Elder Tanner Walstad: 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.