Oh yes!

So this week was pretty good. We had a lot of awesome lessons, and our investigators are really progressing!  I am still really struggling with the language, but I must be saying something right because most of the investigators that I talk to seem to understand somewhat of what I say. Hehe. 

So yesterday (Sunday), one of our investigators who we were not able to teach this week came to church! It was so great! And after church, we went over to his house and taught him, and he accepted our invitation for baptism! He then went on about how he wants this for his whole family, so we are praying that his family member's hearts can be softened, and that he doesn't stop progressing just because the rest of his family doesn't want to.  His name is Sixto Quiape (Six-two -- Key-yape) hehe. Pretty awesome :) His first name is how tall I am! :) So I won't ever forget his name ;)

I also got "hit on" by a transvestite this week.. that was interesting. He/She had a super low voice, but looked SO much like a girl. My companion just laughed his head off, and told me afterwards that it was a "bakla" (gay). Haha. I wasn't quite sure at the time, because, surprisingly, girls here have lower voices than a lot of the guys! It's kind of scary, but its whatevs. They are still children of God ^.^

I also made French Toast this week! That was so fantastic!.. It only made me a little homesick ;) But it was really great having a "taste of home" here in the Philippines. I also had french toast when I went on splits this week. Splits was really fun, and I am happy because we have splits once a cycle, so every 6 weeks. That will be awesome! 

Well... I'll have more for you all next week! :) 

Stay True!!!

Elder Walstad

Tanner and his companion with Brother Nato Corpuz. He is an RM and he works with them a lot

One Month in the Philippines!

Oh gosh

So this week has been pretty crazy! Some weird stuff happened! But also some pretty awesome things as well!

I got to go to Cauayan, to the mission home, for our New missionary training and I got to see my (MTC Group!) That was so exciting! It was SO great to see Elder Olson (My companion from the MTC) and to catch up, and to realize that we are all going through the same struggles, and that we aren't alone in this change. Haha. 

With Elder Olson again!

Reunited with my MTC group!

 Later during the week we were at a dinner appointment, with the Branch President's second counselor, and his son came in towards the end of dinner, SO drunk.  It was pouring rain all day, so the ground was pretty slippery and muddy, and he was just covered in dirt. He was so drunk that he couldn't take 2 steps in a straight line. Luckily he didn't lash out or anything, because he apparently was fighting with someone outside before he came in. I was definitely uncomfortable, but I knew that it would be ok.. haha. CRAZY!

I have also been gaining weight! (I think). Not too much.. but enough to where I can feel the strugs of putting on my pants now! So I have been cutting down on how much rice I eat.. since we eat rice with every single solitary meal here! I like rice.. but eating that much can't be good for you! Hehe. 

I have also had a lot of time this week to really sit down and study the Book of Mormon, and I have really come to fall in love with the book. I know that it is so true! Everyone should read it! READ IT! :) ^.^

The church is true, Heavenly Father loves all of his children so much, and I am here sharing that message with those children who are lost. I'm so grateful for that opportunity. 

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

*Tanner has been in the Philippines for a month now and I wanted some more details from him so I sent him a list of questions and these are his answers:

The highlight for me this past week was ... Going to the mission home and seeing everyone from the Provo MTC again!

My daily routine includes .... Wake up, exercise, eat food, "shower" (More like a bath.. but actually, it's just a ladel that I use to dump cold water on myself. SO FUN!) And then I have study from 8-12. Lunch at 12, and then we are out the door usually by 1 o'clock. And we will come back around 8. Have nightly planning, for the next day, and then I'll eat more food and then study some scriptures, or other material. Then I'm in bed usually around 10:10-10:25, so I can be asleep as close to 10:30 as possible :)

I feel grateful for .... All of my family and friends. For the Gospel, and for the life that I was raised in. For the love and support that I have. For my trainer and his willingness to work hard and learn. Patience from the members and others who I try to speak the language to. hehe.

This week I've been studying about .... Staying positive, and remembering Christ in our life.

The language is ..... Hard. Haha. I am starting to kind of be able to understand it. Kind of. I really am just able to speak to people when it comes to gospel conversation. And I still use super simple speech. 

Some of the people I've met here are ..... Very nice, and very humble. 

Tell us about the members in the area.... The members that are active, are very strong, and have amazing testimonies. They work really well with us, and they feed us, so that is awesome!

The food is .... Yummy! I have yet to eat something that I REALLY don't like.

Something that I've had to get used to here is ..... Having just my companion to speak to. And the Bathroom.

My companion is .... A great guy! A hard worker, and really humble. He is short, and he is really good at creating a good relationship with the members. BRT'ing.

A favorite scripture for me recently is .... Phillipeans 4:13

And finally...

Here are photos from the baptism this past weekend.  Tanner baptized the little boy in the middle, named E-Jay:)

General Conference Amazingness

Sorry there aren't any new pictures this week, but here is Tanner's update! (I added his main email for this week, and pasted in a few pieces from some of his shorter emails that give a little more detail):


So.. this week had some rough patches, but I knew that I could get through it, and I had something to look forward to at the end of the week... GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! I was so excited to go to General Conference! They show it a week late here, because of our time difference. This General Conference is probably one of my favorite, and I think I felt the spirit, at points, the strongest I have ever felt. I know without a doubt that President Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet of God, and that what he says, is what God wants us to know and hear. 

I absolutely LOVED Elder Hollands talk. It really touched me, and since the Philippines is a place where there are a lot of poor and needy, it gives me a chance to really reach out and serve them! And I did see Ioane! I kinda teared up a little when I saw him.. hehe.

I am so grateful for all of the love and support, and the prayers. I feel them strengthen me throughout the day, everyday. I am starting to kind of get used to everything now. It has started to really become a routine for me, which it usually takes about a month to get into a solid habitual routine, so that is about right :) The time is an interesting thing. The days really do go by slow, but the weeks seem to fly by... in a sense. I am starting to feel a little more settled. 

We have 3 baptisms this coming weekend, so I am excited for that! I get to baptize one of them, I know for sure. I am baptizing a 10 year old kid, and his name is E-Jay. Um.. we were eating at a restaurant with some other elders, and he was trying to put some soy sauce on his rice, but the whole top came off and he had a pool of soy sauce. That was pretty funny. Also, when people see me they say "Hey Joe, whats your name?" It's from G-I-Joe, or something.. haha. Its pretty hilarious. I am still trying to learn this language.. but it has started to make a little bit of sense. It only sounds like gibberish 1/2 the time! Haha ;)

Love you all, and continually strive to follow the prophet! You won't regret it! :)

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

We walked, and walked, and walked, aaaaaaaaaand waaaaaaalked

So you can probably guess what I did a lot of this week ;).. STUDYING!!. Jk. hehe. We walked so much, that my legs and butt muscles are definitely getting buffer! So Aw yeh! :) 

I am still struggling with the language, but I feel like I am starting to get it slowly. I definitely have to rely on the Lord for help.  

We finally had our first rainy day, since I've been here, anyway. That was pretty awesome! It has been insanely hot, and I am sweaty from the minute we leave our apartment to the minute we come back home from a hard days' work. 

We have been visiting a lot of the Less-active members, and since that is such an area of focus for our mission, that has been our focus. Though, we do have 2 new investigators now!!! And we have 3 baptisms scheduled for 2 weeks! And I think I get to baptize one of them! So that is super exciting! 

The living conditions here are very different than what I am used to, but I am starting to get used to my apartment and the food and whatnot. I definitely see the Lord's hand in my life every day, and I make sure to pray and thank Heavenly Father daily.  

We have also really come to recognize the importance of having members present at lessons, or just the strength of the members in general, helps us as missionaries become stronger and feel loved. So if I could say one thing, it would be to go with the missionaries! Or invite them over for a Dinner! They would love it! I know that ;) 

Thank you all for your prayers, and love and support.

Stay True!

Elder Walstad