Sunday, March 8, 2015

Sakay Na

Family and Friends,

Well.. im in bacolod now... no more work.. no more key indicators.. no more tanan... weird right?

"Man there is a lot of salad in this mission" -Anonymous

It was a solid week... i'll tell you about it in about 3 days time. haha! 

We are just having time today to buy stuff and do whatever (bowling).. tomorrow we have training and a devotional.. wednesday manila.. thursday the trek really begins to get back to good ol st george!! 

Honestly, i cant believe this time is here... its truly an overwhelming feeling... but its good.. its time. 

I'm leaving on a jet plane......

I love you all so much... 

Palangga,
Elder Stagg

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Placed His Heart



Family and Friends, 

I am so grateful i was assigned in the same zone again... yesterday was the La Carlota District Conference, which was amazing because i got to see many members and converts from Masville!! That is such an amazing feeling.... seeing people from old areas, such a blessing. I love it!

So stoked Cami will be having a boy, skimboarding and soccer lessons will come his way for sure!

We had a baptism!

I don't know what else to say....?

I love you all so much!!

Palangga,
Elder Stagg

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Say What You Want To...



Family and Friends,

"You got to have smelt a lot of mule manure before you can sing like a hillbilly." -Hank Williams

I finally got all your Christmas letters!! hahah thanks a million, you are all the best :) 

Killin rats... its like i am back in my first area all over again!! haha.

I'm thinking Friday when i get home we will do a session at the temple, okay...? okay! then i will cook some pinoy food for lunch... nomnomnom :)

I love my studies...  they keep me going mentally and spiritually every day. I hope you are reading daily.. especially the Book of Mormon. It is given to us to guide us daily... 

Halo-Halo is God's gift to this country and I am cherishing it daily. haha

I love my comp... such a blessing that he will be my last comp, grateful for it for sure!!

I love you all so much..

Palangga,
Elder Stagg

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Even My Warriors



Family and Friends,

What a week.... highlight for sure was spending almost 3 whole days in Bacolod and also in Manila!!! haha. Wednesday we had some time in Bacolod to do some errands... wow, i love that place. Then Thursday we had a follow-up training for the batch of the elder that i am training... that was hilarious actually... everything from spontaneous teaching practices, to one of my batch mates getting embarrassed by his trainee at the pulpit.. never a dull moment in this mission. hahah. Thursday i also got to work with Elder Evans (my MTC comp) in his area.... wow, its much more efficient that we can both actually speak ilonggo now!! hahah. Also on Thursday night... metro inn. Long story short... an all you can eat buffet with sushi!!!!!!!! The best!

Friday. Best day. Up at about 4 am and onto the airplane around 7... going to Manila! It was our entire batch going home... so much fun. We had to go to Manila for fingerprinting purposes for our visas going home... epic. The fingerprinting was not actually too difficult of a process... but for sure weird actually seeing people of other races... indian, black, white, all of it... weird! haha. But after that mess we got Wendy's for lunch... YES, WENDY'S! wow.... i forgot how amazing a vanilla frost is. Then off to the temple in Manila!! I actually saw Elder (well now brother) Baradi!!! My 2nd comp... it was awesome to see him. The temple was epic... and to say the least, i walked out of there with a strong desire to get married..... hahaha #trunkytruth . Such a long day but so much fun... love it.

Enduring is a real process that i am experiencing right now... we truly must "feast upon the words of Christ" so that we can make it to the end..

"Like talking about her cat for 6 hours..." -anonymous

I am.... in a state of mind that i cannot explain... i love missionary work... i love my comp.. i love the experiences.. but i am beyond tired. as in, physically exhausted. i dont know how i can walk sometimes... it is a modern miracle. 

I cannot wait to see you all.. literally. 

I love you all.

Palangga,
Elder Stagg

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Faith is... roughly equivalent to Dedicated Service.

Family and Friends,

Sometimes i say things I shouldn't... we should all try to control our tongues right? its difficult. I think that control comes through the spirit...

My big idea this week... scripture study. I have realized that usually we do not need to correct others' actions if they are reading the scriptures. The scriptures are our life-time attitude and behavior corrector. Please Read.

I love you all!!

Palangga,
Elder Stagg




Sunday, February 1, 2015

Tag25

Family and Friends,

I love my new companion Elder Pernia... he is great! Super positive.. talkative.. and ready to learn!! His home situation is very well... he has seen many challenges in his life. Both of his parents are deceased and he is the only member in his family... he is strong, no joke!! Love him.

Im learning Cebuano.... i love it.

sorry... this letter is super short.... just like my time remaining on the mission!!! hahahah.

I love you all!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Keep Sound Wisdom

Family and Friends,

Wow... life is full of changes.. always. haha. So update. For the last transfer it was Elder Codera (trainee) and I working Moises Padilla and Elder Pernia (trainee) and Elder Manu working Cabacungan. We lived in one apartment together though. So.... Elder Manu and Elder Codera have transferred and now Elder Pernia and I will work both areas. Wow!!!! haha... talk about being exhausted right before coming home... perfect though right?

The Lord knows what we need... sometimes our expectations are way different than what actually occurs, but I am already received the assurance that these last changes on my mission are exactly what I need for my growth and for the growth of those around me. Faith is always for the future. Faith changes us. Faith creates opportunities.

Read the book of Proverbs. It truly is practical advice for our day to day life... but mostly just read the Book of Mormon. hahah.

The secret to missionary work is, work.

I love you all....

life ticks on.. keep going alright?

Palangga,
Elder Stagg

Sunday, January 18, 2015

That..... Feeling...

Family and Friends,

Well.... this week has been on of the most up and down weeks ever!! Lots of good things in regards to the work, but it went straight down as i read my emails today. President Lopez has returned to America for much needed medical attention. We knew that he was battling some health concerns, and we had a mission fast for him on saturday and sunday... but him going home was totally unexpected. It is anticipated that he will not return. Wow. I love my mission president. President and Sister Lopez are amazing people, firm in the faith and 100% committed to their callings... i love both of them as if they are family. Include them in your prayers, please. Thank you.

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.... if that doesn't push us everyday, what does? 

"Rest in Beats"

Do we know that repentance is one of the greatest gifts?  It is the ability to form a fresh view of ourselves, God, and the world around us. It is not suffering, but rather a way to find a better inner peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

"Ch-ch-ch-changessssss... turn and face the strange!"
.

Guess what... i want to buy a motorcycle when i come home.... keep your eyes peeled for a Honda Shadow for me. Thanks :) The Philippines has given me an even greater desire to ride motorcycles... they are all over the place here, love it! 

I love the work... i love being in an apartment with an elder who goes home with me...i love oatmeal.. i love candy from New Zealand... i love water.. i love the Book of Mormon... i love pushups.. i love it all. 

Wow... I can't believe that i am coming up on my final transfer. Wow.

Big changes are coming in this mission... it will be crazy to see.

Faith. Prayer. Love.

I love you all so much and appreciate each and every one of you!

Palangga,
Elder Stagg






Sunday, January 11, 2015

Two Great Lights

Family and Friends, 

"Don't reach young blood..." Uncle Drew

Float... Sakay.. Kaon... Aga.. Hapon.. Gabi.

We had a baptism this week... she is awesome! Jocelyn! Her 2 children are recent converts and she is just a really willing investigator. She would keep all commitments right away and was always wanting to learn and progress in the gospel! My companion baptized her in the river, so awesome for his first baptism on the mission right?

Best email today... "We'd love to have you back. The PB Express back in AF!" That is music to my ears.... #blessings #futureworkingoutforme #sharpenyourchalk


I love studying.... i finished the New Testament this week! It took me 18 months, wow! So now i am starting it again, as well as starting the Old Testament. The scriptures are amazing in reality.... so much info and spirit put into the holy writ... it truly is vital for us to study, daily! It is a great feeling, and it truly can shape who we will become!

2nd best email... "We have your flight plans" ! abaw!! hahaah.. can't believe that... gotta keep working hard though right? 

Don't you quit.

Have you read the Book of Ruth? It is short, interesting and teaches much... give it a read! Are we willing to be like Ruth and change everything just to be obedient... #thewaroflife

I um... am sweating as i write this... great right?

I love you all so much!!

Palangga,
Elder Stagg

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Write; Justice

Family and Friends,

The hand of providence... find it.

"And this is the new year... and i don't feel any different..." -Death Cab for Cutie

Jacob 4:12... why wouldn't you speak of Christ and His Atonement? My comp is very good at this... almost every lesson he ties it back into the Atonement. That simple act, the Atonement, is really the basis for everything in this life and of course this work. I live for it everyday.. boom! Talk about it!

This week was such an improvement... it came with it's challenges and trials, but hey, thats life! We saw many blessings from the Lord. We had 6 investigators at church.. also many less actives, 2 of which brought their investigator friends!! I also had the opportunity to have some good conversation time with our branch president... he is awesome! He is an RM of about 3 years now and is a single college student! What responsibility... but he handles it well! We had a joyous time swapping mission stories, cant wait to do that with all of you in a few weeks here :) hah!

I truly love the scriptures... i love jogging... i love oatmeal... i love water.. i love walking in the scorching heat and getting tan.

I love you all!!

Palangga,
Elder Stagg