I crave from home.

Samantha Nicole! I cant believe you're on a volleyball team! How fun! Someday I'll have to tell you about my experience trying out for the team. I didn't make it..haha..but I didn't want to actually get to be on the team anyway! haha! I'll explain sometime. How is life? How is school? Where are you now? I'm confused. I thought you were living back with Robyn! Tell me more details here about your life! I love getting your little emails on dear elder. You can just email me too if that's easier for you. As for the probiotics coming, I'm excited and I thank you in advance for your concern. The ones Aunt Vikki sent are helping so much already, those will help even more I'm sure.

I'm starting to see a glimmer of hope. A couple weeks ago I received a blessing for a cold I had and in the blessing the elder paused for a moment and said, "Sister Stadler, it is important that you remember what you teach every day. Your Savior's Atonement applies to you too and your current problems you're suffering with." ..there were others things that were said that I needed to hear. It was good for me to hear it. I was talking to this elder's companion about the health issues when he was talking to me and he asked me if I felt it was getting better, at that point I said no and I don't think it would be anytime soon (this was before the blessing) to which he said, "Sister! Where is your faith in this matter?" It kind of shocked me to hear that. But I needed to. SO....haha...long story short, I've changed my hope and my mindset about things, along with pro-biotics and things are much better and will only continue to get better. SO...before I forget and get all spiritual with things that happened this week, let me tell you of my Christmas wish! :) The time is coming up to send off the package ...and that is why I'm saying this! :) I don't want a package!!! haha! So don't send one! It takes way way way way too long and is way way way way too expensive and you've all spoiled me too much on my mission already. I'll be babysitting for ya'll for forever when I get home. haha! Ok, so I have been thinking, and as the Christmas season approaches (yes I know this is crazy but in the Philippines the season starts in September) I have been wondering about each of your individual testimonies, how you got to the point you're all at now. I was looking at the photos I have of each of you and have felt such a strong longing as I studied faces and thought about memories with each of you. I would love for each of you, including Sammi and Kaitlin, haha...and Shelley's kids of you can get a hold of them...if not..I understand, but I would like each of you to write a little letter about your testimony of the Savior and your personal relationship with Him. Who He truly is to you and how a knowledge of Him has effected your life. Feel free to include other things, but that's what I want for Christmas.

Ok, moving on to this week. It was a wonderful week with Zone conference on Friday. President amazes me! The more than man speaks the more I just love him. He has taught me quiet dignity in a way I could never explain over email. Our whole zone conference was on Christlike attributes and working with ward members and leaders. The spirit was so incredibly strong and at one point I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. I didn't know why either and then a moment later Elder Edioy stood and said, "President would like to invite a few missionaries at this time to share their testimony of Christlike attributes." I knew in a second that I would need to share my testimony. I wasn't even sure how to start with that topic, because it wasn't "share you testimony about Christ"...and yet I stood up after an elder and I was completely overcome with that spirit. The conference was powerful and the whole mission took a turn. As one elder put it, the dark ages are over in the mission, those disobedient missionaries are all home now and the whole countenance of the mission has changed.

There is a light in the missionaries that wasn't there before and the proof of their obedience is manifest in the numbers coming in. I guess before the mission split, even with the whole other island we were averaging 200 baptisms a month. Well, now we have 60 less missionaries and we're only on one island and we're over that for baptisms a month...barely, but we're already over 200. The work is increasing and quickly. Our work in the mission is through reactivation and teaching part member families, which I have gained a testimony of. They said to us in conference that we probably won't be able to see the fruits of our labors while we're in the field, but 10 years down the road, it will make all the difference. We will be able to come back and see stakes formed in areas where we are now if we focus on the rescue and the Centers of Strength in our areas. I'm excited! It's tiring, and it's hard work when you don't see people being baptized, but, ayos lang! Payadon lang kami! :)

This Sunday Ramzel, 2 members of the Angelico family and Irwin were all at church along with 4 less actives we've been working with! It was a wonderful Sunday! The Pacheo family fasted and we fasted for them and we were able to witness the blessing of the branch serving and helping them and their testimonies were greatly strengthened. There is a light that has entered their countenance. It's amazing to watch the Lord's programs work effectively. Ramzel will be baptized this Saturday and Sister Jackson and I will both be here!!! WOOHOOO!!! Transfer announcements said, we're staying together another transfer! :)

Life is so good! I love my mission and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. I think of each of you at night when I'm lying in bed and I miss you all, but there is no homesickness whatsoever. I love this work and I can't wait to see what this transfer has in store for us here in La Carlota. Mara, the Angelico's 14 year old daughter, told us in our last teaching that she has no doubts now. She knows the Book of Mormon is true! I love it! My study this week has been about Mormon and Abraham and I am amazed with the strength of the youth. My eyes were opened to a pattern of how the Lord uses young worthy men to build His kingdom: Mormon, Abraham, Nephi, Joseph Smith, Samuel, Alma, Captain Moroni! It's remarkable! It is true that the Lord uses small and simple means to bring to pass mighty miracles! I see it happen often in the mission. The church is true! I could never deny it. I'm eating up every moment I have here in the field! There are only 3 transfers left! 18 weeks left in the mission after this Friday and I just can't believe it. I love you all, and until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-10-24T10:18:00.003-06:00

This week was been pretty intense. There is suppose to be a typhoon hitting the Philippines this week, but our island rarely has any effects, just rain like crazy because we're pretty guarded from the other islands. But it has been raining like crazy. On multiple occasions I have come home completely drenched, soaked through. Good thing my Jody Dresses aren't sheer. ha! That's even with my umbrella. The rain usually comes in at an angle. Anyway, I love rain, but it's not good for our investigators either.

As for updates with investigators, The 2 year man is named Brother Amador, mom. He won't even listen to us anymore. But, we know he felt something when we taught, it now just depends on him. This guy is amazing...he pays tithing...something is holding him back though. BUT...we can't do much if he refuses to let us speak with him. SO...it's just not his time. As for Rona, she got really sick and hasn't come back yet, but her brother in law said she's reading and praying and should be home today. SO...hopefully we'll go teach her tomorrow. The Angelico family is progressing, slowly, but they are progressing. We taught them yesterday and the mom and their 14 year old daughter, Mara, explained their experience with praying and reading and we were able to help them realize that they have received their answer from the Holy Ghost. I love that experience! It's always amazing to me to hear how the Holy Ghost speaks personally to each of us. Ramzel is amazing! He'll be baptized on the 30th. His mom is so proud of him, it's adorable. Irwin is a kick in the pants....haha! He's about as stubborn as a man can get, but he's a good man. We're starting back at square on with him and helping him build his testimony about the scriptures.

This week we were able to teach a less active family, the Pacheo family. We've taught them before, but they are Cebuano and it's difficult sometimes. I feel like whenever we go teach we haven't really been able to help them much..I always leave dissatisfied. Well, this week, it was different. I called them out on it. haha! We were in the middle of the teaching and it just didn't feel like it was going anywhere so I said, "Ok, I feel like something is wrong in your family. We want to help. What is wrong?" And brother Pacheo started to tear up ..he has a really bad eye problem where his eyes are both like lazy eyes...he can't focus on things, making it hard to find work. He works at their "home" (a little one room they rent) fixing people's electronics. Well, I guess in August, their little girl, who is no more than 2 years old, got really sick and was in the hospital. She had an incredibly high fever and because of the effects of the fever she is now on medication to keep her from having problems with her sight. Well, the medicine is incredibly expensive, and he and his wife are sometimes going 3-4 days a week without any food because they can either eat, or they can pay for medicine for their child. This has been causing stress for their marriage, and they have been having problems lately. My heart broke sitting there listening to this incredibly humble man pour his heart out. You could tell he wanted to do everything he could to provide for his family, and he was working as hard as he could. So I felt very strongly that I should teach fasting. So as we taught that, the whole feeling changed. They will be fasting this week, which he joked happens often! ha...these people!!!! I love these people! They are just happy...they are so grateful for everything. So my companion and I will be fasting this week for them as well. I know there is power in fasting. I know if they follow the commandments God will provide for them.

Irwin tonight was going off about having little money and being poor and he started making some smart comments and I just interrupted him and said, "Brother, do you have food?" He said yes...and then I said, "Well then you're very blessed." and I explained about the Pacheo family. He got quiet pretty fast. All of you at home, you may never understand, I don't expect you to fully understand, until you'll seen something like this with you own eyes, until you've sat with these people and felt the love that God has for them....I will never be the same, and for that I am grateful. I have learned that honestly, THINGS mean nothing. Relationships mean everything. Time. Time is priceless. I love this gospel. I had someone point out that starting next week I'll only have 3 transfers left. So mom, it's not just people at home asking about me! haha! I love this gospel! I love you all! I'm so glad things are going well for you. Count your blessings. Pray for the People of the Philippines. I thank you for your prayers. I feel them daily. I love you all and until next week, God speed! :)

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-10-17T09:02:00.003-06:00

Alright family, sorry I didn't get the chance to email yesterday. We had to go to Bacolod and as usual, the day was long and the travel out there took forever and we didn't get time to email. So here I am on a beautiful Tuesday emailing my little heart out to the people I know and love. Life is way good though. So I think I said in the last email that we extended baptism for the Angelico family, if not, we did! and they accepted! It was a true example of their faith because they haven't yet received an answer for themselves IF the Church is true, however they are very serious with their decision and their daughter, Mara, knows it's true. She's remarkable. Their oldest son also knows its true, the one the elders are currently teaching. It's beautiful to see the people that the Lord prepares.

Speaking of which, this leads me into a spiritual experience we were able to be a part of this week. On Wednesday we had a specialized training here in La Carlota. I love these trainings because they are especially for targeting problems in our areas. We have training in the morning and then we had lunch, went out and applied to the training for an hour and then came back to evaluate. For the hour we went out to work we were to find brand new investigators by following the spirit and extend baptism to them in the first teaching. Well, this is all from the new training. So I have had good experiences with this new training. I was pretty excited to go out and try this, and little nervous to be honest. So we went out, and the elders apparently had a sister who was suppose to work with them, didn't work out, she went with us for our hour. We were walking down a part of our area that we have many less actives and we had in our mind a name of a referral to contact. He wasn't home. So we kept walking down the street. We talked to maybe 5 or 6 other people, offered the message, the invitation to teach, they all said they were busy, or didn't want to listen. We talked to another man for awhile who was collecting trash, but he didn't live anywhere in our area. SO...we just kept walking. At one point Sister Jackson turned to me and said, "Sister Stadler, where are we going?" To which I thought to myself.." "..That's a valid question..." and I responded.."Yeah..I have no idea. I'm just following the spirit." So we walked..for quite awhile...one street someone pointed to and said we'd been down that street before and I had the feeling to just keep walking. So we kept walking down another street and then Sister Jackson said, "We could go visit Andrew's wife." Andrew is our 2nd counselor in the branch presidency. His wife is not yet a member. We had never been to his house before.

I asked a boy on the street if he knew the family, he didn't. I asked if we could teach him, his mother came out and asked who we were and everything, then....his grandma came out the door, took one look at us and immediately stepped backward into her house screaming for us to leave. So I tried to just resolve the issue by being kind...the woman then told us to walk away...twice and then said...as if we couldn't understand their language.."MAG-GO!" hahahahaha! Well, needless to say we were a little...flustered. Not because of the rejection, but because we had like 15 minutes until we were suppose to report back at the church and I kept thinking, "Just have faith! The Lord prepares people...keep working up until the last minute." And sure enough, the Lord did prepare someone. The member who was working with us happened to know a home of another member in branch one and she knew where Andrew's home was, which happened to be right across the street from her. We went over there, Andrew's wife wasn't home. When we walked into the home there was a thin girl who went immediately into another room and closed the door. As I set up an appointment to come back and teach Andrew's wife, the member with us asked who the "thin" girl was. He said she watched the children when they were at work. She then asked if we could teach her for a moment. I will forever be grateful she did.

Rona came out and sat with us and I did the intro and asked if we could teach her for a moment. She allowed us to. She was so sweet and shy. She is 20 years old and you could tell she was just kind-hearted. We proceeded to teach her. The spirit was so strong. Right from the beginning of the lesson as I was teaching about how she was a child of God and that God knew who she was and how He loved her. She started to tear up. I thought nothing of it and continued. The lesson continued to just get more powerful and the spirit was strong and by the end of the lesson I had no doubt that I was suppose to extend a specific baptismal date for her. So we did, and she presented the concern that she wasn't going to be in town for the weekend. THAT was her only concern. When I asked her right before extending the baptismal date what she was feeling...this was right after I talked about the first vision and taught about Joseph Smith, she burst into tears and actually excused herself from the room. The spirit was thick, she came back and she was just smiling and still crying. It was a remarkable experience. She has a baptismal date set for November 13th. We are incredibly excited for her! We were suppose to teach her this week but she went back to her home town for awhile because shes been sick. BUT...Pray for Rona. Add her to the list! :)

As for Irwin, his baptismal date was pushed back. He got drunk the night before general conference. I wish I could type more about the wonderful feast conference was, but I need to go. holy amazing conference though!!!!! MY GOODNESS!!! It went by so fast! I love you all so much, This gospel is such a personal and powerful gospel! I love this work. Life is good! I am glad everyone is doing well. Keep me updated. Until next week, The church is true, Christ lives! Share the message!
GOD SPEED! :)

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-10-10T08:54:00.003-06:00

Oh family of mine, how I love thee! I feel like I start my letters all the same exact way. This week was been a good week! We are still teaching Ramzel, the 12 year old golden boy. He didn't come to church on Sunday because his mom was sick. He didn't know where it was on his own and didn't want to go alone, so we had to push his baptism back one Sunday. When we told him we had to...he was devastated! You should have seen his face. BUT...he understands. Come to find out...his father isn't even a member!!!!! So we're hoping to add him to our teaching pool this week.

Irwin is awesome, and starting to open up to us more with each teaching. At first I thought he was kind of hard-hearted and doing things for the wrong reason, because it was expected of him. The more I get to know him the more I realize he's one of those guys who just doesn't like to feel all mushy and warm inside. He feels a little out of place when he has to talk about his feelings, and I ALWAYS have him talk about his feelings. haha! You have to when you're teaching investigators to gauge where they are! Anyway, he's excited about his baptism. As are we! :)

This week we received the most glorious referral ever! A true answer to prayer! Just last week I started praying for a family to teach because I haven't ever taught a real good sized family with children old enough to be baptized. Well, Heavenly Father immediately answered my prayer. When I say immediately, I mean it. The next day we receive a text from our zone leaders asking if we had an appointment that day at 4pm. We didn't. They said they had a referral from an investigator of theirs who lives in our area. SO we met them at their apartment, the investigator came with us and showed us a house and I asked if they were his friends, turns out its his family! They are a family of 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's the oldest son. We have met all but two of the children in the family and all but two of the children are old enough to be baptized. It's amazing! They are amazing! They have definitely been prepared. We have only taught them twice, but they have true desires to learn truth and they are so welcoming to us whenever we show up. It's amazing! We have great hope and faith for them! :) They were really surprised to hear me start speaking Ilonggo...they asked the elders how I knew it and Elder DelosSantos told them my dad was Philippino..hahaha...then he immediately told them he was lying. haha! They're just amazing. I think it will take awhile to get them to baptism, but then again...by the power of God and the conversion through the spirit, maybe not. Time will tell!

I can't believe we're already halfway through this transfer....time is seriously flying. I got chills all over my body when I read that there is another temple in the Philippines!!! I"m a part of this work!!! It's such a huge blessing. I can't wait to hear everyone's reaction on Saturday and Sunday when they hear about it. I am more than excited for General Conference and I will let you know what talks were my favorites...even if you don't want to know..I'm telling you! :) ha!

Alright family, if I were to die tomorrow..which I won't..there's way too much to do in La Carlota, but IF I were....my final words would be... LIVE THE GOSPEL!!!!!!!! If people would just realize the joy it brings, they blessings they could witness. The Lord doesn't care so much about what you've done, that is why He's provided the Atonement! Just come to Him! Repent, through the Atoning blood of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and come to Him! I love you all so much. Share the message of hope we have in the gospel. Find time each day to testify of truth to Someone...you're great! Until next week, God Speed!

All My Love,
Sister Stadler

2010-10-03T12:35:00.003-06:00

Yeah.....pretty much what this all comes down to is the fact that I love and adore each of you. My goodness, family and dear friends, life is good. A wee bit crazy at times, but so good. My companion is remarkable and I adore her with ...pardon the cliche, ever fiber of my being. She is from a little place called Battle Ground Washington, it pretty much borders Oregon. The only thing I've found wrong with her so far is she has a problem with texture....and when it comes to food here, that can be interesting!!!! Ha! Just kidding, she's amazing. Sometimes it freaks me out a little bit how similar companions can be in the mission, then President will throw in a polar opposite too just to mix things up. But, she is truly remarkable and has an astounding knowledge of the gospel, well, of everything actually. I'm pretty sure in 3 weeks or so she will be teaching me.

Ok, mom, you asked about my language, I meant to write about that last week actually. Let me relate an experience that helped me to gauge where my language was. Our first Sunday in the branch we were told about 20 minutes before Sacrament meeting that we would indeed be the speakers, welcome to the Philippines. So as we went to prepare I had a flashback to my very first Sunday in the field where they asked me to do the same thing. I was terrified and I felt stupid that I couldn't say anything in their language except what was on my flashcard I had prepared in my language study the night before. Well, this particular Sunday I stood up to speak and I realized while speaking that I wasn't thinking in English first and then translating into Hiligaynon, but instead I was thinking in Hiligaynon. For that moment I felt the spirit strong and I realized how unappreciative I have been at times, always wanting to know more in the language and wondering if I would ever have an experience that you hear with missionaries just speaking beautifully in the language and later not remembering a single thing they taught, but knowing it was the gift of tongues. After being in the mission I realized, this is an experience that rarely ever happens. And, instead, with our steady diligence and patience with ourselves...I hate that word...we indeed do receive the gift and interpretation of tongues. BUT...it is hard work! Sometimes I think we forget to take a step back and to witness the beauty of the every day little miracles we experience. I was so grateful to be able to do this in that Sunday school meeting. I definitely am not fluent, but I know the lessons, and I can truly relate and understand our investigators. Sometimes I only understand 70% of their sentences, haha...but I understand it, and I know many times it has nothing to do with my own knowledge of the language. So, mom, how's the language coming? It's here. :)

As for our less actives, we had a whole family come, but the other man who came before didn't show up again, even though he committed to be there. We'll be visiting him today. BUT, our two investigators here came to church. And we just had another one commit to baptism. This boy was amazing. We're witnessing the power of teaching part member families. It's remarkable. The elders left a name of a boy, Ramzel, who was shy and promised they could teach him, but they hadn't taught him yet. Months and months ago, missionaries taught him the first lesson, but he was never baptized. Well, we were teaching one of his relatives in their home and I saw him and his little friend trying to sneak out the front yard, so...I ran outside and grabbed them and had them come in so we could teach them! ha! So, he was pretty quiet during the teaching and we just reviewed half of the first lesson. He committed to come to church and we came to walk with him to ensure he went. So we started walking on Sunday and lo and behold, a tender mercy of the Lord, we left a little late from his house and there is no way we would have made it on time. Well, here comes a little member in the ward with a trik and he picks us up and offers and ride, free of charge. Amazing! So we get there, the young men immediately put their arm around him and take him to class! Fellowshipping was amazing! He loved it! And, that night we went to teach him again. We finished the 1st full lesson about the Restoration and he committed to praying about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. We had wrapped up the lesson and as I was putting away my Book of Mormon I had the strongest impression that I have maybe felt my whole mission to extend the commitment for baptism. So I pulled out my Book of Mormon again and asked if I could share just one more scripture with Him, and he smiled and said yes. So we looked up the trusty 2 Nephi 31:10 where Christ himself commands us to Follow Him. So I asked him after he read the verse what he was feeling, and he stopped for a moment and said, "The Holy Spirit"! WHAT?!!!!! Amazing!! this boy is 12 years old and so mature beyond his years. He has this glow you can see through his eyes, you can't describe it. So I extended baptism and he committed to be baptized on October 23rd with Irwin! The spirit was so strong! He started to tear up and his mom was crying as well. I love the gospel!

I love the opportunity I have daily to feel the love of the Savior for these amazing people! I love you! The Church is true! Share it! With everyone...you never know who's looking for the truth, and sometimes you find the most unlikely people who the Lord has already prepared! It's beautiful really. Keep the emails coming, I love it! Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-09-26T10:40:00.003-06:00

Well, another week is over and another transfer has begun. Life is so good! I have an amazing new companion, Sister Jackson, from Washington state. She's brand spankin new from the MTC and is a hard worker. We had immediately made a connection and have many one too many things in common. haha. She's hilarious and we have enjoyed every moment with each other so far.
Our new area is in La Carlota 2nd Branch. Apparently about 8-10 years ago the stake had some ridiculously disobedient leaders who were then ex-communicted and then the stake became a district under the guidance of the mission leader. So now President Tobias is in the middle of training the area to become a stake again. Our branch is small, on average 60-65 members on Sundays. Our first night here after transfer morning we already had appointments set up with the other elders who we white washed. They weren't disobedient elders or anything, President just felt they needed the influence of the sisters in one of the branches in La Carlota. SO...here we are!
The members are so fun and kind. We have 3 investigators as of now, all from part member families, which we're pretty excited about. We're focusing on reactivation here, much like in Victorias. However, here, the members seem to be more excited to be involved with the work.
We are teaching a man, Brother Amador, who apparently told the elders that he knew the church was true but wanted to wait 2 years to be baptized to have time to effectively rid himself of all of his issues with the word of wisdom. Well, we decided to pay him a visit. As we walked in he immediately came in and said, "2 years! I told the elders 2 years! I've told all the other missionaries 2 years!!!" So I could tell his heart was definitely a little hard towards us. His wife, who is a wonderful active member, turned to me and whispered, "See...I told you.." to which I immediately walked over to him and introduced myself and asked if we could just visit with him for a moment. He went and put a shirt on and then came in to talk with us. The room was loud and there were kids running around, he was in the middle of cooking their dinner, and the neighbors tv was ridiculously loud....so I felt maybe we should just set another appointment with him, but the thought came to me, "If you don't share something now, you're never gonna get another appointment with him." So I asked him if we could come back on Tuesday and share with him. He said he wouldn't be available and that he wasn't going to listen to our teachings...blah blah blah....so I asked if we could just share with him right then since he was there...despite the distractions. So we did!
I said a silent prayer in my heart and then he asked me to offer the prayer before the lesson. The boy on the computer shut it off and left, the children left the house to play outside and the neighbors turned their television volume way down. As we started talking I was trying to figure out what his issue was that was keeping him from being baptized right now...so I went through the baptismal questions with him...to which he answered them beautifully and had a full understanding of the restoration..except he thought Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon..which we had to clear up. BUT...I asked him why, and he said it as honestly just because he smoked daily and drank coffee. He wanted to make sure he was fully prepared and repentant of his sins. So I felt I should share 2 Nephi 31:10...I explained about how we, as missionaries, were literal representatives of Jesus Christ and that it was as if Christ himself was asking him to follow Him into the waters of baptism.
The last few transfers I have been following the counsel of President Tobias to be bold, but with love. SO....I laid it on pretty thick. Or ....maybe that's not the best phrase...I made it perfectly clear...I basically told him, "Brother, by you knowing that the church is true and not being baptized, you are putting your salvation and happiness in jeopardy. Do you realize if you die tomorrow, you WILL NOT be with your family. It will not happen." He was really quiet for a moment. Then its like his heart was visibly began to soften. He didn't commit to baptism, but...he did commit to goals towards overcoming his addictions. So, we're meeting with him tomorrow to see how he's doing. I think he just didn't have any trust in us. He felt we were just interested in getting him thrown in the water, but in the lesson he felt we actually cared. We love him and were concerned for his family and his happiness. It was beautiful really and I wish I could do it justice by describing it right now.
We also visited a man who hadn't been the church for years and years and years. No one can remember the last time he went to church. We committed him to go, and scheduled for us to pick him up and walk with him to church. Well, we get there on Sunday and he's all excited and dressed and ready to go and before we even shouted that we were at his front gate he saw us and yelled to his wife that we were there. As I spoke with Elder Hamblin about it, he's one of the last elders in the area, he was so shocked that we were able to help him get there.
I'm pretty excited about this new area and the potential it has. Our correlation on Sunday was really good and we now have the beginnings of a ward mission plan.
This week I have training again with all of the leaders and trainers in Bacolod on Wednesday and Thursday with President Tobias. I'm excited for it. Life is really good! The gospel is true and I'm just loving every second of my life.
Some woman on Sunday asked me when I go home and I say, "Oh I still have awhile. I go home in March 2011!" Her response was, "Oh! That's so soon!" I thought my heart fell out of my chest....AH! Then today another elder was like, "Sister Stadler, after this transfer you have only 3 transfers left..that's weird." AGAY!!!! (..that means "ouch" in Ilonggo) I love every second of this work.
Mom, don't worry about my living conditions...I'm ridiculously spoiled right now. I left the mansion and entered into the celestial kingdom housing of the mission. We have the couple missionaries old house with an oven, air conditioning, and a heated shower. I've forgotten what it's like to not freeze when you're bathing. Everything here is blazing hot...except their water, which is always freezing cold. Yeah.....I don't even know. But...my time is up. I'm sure I'll have more to share later.
To the rest of you...share the gospel! I love you all! Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-09-20T17:11:00.004-06:00

Alright well, family, dear family, have I got news for you?!! Let me tell you about the results of this transfer announcement from this mornings meeting. First of all...this whole week was ...difficult to say the least. We were punted (meaning that people canceled on us) more than ever before in my entire mission. It was like 3 days straight. We had a ward half-day mission that only one young man showed up to and then other plans all fell through too. It was "investigators getting drunk" week and I have decided I hate alcohol even more than I ever did before. Talk about Satan's tool for ruining lives and supporting stupidity. It's not even the fact that as investigators are drunk they get crude and they start to mock us and the church, I'll take a hit for the team, they will understand some day...but when I see them drunk and smoking I see images of everyone I love who is caught in that same web of lies. All I wanted to do was pick up one of our investigators and shake him and say, "LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let us help you...we just want to help." But he won't let us help him, and it kills me. It wasn't just him either.
This was the 3rd week in a row when we didn't have a single investigator that went to church. We had to drop 2 investigators and we're dropping others as well that just aren't prepared for the gospel and they are making it clearly evident through their choices. Emalyn and Recarido are not back from Bacolod yet because they still don't have money to get home. All of our investigators with baptismal dates either moved away randomly without any warning, they are back to breaking the word of wisdom or they don't have enough faith in Christ to live His commandments and witness the blessings.
I was riding on the back of a trik home on Saturday and I was watching the sun set and I just started bawling. Haha...I was looking at the beauty of the area and watching families interact and I was thinking, laziness and idleness will be the death of the Philippines, at least in our area. The tears weren't from frustration or from self pity. I just wish people could realize that wickedness gets them nowhere! And so often we don't want to own up to ourselves being wicked...but if it isn't of God, and if it's not what Jesus Christ Himself would do, then it's of the natural man...therefore it is wickedness. Basically, I dropped to my knees on Sunday and had one of the longest discussions with my Heavenly Father that I've ever had. I love prayer. I don't know if I've ever experienced to much sorrow for another person in my life. Sometime in that moment I remember saying, "Father, help me to prepare myself for the transfer announcements tomorrow and to step up to the challenges given to me."
I assumed I would be staying one more transfer in my area, or transferring to another area and following up a new missionary, but it seems Heavenly Father has other plans for me...AH!!!!!!! hahaha! I am once again being stretched to my limits. There are 3 sisters coming in this transfer. There is an American, a Tongan, and a Filipina (that sounds like a beginning to a bad joke...hahaha). Anyway, it turns out, yours truly, will be training, transferring and...wait for it...white washing an Elders area! Which means...they are pulling out the elders and Me and my Trainee will be taking over their area. I am still in shock. Heavenly Father and President have a little too much trust in me I think. Just when I feel like I am at the lowest of lows....leveled to the dust...I'm gonna put on my big girl panties and deal with it. I have complete trust in the Lord.
I know He is mindful of us and He loves us each. He knows our abilities and He always gives us opportunities to stretch and grow. I just barely read an old quote in a planner that said something to the effect of, "The rising generation today faces the same temptations that the generations of old face, but with different names and titles." It said that Heavenly Father never sets a single one of His children up for failure and that often we are stretched to our ultimate limits, but that we will always be able to overcome IF...we trust in Him. Which is exactly what I will be doing, because lets be honest..if I trust in my abilities...we've got trouble with a capital T!
Buot Silingon.....Magpangamuyo kamo para sa akon ah? Tunghod, kun wa'ay pagpangamuyo, wa'ay pagbulig, kun wa'ay pagbulig halin sa Diyos, wa'ay paguswag, wa'ay kalipayan, wala gid! (translation: Meaning....You all will pray for me, ok? Because if there is no prayer, there is no help. If there is no help from God there is no progression. If there is no progression there is no happiness...none at all!) : ) Alright...moving on.
Sister Ball and Nethercott had a remarkable experience this Sunday with an investigator. I'll give you a small version. They promised a woman who lives in a squatters village, (which means they have like zero money at all, and her husband left her, and she was 3 small children and 2 grown, ages 1,3 and 5....) that if she walked to church (1.5 hour walk) with her babies, she would receive blessings from God so she would have money to feed her hungry children. (Imagine 3 children splitting a ramen pack for their only meal of the day.) So they went there to walk with her, and they started walking. Sister Ball said there was no way they could make it on time for sacrament meeting. Sister Ball was praying like crazy that they would somehow be able to make it to sacrament so she could have a spiritual experience. Sister Ball was holding one of the little kids with a fever and walking, with only 15 minutes until church starts and at least another 45 minutes to go. As Sister Ball is crying, pouring her heart out in prayer to Heavenly Father...enter the tender mercy. A trik driver pulls up and asks if they want to ride. They explain they didn't have any money, so he took off. 10 minutes later, he comes BACK! He asks again if they want a ride and Sister Ball explained they didn't have money and he said he could just drive them for free to the corner...which is still forever away from the church. So they all pile into the trik and the driver ..instead...takes them all the way to church for no fee. I was waiting with my companion at the front of the church as they pulled up outside and Sister Ball was bawling, holding this beautiful little child in her arms. I immediately ran up and grabbed another little girl and carried her into the church. The Lord is so willing to bless us, but so often we need to show our faith first. AnnaLisa HAD to take those first steps to the church, struggling, and THEN...only THEN...the Lord provided a way. I will never forget that experience.
I love this mission! I know this sounds cliche, but there is no where in the world I would rather be than here on the mission. I will miss Sister Ball with all of my little heart. I can't imagine being in another zone from her and not seeing her. We may not see each other again until after I get home. AH! But...let it be according to the Lord's will. I love this gospel. The church is so true! I'm ready for the challenge of the new area and the brand spankin' new companion again, and I have a sure knowledge that through my Faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, miracles will be witnessed. I love you all and think of you often. Stay strong and steadfast, don't do stupid things...don't choose silly Satan over Jesus Christ. Its so not worth it. Just live the gospel! AH! The commandments of God are not for Him, good grief! Every single commandment He has given is for our happiness, our everlasting happiness! He is already all knowledgeable. I love you all and pray for you. Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!!!!!!!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-09-12T14:12:00.002-06:00

Well, this week was remarkably successful. The mission tour went well. We had Elder Ko come and visit our mission. He and his wife are from Korea. His main focus was with working with members and being serious in our teachings, not sugar coating repentance and the Atonement. It was really good. He said a line that really helped me put things into perspective. I raised my hand and asked him during the training, "I've been studying a lot about covenants in my personal study and I came across a scripture Sister Dalton shared in her Conference talk. It said, "Cleave to your covenants". We're suppose to be teaching our investigators to cleave to their covenants, but how can we do that effectively when even the leaders in the church seem to not be cleaving, or even appreciating theirs?" He smiled a little bit and then said, "This is the concern we have within the entire Philippines." Then he went on to say our duty as missionaries is to teach our converts how to cleave to their covenants, so they, in turn, will become leaders and teach those who have not been taught properly. They said there was a point where missionaries in the 80's were pretty much baptizing anyone who would come to church twice. So we have a huge amount of people who are innactive or who aren't really educated when it comes to spiritual things. He then said, and this is what hit me.."To you young missionaries, missionary work is your world! It's everything! You must remember that these Bishops in your ward, these ward members and auxilary leaders they all have additional responsibilities. They have work, and family and they are busy! You are not their top priority. You need to become their friends. Show them you truly understand and care and that you want to help them, not add to their burdens." That hit me! so we've been trying to become their friends and to help the ward.
We just had a half day mission that went beautifully! They showed up an hour late, but THEY SHOWED UP!!! HALLELUJAH! :) We ended up seeing 4 inactive famlies and 2 of the families went to church this week. One of the moms even stood to bear her testimony. She said, "I had my doubts, but when I saw the saints who came to visit me, and then when I walked into church and Bishop immediately greeted me, I realized I was loved. You do truly care about my family." AH! I started crying!! The members were so happy to see them come to church, to see immediate fruits from their labors. This Friday they all volunteered their time again. We also found 2 new investigators in part member families from their efforts! I'm just happy.
I talked to President Tobias about staying one more transfer and it seemed hopeful. haha. Transfer day is on the 17th of this month. He said most people who were just transferred will be staying 4 1/2 to 6 months in their area...so if I stay here one more transfer it will for sure be 6 months here! Man....i'm holding out for it. But of course, I'll go where He wants me to go..meaning Heavenly Father of course.
I still adore my companion. Sister Polido is a machine! She's up for everything and is so humble and willing to learn.
Emayln and Recarido are suppose to come back tonight from their trip to Bacolod. We'll see how things are looking this week. We found out the marriage liscense is way more expensive that we thought it was. Emalyn broke down I guess on the phone talking to Annalyn and said, "I just want to be baptized! I know I have to be married first and we don't have any money to get married." These are moments I wish I could just pull out my wallet and sponsor the wedding, but...that doesn't build faith...nor trust in the Lord. SO....we're gonna see what the Lord's plan is. If there is a will, there is a way! 1 nephi 3:7...Good old Nephi!
As for Sister Ball, She's doing ok. She's had one scenario this week...nope..thats not the right english word...one...episode??WOOHOO! Yes. She has had one 'episode' this week with her health, but it wasn't anything to terrible, just not too fun. As for me, I'm doing pretty good. I'm gaining back some weight. Yeah...thats not good. Not a ton, just a couple pounds, so I'm working on knocking those back off while I can. haha.
I'm glad to hear everyone is doing so well. I got a letter from Miss Sarah Calder!!! I about fell off my chair when I saw it. ha! It was sooooo good to hear from her. I will definitely be contacting her when I get home.
Life is so good. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this gospel. I see it change people's lives daily. I always amazed the individuals that just have the hardest outer shell, they doubt and the looks on their faces when we tell the story of Joseph Smith is always interesting..but if people would just humble themselves enough to pray about it. Try it! How could you not? Test it out, read and study the Book of Mormon and pray, If you'll just try it I know, not..I think maybe..or...quite possibly...nope, I KNOW that you will receive an answer to your prayers and it will be answer that you will never be able to deny. I, myself, have prayed and have had my prayers answered by God through the Holy Ghost. I know that Jesus is the Christ, that He lives. He will come again, and the day is not far distant. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that a man can truly "get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book." I know that Joseph Smith is a remarkably stalwart and powerful man who was a prophet of God and that through him Heavenly Father restored His gospel here on the earth. How grateful I am that we have a living prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who is aware of our modern day concerns and trials and who speaks with God about how we can target our modern day enemies, or sins, and face them head on, so they will not become a threat to us. I love this gospel! I love the work.
I love all of you! I continue to pray for each of you. Sorry that I haven't written any of you back. I'm WAY behind in letter writing...but just be patient with me. You'll get a letter sometime here. haha! Until next week, GOD SPEED!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-09-05T07:48:00.004-06:00

Thanks for the emails and the package! Amanda, Sean and Mom...you are amazing!!! The Jody's fit perfectly and they are already my favorite things to wear. It's so much cooler to wear a Jody! The photos I sent last week I forgot to explain, but the house shots are our home we're renting to stay in. It is literally a mansion! haha! As for the one with the baptism, that was Sister Ball's baptism, the one we filled up the font with..none of our investigators now.
This week has been amazing. We have mission tour right now, which is where one of the Seventy comes and tours the mission. We had conference yesterday, which is why we're emailing today instead. We have Elder and Sister Ko here, they are Korean. They are amazing! The spirit was so strong yesterday in our meeting and I'm excited to start using what we've learned in our ward. I talked with President at the meeting and requested to stay here one more transfer, and he sounded like that was already the plan, but he said we'll of course have to wait and see what the Lord wants to happen. :) That would make it 6 months in my first area and 6 months in my 2nd area! ah! I love Victorias, despite the lack of help in the ward. Pretty much, they said they need to start reactivating or the ward will dissolve. It's...insane. But...ALAS...I have faith! It will work out.
This Saturday we're having a 1 day mission and we're excited to see how the ward members will step up and fulfill their duty with the work. We are here to help them, not for them to help us...which I think they have the wrong idea about sometimes.
As for health, I'm doing great! This week we didn't even buy any snacks.. I'm going healthy gid...and by gid I mean....haha...how does that translate???AH! As in....I'm going to be really healthy. ha! Oh boy.. I'm going to be such a weirdo when I get home. haha!
We had the most amazing lesson with Recarido this week about the Atonement. The spirit was so strong when we were teaching. He was crying as I asked him who Jesus Christ was to him, and to testify about why He was important. I was amazed, sitting there listening to him explain and thinking back about how this man was contacted by the missionaries on the street, and then when the missionaries went to his home he hid, and he used to lie to us all the time and say he just wanted to get showered first and then he would listen to our lesson, but then he'd just leave out the back yard..and now..here is is sitting and testifying and feeling the spirit incredibly strong, witnessing to us that the Savior lives, that he is important. I love the gospel!!!!!!!!
This week's email is going to be a bit shorter. Just to let you know, next week it will definitely be longer. The work is good, my companion is amazing! I love this girl! I continue to put her in situations where she's stretched, and she continues to amaze me. She teaches me things..I'm pretty sure she's training me now! haha! The language is great! I'm still not perfect, I have SOOOOO much to learn, but conversation flows and the lessons are being taught! ha! The gift of tongues is real and the spirit is so real!
I hope all is going well for each of you. Sean, man I love getting your emails! Your talking about building the traditional gravy dam me laugh way hard! The thought of having a meal without rice is absurd to me now. haha! Definitely miss corn on the cob though. Mom, once again, don't send that other dress. It's way way way too expensive...(also..the Liahona has ALL the conference talks in it. I love that talk you brought up. My goal is to read all the talks again before conference.)
I'll share one more experience really fast. The new curriculum focuses a lot on having investigators find for themselves the truth and importance of the Book of Mormon. We were trying to teach Reneboy, but he wasn't there, so I saw an old investigator that we taught only once. I asked him where he was going..he said to town, I asked if we could teach him really fast before he left. He said yes! That never happens. So he's 19, lives right by MeiMei, Annalyn, Emalyn..the whole gang. Well we start teaching about the Book of Mormon and the spirit was so strong! I've never taught it the way we did and after Sister Polido finished the intro to the Book of Mormon I stopped and asked him what he was feeling. I've started doing this immediately when the spirit touches my heart while teaching, to point out what the Spirit is and how it feels. As I asked about how he felt, he looked up at me, his name is Roel by the way, and said, "I feel like I want to change. I feel happy. It just feels good." So then he committed himself to pray and read the Book of Mormon that night and tomorrow we have an appointment with him. We're really excited. At the end of the lesson we taught him to pray and he reluctantly prayed....as he prayed he had to stop for awhile..his voice was shaking. Sister Polido, being amazing as she is...asked him after the prayer how he felt while praying..what his experience was. He stopped and looked up at us, smiled and said, "My heart was pounding, I don't know why. It's not because I was just a little nervous." She explained about the spirit again and I explained that if the things we taught weren't true, the spirit would not be felt. I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never want to stop teaching and sharing and helping people come to Christ!
I love you all and I pray for you daily. Keep up the amazing work. Look for opportunities to serve. Christ lives! I will never deny it! He's already paid the price for all of our sins, all of our faults, just turn to Him. Until next week, God Speed!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Paul..your line in Ilonggo made me laugh way hard! It said the mountains loved the birds. hahahahaha! And the black dog...yep..that was right! ha! Where on earth did you find it? Dad, awesome with the Book of Mormon reading!! Keep it up! I'm coming up on the 4th time I've read it since I've been out. Uncle Dale...HOW ARE YOU? I need your info so I can write! I hope you're doing well! You're all amazing! love you! Thanks for all the emails and letters permi..and by permi I mean always! AH! I don't know if I'll ever get these words out of my vocabulary. haha!

2010-08-29T08:21:00.004-06:00

My loveliest and sweetest and happiest little family in the whole wide world. Oh how I love thee! Life is so good...let's all just take a moment and think of at least 8 blessings that we have in our lives, I'll go first. (in no particular order)
1. The gospel
2. toothpaste
3. emails from family
4. swedish fish
5. clean clothes
6. chapstick
7. my amazingly hard working and diligent trainee, Sister Polido
8. LAST AND DEFINITELY NOT LEAST.....A wedding and baptismal date set for Emalyn and her boyfriend Recarido on the 18th of September!!!!!!!
Yes, it finally happened! He wasn't progressing and was hiding from us and one day we were getting ready to teach Emalyn and I saw him in the background grabbing his bike. He started wheeling it behind us ..sneaking out and I stopped the teaching and went to ask him if he had just 15 minutes when we could teach him for a second. This man wouldn't even look me in the eye when I was teaching...he's really shy and unsure of himself. Anyway, after much persuasion, he finally stayed and sat. We taught the whole family together, with their 2 little daughters that are way too young to actually follow the lesson, but they were all there! So we had planned to teach him about the holy ghost and receiving answers from it. BUT...I felt we needed to address why marriage is so important in the eyes of God, and right when I started to doubt myself my companion leans over to me and says, "Sister, I think we need to teach marriage." HALLELUJAH! So we taught marriage and then tied in the holy ghost. The spirit was so strong. He committed to come to church and then I asked if when he knew the church was true if he could be baptized and he said yes. They also set a date to go get their marriage license and to be married the first Saturday in September. Amazing! 2 days later we came to teach again and he said he felt good as he was praying about Joseph Smith, but he wanted to keep praying about it and see if the same feeling came again, just to be sure. We encouraged him to do so, and then I felt I should invite him to be baptized on a specific date, so I followed the prompting and...HE COMITTTED! He will be baptized on the 18th of September with his bride to be! What a beautiful little family! I have full faith they will make it to the temple and continue to progress after. Keep him in your prayers please. He usually smokes 2 packs a day and drinks on weekends, but he's given it up ...all at once and he's been holding strong so far. Also, Reneboy, wasn't able to go to church on Sunday because he didn't have money to go...which he could have walked..it would have taken him over an hour...but he could have....so we're pushing his date back another week. He hasn't, however, had a cigarette or touched alcohol or coffee ever since we taught him! I'm amazed what is possible when people have a true desire to change and when the Lord helps them through their faith. I love this gospel!
Well, family, I adore you. I witness so many little tender mercies daily. The gospel is so true! I could never deny it. This week I had an experience where I was praying about the Book of Mormon again, I know it's true, but occasionally I pray to have the spirit reaffirm in my heart that is is true. I don't know if I've ever had a prayer answered so quickly in my entire life. The spirit has never been that strong during our morning studies. Then Sister Ball came in from her study and had me read something and it was another answer to part of my prayer. I love that our Heavenly Father is completely aware of our needs and desires at all times and is so willing to grant us our righteous desires, in His timing. Mom, your missionary experience was awesome!!!! That's funny your forgot the pass along card, but the point is, your testified! You shared a portion of your knowledge. Keep it up! Next time you'll be sure to have the card with you! :) I love you all, you're in my prayers. When I pray for you I have an overwhelming peace that comes, I know the Lord is helping you and providing for your needs. Don't be blind to His bounteous blessings He always gives. Too often we think it's our own doing...when its definitely not. haha! Church is true. Those of you who haven't picked up a Book of Mormon in over a month, pick it up already! Stop chickening out and just do what you know is right already! Go to church! Find Happiness through our Savior, Jesus Christ. He's suffered too much and given all for us. I love you! Until next week,
GOD SPEED!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-08-22T08:57:00.004-06:00

Well hello hello. How in the world are all of you doing? I hope this letter finds you well. First of all, here's answers to your questions. Mom, yes we do get the full conference Liahona, it is just like the ensign for the conference issues. The full ensigns we do not get though. My stomach has been doing really well lately. Sister Ball's is still the same for the most part. Keep praying for her. She's a tough girl and she's learned to work with the pain. As for my companion being a Filipina and not having to teach the language, that would be false. haha..it's almost harder in some ways. She is fluent in Tagalog...I remember only what we learned in the MTC in Tagalog, if that... So...she doesn't know Ilonggo, and she speaks some English. We use about every language we can to communicate. haha! The easier thing is that she does pick up on the language way faster than an American would, but... I'm still teaching her the language. She's wonderful though. She's such a hard worker and her energy helps to keep me pumped up.
Analyn and Emalyn are not married yet, but they both set new baptismal dates. Did they come to church this Sunday? no! This was one of those Sundays where the missionaries wait forever at the front door, praying and hoping and then it feels like someone stabbed you in the heart. BUT...Reneboy did come. We used to teach him forever ago but he wasn't progressing so we dropped him. Then, last week I saw him and grabbed him to teach him again and the new curriculum says to follow the spirit to commit him to baptism, so I did and he committed! Get this...he used to smoke 2 packs of cigarettes a day and drink whiskey and we did the word of wisdom lesson with him 2 days ago, he's down to 1 cigarette now and no alcohol. I can see a change that has come over him. It's beautiful. We're really excited for him. Alright, paying for kindergarten now!!! That's ridiculous! What are the school systems over there thinking? As for the pearls, next week he's going to bring some for me to look at and take a photo of for you. They are beautiful. The peach is a light peach and the black is more of a charcoal color.
Sean, I died laughing when you wrote the part about training Elder Neal! I can't even imagine how ridiculous that had to have been....always have to step lightly when opening areas, especially after a situation like that! haha!
Ok, so this week has been really good. The Lord has placed so many potential investigators in our path it is amazing. I used to be so afraid of extending a baptismal invitation within the first 2 teachings but it makes all the difference when you're following the spirit. If you extend it by saying, "When you come to know the things we have taught are true, will you be baptized into the church of Jesus Christ...by one who holds the proper authority?" It doesn't make it seem like we have some hidden agenda! It really helps us to see where the investigators heart is. If they say no, you try to resolve their concern, re-extend, and if they still say no...then you move on because they aren't prepared in their hearts yet. The Lord has prepared too many people to waste time trying to force something on someone. We aren't called to force. We are called to invite.
My little trainee, Sister Polido is a little fire house! She's all about OYMing and will just talk to anyone. I love her to death! I could not have asked for a better trainee. Get this, she knows Sister Hawkes, a teacher in the MTC, because she served in Sister Polido's home town! She used to work with her in her ward and go on splits and stuff with her. She asked me on night during our studies if I knew her and I almost freaked out! haha! So here's a little shout out to her! Sister HAWKES we love you! :)
Well, I don't have much else to add. This week I was reading in Alma 36 and I had been praying to really feel the Lord's love for me that night, it was a harder day, and we had just read that chapter with an investigator the day before so I almost skipped over it, but I felt I was suppose to read it. So as I was reading I could feel Alma's urgency in his explanation...his pleading really, for his son to just live the commandments of God and witness the blessings. When it gets to the verse... I think it's around 24 where he talks about "from that day on he has taught the truth"...or something like that... I felt the overwhelming power from the spirit testifying to my heart and my soul that I am participating in the same work as this magnificent missionary Alma. How grateful I am to share every day about my loving and living Savior, Jesus Christ and His gospel, filled with hope and joy and happiness beyond description. The church is true. IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST LIVE IT ALREADY they would allow themselves to be happy, truly happy. I love you all and pray for you every day. Thank you for your prayers. One day last week as I felt a little discouraged about a few investigators and was on my knees trying to find a way to help them, I once again had this rush of comfort that filled my whole being and immediately I thought, "What time is it in the U.S.?" I realized it was around 8 at night there. I immediately had the image of you all praying for me in your prayers and I was so full of gratitude. This work won't stop, no one will prevail against it. Life is so good. Show your love to all you come in contact with. Be a service oriented people. Find little ways to help this week. So often we get so darn caught up in our list of to-do's that we forget about why we're actually here. Take a step back and just talk to someone who looks a little lonely. And for goodness sake...be happy! You live in a free country where children are healthy and food is in abundance, animals are taken care off, health care is available and insurance is as well. The air is clean, most of you have a car and a home and food in your fridge right now to last the week. That's more than any single one of our investigators. Count your blessings, name them one by one! If you're not sure how to put the next meal on the table or to pay the next water bill...consider the lilies of the fields, how they grow. Keep the Commandments, be obedient, be grateful, and watch the Lord unfold His bounteous blessings and miracles before your eyes. Until next week, GOD SPEED !!!!!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. MOM!!! I got your package!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the peanuts and the twizzlers and the fruit and jerky...my heavens it could not have come at a better time. That fruit is heavenly! Did you dry that yourself???? Thank you!! LOVE YOU ALL!

2010-08-15T10:22:00.002-06:00

Well hello!!!! I miss you all so much! Today I was reading your emails and I was thinking about what each of you were doing at the moment i was reading them, it would have been about 8:30 your time. Well my first 3 days of training are over and I'm almost done with the 4th day. :) Sister Polido is my new trainee and I'm already head over heels in love with her. The two American sisters went Cebuano speaking and President stopped during the announcement at trainers and said, "Sister Stadler.....will be training....... a Filipina!" haha He didn't even say her name at first. She's incredibly hard working and has this drive that makes me even more excited about the work. We get along really well and I'm so excited to see the work progress in our area.
I can't believe school started already!??????? What in the world is going on with the school's scheduling now days? Didn't summer last forever for us when we were in school?? And mom is already in her 1st week of seminary! Man....these children have no summer. That's a shame. I feel like we were just celebrating New Years. Where does time go? It's already August. I'm not okay with this. Next thing you know it'll be Christmas again. AH! Speaking of Christmas, and...gifts. I have a man in one of the wards here, Brother Tommy, I've talked about him singing with me before. Well his fiance is in the US and they'll be getting married in December. He's amazing. Well he sells fresh water pearls. BRITTANY AND DAVE....Dave, you asked me about black pearls before I left. Well here's the deal of a lifetime. You can buy a full set of pearls, necklace, bracelet and earrings for 1500 pesos, roughly $31. The necklace is a smaller necklace, but for the size of Brittany's neck it will be perfect. Also, if anyone else would like to order something please let me know. He's using the money to process paperwork for his moving to the US before their wedding. Ok, well, they also have large pearl earrings. They have black pearls, white, peach (my favorite), peacock and this green color. They are all natural and the earrings are 450 pesos a set, roughly $9.50! FRESH WATER PEARLS that are about the size of an m&m or the top of a golf tee. SO...let me know! They have little smaller ones too...but really..the bigger one are better. haha. Alright, moving on.
Oh my goodness, Sean, thank you so much! I'm so excited for the Jody! You have no idea how much cooler the weather is here if you're in a Jody! And they are soooo easy to clean! Also, I am in dire need of some new shoes. I wore holes through mine. haha! So thank you so much! How have you been? You haven't emailed lately, and I love getting your emails....hint hint. : ) Paul and Holly, I died laughing at the whole "bible and socks" thing. That should get to me with no problems. haha! Mom, I think I answered all your questions. OH! ..Aunt Vikki never sent the probiotics, or at least I haven't received them yet. Thanks for putting our names in the temple, our health is doing much better. As for our investigators, they are doing well! We're slowly building our pool back and Annalyn committed herself to be baptized on the 11th of September! Emalyn will be baptized on September 4th and the list just continues to grow. People are receiving answers daily to their prayers about Joseph Smith and the work continues to go forward. I love the gospel! Tender mercies come forth every day. For example, the fact that I can comfortably teach lessons with a new missionary by my side and people will not be focusing on my language, but on the message. Life is beautiful! Thank you Mom and Amanda for the music that was emailed. It is perfect! Also, I received the talk from Brother Brimhall, haven't read it yet but I will tonight in studies. thank you! :) OH Man! I almost forgot! Mom, I was joking about the ear piercing turning purple and swelling! haha! My ears are fine and the other holes are almost all the way gone now. weird no? haha! They look great! OK, but the best info ever. Sister Ball and Sister Nethercott had 3 baptisms this Saturday and we had a brown out and if there isn't electricity there isn't any water either. SO....they have a well in the back shed and we carried buckets of water and filled the font bucket by bucket. Yeah....Satan wasn't holding us back. 3 people were baptized and another child in the church too. 4 baptisms! Nothing was gonna keep them from being baptized. I love the gospel! The church is true! Share it with everyone you meet!
I'm excited you had a white wash in the area, or a double transfer as you called it. Usually that helps give a fresh start to the area. Help the missionaries out. Without members helping, the work can't progress effectively. I love you all and I can't wait to hear from you next week. you are all in my prayers and I feel the effects of your prayers daily! Training is great! I'm exhausted, but it's a good exhaustion! I love you!!!!! Until next week, GOD SPEED!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. let me know about the pearls! They really are beautiful! :)

2010-08-08T08:48:00.003-06:00

Well hello hello to all of you! My goodness I love you all so much. Ok, so let me give you an update on this week. I spent 3 days in a training directly from HEAVEN! haha! President Tobias had all the zone leaders, district leaders and trainers all meet in a meeting to be taught the new curriculum. basically it's all about being more bold and fulfilling our purpose with more faith and more courage while following completely the promptings of the spirit. It's all about committing to baptism on the first or second time we teach them. That is definitely something we usually don't do, but already missionaries have been putting it into action and we have already begun to witness the miracles of the mission. I'm so excited to see how this goes! They will be starting to train missionaries in the MTC on it in May 2011. So...they are getting all the missions ready for them to come in and hit us with their new training. Too bad I'll already be home! haha! It would be amazing to see a whole force of Heavenly Father's Righteous Warriors coming in to help teach and lead our mission! :) Our area is really difficult right now. Not the area itself, but the fact that we can't be out past dark. So, usually everyone would come back from the training, all pumped, almost like the feeling after a really good general conference, and then want to bust a move in our areas. When we would get home at night it was too late to go out, so that was a little hard, but it's ok. :) Transfer announcements were today. I am officially training and staying in Victorias for another transfer. Sister Ball will be stepping up and becoming a senior and follow up train the girl in the house, Sister Nethercott! hahahaha! So she's transferring, but only into another room in our home and to the other ward. haha! It should be fun. It is just now starting to hit me about becoming a trainer. I think it does something to you and makes you realize how inadequate you are. But...I'm trying to press forward and exercise faith. It's been a hard few weeks to be honest. All of our investigators seem to be choosing to not do what they know they need to do. Emalyn is suppose to be getting her marriage license today, but she didn't come to church yesterday because she went out of town to visit family. Annalyn committed to come, and didn't. Recarido also promised to come, and didn't. Rowena didn't come. Even our recent convert didn't show up on Sunday. His older brother did with one of our little 9 year old investigators. I'm just....I'm not discouraged. But I feel at times like I'm beating my head against a wall. I'm been praying lately to know what I can do more. We've lot so many hours of proselyting this last transfer due to illness, we're not intensely ill, but you can only teach so many lessons with severe stomach cramping and incredible diarrhea. haha! AH!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes I begin to feel like I can't give any more, or maybe that I'm honestly just not giving enough. AND...the fact that our investigators have all come to plateau is just something I normally wouldn't blame on myself, but with missing so many opportunities to teach, that is partly our fault. I was praying a lot about all of this last week and I just wasn't finding peace....until Sunday. I was playing the sacramental hymn at church, 169 As Now We Take the Sacrament, it's my favorite. As the congregation sang "for courage to accept thy will..." I just started crying. I immediately felt a huge rush of the spirit and had the thoughts flood my mind that the Savior has felt everything I am feeling, all the frustration and tension and lack of energy and tears and wishing I could be outside and the lack of support in the ward members and the love we have for an incredibly hard working bishop despite the lack of support from other members....including ward missionaries...He's felt it all! So the thought came to me, "Let it all go Sister Stadler. Focus on Christ, on your purpose, and move forward." AND...so I am. Transfers always offer a new start, and I'm ready for a new start. I love the mission. I say this every email, but I adore these people. The Lord knew what He was doing when He sent me here. I have made life long friends here. Sister Flores goes home on Wednesday and I lost it today hugging her for the last time. We have plans that in 5 years she will come up to General Conference. haha...Part of me feels like I'll never see her again. I'm just a huge emotional wreck right now. haha! But among it all, I just love everything I have been blessed with. I love the gospel, I love my Savior and I know He lives. I will never deny it. You are all in my prayers. Thank you for all of your prayers. I feel the effects of them. Keep praying please. My time is running short, but know that I adore you all. Keep writing. I love the emails and letters, no matter how lame you all think your lives are. haha! They're not lame to me! Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler :)

2010-07-31T09:04:00.002-06:00

Cge, Family, sorry I'm writing today and not yesterday, but things have been a little bit crazy. So, first of all, big news....drum roll please...I'm stepping back down to junior this next transfer!!!! I'm so excited to give up all senior responsibilities! WOOHOOO!!!!! ok, really though, I just lied. I'm actually going to be training this transfer. So...next Friday I will officially be a "mommy" in the mission field. President must have huge trust and faith in me. I don't think it has even hit me yet that I'm actually training. We have a new curriculum that we're being taught in our mission that is brand new implemented in the MTC as well. I'm pretty excited about it. It's all the same info in Preach My Gospel, just a newer approach of our teaching. Basically, it's becoming more faith filled and more bold in our teaching skills. So we have a 4 day training for all of the Zone leaders, district leaders and trainers. SO...I'm in Galo for the 4 days, leaving my sweet companion, Sister Ball, with the new sister in the other ward in our area. (Can anyone else feel like President is making her step it up this next transfer???? Oh yeah...she'll be follow-up training! HAHA!) I'm way excited for her. That's not official doctrine yet, just a guess. Ok, so in this training, they call me up at the end of it and say, "Sister Stadler and Sister Canaya, President has requested that you two train us tomorrow with the new information. Here's a sheet for you about the new curriculum. Thank you. Please be early." WHAT?! haha! Let me tell you, the stretching never stops. Life is so good though. I could not be happier. Sister Ball and I went to a specialist today ...gastrointestinal...my visit turned out way better than Sister Balls...poor thing..had certain areas checked by the doctor. Lucky me, I was able to be there in the room with her. Our relationship has reached a new level and I can't wait to bond with her after the mission. haha! Alright, so, we had zone conference this last week and it was a spiritual feast, and today was the same. I am so excited to start implementing all of this in the field for the teaching. Sister Ball was sweet enough to loan me a Jody dress.....Yes..the infamous Jody. I heard way too much about Jody's while Sister Grant and Sister Fairweather were here. But my friends, I must repent, because as soon as that baby was on my body I thought I had died and went to heaven. Jody's are the way to go in the missionary field. So....I'm hoping Sister Ball's family sends her a ton of Jody's for her birthday, or now, because I tried to convince her to let me have one...and she gave me the death glare. Sayang! She said, and I quote, "I wear my Jody's as much as I can. I hate putting on a skirt and I do laundry just to make sure I have a Jody ready." Yeah....pretty sure I'm stuck with my skirts....unless one of you would like to send her a 9/10 sized Jody. Or me...Actually...I would prefer a 11/12 for some room to breathe in the bosoms. Alright....now that that is taken care of. :) So...other news, our investigators chose to use their agency this week to be ridiculous....I was quite frustrated. We had NONE....count it... ZERO at church that have a baptismal date. So, not much to add there, I will not give up hope, Heavenly Father is preparing people as I type this. :) As for my camera....yeah....it happened. It's officially broken and I have no idea how. But...don't go buying one. Paul, do you know of way cheap something I could get that doesn't have a wind up flash on the back of it? ;) hahaha! Cause..I know I'm gonna want pictures of the best years of my life, but right now I've got nothing. Alright, I don't have much else to add. I know this isn't the most spiritual letter. I appreciated all of your letters this week.
I'm losing weight, and happy about it. Mom, don't freak out...I'll still wear the same clothes when I get home, they'll just fit me a bit differently. That is where safetypins come in.
Alright, life is ridiculously good. Sister Ball is precious and I only get to cuddle with her for a few more days until they rip her from my grasp and stick me with a lovely little baby to train in the mission. No big problems, just the old classic Satan and his temptations, but nothing the gospel can't conquer! THE Gospel is true! I love you all so much! You're wonderful. I'll send photos next week. Until next week, GOD SPEED MY LITTLE FAMILY! Make me proud...

All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Sister Ball burned all of her ex's letters and photos and everything. It was the best night ever, we cut our hair, burned away the boys, AND...wait for it....pierced my ears! Now..you may be wondering why I pierced them since I already had a piercing. Well, my piercing has always been WAY low and weird looking, so ...long story short, I remembered mom saying that Lola pierced her ears over her lunch break one day. And so....WE DID IT! It looks great! My right ear is still purple and little swollen and my left ear hole is huge because it connected to the original hole...it's more like a gage really...but BASTA! It's gonna all work out cause we prayed before we did it. Ok really though...it worked out beautifully. The other holes are almost completely healed already and I am so happy. I love you all!

2010-07-25T09:04:00.004-06:00

And it came to pass in the days of Sister Stadler and Sister Ball, there was much rain in the land of the people of Victorias. In fact, it smells like rain right now, but here..its not that sweet smelling scent that you want to bottle and keep for those hot summer days to smell...does that make any sense? haha! it makes sense in my head. I love the rain though. This week we were coming back from an appointment and Sister Ball asked the trik driver about the fallen sugar cane and he explained it happened because it was raining like crazy and they don't have deep roots. There were tons of them that had just fallen over, it was ridiculous. He said all that cane was ruined and couldn't be used now. SO...I feel a little guilty now whenever I get really happy and it's raining way hard. It's fun for us, but not for all of them. :) Ok, well that was a random way to start my email for the week! This week has been really good. We both have been feeling better. We're not back to your full health yet, but we are doing much better and we were able to go out and work all days of the week, for at least a few hours. Our investigators are doing well. Emalyn never ceases to amaze me. I was watching her at church with her two beautiful little children and I started to tear up. They are adorable children, but not easy to take care off in sacrament meeting...especially when you're alone. She is determined to get baptized on August 14th. She was suppose to go today with her boyfriend, Recarido, to get their marriage license today so they should be able to get married this weekend. We haven't been able to talk to them today, but we hope it works out. As for Annalyn, I can feel her slipping through our fingers. It's killing me. I realize she has agency, and sometimes it's just not their time to accept the gospel, but she knows it's true! She testifies of it! This week we had a cool experience where we had HER teach to US about applying scripture. We had her read and teach from 1 Nephi 3 and she was adorable! She taught just the same as we do, had us read the scriptures, and then asked us some questions. Then afterward, I asked her how she felt when she was teaching, she got really quiet and then just touched her heart and said, "I feel so good sis." I explained it was the spirit and that the spirit testifies when we teach truth. She said she felt in her prayer like she was suppose to wait until the stumbling blocks were all gone before she got baptized...meaning her boyfriend's anti-mormon feelings because he's a baptist minister, and her parents disapproval....I explained to her that there will never be a time in her life where she won't have trials and Satan fighting against her, it's her decision. BUT...since she has the knowledge that the church is true, she is now accountable for it. She didn't come on Sunday. It is so hard to see people turn from the truth, but it's part of the work. I have faith that she will join, it may not be now or I may never know about it, but I have faith she will. Our other investigators are doing pretty well. We may have to drop Sister Rowena. She is so sweet and fun and she liked coming to church, but she isn't progressing. It's so hard to teach deaf people here because they aren't very educated. So, it takes forever for her to understand a concept. It's like...she has a 200 word vocabulary....even simple words like, "still" she doesn't understand. She doesn't quite get the concept of prayer not being a wrote prayer. It's just hard, but she is still very nice and kind. We're still trying to work with her family. We'll see how that goes.
The choir thing is going pretty well. Elder Potter had a good idea today and I had him go with it and take control and he did a great job. I hopefully will just sing with the choir this time. haha! Hey, Amanda, if there are any way good arrangements of hymns you would like to scan and email to me...like duets or something, that would make me way happy. Mom, I have an arrangement in an EFY book of "I know that my Redeemer lives" could you scan and email that to me too? Thanks...I need some other pieces here. SO....we have zone conference this Friday and we will have interviews with President then. I have heard from 3 different sources that President told them in their interviews "Sister Stadler will definitely be training this next transfer". AH!!!!!!!!! We will find out. There is only one American sister coming in and I am the oldest of the Americans left here in the mission. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? The language is coming and is constantly getting better. It's just a matter of learning and constantly using more words. It's so true, if you don't just throw yourself out there and look like a dork in front of everyone, you never learn the language. :) I am in love with my companion and can't wait for you all to meet her after the mission. You'll all adore her. This morning we both sang the "wake up" songs our mothers would sing to us to get us up for seminary. haha! It was quite amusing...and it definitely made us both a little homesick. I am starting to hear Christmas music already and it's freaking me out a bit. haha!
Life is way good, I don't have much else to add. I'm so jealous you all got to see each other these last few weeks. Hug each other for me. The gospel is so true. I am constantly amazed how much our Heavenly Father loves us. As I have been teaching this last week I have felt such strong love for those we have the blessing to share our message with. The love I feel I could never explain and I realize it is only a small portion of what He feels for each of us. Turn to Him. Spend a little longer on your knees this week. I've learned on the mission that aching knees aren't really a bad thing..haha...if the cause of it is kneeling on tile in prayer. I love you all and I pray for you daily. Don't give up. Stay strong, live the gospel, love others, reach out to others, be obedient and witness the miracles unfold in your lives. Christ lives! He's coming again, and soon! Until next week, GOD SPEED!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. I completely forgot to tell a story. We are teaching a family, Reponte family, and the father is incredibly receptive, but SOOO busy and the mother wants nothing to do with us. Well, the children are so sweet and kind. One girl, AnnaMarie is very sweet, about 13 years old, and she acts like it. We went to teach her on Saturday and her dad wasn't there. So we prayed the start the lesson and she just goes off about how hungry she is and how she would rather have us teach another day because she is so hungry. Well I just started to get ready to teach anyway and said it would be short, and then she keeps saying she hasn't had lunch. Then her father shows up. He explains that they didn't have money for lunch so he spent the morning walking around other areas in the city until he found a tree where he could get some jackfruit, a huge fruit here, off of it to feed his children. AnnaMarie immediately made some snappy comment about how he was gone forever and she was starving. Then, as this man apologized for being late and opened the fruit, prepared it for his family and then came and offered us a good portion of it...my heart just sank. I had never been so grateful for digestive problems. I apologized, thanked him for the offer and explained we were both sick. I am so moved by these people daily. Here is this man, working so hard to fulfill his duties for his family, to provide, and yet his children aren't even appreciative, constantly whining. Sister Ball said it reminded her of Nephi and his brothers when he broke his bow. I was thinking about it a few days later and thought it is the same with our Heavenly Father. How often does he provide us with beautiful blessings that fulfill our needs, and yet often it is not what we wanted, or expected, or it's not in our timing. We may find ourselves saying, like Anna Marie, "It's been forever! What took you so long?" Instead of being grateful and happy and enjoying the plenty. We have so much. I will never be the same from serving here. Sometimes I get so caught up in the work and how busy we are to look around and notice what is really going on around me. While riding home on the bus tonight I was watching the little homes goes by outside and my heart just sunk. I go home in a few months to a beautifully comfortable home and a family who loves me and needs me and to a place with clean water and air and the children are taken care of. Don't take things for granted. I love you all. Count your many blessings, name them one by one--count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2010-07-15T09:15:00.004-06:00

Oh family of mine, how I love thee. This week has been pretty good. Before I forget, Thank you Brittany and Sister Lundin for your letters! It was such a blast to hear from you two. Brittany...You should publish that letter you sent me...it's a beast! HAHA! I was laughing so hard and my little heart got a wee it sad with each page I got closer to the end! haha! Also, I am so sorry to hear about Annie. I did have a moment of silence remembering her nestling into my neck while I house sat and having to throw her food in the air piece by piece so she would eat because she was so distraught that you all were gone. haha! I'm sure she'll be there to meet you after this life. Until then, she's probably having a blast playing with Stephydog in doggie heaven. :) Also, thank you Ariel for you emails every week! Your quotes you taught in relief society were exactly what I needed to hear. My goodness, I'm excited for those girls in your relief society group. As for you family....you know how I adore your letters! They keep me going through the weeks. :) That and the fact that the gospel is SOOOO TRUE!!! haha! Ok, to answer many of your questions, we had a follow up check up on Tuesday and he said ...ahem..I quote.." GOOD NEWS SISTER STADLER! You are low on potassium, so that could be the cause to your cramping in your digestive system. Drink more water." WHAT???????????? Since when was water high in potassium???? And I'm drinking water like crazy, so no worries mom. Then he told Sister Ball she had a UTI ..which we already knew, and he said she needed to drink more water too and the cramping was probably from the UTI. REALLY???? Cause the last time I checked, UTI's don't cause you to not be able to go poo poo for 7 DAYS! Ridiculous...But luckily she was finally able to go, and a lot, haha...but she hasn't gone since then. Basically, we have found, when we can just get out the door, the Lord blesses us with not experiencing sickish symptoms..(yes that was beautiful English, feel free to quote it). My point of the story, we are fine. We once in awhile still have crazy stomach cramping but it is sporadic these days. We calm it by giving each other digestive massage..haha...and lots of hugs and by praying. My symptoms are pretty much gone, it's Sister Ball's that are still there. But she says it is getting a bit better. Not sure though...she's a tough little woman. Note to Sister Ball's Mom: You raised an amazing daughter and everyone in the mission adores her, but I'm pretty sure no one could love her to the extent that I do. (except for you, of course) :) haha. No worries, I'm looking after her. Alright, let me see..This week we were able to go out for all but 2 days. We were pretty happy about that. Our investigators that were progressing haven't come to church the last 2 weeks though! Rowena is still coming, which we are happy about. But...The 3 with a baptismal date haven't even come and we had to reschedule the date. I'm so frustrated with AGENCY. haha! One of the boys went on vacation with his family for 2 weeks, but the other two women say it's a problem with plete, or money, for traveling to the church. So we have been working with them to save money throughout the week and exercising faith so they will have plete when Sunday comes around. Annalyn is still experiencing so many stumbling blocks with her family not being supportive of her and her boyfriend calls every day saying she can't get baptized, but she said she wants to, and her mind is made up. I don't know if I completely believe her yet. As for Emalyn, she and her husband are going on the 19th to get their marriage license. They haven't done anything since we taught the Law of Chastity and when I followed up and reassigned a baptismal date to August 14th she looked so upset! Then she said, "I WILL be baptized on that date." She has such a determination. She continues to cruise through the Book of Mormon. She is so cute! We are excited for them. As for miracles, let me tell you a little one. We haven't been able to meet our OYM goal that last 2 weeks because of lack of proselyting hours...and on Sunday we realized we still had 27 OYM's to get in one afternoon because we couldn't go out Saturday afternoon. Sister Ball looked at me and said, "REALLY? 27? No one is every in the streets in this area." But I said, "Let's just try! Pray and we'll see the miracles." AND...we did. I literally spoke to every person I saw on the way. We were walking to your 2nd to last appointment and we knew no one was near the last appointment to talk to...and I said, "Sister, how many OYM's do we still need?" She laughed and said, "14." Just then we turn the corner to meet a referral of our recent convert, Rocky, and I see a group of people gambling. hahaha! Now that may not seem like a blessing or miracle...but it was. Sister Ball said, "Sister, this is awkward." I however observed the situation, there was no alcohol, it was mainly women there playing cards and usually people will talk to you here no matter the situation. So I approached the table and observed for a moment, commented on the large amount of money on the table for bets and then started speaking to a woman who was just watching the game. It turned into an OYM of 10 people around the game...which we had a return appointment on Sunday with. THEN...Sister Ball says as we're leaving, "we still need 4 more" Right then I OYM'd an elderly woman walking towards us on the road and she invited us back the next week to teach and then while I was doing that Sister Ball walks up to these 3 adorable older women at a waiting bench a few steps down the street that we'll be contacting on Wednesday! We finished up the night with a new investigator and another appointment with Rowena. MAN!!!!!!!! If we would only open our eyes more often and notice how Heavenly Father and His angels are involved in our lives! We literally have people placed in our paths daily! I wonder who I missed out on sharing my testimony with when I was in high school, or even in college. I love it! As for other news, we're doing a choir again for this conference. That should be fun. Also...the title of this email....YES...I heard the first Christmas song on the radio today while shopping..and I saw my first Christmas lights. WHAT?!!!!!!!! Yeah...welcome to the Philippines! haha! I love it. I love this area, I love our investigators, I love the missionaries in our mission and I love the Bishop of our ward here. He is so supportive and loving. I just love life!!!! I adore my companion with all of my heart. Also...NOTE TO EVERYONE: We just sent off some letters today and they raised the postage here,,, from 26 pesos to 42 pesos for a normal light letter!!!!!!!! WHAT?! That's basically a dollar to send off a letter. SO....needless to say, letters will be sent sparingly. Sorry...we're way poor. But I love you all and pray for you often. The gospel is true. Ariel sent an amazing quote in her email and I will end with the quote! She quoted Gordon B. Hinckley. He was speaking on Mediocrity. "The distance between mediocrity and excellence can be ever so small. I speak of the need for a little more effort, a little more self-discipline, a little more consecrated effort in the direction of excellence in our lives. This is the great day of decision for each of us. For many it is the time of beginning something that will go on for as long as you live. I plead with you; don't be a scrub! Rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental and physical excellence. You can do it. You may not be a genius. You may be lacking in some skills. But so many of us can do better than we are doing. We are members of this great Church whose influence is now felt over the world. We are people with a present and with a future. Don't muff your opportunities. Be excellent." SO...Lets do it!!!! Lets all push ourselves this week and find something we can remove from our natural man handicap we all have. Those pesky little "favorite sins"...whether it be a trashy tv show or a favorite song, or thinking about past sins of others, or holding grudges or not studying our scriptures every day or not reading the revelation from God through our modern prophets in the new conference ensign! LETS JUST DO IT! I love you all, be strong, do what you know is right. I testify to you all that I know that God Lives. He is mindful of us. Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. He gave everything for us. Everyone minute of every day of His life was for us. I will forever be grateful for His eternal sacrifice. The Book of Mormon is true and God restored His beautifully flawless gospel through the true prophet, Joseph Smith. Until next week, GOD SPEED! :)
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-07-07T16:07:00.004-06:00

Family,
I just want a hug right now. So this last week we were only able to go out and work for 2 days and for our meetings and correlations and church. Sister Ball has been very sick and is having severe cramping in her stomach, not to mention she's having intestinal issues. So then yesterday we went to Dr. Tan the mission doctor...and I honestly don't know how great of a doctor he is. He was pressing on her stomach and had me press on it too..he's way proper with missionaries which is good...but anyway..She was wincing in pain and he then says, "I've never seen anyone laugh when they are in pain.." WELL...maybe its because she is so ridiculously in pain from you poking her that she wants to cry..but she laughs instead..ah! So then he says, "It's probably just menstrual cramps." WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The weird thing is that her symptoms make no sense. She had all the same symptoms I did when I had the Amoeba. SPEAKING OF WHICH.....I DIDN'T HAVE AN AMOEBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah. So I was looking back through my last charts at the doctor's office and had him explain what the stool sample test meant and then he goes, it says here you didn't have a parasite. WHAT? So then I said, well then I read the results wrong to you over the phone and I took a ton of meds for nothing!!!! AND I STILL HAVE SYMPTOMS!!!!! What the heck is wrong with my body?? and now my beautiful little decrepit junior is suffering the same things and we no one knows what is wrong with us...BUT...it's not an amoeba..cause I had to poo in another cup and the test was clear. REALLY?!?!??!?!?! And I feel the whole time like no one believes us that we aren't feeling good. That we aren't normal and healthy...and I want to just scream.." HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS!!!!! PRAY ABOUT IT!? We aren't healthy..." But instead...we feel exhausted and want to fall on our faces....but we don't. This week....we are working every single day regardless of the feelings inside of us. We have found that if we can just get OUT the door...Heavenly Father blesses us so much. Right now we're waiting for blood test results and ANOTHER doctor's appointment with Dr. quack. WHEN REALLY..all we way to do is go see our investigators and teach them about Christ and His remarkable Atoning sacrifice for each of the. However, I am constantly amazed with the concern our Heavenly Father has for our righteous desires. We experienced a beautiful tender mercy as we were in Dr. Tan's office. He turned to me and said, "Sister, could you two please talk to a girl we have in the office here. She has a problem." So I asked about what her problem was and he said, "She is pregnant and she wants to abort the baby. Will you just talk with her." For one second I looked at Sister Ball and almost said, "Are you kidding me? I don't know how to say anything about abortion in Ilonggo." But instead I said, "Dr. Tan we would love to do that for you." So he introduced us to her and said we could go into the other doctor's office and talk with her. So we did. We sat and asked her about her life, she complimented our Ilonggo skills...which made me laugh because I was thinking the whole time.."oh man..just you wait until I start speaking about your baby in a couple minutes and have no idea what I'm saying!" haha...But then...as usual I sat back and was amazed at what the spirit can do. I started asking her about her baby. She referred to her baby as her "problem" and my heart hurt a little every time she said it, So I said to her, "Sister, all children are a beautiful blessing from our Heavenly Father, and He loves each one of them so much. Your baby is not the problem, the problem was the choice you made which now caused you to have a child. Your baby is a beautiful blessing from God." I didn't know how she would respond to it, but I have made it a point to me bold in my teaching, boldness without over-bearance ...and it worked! She stopped and started referring to her child as her Baby - not her problem. I originally was just planning on handing her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and getting her info for other elders in the area, but instead I had the feeling, "You've been wanting to teach all week...so teach!" SO I did...we started with a prayer and the spirit was so strong. Here we are sitting in this minuscule doctor's office with a beautiful 21 year old woman who wants this baby, but her mother is forcing her to abort it...I have never felt such powerful love for someone I haven't known before in my entire life. I could not describe the feelings I felt for this girl. I shared personal experiences and how Robyn chose to keep Rachel and follow through with her pregnancy even though it was such a hard decision for her. There wasn't any pauses or breaks, the lesson was beautiful and just continued to flow. We shared about Nephi and how he was obedient to the commandments of God EVEN when his family was not. I testified that her baby wanted to come to earth and that he was a living, breathing, beautiful child of our loving Heavenly Father and that abortion is murder in the eyes of God. We sat there in the office, all in tears as we both testified of Heavenly Father's love for her. It really was a remarkable experience. I love this gospel. I will never be the same. I love my mission. I ADORE my mission and I adore my companion. I wouldn't trade her for the world. Pray for our energy level and I know the Lord will take care of us. Also...the crazy woman who throws rocks at me...YEAH....your prayers were answered! She moved?!?!?! We saw her in another part of town WAY far away from us. AND...as we walked past her the last day I was way worried and she just looked at us and said, "Maayong Udto." and looked away! WHAT? I was amazed! Then I read your email and it all made sense!!!! President was right...the prayers of righteous mothers are answered. I love you all so much. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!! I'm gonna be such a freak when I get back and make a fake little construction paper name tag and go around teaching in Ilonggo because I cannot remember for the life of me how to teach in English. haha! Anyway...the language is coming. I love life and most of all, I love my Savior. He lives! I know He does! I could never deny it! I know He will come again and the day is soon and approaching quickly. We must do all we can to prepare. TEACH THE GOSPEL! (even to those who know it...be the most amazing examples and get to the temple. man we crave the temple.) Until next week, GOD SPEED! :)
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. Rocky's baptism was awesome!

2010-07-02T09:39:00.005-06:00

Oh my dearest and sweetest family! Have I got a transfer announcement for you! So the week of transfers I totally sat down and tried to figure out who was staying in Negros and who would be going to Panay and where each junior was needed. We only had 3 options open for transferring juniors and my dear, sweet sister Ball was transferring. I thought, "Merciful Heavens, I would give anything to have that girl as my companion! But President would never put two Americans together who are 1 transfer apart." So here comes transfer day and my past zone leader grabs me and says, "you're going to be very happy!" So immediately I am thinking, oh man!! NO WAY!!! This would be way too good to be true! So I was looking at where luggage was, and I realized that I had a 50/50 chance of actually getting her as my companion. Let me preface this by saying we both requested this like 2 transfers ago and the AP's just laughed at us...because of course we said, "If it is the Lord's will to have us serve together, we would love to support the Lord in His will." Elder Potter always just chuckled and said that transfers will happen when they happen. So I also had a hint because I told the AP's about the crazy woman and asked what I was allowed to do IF something went down, and if there was a place I could buy pepper spray. haha! So one AP said to me, "Sister Stadler, do you feel it would be dangerous to have another American in the area?" OH MY GOSH! I about freaked! So then I thought, ah man....I blew my chance to have an American companion because I have 2 random crazy women attacking me in public! COME ON! So....anyway...Fast Forward to transfer day again. We are sitting and waiting for the announcement and my heart was pounding like crazy...it's so silly because I have learned whatever the transfers are, they are the will of the Lord and His will is ALWAYS better than ours...but I was still nervous. ah! So right before Elder Potter brings up the slide of our zone he gets a phone call...ah! you're killing me!! So then he puts up the slide and BOOM BABY!!! Sister Stadler and Sister Ball are officially companions for at least the next 6 weeks in Victorias 2nd ward! AHHH!!!!! We were freaking out...silently..and gave a large high five...which then Elder Potter cautioned us to behave...as he was laughing at our reaction! HOLY ANSWERS TO PRAYER! I would never wanted anyone else to be my first junior and I am already head over heels in love with this girl! We have the most spiritual experiences while having a total blast. The language is really our one huge barrier, but we are being forced to use it like we've never had to use it before! It has been wonderful for us. Keep praying like crazy for us and for the language. I have already witnessed beautiful blessings though on how the Lord will prepare people who are ready and excited to hear the gospel. We had a hilarious experience a few nights ago where we went out to get some load down the street for our cell phone. If you don't have "load" here then you can't text or call and sisters are suppose to have load at all times...Well...the other sister went to bed WAY early because they were sick and the new sister was just exhausted...she's from Wyoming by the way. So we now went from a 1:3 ratio to a 3:1 ratio American:Filipina. My goodness! So sister ball and I went out to get some load real fast and the door has a lock on the bottom that you can only lock in the inside. WELL....FUNNY STORY.....so we'd been companions for like 5 hours and then.. the door locked on us!!!!!! So we didn't get load because the little store was closed early and then we got locked out of our house! So then...we're like trying to break the door down, and throwing rocks at the window yelling the sister's names...it's still like 10. OH my goodness...but It was pouring rain and when it's raining in the house you can't hear a single thing because of the metal roof...and we have 2 stories in this home..its a mansion. SO....Sister Ball decides she can go through the window..which has iron bars and a screen with a little 8x11 sized hole to fit through..YEAH!....But I am her companion and so I supported her in her decision..So then she got stuck in the window with her head and shoulder there. Oh my goodness I was laughing SOOOO hard standing there holding the umbrella over her as it's pouring and she's stuck in the window in our front yard in the Philippines and I almost peed my pants! So THEN...I really had to go...and you all know that I am squatting challenged. Sister Ball gave me a pep talk on how to squat properly...so then I did so for the first time successfully in our back yard! And she did too!!! It was hilarious!!!! The greatest part is that our neighbors were watching us try to get into our home for like 45 minutes! Filipino people are the nosiest people in the world...and they can stare for FOREVER!!!!! They were so concerned for us. But we weren't in any danger cause we still have a huge gate that was locked and our house is incredibly safe. They were concerned because it was raining ad we didn't have blankets or anything. So we decided we needed to fake them out that we got into the house so they wouldn't be watching us sleep outside all night. So...Sister Ball slammed the screen door and I started pretending like I was speaking in Ilonggo to our roommates and the neighbors then asked, "Ari na sila??" "Are they there???" So...I said "Oo Sister! Salamat! Ari na Sila" (while pointing to their room ...so I wasn't technically lying!) hahahaha! So then we hid for like 10 minutes silently and IT TOTALLY WORKED!!!!! They went to bed and shut their light off. So...we have this broken trik in our front yard and it has a little cushioned seat that we used as a pillow and I had luckily just done all of my laundry...so it was all dry hanging up and I laid out my clean laundry on the concrete next to the front door and then we used other laundry to cover us. We had our umbrellas too so we opened them up and set them in front of us so no one could see that people were there if they walked by. It was ridiculous! I kept thinking..man...Elder Potter would kill me if he knew we were out here! haha! So we didn't sleep all night because the mosquitoes were ridiculous..hence the picture of my legs. hahaha! Here is the best part, the new sister totally heard us screaming their names, but it was her first night and she thought it as some crazy ward missionaries that just liked to throw rocks at the missionaries windows! HAHA! oh my goodness. So WHAT ARE THE CHANCES...the next morning Elder Potter calls us right when we get inside and the sisters heard us at 5:30 throwing rocks again....and he's like, "Sister Stadler, when will you two be going out today because we're dropping off new mattresses?" my response.."WELL...funny story..." him: "oh no...what happened?" And then I proceeded to tell him and he was laughing WAY too hard about it. hahahahaha! It really is one of those stories that needs to be told but REALLY????? That would happen to us! So..we are fine now. No worries and we had a lot of companion bonding time and a new appreciation for our super mattresses and wooden beds. :)
Now for updates of the family with the 4 people getting baptized. No, the father hasn't gone to church yet, but we are working on him. also, we will start teaching Emalyn's boyfriend on Wednesday. AH! Life is SOOOOOOO good! Rocky's baptism is this Saturday and I just remembered telling you all that in the last 8 months they had 1 baptism....and now I am witnessing how people are prepared and you just have to have faith and work with the Lord. Pray for Annalyn. She wants to be baptized so bad, and her boyfriend just talked to her and said IF she does get baptized that he will not be a part of her or her child's life anymore. She was sobbing telling me about it and I was too. Sister Ball was praying like crazy that I would be able to understand what all she as saying because the language is so difficult for us. And I did understand about 85% of what she said, which was a miracle! then Sister Ball told me later, "I was praying..Please! Heavenly Father, give my companion the words to comfort her, because I know I don't have the words." And the prayer worked. I don't even remember all that I said, but I did say, "Annalyn, I know without a doubt that when Heavenly Father gives us a commandment, he gives us a way to obey it and we will gain greater happiness than in any other way. We MUST be obedient Annalyn, but the decision is yours. Even if everyone you knew told you not to get baptized and that they would desert you, it is still a commandment from God. A God, who loves you, and knows you and wants your happiness! So when you feel upset or angry or discouraged, pray. Pray like you've never prayed before and we will pray for you too. Pray about being baptized again and give us your answer this next week." SO....she said to me, "Okay I will again. But I know the church is true Sister Stadler. I know I need to be baptized, but this is hard." AH!!!!! She is soooo strong! I love her! Our investigators are progressing and our Bishop adores us and is so patient and helpful! I love you all! The church is true! Live it! Live it like you're dying tomorrow! Share it with everyone!! You're all in my prayers! Until next week, God Speed!
All my heart,
Sister Stadler
P.S. I forgot the best part of our transfer story! So Elder Potter was talking to me about an investigator's baptismal record after announcements and he says to us, "Sisters! Do you know how long this transfer has been in the makings? It was killing me when you requested to be together because President has this planned for the last 2 transfers!!!!!" To which we said something like this.." WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???? That's amazing!" Then he said something that President said after they made the transfer decision about us that I will NEVER forget...: "The Lord answers the prayers of righteous mothers, and of FUTURE righteous mothers." Oh my goodness..my heart melted! I love President Tobias! He is amazing! That is all, we need to go buy fish and send off a couple letters and some cool looking red spiky fruit that I can't remember what it's called..and then we're gonna go study Ilonggo like it's going out of style!!!!!!!!
To all my lovely friends who I adore and have been quite good at writing so far....the letters are pretty much at a stand still.BECAUSE!!!! I am leaving all things behind and focusing on my studies like crazy. So, I still love you and I pray for you every night, and I will write each of you at least once before I come home. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No really. Alright, well, we're gonna take off. love you all tons! Don't do stupid things...ha.
~Sister Stadler

2010-06-27T10:15:00.003-06:00

Alright family, This week has been absolutely beautiful. Since we now have our district/zone meetings on Monday, p-day, I have the transfer announcement! :) This was the BIG announcement when the mission will officially be split and as I had thought I am staying on NEGROS!!! WOO HOOOOOO! I am so happy about that. President has told me in every interview "Sister Stadler, prepare yourself, because I'm going to need you in the mission." So I felt I would definitely be staying on Negros. woohoo! I'm also officially the senior companion, but thank heavens I am not training yet. But I am 90% positive I will be next transfer. I'm so excited that I am staying in Victorias 2nd ward for at least one more transfer too! Yesterday was one of those teaching days on the mission where you get home and want to collapse and you just fall to your knees and say, "Father, I get it now! This is why I'm here!" We were blessed to have 5 investigators who were at church, 2 new investigators, 9 lessons, we spoke in church, I had the play the piano AND sign every meeting to our deaf investigator. We then were able to invite 4 people to commit to be baptized and THEY ALL COMMITTED THEMSELVES!!! We taught one of the greatest law of chastity lessons to Analyn that I have ever taught. It was the most in depth L of C lesson I have ever taught and we were a little wary going into it. The 4 people with baptismal dates now are Rocky, DenDen, Annalyn, and Emalyn (The family I told you about that their dad wasn't happy about them listening to the lessons). Well we are having FHE with them tonight AND...their father said he wanted to go to church yesterday, but he had work...so hopefully this next week we'll be able to teach him for the first time.) The gospel is so true! I love all of them, but I have a special connection with Sister Annalyn. She is 20 years old, has a daughter who is 15 months, isn't married. Her boyfriend works in another area of the Philippines and won't be able to come visit until December. So we knew going into the lesson that she would either have to get married to him first, OR she would have to decide to get baptized now and when he returns, have no sexual relations with him at all. WHICH...is a huge temptation. So..we started teaching. My companion led the lesson and explained about sexual relationships and then I was suppose to teach about homosexual relationships and continue on from there. I felt like I needed to go back and take the sexual relationships topic into deeper detail. So I opened my scriptures to Alma where he's teaching his son about how serious the transgression is before the Lord and before God. I can honestly say that this week I have been led more by the spirit than at any other point in my mission. I honestly don't remember how or what I said, but I do remember sitting there and watching the weight of her sins hit her. She started crying and I started crying as I testified of our Savior's Atonement and of what she would need to do to become clean again. As we all sat there crying, pouring over the word of God I felt unbelievable love for her. I cannot express how much I wanted to just take her in my arms and rejoice because the Atonement is real! Christ lives! As we continued with the lesson she had many other issues that needed to be dealt with. She had a 3rd piercing, and she took it out on the spot and said, "What else?" The experience was remarkable, someday I'll share it with you in detail if you want. Her baptismal date is July 24th. I'm so excited for them all. I started teaching piano lessons on Saturdays and the girl is ridiculously fast! She didn't even know what a note was and by the end of the lesson she was playing the right hand to "Come Follow Me"....it's insane! Bishop said he would like to take lessons too! haha! That should be a blast. Um...what else....Oh, the whey powder mom was in the zip bag. Tell her not to send nuts....because the nuts didn't make it. there had all these bugs in them. Yeah..I don't know what happened. Knowing the Philippines my box was probably left in the rice field somewhere for 3 days because it got to me. hahaha! Um....OH! Had a gang of drunk and smoking children come and other us while walking home one night. That was cool. I thought my comp was going to be burned by the had girl's cigarette...I have never thought I would have to hit a child in my life..but I thought I was gonna have to take on a group of children...luckily..the Lord took care of it AND....while we were leaving I taught a mini word of wisdom lesson! haha! Then we move on to the woman we affectionately refer to as BUANG..meaning..Crazy in Ilonggo. She is literally insane. I do not know why she isn't in a mental hospital. She is homeless and lives about a 5 minute walk away from our home in a makeshift tent thingy she made. She has been seen eating cats....yep..just sinking her teeth into a cat. Anyway....she never gave us trouble in the past. Well..this week we apparently developed a strong hate for Americans. She ran up to us one morning and stood 5 inches from my face screaming that she was going to kill me and that she would have her husband kill me because I was an American and all Americans are evil. I don't know why she didn't touch me...probably because an angel was standing in between us. I thought nothing of it, told her "Take care sister, God bless you." and we kept walking. Well later that night as we returned she was nowhere in sight. Then the next thing I know I see her crouched down by a building and she gets this devil possessed look on her face and grabs a huge rock and starts running towards us. So my comp starts to freak! HAHAHAHAHAHA! She's running and screaming and the ward missionary is running and screaming for me to run and fast ....now all of you that know me know I'm not one who remains calm, and yet at that moment I could not have been more calm. I had the thought, "stay where you are, do not run." and so I did...I stayed right where I was, faced her and waited. She stopped and chucked the rock right at me...impeccable aim I tell you...that HUGE rock came right at my head and ..if I had been running and not paying attention to where she was and the rock was...it would have most likely pelted my head causing..a bit of damage. Instead, I stepped to the side about a foot watched the rock fly over my shoulder and just stared at the woman. She turned around and went into her tent screaming, and didn't bother us. My comp was freaking out and asking why I didn't run. I don't know why, but I'm glad I listened the the prompting and stayed. Why was she not afraid to keep running towards me at that moment when I stood and faced her? I HAVE NO IDEA! Maybe there were unseen forces around me that I was unaware of, but she was frightened and retreated. She was outside of the church today too. She hates me and I have no idea why. BUT...it's ok! We've started varying our path. AND...I do have permission that if I need to..I can punch the woman and beat the tar out of her for self defense. haha! I think I'm just gonna see if I can get some pepper spray. haha! Anyway..I'm not afraid. Life is awesome! I have never been this happy in my entire life! My body is getting thinner, but I've got some nasty tan lines, tons of scars and bud bits, scrapes, scabs, little or no hair left, there are permanent dark circles that form from and dark areas on my knees from kneeling so much that WILL not come off no matter how I scrub and use the pumice stone...and yet I am in a state of blissful peace and calm. Christ lives! He loves us! He knows us and HE IS COMING AGAIN! That day is near, and how excited I am to be a part of this latter-day work and watch the beauty of His Atoning sacrifice play out before my eyes. I love you all. I pray for you and I see the effects of your prayers for me daily. Keep writing me...mail is golden. Teach the gospel, love the gospel, live it! Life here is so short! Let us all dedicate ourselves to the Lord and press forward. I love you all! Until next week, with my new companion, GOD SPEED!
All my love, kisses, hugs and happiness,
Sister Stadler
P.S. HUGE congrats to Katie on the engagement! and to Jefferson! As for the choir, it went really well, and our duet went pretty well too. We have plans to sing together in the future again...he's staying in Negros too. I think that was all the questions...oh! ALSO....I almost forgot....
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope your root beer float was a blast! I'll have to make you a strawberry rhubarb pie or something when I get home! Love you tons and I pray for you and think of you often! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

2010-06-20T08:49:00.003-06:00

Family! ok, well the email was having a hard time here yesterday, we lost all connection, so we decided to just come today instead and email. this week has been full of all types of surprises and happiness and wonderful experiences. First of all, Amanda and Aunt Vikki, I got your packages on Tuesday of last week! Hence the super happy picture of me! best mail day ever, two huge packages and two letters! haha! Amanda, you should have seen the elder's faces when I pulled out the beef jerky. Genius for you to send little packages...I only pulled out one at the district meeting...they all got the deer in the headlight looks... and just stared at it..so of course I shared. haha. Aunt Vikki! Thanks so much for everything you sent! There were no probiotics in the box, and you told me to let you know if there weren't any. The power bars you sent were to die for and the wheyprotien is perfect for me in the morning. I'm not a breakfast person, but I've noticed a difference when I drink it in the morning. So thanks a ton! Ok, moving on, (mom, a batchmate is a person who you came into the mission field at the same time with. Is that proper English? I just read that 3 times...whatever..I'm moving on. they call them batchmates here in the Philippines for some reason.) The Cebu temple dedication was beautiful. President Monson was on his game. haha! He was so funny during the sealing of the corner stone. He was cracking jokes and then he walked past the piano right before they went back inside and turned back around, walked to the piano and asked if he could play a little something. then...I'm expecting a little hymn or something and he says, "I don't usually perform. but this is a special occasion." then he started to play a little ragtime piece! hahahaha! I was laughing so hard! So was Elder Oaks in the background and sweet little Elder Eyring was just grinning like he always does from ear to ear. It was hilarious. During the prayer he mentioned two phrases that made an impression on me. He said we must continue to move forward, continual progression. Then he said, "I pray that we may have the spirituality we need to accomplish our Father's purposes here on the earth." It was beautiful. President Oaks spoke about how the Philippines couldn't qualify for another temple in the past because there weren't enough members paying their tithing, and if you're not paying your tithing, you can't have a recommend and the Lord doesn't allow temples to be build so stand empty. He was so excited to be there and to see the progression of the saints. He said that 6 years ago when they were over the area there were 960 missionaries from the Philippines that were currently serving full time missions, but now there were over 1650! That's huge!!! In 6 years! That's a huge increase! He said it's just a measure of the growth of the saints in their dedication to the gospel. The dedication was amazing. It was silent in the room. The spirit was so strong. Just as strong as if I was in the temple, and it was a true answer to prayer.
So tomorrow we have our Zone Conference. It's special because instead of just our Zone and another zone meeting we are having all the zones on Negros Occidental area meet in one chapel since its our last Zone Conference before the mission splits. President loves music and loves good choirs, so he asked if Elder Potter would arrange for a choir to sing. Well, Elder Potter asked me to conduct the choir or play the piano, I could choose. I love playing the piano..but man I jumped at the chance to lead a choir. President said 16 missionaries at the least in the choir. We have about 45 missionaries that are singing and I was nervous. Usually when we try to sing a piece it's ok...but it's like when you sing with the youth in church... it's good, but they just don't have the power as..well...motab! haha...or...a BYU choir...or just a solid and talented ward choir! We only had 3 practices too and they only last 1 hour each. We don't have any arrangements here, its all just the hymnbook..but I wanted something special. Elder Potter wanted us to sing "If You could high to Kolob". Which...at first I wasn't wild about because if you can't sing harmony...it just is kinda bland..and the harmony isn't easy. BUT MY GOODNESS!!!! The blessings of the Lord are remarkable. Yesterday was our last practice and at the beginning of the practice, it was still just words they were singing, there was no feeling, so I did some exercises with them, and I'm sure they all think I'm insane now as I pulled out the rag doll and the hula hoop and the egg in the mouth and the "hold in the orange at your navel" analogies...but it worked. It was up to the last time we were going to run through it, it was getting late..people were getting restless and we still had to travel to our areas, and I thought, they can do this, I immediately remembered the stake conference where Patti Raines had us fast and pray that the angels would sing with us in the choir, that is an experience I will never forget. So I said a little silent prayer in my heart and said, "Alright, lets do this one more time. Remember what the words are saying. This is Kolob we're singing about." I expounded more about it and bore a little testimony and then we started to sing it. We have an all elders octet that sings the first first..it's beautiful..then the choir comes in on the 2nd verse and 3rd verse it's all unity just strong and powerful. Well they started singing, and by the 3rd verse I had chills and I could feel their testimonies through their words, I started to tear up. At the end of the song everyone was absolutely silent, the spirit was strong, I thanked them and we ended the practice. People just lingered there for awhile talking. Usually everyone takes off quickly. Then Elder Potter brought in another music piece, "This is the Christ" and he wanted him and I to sing it as a duet, so we practiced it. He has a beautiful voice and our voices blend perfectly. So people were just sitting and listening to us practice. After I had quite a few missionaries come and ask me if I felt something during the last time we sang it. Then they said, "the spirit was so strong. I almost cried." AH! I love music! I just hope and pray we can have that same power tomorrow as we sing it for conference. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Directing the choir is like pure joy to me!!!!!! Good grief it's a blast!
Ok, as for other news, pray for Analyn, Emilyn, Rocky, and Dindin because their father doesn't want them to continue in the lessons. They all want to be baptized though. They are all adults, but they of course want the approval of their parents. They said, "sisters, its been really hard. he argues every time you leave, but we know its true. and we want to continue." So just keep them in your prayers.
Oh...Flores and I were reunited for a 24 hour companion exchange so she could teach me the discussions in sign language. Good grief..I was exhausted by the end of the day. Rowena wants the come to church though. She is way excited! I'm excited to see how that goes. She is so sweet and I love signing to her!
As for transfers, I'm not sure. President said "Sister Stadler, you'll be a senior this transfer" and I said, "senior only?" And he said, "Well, it would be really fast if we had you train." So I was relieved! THEN....the Zone leaders keep saying that Elder Potter keeps asking them if they think I'm ready to train and he's asked him about 5 times. So...haha...time will tell. We find out next Monday. We now have our district meeting on Pday which everyone is moaning about..but I think its a good idea. We waste a lot of time if its on other days. Ok, well, I love you all to death. This is eternally long and I need to take off. You're on my mind constantly. you're wonderful, the gospel is so true! just live it! Live it the best you can and you WILL BE HAPPY! It's a miracle...when we follow the principles we are happier than ever...even if we have a plethora of trials! (yes..I had to spell check plethora..hahaha). Stay strong, do what you know is right. Don't make excuses for yourself. I love you all, until next week, God Speed!!!

All my Love,
Sister Stadler

2010-06-13T09:34:00.004-06:00

Dear family, thank you to Amanda and Mom for always emailing me so I always have something in my inbox. Many missionaries don't have people write each week. Talk about sad! Thank you to all of you who have been writing me letters too! Robyn, I got the pictures, they were so fun to see! Brittany, I got your letter too! As for questions about the mission split, we won't know until the day of transfer announcements which is on the 23rd, I think. I don't have my calender with me, but its the Tuesday before the 25th. SO...that should be right, the 23rd. I am 99% positive that I'll be staying here in Negros. My companion has been here for 3 transfers now, which they don't usually leave someone for more than 3 transfers in an area here. So I'm pretty sure I'll be staying in Victorias, becoming senior and maybe even training. President told me he wanted me to train last interview, then Elder Potter (one of the AP's) told me the same thing and said I needed to prepare, then he joked about it later in front of my batch mates the next week. Then my zone leaders all said the same thing. SO....not sure. We have interviews with President tomorrow, so we'll see what he says in the interview. haha. I was terrified to at the thought of becoming senior, Mom can vouch for that because of my phone call. haha. But now, I'm ready for it. Wherever the Lord wants me to serve, I know I can accomplish His work. I definitely still have a long way to go in Ilonggo, but the language is getting better and better every day. I have really been focusing on following the spirit and not going off of my own knowledge alone. This week I have experienced quite a few small tender mercies entwined with miracles when it comes to teaching in Ilonggo. I know without doubt that our Father in Heaven is ever mindful of our righteous desires and is more than willing to grant them IF we just believe in Him and press forward. So...Yeah..I'm thinking I'll stay on Negros, it's just logical. Plus President said he needs to keep the Filippinos and the Americans balanced in the two islands, and if I moved, well, there would be no American sisters here, ..haha..except Sister Ball. haha! It would defy logic for me to transfer. BUT....president is full of all kinds of surprises, and sometimes the Lord doesn't work through logic, so really.... I have no idea. haha! As for the girl I talked about int he last email that wanted to hear the gospel, (mom you asked about her). Her name is Analyn.(cute no?) and her sister in law is Emilyn (yes...I know...way cute too...Amanda and Paul and Holly...don't steal those names...take NoyNoy or Ryza first ok. thanks) She didn't come to church because she had a funeral of her neighbor, but she did send a text explaining why they wouldn't be at church, and that they will come next week. Which...they won't because we don't have church next week because of the temple dedication. ANYWAY....she's progressing which is great. She writes down questions she has, or words she doesn't understand. She's way good, problem is, she has a family and she's not married, same with Emilyn. Their boyfriends, which they call their husbands, are working far away too. But, we'll conquer that hurdle when it comes. They are both solid though. We have some way good investigators right now. Speaking of which, good grief...you never know what Heavenly Father has in store for you. So...we went to teach an elderly woman that we OYM'd once, Mila. We have never taught her before, but her husband just recently passed away and we're like..boom...plan of salvation...excited to teach and as my companion is asking her if we could teach a 10 minutes lesson I see out of the corner of my eye someone moving their arms like crazy. haha. So I turn and think to myself, I think she was just signing! So I signed to her, "do you know sign language?" And she started signing back! She's deaf! What are the chances! She's the granddaughter of Mila and so she got excited and came and sat in on the lesson. I translated all I could into sign language and then continued to teach in Ilonggo. She was WAY WAY WAY good at reading lips..in Ilonggo! I'm just in awe...her family forces her to use Ilonggo, which she is pretty good at, but she prefers to sign. Her son is deaf too. They are both incredibly shy though, and especially of me.. because..wait for it.. I HAVE WHITE SKIN! AH!!!! Curses! So we went back yesterday and Mila was super busy and leaving so I asked where Sister Rowena was and I saw she was hiding across the street, so I went over and started telling her we were gong to come back on Wednesday if that was ok. She said she was shy of me and I asked why and she said, "you're beautiful and I'm ugly." oh my heck! I wanted to grab the girl and shake her! She's a beautiful woman. I'm not just saying that because she's a child of God....she's really is beautiful! Anyway...so I said she was beautiful and we would be back on Wednesday, after which she invited us to her birthday party on Tuesday night. SO...if we have time we'll say hi, teach a short lesson hopefully and get a return appointment. WHO KNEW I would be signing to a woman in Victorias! I am so glad I took 1 semester in signing at BYU before I came out here and I fully intend on continuing to study it once I get back. Anyway...tender mercy. I'm meeting up with Sister Flores today to have my practice teaching the first lesson to her and part of the 2nd lesson too hopefully in sign language. I'm excited. Real quick..one cool experience from following the spirit. So we were teaching Renell and his brother Jezrel and their friend Lyka, who are all solid investigators. They have been praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true and if Joseph Smith is a true prophet. They say they feel good about it, but they just can't say they feel it's a true answer from God yet. So we've been trying to resolve that concern. We talked about sincere prayer and how to pray and to be alone and wait after prayer... everything, they prayed again, same thing. I love my sweet companion, but she seems to be stuck in her set way of wrapping up lessons. She doesn't personalize it and when an investigator expresses a concern she listens and then says something like, "uh huh....well we know all the things we have taught are true. So will you pray about it? Okay...who wants to pray?" AH! I'm like.. WHAT?!?!?!? They are reaching out for help here! So I had been looking, while she was teaching, for a scripture to share...and the normal scriptures about prayer just didn't seem to feel right. Then I remembered, Ashley...stop preparing! Pray for your companion and for your investigators to feel the spirit and trust that the Lord will lead you through the spirit and give you what you need to say! So I closed my Book of Mormon and did just that. She finished and turned to me to ask if I had anything to add, and it came to me...at that very moment. So I gave an example to them about how the Spirit has its own language. If we're not in tune with his language, then even if he is trying to communicate to us, we won't understand what he's trying to say. I then had the thought to just start speaking in English to them about something completely unrelated so make a point. So I started to speak about the speed I would if I were at a slumber part with Brittany and Ariel and just started going off about shopping and how I needed to do laundry and how I really needed a new black skirt....just random stuff and they all just stared at me with these blank stares, including my companion. hahaha! So I stopped mid sentance and said, "Did you understand that?" And Jezrel, the 22 year old just started laughing and said, "Sis, please speak in Ilonggo again." Then everyone started laughing, it lightened the mood, but it clicked for them! I shared a scripture in Helaman about how the spirit has a still, small way of communicating. Not a way of thunder and lightning, but in whispers. Then I had the thought, ask them how long their prayers are. So I said, now here's another question, how long are our prayers? If I were to walk up to Sister Cortes because I had a question for her, then I asked my question, but I took off before I allowed her to give an answer, would that be effective? They smiled again..knowing exactly where I was going with it. Of course it's not effective! You have to give time for an answer...wait for an answer. A 10 second prayer isn't going to get you very far. It was just beautiful the way it played out. AND...brother Renell came to church on Sunday for the first time and asked if he was allowed to join us for the cultural broascast celebrating the dedication of the temple, the night before the temple dedication! YES!!!!! I'm just excited. The Lord truly does fill our mouths with His words in a way we wouldn't think of ourselves. Heavenly Father loves His children so much, and knows us each as individuals. I love you all! The gospel is true! Don't give up, don't slow up, don't let down....Press Forward always! You're in my prayers! Be good, share the gospel, and until next time, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-05-30T09:32:00.004-06:00

This week was one of those beautiful weeks when something little happens and you think to yourself..."Is that totally weird that I find that completely acceptable? Where am I? OH!!! I'm serving in the Philippines!?" haha! That happened a couple times for me this week. Like when I found myself walking across a bride suspended in the air with a little Filipina following right behind me. Beautiful! I love this work and I grow to love it more with each day. My companion and I have passed the awkward adjustment zone with incredible speed and continue to grow to love each other! Not speaking English has been the hugest blessing to me and the teachings are going well. We are continuing to find new people each day through OYMs. Mom, OYM means Open Your Mouth or Offer Your Message. Basically an OYM is when you approach a person on the street and just start talking with them about the gospel and invite them to church and to listen to your message. It's street contacting. :) Sorry...I keep meaning to define it. My sweet companion is starting to catch the vision and I'm excited where it can go. I'm really trying to just exercise my faith and believe and press forward. we have some solid investigators right now. One man, Mark, read his reading assignment, then on his own started from the title page and is now past 1Nephi 16. I wanted to jump up and down and hug him. Here's the greatest part...the Ilonggo version is very deep and is hard for most people here to understand, but Mark just started going off explaining about what he had read and all about Lehi and his family. I'm excited to see where that goes. right now he has work on Sundays, but this last Sunday was his last day he said he was going to work on Sundays so he's excited to go to church. He has 2 little babies and a beautiful wife. Not sure where the wife stands, but she is very kind. hopefully his influence will help. As for the ward, there are tons of in actives and this Sunday was one where I just craved to be home for a solid Sunday with the spirit strong. We witnessed on Saturday and baptism of a girl in the ward, not a convert, but get this....we get to the baptism and bishop goes to start and i realize there are only 2 priesthood in the room. So I asked him if there was another witness and the 1st counselor, Brother Wycoco (who's daughter was being baptized) said "We don't have any other priesthood so I'll just witness and baptize." No one around me said anything and thought it was perfectly fine..including the other 3 sisters. haha!!! AH! So I quietly said, "Bishop, we need another witness." Bishop looked a little embarrassed and then remembered there was a man outside, the gardener, who was active and worthy but in the other ward. So he ran outside to get him. Meanwhile Brother Wycoco started to get a little heated and say the man was wearing shorts. "Sister Stadler, here in the Victorias ward we are requires to wear pants to a baptism, shorts are not allowed. So if he's wearing shorts, he can't come in and witness. This is just the way we do things here." I am definitely learning patience on my mission! ha! I took a deep breath, walked over to the organ (which by the way..organ here means cruddy little keyboard...yeah...so much for that) and started playing prelude. Then said to Brother Wycoco, "Brother, it is more important that he holds the priesthood and that he witnesses than the fact that we is wearing shorts instead of pants. It would be better if he were in pants, yes, but it is more important that we have a witness." To which he said, jokeingly.."He's a teacher (pointing to a boy in the back of the room) so he can witness, and my son is here too! (who is 5 years old)" Yeah.....REALLY????? So I said, quietly, "Brother, these are not my rules, these aren't the mission rules, these are the Lord's rules." He shut up after that and the man came in with....wait for it....baptismal pants on! WHAT? haha! At least we had a witness! ah...the Philippines! I wanted to say.."Your woman aren't even in skirts and you men are all in jeans!!! What kind of respect is that showing this sacred ordinance????? But instead, I kept myself level headed and testified of truth. Always more affective. Well, I love you all, life is good. sorry! my next email will be in greater detail. You're great! All my love and prayers are will you!
God speed!
Sister Stadler

2010-05-23T08:37:00.003-06:00

Well, it happened! I've been transferred officially, the good news is, I'm not a senior yet! HOORAY! I am officially a junior now and I'm excited to see where this transfer goes. I am currently in Victorias City, still on Negros Occidental and I am in the 2nd ward. The population of Victorias is roughly 85,000 with only 15,000 households! That's averaging around 5.5 people per household. Holy cow no??? It's beautiful here, still a city for sure, but there is 85% of the land here used for agriculture. My new companion is Sister Cortes. She is a Filipina and she doesn't speak much English. WHICH...has been wonderful for me and hard at the same time! We only speak Ilonggo to each other because that's the only medium for us to communicate. Keep praying! Hahaha! I've realized though that I knew way more than I thought I did, now that I'm being forced to use it. I didn't think leaving Bago would be a huge deal to me, I had been there for so long, but I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest. I wonder about our investigators there and our recent converts all the time! I guess our righteous warriors and the ward members there all grabbed Sister Flores on Sunday and said, "Where is Sister Stadler????? I miss her so much!" Made me feel good...and made me want to cry at the same time. I finally realized last night while praying that the possibility of me ever coming back here is very small. It is so incredibly expensive, I lost it. haha! I adore these people! I'm talking, I'm head over heals in love with the people of the Philippines. In Bago the people are a lot more laid back than they are here in Victorias. Our ward is so small here! Both of our wards in Bago averaged 100-115 reach week for attendance, while our ward here, on a good week, has 50. PLUS...I counted yesterday and of those 50 there, we only had 23 adults/teens. The rest were children. I am officially the ward pianist there and I guess they have....get ready for this....an organ locked up somewhere!!!!!!! WHAT??????? I couldn't believe it! So on Tuesday I'm gonna check it out and see where my skills are. Who would have thought,I when was learning how to play the organ at 12 years old, that one day I would be playing a RANDOM organ in the middle of the Philippines!? It's crazy! Our ward is small, but I adore them already. Bishop Villegas is so solid! I'm excited to continue to work with him. Our relief society had a giant attendance of 5. Yeah...we're pretty much huge. From October 2009-May2010 there has been one baptism in the ward. While I was sitting on the stand on Sunday looking over the ward I had this huge feeling of love overwhelm me. I had the thought that I may be here for quite awhile. I know we can accomplish a lot here! I think missionaries get set in this rote way of teaching and finding, and I'm breaking us out of the box. I'm letting the spirit guide and giving it my all. In the last 3 days we have done more work than they did in the full last week with the last companions. We cover the outskirts of the city, so it takes about 30 minutes to walk to our next appointment, sometimes longer. Our investigators are in the middle of nowhere and we have to return to the apartment by 6:30 at the latest usually because our areas are not very safe at night. The other ward (we have 4 sisters in our apartment) covers the city area and their ward is huge! Our ward is made up of a lot more wealthy people. GET THIS....one of the highest paying careers here is....drum roll please.... A TEACHER!!!!! WHAT? I'm talking...Medical and education are almost even. Isn't that insanity!? Anyway...found that interesting. I love this gospel and I can't wait to see what this city has to hold. I'll tell you what though, there is a huge advantage to being an American here. You get so much attention! It's beautiful for OYMing. My companion keeps referring to me as her advantage now. haha! I'm her first American companion. She is incredibly sweet and oh so patient with me! I love her already! My health is great, life is good, I love this gospel! How is everyone's missionary work going? Well, gotta take off. Being strictly obedient. I pray for you often and I consistently feel great peace when I pray for each of you. I Love you all so much. Keep pressing forward, stay strong in the faith and share the gospel! Till next week, God speed! Halong kamo ah?
All my love,
Sister Stadler
P.S. Britt, I got your phatty letter!!! DANG...I was so excited! thanks! Thanks to Ian and Ariel and Tara for emails permy too! : )

2010-05-16T00:09:00.000-06:00

Good grief...time is flying. I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's day! This is going to be super short today. Life is good. The work was really hard this week, tends to be a pattern now in the mission, but that's okay. Our baptism canceled on us 10 minutes because it was scheduled to take place. It's okay though. He's 9, his mom just decided she wanted to wait for her husband to get home to baptize him. here's the hitch, they don't know when they will be able to afford to have him return home. We're praying it is next week. Transfer announcements are tomorrow. I'm freaking out. Rumor has it I'm going senior. I hear I may be going to an area called Victoria's. It's still on Negros. I'm pretty much positive that I'll be staying on this island when they split the mission. Time will tell! Next transfer will be the final blow. Pray for me..I don't feel ready in the least to go senior, especially since I'll be jumping from follow up trainee to senior. But...I'll go where HE wants me to go, no? We started teaching the Yusala family. The dad is a member, less active and they have a huge amount of children. They didn't follow through with their commitment to go to church, but I feel they will. The mother just eats up the lessons and the children are all super well behaved and sing their songs about Jesus Christ that they learned in their other church's Sunday school. We one upped them with a good old rendition of "The Wise Man Built his House Upon the Rock"...with actions. booya! haha! They liked it. I'm feeling popcorn popping next time followed with I am a Child of God. haha. I can't believe this is my last week in this area. It's 6 months now that I have been in Bago, a super super super long time. I'm definitely ready to move on, a little scared though. I think I already started putting roots down here. Ayos lang! Sister Flores keeps saying that I need to stretch and grow, and president seems to have big plans for me too. Keep praying for my language skills. ah! Every time I feel like I'm doing pretty good I'm immediately humbled. :) It's great. I love this work. I have great hopes for the future. I've been impressed with my study of faith lately. I was telling mom about this, the Savior mentions over and over again that we need to Ask and we will receive, but we must ask in faith. SO...I'm asking...and I'm working and we'll see what the next few days hold. I love you all and you're all in my prayers. Stay strong, do what you know is right and share the gospel! Until next week, GOD SPEED!!!!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-05-05T20:16:00.003-06:00

oh yeah...this was an intense week! Happy 23rd birthday to me! First of all, mom, your package got here the day before my birthday!!! PERFECT! :) Thank you so much! I am addicted to twizzler strawberry licorice...not sure why. I hated it before my mission and now I crave it! And I love the peanuts, which I hated before the mission too....but I crave things like that now. So thank you! The cards were awesome and of course I have looked at the pictures a thousand times by now! Sister Flores thoroughly enjoyed the photos of when I was young. She was dying and then said..."You look just like Kaitlin!" yeah....good times. Secondly, Sean, I totally thought about you like crazy this last week. The elders were going off about how they were all protective of their little sisters and told stories and I was dying laughing and then crying. I can't remember if I already emailed that. BUT...anyway. I have been thinking about you a lot lately! How are things? You better be at mom's house when I call.
As for my subject for this email, let me explain. This week was INSANE!!! BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!!!!! We were busy and we reached all of our goals, and we're seeing the work pick up again since we've been working hard with OYMs. We could be working harder though and definitely exercising our faith more. Funny that a few of you wrote about that and (mom...your articles you sent were amazing!!!! You're always so in tune!) I have been focusing my study lately on Faith and working to build my faith. I just finished the Book of Mormon again and I'm addicted to that beautiful book. Anyway, we both felt we needed to OYM a new area and Boom...here we have new investigators tucked into this little cranny that we didn't even know existed! It's beautiful really. So we were in an appointment and I hear what sounds like thunder, but I look up and the sky is blue...so I think..I must be hearing things. So...about 2 minutes later I hear it again and Dayleen says, "We need to get inside." and so she runs for the house and I'm thinking...why are you running??? Then...30 seconds later it's like a wall of water is just falling from the sky! It was the best storm ever! So we're walking to another appointment in the rain, and we get to a place where it's pretty slippery from the mud and I turn to Sister Flores and say, "Watch out, it's slippery here...AH!!!!!" And the next thing I know I'm on the ground, with mud all over me. Yeah...it was pretty funny. AND...we still went and taught the next appointment. :) I washed up at their spicket outside of their house. Then...walking home Sister Flores and I saw 4 random fireworks and she made me her Chicken Adobo...holy...it was a beautiful birthday!
Oh, we also had an earthquake here that we felt. It was pretty funny. Sister Flores thought I was just shaking her bed to freak her out. haha! It was just 2 big tremors...but it was really cool! That's about it for this week. I love you tons and I hope to hear from you all soon again! I love getting your emails and letters. I live for it. The church is true my lovely family! It is remarkable! Don't given into to Satan and his ridiculous temptations! Life is too fragile to give into him. We have more power than he does...we have bodies. He never will. Love you all! Stay strong! Do one thing to bring you a little closer to your Heavenly Father and Savior this week. Until next week, (and president told me I'm definitely transferring..) GOD SPEED ! :)
All my love and prayers,
Sister Stadler
P.S. Tara, thanks for the package! holy I love you! Ariel...loved your email! Sister Ball (not my mtc comp, another awesome one...totally wants to room with us after. totally pwede!) Jared and Lauren and Brother and Sister Oldham, congrats on the marriage! :) Hope it all went smoothly! Amanda and Joshua, happy late anniversary!

2010-05-02T09:26:00.003-06:00

Dearest family of mine!
My goodness time is flying! What is going on? This week I hit my 7 month mark on the mission and I am turning 23!!!!!!!! AH! The whole birthday thing isn't that big of a deal..just another year of experiences and happiness. Everyone is magically finding out about my birthday..and I'm not really ok with that. Luckily, it lands on a Wednesday and so we will we working full day with appointments! hooray! Also..I'm pretty sure I have my first wrinkle! hahahahahaha! We were riding in a trik a few days ago and some of the triks have these little mirrors in them, well I was looking in the mirror and I just started laughing and Sister Flores asked me why I was laughing...to which I pointed to my eyes and said.."Is that a wrinkle????? I'm falling apart in the Philippines!" It was quite funny. Well..I'm passing up milestones in life like there is no tomorrow. haha! Two weeks left of this transfer and we're determined to make the most of it! This week we were blessed to witness Sister Irene Valdevieso enter the waters of baptism! She was one of those golden/prepared individuals who just ate up everything we taught her and asked for more. Love it! We had a little mini miracle happen for the baptism though. Turns out basically every worthy male priesthood holder flaked on us and couldn't make it to the baptism. So we had one man, President DelosSantos, who was conducting and speaking, and our 2nd counselor of the bishopric was presiding, but we didn't have anyone to baptize her. Her father in law was suppose to do it, but he was called in to work last minute. So we called everyone we knew, and no one could make it. We even called our DL and ZL...they both had their own baptisms. But they said if we could not find anyone else, they could come later and do it..but that would mean they would have to cancel their other appointments for the day. So I said a prayer and kept praying. We contacted a few other people, still no one was able to help. Sister Flores turned to me and said, "What are we going to do?" To which my response was, "Satan, I know you just don't want her to get baptized today. That would make you soooo happy! But look, she's worthy and excited to be baptized, and it is going to happen! So Thanks for playing!" She just laughed. But I felt I needed to make that clear to the devil himself...he wasn't gonna slip this one past us. So I prayed again and we prayed together and we took off to our other appointments, acting in faith that Heavenly Father would provide someone to baptize or at least another witness so President DelosSantos could baptize too. Well we walk in and prepare for the baptism a few hours later, still not knowing how our prayers would be answered, but having confidence that they would be, and of course Heavenly Father pulled through, like He ALWAYS does! 2 minutes before the baptism started, in walks the hero of the day, JAPHET VILLARTE!!! (Our righteous warrior...who had been ordained a priest only 2 weeks before). I am constantly impressed with this young man. So I looked at Sister Flores, and she looked at me and we both knew we were thinking the same thing. So I grabbed him and whispered, "Brother Japhet, pwede ikaw magbunyad ukon magsaksi sang pagbunyad ni Sister Irene subong?" Meaning..."could you either baptize or witness the baptism of Sister Irene right now?" He just stared at me like a deer in headlights and said.."Sis??" Like..."um...what?" haha! So I smiled and said again, "Would you be able to do this for us today?" I will never forget his response.. now when I asked the question I meant, would he be willing to do it...his response was.."Sister Stadler, I am worthy." I immediately got the chills. I love that he interpreted the question as "Brother Japhet, are you worthy to perform this sacred ordinance right now?" AH! I love what the Atonement does for these powerful young men of our Heavenly Father! SO ..Sister Flores grabbed her missionary handbook and we went with him into the hallway to demonstrate how it was done and to let him read in the handbook what he would need to say. (Everything they do here is in English, so it's hard for him of course because it's not in his native language.) So he studied it out for about 3 minutes and then changed into the beautiful whites! LOVE IT! The spirit was so strong and he was just glowing when he was done with the baptism. It was a beautiful service. There was the smallest turnout I have ever seen for a baptism, but there were the EXACT amount of people to perform what needed to be done. Absolutely amazing! We truly have miracles in our lives daily IF we do our part and act in faith. I sang a song and played the guitar..it turned out pretty good! I combined "Jesus the Very Thought of Thee" and "Jesus Once of Humble Birth" (which is very quickly becoming my favorite hymn). Life is good. I am so ridiculously happy. The gospel is so true! Our Heavenly Father answers prayers and He is Ever mindful of us. He never gives up on us. Never! He never forgets us. He loves us so much, I know it is true! I have felt the power of His love for His children and have been moved to testify of His love for them as individuals on numerous occasions. Even to the most vile of sinners, He has unconditional love and wants then to turn and come to Him. And they can!!!! That's the beauty of the Atonement! They can be made clean. Right now, I can feel the spirit as I type these words, and I'm surrounded by a bunch of gamers in a computer cafe with sounds of gun shots and random music playing and yet...I can feel the spirit! haha! The gospel is true, point blank. I will never deny it. I could never deny it because I, like many before me, have received a witness from the Holy Spirit, through prayer, directly to my heart. Life is good! I love you all and I can't wait to see what other people I have the blessing of meeting these next 8 transfers or so. You're all in my prayers, each one of you. Stay strong, Love the Lord and know that He is watching over you. Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Sister Flores and I are teaching this 9 year old boy, Reuel, he's a genius! He is so darn smart it amazes me. Well, we were teaching the plan of salvation and we got to the part about the resurrection and she was teaching. HAHA...I guess there is a cartoon here called "Volt In" where right before they change forms into their super hero selves they say.."Let's Volt In!!!!!!!!" So she's talking about how the body and the spirit reunite and she says, "Lets....Volt....IN!!!!!" hahahahaha! I was so confused, but the little boy just started laughing! Then she explained that it didn't really happen like that, and brought in the spiritual aspect of it. I was dying..Our ward missionary was laughing way hard too. It's now our companionship motto! Along with our Zone Motto...which I love: "See it, Own it, Solve It, Do it!" See the problem, own it as your own and take responsibility for it, find a solution to the problem and put the solution to action! It as worked wonders. I have a whole new testimony of faith by action. Faith IS Action. So here is my challenge this week. Act in Faith and witness the miracles and tender mercies of the Lord!

2010-04-26T08:55:00.003-06:00

Hello hello! I can't believe it's monday again! I swear I was just emailing you all! And yet I have so much I want to add! First of all, mom, before you freak out..haha..those 3 emails were britt's, ariels, and tara's. I knew they had been wanting to see pictures. :) No worries! I'm not emailing random people. Family lang! Alright, funny first experience this week....So I'm OYMing a guy last night and I totally introduced myself as ASHLEY!!!! WHAT???? Not Sister Stadler!? I have no idea where that came from?! I haven't referred to myself as Ashley for over 6 1/2 months now! Random! anyway..he probably thought I was crazy because he repeated, "oh, Ashley! nice to meet you" to which I responded.. "No! not Ashley brother...Sister Stadler. Sorry!" haha! IT was just really random and hilarious. You should have seen Sister Flores's face. It was a fun way to end the night. turns out he was a brother of a man who is helping us find an apartment right now! woohooo! Devout Catholic siya...er...he's a catholic. Nice man though. OH! before I forget, Robyn and Shelley!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAYS! I miss you both so much! Have fun this year, but most of all, remember what is most important in life! Robyn, your email was so nice to get. I'm so excited to see your progress, and I'm sure you're way excited too. Also, Brittany, congrats on passing the boards!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!! (imagine me dancing around for you...) Man...I won't get done with school until I'm like 50. Oh well! :) Oh, one more funny experience. Yesterday we went to a Purok here (a little area in the city). As we were entering the Purok there was a group of children and a few random adults standing around..as usual...and we always high five or shake hands with the kids. Well there was one little boy bawling his head off. Of course I wanted to just go over and pick him up and comfort him, however ...the missionary hand book specifically forbids that. SO..I didn't. But no one was paying attention to this child. So Sister Flores walks over to one of our Less Actives and starts talking to her while I'm still talking to the kids. THEN the little crying boy walks right up to me and hugs my legs (he's probably about 1 1/2). So what am I suppose to do? Not pick him up?? AH! So I pick him up and as soon as I do he stops crying immediately and just snuggles into me. Well now there is a group of people watching and it's a little awkward because I'm sure they are wondering why this little child ran away from his family and came right up to the white girl to be held and immediately took to her. So after about 45 seconds I set him back down because he's totally calm now. HE STARTS CRYING AGAIN!! And puts his arms up. Well his grandmother walks over and grabs him and he shoves her away and comes running back to me again! So i pick him up again and the grandmother is just staring at me in disbelief. I'm a little confused too...so is Sister Flores! She just started laughing when she turned around. Anyway...turns out I look almost exactly like his mother I guess. His mom came around the corner once I put him down...except for the whole fact that she is Filipina and I'm...not! Anyway...we have the same length hair and the same build. Way funny though AND I realized just how much I miss children! AH! Paul and Holly, give Kaitlin and Kyler a squeeze for me. And Amanda...just hug random children in your class! haha! joke lang!
Alright...so Jose was progressing and just as sweet as ever. We were teaching him one night and it was getting late..he was our 2nd to last appointment. He hadn't had anything to eat yet, but he didnt complain to us about it, we just asked if he'd eaten anything and he said, not yet. So we taught out next apointment and then walked past little home on our way back to our apartment where he was laying down with his front door open. We said goodnight and started to walk home. Sister Flores and I were both silent and I aksed her what she wanted me to cook for dinner. She requested my "famous spaghetti"..haha..and I said I needed to go buy some rolls is I made that. So I we walked towards the market in silence. She finally said, "Sister Stadler, what are you thinking right now.." and I had actually started crying, but she couldn't tell because it was dark. I said, "just about a lot of things. About our investigators and their trials." I had actually been thinking about Jose specifically and how much I have learned from him in the short amount of time we have been blessed to know him. I was thinking, "how on earth can I go home and make spaghetti in our comfortable apartment knowing that Jose is just a few blocks down the street, hungry, and thirsty?" So as we were at the market I was buying bread...10 pesos lang...Thats roughly 20 cents. And I thought, I can afford 20 cents of personal money to get him some bread and a bottle of water. Sister Flores, meanwhile was thinking the same thing as I was, but neither of us wanted to voice it. Technically in our handbooks it says we aren't to use mission money for that because it's sacred funds. So we didnt...we used our own money. She bought some bananas and we went back to give it to him. He was so appreciative. We just said we had some extra. Of course it was a one time thing for us. We can't let him become dependent on us, but it felt good that night to help out. I could actually sleep that night knowing he was sleeping with a full stomach. Anyway. I'm just humbled daily by this man. I was thinking this Sunday about our Savior's life and during the sacrament I was reading hymn #181. The last of the first verse says, "Thy life to give". I had never really thought of that verse before. I thought it was talking about the Savior literally giving his life for us, and it is. But then I had the thought come to me, "He GAVE his life every single day." I'm sure he never walked out to meet his apostles in the morning and said, "You know you guys, I'm gonna take a day off today. I just need some 'me' time. This whole worrying about others problems thing is taking its toll on me." I was thinking about Sister Beck's talk in General Conference. She mentioned that "me" time is a temptation of Satan that the world pushes on women especially. It's so true! Even with Missonaries.."lets just stay in this one day...no one is listening to us..we just got punted like crazy, the bishops are not even helping us, no ward missionaries are available and we just dropped 5 of our investigators...2 with baptismal dates." and yet...I keep thinking...the Savior Gave every day! I can do that too! I love this work.
Mom, Jayboy has had many many operations, but it slowly recovering in the hospital. When he came to he asked that someone text the Sister Missionaries, us, and tell them he said hello. So he was alert enough to know we were there and praying for him. Anyway, this church is true. I love it. I have always loved it and will continue to love it more every day of my life! The gospel changes people...through Jesus Christ. Mom, way to be with your missionary work!!!!! I was so proud! I showed Sister Flores that part of the email! She said, "Who is that? Your mom???? That's awesome!!" haha! I agree. Keep it up! It's so true! The more often you talk about it...the less scary it is. Also..the best thing to do when you're not in the mood to share is to share! haha! Keep up the good work. Have Faith, work with faith and watch the miracles come forth. Sean, I'm sending you a letter this week...so if you're lucky it will get there in a month! HAHAHAH! I love you so much! I miss ya like crazy and I can't wait to go out for ice cream or food or something when I get back. Dad, how are you doing???? I love your little updates in mom's emails. Keep up the scripture study and prayers for me. I love you all, remember what is most important, eternal perspective, no? til next week, GOD SPEED!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. I got a letter from Sister Ball...she's doing so good in her mission! She is loving it...doesn't surprise me at all! :)

2010-04-26T08:53:00.000-06:00

Dear family! This week has been a doozie. I have never been so punted in my entire time here in the mission. It seems everyone had an excuse as to why they couldn't be taught this week, or they hid from us (my person favorite..haha...it's always funny to call them out on it) OR they just weren't at home for the entire week. We took a lot of time to visit less actives and recent converts though. It's really hard when you can't tract. Our OYM count was way good this week though and we were able to find the little home of Elmo, a man we OYM'd our first transfer together. He was super interested with his wife, but we couldn't ever find his home and we didn't have any info to find him. He says he's only able to hear the lessons on Sundays though..which is hard, but with faith and prayer, hopefully he will be more available. He's just working ALL the time to put food on the table for his family. So..I am going to tell you this because you told me to be open with you..but don't freak out mom, ok? :) LOVE YOU! Alright...so funny that you said in your email that you pray for my safety twice a day...well keep praying because it paid off today. Sister Flores and I were walking on the street, we just got off a jeepnie and were transfering to another jeepnie to get to a mall we needed to get to. We were walking down the street ( and in the Philippines, there are little or no rules when it comes to driving.) People drive up on sidewalks and in the wrong lane and it's just insane...but remarkably they are basically NO accidents. SO...we're walking right down the street and we're not in like the middle of the road or anything..we're on the side of the road, out of nowhere my hand goes flying up into the air and I realize..I was just hit by a motorcyclist driving by. YEP...and Sister Flores says, 'What the heck??? What just happened?" The mirror of the motorcycle hit me about 4 inches below above my wrist on my arm. The guy didn't even notice that he hit me! It was insane! So at first I thought that maybe it was broken, but it didn't hurt at all...not even when it got hit. So Sister Flores, since she's a nurse...haha...runs to a business and gets a huge thing of ice and makes me ice it because it's already swollen and bruised 2 seconds after he hit it. ANYWAY..long story short. I'm totally fine and it doesn't hurt it all. The swelling is gone and I have a bruise now about the size of a nickel. BUT....I immediately had the thought, You have family praying for your safety every day, this was a direct answer to their prayers. If I had been 4 inches more into the street, it could have been disaster. SO...moral of the story: The Lord blesses His missionaries and prayers are answered. :) No worries Mom, Sister Flores now permanently makes me walk closest to the buildings. hahahaha! Alright...I'll work on getting a photo of a jeepnie for ya and a trik so you can see the difference. So we found an awesome investigator this week, his name is Jose. We OYM'd him. He is physically disabled and we wondered at first if he was all there, but he totally is!!! HE is remarkably smart and has such strong faith if God. I have learned so much from him and I have been so humbled each time we teach him. He can hardly walk and his home is the size of half of our bathroom back home. Actually more like mom and dad's bathroom without the shower section. His family abandoned him and now the neighbors have given him this little shack to stay in. BUT for CSP we did his laundry because he has nowhere to wash it and no one can wash it for him. Sister Flores as I have never had such fun washing the dirtiest clothes ever by hand. We were laughing so hard on our microscopic stools outside...and then we had a water fight. ANYWAY..back to the point...he came to general conference with us. (which by the way we were able to see all sessions. AMAZING!!!!!! I was frantically writing notes..love it). HOLY counsel about families!!!! Do we all need to step it up a notch or what? Think of the amazing spirits that were reserved for this time! It is terrifying and so exciting to think about having children at this time in the world. So every time we teach Jose, we always relate the lesson specifically to him and testify of God's love for him. He immediately, without fail, will say to us "Sisters, He loves everyone! Not just me!" He is so full of love and happiness and faith and I'm just excited to see where this goes. AND...he came to church and he already knew like 8 priesthood holders there at church! Everyone loves him!

Before I forget, Thank you Beehives, Tally, and Doone for your letters! I was so excited to get them and I promise I will write back soon. Also, Taylor, I got your letter! woohoo!! Sister Hudson, I got your note too! Thank you! Nami gid card! Sagad ka sa cardmaking. :) Robyn and Sean, it was so good to hear from both of you! I love you two so much and I can't wait to have a family get together in...forever...haha! Mom, the hair loss has settled down and everything is pretty good. I love you all to death. I love you all so much! Life is so good! The gospel is true. I have witnessed too many miracles in my life to ever deny the existance and tender love of my Heavenly Father. Study the Scriptures, Resist Satan's ridiculously cunning temptations and Pray like your life depends on it. ( Because as I learned today...sometimes it does) haha! I'll send some pictures next week.
All My Love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Mom, tell Sven I love his stinkin missionary self and I can't wait to swap stories with him in...forever. :) OH..how is the produce guy and MaryEllen doing? I have been thinking about her lately. I love that woman!

2010-04-13T09:10:00.003-06:00

HELLO my sweet family! I am loving life and my 4th transfer. The heavens poored down their mercy and allowed Sister Flores and I to stay for a 3rd transfer together!!! We thought the zone leaders were joking when they announced it at our zone meeting. We all got really quiet and I said, "ok..funny elders...where are we going?" to which Elder Pullicar replied, "No, I'm serious. You are both staying." Then we just started jumping up and down and hugging each other like little 5 year old school girls. hahaha! We sat down and have set some awesome goals for us to stretch ourselves. The language it starting to pick up quickly now. I'm definitely being blessed. I still have a ton to learn, but I'm definitely improving and I can see the improvement. A couple days ago we left an appointment and Sister Flores turned to me and said, "Who are you??? Where is my companion who doesn't know Ilonggo?" haha! She's too kind. But then she said, "No, I'm serious. You have improved so much over these last two transfers! It's amazing and everyone is noticing it. They keep talking to me about it." So it makes me feel good, not about my abilities by all means, but because I'm finally able to carry on conversations with people and to comfortably walk up to someone on the street and start testifying plainly and beautifully about the gospel..and the greatest thing is, I KNOW IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WTH ME! haha! I love the gospel! Our Heavenly Father is so willing to bless us if we just do ALL we can do. It's funny now. People don't expect a white girl to know what they are saying..and I still only pick up about half of the conversation when they are talking full speed. BUT...last week a girl was on a jeepnie with us and Sister Flores and I got on the Jeepnie. She was sitting with her little friend from college. She was probably about...18 or so. Well Sister Flores was on the phone with our zone leaders and I could hear her making fun of me in the jeep. Well I understood everything she was saying, but she had no idea. I don't get upset with stuff like that because it's hilarious to me. So I waited and let her talk and giggle with her friend for about 5 minutes or so, then she started making fun of the name tags and I heard her say something about Jesus Christ and I thought.." AND....here we go!" So I turned to her and I started speaking in Ilonggo. I asked her simply where she was from and where she was currently living. I asked her name and if she had a family near there. She got absolutely silent and her eyes were huge. The guy sitting next to me started laughing and said, "OH!!!! Sagad siya sa Ilonggo! She thought you didn't understand her!" It was hilarious! So I invited her to church and testified simply that I knew this was the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth. She smiled and covered her mouth, grabbed her friends hand and got off the jeepnie. hahahahaha! I love it! Sister Flores was laughing so hard! Things like that happen all the time to us Americans over here. Usually people are really nice to the sisters though and they just rag on the elders.
As for this week though, we were able to extend 3 invitations for baptism and we hope to do one more this next week, Skyler wasn't able to meet with us this week because she went home for the holiday. Speaking of which....HOLY! Easter here is insanity! Amanda, in your email you talked about how people nail themselves to crosses and stuff here...yep. They do that mainly in Manila though, but they are mainly a Catholic country. They have these huge parades with floats that are all lit up and HUGE statues of Christ on the cross all bloody. It's just sad. So we were returning home friday night and we had the trik driver drop off our ward missionary first. Then he went to drive to our apartment and the whole street was blocked off, so I directed him another way and we had to walk a little ways to get to our apartment because of the parade. The whole street was packed with people walking. We were like salmon going upstream. Sister Flores said to me earlier in the day, "One of these days I'm just gonna scream, 'REPENT OH YE WICKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION!" So as we're walking up the street and their are huge idols everywhere and people praying to them I said, "If you're gonna scream repent, now is the time" haha! So she yells, "Repent!! Obey the 10 commandments- especially the 2nd one! NO GRAVEN IMAGES!" haha...I was dying. Not many people could hear her over the music and chanting and all that jazz, but I was laughing really hard. It was a moment I don't think I will ever forget. She said in Manila they have something called the Black Nazarene where people literally die each year. They have the belief that if they touch their hankercheifs to it their greatest desire will come true. People kill others by climbing on them trying to get up to the top of the float. Here is my question, #1: Why is the Nazarene black? When I'm pretty sure Jesus Christ was not black. #2: Why would your righteous desires be granted when you just trampled another children of God under your feet. #3: HOW? HOW is the statue going to grant your desires???????? USE YOUR HEAD PEOPLE! Anyway. Now that I'm over that..This week we had one of our investigators hit by a jeepnie here. He has a 50/50 chance of surviving. AND..they are pretty sure they are going to have to amputate his leg. He was hit by the jeepnie and then dragged for about 80 feet or so. His leg has no flesh on it, just the bone. We went to visit him in the hospital and the family asked for a priesthood blessing. (his older brother is a member). So we called the elders and they came into the ward and lets just say...it definitely caught everyone's attention. At that moment, as I was praying for Jayboy and his family and the elders were giving the blessing I had the thought come to mind, how beautiful the priesthood power is. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much to bless us with His power here on the earth. My goodness. I'll let you know how he's doing. Sister Flores and I were going back to our apartment after we visited him and she said, "What would you do if that was us? That could have easily been us. We are at that stop all the time waiting for triks." We could have easily been there that day too, but we planned to visit some less actives instead that day. I'm not saying that we would have been there instead of him and it was a huge miraculous event, however, I know that if you plan- the Lord blesses you. I know the Lord protects his missionaries. This whole event has reminded me of how incredible fragile life is. We saw him the night before the accident and talked to him. Any one of us could be moments away from ending our time here in this life. What have we done with our time here?
Get this, they just lowered the price of a triple combination here at the Philippines distribution center because a lot of the saints here didn't have the standard works because it was just WAY too pricey for them. The triple is now 64 pesos. Thats roughly...$1.30! Garments are way way way barato man! Er...cheap too! But they only have one type. Let me see...OH! Funny thing just happened. I was playing pool in the bowling ally that we always go to and I saw these 2 men in the place who were staring me down. So they slowly made their way over the table right next to the table I was playing at. Well Sister Ball, (no..not my MTC companion, another sister here in the mission) said :" WOAH! That guy is totally just staring right at you....I hate that. It's so awkward. Ew...he definitely just winked" So my amazing little Sister Flores comes over and goes, "That's it...there is only one way to solve this...OYM him" HAHA! So I said...cge! I grabbed a lesson one pamphlet and went and talked to them about the restored gospel and invited them to church. One of the men wouldn't even make eye contact with me and the other one got really quiet and listened and asked directions to the church. So..that's hopeful! THEN...another guy kept holding up his phone and winking at me and I was just ignoring him. Well...the elders are playing pool with us right? haha...Paul and Sean, you would be so happy with these elders. They definitely look after us as sisters. So Elder Foulds walks over to the guy and very very nicely says, "Did you want to speak with her brother?" and the man didnt respond, so he said one more time, "Huh? Would you like to speak with her?" The man said no and just walked away. We get hit on hourly here in the Philippines. Most of the men will back off if you share the gospel message with them, but once in awhile they get a little touchy feely. We're good though. No worries mom. We're safe. We've got the 3 nephites with us as body guards. I'm pretty sure of it. If not the 3 nephites, Grandpa Bernie is behind me at least...and lets be honest...Grandpa never took bunk from anyone. haha!
Well, life is so good. I love my mission with all of my heart. I love our recent converts and our investigators. Brother Froilan passed the sacrament for the first time sunday. We get to watch conference this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOO! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for that! to those of you who keep writing me, thank you! I'm sorry if i haven't written for awhile. It is so busy here! I wrote another song though, last night in like 10 minutes. It's pretty good. Not gonna lie. Sister Flores sings harmony too. It's cute! Oh, Taylor, I don't have your new address so...there isn't any way I can write you until I have it. Um..Sister Lundin, your one lined email made me laugh really hard. My waist is definitely becoming slimmer. How is Cameron doing for preparing? Ariel, if you can get Moe (Melissa Bankhead)'s address for me I would love you forever! She should be off her mission by now. Maybe on facebook...not sure. Britt, are you almost done with school now? I haven't heard from you in forevers...but I'm sure it's because you're blissfully happy in marriage and terribly busy with school! WOOHOO!! You're almost done now! Then you and Dave can adopt me and fund the remainder of my schooling. haha! joke! Mom, I loved your general conference summaries for me. Keep being amazing! I love you and I look foreward to your tiny box you are sending me. I love you all! I have 30 seconds! LOVE YOU!!!!!! :)
~Sister Stadler

2010-04-13T09:08:00.003-06:00

K, I sent a huge email and it didn' even register as being sent..with pictures too. I'm a little ticked. I have no time now. Know that life is good. I'll write you this week what I put in my emai and you can let mom know. It was a great week! We ended with a bang and had 4 baptisms (Charlie, Ayren, Antonio and John Rey) and we were able to see our warriors pass the sacrament for the first time. Ah! I have no time. Love you tons!
~Sister Stadler

2010-03-28T07:53:00.002-06:00

Hey family! Just finished a thrilling game of bowling...yep..scored a whoppin' 60!!! WHAT?!!!! Thats right...representing for the Stadler family even in the Philippines! Can I get a HOORAH??? This week has been ..slower, but good. Things are hard when you can't tract, it is way more difficult because you're dealing with people who already know the gospel is true but has turned away from it for one reason or another....and they either hide when you show up or they just don't want anything to do with you, or even better, they just lie to your face about coming and then they don't show up to church. BUT....we have had success with 3 families we have visited so far. So we're pretty happy about that. They have to come 4 Sundays in a row for them to be considered reactivated, and they have come 2 so far. WOO HOO! Also, we have 3 baptisms scheduled this weekend. Keep brother Antonio, sister Ayren and Brother Charlie in your prayers. Satan has been working extra hard on our investigators lately, and it seems to be the same way throughout the mission. We have had to drop a lot of people this last week. The hardest one was Antonio. I had such good and high hopes for him and yet he just wasn't progressing. He was at the beginning and we could see a real change in him. He still has changed a lot since the first day we met him, but it still hurts to let him go. We encouraged him to keep reading and coming to church and to let the missionaries know when he wants to continue. It isn't even the fact that we've spent hours praying, planning and teaching him, but the fact that I'm terrified if he will ever realize the importance of the gospel. It is terrifying to see someone blatantly walk away from truth. I will definitely be keeping him in my prayers. Well, transfer announcements are next week and I can't believe another 6 weeks is coming to an end. This is going WAY too fast to make me happy. There is a group of people who come bowling each week, they come with a group of down-syndrome children. AH...I miss Roxi like crazy every single week when I see them. They love dancing to the music that is playing. One of the boys today came up to me while we were bowling and started talking to me. We became very fast friends. Later he came up and cheered me on as I got gutter balls! haha! He was so cute. I'm beginning to wonder if I want to steer my education paths towards special education. Just a random thought lately. As for the work, we are still progressing. I feel like I'll be leaving. BUT...who knows! Amanda, I got your package and I got Scott Garder's package too! THANKS GID! It was so good to see pictures of everyone! Mom, I did get your email last week. Since we've had the new email I haven't had one problem with email yet! HOORAY! So no worries. Hooray for getting the grocery guy's name! Don't wait to take action. Follow up with him. Next time you shop there, invite him to come to church. As for JoAnne...get er done! Start walking with her. Give her a Book of Mormon. Just be straight forward with people. It is amazing to me how often people are looking for something more in their lives. (it shouldn't amaze me..because the church is true...haha..but it always does). Paul, I wrote you a beastly letter....I figured it should be beastly since I haven't written you yet...sorry! I'm a terrible person. BUT...it takes a month to get there....so...where is an address I can send it to? Just let me know. Sean, thank you so much for the mission donation! I love you like crazy and miss your face. Today I saw at truck like your white one and I had a flashback to me sitting in the front seat and you letting me choose a cd to listen to as you drove me to have a lunch date. I love you tons! You better email me soon punk. Robyn, how is work going? Any recent mexican train extravaganzas? haha! How is Samantha? How is the house search going for you? I miss you like crazy too! Well, I have very limited time this week. I'll try to include a few pictures. AMANDA...I almost forgot...even though I made a thousand reminder notes to myself... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I have a sweet surprise for you..its really little actually...but the computers are all being dumb in Bacolod, so I'll email it next week, ok? Get excited. Stop stressing over being 30, it's just a number. haha. Also, think of the amazing memories you've made in those 30 years! totally worth a few grey hairs! (And that's only the memories I'm included in! HAHA!) Hey, I'm still praying like crazy for your apartment search. You'll find one. Obedience brings blessings. I love you all more than I could ever express by email, letter, or carrier pigeon. Life is good. The church is true! The work of God continues to go forward and will continue to go forward until the "purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say, 'the work is done.'" Be positive, love life and love people! Until next time, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. Longest brown out ever 8am-5pm on Sunday. I thought I was going to melt to nothingness. AH! Everyone stand in front of the air conditioner for me and enjoy every second of it. :)

2010-03-21T08:29:00.003-06:00

Alright, funny story to start out this email. So last week we went to go grocery shopping and Sister Flores always buys the meat and then I go get the veggies or fruit we need--its all in the same area so we separate and we can still see each other. Well...this time I decided to go get the meet to mix it up a bit. Well..I've always been terrible and converting pounds to kilos and all that jazz. So I thought she usually gets about 1 kilo of ground beef for us so I can make my famous spaghetti during the week. Yeah....I was wrong. She usually gets a 1/4th of a kilo. Well I had some frozen veggies that I needed to use so in my head I'm thinking.."Alright...We get a normal 1 kilo..but now I'm going to extra so I can experiment with some American goodness scramble...2 kilos should do it!" HAHAHAHAHA! alright...so I step up to the counter and ask the woman for 2 kilos of ground beef. She grabs a bag and starts packing in the beef and I"m thinking.. "She's packing an awful lot of meat....wait! maybe she heard me wrong!" So I ask her to stop and to weigh it where she was at... 1.5 kilos! I realized my error, but thought, WELL....we'll just use a lot of ground beef this week. SO..slightly embarrassed I tell her that's plenty and wait for her to put the price on it. Then I hear Sister Flores.. "Sister Stadler! I already got the meat. What are you getting?" HAHAHAHA! Perfect timing. The woman plops this HUGE bag of meat on the counter. You should have seen Sister Flores' face! She looked shocked for about 10 seconds and then just burst out in uncontrollable laughter. So we ate over 2 kilos of ground beef this week. haha! That's a lot of ground beef. But it was good! :) So...now I know! Hooray for knowledge and from learning first hand.
So the weeks seems to be getting harder when it comes to the work. The wheat and the tares of definitely being sifted when it comes to our investigators. We dropped one boy this week and another 2 or 3 we might have to drop soon too. BUT...Brother Jayson Subrado was baptized on Saturday and he, and we, couldn't be happier for him! These boys who were just recently baptized: Jayson, Gino, Jeonil, Japhet, Froilan, Aram, and Antonio (who will be baptized in 2 weeks) will all have the chance of a lifetime! The youth in the Bago city stake were invited to participate in the cultural events in the Cebu temple dedication in June! They are so excited and we, as missionaries, are incredibly jealous because we are craving the temple! (seriously, when I get back, we might just have to go stay with a friend in Vegas and go to the temple for a full day!) But we are so excited for them to have the chance to be in the temple and be there when the first presidency is there to dedicate it! I have totally taken for granted how many times I have had the chance to witness temple dedications. The adults here have never witnessed one! Only a few of the real pioneers here were able to be at the Manila dedication. Amazing! So we will be able to see it on satellite because there won't be church on that Sunday, just the broadcast in the stake centers. I'm excited for that...and guess what??? GENERAL CONFERENCE IS IN LIKE...2 WEEKS!!!! GOOD GRIEF! I'm so pumped! although we don't see it when you all do...luckies....we have to wait for another week or two to have it rebroadcast here. BUT...its ok! I'm excited for it none the less. Ward one is..well...not progressing. It's pretty much ridiculous. We had interviews with President today and he may put elders in that area specifically for ward one. It's kind of sad that they won't grasp the importance of their callings, or take our gentle guidance as sisters...but somehow people tend to respond when elders tell them they need to reorganize. SO..it will be best for the ward. But sisters will still be in ward 2...which continues to thrive. Transfer announcements are coming soon! I keep having dreams that Sister Flores transfers and I stay....I'm not ok with that. If anyone should transfer..it should be me! haha! She had a dream about that too and another Elder joked about it in the office. I'm starting to worry. haha! Joke! Whatever the results, it will be great. Well, I don't have much else to add. I just love the mission. The work continues to go forth...regardless of the help from the members, and the Lord continues to prepare His elect. I love this gospel and I love the blessings that it brings. I love you all and pray for you every single night. I had a really good experience with prayer yesterday where I had a quality discussion with my Heavenly Father. As I started to pray for each of you individually I had this extreme peace come over me and I knew that you were all being watched over. The thought came to me of the promises our Loving Heavenly Father makes to those who serve Him. I love you all and I hope we can each do our parts in helping the gospel of Jesus Christ move forward. Mom, how is the produce guy? How is JoAnne too? Invite them to church! Well, my time is up. I love you I love you I love you! Stay strong! Until next week, God Speed!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. I'm finally starting to get tan! woohoo! The ward members are all commenting of how I'm getting dark and they all get this sad look on their face and I go to give them high fives with a little "WOO HOOO!!" to go along with it. haha! I love it! hooray! oh! Tara! Thank you for the cd mixes and the valentines card! I've read it only about 10 times...yeah...I'm cool like that. love you!

2010-03-11T13:18:00.003-07:00

HELLO!!! :) I have missed you! How are all of you doing today? I included you all in my fast yesterday. Hey, before i forget, random question, Mom, ask Aunt Vicki if there is anything she knows that helps with hair loss...haha...that sounds really weird. But...I have been losing large amounts of hair each day here when I shower, I'm not bald or anything..but its probably double the amount I used to use each day. Someone told me here it's a lack of zinc in their water, I don't know if that is true, but whatever. So, is there anything I can take to help me with that?
This week was really good, emotional, hard, draining, but rewarding as well. We are no longer allowed to tract at all. Our focus in the mission is retention and reactivation. We are only getting new investigators through members referrals and through part member families. The Bacolod Mission has been the top baptizing mission in the world for many years, it isn't currently, but it has been...the problem is retention. If we can't keep them strong in the church, what is the point of baptizing? So...that is our new focus. We are to have 5 new Melchezidek priesthood holders each week and at least 2 families each month. Anyone who knows anything about missionary work would agree thats a difficult thing to do. BUT...we have faith it will happen. We actually have had 4 families we visited come back to church this Sunday, so we're feeling pretty darn good! Plus we have our 9 regular investigators at church. We are gonna have to drop 4 people this week we think. They are all younger, they seemed really solid and interested in the gospel, but they have stopped progressing. That is one of the hardest things about teaching. You put so much work and effort into someone and then they just don't grasp the concept. But it's ok, they still like coming to church and activities, and they are youth, so hopefully they will continue coming and maybe later the missionaries will pick them back up again. Mom, before I forget, the only beans here are Pork and Beans. So I'm not eating a lot of beans. I tried to go buy some black beans ..they were in this miniscule foil pouch for WAY WAY WAY too much money. But thats ok. I'm eating vegetables. I don't know where you got the "human fertilizer" idea from ...perhaps a dream. haha! I gagged a little when I read that. Um...the vegetables I usually get are ones I can peel because of how difficult it is to really steralize anything here. SO...no worries. Same with fruit, I haven't had an apple with the peel on it for a good 4 months now. Ok...I'm freaking out that I'm a week away from being 1/3 of the way done with my mission. Sister Adams reminded me of that. I told her to stop gyping me of my time! haha! She cracks me up. So transfers are in 3 weeks and its going way too fast to be ok with me. Let me see, what is going on with our investigators? OH!...I spoke with Rodelyn, she was my 2nd baptism here in Bago. She has been missing in action for awhile and yesterday she just showed up at church...I was so excited! She asked if she could speak with me after church about some problems she has been having. So I went to talk with her and she told me all about her Uncle, who is her guardian, and this guy who has been talking to him about marrying her. Everything is so different here. It is crazy...count your blessings for the freedoms you have. Basically, long story short, this guy wants to marry her and she can't stand the guy, but her uncle believes the guy more than her and thinks they are courting. Well, because Rodelyn is denying it, her uncle has cut off all money from her, so she can't take her college exams this week. So..her education is on hold. She asked if I had money to pay for her exam, and she could pay me back. Well, its moments like this where you wonder if it's ok just to break the rules. It's 850 pesos, roughly 10 dollars....and yet I can't do it. Mission rules say we can't lend money. So instead, I explained to her that it isn't allowed, but I would pray for her like crazy. And I said my family would be willing to pray too, So mom, could you put her name in the temple there, Rodelyn Ulberio. Thank you! I asked if she was living the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity completely and the other commandments as well, including tithing. She said yes and started crying, so I testified that if she is doing all she can, the Lord will bless her. It may take some time, but the Lord will bless her. As I sat there comforting her I was thinking, "man...I would give anything to just pull out my wallet right now and give her the money." But then the thought came to me what Elder Oaks said about the Philippines, nothing will help them more than the truths and blessings from living the gospel. She looked at me after we hugged goodbye and we started walking to the waiting shed for her to get a trik and she said, "Sister Stadler! Sagad ka sa Ilanggo na!" Meaning..."Sister Stadler, You're so good in Ilanggo now!" haha! I am definitely not good....but it is coming. I can say so much more than I used to be able to. My trainer complimented me too when I saw her last. So hooray! I knew you would all want an update on the language.
OH!!!! MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess what I got yesterday?????????????? Your package you sent 4 months ago! HAHAHAHA! I was so excited! You should have seen my happy dance! It was intense. The toilet paper came just in time..we just ran out and it was Saturday night. And twizzlers and peanuts!! Good grief...I haven't had twizzlers in forever. My comp figured they must be pretty good when I freaked as I pulled them out of the package. She grabbed one to taste it...HA! You should have seen her face...I told her she didn't have to eat it if she didn't like it. Her response.."....ok...yeah ..I don't like it." haha! I was laughing so hard. she's so dang cute. I would do anything for this girl.
Mom, we get the Liahona, not the Ensign. I miss the Ensign for sure. Everything is like....abreviated versions. Send your articles...I love the articles you send. They are usually inspired too, because they always help me with something I'm currently dealing with. So..the message from Monson was about a firm foundation of faith too....that's a common topic lately. Yesteday I realized how close general conference is again... I was a little too excited I think. I can't wait to hear from the Prophet and the apostles. I just started reading the 2008 general conference magazine again. I just started at the beginning and everything has related perfectly..although I guess that can happen with any talk you read when you're trying to follow the spirit. Di ba? OK, so ...Sean, thank you for the mission support! Britton, your son is so stinkin cute! He totally looks like you too! I love it! Amanda, I haven't read your email yet, except the first line..and you're not boring! Good grief...I miss ya like crazy! I was walking to our next appointment last week and I saw some girl burst out laughing with her sister walking down the street and I teared up a bit. haha! But...then I lost it and just started laughing and my comp I'm sure though I was insane. I remembered the night I went through the temple and then we went to Olive Garden with mom! haha! Holy heck...I don't think I've ever laughed that hard in a public place in my entire life. Mom's response was awesome! I felt like I was like 10 years old again! I loved that day. It is probably one of my favorite days of my entire life so far. I was thinking about it yesterday, my last 2 years of life are so far from what I ever planned, and yet I wouldn't change a single thing. We have had some really hard things we've dealt with as a family. I never thought I would be opening my mission call in Havasu with Paul and Holly on one phone, Mom and Amanda on another phone, Sean and Dad and Dallin there with me in the living room. I never thought I would be going through the temple with mom in a wheel chair...but because of that I was able to have Amanda and Mom there with me--which has been a dream of mine since I was like 12. The blessings of the temple are remarkable. My comp and I taught our beloved Brother Aram about the temple this week and you should have seen his eyes light up. The desire he has to go in undeniable. We both shared our love of the temple and how much we missed it and he was so excited and asked all these questions. These boys are so solid. There are 5 of them that are so solid! Aram is probably the most solid though. He has been doing an in depth study of the scriptures and has questions for us every time we teach him. His last question was about who the Gentile nations are. haha! AND..then he asked about why Nephi was commanded to kill Laban when the 10 commandments say not to kill. HE's just so...AH! He's a future leader in the church. I love this work! I love that I can work with people every day to bring them the gospel. Paul was right. In a letter he wrote me he said, "it seems there are no normal days on the mission." It is so true! They are either SUPER awesome and spiritually high or you're just exhausted and you wonder if you'll ever have a good day again. haha! I know the terrible sorrow and "devastation", as preach my gospel puts it, when your investigators don't keep their commitments, and I know the sweet joy that comes when they do. I love this gospel. I know this church is true! Christ Lives! We need to be firmly rooted in the gospel, because there is no doubt in my mind that big things will be happening in the next few years or so. I miss you all like crazy and you are on my mind often, mostly at night, when I lay down and everything gets quiet and I begin to think and pray about each of you. Let's all be a little better this week that we were last week! Raise the Bar. Until next time, I LOVE YOU!!! God Speed!

All my love,
Sister Stadler

P.S. MOM! Awesome job with the produce man! Definitely get his name and number, maybe his address and see if you can set up a time to go with the missionaries to visit him. They always are more successful with members present. Just see if he has a time to do it. Even if it's on his lunch break some day or something. His wife may not be receptive at this point, but if he embraces the gospel, she will see the changes, and the spirit will be felt through him. Keep it up! The Lord provides opportunities to teach daily! We just don't notice them. Love you tons!

2010-03-11T13:13:00.003-07:00

Alrighty family, another week down now and we're in the month of march already. that is...insane. this keyboard I'm using is retarded, so please do not freak because I'm not capitalizing things. Before I forget....HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRITTANY..tomorrow. :) Hooray for being 22! Do you feel old? I do. blah.
So Froilan Aliosa Gumban had this baptism this week and it went off really well. The spirit was there and we're still teaching other young men that they are referring. Most of them haven't caught the vision of the gospel yet, but a few are elect...you can tell. This week we had stake conference with Elder Keith R. Edwards there from the area presidency. He gave a really good talk that I definitely needed to hear. He said at one point, "The whole gospel message is 'NEVER GIVE UP! Keep trying. Try a little harder each day. We're on the right path, but we just need to be better." It was really good. I missed our stake conferences though. I can truly say now... "Silence is Golden" and mean it. Or perhaps i would change it to, "Reverance is Golden". It is NEVER quiet here Never...so the little moments of silence are amazing.
As for the earthquake...I'm so out of the loop. We didn't have any effects from it. I never know what is going on in the world. That BYU-Idaho devotional was quite interesting to hear about though. I keep having the impression during my study time that time is precious and things will start happening soon. This world is so corrupt and skewed in its thinking. In Elder Edwards talk he quoted a verse...I can't remember where it is, but he quoted a verse that said "that which man glorifies the Lord considers an abomination." Er..something like that. I just completely butchered that. But I started thinking about that. The scriptures prove that. The fall of man in the nations in the scriptures almost ALWAYS starts so simply with the desire for costly apparel and then goes down from there. I see that here in the Philippines. They may live in little homes that have no floor and their children don't have a lot to eat...but when they get all dressed up to go out at night they wear nice clothes, big flashy watches, etc. It is so interesting to me. Of course, it isn't just that way in the Philippines! The whole world is in that mind set. Our priorities are all messed up, and since the world isn't even remotely close to humbling themselves, I'm afraid the world will be compelled to be humble here soon enough.
Let me see..I don't have much else to share this week. We had more teachings than I have ever had before. We are truly being blessed. Life is good, this is the Lord's work. I know it is. I love you all and I keep you in my prayers. If you have specific needs that you're deeling with, let me know so my prayers can be even more specific. Dad, I'm glad you don't need surgery. Sean, are you alive and well?? haha! Write me sometime bud! I miss ya like crazy. Robyn too! How are you doing? Sammi! I think you emailed me more when I was in the US! hahaha! I love you all and hope all is going well. Enjoy these few pictures. The church is true! Christ lives! Till next week, God speed!

Always,
Sister Stadler

2010-02-27T08:05:00.003-07:00

Dearest Family of mine,
I thought I would mix things up a bit a start with a poem that I make up here on the spot...Ahem...get ready..this is going to be good..I can feel it:

I'm sitting here in an internet cafe,
Got lots to do--cause today is pday!
Transfers were this week, drum roll please...
I'm staying in Bago with Flores.. and the mice ..and the fleas!
Excited I am to see what 6 weeks holds--
"The Lord Will Provide"..that's what we've been told!
So On we go, mid triks and jeeps
to teach the people from week to week!
Life is good, the gospel is true!
Until we meet again, "brethren, Adieu"!

HAHA! Ok...really though. I'm staying another transfer in Bago with Sister Flores! HOORAY! We were so excited when we heard! Here is the other great thing, Elder Foulds was transferred back into my Zone and Elder Scott transferred back to Negros from Panay! I haven't seen him for 3 months. It was crazy. He didn't look good at all, he was super seasick from the trip on the ferry that morning. Poor thing. But it was so good to see him. Sister Adams is staying with her followup trainer too! So we're all one big happy family in Negros! So this week was insane. Somehow we still managed to meet our goals though. Transfer weeks are always crazy, but we had other sisters that stayed at our apartment because they were departing (ending their missions). We also were in a three-some companionship for 5 days with Sister Castro from our district because her companion when home. So Amanda always manages to remind me how much time has gone by in her emails! haha! Um...tomorrow is my 5 month mark in the mission, 3 month in the field. Where on earth does time go? Each week goes by faster. So..this weekend was amazing. We had the Warrior's baptism. I wouldn't say it went by without a hitch. One of our 4 boys who were preparing for baptism will be baptized on March 13th now. 2 days before his interview he was tempted, and fell into temptation. Unfortunately it was with a member too! AH! He watched bold..er..in English, a pornographic film. He was pretty upset when he came out from his interview and had to explain to us that he couldn't be baptized. I'm so glad he was honest though. Sometimes these boys don't want to open up to us as Sisters, so they wait to do it with the Zone or District leaders when they do the interviews. The other boys were completely honest with their past transgressions though. It was amazing what they were willing to overcome to get to know Christ and to follow in His footsteps. I was incredibly emotional this week, partly because I was a little homesick knowing you were all bonding together, partly because I am always wondering if I could give more to my investigators and to the Lord, and a huge part of it was because I realized parts of my patriarchal blessing are being fulfilled with the baptism of these young men. I know, without a doubt that these young men were meant to be taught by Sister Flores and I. They are like our younger brothers. I have such a strong love for them and we have more and more who are wanting to be taught! They keep bringing us more of their friends. It is remarkable. When we meet with their families they are all incredibly supportive of their sons wanting to get baptized and they thank us for having them go to church and everything, yet they are stubborn and unyielding in their own lives. Catholicism has a hold of many of their hearts and they aren't willing to break the traditions of their fathers. We're going to keep trying though. I am amazed how prepared some of these young men are. It is remarkable who the Lord will prepare and place in your path if you pray for it and you do your part, and if the ward members do their part! Amazing! This all started from a referral from Brother Joenero from Batad. His friend, Jeonil told him he saw the change he made in his life and he wanted to change too. So Jeonil started taking the discussions and then he brought his brother Froilan, and his friend Japhet, who then encouraged Aram and Roberto, who then encouraged Richard and Jason and Algene who encouraged JBoy and Jonas and Jehu and Antonio to all come and take the lessons. Now we have 2 other boys that we just met ..I don't remember their names. We haven't taught them yet. But they just keep on coming! Japhet, Jeonil and Aram are amazing examples! They all came in white shirts and ties yesterday for their confirmations and they were the most reverent by far during the sacrament! Many people have come up to us and complimented us for bringing new young men into the ward. They don't get it...we have so very little to do with it. They all were prepared and we were ready to help them come to Christ! I love it! So this Friday Brother Froilan will be baptized and then on the 13th Brother Roberto and Brother Jason will be baptized. Then on the 20th Brother Antonio and Brother Richard will be baptized. We are pretty darn excited. I was watching Brother Aram yesterday as he was teaching with us and his Book of Mormon is already marked up like crazy. I LOVE IT!!!! When we first met with him he wouldn't even look us in the eyes. It would drive us crazy, we wondered if he was hiding something or if maybe he had a bad home life--abuse or something--where he didn't have the confidence to look us in the eyes. Who knows...but now!! BAM! Dead on eye contact. He has confidence like no other and he has gained it through the gospel. I love seeing what the gospel can do for people.
Before I forget, Christina and Lauri!!! Holy congrats on the engagements!!! Lauri..I loved your letter! I was dying laughing. Man I miss rooming with you for sure! Do me a favor and fall down the stairs once for me...just for old times sake! haha! Man I have no idea how many time I fell on those stairs, but it was often. Also..Christina! So much for a mission huh??? haha! Where did this come from? Holy unexpected! I'm so happy for you! You better send me a picture and updates and all that jazz! Good to see the boy knows what he wants! Sister Doone! I totally got your letter and loved it! Tally, yours was the only valentine I got!! It meant so much to me! Thank you so much and I can't wait to do something fun with you when I get back! you'll be so big and grown up! Keep practicing your piano! You never know who could use a pianist! Who knows..maybe some day you could be in the Philippines playing for Stake Conference for the area seventy who is coming :) haha! Like me! Good times. The church is true! Always has been, always will be. I love you all so much. Oh!! MOM I got your package with the scriptures in it. I haven't gotten the first box yet, but be patient. Sister Adam's took closer to 3 months...so there is still hope. I love you tons! My prayers are with you! I'm so glad you all enjoyed each others company in Utah! Only 13 months and I'll be sharing the times with you! HUGS AND KISSES!!!
All my Love,
Sister Stadler

2010-02-22T07:16:00.003-07:00

Dearest family,
Well transfer announcements are this week and I'm feeling like I'll be sent, but who knows. I'll find out on Wednesday. This is going to be a shorter email because we have tons of things to do today for Pday. This week has been wonderful. We had more teachings than I think I've had on any other week of my mission. This Saturday we have the 4 baptisms of the warriors! :) And we have one next Saturday too. This last Saturday Sister Theresa was baptized!!!! FINALLY!!!! She went through like 4 sets of missionaries. It was beautiful. That woman has more courage than most women I know. She came, alone, to the baptism. Her family all came up with excuses last minute why they couldn't go. But she was happy and you could see it on her face. She knows the gospel is true. As for Brother Jessie, unfortunately he didn't show up to church. How do you get people to realize that faith is real???? That it is powerful!! Thank you for your prayers though and your faith. We just need to help him realize it for himself. I'm so glad you're going to be able to go to Utah after all. See....no need to worry! I continue to pray for all of you and I hope you all take many pictures for my when you're there. :) I miss you all so much. Paul, how is the job search going? Where are you looking to go? Sean, are you alive????? :) haha! I miss ya like crazy! Robyn, did you get my letter yet? Amanda, I got your package :) THANK YOU! I wear the shirts every single day. Mom and Dad, be safe driving up to Utah! Everyone needs to give everyone a giant hug when you see each other ..my treat! :) Well, I love this gospel so much and I love being able to share it with the beautiful people of the Philippines. The field is truly ready to harvest...we just need to thrust in the sickle with all our might. After having harvested rice I realized that "thrusting" is indeed a necessity. Gently grazing the rice does nothing...and standing around waiting for the rice to come to me all harvested sure as heck didn't happen! I think too often we do that at home. We just don't look for opportunities to share the gospel. We want people to just walk up to us and ask for a Book of Mormon and an appointment with the missionaries. The gospel relates to any conversation! And most people LOVE to talk about themselves and their families...so bring it up in conversation, then testify...it only takes a few short sentences! The gospel is true, Christ is coming, time is ticking, these are souls we're talking about helping to save. I love you all so much and I look forward to more adventures to share with you. I continue to pray for you. LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Always,
Sister Stadler
P.S. The language is coming slowly, but looking back, I have learned a lot. People compliment me all the time, but I have no idea what they are saying when they compliment me....irony? Maybe. Also...I have decided that you know you are on a mission when all of your jokes come from quoting lines from Finding Faith in Christ and the Restoration movie. haha! Good grief I love my companion.

2010-02-14T08:43:00.003-07:00

My dearest and most amazing family,
Before I forget, say hello to the Hanson family for Sister Brooklyn Grant! haha! Apparently she goes on the lake with them. She knows Chris. Weird...the world is so small I swear. Ok, so yesterday was one of those days where you just love being a missionary. Where you realize how sweet the fruits of your labors can be! We had 12 of our investigators at church yesterday and Brother Gino Paras bore his testimony in testimony meeting! It was so beautiful! We had to drop Sister MaryGold Dulaca. I was pretty upset about that. Her husband started a business and she gets up every morning at 2 am to help him with it and doesn't get home until 7:30 or 8 at night and then has to get everything ready for the next day to do it all over again. So...she wants to be baptized, but has said that she isn't going to make these sacred covenants and then turn around and not be able to keep them and to go to church, so she said we needed to drop her for a few months. AH! I wanted to walk in to her husband and sit him down and say, do you realize the blessings you are asking your family to miss out on???? COME WITH HER! But...she has her agency.
We finally found Brother Jessie this last week...he has been working out in Busay and we haven't been able to find him. Well, he said he would come to church, and he didn't. So we found him last night and we taught him about Faith and about having it bring hope into our lives and to be an anchor. We were wrapping up the lesson and Sister Flores was testifying and I had the feeling...we're hitting a wall here. He isn't getting that this is real, this isn't just a fantasy that happens in storybooks...faith is real and it is powerful. So she looked at me to close and ask for prayer and instead..I followed the spirit. I said, " Brother Jessie, Pwede ko ihatag ang challenge sa imo?" Followed by the greatest smile I could give. haha...oh..meaning...sorry...i forget you don't know Ilanggo sometimes. OK..I asked if I could give him a challenge. He started to laugh and said, "Pwede!" Meaning, yes you may! I love Brother Jessie, He wants to be baptized, he just has to work on Sundays. For him, it isn't a matter of wanting to work, but if he doesn't work he doesn't have food for his wife and his baby boy, JeroBoy. So I testified of Christ and of His love for his family and for him. I testified about faith and about how I have witnessed miracles in my life by exercising my faith. I testified that like the scriptures say, if God provides for the lillies of the field he will surely provide for his sweet family. Then I extended the challenge for him to pray like he has never prayed before and to act in faith this week and work his hardest and commit now to come to church and actually follow through with it. Then, I testified and extended a promise that if he did all he could, that Heavenly Father would provide for his family. I told him, (sa Ilanggo..) "Brother Jessie, I don't hope this will happen, I don't think it may happen, I know it. I know will all of my heart that it will happen. Brother, Sister Flores and I pray for you and your family every night and morning. We fasted for you and your family today as well. God will provide for you, but you have to show him that you have faith in Him and in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Will you do this?" He paused for a moment and then committed to it!! He said it was hard to go to church when his whole family didn't go with him, and BAM!!!!! ENTER OUR AWESOME WARD MISSIONARY, Brother Reymon!!! DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!! (powerful music that always happens in movies when the hero shows up to save the day) Brother Reymon, who is usually super quiet and doesn't say much comes out of nowhere with a powerful and simple testimony about how it is wonderful to worship as families, but he is the only member of his family and how he still goes every Sunday and has seen the blessings come to his family as he has done so! I wanted to jump up and down and shout hooray. BEAUTIFUL! This work is absolutely beautiful! Brother Reymon is getting his papers ready for his mission right now and has been able to work with us throughout the last few weeks. He has grown by leaps and bounds and his teaching is becoming so strong and filled with the spirit. I love it! It's like watching a boy become a man right before my very eyes. So he committed himself to come to church on Sunday. LOVE IT. He closed the lesson with prayer and gave a beautiful prayer. I'm so excited to see what happens. So Family, here is my HUGE plea to you. Please pray for Brother Jessie. Mom, Ask your seminary students to pray for him as well if they are willing to. Let us all exercise our faith to bless this little family. His wife if the one in the photo I sent you where we're outside of their home and she's holding their son. Jessie isn't actually in that photo..they are young, but they are righteous and they are starting their cute family together. The Lord will bless them, I know it.
This whole week has been filled with moments like that, where we've been able to work through the spirit and really help solve people's concerns and teach truth. Our investigators are so honest with us and I love it! I have been told that the Philippino people don't want to disappoint you, so often they will say they read when they didn't just so we won't feel bad or upset because of them. Well...our select set of investigators are strong and noble individuals who tell us straight out if they didn't read, or if they didn't understand or if they haven't prayed yet. And then BOOM...they turn around and commit themselves to doing it and then they actually follow through with it. It is beautiful. Mom, as for fellowshippers, we have amazing ones in ward 2. Ward 1...that's a whole different story. Those poor people. I could write a bunch of negative things about ward council yesterday and about how the RS president feels it is a burden to find visiting teachers for new members....and how she tried to delegate that to us....but I won't. Pray for ward 1. Until they catch the vision of the way the Savior has organized His church and why he has organized it that way, they won't get it and they won't act. It kills me. But....the work is so good. I love being here. All of the little annoyances just fade into the background when you are blessed to participate in this great work.
As for a few things before I close: Mom, the canned meat and food I get is all FDA approved because they ship it to the US as well. :) So no worries there. 2nd, I have a package in the office :) I will pick it up today and I'm 99% sure it is yours! HOORAY!!! 2 months later...IT"S HERE and in One piece!!! 3rd....curses on your seminary students for calling me sickly. haha...and I'm pretty sure I know what pictures they were looking at. I'm sick sweaty in my first sets and super pale too...so of course I look sick. I was sweating my life away here and trying to have my digestive system adjust. But now..I'm dang good looking and even more important...I'm a Sister! WOOHOO! 4th, my insect repellent is OFF with deet. I'm actually going to buy more today because I just ran out. I killed a giant spider this week, screaming the whole time. My comp came out and said, "that is a tiny one" AH! I'm not afraid of spiders...I kill them without any problems..but this sucker was hairy and I would see it's little eyes and pincher thingies....yucks. ha! Um....Oh! Mom...that was a total lie that missionaries from the US don't get paired with other US missionaries. It happens here, and often actually. Transfers are on the 19th of this month. I'm not excited. I feel like I'll be transferred and we have 4 baptisms scheduled on the 20th! They are my warriors too! AH! But it is ok because they are doing what is most important, whether I'm here to witness it or not. OK...BIG NEWS...I can't remember if I told you this in my last email, President Edwards is coming here for their stake conference in a few weeks and he is announcing...dun dun dun!!!!!! The Philippines Bacolod Mission is splitting into 2 missions in the next few months! Yeah! Crazy I know!!! So we have 2 islands that make up our mission, I'm on Negros Occidental and the other is Panay. So Panay will either be called the Philippines Panay Mission, or the Philippines Ilo-Ilo Mission. But...half of us will stay here and half of us will go over there. We don't know where we will go. SO....I may actually serve my mission in 2 different missions. haha. It is crazy ..and I may have a completely different mission president. But..they say it probably won't happen until July because that is when they call new mission presidents. Anyway....hooray for change and for growth and I will serve wherever I am called. I will miss missionaries I have met here if I am sent over there, but they do have the signing program over there which would be awesome, and it is a little cooler in areas over there near the mountains, plus they are near the beach, but the work is way harder because the people are less willing to listen to us. I'm up for the challenge though. The language is coming. It is slow, but it IS coming. I love you all so much and you have the job to take pictures for me when you're all in Utah. I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU and I am head over heals in love with the thought that I will be with you all throughout all of eternity, IF we do all we can now.
All of my love,
Sister Stadler

2010-02-06T08:40:00.003-07:00

I miss you all so much! This week has been one where I was a little homesick, and I'm not sure why. I had a night where I actually had 3 separate nightmares about terrible things happening in the family and different people dying. It was weird, I woke up really upset and it took awhile for me to feel ok. Is everyone doing ok? I assume you all are, or someone would have hopefully told me about it in an email. Weird that the same night I had a hard time Sister Flores also had a really bad nightmare. She actually woke up crying. Anyway...maybe Satan is just working really hard on us. We have had a super successful week. We had 9 investigators at church yesterday and all are solid for baptism. We just had two of our investigators, Brother Joenil and Brother Japheth commit to be baptized on February 20th last night! I was so excited for them. I love that feeling when you go into a lesson, having prayed to follow the spirit to know when to extend the invitation to be baptized. We were going to do it in our last lesson with them, but neither of us felt the prompting to do so. Something just wasn't right last time, the mood was a little more lax with certain ward members that were there with us. But last night...it was perfect! I love that rush of excitement and adrenaline! It is WAY better than any roller coaster you could ever go on, because the outcome is so much greater! People are changing their lives through the Atonement of Christ and I get to be a part of it! I LOVE IT! I love this work and I can't wait to meet more people to help them as well! So, this Saturday was Sister Jennifer's baptism. She is 13 years old and the girl who is the "mom" in her family now. Her father has completely changed his view of us, you can tell. He welcomes us into his home and even invited us for dinner one night! I was shocked! We didn't eat there for multiple reasons..#1 being we would have probably been sick the next 3 days from eating the way they prepared the food..haha...but he invited us! Plus he sits in on our discussions now too. I have hope there. We also found 14 new investigators this week. It is amazing what can happen if you work hard, be obedient, follow the spirit and let the Lord guide you to those who are prepared. So funny story last night...actually more embarrassing for me, but funny none the less. We got done with a successful evening of teaching and were walking from Batad back to the street to get a trik to get home. Well I saw a boy with a pedicab (which is like a trik, but instead of a motorcycle, it is just a bicycle...hence the Pedi...cause you peddle it) haha! Anyway..So I was feeling pretty good and asked if I could ride it just a few feet...so even though I shouldn't have..I did, with Sister Flores in the cab. After starting to peddle I realize...there aren't any brakes on this thing. Yeah...so I start screaming cause we're coming to a speed bump and we're going on a little down hill slope. SO..Crismark runs and saves us with his body weight stops the cab. (don't freak out mom...We weren't going fast enough to get hurt or anything..and when I say downhill I don't mean like even as steep as our driveway). Anyway...so I go to turn the cab around and drive it back to the kid who owns it....and I hear..."CLANG!!!!" and I realize I'm not sitting on anything anymore. Yeah...I broke the seat off of the bike. THE SEAT!!!! And I'm not talking it fell off and I put it back on..no..the metal bar snapped! you should have seen the kid's face! I felt so bad! It had broken before, you could tell because it had been welded and it was a weak point..but AH!!!!! Here I am thinking...and this is one of those moments you want to hide the nametag. Anyway...I took care of it and asked him how much it would be to repair it. And I figured in how much business he would miss the next morning going to get it repaired. I gave him 100 pesos..which is roughly equal to $2.30ish...And that was more than enough to get it all taken care of. He looked worried until I offered to pay for it to be fixed and then he was fine..told me his name and had a big smile on his face. I still felt terrible though..and super FAT! Good grief! Ok...let me put your fears to rest mom. A little birdy told me that you think I look sickly. hahahahahaha! I am reminded of that picture of Paul on his mission in the baptismal clothes where we thought he looked anorexic. I like him, will explain. (I just had a little girl come up and poke me in the side..haha..kids here are hilarious..she doesn't even know me.) Anyway...um...oh! I'm not even close to being sickly. No matter how tan I get I look super white next to these people. And the only makeup I wear here is my mascara...so that doesn't help in the photos either. Also..I eat more than I ever should here, and I've gained a couple pounds back. Yeah...not my goal..but I'm healthy and eating like you wouldn't believe. My companion is a good cook..and she's healthy about it..hence the reason I am eating this transfer. I'm cooking more too, which helps. Other than that..I don't know what else to tell ya. Don't worry about me though. k? Alright, I will find out this week if I got your packages, don't worry though..they are on the way. I can feel it in my bones! Well I have to cut this short because we have a zone activity to get to today and we need to go grocery shopping before. I love you all so much! The work is continuing to go forth, just like it has been prophesied. I have been reading in The Miracle of Forgiveness and what a miracle it truly is. I love this gospel! It is true! I have no doubt about it and I get the joy of sharing it with people and seeing them change! It is remarkable watching light come into people's eyes, into their countenances. I am amazed every time. I love you all and continue to pray for you. I can't believe it is already February. Where does time go?????? AH! Love you, keep writing, I promise to do the same!
All my love,
Sister Stadler...still sweating ;)
P.S. I sang at the baptism of Jennifer and of Brother Gino..the spirit was strong and it was so fun to sing again. i sing often here...even if it is just in my apartment. :)

2010-01-31T12:47:00.003-07:00

Sorry about no email last week! I typed a really long one and it obviously didn't get there. I got a bunch of letters from people this week who wrote through dear elder and two official letters!! So thank you to Kristina, Brittany (I got your letter finally that you sent to the mtc where i had 22 days left until I left for the Philippines..hahaha), and dear elder emails from Taylor, Ian, Robyn, Samantha, Jacob & Alysa (which was awesome! I could totally understand WAY more Ilanggo than I thought I could. There were about 5 words in it that I didn't understand! WOOHOO!! Now to only be able to speak it fluently. haha) And...Brittany! :) Britt...I laughed so stinkin hard reading Roxi's responses again from your bridal shower. That seems like it was so long ago! You've already been married for like..what?? 6-7 months? Holy heck..where does the time go!?? I hit my 4 month mark on Saturday..and the best way to celebrate it ever..Brother Gino Villar Paras was baptized. I have never witnessed someone so prepared to hear the gospel. That man took everything we said and ate it up and asked for more every single lesson. He has said to me about a thousand times.. "Salamat po! Salamat gid! Sister Stadler, really, truly, thank you po, thank you. You will never know how important this is to me." (po is a sign of respect here). To which my response is, "Brother Gino, salamat po for listening to the message and following the commandments of our Heavenly Father! It only gets better from here! Keep living the gospel standards!" He is so sweet. His family has a huge rift right now because he was baptized. They are all members, less active most of them, except his grandmother. WHO IS CRAZY! This woman has stopped talking to him, and us, because she personally didn't feel he was ready to be baptized. I wanted to say to her, Sister Villas, the only way I could be more certain than Gino is ready to be baptized is if one of the 3 Nephites showed up and said, "yep..he's for sure ready!" Even then..I would just say, "He totally is right!" Amazing. Anyway..the spirit was strong in the service, despite the fact that only half his family was there (2 aunts that are super inactive). Sister Flores announced that I would be giving the special musical number..haha..a capella. So I sang "I stand all amazed." It was absolutely silent when I was singing. I haven't heard absolute silence since I got here on the 27th of November. The spirit was strong and I was so glad I had been blessed with the talent to sing, to invite the spirit. Sometimes Sister Flores will turn to me before a lesson and say, "if it is ok with your family, Sister Stadler would like to sing a song first to invite the spirit." hahahaa! She kills me. If it was anyone else doing that I would die and be a little bugged. But she is so sweet I just can't say no. It is amazing what the power of the hymns can do. They are truly inspired. I understand how why Brother Leslie cried when his cd player broke. Music is the ice cream of life in the Philippines! Getting home at the end of the day, listening to music just makes everything so much better! Luckily all of my companions have had sound systems so far. I'm pretty sure most people do here...so I'm hoping I won't have to buy one. Mom, I'm so jealous you got to go to the temple! DAH! I would give anything to get to go to the temple once a week. The MTC spoils you in so many ways...but the spiritual high there is amazing and unlike anything else I think I will ever experience. My language is coming along. Slowly, but it is coming. Looking back, I am definitely getting better and I understand WAY more that I used to. People are so funny here. They never expect this slightly chunky girl from Arizona to start speaking to them in their native tongue. So they will start speaking to Sister Flores to have her ask me questions and then I'll just answer them instead and they always start laughing. So I of course think I said something wrong..but then they say.. "WOW!! WOW!!!! Beautiful!!" hahaha! It makes me laugh every time. I'm so sick of being told I'm beautiful. I just want to blend in with everyone else. BUT...at the same time...my standing out makes it so easy to get people's attention and to get people to talk to us. But sometimes I hate it because people get shy around me..especially young men. We're teaching tons of young men right now, all ages 13-25ish. They literally have found us! Amazing how the Lord will bless you if you are doing what you are suppose to. Our first time meeting with each of them, they all said, "Sis, I want to change my life. I'm sick of living like this." WOW!!!! And their fellow-shippers are all the boys from Batad! We love those boys. They are solid and preparing for their missions. We're literally teaching the Armies of Heleman right now. So this week I had a bit of a cool spiritual experience and I wrote it in my journal, more of a personal enlightenment really. I want to share part of it with you. I was reading 2 Nephi 31:20-21 and I wrote: "Am I honestly pressing forward? Pressing involves great exertion and effort. I think far too often I am leaning in the Right direction, not pressing. Pressing often ends in the sweetest results in the end of a hard, and timely process. I think of the olive press. Olive oil is one of the essential oils--but the process of obtaining it isn't easy and fun. Pressing flowers results in beautiful, long lasting creations-- but it takes a long time and adequate pressure in order for a flower to reach its fullest potential for beauty. Perhaps the same is true for us. As I think back on really hard times in my life, I leaned heavily on the Savior. I pressed forward, steadfastly, to get through the trial. I knew if I just sat there and did nothing it wouldn't resolve. I would only add to the problem. The times I chose to sit and moan and whine only brought more grief and pain. Too often though, when not facing great trials I find myself no pressing myself--not challenging myself to draw nearer and to be better. Why is that? I am most certain that the Savior of the world did not spill His precious blood so that I could press forward with a "when I feel I really need to" kind of effort. He did not suffer torment and pain and unexpressible anguish so that I could casually glide through my easier moments of life being just good enough. Good enough..what a subtle and ultimately damning tool Satan all too frequently uses on us. Too often we find ourselves caught in the mind set of "I am a good person, living a good life. I read my scriptures, I pray, I attend all my meetings. I serve when asked to do so. I live the word of wisdom and law of chastity, i pay my tithes and offerings. I love my family. What more must i do?? Surely I am doing ENOUGH" But honestly, if we search our hearts deeply, thoroughly, could we give more? I am not suggesting that we exhaust ourselves to the point of illness. Life needs balance (Oaks gave a great talk about that). However-- do we have ourselves fooled into thinking our half-hearted efforts will truly save us in the end? Will we look back and say-- "yes! I gave my all to the Lord because He gave me everything! He gave ALL of Himself, and so I will give all of me for His cause." After all-- why are we here on this earth? Are we here to have the most successful enrichment meeting turnout of the century with the cutest center pieces? Are we here to have the greatest Elder's quorum activity with the most selections in potluck history? Are we here to be the greatest laurel ever--known by everyone important at school and loved by each young man in the stake? Or maybe we are here to have blast each week at young mens playing games together and making sure we look ridiculously good while doing it. No--Surely we are here to come to a knowledge of our older brother, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. To try to fully understand just how important it must be to REACH eternal life if HE- The most perfect individual, was willing to give Everything for each one of us to have the opportunity to have it. IF we but tried our hardest, pressing forward- Pressing steadfastly WITH HIM. Having faith in Him. And if He was willing to give His all, for this purpose which I cannot fully comprehend, surely I can help others come to understand His purpose here. How sad it would be to get there and realize that we could have brought so many with us to share in the never ending joy. Who have we missed out on? More importantly, who will come into our paths in the future? The church is true. The gospel is restored. Christ lives- I know this. With all of my heart I testify of this truth because I could never deny it. I have had the spirit bear witness to me that it is true as I have knelt in humble prayer, pleading with my Heavenly Father to let me have a personal witness that it is true. He answers prayers. He loves us and He has given us every possible way for us to see Him again. The choice is ours. Do we press forward?"
I love you all so much, and as always, I pray for you each daily. Let us each do all we can to be our best selves this next week. LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!! More than Philippinos love a mid day nap! HAHAHA!!! It is insanity!
All my love-
Sister Stadler

2010-01-17T08:31:00.003-07:00

Well hello!
Transfers have officially happened and good grief I love my new companion, Sister Flores. She is from Quezon city, where my dear sweet Sister Ball is serving right now. I miss that woman. I just barely wrote her. My companion is so sweet and kind and is loving and so willing to help me with the language and is patient beyond belief!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN!!!! I love you tons and I hope you spend your birthday eating good food and loving life!
I got a mosquito net. lol..I feel like a princess each night when I go to bed. I ran into a palm reader..he asked me if I was a sickly child. Then he followed it up with.. "I don't know if your mother told you this or not..but when you were about 8 months old you were very ill." um...WHAT? MOM!!! What on earth...please tell me that I was a sickly child. Don't keep it from me! hahahahahaha! Lets see...Paul...I am trying to get protein. I eat peanut butter like there is no tomorrow and I eat tuna. Protein powder would be remarkable if you could send me that. Don't buy anything too pricey. Where are you looking for work? I pray like crazy that you will be successful in your line of work. I have faith. No worries..just keep doing what you're doing.
I extended my first baptismal invitation yesterday! I was amazing!!! This is the woman that Sister Sabasan and I found, Marygold Dulaca. We almost stopped visiting her because she would argue with us and then BOOM...she starts reading the Book of Mormon. Get this...we walk up to just visit her last week and she had a study journal out for her BofM study! She thought of that all on her own! I wanted to jump for joy. So Sister Flores knows sign language and she signs to me..."commit her!" So I invited and she said.. " I want to be baptized! So yes!" So she will be baptized on January 30th! We have 5 baptisms set up for this month. I am so pumped. Life is so good. I have a firm testimony that Heavenly Father Answers our prayers. Rarely they are answered in the way we want them to be, but they are answered. Paul...your letter was just what I needed last week. I read it on a jeepnie. I cried and cried and laughed and cried again. I'm sure they all think I'm crazy. Thank you for writing! Some of the things you said were just what I needed to get me through my last week. I love this quote. It is from a book that Elder Wirthlin wrote. This is a man who studied what causes happiness in our lives..he studied it for 25 years...here is what he found, " The best moments in our lives usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile." AMEN! That is a mission! This is such a wonderful work and I thank my Heavenly Father every single day to be a part of it. The church is true! Life is good! I love you all and pray for you day and night. Keep the spirit with you in your lives. Don't do anything.. ANYTHING...no matter how small or insignificant it seems to hinder the spirit. Without it, we put ourselves in danger. Press forward, study the scriptures daily and show Christ's love to everyone you can. Life is too short to be selfish. I love you tons, write me!

ALL MY LOVE
Sister Stadler

2010-01-09T08:59:00.003-07:00

Family, HOLY heck it is 2010! I'm in the Philippines sweating my crazy little heart out, Paul has a family, Amanda is married to a guy we all love...who would have thought that we would ever be to this point? Part of me thought we would always be pulling each other's hair in road trips and decorating the Christmas tree together while deciding who to pixie for Christmas. Forever playing baseball and riding bikes in the neighborhood. People actually grow up..and it is weird..but so good! So I have a very short time on the computer today, but I wanted to write as much as I can. Thank you all for writing! Good grief I love your emails and they make me cry every single time! (happy tears) Also, Paul, thanks for the pictures1 They are precious! You have some beautiful little children. Keep multiplying and replenishing the earth. haha! So mom..I'm buying a mosquito net today..if I can find one. First, before I forget...HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN..in a few days..haha!!! HOORAY! Big hugs and kisses send from the orient! Also, mom, the cd's I talked about, I can listen to classical and Enya and Disney stuff too. So get a good combo. Have Amanda help you with it. Maybe don't send the hard copies..maybe send burnt versions, just in case they get stolen or something. Also..I'm a big fan of the girl who sings, "I will rest in you" ..it may be Hillary Weeks. I love her voice. It is nice to listen to at the end of a long day teaching. Give me full updates on the family! I want to know details peeps! So on new years i was reading about Teancum..i died laughing. New years eve..I'm reading about Teancum killing Amalickiah....The verse says it was the morning of the first day of the first month of the year!!! HOORAY! Happy new years to me and Teancum! I loved it! This week was good. The work is slower right now, but we're trying to find new people to teach. The work will go on, and Heavenly father is preparing the hearts of the people to hear the word. No doubt about that. Transfers are this week. we have no idea who is being transferred. We will find out on Wednesday. i don't feel like either us will be transferred..but you never know. Sister Sabasan has been in the area for a long time. I have 2 minutes! AH! I had some amazingly spiritual experiences yesterday with personal revelation and bearing my testimony. I know we can help people in their lives if we will just listen to and follow the spirits promptings. I had a hilarious experience this week teaching and placing a Book of Mormon. We were sitting on a bench and sister sabasan ended up biffing it really hard because i stood up to grab a baby who was running to the street. HAHAHAHA! I'll explain more detail next week. I have 10 seconds! love you tons! you are all in my prayers. The church is true!
~Sister Stadler

2009-12-27T10:02:00.003-07:00

Oh my sweet little family...how i miss thee! I am currently sitting in a mall here in Bacolod City after having our Christmas zone activity today. I can hear someone singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" downstairs...but she isn't the best singer. haha! Still...it makes me heart miss you all even more. But...the work is amazing. Things have slowed down a lot this last week. Everyone says they will meet with us and listen to the lessons..and then they just hide from us or don't show up. We're a little miffed, but we press forward with faith, knowing that if WE do everything we can, the Lord will bless us. Rodelyn was baptized this last week and how wonderful it was. Sister Sabasan and I are doing so much better. After much prayer with my All loving Heavenly Father--things have been working out better.

I miss the whole Christmas bash and scarves, sweaters, singing, eating, hot cocoa, and of course our tradition of New Year's Mexican food! AH....how i miss your food. But the food here is nami guid ...er..really good. haha! It took me awhile to adjust, but I'm good now. :)
Kyler, are you staying healthy and crying often to make sure your lungs stay good and strong? haha..just kidding.
Well family, the work is going forward. I have a true love for these people. They would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. The leadership in one of our wards is definitely struggling, and apparently they have been saying some stories about some missionaries...which is never a good thing. AH...gossip is the downfall of so many good things. I hate gossip. But I'll tell you what I do love..when people keep their commitments that they have made to the Lord. There is nothing like seeing someone get excited when they explain to you what they read in the Book of Mormon and what they understand! AH! I really feel like I am connecting to people better with each day. The language is coming so slowly...but it is coming. I know the Lord will help me. He loves us all so much, even when we aren't deserving of His love. I was reading through the conference ensign for my talk on Sunday and I read a paragraph in the last talk of President Monson that said basically that we are the Lord's hands on the earth and He needs us to do our part to bless others lives. That is so true! We must all do our part! So..my challenge to you this week is to step up to the plate and do your part, until you are to the point of exhaustion. Let us all look for not just one opportunity, but EVERY opportunity where we can be the hands of the Savior and reach out to help. This rarely has anything to do with money either...so those of us that are poor...wait..i think that's all of us right now..haha! Serve serve serve! Smile! Ask someone how they are doing...really doing...and then wait and listen for an honest answer. Do the small things and let people know they are needed and that they are cared for. So much comes from just that. We have a brother we teach sometimes, Brother Freddie, he isn't all there...we usually teach his family, but he has an issue with his mind from an accident. we were leaving the house and I shook his hand and said, "halong ka!" Take care...He grabbed my hand and said, "Mabait ka.." Which is tagalog..well I'm thinking in Ilanggo now and I couldn't think of what it meant..so I just stared at him. haha...and he said in broken English."you're nice. i like you."It was a tender mercy that I needed to hear that day. It means so much to me for people to feel my love for them, and my Savior's love for them through me. How I love being out here, even though it is ridiculously hard. I look forward to days to come. Today I was writing a letter and I realized I have been out for 3 months. I only have 15 months left! I immediately started to freak out thinking..where have I fallen short these last 3 months! Everyone says it gets faster and faster too! AH! So really fast...there was a funeral procession this last week. Well..I saw in a truck 2 women signing to each other. Well..with ASL you are suppose to sign to them if you know ASL so they know..its a respectful thing. So I signed to her, Hi, how are you. She freaked out with excitement! HAHA! So I signed to her for like 3 minutes until her truck was out of sight. It was hilarious and so fun to use it. I hope I will get called to the area her at some point. I have heard rumors that I most likely will later in the mission because it was on my mission papers. The AP's joke about it. Well, I love you tons and I can't wait to talk to you mom. I have some amazing photos coming your way. Get excited! :) I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU! I thank my Heavenly Father often that I have the blessing of being with you for eternity... BUT..we have to do our part! Do the little things, stay strong. No empty seats!! Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May God bless each of you with the righteous desires of your hearts.

All my love,
Sister Stadler

2009-12-15T18:00:00.003-07:00

Oh family, I just typed a phatty email and guess what? Yeah..it shut down and I lost it and now I'm really pressed for time. AH! Ok, let me see if I can remember what I said. I miss snow Amanda, so I would give anything to trade places for a day. This week has been really hard. Pray for people's hearts to be prepared for the gospel and that we will be spiritually in tune to find these people wherever they may be. Our area is really really BIG and it seems we can't go and do the things we need to as missionaries because our leadership here isn't even functioning. It has been really hard and I can see it weighing in Sister Sabasan. I had my first baptism on Saturday with Sister Honesty Bienvenido (14 years old). Rodelyn was suppose to be baptized as well but she missed our last teaching appointment and her baptismal interview. She is going to be baptized this coming Saturday though. Let me tell you...the Lord knows what He is doing when He organizes a church. If the leadership in the church isn't performing their duties, then the ward doesn't function, the stake doesn't function and the whole area suffers because of it. Missionary work takes a hard hit for sure! Especially when the Ward mission leaders and ward missionaries are missing in action! AH!!! Let me paint a little picture of the baptism this weekend. Our bishop of the ward didn't even know there was a baptism..even though he announced it..he showed up in jeans, didn't fill up the font..didn't do a single thing. Then he winged it welcoming her into the ward..sometimes I'm glad I can't completely understand what people are saying. Sister Sabasan was just sitting here shaking her head. haha. Um...Mom, I promise I don't purposefully ignore your questions. I have limited time on here and I try to answer all that I can remember. Have you gotten any of my letters yet? You should have 2 coming your way that should answer more of your questions. :)
As for toilet paper, it isn't common for people to use it. Even their malls here don't have tissue. But I bought some :) I couldn't take it anymore. people here just wash with water instead..or use their hands I'm assuming...which is another reason that we are suppose to carry rubbing alcohol with us at all times. hahaha! Oh...the Philippines. How I love thee. People are so matter of fact here. They don't hide anything. Like...example: We went to meet some investigators for a lesson. We walk into their little hut and there is a brand new mom and baby, she is nursing and the entire family is sitting there looking... ENTIRE family. The dad of the girl is trying to help her out....AH! I was like.. "man I'm so glad I'm a sister Missionary." haha..the poor elders. OH! So I wasn't able to see the Christmas devotional..because the cord was missing..but I was able to hear it! Although here everyone feels the urge to talk all the time so I literally had to close my eyes and lean forward and really really concentrate on what was being said. I wanted to just burst into tears and cry..either that or stand up and scream..."WHAT ON EARTH COULD BE SO IMPORTANT that you think what you say is of greater worth than what these brethren are saying??????" But as soon as the prophet started to speak there was a hush in the room..the spirit was strong. Oh how I love the prophet. His words truly bring peace to the weary soul.
So my challenge this week for you...in the mission we are reading the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. Now..granted, most of the mission has been working on this from June, but I am determined to finish it! So..I am in Alma 20's....I'm reading all about the sons of Mosiah! Such amazing men! I was laughing hysterically when I read about Ammon. That man was so funny, powerful, but humorous! You can just tell when reading about it and his whole plan of action for getting the kings attention. (ex. Alma 18:22.."yet being harmless") So..those of you willing to step up to the plate and take the challenge..read the Book of Mormon in one month! Cover to Cover! I have come to love the book like I have never loved a book before! There is true power and comfort in that book and message of hope in this world of noise and chaos and panic and fear and pain and total despair. How blessed we are to have this truth! I know with all of my heart that the gospel is true! It is continually made manifest to me that it is true. I love you all with all of my heart. My companion and I have had a big tiff here this last week...but the power of prayer is incredible. I have a firm knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows the intents of our hearts and we will be judged fairly. Pray for me with the language please. It is hard, and my companion has basically no desire to help me with it at all. Which is...stressful. I'm hanging in there and working hard and praying and reading and studying and just loving the people to death all that I can. I love you I love you I love you!!! Have a cup of hot chocolate for me and throw a snowball or two at each other! haha! The church is true! Truth will prevail! This is the Lord's work and it will continue to go forth and not fail! May the Lord bless you with the righteous desires of your heart!
All my love,
Sister Stadler

Have the fam send pics! I miss pictures..and I have some with me..but I want some new pics!

2009-12-13T08:23:00.003-07:00

I have officially been in the mission for over a week and I'm pretty sure the first week is the hardest (at the beginning at least...until you actually understand people and then you realize the problems they are dealing with in their families.) I kept hearing President Stott's voice in the MTC, "Please..just stay for a week at least. It gets better I promise." And it does!
I don't feel like it is Christmas season at all. Part of that may be the fact that I sweat myself to death every day here. haha! no..i'm starting to adjust somewhat. I still sweat like crazy, but at nights it actually gets a little cold sometimes with the fan on. So...as for this week... besides the 3 mice that I found in the apartment and roaches the size of 2 of my fatty fingers put together, life is good. We had a workshop this last week for hometeaching and visiting teaching for the ward. These wards here are so young. They haven't implemented half of the programs they should be using. Sister Sabasan has to basically lead one bishop through things step by step. It is crazy. but the workshop went really well and some of the members really caught the vision. Things are so impromptu here. In the middle of the workshop I hear, "Now we will have a special musical number by Sister Stadler and Brother Thomas" ...um...what???? So I look at Sister Sabasan and she's just laughing. So I had brought a copy of Come thou fount with me..and I go up and play that on the piano and start singing...Brother Thomas starts right in ...perfect harmonies! He has the most beautiful voice I think I have ever heard from a man here. Most philippino's I have heard sing love to sing, but they don't have the greatest voices. Doesn't matter, their singing has power. But Brother Thomas's voice! AH! so good. So that was a treat. I'm suppose to sing at our baptism this Saturday! It's my first. Woohoo! Too bad I was only here for the last couple lessons, but the girls were amazing. We have a few people lined up for the 26th of December too. We're excited for them. We have some really solid investigators here. I pray for them every day, multiple times. They have so little, and some of them really desire to come to church, but the choice is either to work on Sunday and make enough to put food in their children's mouths or come to church. Pray hard for them. Especially Jennifer and her little siblings and the Cesar family (Jessie, Rowena and Jeroboy). I only have 9 minutes, I would go into more detail about them, but I'll have to do that in a letter and have mom put it up or Amanda or something.
So this week, I heard a song..I can't remember if I mentioned it last time. lol...it's from the Best 2 Years soundtrack. It says, "will I ever learn this language...will it ever come easy for me? Will the people that I meet, on the street, will I ever know what they are saying to me.." It goes on forever...it is hilarious! I died laughing listening to it because it expresses everything I have ever felt. I'll put it on the next tape I'll send..which you probably won't get until February or something. If you get it. I have talked to many missionaries and I have gotten some ideas of how to get this language started. I hear over and over and over that it takes at LEAST at the very LEAST 5 months to get the language down. That is a long long time....patience is something I was not blessed with in the Pre-existence and I am reminded of it daily. But....it will come. Life is good..and the people here are remarkable. Funny experience, so we were tracting and my digestion has not been the greatest here. I have to be really careful what I eat..I'm definitely starting to drop some weight. But..anyway..we were walking one night and we were near a member's home and I said.. "Sister, I need a bathroom now...something is not good." haha...so we go to this member's house, they aren't home. But the neighbor is in their home in the back entrance. So we go to the member's home. I go into the CR...I start to go to ....there isn't any tissue right? SO you use this water bucket thing to clean off...yeah...no water. The toilet doesn't flush, no water in the sink..the shower doesn't work..the door doesn't even shut all the way. IT was BAD!!!! hahahahaha! So I can hear Sister Sabasan outside the door talking to the kids. I'm thinking..ok, do i tough it out and get all sick and just deal with it until we get back tonight...no. Not even a remote possibility. SO I call out to her and she asks the little girl if there is any water. NOPE! hahah..good thing she told me. So she saved me...grabbed a bucket and went and pumped water outside so I take care of it. oh my gosh...I have never felt so scared in my entire life. hahaha!
Well family, Brother Leslie sent an email and included the 4th verse of hymn 85, which is so true. The Lord will never abandon us, no matter our trials or circumstances. I love you all so much. Keep praying for me..hard..i need all the prayers I can get. I pray for each of you day and night. God is in charge. May the Lord bless each of you. All my love,
Sister Stadler

2009-11-30T09:48:00.003-07:00

Well, I am officially here and have so many things I wish I could share with you. The flights all went well and they weren't bad at all flying for two days actually. It was kind of nice. I didn't pass out as many pass along cards as I wanted to, but I was able to give out a Book of Mormon to a really awesome guy who goes to the Philippines to buy mangoes for a store his friend owns. just for mangos! They are really really really good though! Their fruit here is unlike any fruit I have ever had. It is all half the size though..or a lot of it is, of fruit in the U.S. My companion is a native Philippino, Sister Sabasan, from Manila. So Brother Leslie, your predictions were wrong. Sister Sabasan is a really nice, but I feel like I depend on her more than I should. I am trying to get over that and to work as hard as I can. I met sister Grant! Brother Leslie she says to tell you hello! She is a little fireball of energy! haha! She is hilarious! She thought it was way funny that we knew everything about her already from being here.
So the work is so busy and incredibly overwhelming. I have never felt so inadequate in my entire life. The people here are so nice and they are all really willing to talk to me, but here is the problem...I DON"T UNDERSTAND A SINGLE THING THEY SAY!!!! Our area of Ilanngo speaking only and just today did I get a book so I could see some vocabulary to work with. I try to teach in Tagalog and they stop me and say, "just teach in English, it is hard to understand you." Which of course makes me want to start bawling because I think..."But that's not my call! You have to hear this in your native tongue!" But instead, I do a mix of Tanglish and use scriptures for them to read. We have two wards in our area and it is really really busy. I spoke in both wards on Sunday. One ward the bishop is older and has been a member for awhile, he just had me bear my testimony and introduce myself (which I did in Ilanggo...with the help of my 3x5note card). The other ward, the bishop comes up to us when church is starting and says, "It's the 5th Sunday, every 5th Sunday the missionaries speak!" So Sister Sabasan an I gave talks. She also talked to him how he should be assigning talks ahead of time. It was crazy! Their talks are all in English, so my talk was in English, about faith leading us to do missionary work, but then I did my testimony in Ilanggo to finish it up.
SO I know you want to know about the area, so here ya go...I'll paint a picture for you. It's like Brother Leslie said, its like we are living in a national geographic. I haven't sweat like this in my entire life. I am on fire all the time, which of course makes me feel disgusting, but it is ok. The majority of people are living in bamboo shacks in the middle of the jungle with bamboo floors that you can see through. Sometimes I wonder if the floors are built to hold up the weight of a "curvy" American girl. haha! But they always do. Their are pigs and animals everywhere, and the places don't smell pleasant. But the People!!! OH the people!!!!! They are the kindest and nicest and most genuinely sweet people I have ever met! They just want to befriend everyone and will talk to you. They will give their names and addresses to complete strangers.. (but addresses here are like the areas of the city where you live, not an exact address.). It is remarkable. Today Sister Sabasan and I came into Bacolod City, it's about an hour from our apartment in Bago City, to meet up with some people in our district and zone for lunch at KFC...which is nothing like American KFC by the way. And I was able to see my district members Sister Adams and Elder Foulds!!! I was so happy! I have been really discouraged this whole week. I know I have only been out for like 4 days, but at the same time... I feel like I will never get this language down! I have been really trying to study hard and I feel like everything I thought I knew has been forgotten and ripped apart. But talking to them today I realized that They are all experiencing the same things. Satan in working hard on me...I have had many a night crying, alone in the CR (comfort room or bathroom). But I just keep telling myself.. suck it up princess! you have a love for these people already...now work your hardest and the Lord will bless you. The first night I started to think, just go home. Everyone will understand, you're never going to get this and it is really hard here. You had no idea what you were getting yourself into. But then I snapped into it and thought...Ashley, that is the dumbest thing you have ever thought! Forget yourself and get to work...don't let Satan put those ridiculous thoughts into your mind. Teach these people! And so...I am here trying to do just that. I have no idea what is being said in the lessons, but I do add my testimony to the lessons and I teach as much as I can. Pray hard for me...please. I know you all are, but keep my name in the temple. I feel so lost sometimes, but I know it is possible. If God can create an entire earth and raise people from the dead and perform these mighty miracles, surely He will help a little pathetic girl from Arizona learn a language so she can teach His children who are in dire need of hearing the message. I love you all so much and I can't wait to get some mail from you..hint hint. Paul and Holly, congrats on Kyler's birth!!! He is as precious as he can be. I'm so glad everything went well for you. A couple random facts, there isn't toilet paper here. Yeah...that's fun. Th showers aren't bad at all! We should all shower like this..we would save tons on water! Surprisingly, the heat doesn't keep me from sleeping because I'm so exhausted at the end of the day. Life is so good! I love you! The church is true! Pray pray pray and share the gospel all you can! It's so easy to do it in America!! In your native tongue! Open your mouths!
Sister Sweating like it' going out of style Stadler :)

2009-11-28T10:35:00.003-07:00

Oh my goodness family! The day has finally come! I can't believe my little eyes! Tomorrow (Bukas) is the day! We are all kind of experiences a flood of emotions lately. Today I lost it during the last part of the session when I realized it would be my last time to be in the temple for 16 months! I had a really spiritual experience too with the woman I went through for. The Lord is so giving with His tender mercies. Mom, don't worry. I'm trying to be better with my journal writing. I have been writing in it, but there really just isn't time every night! I hear it gets better in the field..but we'll just have to see about that! haha! My goal is to write a little something every day. Good grief I am going to miss the MTC. It has been a wonderful experience and I have been so blessed. It is interesting what Satan will do to try to destroy the work. Sister Ball and I haven't had a lick of trouble our whole companionship and yet this week Satan has been working hard on us. So..through many tears and companionship inventories we are doing really well. We are pumped to place copies of the Book of Mormon and many many many (marami) pass along cards! So one of our amazing Elders, Elder Scott, actually found part of the Philippines Dedicatory Prayer for missionary work in a talk, "Missionary Work in the Philippines" by Elder Augusto A. Lim in the November 1992 Ensign. The promises for the country and the missionaries who serve there are incredible! Sister Ball and I couldn't help but cry when we read it. I would copy and paste it here, but we don't have the pleasure of having that function! AH! One thing it does say is that.. "{the missionaries} may be clean and virtuous, that their examples may be marvelous before the people, that they may be blessed, as it were, with the 'gift of tongues', that they shall speak the language of the people, that they shall work with singleness of purpose to Thy name's honor and glory. that they shall go forth without fear, that none shall stay them, and that they shall declare with teaching and testimony, the restoration of Thy holy work for the blessing of Thy children. Father, give them joy and courage and faith and satisfaction in their labors, and make them fruitful." Then it goes on to bless the people of the land and it says beautiful blessings! So get this... President Hinckley gave the blessing on APRIL 28th 1961!! My birthday folks! Isn't that crazy? funny little coincidence! :) So read it, it is beautiful and gives us such hope. The 2nd coming is on its way and we are so blessed to be a part of the work to help direct people in righteous paths. I was reading yesterday in Peter and I found a scriptures I really liked. 1 Peter 5:5-8 I love verse 7 in particular. It says, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.." I love that phrase. I don't remember ever reading it before. How beautiful this simple, yet profound, statement is. That Our Heavenly Father, the supreme creator of us all, cares for us! He weeps with us when we weep and He rejoices in our kaligayahan (happiness)! I love verse 14 as well, "Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen" I know we will have peace if we turn to Christ. I know it because I have felt it. We get so lost in our own self concern and pity that we often forget that this life isn't about us!!!! We signed up to come and help our brothers and sisters come to a knowledge of God and come unto Him through the Atoning Sacrifice of our Savior, even Jesus Christ! What are we actively doing at this point in our lives? Are we more concerned about finishing our schedules daily or for looking for opportunities to give and teach and love? Look this week for opportunities to share the gospel. Be bold! We forget that the people we love already know the truth! They have just forgotten it! We are here to remind them of it! It's such a beautiful blessing to be a part of the work! Do it! Push yourselves! Jump into it with both feet and love every second of it!
Ok, I have only a few seconds left to type. I can't believe as of hours from this moment I will be surrounded by the shortest and most sincerely humble individuals I have ever met and I won't be able to understand a single thing they say!! hahahaha! I know this gospel is true. I love you all so much. to those who have written and to whom I haven't responded, I'm sorry. Life is busy, but I pray for you and at some point in the future, you will hear from me. May the Lord bless you in your efforts to be righteous and to live the gospel to the best of your ability. The Savior's return is not far off. We can't afford to procrastinate! I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The one and only (somewhat Tagalog speaking)-
Sister Stadler

A few more MTC pics

2009-11-20T07:11:00.006-07:00

2009-11-20T07:03:00.002-07:00

Holy heck, I have so much on my mind and the whole email system is being ridiculous today. So..hopefully this works. So I have my flight plans!! AH! It was a super happy day in the class when we got them. Yeah, so we leave on the 24th here, lose a day and get to the Philippines "2 days later". haha! That is just pure craziness. I'll gain 2 days coming back to the states at the end of my mission too. Weird..just weird. Thanks for getting the first aid kit. I know i will definitely use it there. They don't have any real medical places I guess. Of course the mission has places for us, so don't freak out, but that is just for serious things. We covered medical this week..AH!!!! It was insane! Also..I found out the church has water purifiers that they have specially patented for missionaries. So my water will be completely clear and pure. but we aren't allowed to drink anything else that members make. Weird huh? We will eat on average at 2 members homes a month..maybe less and we can't eat anything unless we actually help to prepare it ourselves and see exactly what is being put into the food and that it is throughougly cooked. ha! mom, as for shoes, Amanda bought me some crocs, and the other sandals, I don't even know. I didn't ever try any on, but I think they run big. I think I will be fine with the others. They give us copies of the Ensign here so I do have the conference issue. Last night I was reading Bednar's about consistance in the home. SO good!!!! Sheri Dew spoke here last night! I was like a foot away from her, it was amazing! She said something that really stuck out to me. She said, "A nation can only be as strong as it's families." It is so true! If we don't have strong families, then the nation will go nowhere! Happy people come from strong, stable families. Look at our families in the United States. If Satan can hit the families as hard as he can and diminish the importance of family in a nations mind, then no one will be happy. Without happiness, people become very self-centered and selfish. Selfishness leads to every sin you can ever imagine and then here we are, a whole nation, just laying our will and freedom in the center of Satan's greedy little hands. It makes me sick to think about it. We must do all in our power to keep our families strong and to speek with others about the importance of family. So I was released on Sunday from being coordinating sister. It feels really weird seeing someone take over, but at the same time, it is nice to not have meetings all the time and take away from the study time I have. I can't believe I only have a few days left. AH! On Sunday the sisters sang Silent Night. We did 3 part harmony in Tagalog, it sounded sooooooo good! Mom, I thought about you when we were singing it. You would have loved it. It was really interesting, there are so many church services here, as you can imagine. Usually you can hear the other church through the folding walls. Well, we were getting ready to sing, a capella, and another musical number started in the service next door to us, a big piano solo. It was so loud! so we started singing and no one could even hear us. But I prayed, "Heavenly father, we have practiced so hard on this and it sounds so good! Help us to be heard and to invite the spirit to the meeting!" And seconds later, the other solo ended. It was right at the critical verse of the song, the last one, where we broke into 3 part harmony and the words just rang out in the air proclaiming Christ's birth. It was absolutely beautiful. I recorded a practice on a tape that I will be sending you within this week. It doesn't do it justice, but it sounds pretty good. I sang the tenor part an octive higher. So fun! So funny story about the Philippino's. When a woman is pregnant she goes around pinching people that have attributes that they want their children to have. They actually think it will give their children those attributes! haha! So Brother Leslie, 3 weeks into his mission was pinched like crazy on the cheek by a woman! HAHAHAHA! Good times. Look forward to random stories like that. So yesterday we also were able to hear Sister Oaks in Relief Society. She said some amazing things. She brought a little down syndrom girl with her, she bore her testimony and sang a song. Earlier in the program another girl sang a musical number. It was amazing the contrast of the pieces. the first girl, while having a beautiful voice, was obviously doing a performance, while the little handicap girl sang with her pure testimony. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. I was amazed at the power that filled the room. The Spirit was so strong. Absolutely beautiful. I have 5 minutes left! ah!Lets see...Brother Leslie went into more detail about the Philippines. Let me just say it in a few words. No one tells you that Pornography and sexual sin is rampant over there. They say every home you walk into will have porn all over their walls and many times a "Santo Ninyo" doll, a baby Jesus doll, on the same wall. Or a life sized statue of Christ hanging with blood all over Him. Just gruesome things. I could go into more detail, but I don't have time. So..basically....pray...pray hard, especially for the elders. It is a mission where they have the highest number of missionaries sent home. But, it is also the mission with the highest number of requirements for someone to get baptized. These people are so lost, but they are looking, seeking for truth. and guess what the best part is.... WE HAVE IT!!!!! WOOH OOOO!! I'm so excited! I can't wait to get out there, slaughter the language and just get my hands into the work! I know I have people there that I am specifically going to help. As long as I love them, and show Heavenly Father's love through me, they will feel it. The spirit will bear witness that what I am "trying" to say is indeed true. This work is real! It is soul saving! I love you all so much and my next letter will be the last one from good old snow on the ground...it is freezing now PROVO, UTAH! All my love, Sister Ashley Stadler

2009-11-10T20:20:00.002-07:00

Well hello family! As some of your know, I was put into quarantine for Swine flu this last week and what a week it was! haha! I started having symptoms on Monday night. I went into the clinic on Tuesday and they sent me back to my room and said to gargle with salt water and sleep. So I did. That night I felt amazing! So we went to the devotional and then to class and life was good. Then Wednesday we welcomed knew missionaries, we were host missionaries (yes Mom, the ones we saw waving us into the MTC and helping with bags.) CRAZY Huh? I swear I was just coming into the MTC and now I'm a host..insanity. Anyway, so I welcomed 2 sisters and took them through the whole tour of the MTC and then BAM! It hit me and I didn't look so good either apparently. I thought I was just making up symptoms because everyone was talking about them. So I was trying to just tough it out and make it through class so I could sleep. But...Brother Leslie came over and said, "Have you been to the clinic?" haha! I obviously looked pretty bad. So I went, and they test me for the flu. I guess swine flu tests are like $300 and take 3-4 days to process and you treat it exactly the same. SO....the nurse comes back and says, "Well you hit the lotto! You have won a 7 day all expense paid trip to Isolation!!!" Funny thing is..before she took the test she said, "You probably just need to sleep. But, we'll test you just to make sure." Then they do this swabbing thing in your nose that is perhaps the most evasive procedure! haha! I thought she surely found my brain. So I can hear her talking to the other nurses where my strip is processing and I hear them say.. "WOOO!! Ladies...take a look at this one!" HAHAHA! So I knew then I was doomed. Anyway, quarantine wasn't that bad. It was good to be able to sleep. They almost sent me to the hospital because of my lungs...but I'm good to go now! Prayer works! Mom, I know you were praying hard for me. There was one night when I was feeling pretty down in there and I was thinking about how far behind I was getting on the language and I was lonely..anyway, I started to say a prayer and then I had this image of you kneeling in the family room pleading with our Heavenly Father for me. I don't think I have ever had an image come so vividly. I knew it was going to be ok and I slept better that night than I have in a long time. So..I'm still a little tired, but life is once again....so good! I could see the most beautiful tree from my window there. The leaves were at their best..tender mercy. So mom, you asked what the new primary program song is. It is called "I know that my Savior loves me". The words are so tender and sweet. They have the sister missionaries take it with them into the field because many of us will be working in the primaries in the wards where we serve I guess. Definitely listen to it. Last night there was a beautiful musical number with a cello/piano/singer. It was an arrangement of "I feel my Savior's Love". I couldn't help but feel that the chorus's words are truer now in my life than ever before. "He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to Him. I feel my Savior's love, the Love He FREELY gives me". How beautiful and true! Our Savior is so willing to freely give of His love, but He won't force His love on us. We must be willing to turn to Him, so humble ourselves enough to say, "Look, I can't do this alone. I know I can't. And I know it won't be easy! If it were easy I wouldn't be able to come to know Thee better, or of Thy sacrifice. But, I need Thee. Please help me and comfort me." I am learning more and more about the Atonement every day here. The depth of that act fascinates me. I'm sure I am just touching the tip of the iceberg, but it has made such a difference in my life already. I'm sure as soon as I enter the field I will be even more in awe when I see those investigators that I love so much using it in their lives. So now I get to ask questions! Woohoo! I have lots of time this week since I haven't done much in class and don't have a ton to share! For all of you that have sent letters, good grief, heaven bless you!! I love you all so much and I do a little happy dance whenever I get a letter. The world will never know the worth of a letter to a missionary!! HAHA! So Holly and Paul, how is the pregnancy? How is this trimester going? Are you about the burst will the pressure of life right now? Amanda and Joshua, thanks for all you do! Sean, did you get my last letter? How is work going? Is it still pretty slow in Havasu? I keep hearing people say, "the recession is over!" somehow I find that hard to believe...since people still aren't spending money. Robyn, hey lady! I'm still waiting to hear from you! How is the saving money going? How is Sammi? Is she coming for Thanksgiving? Christmas? They are already putting lights in the trees here. They don't mess around! haha! Shelley, I don't even know if you read this, but I love you to death. Give the kids hugs for me and write me sometime. If I had your address I would have already been all over that. Amanda, you asked me about package stuff, so here ya go. Mom is sending me vitamins I think to try to help me get my energy back. It was super weird talking to them on the phone. I felt like I was doing something against the rules! haha! It was sooooo good to hear their voices though! I lost it..people brought me tissues. ha! Also...To my siblings: When I go to the airport, on the 24th of this month.. hopefully...if nothing keeps us here...I get to call family!!! So I'll let you know better when my flight is, but usually it is around 4:30 that we leave Provo. So...ya'll better have your phones on you so I can talk to you for at least a few minutes! I'm pretty excited about that. So a girl that is in our mission emailed me and told me a little about her experiences. I told you a bit about her last time, the one who speaks ASL now there! Well get this, her mom helps with choir, I went yesterday, and she said Sister Carr and her companion had 12 investigators come to church yesterday! 12!!!!!!!!! That is so exciting! My heart skips a beat to think about leaving here in 15 days. Our language skills are...blah....but we are trying! We have enough to teach with the spirit and to teach truth and testify of truth. Sister Hawkes, a teacher here said that we need to stop worrying. We know way more than she knew when they sent her out and she said as long as you only speak it when you get there it will be fine! So...with faith in every footstep, I wait out these last 15 days. I am starting to feel like we aren't ever actually leaving here, they are only teasing us with that info! haha! But I know soon enough the day will come when I'm flying there. Then I'm sure I will feel like I'm never going home and then BOOM..I'll get my flight plans. What a bittersweet day that will be. Well, family and friends, I love you all so much. I pray for you all the time. I know I put that in each letter, but it is because it is true! You aren't alone. This week, you should all read Holland's talk, "None were with him" from April conference. I was reminded of our Savior's love for us while reading it. We have no idea what He felt, why he took that upon Him, but how blessed we are that He did. The church is true! It won't ever be false! We better decide who's side we are on now. (its a pretty easy decision!) :) I love you I love you I love you!!! I'll talk to you in a couple weeks. Until next time, God Speed! All my love, Sister Stadler (aka peanut, booger, jimmy-dean, astads)

2009-11-05T13:07:00.002-07:00

Hinihello Family! :) (sometimes the Philippino's congigate "hello")
How wonderful this week has been. I feel bad for being so "Debbie Downer" in my last email about the language. Heavenly Father is definitely testing me, but I am constantly amazed at how He will bless us if we are obedient. I have so much I want to share with you this week and I hate that my emails are timed. BUT...oh well. Here it goes. This week has been a spiritual feast in the MTC! Our Tuesday devotional speaker was none other than Elder L. Tom Perry himself! AND!!!!!! The one week we decided to sing in the choir, he came!!! I was so excited to have that opportunity! We sang, Lead kindly light. It was absolutely gorgeous. He actually based most of his talk off of a talk given by Jeffrey R. Holland before. He spoke about how teaching is the greatest call, and what it requires of us to have the spirit as the senior companion as we teach. Amazing! So..take the time this week to read these talks, "Blessed are the Peacemakers"- Elder Theodore M. Burton, "Abide With Me"- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Both amazing talks! I wanted to quote them on here, but I don't have time to get everything else on here that I want...but powerful! If you haven't had a chance to read Monson's from priesthood session, and Eyrings, read those too! These men speak with such power and their authority is evident! I had the chance to listen to a devotional given by Jeffrey R. Holland and Sheri Dew in the last 2 days. In these talks they spoke of the Savior and the importance to follow him, exactly. Sister Dew said, "Be obedient, be MORE obedient than you need to be! When you are, Satan loses his power to affect you. Watch as spiritual power will flow into your life!" I invite each of you to be more obedient than you need to be! I testify that if we are really striving to be obedient, to pray sincerely, to emerse ourselves in the scriptures, to keep our covenants completely and faithfully, to have charity towards those around us...that we will see blessings come into our lives that we couldn't have imagined before. I know this because I have seen it in my life as I have been on this mission. It is powerful! If God didn't have great power, He would NEVER be sending 19 year olds and 21 year olds into the world to teach His word! Haha! Remember as you set out to accomplish this goal that the Lord never, NEVER, asks too much. He does ask a lot, but if we try our hardest, Then..and only then, do we witness the miracle. I have been studying Alma 36 this week and I love verse 24 when Alma is teaching his son, Helaman about the his experience. He says, "I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance." We must ask ourselves, are we truly laboring without ceasing? Elder Holland said at a friend's funeral, "We spend too much of our lives acting as though we're going to stay here--when we aren't, we can't, and we won't!" How true that is! How concerned we become with the trivial. He also said, "The battle from heaven still wages, the arena has just changed!" Pick your side! So..this week, let's all choose to be stronger, to be more obedient, to delve further into our scriptures and come to Christ. Not just for a day, or a week, but to come and stay! I'm sure you want to hear about my week instead of my lectures..lol...but this is what happens in the week. It's not that I want to preach to you, but I want us to be better, together! So, that being said, here is a quick update on my life at the MTC and then I'll share a remarkable and tender experience I had this week. We realized this week that we only have 3 weeks until we are surrounded with tiny little people in the Philippines and how excited and anxious we are! We are trying our hardest to stay completely focused in the work and to learn as much of the language as we can. To those of you who have prayed and fasted for me, I can feel the power of the prayers and I thank you. Keep praying! I have so far to go..but the language is coming. I still love my companion to death. I don't know what else to tell you!! I'm so blessed! I went to the temple this morning and it was a powerful experience. I have been really focusing on prayers and making them more meaningful. 3 days ago I felt the need to pray...just kneel and pray. And so I did. That night I knelt down after all the sisters were in bed and I pled with my Heavenly Father. I spoke of all my concerns, my weaknesses, my shortcomings, the desires of my heart for my family members, each by name, gratitude for the many blessings I have been given, and the most amazing thing happened. I have found there comes a time on our knees when revelation starts to flow freely. I did not hear a voice, I did not see a vision, but I did know that my Heavenly Father was communicating to me openly. I lost all track of time and have never before prayed for that amound of time. The amount of time I spent on my knees is not important, but my point is, WE are the ones who decide the amount of time we spend directly communicating with our Heavenly Father! I would encourage each of you, when you feel you should, to kneel down in a secret place and pour your heart out. Cry unto your Heavenly Father. When pauses come, let them come! Don't be afraid of lulls in the prayer. I promise you that as you do this, you will have a great sense of peace and you will feel your Heavenly Father's love for you stronger than you can imagine. It doesn't matter if you haven't prayed in years, He is waiting to hear from you. I have a few minutes left, I just want you to know that I know that this church is true. This is the restored Gospel of Christ on the earth in it's fulness! I know it! I don't believe it, I know. I have witnessed too many blessings to sit here and deny the truth of it. Christ lives!! Joseph Smith is a true prophet and we have a living prophet on the earth today to bless us! 10 years ago President Hinckley spoke in the Priesthood session of conference and told us to get our debts out of the way and to put money into savings because if there was a financial crisis it would being much sorrow to the world. What is happening today? We would be very foolish to not pay close attention to Thomas S. Monson's counsel to us today. I love you all more than you know! Be Strong! Do what you know is right and the Lord will send down the blessings of heaven! Till next time, God Speed! Always, Sister Stadler

The first of many pictures...

2009-11-03T16:58:00.017-07:00