Week 101: Tuesday May 12, 2015

Dear Family,

   As I sit down to write this letter to you all today, I can't help but to think back over these past two years. The short time that I have to write you each week cannot even begin to properly express the feelings that I have had over these past 2 years as I have learned to overcome my weaknesses and pride and lose myself in this work and these people. I have found it such a privilege to share my experiences with you each week. I realize that I probably have not been the best at sharing everything that I have gone through, and I probably could have sent more pictures, but I hope that you have all been able to feel the words which I have chosen to send home. During the early months of my mission, I did not always send home the most uplifting or comforting words and experiences. I hope that the effort in which I have made to be more positive and happy has effected you each in a way that has been able to help you.

   I often think about where I would be right now had I not served a mission. I don't think that I would necessarily be a bad person, but I wouldn't be where I am today. This has been a great time for me to learn so many important things that will bless me both spiritually and temporally. Things such as hard work, discipline, obedience, humility, positive thinking, creative thinking, love, and kindness. I have learned how to study and how to apply the things that I learn. I have learned the importance of keeping a journal (still working on that one). I have learned to put others before myself and find joy in watching others learn to succeed. I know that I will continue to look back upon the experiences that I have had in my mission for the rest of my life as I accept new challenges and responsibilities in the future. 

   I have by no means served a perfect mission, but that has never been the expectation. However, I think that I can say that I have become pretty good at falling and getting back up again. Falling is part of our existence and nature as humans. It is important to remember, however, that while we all fall, standing back up is only possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

   I know and feel with my entire heart that the church is true. I pray that there will never be a time that I set the things that I have learned on my mission aside for the things that the world has to offer. I am so excited to return home. But I will undoubtedly be leaving a large part of myself here in this beautiful land. 

   So get ready...I'M COMING HOME!

Elder Staheli.

Week 100: Tuesday May 5, 2015

Dear Family,

   This week has been great! It's so cool to see how many miracles happen everyday. I love seeing how prepared people are to receive the gospel. I also love seeing people begin to change their lives and start living in accordance to the gospel. I don't think a day passes by that I don't witness a miracle in one way or another. Sometimes they are great, and sometimes you have to look a little closer, but the world is full of miracles just waiting to be witnessed. 

   Last night as me and Elder Ray had the chance to visit the Abordo family. I don't remember if I have mentioned them in previous letters. There are 9 people in the Abordo family; the parents and 7 children. Recently, the 10 month old son of one of the daughters passed away from an illness. We have visited them a few times in the past few weeks to offer our help and condolences. Despite the tragedy that has recently struck this family, I am amazed at how happy they are! Each time we visit them they have a big smile on their face. We were able to teach a lesson to them last night for the first time since the child passed away. As we all sat together in their humble home, the family began to testify to us about the power of family prayer. They shared with us a touching experience. As the young child laid in a small, wooden, hand-made casket in their living room, they knelt together in prayer. As they did so, they received great comfort in feeling the spirit testify to them that they would see the child again. 

   The greatest truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that families can be together forever. Nothing has brought me more happiness and joy in my life than my loved ones. I just want to say that I love you all so much. Thank you for always supporting me and being there for me when I have stood in need of comfort and guidance. There is no greater blessing in my life than all of you.

   I also just want to add that James was able to attend church this past Sunday! Despite being sick, he made it. He is awesome and is going to be a great priesthood holder in the church.

   Okay, so for the call home....We will be calling home on Saturday at 10:30 am (8:30 pm on Friday in Utah). Looking at our schedule, this is the best time for us to make the call. If you have any questions or anything, be sure to let me know quickly. 

   I'm excited to talk to you! I love you all!

Elder Staheli.

Week 99: Tuesday April 28, 2015

Dear Family,

   It's been such an awesome week! We have had so many great experiences. Lovelyn was baptized on Saturday and is now a member of the church! Her service was nice and she gave a solid testimony. To add to that, we have a few more people that we are teaching who are preparing for baptism this coming May!

   On Sunday we were able to enjoy the special privilege of attending a fireside put on by the cast of the "Hey Joe Show". As you know, the cast is made up of 5 returned missionaries from Cebu mission, including my good friend Elder Glines. It was such a special time for me to sit down and speak with them about their life and the things that they are doing. The short night that I had to spend with them both encouraged and inspired me to become the best person that I can after my mission.I am so excited to continue to progress after my mission into the man that I know I can become. 

   I was able to sit down and have my final "zone interview" with President McCurdy this morning. It was a sweet time to discuss with him the things that I have experienced and learned. I am looking forward still to my final interview with him right before I return home. He taught a great workshop on Monday. I was able to bear my "final testimony" to the missionaries present. It was a strange sensation, but exciting at the same time. I have officially received the hard copy of my travel plans and instructions for my last days as a missionary. It's all really coming to an end. I wish that I could describe the feelings that I have right now. It doesn't feel like I'm about to go home. This is my home. I feel like I will be returning to a foreign land. All that I can say is that I am grateful for everything that this mission has given me. 

   Just so that you are aware, we have been given instruction and permission to have our Mother's Day call on either May 9th, 10th, or 11th. I will talk with my companion and see what works best for him and his family and then we can finalize plans next week. 

   Continue to find happiness each day. I love you all.

Elder Staheli. 

Week 98: Tuesday April 21, 2015

Dear Family,

   Whoa. You hit less than a month left in the mission and all of a sudden everyone starts talking to you differently! A lot of the missionaries and members think it's funny to tease me about it. We just laugh and cherish the time that I have left.

   This week has been great! Just within the last few days we have found some awesome new investigators. After teaching a young man, before we even had the chance to challenge him to baptism, he asked us if he could be baptized into the church! We're looking forward to helping him progress toward baptism. Unfortunately, I don't think that I will be here to participate in that special day. But we have a baptism coming up this Saturday! Her name is Lovelyn and she is awesome. I'm so excited for her. I wish that I could just tell you about everyone that we're teaching. Both my area and companion are great!

   There is still much to be done before my time is through! Like I said in my last letter, I am working harder than I have my entire mission and we are certainly seeing the fruits of our labors. I'm excited to participate in missionary work in other ways when I return home. 

    There are so many exciting things going on back home it sounds like! I'm looking forward to participating in everything when I get back. I appreciate the e-mails and the words of love. Know that I miss and love each of you. I can't thank you all enough for the support and encouragement that you have each offered me. I'm so blessed to have such an incredible family!

   It's almost time for our last computer conversation! Again, I'll let you know the details as they come. Amping mo diha!

Elder Staheli.

Week 97: Tuesday April 14, 2015

Dear Family,

   It's been a busy week with transfers, but I'm all settled into my final apartment and area. Elder Ray is such an awesome missionary! We've only been together for a week and it's been nothing but smiles and success. It's such a blessing to have him as my final companion. I've never worked harder in my entire mission! He's a great motivation for me to give everything that I have up until the final second. The area is awesome as well. It's similar to Cebu city in that there are grocery stores, markets, and anything else you might need, but it's smaller, cleaner, and prettier!

   I want to share an awesome experience that me and Elder Ray had the other day. Since I'm new to the area, he's kind of been taking me places and showing me around. I've been able to meet members, investigators, and less-actives. My second day in the area, we went to the house of a long time less-active member. Her name is Ivy. Elder Ray had never met her before, so we began to speak with her. She was nice, but she began telling us about some of the reasons that she hasn't gone back to church. She told us that she had been going to a "Born Again" church and has been having positive experiences attend their meetings. In the middle of all of this she stopped and asked me, "Elder, why do we need the Book of Mormon?" She began telling us about how it only confused her to read both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We began teaching her the importance of the Book of Mormon, and as we did her countenance began to change. Her simple frustration turned into more of a true desire to know the truth. When I asked her if she had read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true, she dropped her head and told me that she hadn't. As we taught and testified of the Book of Mormon, it was incredible to she the spirit work within her. Her heart was noticeably touched and she committed herself to continue to read and pray with patience. 

   I'm so excited to see more of these miracles in the upcoming weeks. They always strengthen my testimony of this work and gospel. It was an inspiring weekend of General Conference. I'm grateful for the instruction that I have received from the leaders of the church and the personal revelations and realizations that have come to me. I am excited to begin the next chapter of my life beginning very soon!

   It's been great to hear from you. I look at pictures of the kids and can't even believe how big they are. I remember holding Daxton as a baby, barely able to open his eyes. Now he is running around saying words and learning letters. Krue and Axzelle are such big kids now. It will be exciting to spend time with everyone again. Just as Ivy has learned the importance of patience, I too need to be patient! It's difficult at times, but I know that good things come to those who wait. I love you all.

Elder Staheli.

Week 96: Tuesday April 7, 2015

Dear Family,

   Weeks and transfers come to an end, but I feel so blessed to still have another transfer to serve as a missionary. It has been an incredible 6 months in Escalante, but it's with excitement that I announce that I will be transferring to a new area! The area that I will be transferring to is one of the most well know and popular areas in the mission...Dumaguete! I can't tell you how excited I am to be going there! I am also so excited for my new companion, Elder Ray. Elder Ray is a fairly new missionary and I can't wait to work with and learn from him. Also, one of my housemates will be yet another fellow "St.-Georgian", Elder Arsilanian. He played football for Pine View and has a scholarship to play at BYU after his mission. Somebody tell Brett...he'll be excited to hear about it!

   I've been visiting everyone in my area these past few days - members, recent converts, investigators, etc. It's always hard leaving an area, but I love the feeling that comes with knowing that you have done everything that you can. I'm grateful for the experiences that I have had here. I have learned so much. I've taken beautiful pictures too! I can't wait to go over them all with you when I get home.

   I'm excited for General Conference this weekend! I've already heard a little bit about it. I'm not sure if any of you were able to catch it, but my former mission president, Evan A. Schmutz, was sustained as an area seventy. I am so excited for him! He truly is an amazing man who has effected my life the most incredible way.

   Going into my last transfer, I am doing my very best to give everything that I have while I am still here. If my e-mails are shorter than they have been in the past or if I don't seem as excited as you think I should be, just know that I am trying not to let it distract me. This last 6 weeks is so important. I still have so many important things to do and there is still so much that I know that I need to learn. Having said that, I am looking forward to our last call together. I'm not sure when the exact day will be, but I have a feeling that it won't be any longer than a week before I return home. I can't believe it's coming to an end.

   I love you all so much. I'll talk to you soon.

Week 95: Tuesday March 31, 2015

Dear family,

   Due to my travel back to Escalante from Cebu, I am e-mailing at a later time than usual and you are probably all asleep right now. That being the case...good morning! What better way to start off the day than by reading a letter from Elder Staheli! 

   I have had a very enjoyable week and am grateful for the things that I have been able to do. I want to share with you that Amalito Arjel was the first face that I saw at church on Sunday! He is truly showing through the changes that he is making in his life that he is ready to make this covenant of baptism. We have planned a family home evening at his home this Friday with his family. I'm so excited to teach him more about families and his roles and responsibilities as a father! He is going to be such a blessing to his family in the future, especially when he is able to receive the priesthood.

   As you know, we have had another MLC in Cebu this past week and it was incredible! I say it every time, but these meetings hold many of my very favorite memories as a missionaries. I have been blessed with so many great examples in my life both at home and in my mission. 

   Okay, I know that everyone is dying to know my travel plans! I received them this morning and am happy to report them to each of you. I will be touching down in St. George on the 20th of May at roughly 6:00 pm.  I cannot wait to see your happy faces! I am looking forward to the moment that I walk off the plane back to my family. I can only imagine what the moment will be like. 

   I'm so excited to hear that Jazzy and Seager will be having a baby girl! I can't wait to meet her. I know that she will be such a beautiful blessing to the entire family. I'm looking forward to having another niece to play with!

   I hope that everyone's keeping it together. I know that it's sometimes hard to be patient thinking about the short time that I have left. I'll be home soon enough, though. I love you all!

Elder Staheli.