Thy Servant Will Go and Fight

Family and Friends,

I weigh 140 lbs.. with my shoes on.

"You look like elementary wearing necktie" -Elder Cancel

Random points of conversation between Elder Cheney and I: divinity (the candy), byu creamery, grannys shakes, homemade suckers, wassel.. cheese balls and crackers.Star Wars. Ebay. Amazon.

This week has been interesting of course. Brother Claro has gone home.. i am so excited for him. He will be a great missionary. I then was put with Elder Cheney. He had been an office elder for about a year. He is actually from Centennial Colorado... close to Littleton. Small world. He also lived in Cincinnati. He is awesome... really just a good solid missionary. Loves the Lord and loves to serve. He is a great missionary and I was excited to be with him. He is a great teacher and does well with the teaching and language.

Him and I had MUCH success this week. We found 3 new families that are complete and willing to listen. We found one family through a drunk man who basically OYM'd us and we ended up having an appointment. They are so prepared by the Lord. Their whole family listens and also a few of their numbers. They are already seeing the change we have brought into their life! Another family we met we found through some of our other investigators. They were there and said they are willing to listen. The mother came to special sacrament already!! The 3rd family is a good referral from some of our recent converts. They have a good support system. Then of course I will be transferred. It came at an interesting time but I know it is the Lord's will. I am sad that Elder Cheney and I were only companions for about 5 days.. but hey, thats mission life. Dian-ay also got a new Bishop... Bishop Delapena, which will be a huge help for the area, i am excited for that!

So I am in Bacolod right now for a training tonight and then tomorrow i transfer to Masville. I think it is in La Carlota zone.. not too sure, we will see!

The Lord is merciful. I know he looks upon the desires of our hearts. So thats the test... purify your desires. Its our battle in life always. I know the church is 1000% true. I know it is God's kingdom. I love the gospel. I love Jesus Christ. This is His work. He does take care of and bless his servants and their families. I know the Holy Ghost and what it teaches us to do is what the world so desperately needs.

love you all

palangga,
elder stagg

Plain and Precious

Family and Friends,

"Sacrament is in your body.. its personal" -guy as he rolls a cigarette

"Poopy ang bana mo" -Elder May to our investigator

First. I literally did not know it was Easter. Here they are all about Holy Week and what not... dont even get me started there.

What a great week! We had a very successful week of proselyting and of finding and teaching new investigators and less actives. We have really started to become more united in our teachings together. We have both been finding ways to simplify and clarify our teachings to our contacts. We saw success in that we had many more lessons taught, and also more investigators and recent converts at church. 

So this week we started something new. For the last 3 months we have been focusing almost all of our efforts in Bariopuey. But this week we worked in the Dian-ay proper for two days and saw much success in finding through the members and less actives. We had been doing 15 minute lessons here the past couple months but by spending a full 2 days in Dian-ay proper it really opened up our finding. We also spent time with our Elder's Quorum President going through our CMIS and identifying less actives who may have moved or are no longer alive. It helped us to not lose tons of timing finding people who arent actually possible to contact. We also were able to coordinate with our ward mission leader this week, and he is in the process of preparing a few referrals for us. We also have had success in finding and fellowshipping through our recent converts. In Bariopuey we are seeing more success. We had 13 in attendance. 2 of our recent converts who are 18 and 23 year old men are getting very strong in this church. Hopefully in the near future they can become Melchizedek priesthood so that Bariopuey can become a group, that really is our hope there. We have also received new referrals out there that should be very fruitful.

On Thursday I had exchanges with Elder May. It was a great experience in which i learned a lot. He is a great teacher. He helped me to simplify my teachings and still make sure the investigators have understanding. He also helped me find good ideas for doing 5 minute lessons through singing songs. He is a great friend and leader to me. I am grateful to learn from him daily. Our exchanges helped me in many great ways.

Brother Claro is improving in great ways! His teaching has become so much more simple and clear, his confidence is rising. He is learning more and more about planning and implementing PMG in our work. He has his call to the Philippines Manila Mission and leaves on May 23 2014. He is way excited. Takes me back to when I was in his shoes. Weird.

So.... I hope we go on a cruise when I get home.. i heard something about that a few months ago.. that should for sure happen. 

GUESS WHAT!!!! I finished the Book of Mormon again this week. I think its my 2nd or 3rd time in my life. First time that my studies were serious and meaningful though ahaha. Wow. What an awesome thing. I started it in June of last year... more than 10 months to finish! My question while reading was about the love of Christ... my answers are amazing. Time to start again... the focus on this read is; faith. I hope you are all enjoying your Book of Mormon study. It will change your life. 

My mission is just a big giant never-ending rollercoaster. Wahoooooooo. haha.

Well.. the Church is true. It will bring as much joy into your life as you allow it to. Input=Output.

I love you like a fat kid loves cake. Go RSL!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Plead for Grace

Family and Friends,

"Smile before you open" -Erwin Gubat

"It feels like blasphemy coming out of my mouth" -Elder May

Toothpaste Laugh Attack... simply put, i felt like i was in middle school again. In the best way possible.

This week has been quite interesting. I got a new companion. Brother Claro... so he is a short term missionary, meaning not a set apart Elder. He is from a part of this island about an hour away from our area. He gets his mission call next week! Brother Claro has been a great addition to our area.  I am grateful to be companions with him! He has great teaching experience. Just a studly 18 year old Filipino! Tons of fun

So on Sunday we had 0 investigators at church. Hmm.. that felt terrible. I am learning much what i need to do different with my time each day. Things will be different i am sure of it... 100%. Our baptism for April 19 fell through due to lack of church attendance. She really has had some difficult situations including sickness, terrible rain and such the past couple weeks, but know she must repent more before her baptism. That was quite the blow for me, but trials happen. Our April will have 0 baptisms.. i know that i must repent and improve. Our May will be full of baptisms. I will not just try, i will do.

Had an interview with President Lopez. The man is wise. Very. His counsel was much needed... and of much value to me at this time in my mission. I have a wonderful mission president. He helps me fulfill my purpose as a missionary. 

Had a funny dream, Jay was my new comp. We were grittin it up like none other. Funny thing was his name tag said Elder Jay not Elder Brooks. hahaha. Classic. My dreams are always so interesting and weird. haha. 

My life is a dream... that's all of us!

I love the scriptures. I loved conference as well. One of my particular favorites was in the sat afternoon session (cant remember his name) who talked about having peaceable conversation. He gave the story of his wife jumping out of their truck. I wanna apply his teachings. I think the battle of becoming Christ-like is just that.. a battle. But for sure a battle worth fighting. Its a slow and yes, sometimes painful process. Someone said in conference that, "we learn obedience through our suffering . Christ suffered.. we must as well if we wish to obtain His glory. 

I love my mission. I love all of you... I love the good change and success i see in all of your lives. Keep doing that.. and i will do the same. 

Ps-  I only have 1 general conference left as a full-time missionary

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Prisoners of Hope

Family and Friends,

"Elder.. just be more patient... and loving, and hopeful and diligent.. all in one day.. AHHHH!!! haha" -Elder Renon

"He really just talked about divorce and adultery in a talk at a wedding... that's the two worst things possible" - Elder May

"Kid is clapping like his dad just won the olympics" -Pony

My life is a big giant.... (still searching for a good word to describe my life)

So.. life is a war. One big giant war. Thats how it goes daily.. and it will always be that way. I am so grateful for the Gospel to help my fight my daily battles. I think back... to days when i didnt live it, it was a war that couldnt be won. But with the Gospel.. the war has purpose and reason. 

I dream about skimboarding all the time.

I love the scriptures... i feel like there isnt enough time in the day to be engulfed in them. Trying to have more studies during my nightly free time (which doesn't exist haha). The scriptures really only point us to one place. Our Savior. He is an amazing example. It is a lifetime commitment and process to try and become like Him.

Gusto mo mabaalan and secreto? Sundon nyo and espiritu santo. 

Kamo ang pinakaimportante nga tawo sa akon

Every week has its trials and its blessings. That is for sure. Elder Renon and I have truly been trying to simplify our teachings. We are seeing success. Our investigators seem to understand better what needs to be done, yet often they still dont do it. Its frustrating, but i know thats part of missionary life. Something i am still trying to figure out is the fine line between being bold and being overly laxed with investigators. Its like, if we get bold... they shut off mentally. But if we are too relaxed, they dont act. I am trying to find the boldness with love, it is a difficult fine line to find. 

We have our closest baptism on April 19. She is preparing for baptism. The next 2 weeks seem difficult for us in bariopuey because we had fast sunday yesterday (so no special sacrament) and then conference next week. We are working so hard. I know there is always much to improve. We are trying to implement more 5 minute finding lessons daily.. and 15 minutes lessons. I know it doesnt happen overnight, but amat amat lang. 

Elder Renon is a great companion. He is progressing tons and is always trying to be better. He is great at teaching in a way that helps investigators relate to the gospel. I have loved being his companion. I am grateful for my area and this ward. I am grateful for my mission. I also loved our ZLT. We had some great trainings.. i am glad the fundamentals are being focused on. It is so important and helpful to me. All is well with me health wise. Im still alive!

I cant believe its April.

So I met a guy this week who is from Austin Texas. He lived in Jay's mission. His wife is Filipina and they live in our ward. We had dinner at his house.. man he shot straight to politics and things like that with me. hahaha. Hilarious. Dont miss that crap at all. 

Phe is a father. Wow. Life is a freaking whirl.. happens so fast. I was thinking hard about when i first moved up to Orem and Phe and I lived in the townhouse... maybe the best time ever. So many good memories. Love ya Phe. Nixon is a stud. Start having him kick a soccer ball around :)

I've started taking lots of pictures. Yay!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg