A week of miracles

This week has been uh-may-zing. We have really been struggling lately to get new investigators, who want to progress and continue on with our teaching. This last week, we found 8 new investigators, and we gave out 6 baptismal dates! I am so grateful for this amazing blessing, and we are hoping that we will be able to bring all 12 of our investigators to the waters of baptism by the end of May.  It is such an amazing feeling when the people we teach accept our message, and actually follow through with their commitments.  

There are two families in particular who we are really focusing on at this moment in time. The Vicencio family and Sublay family.  The Vicencio family have 4 kids, and the parents are members.  Their two oldest kids (Daughters) are two of our favorite people to teach.  They write down everything we tell them, and they read the scriptures every single day.  Their dates are for next week (may 9), and i am so excited!!! We are also trying to bring back their parents, who have become less active over the last few years. I am hoping and praying that their childrens example and strong testimonies will give that "push" that they need to return to full activity.  Also, the Sublay family - There are 2 kids, their mom, and 3 cousins.  They have all gone to church before, and they were all ecstatic when we gave them dates! It was an amazing experience ;)

(Families that Tanner & Elder Tabudlong are teaching)

The language is coming along so much easier now.  I wouldn't necessarily go as far as saying that I'm fluent... but I am almost 100% comfortable in any situation. I am so grateful for the Gift of tongues, and the patience that I exercised in the beginning of this whole adventure. Our Father in heaven really does love us. I know that fo sho.

Everything is awesome, and I am loving this work that I am blessed to be a part of. I am learning so much. I love my family and friends. you are all fantastic persons. 

love you all, and remember... :)

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

Yeah buddy!

This week has been a pretty great one!

We have a ton of new-ish investigators!!! And all of them attended church this week!!! It was so amazing. It is so great to see the people that we are teaching, coming unto Christ. And especially since that is our purpose as missionaries, To invite others to come unto Christ, it is quite fulfilling! :) I love it!!! We are hoping that they will all be baptized by May 9! :) Woo!!!!

Also, since I am a District Leader, it is one of my responsibilities to interview candidates of my District, and some of the sisters in my District had 2 candidates this last week, and I discovered something... I love interviewing people for baptism!!!  It is so fantastic!!! I love to listen to the candidates bear their testimonies, and you can totally tell when the person is ready or not. So I interviewed a 10 year old boy and a 15 year old girl. They were so ready, and even the 10 year old, when he bore his short, but sincere testimony, I could tell that he was truly excited to get baptized! And the girl asked me to baptize her, so that will be awesome! Baptisms are so fantastic :) It is a party ;) hehe. I imagine that every time someone is baptized, there is a little party thrown in heaven ;) 

So today, for our P-day, we went to a place called Aglipay Caves. It was pretty cool... well, actually is was insanely hot, but the caves themselves were pretty awesome. ;) We also had to crawl, literally, in some super tiny holes, and though I hate getting dirty, and small spaces, it was a fun time, and I won't forget it :) 

I have been really focusing my studying on the Book of Mormon this week, and I know more and more, every day, that that book is true. As Joseph Smith said, it is the most correct of any book on the earth. I love studying! I soak it all up :) And the language is really starting to get so much easier for me. When I put the time in to study, I really notice a difference in my day :) 

Well, I hope you all have a super duper fantastic week! Remember to always pray! :)

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

Tanner's District

Yup. General conference. That's wassup!

This week has been fantastic. One of the best yet! i have felt such a huge confidence boost in my language skills, and with talking to random people.  Since I'm an "Amerikano," they don't usually expect me to be able to speak Tagalog.  Sometimes I play off that and pretend like I don't know Tagalog, but then I'll just break it out randomly, and then they freak out and laugh and all that fun stuff :) hehe. Also, with all of this contacting we have been doing, we have been blessed with more and more investigators.  We are teaching one family where the parents are less active, but they want their kids to become members, so we have started teaching their kids, and holy cow, their kids are super awesome! They are super receptive, and insanely smart. They remember everything we teach so it makes it more of an enjoyable experience to teach!  It is so amazing! I also love teaching people that their families can be together for eternity because families are so important to the Filipinos.  I also have a testimony of BRT (I know it sounds weird, but it's true.) BRT (Building relationship of trust) is so essential, because, if the people don't trust you, then why would they want to open up to you, and share their concerns or questions? I know it's true! :)

Alright, so now for the juicy stuff. So we watched General Conference this week, and holy crab, it was so amazing. The spirit was so incredibly strong.  I loved how they focused on the family, and how important it is.  They also really put a lot of emphasis on how crucial the parents are, and how it is our responsibility to raise children in the Gospel. The whole time, I couldn't stop thinking about my family. My family is so amazing, and there aren't enough words to describe their amazingness. And not just my immediate family, but extended too!!! :D 

I actually got teary eyed thinking about you all! Especially my immediate family. My sisters.... you are all incredibly talented, beautiful, smart, amazing, sweet, etc. I could go on and on! :) and mom and dad.... Oh man. I am so grateful for your examples and for your raising me.... I apologize if i was ever a pain in the neck.. hehe. AHHHHHH, i JUST LOVE YOU SO MUCH! :D but yeah... conference was just amazing!!! LOVED IT! :)

This week has been a good one, and I am excited for the next weeks to come! The mission is awesome... hard! But awesome. 

Love you all,

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

We ALMOST had a typhoon hit.. but then it didn't.

So this week was pretty good!  Honestly not too much happened! We did extend a baptismal date to one of our investigators, and she attended church, so we are hoping that by next month she will be baptized!!! We are also starting to be blessed with more and more investigators, as well as finding and "rescuing" a lot of Less-Actives.  There is a big focus on our mission, or here in the Philippines, on both finding AND rescuing. It is a great opportunity to help people come back into the fold, just like the analogy of Christ going out and leaving the 99 to find the 1 who is lost. It is so important, as members, to make sure that we are always being the best friend and "fellowshipper." :) It is such a blessing to see people who, were once lost, and are now found and they have the spirit in their lives again.

This week, I have really seen a huge improvement in my language, and I am really starting to feel more and more confident.  However, I know that all of my studying and patience has been paying off, especially with the help of the Lord. I know that the Gift of Tongues is real.  Also, having patience is so crucial. haha. It is funny, because when I will try to speak english to people, I will start to throw in some Tagalog words, and eventually just switch to Tagalog. It is awesome! :D 

Well, this week was Afton's Birthday, and I can't believe that she is 12!!! Everyone is growing up so much.  I am just so grateful for my amazing family and friends and all the love and support that I receive from you all! Thank you so much!

Happy Birthday Afton!!!

Hopefully there will be more to say next week! :) But I hope that you all have a wonderful and fantastic week full of happiness and fun...ness... :)

Love you all!
Stay True

Elder Walstad