Where there's a will; there's a whalebone

Family and Friends,

"Noah ate rice on the ark with his family" -my investigator

"This is awful, we still have to confirm someone" -Elder May

"If its Sunday and you stay at your house and dont go to church.. even if you think of Christ, you still arent keeping His commandments" -Elder Renon

Just some good quotes of the week. 

This week has been very stressful and challenging. I had some moments.. that well, tested my mind heart and faith. That's where we grow right? I truly have learned many things this week. First. Positivity is so important. It really makes a huge difference in the way we see all things. I'm trying hard to overcome and stay positive and faithful. I am grateful for Elder Renon. He is very good at staying positive and seeing the longterm perspective. I admire him for that. We have some great things happening here though. We had a baptism on Saturday. Restituto Gubat. He is a stud. He is a future missionary. He was so happy on the day of his baptism it was amazing. I am grateful for this area. Hard thing is, people legit think we are treasure hunters!!! they really truly believe it!! what can we do? do you have any advice for us? 

To be honest... this mission is the best thing i have ever battled. That seems like the best explanation. Everyday.. i experience a million different emotions. But i am grateful i can teach about Jesus Christ. His life and ministry is remarkable. He is everything. Sometimes... even as a missionary.. we forget how truly important HE is to us... im trying to improve there. 

I learned a few things. I'm still ol' Ponyboy. I hope thats okay. Trust me.. prorgession has and will occur in remarkable ways.. but im still Ponyboy. I still love skimboarding, snowboarding and soccer.. ill be hitting the gym as soon as i get home.. and i still wanna buy another motorcycle. haha. I love you all. With all my heart. Shout out to my boy Phe who will probably be a father this week. amazing. Love you all.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Conscience

Family and Friends,

Still searching for Konstantine. 

What a week. First off.. .got the package with the videos and music and letters! Shout out to the Peay and Hernandez family for the letters.. meant so much!! I loved the videos so much. Avalynn is a full grown child. Thats insane.

 This week was great!! It was weird to not have a pday on monday. haha. we had some great teachings though. Sister Amparo is progressing well and i can see the Spirit working in her. She came to church this week and is progressing to April 19! Holy Week!!! Tuesday was a great Pday in Bacolod. It was nice to buy some things that were needed and a few other small souvenirs. Got a nice speaker and of course more soccer jerseys. Elder Renon and I had a very enjoyable time in Bacolod. Of course i loved seeing Elder Wilstead. It is sad to see him leaving so soon.. but thats a missionary life!  He has been a great missionary and will be my friend for life. Its crazy that he is about to go home. Love that kid to death. Man of wise counsel.

 The zone conference on Wednesday was amazing. Funny note.. got called up, me and 3 others.. to sing a song randomly. hahahah. classic. Literally i loved every second of it. I learned so much about my missionary life. Our leaders in our mission... zone leaders.. aps.. president. .so good. I love meeting new missionary friends. Its crazy how all these people from different backgrounds and places become great friends.. .through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through Joseph Smith, and it is amazing in all ways. It has changed who i am and who i will become in the future. 

Our investigators and members are so strong and faithful. We had a huge rainstorm, signal 1 typhoon (its not as bad as it sounds..) and they still came to church!! i love their faith and devotion. It increases my faith in amazing ways. 

Something new i have started doing.. (thanks to my awesome sister nicole) is drawing a lot of my revelations and learnings from the scriptures. I have a study journal that has no lines... it allows for great free thinking. It interestingly has helped me to receive more full understanding of my scripture enlightenment. On that note.. man my personal study is changing my life. Please... feast upon the words of Christ. I love my scriptures. I actually am about to finish the Book of Mormon that i started in June.. wooh!! 

I love my mission.. with all my heart. I am so grateful to serve the Lord for another year. wow... thats crazy to say... i still feel brand new. haha. Still in Dian-ay.. still with Elder Renon. He is hilarious. Literally one of the wittier companions i have had. Witty in english as well.. what a stud. 

Well. Im off. See ya next week.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Valley of Decision

Family and Friends,

Rufio, Rufio, Rufioooooooooooooooooo! Bangarang Rufio!

I love my mission. It is full of trials and amazing moments. I love my companion. He is the most level headed person I know. He is a living evidence of 'patience in all afflictions'. I love my housemates. I love my mission president.

This week has been difficult yet rewarding. We had a great district meeting about patience.. and how it relates so much in our missionary lives. I know its something I must learn more fully... its a struggle, but i have seen progress.

Some things have been quite trying this week. One of our investigators, Brother Mendoza, has really been seeing a change of heart... but still hasnt gotten where he needs to be. He is struggling to read the Book of Mormon and keep the Word of Wisdom. The hardest part is we have seen him smoking a couple times, and then when we follow up he lies and says he has not been smoking. I really am unsure of how to face this situation. He says daily he will read the Book of Mormon.. but just always has excuses. We have even tried to get his recent convert children to read with him... but they dont follow through. Its genuinely difficult... we want him to progress so badly. We are hoping that amat-amat he will find that real change of heart. It is an awful feeling to be lied to... face to face. I think i am learning a lot about how God feels about His children. They try to hide their sins.. i know that i have had those moments in my life as well. (on that note... im sorry for all the times i ever lied to you.. im sure i did :( sorry) The mission is teaching me amazing truths about my Father in Heaven. 

I have had some great experiences this past week in my personal studies. I know the Lord will answer my pleas and give me answers for my prayers. I have learned this week that i MUST increase my faith. It is the true source of everything. 

This is gonna blow your mind but its true... SO many people in our area think we are treasure hunters. Yes. Im serious. They literally think we go looking for gold daily. And they think we want to make them part of our diabolical plan. I wish i was joking.... 

Im learning why the Lord really wants young men and women to serve missions. Yes its to help others receive the gospel. Yes its to have progression spiritually. Yes its to know how the church operates. Yes its to become smarter in the scriptures... But its also about people skills. The lessons i learn on a daily basis about Christ-like attributes and what they mean on a day to day basis is unreal. I am learning so much about working with people. It is a battle.... but a good one. 

Oh ya.. had a baptism on Saturday. Wooh!

I love you all. But most of all i love my Savior. He is perfect. He is everything. He is the reason im on my mission. He should be the reason for all of our choices daily.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Fulfill the Law

Family and Friends,

First note, next week i will be emailing on tuesday here (so monday for you). We have zone conference in Bacolod on Wednesday so on Tuesday we get to have our P-day in Bacolod!!!!! WoooooH!

So... I love that in our life we can always change, grow, learn and progress. That's the beauty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. With the help of Elder May i have learned a lot about principle driven obedience and being more open and loving with all my companions. I have realized that times on my mission i didn't really see the reason for the obedience.. i dont know if that is good or bad.. but i do know that i had some companions who didn't really enjoy being with me. It is sad to look back and see, but that is the glory of Atonement... the ability to change. I have seen that at times i have let obedience ruin my companionships.... at no fault of theirs.. just of mine. I would be overly strict and hurt their feelings or almost demand. I learned alot from D&c 121 and also from studying about the 2 Laws: loving God and loving thy neighbor. That might not mean a whole lot for you... but it has been changing the way I act with my companions and all i come in contact with. Is it worth it to keep a rule if you end up ruining your companionship unity? Quite the battle right? But im learning... its refreshing.

Satan uses many tactics against us. One that i am learning... is idleness... the idea of.. "Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die". Sadly, many people i meet have that mindset.. .and they truly believe all is well if they say they believe. God is just.. and merciful. We obtain mercy through repentance. Service and commandment keeping is not lip service. that's what i have learned this week. Its cool to learn and progress! yay!

This video is wonderful. please watch. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2014?lang=eng

Stop It.

Well guess what... tomorrow is March 11, 2014... which means... i have 1 year left on my mission. Thats crazy right? Sometimes i feel like i was born here.. and other times i feel like i havent even started my mission.. its crazy, but thats life! 

I love this gospel. But most of all i love my Savior. He is everything to me. In ways i cant even explain. I can survive anything and love anyone through His help. His grace is sufficient. I love Him.

I miss you all. God Speed the Right. Feel the Love, Fulfill the Law.

Gugma,

Elder Stagg

Neither Give Place to the Devil

Family and Friends,

Who's Justice Beaver? (i hope you know this reference.. hahaha)

Man.... this area just keeps getting better and better. Our investigators are great. We have a few different people right now who are preparing for baptism but are just struggling to get over Word of Wisdom addictions. Pray for them!!! 

Elder May.. we met in my first area and became great friends.. replaced Elder Mifflin. So he is in my apartment!! hahah... its such a great blessing. Hopefully not a curse cause we have a lot of common interests like snowboarding.. hiking.. music.. etc. But hey dont worry, the work progresses the same :) You will probably all meet him one day, he is from SLC area but will go to UVU after the mission.. we might room together... but we will see.. still like 52 weeks away from that ;) 

We did the walk home from Dian-ay to Bariopuey. It was hotter than sin and i was fasting... the Lord truly is with us. hahah. The people there are way solid.. they just love the gospel. These youth especially are just engulfed in the Book of Mormon. Its amazing and makes me so happy for them. Ps... i taught the youth this week at church... that is a battle and a half. I just called them all to repentance. hahahhaa... in a loving way. dont worry.

Random trunky things... i want a Shirley Temple from Red Robin. haha. 

I also learned the true meaning of CTR.. its not choose the right... its Cook the Rice..."Cook the rice when a kilo's placed before you... in 30 minutes.. you will be hungry again"  haha ... Classic.

My life is changing in a great way. So at the beginning of my mission i was overlystrict. In the past 2 months i have learned a lot about the principle of rules.. and why we have them. I am still obedient. dont worry... i just have learned alot about being obedient but also not a robot. haha.

My comp is great... he says the funniest things ever. Sometimes its like we have known each other for a few years... crazy how that works!! He also helps me to learn when i am being stupid.. in a loving way.. its a great combo.

Well.. The Book of Mormon truly changes lives. Repentance is real. True repentance comes from recognizing our sins... and how can we do that? Through the Holy Ghost.. and how can that occur? through... .reading.. praying... attending church. its like i told the youth in sunday school... the basics (study/pray/church) lead to faith.. which leads to repentance.. which leads to joy. interesting how that works right? 

This Church is true. Christ truly lives.. .change only occurs through Him and His gospel. I love Him. 

ps.. i am the 337th missionary assigned in Dian-ay. ahaha. there is a guy who counts. 

Miss you all.. love you all.. life is wonderful, dont forget that. pray hard.. study hard.. love fully. 

Palangga,

Elder Stagg