I can never remember the date. Before I start, I have to tell you that the keyboard that I am typing at is missing the letter in the middle of q & e, so if I say some phrases that sounds strange, just understand that I am going to have to be creative this e-mail. If I can't think of another phrase to replace it, I am going to put it in quotation marks, so that is your key for this letter. Also, it doesn't capitalize "d". So yeah...
Like I said, I tried sending pictures, & I have a lot, but my camera died. I'm sorry! I am going to have to send them next time.
Okay, I have a lot to say! Let me start off by telling you about transfers! Another transfer has come & gone. It's pretty crazy to think! So, I have been here in Labangon for 1 transfer along side Elder Toluta'u. Me & him have had some hardships, but me & him have also had successes. Having said that...I'm transferring! Everyone thought that he "ould" transfer because this is his 2nd transfer here, but I am the one transferring! I actually really enjoyed this area. The people have been so great & there's just something about it that has been really cool. But my "ne" area is on Negros! I am so excited! I hear Negros is the best. My area is called Bais. My first area is considered "bukid" or in English, it just kind of means jungle/"ilderness"/mountains. Here, it is mostly city, but there is a place in our area that is kind of bukid also. Bais is another extremely bukid area. After hearing that, I "as" a little bummed, but thinking about it, I'm sure it is going to be great! I'm actually really excited because people in the bukid are much less educated, so they don't speak hardly any English. I am hoping that this is the area that really helps me become a great speaker of the Visaya language. This also means that I am getting a different companion. He is an American missionary that just transferred here from Tacloban! I'm really excited. I can't remember his name though...is that bad? I'm sure he is a great guy. I'm very excited. That also means that I have not yet had a Filipino companion. I'm kind of disappointed because I think that I could learn so much more about the language if I had a native companion, but I also love American companions because me & him can relate to each other & talk about American stuff.
Are you all excited about Christmas? I am so excited! This transfer is my Christmas call! I hope you are all as excited as I am. Starr, I need you to figure out that google hangout thing & tell me the things that I need to do to get it set up. If you can't figure it out, maybe just Skype. I think you can Skype more than 1 person at a time, but I'm not sure.
Okay, story of the "eek". Me & Elder Toluta'u received a referral from the sister missionaries so me & him decided to contact it. Actually, me & him "ent" on splits "ith" the ZL's so me & Elder Smedley contacted it because it turned out that the referral "as" actually in their area. Me & him found them & they fed us dinner before our lesson. I'm sure you have all heard a missionary tell you about "that family". The family that just made their entire mission. Needless to say, I feel confident in saying that this lesson may turn out to be the very best that I have on my mission. As our lesson started, me & Elder Smedley started to talk to them about their lives. There is the husband & "ife", their one child, and the husband's brother. The mom has been a member for a very long time, but has not been to church in about 9 years. Even though she didn't go to church, she still lived the teachings of the gospel. She didn't party or curse or anything like that. Nobody else in the family has been baptized. The husbands brother is from Negros & he said that the missionaries visited him there & he has had a desire to be baptized for a very long time. The husband has an amazing story. He took about 10 or 15 minutes telling us about his experiences & it is incredible. He told us that he is Catholic from birth & during his life he has drank & smoked & done all of these things. He said that one night he attended a party for his job, he sells homes, and he noticed one of his co-"orkers" outside sitting alone on the balcony. He joined him & started talking to him. He asked the reason he didn't join the party. He told him that he is a Mormon & doesn't drink. He "as" in shock. He didn't understand the reason that his religion had such a big impact on his life. He said that he later met his "ife" & she said the same thing. He did not understand. He then told us "ho" amazing it is that me & my companion gave up 2 years of our life to be here. "You guys are so young. You could be out experiencing the "orld". "Ho" is it that you have so much discipline? "hy" does this church mean so much to you?" He asked us these questions "ith" tears in his eyes. At that point me & Elder Smedley proceeded to tell him our personal stories. To make a very long story short, the mom told us, as tears fell from her eyes, that she had been praying for the last 9 years that the missionaries "ould" come & save her family. She said that she had been "aiting" for that moment for 9 years. Me & Elder Smedley "ere" the first missionaries to visit their family ever. She thanked us & told us that me & him had saved her life. There "as" not a dry eye in the room that night. It's hard to express in "ords" the things that happened fully & the things felt. Especially since I am missing a letter. Such an amazing experience.
I hope you are not confused because that "as" extremely difficult. I am tired & frustrated "ith" this keyboard so I am going to end it here. Love you guys.
Elder Staheli
A few things Dylan mentioned later as we were emailing back and forth..
OH shoot, I forgot to mention that "e challenged them to baptism & they accepted! Sorry, I "as just frustrated. I forgot to mention that.
Oh, that's the other thing! "e have a temple session planned for next "ednesday, but seeing that I am going to be on Negros...No session for me... *sigh*
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