A great week of hard work!

This week was kind of a slow start since I was getting over a cold, but come thursday, Elder Valdez and I had the best week yet. Our work has been on fire, and it has been so fun! Even though it has been hot as heck, and miserable at some points, we have pushed through and we have really started to see the blessing of our hard work. We have also really had the spirit accompany us much stronger in our lessons, which has been great!

I have really felt like the time is just going by so fast. My birthday is coming up this week, and it is crazy to me that in a year I will be coming home, quite close to my next birthday. It feels like I just got my mission call and I just came into the mission. It is super crazy, but as long as I give it my all, and don't have any regrets, I know that the time will go by fast, but I will enjoy it, and I will learn a lot. 

Also, Elder Valdez and I have been talking to a lot of people, and it's cool to see how everyone, in their own way, is really searching for the truth, whether or not they express it in words or through other ways. I love to bring the message of the restoration of the gospel to all of the people here :) 

My cousin Quincy comes home this week from his mission. It is insanely hard to wrap my head around right now, because it feels like I was just at his setting apart. Quincy - you're awesome! :D And for all those serving - missions are awesome, just keep goin hard because it comes to an end before you know it. 

Love you aLL :D 

Stay True,

Elder Walstad

Recovery and Rain!.. Finally!

This week has been a lot better weather wise. It has still been really hot, but when we get clouds and rain, it really helps, especially when we get a cool breeze coming through the streets of Santiago City.

Elder Valdez and I have been having a really great time together! I am really learning a lot from him, and I feel very blessed to have him as my companion, as I have said before. I am also grateful for the chance I have to be training and to be a District Leader. I really feel that I am growing both as a missionary and as myself as a person. I feel like my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has improved dramatically since I have entered the mission field. It is an amazing opportunity, serving a mission, to really realize what is important, as well as really focus on improving a relationship that will be eternal. 

P-Day at Magat Dam

I am so grateful to be serving here in the Philippines, even though it is insanely hot and humid ALL the time, and the language still is difficult at times. But now that I am really getting a solid hold on the language, I am able to really connect more with the people here, and I am really able to teach and build relationships with these people that, I hope, will continue on into eternity. We haven't really been able to teach many people this past week, but hopefully as we continue to exercise our faith and work hard, we will find those that the Lord has prepared for us!

There were some days this week where the rain was insanely strong, and we just happened to be out walking during these points in time. There was one point where the puddles were really deep, and the water was up to our shins... but we pressed forward, and it was actually quite nice having that cold water cool down our HOT bodies.

Anywho - The gospel is true, and the time is seriously flying by! I can't believe that I'm gonna be 20 years old here in a few weeks! HOLY COW! :D Hehe. Yeah buddy!

You're all awesome! 

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

A week of healing

So, I want to start off this email by saying that this church is true. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is such a blessing, and I'm not quite sure where I would be without it. 

So this week - I spent a lot of time in Cauayan, at the mission home. Since I have been quite sick, Sister Rahlf thought it best for me to spend a lot of time resting and cooling down at the mission home. After a few days there, I really felt like I have been able to get back on top of my health, and I am really hoping and praying that I will be able to stay at 100%! I am getting sick of getting sick... :P I just want to be out working, teaching the people here about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

 My new companion (trainee), Elder Valdez, has got to be the best companion ever. He is such a huge blessing to me. It has only been 2 weeks, and I've been sick for about a week and a half of that, and I have already learned SO much from him. I feel like in my training, it is just the technical stuff really. He is the one teaching me. I am so grateful for him and his Christ-like spirit. I kind of feel like we are really similar in personalities. We work really well together, and I am hoping that we will find, teach and baptize a lot of people in our time together. 

Elder Valdez

Also, it has been between 106-109 degrees F every single day here, with no wind, and no clouds. So we have been praying that we will receive rain soon, especially since the people crops here have been withering and dying from the heat. 

So, receiving the news about the Openshaw family was quite shocking at first. It is definitely saddening and difficult to accept, but as soon as I heard the news, my thoughts immediately turned to Jesus Christ, and the hope that comes from his Atonement, as well as the Plan of Salvation/Happiness. The fact that we know that we will be with our families for eternity brings hope into our lives, especially during hard times as these. 

The Openshaw family was a very special family. They had an attitude of "work hard, and find the joy in the work." They were very loving, and very service oriented. I remember when we would have to meet as youth for activities, early in the morning, and we would all gather at the Openshaw home to eat a super yummy breakfast. There was always joking going on, and everyone (even though they were tired and half asleep) would be cheery and be enjoying themselves. Even at their young ages, their kids have always been great examples of leadership and hard workers for everyone else around them. My Prayers are with you all back home! And especially with Porter, Zane and Max.

Love you all!

Stay True,

Elder Walstad

Being reunited with Elder Olson!

Yup, Sick.

So this week, I have almost nothing to really report about :P I got really sick, again, and I have been told by the doctor to just have "bed rest" as much as I can. I have been super weak, and have had a super high fever, but I am hoping that I will start to get better this next week, and start working hard again in a couple weeks once I'm back to 100%!!! 

I just have 2 pictures for the week, and it is of my new companion(trainee), Elder Valdez.  He is seriously the best. He kind of reminds me of the filipino version of myself. hehe. He has been insanely patient with me this past week since I have been stuck in bed, and he has even served food to me in bed! How nice is that?! haha. He is also fluent in English, so I have definitely been taking advantage of that ;) But he is has also really been helping me with Tagalog, so that is a huge blessing!!! I couldn't have asked for better!

I hope you all have a great week, and Hopefully by next week I will have more to say. 

Love you all,

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

I'm a trainer. yeah buddy!

So this week was alright! It was kind of a long one... especially since I found out that I am training a new missionary!!! I feel like the anticipation of finding out who my trainee is made the week kind of crawl by. But it's all good! 2 more days! hehe.

So yeah - I am staying here in Santiago City, Isabela for at least another 3 months. which i am super happy about! i love this area.  I will be here for almost 1/2 my mission by the end of it! It's awesome! :D

I am super excited to train. I had an experience last cycle, where I was able to work with a "part-time" missionary for 2 weeks, so it was pretty much training for being a trainer. I learned SO much in those 2 weeks, both in the language, and just being a missionary. Having 12 weeks to work with a new missionary and train him.. i am just so excited for all of the great things that I will learn and for how much i will grow. Of course, it will be a challenge, and it won't all be rainbows and unicorns - but I know that as long as I trust the Lord and give myself 100% to the work.. it'll all work out. yeah buddy!

also, we had baptisms this weekend for 3 of our investigators. It was a great service, and even though it started an hour and a half late (Filipino time), it was super awesome. All 3 of the girls were super excited, and they are sisters, so it's a great example for the rest of their family, especially their Father who is a member, so really look at the church differently, and I hope and pray that their examples will continue to be a beacon for their family. Their names are Grace, Herxilla and April Sablay. They're awesome :)

Anywho... I am super excited for next week!

I hope you all have a great week!

Stay True!!!!!! :D

Elder Walstad