Week 50: Tuesday May 20, 2014

Family,

   Some weeks are harder than others, in terms of the work, while others you seem to be unstoppable! Well, this week has been a really tough week, but at the same time many miracles have occurred & I have seen the hand of the Lord in this work. Never at any point in my mission, that I can remember, have I had a day or two that I have not taught a single lesson. These last two days, me & Elder Harris have had to work extremely hard to find people to teach. On Monday, we literally walked from about noon until 7 pm looking for appointments & found none! We tried 7 different places & either they weren't home, they were busy, or they just didn't want to listen. We were able to teach 1 lesson that day, the very last place that we tried after walking around the city all day. Yesterday, not much was different. We started out under the blazing hot sun & found no success for the first 3 or 4 hours. After talking to people & knocking a few doors, we both felt prompted to find a quite place to say a prayer. We had no idea where to go or who to teach, so we left it in the hands of He he knows all. About 15 minutes after we said "amen", we were blessed to find a man & teach him the gospel. We taught him about the Book of Mormon & gave him a copy. He seemed very interested & excited to read! After that, we returned to the temple & did one of my favorite things: A temple tour. Occasionally, since we are right by the temple, we are able to teach people at the temple. It is such an incredible experience seeing the way people react the feeling of the spirit on temple grounds. We are even allowed to take them inside the temple, into the waiting area & allow them to feel the peace & spirit that is inside the temple. The young man that we toured shared with us the feeling of peace & comfort that he had. He told us that we wants to go to church & learn more. We were also blessed with a few other great lessons later that night.

   I felt impressed to share this with you for some reason. As I have pondered over these last few days & thought about why we have seemed to have so many struggles in the work, I can't help but feel that the Lord has given us these challenges to remind us that He is in charge. We cannot do anything without Him. "As to my strength, I am weak". These last few days have been very humbling & I am so grateful for the challenges that we have faced. I see how I am being prepared for much greater challenges that may arrive later in life. This is such a wonderful time to learn, grow, & experience how to deal with everything that life might throw at you. While I was walking in the scorching heat, sweating out of every pour in my body, I couldn't help but look up, smile, & laugh. This is the happiest that I have ever been in my life.

   Thank you all so much for the wonderful letters that I receive each week. I'm sorry that I don't get to write you all personal letters as often as I would like to, but I will try & make more time to do so in the future. I love you all so much & am so grateful for your help & support!

Elder Staheli

Week 49: Tuesday May 13, 2014

Family,

   It was so great to see you all, even if it was only for an hour or so! It makes me so happy to see you all happy & doing well. At the same time, it kills me to see how big the kids are getting. I can't wait to get home & play with them all the time! I know that it was a little busy, but I am so grateful for the chance that I had to speak with you all. Let's do it again in 7 months! 

   This week has been so much fun! Me & Elder Harris have been working super hard & I am really enjoying the responsibilities of being a zone leader. It is such an awesome way to get to know the missionaries & serve them. I am so happy whenever I see somebody gain understanding or hearing that someone has been effected in a positive way because of something that I said or did. My area is awesome as well! It's incredibly different being in the city, but it's been quite enjoyable. Also, having more food options is never something to complain about! 

   Yesterday we had our MLC & it was incredible! It started at 9:00 am & President Schmutz gave us a wonderful workshop on faith. His workshops are always so spiritual & intelligent. We were then privileged to have lunch up at the mission home. We had chili in huge bread bowls. Even though I am not a huge fan of chili, I gave it a shot & it turned out to be quite delicious! Afterwards, we had ice cream & some hot, home made peach pie. I felt like I was in America. I guess I was in the next closest place, the Schmutz' home.

   Afterward, we went back down to the chapel & the AP's gave us a workshop. I am so excited. They are really emphasizing to us as leaders of the mission right now to bring the excitement back into the work. The mission is doing great, it's just kind of flat. Me & Elder Harris are both very upbeat & positive people, so we are really looking forward to bringing some positive energy into the zone & mission! 

   Lastly, we attended the temple last night. It was my first time back & it was such an amazing feeling! The temple was great before, but going back after everything that has happened & with all of the ways that I have grown, the feeling was indescribable. It is truly heaven on earth.

   Well, that has been my week. I am really excited to teach the workshops to the missionaries in our zone tomorrow. I feel like they will respond really well & rekindle their excitement about the work. Again, it was so nice to talk to you. I miss & love you all!

Elder Staheli

Week 48: Tuesday May 6, 2014

Family,

   Well, get ready for an information packed e-mail! First & foremost, it's almost Mother's day! Which of course means that I get to see you all again! It's so strange. It really feels like it was only a few weeks ago that we spoke to one another. Regardless, I am so excited to speak with you all. However, let me warn you ahead of time that this call is going to be much shorter, only about 45 minutes to an hour. Here is the plan: I am going to call get online on Monday around 8 am MY time. That means that it will be Sunday around 6 pm YOUR time. Do not be late because we have district meeting that same morning so we can't afford to have any mess-ups because there are no do overs! Just plan on doing it like we did last time. I will get on google hangout & speak with each of you. That seemed to work well last time because everyone was able to join in. I would still love it if you all are able to join in this call again, but I guess if you are busy there's always Christmas. If you have any questions, e-mail me RIGHT AWAY!

   Now that we have that out of the way, I can tell you about my week. I think that I mentioned in my last letter that transfer calls were this week. This transfer has been so great! I have opened up a new area, I have been a district leader, & I have loved my companion! I feel so grateful for everything that I have been blessed with & all of these opportunities that I have had to grow & really "find myself". I'm sure you are all curious so I guess I'll just tell you that I am only making a pit stop here in Guihulngan as a district leader, because I am the newest Cebu mission zone leader! I am so excited! I am transferring back to Cebu to an area called Kamputhaw. I am excited for a number of reasons.

   First, I am so grateful to serve in this new way. I am very much looking forward to growing in ways that I have not been able to in the past. With new responsibility comes new challenges, & challenges make weak things become stronger! I don't want you have the impression that I am "puffed up in pride". Actually, it's quite on the contrary. I feel so humbled that the Lord & President Schmutz have such great trust in me to fill this spot & to serve the missionaries & people in this way.

   Next, I know my new companion & I am SO excited to be with him! His name is Elder Harris. I have sent pictures home of him before. He is from California & is the epitome of a laid-back, California surf kid. However, he was my zone leader when I was assigned in Bais & he is the exact opposite in this work. He is an incredibly hard worker & gives it everything that he has. In all honesty, I have been hoping my entire mission that we would be companions. And now we are!

   Lastly, my new area is literally across the street from the temple & mission office. First of all, I am excited to go back to Cebu. I have been on Negros for more than half of my mission & I have loved every second of it! However, there isn't much over here. In the city there is McDonald's, KFC, things to do, etc. It's going to be nice to get some real food again. Also, as a zone leader, we have MLC (missionary leader conference) every month. President gives us workshops, we get to see every zone leader in the entire mission, & Sister Schmutz cooks for us in the mission home! I'm talking about real food. She cooks American food. One time, she made a Cafe Rio pork salad. I can't wait. But the thing that I am most excited about is I finally get to attend the temple! We are going for MLC next week & we may have another one sometime this transfer. It's been almost a year since the last time I was able to attend the temple. I really miss it & am so grateful to be going back.

   Also, I just uploaded lots of pictures so go & check them out! I can't wait to see you all in a few days! I love you guys.

Elder Staheli

Week 47: Tuesday April 29, 2014

Family,

   I'm writing you a few hours later than usual. Today we had a workshop given to us by President Schmutz. We stayed the night here in San Carlos last night & we are going to stay here again tonight. Tomorrow are our interviews with President & as always I am very excited! However, it's a little bitter-sweet because this will be the last zone interview before him & Sister Schmutz return home. I feel like my mission has flown by, I can't even imagine how they must feel!

   These last few weeks have been great. Me & Elder Mozar continue to see progression in our area as we continue to work hard. It's such an awesome feeling looking back at where we started compared to now. It really makes me feel like I have made a difference & have helped the people here in our area. I have found this to be true in a much larger scale as well. Looking back at where I was in high school compared to where I am now is an incredible, almost surreal feeling. I am excited to continue to see the progression that I make throughout my life as I continue to work hard, improve, & grow.

   I can't even believe it, but transfer calls are already next week! These next few transfers are going to be interesting. More than half of the zone leaders that we have in the mission right now are going home either this transfer or next. It will be a very strange feeling not having them in the mission. They have left a great legacy for the rest of us to continue.

   Seeing that we are together with the whole zone today, we are going to play basketball! I haven't played a hard game of basketball other than once or twice on my mission, so I am excited to get out there & see if I can still shoot a basketball. I have also made that a goal for this last year of my mission (that's weird to say). I have been so bad at working out this first year but I have made a goal to workout everyday from now on. I have already started back up. I have been doing 50 push-ups every night for the last week & I couldn't believe how hard it was. I was embarrassed. My chest was really sore for the first few days, but now I am getting used to it & it is getting easier. I would like to eventually get up to 100 or 200 a night by the time I go home. You guys will have to help motivate me because sometimes I get lazy!

   Well, that's about it. Nothing too exciting this week. We should know what day we will be skyping within the next week or two. I will let you all know so that we can all be on the same page. I'm super excited to talk to you all again!

   I love you.

Elder Staheli

Washington Fields 11th Ward Easter Program

The following is an experience and testimony of Dylan's that he shared on the atonement, which was used in the 11th Ward Program on Easter Sunday.

From Elder Dylan Staheli serving in the Philippines: On Saturday we were at the chapel teaching an English class and this man, a member, walked in with this girl that we had never seen. Her name is Jean, she is 17, she has some gang tattoos and dropped out of high school this year, but plans to return next year. Anyway, we taught her the first lesson and it was great. She started crying, and she said the closing prayer. It was such a good experience for her that she asked if we could come and teach her family! Of course we said yes, so we are going to her parents house on Saturday. We went and taught her sister yesterday and the same thing happened. In the middle of the lesson, I asked her how she felt and she started crying and said that she felt so happy. 

I know that the atonement is real. I have seen it in others as I have served, & I have seen it in myself. I am so grateful for the opportunity that we have to repent & come closer to our Father in Heaven. I know that this is possible only through the perfect life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We must use His atonement in our lives every single day. As we do so, we become stronger. We become more like Him. The possibility of returning to life eternal with our Heavenly Father & our families forever becomes real. We must always stay humble & rely completely on the Lord. I know that as we learn to align our will with His in every aspect of our life, we find a joy that at times may not seem possible or even comprehensible. I know that our Savior lives. And because He lives, we too can live. I am so grateful for this promise & the atoning sacrifice of our eldest brother, Jesus Christ. 

Week 46: Tuesday April 22, 2014

Family,

   Wow, the letters this week were #1! I laughed my head off when I saw the picture that Jazzy posted... & even harder when I read the comments!  I agree with Ryan. I don't think there's any doubt that I win.

   Easter weekend sounded like a blast! I'm bummed that I missed it, but it sounds like you were all pretty scattered out anyways. It kills me every time I see a picture of Dax. He is getting so big & he is so cute! His facial expressions are priceless. I can't wait to play with him when I get home!

   This week has been kind of up & down. The work has been wonderful! We had two of our investigators attend church this week & they are showing a great desire to follow the gospel. One of them, Mariel, would already be baptized, but her husband is in the military & away from home right now. Before she can be baptized they have to be married, so it's just a waiting game at this point. I'm not sure exactly when he'll get home, but he still has another year or two it sounds like. She has a lot of support though. All of her in-laws are very active & she attends church with them every Sunday. She shared her testimony with us about the Book of Mormon & it was such a great experience. The other investigator, Anthony, is a 14 year old boy & also attended with Mariel & their family. I have found that generally, if you can convert 1 or 2 families in a small place like that, generally everyone else will be willing to listen & tends to get converted as well. It's pretty cool.

   The down part is that I got sick this week! I suppose I'm pretty lucky that I made it 1 year without getting sick. I'm even luckier that it only lasted about 1 day, & I wasn't really that sick. I felt like I was going to throw up, but I didn't actually end up doing so. I just had really bad stomach cramps & nausea. I didn't have anything to eat for a few days, but I don't eat that much anyway so that wasn't really difficult. Even back home I feel like I didn't eat as much as other people.

   Another "up" of the week is that Elder Uata, my MTC companion, has been working with us in our area for the last 3 days. His companion is going home this transfer & had to go to Manila for a few days to get some security things done. It has been such a blast working with him & talking to him! Like a shared in a previous e-mail, even though we had a very rough start in the MTC, I have come to love & appreciate him so much. He has been my favorite companion that I have had, hands down.

   We have another zone activity this week. We are going to play ultimate frisbee, soccer, basketball, etc. so I am pretty excited about that. It should be really fun. I forgot my cord to put my pictures on the computer, so you'll just have to wait another week. I took some really pictures last week at the big tree.

  I love you guys! I am excited to talk to you again in just a few weeks!

Elder Staheli

Week 45: Tuesday April 15,2014

Family,

   Happy Easter everyone! It's Easter in America which means it's holy week in the Philippines. It's probably the next biggest time of the year besides Christmas. There are many fiestas going on which means two things...A lot of drunk people & a lot of dinner appointments!

   This past week has been great. I had an awesome opportunity to go on splits with Elder Uata. Some of you may remember his name. He was my companion in the MTC. We all remember how much I loved him in the MTC... It's strange how a mission changes you. Looking back at all that we went through in the MTC & the struggles we had, I can say without a doubt that he was one of my very favorite companions. I hope that we have the chance to be companions again later in the mission. That would be a great transfer. It was also a wonderful opportunity to see the changes that have occurred in his life. I couldn't help but compare ourselves in some aspects of the mission seeing that we have been out for the same amount of time. I remember teaching "lessons" in the MTC in Cebuano & how we couldn't speak two words. As we taught this last week, we both taught & conversed in completely fluent Cebuano. It was a strange, exciting experience.

   Today we have a district activity in one of the areas in our district. Our original plan was to climb to the top of this active volcano that is in the area, but it takes about 8 hours to hike to the top. I was really disappointed & our back-up plan is to go to a big tree... I guess you can fit about 20 people around the trunk & climb it. That's cool, but it's no active volcano...

   We are continuing to find new investigators every week. This week we have found some very great potential investigators. We taught them the first lesson & they seemed very interested in learning more about the gospel. I hope they will progress.

   I about died when I saw the videos of Daxton! It kills me how big he is getting! He is walking, playing basketball (in the bathtub), & just doing big kid things! I cannot wait to get to know him when I get home. Starr, you better be ready because I'm sure that I will be over there everyday.

   It's been pretty rainy the last few days. We're in the middle of a storm over here so we have been trudging through the mud & wind. It's actually really fun & sort of surreal. It's also kind of a bummer, but thinking about it, I would probably rather work in this weather than in the scorching hot sun!

   I think that's about it for this week. Chantyl, I haven't met Elder Shaffer yet. Is he assigned here in Cebu? Chad, I'm so excited for you to finally graduate! Sounds like things are going well on the home front. I love you all & pray for you everyday. 

   

   Until next week...

Elder Staheli