100%

This was a good week of recovering and preparing for this upcoming week.  My companion and I didn't have too much work because I got a little sick again... but now I am back to 100% and ready to start going hard, again, this next week! We did however find more new investigators. So that's always AWESOME! hehe. We found one family, the Albano family, who seemed VERY willing to listen to us.  We taught them right there on the spot.  We will go back to them this next week, and we are hoping and praying that the spirit has confirmed to them that what we are sharing with them is true! ^.^ 

So.... I really buckled down this week and got back into some good habits, and I have really noticed the difference in every aspect.  How I feel throughout the day, how my companionship is with the spirit, and with my companion.  Really, everything has improved 100% :) The spirit is just so vital. We need it! We can't afford NOT to have the spirit with us.  

We also have been blessed a lot this week with free food! Seriously, for missionaries, and really for anyone, FREE FOOD is so fantastic.  We go to peoples houses (usually members) and they will just pull out whatever biscuits or treats they have, and will offer it to us. And we can't say no... that's rude. ;) haha. Yesterday, we went to a members house, and they invited us in, and fed us dinner! They had just finished cooking spaghetti, and there was still left over! It's almost like they KNEW we were gonna come. hehe. #Blessed. 

Well, This next week will be super exciting.  We are going to have the chance to sit down and listen to Elder Schwitzer of the Seventy teach us.  He gave a talk in this last Conference, so I am super stoked to hear what he has to say! And to feel of his Spirit.  WOOO!!!!!! :D 

Well, I hope you all have a great week. Read the scriptures and be awseome!

Stay True

Elder Walstad

A stormy week!

So as most of you probably know by now, we had a big typhoon fly over our mission.. and it is actually still over our mission as of right now.  But the strongest part of the storm has already passed.  It was supposed to be a Category 3 or 4, which is very strong, but it ended up weakening and it ended up being ok! There was a lot of rain, and some really strong wind, but nothing that we couldn't handle! Everyone is ok, and my companion and I are all good :) 

This week we had a really awesome lesson.  We contacted a random lady who, at first, didn't seem interested at all.  But as we continued to BRT with her, and just try to show her that we were normal human beings who just wanted to "make a friend," she really opened up, and we ended up being able to teach her right there.  We opened with a prayer, and the second it ended, the lady broke down and started to cry.  We were a little confused at first, and didn't know if we should start yet, but we decided to continue with the lesson, and we kept asking her how she felt, and she kept telling us that she was feeling happy, and grateful that we were there, and that we cared about her and what was happening in her life.  We continued on to testify about Jesus Christ, and how he knows EXACTLY what she is going through, and that if she turns to him for help that she will receive that.  We then invited her to pray if our message was true and she accepted a return appointment.  The spirit was definitely there during that lesson, and I definitely saw her testimony grow.  I just hope and pray that she continues to stay interested!

We didn't get to work too much more though, because I got sick... but I think that it was more I was just insanely exhausted! We really worked hard this past week, and we had been biking every day, close to 10 miles a day, so my body needed a couple of days to catch back up with itself. But I'm all good now! Woo! 

It's crazy that it's already October 19th.... my companion and I weren't sure if that was really true this morning until we checked 4 different calendars. Haha. Fun times. 

Well, I hope that you all have a great week full of bliss and delight. 

Stay True

Elder Walstad 

New companion + General Conference

So a lot has happened this week!.. well, kinda. I said goodbye to one of my good friends, in Elder Tadeo, and welcomed one of my other friends here in the mission as my new companion, Elder Pandaog!  We were in the same zone in Santiago, and I had joked back then that we will become companions... well, look at that! It came true! :D And it's been fantastic. He's super awesome, and a hard worker, so that is always a plus.

(Tanner with Elder Pandaog)

We also had to teach our zone meeting on Thursday, which was fun.  Elder Pandaog didn't know much about the lessons since he is just a brand new Zone Leader.  So I spent Wednesday night teaching him, and then Thursday we taught our zone.  That was fun! I would have to say that I enjoy teaching! Even if it's other missionaries, sharing knowledge with others, and helping them come to a better understanding of things is quite fulfilling! 

Holy cow - General Conference was SO fantastic!! I really learned a lot, and I had a lot of personal questions answered.  I feel that I am more prepared for the future, and I have a deeper understanding AND love for the gospel. I don't know that if I have ONE favorite talk, but I really liked Elder Bednar's talk, and Elder Holland.  Elder Holland's talk actually made me really miss my mom... which made me SUPER excited for when I will see her again. :) I LOVE YOU MOMMY!! ^.^ 

I have really learned a lot out here, serving a mission, in the Philippines.  I have really come to see how blessed I am, and I feel that I am more sincere then ever in my thanks to Heavenly Father.

Well, I love you all! Have a great week full of happiness and smiles.

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

Bye Bye Kasama! (Kasama = companion)

Well, it's official. My companion, Elder Tadeo, is going home.  He goes back to Manila on Wednesday, but leaves for the mission home tomorrow. So I will be companion-less for a day and a half. I feel like this cycle has just flown by. It really feels like we just became companions yesterday. I have really learned a lot from him, and I will miss him a lot - but he has finished his two years strong, and it's an exciting time for him!

Earlier this week, we had our Leadership counsel meeting, and President Rahlf taught something that really brought tears to my eyes. The Spirit was so strong. There was no denying that what he taught was true. He told us how Satan has pre-emptive strikes, and counter attacks.  With Pre-emptive strikes, he tries to strike right before we have a spiritual experience, or when we will have something good happen. And Counter attacks, which is right after having a good experience, or spiritual experience, he will attack us.  Satan is very real, and very powerful... but Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are more powerful.  He said, (And don't quote me on this) "Satan has power on us, but NOT OVER us." It's so true - our agency gives us the choice of whether or not we will follow or listen to those temptations.  It hit me so strong, and really made me want to strive harder to NEVER give that power to Satan.  

I am enjoying this mission, fo sho! It's hard, but the feeling of fulfilment and the rewards/blessings are so great, that the 2 years of struggle/growth will be MORE than worth it. 

I know that this Church is True, and I KNOW that Jesus Christ, our Saviour and brother, loves us, and knows us personally. 

Have a great week!
Stay True

Elder Walstad

(Teaching an English class)