Family,
Okay, this has been the hardest/craziest week so far, for sure! First of all, none of our investigators are coming to church, we have been dropped by a few, & they are just struggling to progress. It's super frustrating. It's been hard dealing with them, but hopefully they will start to progress better. However, that is just part of the frustration of this last week. Here in the Philippines, we occasionally have "brown outs" which is simply a power outage. We have had a few since I have been here, but they have never lasted more than an hour or two. However, this week something broke down in the main power plant in Toledo which is where we receive the power for our town. It's about 20-30 minutes away. So, since there was a malfunction in the machinery, there was obviously a brown out. We have not had any power OR running water for about a week. I'm not sure which is more frustrating: Coming home from working all day, dripped in sweat, & not being able to sleep in air conditioning & fans, or not being able to take a shower for 3 or 4 days in the same conditions. I must tell you, it is an awful feeling. It felt as though I had just played a whole basketball game, I am hot & sweaty, & I am not able to take a shower. This went on all week. The power has started to come back on in small flashes starting a few days ago, but never seems to stay on for good. Hopefully it is back on for good now! I was hoping that the power would turn on so that I could e-mail you all today. It's on for now so hopefully it doesn't turn off while I am in the middle of this! Also, a few days ago, we found out that there is a well (I think that is the spelling?) near our home. So, for the last few days we have had to go & fetch buckets of water & shower out of the buckets with a small scoop that is at our home. Talk about a humbling experience! Also, since it gets dark here everyday, all year round, around 6:00, it has been very hard to teach people this week because there is no light. When we come home, we have had to do our nightly planning with just a flashlight because our apartment is obviously pitch black. It has been a frustrating, but also humbling experience to say the very least. It's so crazy to me that people here live like this everyday of their life. I'm struggling to go & get water out of a well, stuggling to function this week, & people are looking at me like I am crazy because they live like this everyday. Most people cannot afford electricity or running water so it didn't even phase them. I have the utmost respect for these people. They are incredible for being able to do this everyday.
So, it sounds like things are going great at home. I'm so bummed Utah lost! That makes me so mad. I'm also mad that I will miss the rivalry this week. It's hard to say who I think will win because I don't know much about the players this year. I know that BYU's quarterback has some experience & I think they have a great team this year. I don't know much about Utah, so it's hard to say. However, this I can say: GO UTES! I love the little Utah outfit that Dax is wearing! That's awesome.
Maddie, I got your e-mail! Thank you for your thoughts & advice. I really cherish & appreciate what you all have to say more than anyone else. It kind of makes me laugh that you are so involved in the school. Just because I can picture is so easily. You are such a great mom. Krue & Axzelle are so lucky to have you as their mom. They are so loving & are amazing. Also, let me just say that the pictures you sent actually put a few tears in my eyes. I miss the kids so much. I hurts my heart so bad to be away from them. The pictures are amazing! They have to be the most beautiful kids I have ever seen! I swear, they could be models. They are such amazing kids. I miss them so much. It makes me sad. But, I am glad they are busy having fun! I wish I was there to experience it with you all. The hardest part of my mission is without a single doubt, being away from all of you. I have friends, & they will come & go, but family is forever. You have all been there for me no matter what & that is something that I find very special. I am so blessed to have the family I have. I love you all so much & I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you all for your constant love & support in no matter what I have chosen to do in my life. You are all my best friends. Thank you.
You will be glad to know that even though I am on the other side of the world, I am keeping up on my S.T.Y.L.E.! I just bought a pair of shoes that I am stoked about! Unfortunately, I don't have any clothes nice enough to wear with them here, so I will have to wait awhile. They aren't church shoes, but they are a nicer shoe, for sure. I got them for about 1,000 pesos which is only about $25. I have looked at shoes like these before in America, & they are always at least about $90 or $100 so I am way excited.
Something incredibly annoying & frustrating about being a white guy in the Philippines is the constant "JOE!" Everyone here, especially the punk teenagers call white people Joe. The reason is because during WWII, they were many American soldiers in the Philippines. They were "G.I. Joes" so the Philippinos called them all "Joe". Well, it has stuck ever since. The thing is, they now use it as an insult. Many times I just bite my tongue & walk away in silent frustration, but sometimes I can't. They call me Joe & start cussing at me (in English, like they think I don't understand or something?) so I turn & start getting angry with them & then they get scared because there is this big American in their face speaking English to them. It's a good thing my companion is a patient person because he always pulls me away & keeps his cool. It's something I am trying hard to work on. I am getting better.
Time to answer your questions: Me & Elder Walker are getting along fine. He's a nice kid & we have a lot to talk about. I enjoy his company most of the time. I don't go on splits as much, but it's okay. We have a zone conference tomorrow so I will head to the mission home for that, about 2 hours away. My area is called Pinamungahan. I think that's all of them!
Well, that's about it. Kind of crazy this week. We have a zone activity today that I'm excited about & then there is a zone conference in the city tomorrow, so lots going on! I love & miss you all, always.
-Elder Staheli
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