Unang Pasko ko sa Mission (My first Christmas in the Mission)

So this last week was pretty crazy AWESOME! I had the wonderful opportunity to call home over Skype with my family and that was so great. Modern Technology is such a blessing! We also had a dinner at our bishop's home on Christmas which was fantastic! I'm so glad to have such a loving bishop... who knows English! :)

(Dinner at the bishop's house on Christmas)

(Christmas morning... new Christmas ties for Tanner and his companion)

This week was the best time, and the worst time, to go proselyting.  The people here love to hear our message, and especially during the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ, people are more open.  But people are also more drunk and busy. So that makes it kind of difficult.  Even members and our investigators were super busy.  It made it difficult to find time to go and teach, but we tried our best and we were able to teach a few lessons here and there! 

I have been getting over a cold this week, so I have had a lot of time to rest and to focus on studying, and I have really been getting into the life of Christ, and the more I read Jesus the Christ, the more I come to love our Savior Jesus Christ, and the more I understand about His life and what He did for us. I am just scratching the surface, but his life is such an amazing blessing to each one of us.. I would challenge us ALL to take time this next year, to learn more of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and come to know him better. 

We had a baptism this week, and it was awesome!!! It was for Tatay Portacio, and he is 60 years old.  He was in the army, and he was in charge of shooting the Giant Machine guns, that are mounted on top of the armored vehicles.  He is missing his right arm because during his days in the army, his arm was blown off by a machine gun.  Not his gun, but he was shot at.  It was a great experience teaching him and watching him come to accept Jesus Christ into his life.  He really soaked up everything we taught him, and his testimony is growing stronger and stronger every time we teach him.  It is amazing!

A super dumb/funny story really quick... we had a party this week, and about half way through, this super loud buzzing noise started to come towards the open door by our Cultural hall. Then all of a sudden this Gigantic Beetle flew into the hall. It was flying around, almost like it was drunk.  It ran into a few walls, and then all of a sudden it changed directions suddenly and dive-bombed directly into my lap. I freaked out (in my mind) and then hit it off and smashed it with my foot. I hear AND felt the crunch.. oh my gosh. It was gigantic! And out of all the people, it picked me. Sheesh. Super annoying! :P

I am so grateful that I got to talk to my family and I am so excited to call again on Mother's Day!.. ;)

Stay True! 

Elder Walstad

Maligayang Pasko (Merry Christmas!)

Everything is New... Again!

So this week has been full of a lot of adjustment and change.. again. It was kind of hard, but it wasn't nearly as bad as when I was "bago"(new) in the mission. 

I have a new companion, Elder Maagad, and my new area is in Santiago South.  It is a lot smaller than my last area, Mallig, but it is in the city, so there is SO much more here.  There are 3 McDonalds... 3 different malls, and there are a lot more well-off people here. It's awesome :) I am really enjoying my new area.. and my companion likes to work hard, so that is always a plus!

Elder Walstad and new companion, Elder Maagad

I have also been really growing in the language! My companion said that I sound like I'm Filipino! Which is a great compliment :) I just need to keep studying hard, and practicing all the time, and hopefully I can become super duper good! 

So last night, we had a dinner appointment at a member's house.  She usually feeds the missionaries a lot, and she is famous for stuffing them to the brim.  I didn't quite understand what that meant until after we finished eating.  She made so much food it was ridiculous. She would go around and fill our plates if there was any empty space left on the plate.  And when one dish was gone, she would somehow have 3 more come out of her kitchen. I had no clue where it was all coming from, and luckily it was all good food, because afterwards, I could barely walk, and my companion felt like he was going to blow up. 

This week has been great all around, and I am super grateful for all the blessings that I have had.  

Ingat Kayo Lahat! (You all take care!) :)

Stay True

Elder Walstad

Eating a roasted pig.  They gave Tanner the ear.  He's actually holding the pig ear in the picture above with his companion.

The new apartment!

Transferred!? What?!

During a really "hard rain."  Tanner said, "I've never heard it rain so loud!"

So, this week has just FLOWN by! Holy cow. I can't believe it's already P-day again, let alone December 15th! :o  Christmas is in 10 days.. that just blows my mind. But it just shows me the harder I work, and the more I enjoy myself, the faster it goes by. So I just need to take advantage of the time I have left, because it really is going to fly by.

So this morning, as I got up to go to the bathroom around 6:15, I walked inside our CR (Comfort room ;) That's what they call the bathrooms here) and I felt something crawling up my leg.  It scared the crap outa' me! (good thing I was in the bathroom) jk ;) hehe. But I thought it was a giant spider or Cockroach! But I just kicked my leg, and heard something go in the toilet.  I turned the light on, and it was a mouse! :O We finally caught the mouse that has been running around our apartment for the last 2 months! haha.  We took it outside, and took care of biniss ^.^ so, no more mouse!  

The "poor" little mouse 

We also had a zone activity today while we were waiting to receive the Transfer list.  When my Zone leader read it off, and when he said my name, I thought he was kidding. But no. It's true.  I am getting Transferred already! Everyone was confused.. because usually the trainer is the first to leave, but I guess President Rahlf received inspiration otherwise.  I am excited for the new adventure that lies ahead, and I will make sure to update you all next week who my new companion is and whatnot.

Loving the Christmas tree!

Earlier this week, we had our Mission Tour, and oh my gosh.  It was amazing!!! It was from Elder Bowen of the 70, who is part of the area presidency here in the Philippines. He is such a smart man, and he taught so many amazing truths.  He also gave some great promises if we stay obedient and work hard.  It re-ignited that fire that was already burning, but now it is a flame that is out of control! ;) 

I have had such a great week, and I am SO excited to be able to call home next week.  I am starting to really excel in the language.  Everyone is telling me how good I am becoming now, and I can really see improvement.  I am becoming more and more confident, and now that I am able to understand people better, it makes the work so much easier, and enjoyable! 

I love being a missionary! 

Stay True

Elder Walstad

In front of Tanner's apartment

"The District"

E-Jay and his grandma

A Typhoon this week!

 So this week was a pretty great one! We stayed really busy and we worked hard and now it's P-day again! And I can't believe that it's almost Christmas! I am really trying to make the most of the time that I have because I know that this will be over before I know it, and I don't want to have any regrets! ^.^

So, you probably have all heard, but there is Typhoon Ruby that hit the Philippines. Our mission is ok, thankfully! We have just had really cool weather, dark skies, and windy days. (I was actually cold the last 2 nights! Whaaa!?!) So I have really enjoyed the cooler weather, but everyone here is shivering and wearing layers and layers.. kinda like what I would do when it gets freezing in Utah. :) Hehe. It's funny. But We are doing well here, and it actually hasn't even rained yet.. we may see some rain a little later today or in a few days as the Typhoon leaves the Philippines. 

We had a Baptism again this Saturday! With Noah Gomez. He is 14 years old, and it was so awesome! His 2 Less-Active sisters accompanied him, and it was so amazing to see how happy they were to see their younger brother being baptized. I love to see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings so much happiness to people.

We also visited some Less-Active families this week, and it was amazing to see them attend church Yesterday! They were so happy to come back, and thought that everyone had forgotten about them... but when the missionaries (us) showed up, they were so happy, and it brings so much joy to my soul when I see people coming back to the gospel and accepting it into their lives.. again. :)

I have been really improving in the language, and I am starting to understand more and more every day. It is so amazing to recognize my improvement, and go back and read in my journal and remember when I literally had no clue what people were saying. I guess the more that I am around it, the more I begin to understand, and the words just make sense.  The Gift of Tongues is real, and I have a testimony of Hard work :)

I love you all, and I am so grateful for the gospel in my life, and for the happiness it brings, especially sharing it with others.  

Stay True!
Elder Walstad

This is our new Branch Mission Leader, Brother Renato Corpuz

First counselor in the branch presidency(Bro. Nevaro) with his twin grandsons