January is already over?!

Wow, this is going to be the last week of January. That is so crazy. It feels like I just got here in my new area last new years eve... 

This week we were able to find some new investigators, who seemed to be really willing to listen to us and they were really willing to allow us to come back and teach them again. It was super great, and we felt super excited about it... but then when we returned to teach them... we actually saw them run away from us. it was kind of ridiculous, especially when we went up to the house and asked them if the people were there. Hehe. But the few people who we were able to teach and follow up have been a great success! We actually have a baptismal date in February, so we are excited about that! 

I am still enjoying being a Zone Leader.  It is difficult at times, and being here in this zone has shown to be a little more challenging then the last zone I was in.  However, I have really learned a lot, and I have definitely grown as a leader. 

The past couple of days have been pretty chilly... almost to the point where I didn't want to use my electric fan.... but of course I still used it. Who am I kidding? I can't go without it. Hehe. 

I am loving this more and more.  This past week I have really improved dramatically, I think, in the language. I have really seen huge improvements and I have become much more confident.  #blessed #blessings!! We have had a lot of FHE's recently as well, and I have really seen the improvements in my teaching.  I can teach pretty much anything on the spot now. Of course there are still challenges, but through practice and study, I'll overcome those :)

Well, I hope you all have a great week!!

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." -Muhammad Ali

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

"Give" said the little stream...

Streams don't talk... but it's ok. It's a good message.

Earlier this week we taught our Zone Meeting, and it went really well!! We taught about "To Do and To Be." It's cool how, when I teach something, I learn more about the subject, and my testimony is strengthened. It's cool how the spirit works like that.

Every day this week, when we visited the members and others, almost everyone was "busy" and we ended up being punted at our lessons. It's hard getting punted. But when we were able to teach at least one lesson, after walking and walking in the hot hot sun, it sure does make it worth it.

We had splits last Friday with 2 of the Elders in our zone, and it's always fun to go out and work with another Elder for a day. I love to get to know the other missionaries who I am leading.  It's not only about making friends, but also getting to their needs and how I can better help them as a leader. It's a great responsibility! I feel like being a Zone Leader definitely has it's challenges and it can be stretching, but I have learned so much and grown so much that I wouldn't have asked for anything else. 

Well - this email is gonna be a tad bit short this week, just because not too much happened. We have a few investigators who have started to progress, so we are praying that when we visit them this week, that they will accept a baptismal date and continue to follow through with their commitments. 

I love this work, and it's a blessing to be here in the Philippines. I love the people with all my heart! They are awesome :) 

"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life."

Stay True!

Elder Walstad 

It's nice and warm here

Well, it's nice and warm here in Roxas, Isabela. We are just a couple of hours from, what they say is, the hottest place in Asia!... :P Or one of the hottest cities. I forget what they say. Either way - it's hot. But the apartment here is pretty cool, and it actually gets pretty chilly at night with the fans goin, so that's good. Cold is good. Hot is bad. ;)

We have been trying to really focus this past week on the Less-Actives in our branch.. but every single one we tried visiting this past week turned us down.  It was kind of frustrating at first, but I remembered what is says in Preach My Gospel, about how no effort is wasted.  So we kept going, and even if we got "punted," we still went to all of our planned appointments. At the end of the day, even though we didn't get to teach anyone, it felt like we did some good, and at least they recognized our desire to go and help them and teach them.

  

After this experience, I was reading in Moroni 7, and I came upon the verses about Charity, and they had never hit me so hard. Seriously, without Charity, missionary work wouldn't be effective. We would be nothing, as the scripture says. If we didn't have charity, we wouldn't have kept going and trying to visit the less active members.  Charity is so essential to everything we do in life, and when we have Charity, it will lead to us obtaining more Christ-like Attributes. Like patience. When we have that pure love towards everyone, our patience will become stronger... because we love them. :) 

We also had our MLC this week, and we learned a great lesson from Sister Rahlf about "footprint statements." Are we leaving behind footprints that lead down the right path or the wrong path? She shared the example of nephi, and how he left great footprint statements that we still follow to this day. 1 Nephi 3:7, for example. Then President Rahlf shared about "To DO and To BE." "In order to be," he said, "We must do." We can't just do something, because there is no effect.  And it is difficult to BE if we aren't doing what we are trying to Be.  Some deep stuff. I was inspired. When we are doing and being, we will naturally leave behind good footprint statements. I love that!  

So... other than that, we have had quite a few dogs try and "eat" us... I am becoming more scared of dogs then spiders at this point... haha. At least here in the peeens. Dogs aren't the same here... and now I am starting to understand why they eat them... though I will never eat dog. Never. Ever. 

Well, I hope you all have a great week, full of happiness and with Charity towards all. And I just want to give a quick shout out to Matt Walstad - he ran his first ever marathon last week, and he dominated! :D WOO!!! Way to be! That is a great example of perseverance and hard work :) gotta love it. 

"I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end." - Larry Bird

Stay True!

Elder Walstad

2016 is upon us!

Well... one year gone, another one ahead, and many more to come! 2015 was a great year full of struggles, trials, hardships, growth, happiness and love. I'm so grateful to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I dunno where I'd be without it. And I am super grateful to those 2 missionaries who knocked on my Grandma and Grandpa Walstad's door.. when they could have easily made an excuse to not go out that cold stormy day. :) 48 years later, here I am, all the way in the Philippines, keepin' that ripple goin strong!

Well, I was transferred this past week, and it's actually kind of funny... I was transferred back to where I was "born" in the mission. Not the same area, but the same zone.  Now I am not being led, but I am the leader of this zone.  It's cool! Being back here, seeing old familiar faces, and being able to converse with them this time... hehe. Who knew... they were always speaking the same language. I just didn't think so back then. ;) 

It's good here, in Roxas. My new companion is Elder Martizo, and we've known each other since I was in Santiago (about a year ago), so we're pretty good friends :) So that's awesome. 

Well... this email is a little short this week, but I just want to end on this thought. While thinking back on 2015, during New Year's Eve, and looking back at all the goals that I set for myself, I really saw how much I grew, but I also saw how carried away I got with making goals last year. So this year, I was more prayerful about what my goals should be, especially since I am going home this year... and the number of goals went down dramatically, but the effect that they can have are still as great, if not greater. I am definitely excited to see what this new year has in store for me, and everyone else! Everyone is growing up so fast... it's crazy! Slow down a little bit... ;) hehe.

Anywho... love you all! I hope you all had a fun New Year! 

I just want to leave a quote "Every SINNER has a future, and every SAINT has a past." (Tayo ay mga Latter-Day-SAINTS) ;) As we look to the new year, lets be better! :D WOO!!! #Atonement

Stay True!

Elder Walstad