Week 80: Tuesday December 16, 2014

Dear Family,

   As Christmas time approaches, my schedule and responsibilities only seem speed up! This past Monday we traveled to Dumagete for our annual Christmas conference. What a special time! It was so great to see so many missionaries gathered together in one building. I especially enjoyed speaking to previous companions and building new relationships with others as we discussed Christmas and participated in the mission talent show. We arrived back in Escalante yesterday after many hours of traveling. When we arrived back to our apartment, I dropped my bag and fell onto my bed. For the past 3 weeks me and Elder Villamater have not been able to hardly work at all in our area. We have had transfers, the storm, our meetings in Cebu, our trip to Dumagete...so much traveling! As exhausting as it has been, it has also been an adventure! Every second has been exciting and I have learned so much along the way.

   Okay, let's move on to the important stuff. We get to see each other next week! I'm so excited and I know that you all are too. I will give you an outline of what I am hoping is able to happen. Please keep in mind that because I am in an area that does not have much and is so far away, you may have to be patient and we may have to improvise a little bit. I am hoping that we will be able to do Google Hangout once again. We are hoping to go to a members home on Christmas day. She has agreed to let us use her I-pad so that the connection will hopefully be better and it will be more private. We will go over there tonight and I will take a look at it. I'm hoping that she has Google Chrome so that it will work. If I absolutely cannot get it to work, we may have to settle for a Skype call. I know that it is not ideal, but we will just have to see what happens. If this is the case, I am going to have to know all of your Skype names. I have not created a Skype, so if I need to I will create one the day of. I will do my best to call around 10:00 am on December 25(Philippines) which I believe will be 7:00 pm on December 24 in America. If there are any questions or concerns, please e-mail me today so that I can have a plan!

   That's about it for this week. Oh, by the way, I have conjunctivitis (pink eye). I've had it for about a week. It hurts, but is starting to go down. I'm hoping that it goes away by next week so that you can't make fun of me. Thank you all sooo much for the awesome letters and pictures! If anyone is on right now, feel free to write me so we can chat for a bit. I love you all!

Elder Staheli.

Week 79: Tuesday December 9, 2014

Dear Family,

   I am happy to say that I am alive and well! As I'm sure you can imagine, it's been a pretty crazy week. What made it even more hectic and difficult is that this week was transfer week! We received transfer calls and Monday and the missionaries were set to transfer to their new areas on Thursday. By Monday morning, of course there was already talk of the storm that was heading our way, but it was still pretty far out and transfers were set to continue on Thursday.

   As zone leaders in our area, we had the responsibility of arranging everyone's travel plans and driving the missionaries that were transferring both in and out, to and from the barge in San Carlos which is about and hour and a half away. As Wednesday afternoon rolled around, we were all wondering if transfers were going to be postponed due to the storm. We received instruction to go ahead and do all that we could to get the missionaries to their new areas as soon as possible. Early Wednesday morning at approximately 4:00 am, we set out for San Carlos hoping to catch the 7:00 am boat going across to Cebu. We pulled up at around 6:00 am only to find out that there were no boats going across despite the clear weather. At a loss, we headed to the apartment of the Senior couple living not too far from the dock. Our spirits were somewhat lifted as they made us pancakes, and even more so when we received a call that there was a smaller boat making a special trip across. We dropped our pancakes (hardest decision I made that day) and made it in time to get them on the boat to Cebu.

   To make a long story a little shorter, we spent the next 2 days traveling to and from San Carlos running errands, picking up missionaries, and taking them to their areas. We made that trip a total of 5 times (back and forth) in 48 hours. Needless to say, it was borderline exhausting.

   But that was only the first few days of the week!

   As the storm approached us, we received instruction that we were to stay in our apartments. Since our apartment is not dangerously close to the ocean, we moved a few of the Elders to our apartment for a few days. The next few days were not filled with much - cards, games, talk, and sleep. In all honesty, it was nice to have a few days to rest. As for the storm itself, it was nothing to say your final prayers over. The wind was strong, the rain not so much, but it made for a nice cool breeze coming in through the window. It was actually very comparable to the storm that we experienced last year. Now that it is all said and done, everyone is safe and the work can continue!

   We are actually headed to Cebu for the next few days for our meetings. I'm so excited! After that, we will be heading to Dumagete on Sunday for our Christmas conference. I'm excited for that as well, but not so excited about the 6 hour bus ride. travel. travel. travel.  It's tiring, but it's fun. It's been an exciting and memorable week. Thanks for the prayers and letters! I love you!

Elder Staheli.

Week 78: Tuesday December 2, 2014

Dear Family,

   Happy December! Christmas and a new year is just around the corner. It's transfer week and this week has already been so busy! Tomorrow is the official transfer day and it is so much different helping out with transfers when you are off-island. We are going to be heading to San Carlos which is about an hour and a half away, helping missionaries catch the right boats at the right times. Oh, I guess I should tell you what happened with transfers...I'm staying in Escalante with Elder Villamater! Neither of us are transferring. It's great because the zone has been in a slump for quite some time and it is finally doing so well! I'm really happy to be staying for another transfer!

   Thanksgiving sounded like a lot of fun! I'm jealous that you all went to a Jazz game without me. Nobody has given me any updates on them this year, but I get the familiar feeling that they aren't doing so well... Surprise, surprise.

   It sounds like there is another big storm heading this way. I'm not sure if people are just over-anxious because of the last storm or if it is really something to be worried about. I personally don't feel too worried about it, but we will be preparing I'm sure nonetheless. If it is true, I'm sure there will be many new opportunities to serve and teach people. As terrible as the disasters have been in the past, there were always people who's hearts were turned to the gospel. The Lord will do what He will to prepare and warn us in these latter-days.

   I hope that the storm doesn't take out the electricity or else we won't be able to speak on Christmas! I'm sure it will be fine. Only 3 weeks to go...I love you!

Elder Staheli.

Week 77: Tuesday November 25, 2014

Dear Family,

   This has been one of the best weeks of receiving letters that I have had my entire mission! My heart is so full. The pictures that everyone sent made my entire week. Everyone looks the same, but so different. I guess it's just weird for me to think that people are still living their lives and growing up. I can't believe that I am now officially under 6 months. It kind of feels like I am never going to go home. Anyway, thank you so much for your letters and pictures. Nothing makes me happier.

   This week has been awesome. It amazes me to see that even though I have been out for such a long time, there are still so many ways to learn and grow. I feel like I have grown so much in this past week. Lately, I have felt pretty tired and somewhat weak physically. In fact, on Monday I was having some stomach pains and struggled a bit throughout the day. Though it was difficult, I told myself not to complain and not to be negative. During my time of sickness I thought about the atonement of our Savior. My suffering at that moment in time was so insignificant compared to the suffering that He took upon himself for all of us. During this thanksgiving season, I have thought about all of the things that I am grateful for. I am so grateful for all of you. My family is the greatest gift that I have been given here on earth. I am so grateful for the gospel which provides the only way in which family can be together throughout the eternities. But most of all, I am grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ, which allows us to repent, change, and progress each day. It's something that I cannot fully comprehend, but something that I know to be real and true. 

Transfer calls are on Monday, by the way. Does it not feel like that were just last week? I'll let you know what happens. I'm sure that I will be staying right here in Escalante.

   Happy Thanksgiving! I love you!

Elder Staheli. 

Week 76: Tuesday November 18, 2014

Dear Family,

   Happy Tuesday! Wait, don't I usually write on Wednesday? Well, we have a conference tomorrow in San Carlos which means that our preparation day is today this week. I'm excited to write regardless! This week has been exciting. Every single day in the mission is a new adventure! We have a family of 4 who is scheduled to be baptized next Saturday, the Ortaliz family. They are great! I am so excited to see them be baptized.

   Although we have had an awesome week of service among the people in our area, we have also spent some time serving the missionaries in our zone. We have spent a few days this week in the hospital assisting a sister missionary who is experiencing some health problems. She has had some trouble breathing and hives have broken out on her entire body. She has not been admitted into the hospital over night, but she has been going back each day for treatment. We did have a scary situation on Sunday night. After eating at a members home, the Sisters left to the hospital. Since we had not planned to go with them, we spent a few extra minutes at the members home. As we were eating and talking with the family, a young boy ran to the door screaming that the sister missionary had stopped breathing. Me and my companion jumped up and ran to the road where they were waiting for the bus. As I reached her, I found that we was still breathing, but with great difficulty. She was holding her companion in tears, inhaling and exhaling very quickly. Seeing that our areas are out in the middle of nowhere, public transportation sometimes takes 30 minutes or longer before anything passes by. We had no car and the hospital was about 10 miles away. After a few other things, a truck luckily passed by. We were able to flag it down, put her in the back, and head to the hospital. I don't have enough time to write down everything that happened, but needless to say we didn't get out of the hospital that night until around midnight. Right now she is fine. She did not even end up needing to spend the night at the hospital. She still has hives and pains, but she is currently doing okay. It's a miracle.

   There's your story of the week! It's been tiring, but enjoyable. We have an activity planned for today that I am excited about. We are just going to go to the chapel and play some games and relax. I will take pictures of all the fun! I love you!

Elder Staheli.

Week 75: Tuesday November 11, 2014

Dear family,

   Thanks for writing! I always love reading your letters, especially on weeks like this where I don't have much to write. Not much has happened this week that is out of the ordinary. It's been a pretty normal week. The work is going great and the ward is progressing so much! This past Sunday we had a record attendance of 126! The ward has never broken 120 until this past week, so everyone is very excited. We have so many awesome investigators in our area, many of which are preparing themselves for baptism! If everything goes well and works out the way that it should, we will be having some baptisms in our area in the next transfer or two.

   I am excited to see pictures of Axezelle's birthday party! That will be fun to see everyone dressed up so nice. Be sure to send lots of pictures!

   I wish that I had some fun stories to share or something, but I really don't! I took some awesome pictures this week! I began to upload them all, but then the computer froze and I had to transfer so only a few were uploaded. I will try again right now to upload some more. I know that you all love pictures just as much as I do...just be patient!

   Well, you will have to be satisfied with a shorter letter this week. Not much has happened. I'm really tired so that might have something to do with it as well. But just know that I love and miss you all!

Elder Staheli.

Week 74: Tuesday November 5, 2014

Dear Family,

   Happy Halloween! The pictures were so great and I loved everyone's e-mails. I loved the kids costumes as well. Good job! I hope Krue and Axzelle didn't get sick from all of the candy they got! My Halloween was fun. It's different here in the Philippines. There is no trick-or-treating. Halloween is a time of year to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have passed on. Actually, it's very religious and big amongst the Catholic and other Christian faiths, but in general, it is mostly just a cultural tradition. Halloween here is called "kalag-kalag". "Kalag" means "soul", and if translated to English means "all souls day". It actually takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November. Families go to the cemetery and just spend time with one another. For me personally, my day was no different than any other day. It was a great time to share the gospel, especially the plan of salvation.

   There's a small background as to what Halloween is in the Philippines, but the highlight of my week was our Missionary Leadership Council. This is the first time that I was able to attend MLC when I wasn't assigned 5 minutes away from the temple. What an experience! We have been traveling and having meetings for the last 3 days. I can't tell you how tired I am. It will make for some good journal entrees. The travel to Cebu was crazy. We ran into some...unusual circumstances and had to change our travel route. Needless to say, we arrived to the temple in Cebu at 4:00 am on Tuesday morning and had our meeting at 9:00 am. I have probably had about 12 hours of sleep in the past 2 and a half days. Today is our preparation day, so I  think that I am just going to go home and sleep for the rest of the day so that I can have some energy tomorrow. Despite the craziness of everything, MLC is still one of my very favorite things about my mission!

   It's been another awesome week. Things only get busier and there is not a day that goes by that I don't absolutely love. Thanks again for all of the pictures! Pictures are the best thing that you can send! I love you!

Elder Staheli.

Week 73: Tuesday October 28, 2014

Dear Family,

   If my life had a newspaper, I think the latest headline would read something like this... "Elder Staheli: From concrete to LAPUK!" For those of you who don't speak my language, lapuk means MUD. I'm definitely not in the city anymore, but can I tell you just how much I LOVE my new area? Now that I am assigned here in Escalante, I have had the opportunity to see every area in the entire mission. It's been such a privilege to have been able to see so much culture, beauty, and diversity. Since I have seen every area in the mission, I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful zone in the entire mission! I often wish that you could see the things that I see, and experience the things that I experience everyday. My mission is the hardest thing that I have ever done. I have often heard that the discipline and standards of the military change a person. Well I've never served in the military, but if you want my opinion, there is no better way to change the attitude, behavior, and actions of a person than by serving a mission. It's something that you can tell people over and over again, but unless you serve and experience for yourself, you cannot fully comprehend or appreciate the beauty of serving others and receiving happiness and experience in your life.

   Having said that, my new companion is the best! His name is Elder Villamater. He is one of the best missionaries that I have had the pleasure of serving with in my entire mission. I often think about my first few companions and the attitude that I had toward them while serving with them. It was easy to find their faults and weaknesses; easy to blame them for my own lack of personal progress. If you go into any relationship with the mindset of changing someone or expecting perfection, you will never enter into a strong or healthy relationship. This is the first thing that I can distinctly remember learning on my mission. If you cannot get along with others, no matter who it is or what the situation may be, you are going to have an extremely difficult time finding happiness in life.

   We are still waiting on a truck, but I do officially have a Filipino license! We actually borrowed the truck of the Senior couple that is assigned in our area for a few days, so I was able to drive around for the first time since I left! It was a little strange at first, but I adjusted in no time. Hopefully we will be able to get a truck up here in the next few weeks because we need it desperately!

   Well, I could probably go on much longer, but I feel good with leaving it at that for this week. You sent so many pictures this week! I love them! I love the kids costumes. Tell Krue to eat lots of candy for me! Oh, and just so you all know... the computers out here are...not as good as they are in the city. Meaning, I may not be sending pictures every week because of the viruses that are on many of the computers. If I feel comfortable, I will send some. I think that I am going to try and send some right now. Keep your fingers crossed! By the way...Christmas is getting close. I'm looking forward to talking to you all again in a few weeks!

   With love...

Elder Staheli.

Week 72: Tuesday October 21, 2014

Dear Family,

   After such an enjoyable 6 months in the area that I love, the time has come for me to labor in a different part of the vineyard! Transfer calls were this past Monday& I have received my new assignment with my new area and companion. I will be transferring to Mabini, in which I will be the new zone leader of Escalante zone. My new companion's name is Elder Villamater. I am so excited to be with him! He was here in the city as well last transfer and we would always joke about being companions, and now we really are! It will be a lot different than the city. Kamputhaw is the closest area in the mission to the temple and mission home, and Escalante is the furthest. It's about 7 hours away on the island of Negros. It is one of the zones that we took from the Bacolod mission a few months ago. I am also excited because the house has air conditioning! I can finally sleep in cold air! Not only that, the area is getting a truck also, so I will be able to drive! Anyway, I am so excited! It's been great serving here and I have had great companions with great success, but I am excited to go back to Negros, away from the city and the chaos.

   I can't think of a better way to end a transfer than with a baptism. Joy was baptized this past Saturday and I feel so privileged to have baptized her. It was a beautiful service and I am filled with so much joy that she has taken this step in her life and entered into this covenant. I put pictures up...go see!

   I'll take off tomorrow morning to my new area. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for me in this new area! I am looking forward to learning new things from my companion and growing in new ways. I feel so blessed to have served in each area that I have. They have all been different, but similar in that I have learned many things and grown in such special ways. I know that this area will be no different. I am excited for the success that I am sure will come in the upcoming months of my serving in Escalante. 

   I enjoyed the pictures and letters. I love you all. I'll hear from you next week!

Elder Staheli.