Week 86: Tuesday January 27, 2015

Dear Family,

   I have to be honest. Sometimes it's difficult thinking of what to write in my letters to everyone. In each letter I do my very best to be positive, uplifting, and even a little humorous. You would think that there would be so much to write about. It's true that while I am out doing the same things day after day and week after week, there is something new that happens almost every single day. Sometimes though, it's difficult to choose what to share. Sometimes still, all of the days seem to blur together so I can't remember everything that happened in the week. I am just grateful for the opportunity to be here. Yesterday was so beautiful. It was a clear day, the clouds were huge, and the wind was just blowing. It was incredible to see the acres and acres of sugar cane just blowing in the wind. It's like nothing that I have ever seen before. The beauty of the earth is incredible. I hope we all take time to appreciate it once in a while.

   Okay, I do have something that I need to share with you all....I can't find my camera.... I'm not sure if I misplaced it or left it somewhere. I know that you are all probably devastated. I know that I am. I guess that's what I get for not sending pictures more often! Oh well, I only have a few months left. If I absolutely can't find it anywhere, I'll probably just buy another cheap one somewhere. I'm sorry!

   I try not to talk about going home too often, but it's getting close! I've been thinking and praying really hard about what I am going to do when I return. Needless to say, I think that my thoughts and desires are finally coming together. While I do not know all of the fine details of what I am going to do when I get home, I think that I have a pretty good idea. I don't want to give anything away, so I better not say anything else...

   I love you all so much! Have another awesome week and I promise to do the same!

Elder Staheli.

Week 85: Tuesday January 20, 2015

Dear Family,

   First of all, forgive me for not sending any pictures in a long time! I always mean to send some but I always forget the cord to do so. I wish that I could tell you that I remembered it this time, but I didn't. I have taken some really incredible pictures as of late and I am excited to share them with you, whether by sending them to you via dropbox or in person when I return from my mission. Either way I know that it will be a treat!

   There has been so much that has happened this week that I don't think I can share everything. But here is a quick recap of everything that has happened...

*We have had another successful transfer day and my new companion is awesome!
*We finally have a truck in our area! 

*We spent two hours digging the truck out of the side of the mountain because we got it stuck...

*We have found so many new less-active families to teach!
*Our teaching pool is continuing to grow!
*We just finished our zone interviews with President McCurdy!
*I was able to work for a day with another one of good friends from St. George, Elder Buck!

   Many more things have happened on top of all of these things. There never seems to be a dull moment in the mission. Every day seems to hold something new in store that I never expected. I'm so grateful for all of the memories that I am going to be able to take home with me and use in my post-mission life.

   Thanks so much for your letters and pictures! I always love them. I love you all!

Elder Staheli.

Week 84: Tuesday January 13, 2015

Dear Family,

   Happy Birthday to me! I have officially said goodbye to my teenage years and have now ushered in a new chapter of my life. I can't wait for all of the amazing experiences that await me in my future! I am even more excited to apply the things that I have learned on my mission into my life after to help me along the way.

   Transfer calls are in and I am staying right where I am! My companion, however, will be transferring. He is going to Pinamungajan, my first area in the mission! Since he is transferring, that means that I am going to have a new companion. His name is Elder Abraham. He is from Luzon and I am super excited to be his companion! We haven't ever served in the same zone, but we have talked at our meetings in Cebu. He is super nice and I am looking forward to this transfer!

   So many great things have happened this past week. We have found so many new, incredible investigators. We just hiked a beautiful mountain earlier this morning. The best thing that happened this past week is definitely the 3 baptisms that we had on Sunday! They were so great and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and teach such incredible people. I will try to send pictures next week.

   We are going to San Carlos right now to prepare for tomorrow, transfer day, so I only have a little bit of time today. Thanks again for the letters and pictures! Everybody is always so shocked when I show them pictures of my long hair from before. Why did you all let me do some of those things? Oh well, like I said, I'm looking forward to a brighter future ahead!

I love you all!

Elder Staheli.

Week 83: Tuesday January 6, 2015

Dear Family,

   Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! It's kind of weird to think that I am just about ready to say goodbye to my teenage years. However, I can say that I feel ready. I feel like I have learned to put away many of my bad habits and I am excited to see what is in store for me in the next 10 years! Thank you also for the pictures! I wish I could have watched the viedos, but the computer that I am at won't allow me to do so. I'll have to watch them at a later time.

   It's been another enjoyable week. We have been in Cebu for the last 2 days and we are making our way back to Escalante. We had a wonderful meeting with President McCurdy and received great instruction that I am excited to take back to the missionaries in my zone. Transfer calls are on Monday, so I have seen many wonderful missionaries for the last time. There are some great missionaries going home this transfer including my trainer, Elder Walker, and one of my previous companions, Elder Harris. I loved them both so much and they both played such a big part in my mission. I have learned so much from them and it will be sad to see them leave, yet exciting at the same time. I am not sure what will happen with transfers, but I am guessing that my companion will probably transfer and I will stay in the area. He's been here for 3 transfers now. But whatever happens, I will be really excited. I really love my companion and we have had so much success and happiness working together!

   I received my package! Thank you so much! I know that it is already past Christmas, but me and my companion are looking forward to hanging up the banners and decorations in our apartment. I also love the ties, slippers, and candies that were included. Thank you for sending me such a thoughtful gift. It was the best!

   I'm glad that Daxton is doing okay! Those pictures looked pretty scary. I can only imagine the reaction that you must have had. That's ashame that he's allergic to those things. I guess it's good that you were able to find out now so that you can prevent further allergic reactions in the future.

   I think that's about it for this week. I'll let you all know what happens with transfers. I'm officially down to my final 3 transfers. Crazy.

   I love you all so much! Thanks again for the package, pictures, letters, and love!

Elder Staheli.

Week 82: Tuesday December 31, 2014

Dear Family,

   Happy New Year! As one year comes to an end, another greets us with high hopes and great anticipations. I am very much looking forward to what the year 2015 holds in store. There are certainly many exciting things to look forward to this upcoming year, and for me it's difficult to think about the new year without thinking about coming home. As I have made clear in the past, it's an extremely bitter-sweet feeling knowing that this amazing chapter of my life is quickly coming to an end. However, I know that there is a "time and season" to all things. I can't think of anywhere else that I would rather be right now or anything else that I would rather be doing. My "time and season" is here and now amongst these amazing people who have changed my life forever.

   What a great opportunity we have to sit down and evaluate ourselves. I hope that we all take the time to look back at this past year and find joyful memories. I hope that we all recognize how much happiness there is to be found in each day. Let us continue to focus on the positive and do our best to overcome the negative. I also hope that we look back and find things that we need to work on. Without evaluation and recognition of our faults and weaknesses, there is no progression. Where there is no progression, there is no happiness and no purpose to our existence. I have personally set goals for myself that I am determined to keep and achieve this year. I have set goals for the remainder of my time as a missionary as well as for my return home. These goals are centered on strengthening my personal relationship with my Heavenly Father as well as finding opportunities each day to serve, help, and love others. I am so excited to hold myself committed to these goals. I know that they will help me to continue to progress in happiness, maturity, and leadership. SET GOALS!

   We had an enjoyable time celebrating the new year together as a zone. Just as we did last year, we were permitted to watch a few movies and stay up a little late to celebrate the occasion. We watched "How to Train Your Dragon 2" and "Free Birds". I really enjoyed them both. It was nice to see a movie again. There was also plenty of food to eat! This all took place yesterday which is why I wasn't able to write. Next week should be back to normal, but we are going to Cebu so I'm not sure. 

   Thank you so much for the pictures and videos of Christmas! Send more! It looked very enjoyable. It's already 2015 on my side of the world, but I hope that you all have a safe and happy New Year! I love you all.

Elder Staheli.

Week 81: Tuesday December 23, 2014

Dear Family,

   Twas' Christmas eve on the isles of the sea, and in the far land of Utah lived one very excited family!

   I feel like I usually have boring opening lines, so I thought that I would think up something a little more exciting! Christmas time is finally upon us. The anticipation is growing and the time is drawing closer for us to speak. I am hoping that all goes well and works out! I am sure that we will figure it all out, but I just want to re-emphasize the importance of patience. Who knows? Maybe it will work right away and all will go smoothly! But if not, don't stress. It will all work out. The plan is still the same. I will be on tomorrow around 9:00 or 10:00 am. We will try Google Hangout, but if all else fails, we may have to resort to Skype.

   I'm not going to spend a great deal of time on this letter since we will be talking tomorrow. We had a zone Christmas activity earlier this morning so I wasn't able to write as early as I usually do. It was very enjoyable. There was food, games, and a small gift exchange. We even used a stick and a rolled up piece of large tissue paper with tape around it to play baseball! It's been a long time since I've swung a bat. I'm excited to spend hours doing so when I get back!

   I have received the package that you all sent! Well, I haven't personally received it, but it is at the mission office. I will pick it up next month when we head back over to Cebu. Don't feel bad. It will be nice to have a Christmas/birthday package waiting for me!

   I love you all. See you tomorrow!

Elder Staheli.