Typhoon Haiyan

A "super typhoon" hit the Philippines Friday, November 8, 2013. Here are updates we received from Devin's mission president on Facebook.

Nov 6-
-After all our Zone Training Meetings this morning, missionaries are instructed to buy food for at least three days, water, candles and load-up their cell phones. I’ve instructed those missionaries who live up in the mountain to come down and stay with the missionaries in the city- in case there is landslide and the road become impassable. Missionaries who are leaving their house are asked to secure their belongings left behind. Those near the shoreline are also moved inland. Sisters are well secured including our couples. Starting this evening at 6- all missionaries are expected to be home and remain indoor until after the storm. No one is allowed to go outside. I’ve instructed missionaries that we will assist only after the storm and not during the typhoon. I’ve also instructed our San Carlos District to cancel their temple trip to Cebu tomorrow. I have cancelled all interviews, appointments and visits until after the storm. Every companionship will report to their district leaders on their safety. District leaders will report to zone leaders and all zone leaders will update me tonight and on a regular basis. FYI.

-SUPERTYPHOON UPDATE: All missionaries are instructed to stay home. We are taking all precautions to keep our missionaries safe.

Nov 7-
We are still bracing for the big hit! All missionaries are staying home. Everyone is calm and studying and planning all day. Office staff staying in the mission office for emergency landline calls only. We appreciate all your prayers!

All missionaries are safe Thursday.

Nov 8-

-Friday AM Update: All 234 missionaries are safe! They are well secured in their homes. Missionaries from the mountains and along shorelines were moved to safer missionary apartments since Wednesday. Members were evacuated and moved to our chapels. I cannot give any detailed information from other missions. We might loose power soon. I may not be able to respond to all your specific inquiries. I will keep everyone updated through my FB. Keep us in your prayers!

 

-Friday Noon Update: Most of the island has no power. I am using my cell for this update. We are still 2 hours from direct hit but the wind and rain are incredibly so strong! All zone leaders have reported to me that all 234 missionaries are safe. A few we have to move to another place because of flood and falling trees. Visibility due to rain is almost zero. Wind is still intensifying. I have submitted our noon report to our Area Presidency. We are on typhoon signal number 4 now.

-Typhoon Update as of 4:30 PM: we do not have electricity, cable and Internet. All 234 missionaries are safe. We are currently going through the other side of the eye wall and later on the tail of the typhoon. Rain is extremely heavy and wind is super strong! Members and non members are packed in all our chapels. They are collecting water from rain for drinking and food preparation. Our missionaries have sufficient water and food supply. Our branch presidents and bishops are also monitoring their safety. Everyone is calm and planning all night for our weekend community service. Our prayers are intense and our faith is full!

-WE SURVIVED THE SUPERTYPHOON! All missionaries are accounted for and everyone is safe and in high spirit. We are preparing and planning for our community service tomorrow. Missionaries are staying home tonight- there is no electricity. They return to their homes and proselyting areas tomorrow morning. As soon as internet services become available, missionaries will email their families beginning Monday. Together with our couple missionaries, we will tour the entire mission tomorrow to check up on missionaries and members. We appreciate your prayers and your faith in us! Aloha!

Nov 10-
Report on Missionaries and Members Visit: All missionaries are safe. We had a mission-wide community service all day Saturday. Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos zones are the hardest hit. They do not have electricity- electric polls are all down. It will probably take a few days to a few weeks to restore power. Phone towers are also down in these areas. Couples assigned in these zones will make regular visits to deliver water and evaluate situations. Missionaries in these zones will not be able to email families- all internet services are down. We are having Mission Presidents Specialized Training this week in groups of 3-zones beginning Tuesday until Friday. These trainings will all be held in Bacolod City and will give our missionaries the opportunity to email their families. Living conditions will become more difficult ahead of us but our missionaries are powerful and dedicated servants of the Lord. We appreciate all your prayers!

Dead Dogs, Cemeteries and Apostles

Family and Friends,

This week very well could have been one of the most interesting of my mission. In all the weirdest ways possible. haha. The subject line should say it all. So i will start with the first one.

Wednesday, is a day that changed my mentality.. probably for a lifetime. We went to a lunch appointment at a member's house. We were waiting around outside.. enjoying God's creations; air, friends, life... when suddenly i see an old Filipino man walking by us with a noose looking rope and stick thing. I thought maybe it was for fishing or, idk. Next thing i know he is returning.. this time with a dog in his catching contraption. I thought wow, how sad. He is dragging that dog, hopefully it will be okay. I asked Elder, what is he about to do? His only response was, patay (die). next thing i see is a big giant stick being brought down with great force upon the dog's neck. Yes, i watched it get killed.. but wait, it gets better... He then presumed to tie its legs between 2 trees.. and, skin it! yes.. like a deer! and yes.. i watched and took pictures. (those will arrive at a later time possibly). It was one of the most horrifying this i have ever seen. I saw the cycle of a dog going from alive.. to killed.. to skin.. to dinner. And no, i didnt eat it. But wow..all i have to say is, I.Am.In.The.Philippines.

Next awesome thing. So here in the Philippines November 1 is All Saints Day. Everyone.. and i mean everyone.. goes to the cemetery and light candles, give flowers, pray,etc. Naturally we went and proselyted there! Just going up to random people and saying.. hey we are gonna teach you about the plan of salvation. Good experiences. Lots of new investigators.

3rd. Apostles. Yes, i shook hands with Neil L. Andersen! What a blessing! He is a super cheerful and jolly guy. He gave a great training about sharing the gospel with all people. IT was a wonderful experience.

Sorry my emails are getting progressively worse.. hah! i feel like time is just slipping out of my hands. Plus all the computers here suck. haha. and about the shirts i wear looking yellow.. thats just a part of the mission here in the pines. Thats what happens when the water you wash your clothes with isnt clean. haha. dont worry. I love you all. I hope you all are reading the scriptures.. and repenting daily. I amlearning that those 2 things are of eternal importance on a daily basis. I love you. God loves us all.

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Go Lang Go

Family and Friends,

 First off. Sorry there hasn't been pictures as of lately... every computer cafe we go to here in Hinigaran is just.. garbage. haha. So sorry about that! When i find a good internet cafe you will get pictures. I am for sure getting chubby though. hahaha. Not too much in the face but in the body. That's what happens when you can lift weights and all you eat is rice. hahahahah. But that's okay. haha. 

  So the big news this week. Transfer. Elder David transferred to an area just one zone over. It was sad because we had just started to well.. be friends. haha. As sad as that is to say, its the truth. I learned tons from him and am super grateful he was my companion. He was nervous to leave his first area, but i'm sure he is doing good in his new area. So on Wednesday i went to Bacolod until my new comp showed up. Oh ya, im training! Crazy. So wednesday i stayed in Bacolod with my old zone leader, Elder Gibbons and then the missionary that replaced me in EB, Elder Hawk. Gosh.. what a great experience. I don't know those 2 very well but i love em. We had one of the greatest "life talks" of my entire mission. I can't explain really, but it was spiritual and just.. life changing. I won't forget it. Thursday i met my Trainee! First off... i was scared out of my mind to train (its still stressful dont get me wrong). His name is Elder Cusili. His cousin is actually our district leader! He is from Kawayan Mission in the Pines. He speaks pretty good english, which that helps like you cant even imagine. He is 19, super humble.. and just wants to convert everyone. 

Training is interesting. Stressful. I feel that every choice i make, will have a consequence for him. Boy. Haha. But no, the experience has already been awesome.. i love it! I cant believe im now in my 5th transer, and 5th companion as well!! hahha. Time is unreal. I wake up and then its time to go to bed. We had a baptism on Saturday. I was able to baptize her...in those moments, thats where the Spirit takes over and you forget all the struggles of a mission! 

Spiritual Corner. The Book of Mormon is true. I had an amazing experience (this morning actually) with the Book of Mormon. It needs to be the center of our studies. We need to study it on a daily basis. Need. I promise you that. If you aren't reading daily.. start now. It will help you in ways you cant understand to become closer to Jesus Christ and increase your faith.I love it. I love you all. Thank you for everything. Keep being great people. The Church is true, and Christ lives. 

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

New Companion

Just saw this on President Lopez'sFacebook….thought I’d share with you!  the caption read ‘Elder Cusili and his trainer Elder Stagg’

Earthquakes, Revelation and Bishop's Offices

Family and Friends,

 Wow. What a week... i feel like every single week is the best and most challenging and most rewarding week of my life. That sounds weird.. but its the best way to explain it. That's the beauty of Heavenly Father's plan and our lives... every day is a new opportunity to... live.. progress... learn. I wish i could explain and express to you all that i have learned to you this week... But i dont have the time, nor the ability to do that over email. But let me tell you this, God is very very aware of what is happening in our lives, at all times. 

So first off... Tuesday morning. Elder David and i were deeply entrenched in our personal studies when things started to.. shake. I was 100% sure it was him shaking my desk, but i looked up and saw that his hands were both on his scriptures.. we gave each other perplexed looks. Then as fast as i could remember all my elementary school earthquake trainings.. i decided to go stand under the doorframe. Of course i explained this to my comp, in english.. and well he doesnt really understand english. I just realized how funny that is. hahahah. The earthquake lasted for about 20 seconds maybe.. hard to recall exactly how long. It was a very crazy but awesome experience. It made teaching random people that day a lot easier.. "Repent ye, repent ye!" hahahah. Headaches as well.

Wednesday. The best part of this day.. was the fact that we stayed in a hotel. 2 things describe it all.. 1. hot shower 2. queen size bed. Enough said.  

Thursday. Wow! Elder Brent H. Nielsen of the 1st quorom of the Seventy came to our mission for a mission tour! He was great. Even better was his wife! I actually sat next to him during lunch and had a personal conversation with them.. that was great! But Sister Nielsen talked about loving our companions. She started by describing her family and then describing their likes.. dislikes.. traditions.. etc. She then talked about her children-in-law and the differences they brought into the family.. sometimes for worse.. but more often than not, for good! She then related to this in the fact that we HAVE to love our companions. And how we must embrace all people and walks of life.. and pull from their strengths and experiences. Its a difficult thing (at least for me) but it really is so beneficial. that brings me to my next point....

Sunday. First off.. the power of fasting is so real, and so amazingly helpful. I testify that to you. Also, fasting isn't always so much about receiving some crazy signs or blessings, but more so about being spiritually in tune in order that you can see the answers and blessings that are already there. I hope that makes sense. This is my other piece to you all.. God puts people into your life at a very specific time and for very specific reasons. Whether it be your companion.. ward mission leader.. or bishop.. or whoever! I received some amazing help, encouragement, advice and love from some amazing people yesterday. God is so keenly aware of our circumstances. I testify to you that if we open our hearts and allow people in... we can progress in ways we can't imagine. Be open to all.. love all. Charity never ever faileth. Im trying to apply that to myself and its well.. difficult, but amazing. 

I miss you all. God is real, and he loves us. Daily scripture is vital for our daily happiness and eternal salvation. I plead to you with my entire heart.. read your scriptures and pray everyday. Be worthy.. love all.. and come closer to your Father in Heaven every single day. The Church is true. It's that simple. The people aren't perfect... but the doctrines are. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way back to our Heavenly Father. Never forget that. God is a just God. Jesus Christ is our Savior. It is ALL possible through him. Let yourself come unto him.. and he will always come unto you. I love you all and miss you dearly. Keep on keeping on.. "thus onto eternal perfection"

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

Tears of Sadness can turn into Tears of Gratitude

Family and Friends,

Wow. Crazy how much life can change in just 7 short days. Life is quick and full of choices, progression and change. At certain times in this week... I have felt the overwhelming love of my Heavenly Father. That is the most important thing ever. Ever. 3 Things that i have realized are so amazingly important... patience, humility, and charity. That is the battle of my life to obtain these things.. but hey, its a great experience.

I feel like time is slipping faster and faster. I cant really comprehend it. Again.. life just progresses.

So.. Conference. Wow. General Conference was amazing and inspiring. All the messages were so inspired. This was my biggest thing i took away... Missionary work is progressing and needs all of your help!! Marriage and the roles of men and women are SO ordained of God. Also.. scripture study is so important to our lives. If you aren't doing it, you need to repent and start. I add my testimony to all of the talks that were given.. .they are inspired of God.

Fun note.. i replanted rice this week! that was exciting. haha! Pictures have been sent. Well... sorry my time is short.. as well as yours to read this. I would rather you read your scriptures anyways, much more joy and blessings from that. I love you all and have felt your prayers and concern. Life is beautiful. God loves us all. We all must do everything possible daily to qualify for the Holy Ghost. I know Jesus Christ's power is real and can change all of us if we allow it to. 

ps--- here in the 'Pines.. its already Christmas season. Caroling has begun. 

Palangga,

Elder Stagg

                             first.. a monkey outside where i email.. yes, im in the philippines. haha. 

                                                          conference set up!! i love it 

Best thing ever

Full Trust in the Lord

Family and Friends,

Well.. first off. I have learned more about faith and trust this week than ever. That is what it's all about.. whether it be the people, the weather, the weaknesses... whatever! we just have to put our trust in the Lord and his will and timing. Yes its difficult, very! But... so beneficial. 

Timeout. I had the greatest trunky moment the other day. I was riding on a bus and literally played this scene over in my mind like 4 times... "This will be the last play of the game barring a penalty... Beck in shotgun.. 3 out wide... all the time in the world for beck... can anyone get open? TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN!" Yes... that isn't very missionary like, but it was a beautiful reminiscing moment. I was almost in tears of joy. hahah. Johnny Harline is forever a legend in my book. On that note.. i do miss sports, thats a fact. But its okay. Haha. I have all my life for sports.

So the area and the companionship is improving day by day. Mostly because i am learning to try and overcome my own weaknesses. That's what life is all about.. focusing on our own personal weaknesses and problems.. then trying hard and praying to overcome. That's what i am learning. Life really is good on the mission. It rains here literally everyday.. kinda sad!! but thats okay. Im excited to watch conference.. we have to wait a week! Lame! 

Spiritual Corner. Go read Alma 5.. the whole chapter. That's all i need to say about scriptures this week. Oh, and the Book of Mormon is so true. I testify that we truly can find answers for our questions through our personal study. I have experienced it more than a few times this week. Our personal study of the scriptures can change our life forever! I also learned a lot about personal worthiness. Especially priesthood holders. No matter what is wrong with those around us.. focus on our personal worthiness. It truly is the way to internal peace and happiness. Again.. find the strength of the Lord. We are saved through the grace and mercy of Christ AFTER all that we can do! Analyze that!  

Anyone who reads this and is preparing for a mission.. all i can say is, Good Decision!! So true. Its the biggest blessing in my entire life. Even the hardest moments.. i am learning to love. I love this work with all my heart. It changes people.. including yourself! The church is so true! I pray for all of you. Really do. I pray that the Spirit will open your hearts to new understanding. I truly love the Lord Jesus Christ. Ps... here in the 'Pines they start listening to Christmas music... about 3 weeks ago. haahahah. Seriously. I love it. I really do. Continue to write me and keep me updated on life. Especially the Oakland A's. Boom. God Speed the Right, and Go Cougars!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg