Dear Family,
It's been a busy week with transfers, but I'm all settled into my final apartment and area. Elder Ray is such an awesome missionary! We've only been together for a week and it's been nothing but smiles and success. It's such a blessing to have him as my final companion. I've never worked harder in my entire mission! He's a great motivation for me to give everything that I have up until the final second. The area is awesome as well. It's similar to Cebu city in that there are grocery stores, markets, and anything else you might need, but it's smaller, cleaner, and prettier!
I want to share an awesome experience that me and Elder Ray had the other day. Since I'm new to the area, he's kind of been taking me places and showing me around. I've been able to meet members, investigators, and less-actives. My second day in the area, we went to the house of a long time less-active member. Her name is Ivy. Elder Ray had never met her before, so we began to speak with her. She was nice, but she began telling us about some of the reasons that she hasn't gone back to church. She told us that she had been going to a "Born Again" church and has been having positive experiences attend their meetings. In the middle of all of this she stopped and asked me, "Elder, why do we need the Book of Mormon?" She began telling us about how it only confused her to read both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We began teaching her the importance of the Book of Mormon, and as we did her countenance began to change. Her simple frustration turned into more of a true desire to know the truth. When I asked her if she had read the Book of Mormon and prayed to know if it was true, she dropped her head and told me that she hadn't. As we taught and testified of the Book of Mormon, it was incredible to she the spirit work within her. Her heart was noticeably touched and she committed herself to continue to read and pray with patience.
I'm so excited to see more of these miracles in the upcoming weeks. They always strengthen my testimony of this work and gospel. It was an inspiring weekend of General Conference. I'm grateful for the instruction that I have received from the leaders of the church and the personal revelations and realizations that have come to me. I am excited to begin the next chapter of my life beginning very soon!
It's been great to hear from you. I look at pictures of the kids and can't even believe how big they are. I remember holding Daxton as a baby, barely able to open his eyes. Now he is running around saying words and learning letters. Krue and Axzelle are such big kids now. It will be exciting to spend time with everyone again. Just as Ivy has learned the importance of patience, I too need to be patient! It's difficult at times, but I know that good things come to those who wait. I love you all.
Elder Staheli.
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