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.

Week 71: Tuesday October 14, 2014

Dear Family,

   The longer that I am out here serving these beautiful people, the quicker the weeks seem to go by. As a natural consequence, the weeks seem to be filled with so many more spiritual experiences. My life is busy, busy, busy! It is at times very tiring, but I am grateful for this experience because I know that life is not going to slow down at all when I return home. I have appreciated the opportunity that I have had to attend general conference this past weekend, and I have immediately started to apply the things that I have learned. On top of that, we have been experiencing so much success in our area! This week, we have already found several new investigators and Joy passed here baptismal interview. She will be baptized this Saturday! So much has happened this past week for which I am so grateful.

   Lately, I have really made a conscious effort to recognize those who are less fortunate than me and express charity and true love to them through service. This is not particularly difficult to do where are I am at. Every single day, we are surrounded by thousands of people who need someone to love them. Some of them lack physical and temporal support and are in need of food, water, shelter, or some other service as such. But still there are many who suffer each day with depression, sadness, hopelessness, and other mentally and spiritually destructive sicknesses. My heart has been softened as I have taken many opportunities that I have not previously taken to serve others. I have pondered the question, "Why do we hesitate to help one another?" In Mosiah 4:19 we read, "Are we not all beggars?" Indeed we all stand in need of some sort of help and support. If it were not for the Savior and his atonement, it would not be possible for us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. Thus, we all stand in need of the mercy and love of our Redeemer. As people who have been blessed with so much, I hope that we will begin to more actively exercise our agency to benefit and uplift the lives of those who have not been blessed with as much as ourselves. There are so many opportunities each day. Open your eyes and recognize those who need a smile or a helping hand. I feel so blessed to be a missionary, for this is what I do every second of the day. But even when I no longer where the name tag, I will readily serve those who stand in need. I know that there is true happiness through selfless service. So lets not be shy or ashamed to help others!

   I'm glad that Casey has made it home safely. I'm sure it's nice to have him back. My time is quickly approaching!  I can't wait to see you all again. I miss you all so much. I love you. You are always in my prayers!

Elder Staheli.

Week 70: Tuesday October 7, 2014

Dear Family,

   This past week has been great! It's been busy, and it's only going to get busier! Yesterday we had our monthly Mission Leadership Council. These meetings are always such a dear time to me. It is a time to be reunited with fellow missionaries, share stories, experiences, and laughter, and learn from our wonderful mission president and mission leaders. I always feel so spiritually uplifted and enlightened after attending these conferences. My favorite part, however, is teaching the missionaries in the zone the workshops that we have received. A few days after each MLC, we hold a zone training meeting in which me & my companion get to teach the zone. It's about 3 hours of pure teaching & discussion. I love teaching. 

   We also had an awesome zone activity! We went to the Cebu zoo and enjoyed playing with the animals. Yeah, playing with the animals. In America, they just let you look at them. Here, they let you hold them, sit on them, & take pictures with them. I hope you enjoy the pictures that I am uploading. They are awesome!

   It sounds like general conference was good! Like I have said in the past, because of the time difference we watch the broadcasts a week later than they are originaly broadcasted. That means that we will be watching this Saturday & Sunday, so I am very excited to attend! 

   We are doing great in our area. One of our investigators, Joy, is getting baptized next Saturday! Casey and Chantyl have actually met her. She lives with the Sabado family. She has made such awesome progress from the first time that we have taught her until now. She is going to be a great member of the church! Unfortunately, our other investigator who was set to be baptized next Saturday as well has decided to discontinue. He was so good! It breaks my heart. His name is Arniel, a 16 year old whose aunt & uncle are members. He came to church 5 times in a row and then just stopped. We visited him and at first he didn't even want to talk to us. So we went over to his house and talked to him face to face, expressing our love and concern to him. He looked so miserable. His smile was gone, he looked angry, and he had no light. I told him that we are going to continue to come back and visit him. I know that he has a testimony of the church, the adversary is just working so hard on him and he is going through some great trials right now. I still have faith that in the future he will come to understand the true joy and happiness that comes from living the gospel.

   Anyway, that's about it. Thank you for your e-mails, they were very inspiring! I love hearing from you. The time seems to be going by faster and faster...

   I love you all.

Elder Staheli