Pony Boy Express: Did that just happen?

Family and Friends,

The subject of this email just about explains my week. Some things that i said that about were good.. some bad.. some sad.. some frustrating.. that's life! haha. It was one of those weeks where the same investigator turns you away.. literally everyday. We had a specialized training on Tuesday my B-Day! thanks for all the birthday wishes! The training was.. pretty good. We are starting to implement facebook proselyting. Hmm.. you all know how much i dislike facebook. But, our companionship isnt doing it yet.. so thats okay. We have just been working hard everyday... thats missionary work! Obedience brings forth blessings. Elder Wilstead had splits this week! love that kid! so much fun to work with him.. made me miss having him as a companion! Had some great deep talks.. its always interesting to know the same people and we are 1,000's of miles away from them! haha.

We had the baptism of Rico Bernal Jr. The whole family is now members! so rewarding! Rico's father baptized him.. what an amazing experience. i LOVE that family. They are some of the nicest and most humble people ever. I'm talking no electricity in their house.. small house.. hard workers.. poor.. but amazing. I love their example. So eager to learn. PS- have i talked about Filipino time? basically everything starts an hour late.. its so frustrating cause i hate being late!!! learning patience i guess right? But.. baptisms are great. Especially when the baptizee's bear their testimony. I love every second of that.

K. Funny things. There was a lot of those this week. I met a lady who literally a lunatic. She would have the weirdest answers for all my questions... like. the. weirdest. answers. i asked her about her kids, and her answer consisted of talking about the mountains and her underwear? wow. hahah. And she kept ranting about Sweet Mother or something.. i just dont know. hahah. Another lady.. she was like 58.. looked like she was 97, spoke almost perfect english.. and was just hammered drunk. She was hilarious. I had a good 20 minute conversation with her about her life. She was hilarious... hahah so great. Those are the moments where you forget all the heat, tiredness, lack of lessons, etc. haha! Another funny thing. So last week we put our number and info on some pass along cards and left them at a computer cafe.. a few days later i realized that i had mixed up the numbers and that i actually put our mission president's number on the cards! hahahaha. wooooops. This one is hard to explain.. but we ride buses all the time.. and they have what is called conductors. To hand out tickets, tell the driver when to stop.. etc. Well the funnest thing to do is imitate the conductors..and yell what they yell.! "Sigeee-A" "pwertahan" hahah.. its hard to explain. when i get home. it will make more sense. haahha. Elder Albao is the best at playing conductor. haha. Life is funny... no matter how hard it is.. its funny.

Spiritual Corner. First. God loves us all. He knows our trials, specifically. I promise that is true. Jesus Christ loves us all as well. He laid down his life for us.. but more importantly, he took it back again. He lives. And because of that, we will live after this life. We will all be resurrected. So.. some insights i have gained this week. The gospel, the scriptures, our lives.. are full of a lot of "if statements" and "because statements" A couple examples for you to look up. Alma 22:16 has many if statements. In life.. especially with the commandments.. there exists a lot of IF Statements.. if we do this.. we will receive that. There is a lot to be learned there. God cannot change. If he promises a blessing for keeping a commandment.. it will happen. Remember that. Also... life, and salvation isnt passive. If we want to gain eternal life with our Father in heaven... there is much to be done. Be anxiously engaged in a good cause. Do good out of your own will. Give diligent heed to the words of God. Just be good and work hard. Be diligent in commandment keeping and receive eternal life.. and happiness in this life. I have the strongest testimony of that. My second thought.. the Plan of Salvation. Its so incomprehensible to us as people. But, we do know what we must do for it to take place. Use the Atonement. It's that simple. Repent. Sin exists. To deny that.. is to deny God. To deny God.. is to deny your own existence. Sin exists. I KNOW THAT IS TRUE. Sins always create feeling of sorrow. We need the healing power of the Atonement to over come it. I know how it feels.. heavy.. dark.. no hope. But through repentance and baptism... mangin mamag-an kita (we can become light). It's real! I've experienced it. I do every day and every week. If you have questions about that? send me a personal letter and we can chat there. haha. If you are looking for ways to avoid temptation... pray! pray! pray! Luke22:40. One last thought.. Mosiah 2:5. Who was at the temple?! The WHOLE family... rescue that one in your family who might not be there. help them get back. love them.

Well... Another email time almost over. Sadness. hahah. I love you all and miss you all! I am especially proud of my wonderful sister Cassie for having her 3rd child and dealing with that madness! Keep trecking. Everyone. Ps... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. is the only true church on the earth today. Salvation exists. Never forget that. Pray Hard. Keep Going. Love the Lord. Find His will... and do it.

Smell ya!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

bernal family!! wooooo!