Week 20: Tuesday October 22, 2013

Family,

   I want to start this week by expressing my sorrow for the passing of Joy. I can't even imagine how hard that would be for a family to lose someone. It makes me so sad thinking about it. I don't know their family extremely well, but I still can't help but feel a deep sorrow for her death. It's comforting to know that she will be seen again. It's amazing that we have this knowledge & understanding that death is just a temporary separation from those you love. This is the greatest blessing, in my opinion, that Heavenly Father has given to us.

   Well, earthquakes & aftershock continue. They are of course much smaller, but they are still lingering none the less. Nothing to worry about though! We haven't had any service projects to help with the damage, because as you all know, the bulk of the damage was in Bahol which is another Island & the Cebu East mission. Things are very bad over there compared to here. There were many deaths there as well as a few deaths here. My area is right here in the city, but like I said, it's nothing incredibly bad. We are all fine over here.

   You will all be pleased to know that things are going great with my companion! As I stated last week, we talked it out after our dispute. Since then, things have greatly improved. We are more comfortable around each other (maybe it's just me) & we are having a good time. We are working hard & trying to find more people to teach. Unfortunately, we are having a hard time finding investigators. Almost everyone is willing to listen to us, but nobody wants to here more than our small explanation. It's very hard, much harder than my first area. I think that it's because I am in the city. The people here are much more stubborn & everything is just busier. We are, however, making good progress with the less-active members here. We are gaining their trust I think & more than anything I think we are just being friendly to them & they are really responding to that. Shining moment for my companion - he is the single most generous missionary I have ever met. He is truly here to serve the people & help them. His testimony is amazing. I think that since he is from a very small, poor country with similar circumstances (Tonga) he can relate to the people. He has been out for about 6 or 7 months & I feel bad saying this, but his language is not very good. He understands everything that is said, but he really has a hard time speaking it. But that doesn't stop him. Chad, you asked about the English in the city. It's true, everyone understands English. Most people are terrible at speaking it, but almost everyone can understand it. This is great for my companion because he mostly just speaks in English because he has such a hard time speaking. I have learned a lot from him & I have really tried to humble myself & be more charitable. As I have done this, I feel like I have been blessed to see these people differently & that was something that was really hard for me before. I would have said that I was humble, but I really wasn't. I am learning what it means to really be humble & take myself to their level. It's so incredible. The people here have nothing, yet they are happy. I think of how spoiled I was in America & how the people there wouldn't last 2 months here - I barely did! As you learn to really love & serve the people, the work becomes easier. And not only easier, but more enjoyable as well! I really feel that I have received so many blessing, especially lately. It never ceases to confound me. I feel extremely inadequate & unworthy of all of the blessings that I have receive here. It has really been a testimony to me of how unwavering the love of Heavenly Father is for us. If we will but strive to do what is right & be humble, we will be blessed so much.

    Dad, that's so funny that you are playing in the Senior Games. I'm glad though! I wish I was there to watch you tear it up on the court. If that happens next time, just demand the ball & show them that you are the best on the floor! Starr, I'm sorry, but no pictures this week! I have them on the way, though! Lots of them! Also, that Google thing sounds great! I have been stressing about how I am going to speak to you all. Find out more, I would love to do that! That's a shame that it's Boston & St. Louis in the World Series. I don't really care for either of them. Oh well, I'm not that upset. The food is pretty much the same here, there is just more options. I actually haven't had McDonald's yet because it's so expensive & the portions are tiny! It's not worth it. I don't mind the  food here actually. It tastes good. Chad, let's be real. The Bears season was over before it started. I have started to read Teaching of the Prophet: Joseph Smith, & I have really enjoyed it. It's incredible. I have learned a lot from it.

   Well, things are going fine here & time seems to be getting faster. It's so crazy to think that it's almost been 6 months! Wow, half a year. That's crazy. Oh, Elder Niel L. Anderson is coming Saturday, so I'm pretty excited about that! It should be awesome. That's about it. I love you all & hope all is going well!

-Elder Staheli

10.17.13