Hey there everybody!
First of all, thanks everyone for the happy birthday wishes and the merry Christmas wishes as well. Oh and also, thanks for all the gifts and letters. They mean so much! so, this past week was totally awesome. It was Christmas first off, and of course Christmas is just amazing, especially Christmas in the Philippines. There's a saying here in the Philippines, something along the lines of "It's funner in the Philippines." They say that all the time here. It is so great. This Christmas was absolutely amazing. We got to spend the Christmas with two families. One of them was a recent convert family, and the other was a less active family that is really close to being officially returned. We got to share a message about Christ, mainly about the birth of Christ because it's Christmas. It was so great sharing with them and it was even better that they were able to share a little bit themselves! I loved that. I also got to go on exchanges with the zone leader here in Naic. His names Elder Griffin. He was great. I learned so much from him this exchange. While we were working, we went to some appointments we thought we set but the families weren't there. It was alright though because Elder Griffin did not give up. We just went out looking instead and we actually found an awesome family! It was so cool because we wanted to share but the husband wasn't there. But right when we were about to just say "next time na lang" the husband came up on his bike! It was so perfect! So we taught and set up a return appointment. It was a wonderful time. We got to teach so many people this week and we even were able to bring out ward mission leader out with us one of the days! His names Brother Salvatus and he's like 70 years old an still going strong. H worked with us an entire day. It was great! He is so funny and he has a really strong testimony about the church and about Christ. I love him. This week was awesome! Well that's about all! I love you all so much an thanks for everything. Happy New Year as well!
Elder Stephens
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
December 24, 2012
Hey everyone!
Wow, I can't even begin to explain how great this week has been. There were so many great things that happened. First off, we had a bunch of parties, well actually only two but for missionaries I think that's a lot haha. So first was the mission party and it was really great. President and Sister Stucki shared an awesome message about JOY. The message was about putting Jesus Christ first, putting Others second, and putting Yourself last. JOY. They said that this Christmas and for the rest of forever, you can remember this simple message and you will always have happiness. That was great. The second was the Carissa branch party. It was pretty fun. Elder Pugmire, Elder Gwilliam, and I all sang "What Child is This." I thought that was pretty awesome. I'm not good at singing though but it's alright. The song is what matters. Well the message, which is Christ was born. Yea you get what I'm trying to say. The other great thing about this week is we were able to give out some more baptismal dates! We were so excited to be able to extend some and even more excited when people were willing to accept! One of the investigators that accepted the baptismal date is actually married to a member. The member is less active but she wants to learn and come back. So it is really great to be able to teach an investigator and a less active member. That is actually the best way to do it here because so many people are less active, that you really try to teach them all over again to help them gain that testimony again. So I am very excited for that. Oh, and I almost forgot, this week is Christmas!! I didn't forget. I am soooo excited for Christmas. Especially that I'm able to spend it here in the Philippines. I always knew how important is was to remember Christ during Christmas, but I never have realized just how important until this one. I think it is because I have just learned so much about what He has done for all of our Heavenly Father's children. It is so great to be a missionary and to be able to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the people here in the Philippines. I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else at this time. I know this work is true and that this is the Lord's work. And that all missionaries have been called of God to be where they are. Missionary work is great! Well, that's about it. Thanks everyone for everything. Merry Christmas and thanks for the birthday wishes!! Hope you all have a great Christmas this year!
Elder Stephens
Wow, I can't even begin to explain how great this week has been. There were so many great things that happened. First off, we had a bunch of parties, well actually only two but for missionaries I think that's a lot haha. So first was the mission party and it was really great. President and Sister Stucki shared an awesome message about JOY. The message was about putting Jesus Christ first, putting Others second, and putting Yourself last. JOY. They said that this Christmas and for the rest of forever, you can remember this simple message and you will always have happiness. That was great. The second was the Carissa branch party. It was pretty fun. Elder Pugmire, Elder Gwilliam, and I all sang "What Child is This." I thought that was pretty awesome. I'm not good at singing though but it's alright. The song is what matters. Well the message, which is Christ was born. Yea you get what I'm trying to say. The other great thing about this week is we were able to give out some more baptismal dates! We were so excited to be able to extend some and even more excited when people were willing to accept! One of the investigators that accepted the baptismal date is actually married to a member. The member is less active but she wants to learn and come back. So it is really great to be able to teach an investigator and a less active member. That is actually the best way to do it here because so many people are less active, that you really try to teach them all over again to help them gain that testimony again. So I am very excited for that. Oh, and I almost forgot, this week is Christmas!! I didn't forget. I am soooo excited for Christmas. Especially that I'm able to spend it here in the Philippines. I always knew how important is was to remember Christ during Christmas, but I never have realized just how important until this one. I think it is because I have just learned so much about what He has done for all of our Heavenly Father's children. It is so great to be a missionary and to be able to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the people here in the Philippines. I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else at this time. I know this work is true and that this is the Lord's work. And that all missionaries have been called of God to be where they are. Missionary work is great! Well, that's about it. Thanks everyone for everything. Merry Christmas and thanks for the birthday wishes!! Hope you all have a great Christmas this year!
Elder Stephens
Monday, December 17, 2012
December 17, 2012
Dear everyone,
That sounds weird. First off, I am officially in ,my second transfer here in the PI. I cannot believe that it has already been 6 weeks! I did not get transferred anywhere for all those who were wondering. I'm still in Carissa! I feel like just yesterday I got here and had no idea what was going on! We actually got another new missionary in our house, Elder Burgos is training him straight from the MTC. It's funny because he says a bunch of the same stuff I said 6 weeks ago about just being new and stuff. He's already doing great though so it's all good. SO this week was pretty great! We found a new family this week that we want to start teaching. The father of the family apparently has investigated the church before but never was baptized. Now the whole family is investigating and they are all really interested. The first lesson with them went really well. We did a lot of just getting to know who they were and we found out they are already really religious. They are interested in learning more about the church and the gospel and I am so happy because I know it can help the out so much! We were also able to do a service project on Saturday. The Sisters In Trece needed some help with a service project because it had a lot landscaping so they wanted Elders to do it. So we went and it was for a member who needed some landscaping done for his house because water was just gathering like crazy. So we built a little river like thing to let the water go in the drain and we did a great job. It was wonderful. I love serving. So the Christmas season is here and it is so sweet here in the Philippines. Christmas is great pretty much everywhere but for some reason I just love it here a lot. It may have to do with the fact that I'm a missionary and doing the Lord's work. I don't know. But because of Christmas and it being the season of giving, I am really grateful that the gift we get to give, as missionaries, is the gospel. The one thing that can help every single person in the entire world. It is so rewarding helping people come unto Christ and we know this can help them out so much. I love this work and I love being a missionary!! I love you all!!
Elder Stephens
That sounds weird. First off, I am officially in ,my second transfer here in the PI. I cannot believe that it has already been 6 weeks! I did not get transferred anywhere for all those who were wondering. I'm still in Carissa! I feel like just yesterday I got here and had no idea what was going on! We actually got another new missionary in our house, Elder Burgos is training him straight from the MTC. It's funny because he says a bunch of the same stuff I said 6 weeks ago about just being new and stuff. He's already doing great though so it's all good. SO this week was pretty great! We found a new family this week that we want to start teaching. The father of the family apparently has investigated the church before but never was baptized. Now the whole family is investigating and they are all really interested. The first lesson with them went really well. We did a lot of just getting to know who they were and we found out they are already really religious. They are interested in learning more about the church and the gospel and I am so happy because I know it can help the out so much! We were also able to do a service project on Saturday. The Sisters In Trece needed some help with a service project because it had a lot landscaping so they wanted Elders to do it. So we went and it was for a member who needed some landscaping done for his house because water was just gathering like crazy. So we built a little river like thing to let the water go in the drain and we did a great job. It was wonderful. I love serving. So the Christmas season is here and it is so sweet here in the Philippines. Christmas is great pretty much everywhere but for some reason I just love it here a lot. It may have to do with the fact that I'm a missionary and doing the Lord's work. I don't know. But because of Christmas and it being the season of giving, I am really grateful that the gift we get to give, as missionaries, is the gospel. The one thing that can help every single person in the entire world. It is so rewarding helping people come unto Christ and we know this can help them out so much. I love this work and I love being a missionary!! I love you all!!
Elder Stephens
Monday, December 10, 2012
December 10, 2012
Hey there everyone!!
Sooo how is everyone doing?! Sounds like it is pretty great. The Philippines is just going nuts with all the happy people and with Christmas just around the corner. Christmas is such a huge celebration here that they start celebrating it in...SEPTEMBER! So there are tons of lights and little display things and the whole nine here for pasko. Everyone always sings, "pasko na naman!" It's great. So we had some pretty awesome experiences this week. First regarding some of those pictures, the ones with the members in the branch are because we had a little activity with the young single adults of the branch. They set up the whole thing! It was a "one day mission." Basically we just had little groups of ysa's and leaders and we went around to the less active ysa's to help them come back to church. It was awesome! Elder Pugmire and I were in charge in the morning about just teaching them about missionary work and then showing them some good tips. They all got so excited about missionary work and they even want to do the activity again! It was really cool because a lot of them want to serve missions and this really prepared them for it. Another really sweet experience was with a new family we have begun to teach. The Santiago family. We were actually looking for a less active family but they were not home when we got there so we taught the neighbors, the Santiagos. The lesson went so well. They loved the message about the Restoration, especially that we have a living prophet today. They really wanted to learn more so we set up an appointment to teach them again the following Sunday. The message was great and we taught on the Book of Mormon. We gave them copies and they began to just thank us so much. I never heard "salamat po" so many times in one minute. It was awesome and thy loved it. They told us they really want to be ready in order to get baptized because they don't just want to get baptized just because. Which was great to hear because that is exactly what we believe as well. I can't wait to see this family grow in the gospel and come closer unto Christ. It is crazy to think that this week will be the end of my first transfer here in the Philippines. I can't believe all the experiences that have already happened. I knew I would have awesome experiences but not this many. I have been so blessed. We were actually at a lesson today and I bore testimony about just that. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I know the gospel can help anyone who wants to learn about it and it they gain a desire to seek the truth, they will find it. I am especially thankful that I get to serve here in the Philippines. My "roots." I couldn't imagine being anywhere else at this time. Well I love you all. I love hearing from you. Stay safe and keep on keeping on. Over and out.
Elder Stephens
Sooo how is everyone doing?! Sounds like it is pretty great. The Philippines is just going nuts with all the happy people and with Christmas just around the corner. Christmas is such a huge celebration here that they start celebrating it in...SEPTEMBER! So there are tons of lights and little display things and the whole nine here for pasko. Everyone always sings, "pasko na naman!" It's great. So we had some pretty awesome experiences this week. First regarding some of those pictures, the ones with the members in the branch are because we had a little activity with the young single adults of the branch. They set up the whole thing! It was a "one day mission." Basically we just had little groups of ysa's and leaders and we went around to the less active ysa's to help them come back to church. It was awesome! Elder Pugmire and I were in charge in the morning about just teaching them about missionary work and then showing them some good tips. They all got so excited about missionary work and they even want to do the activity again! It was really cool because a lot of them want to serve missions and this really prepared them for it. Another really sweet experience was with a new family we have begun to teach. The Santiago family. We were actually looking for a less active family but they were not home when we got there so we taught the neighbors, the Santiagos. The lesson went so well. They loved the message about the Restoration, especially that we have a living prophet today. They really wanted to learn more so we set up an appointment to teach them again the following Sunday. The message was great and we taught on the Book of Mormon. We gave them copies and they began to just thank us so much. I never heard "salamat po" so many times in one minute. It was awesome and thy loved it. They told us they really want to be ready in order to get baptized because they don't just want to get baptized just because. Which was great to hear because that is exactly what we believe as well. I can't wait to see this family grow in the gospel and come closer unto Christ. It is crazy to think that this week will be the end of my first transfer here in the Philippines. I can't believe all the experiences that have already happened. I knew I would have awesome experiences but not this many. I have been so blessed. We were actually at a lesson today and I bore testimony about just that. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I know the gospel can help anyone who wants to learn about it and it they gain a desire to seek the truth, they will find it. I am especially thankful that I get to serve here in the Philippines. My "roots." I couldn't imagine being anywhere else at this time. Well I love you all. I love hearing from you. Stay safe and keep on keeping on. Over and out.
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
December 3, 2012
Hey everyone!!
Can you believe it is already December?! I cannot believe it. Time is just flying by! So this week was crazy! We had ta follow up training for all of the new missionaries and trainers. It was awesome. President Stucki taught us all on how to improve with using the 12 week program for all of us new missionaries. We learned a ton. I also went on exchanges for the first time. I did not realize how important and great exchanges are. I learned a ton from the Elder I went on exchanges with. He had me lead every single lesson as well as extend all of the commitments. I was a little scared at first since I am just a month in the field, but once we got going it was great! Every single time he would ask the people at the very end of the lesson if they understood me. they all said yes which was comforting. Then they would ask why and he would explain how I have been here a month and then they would be shocked. It was funny because they thought I had been here a while. They said my Tagalog was great and my confidence was good too considering how long I have been here. I owe it all to my Heavenly Father and the guidance that he gives me. I know I wouldn't be at the point where I am without Him and His Spirit teaching me every step of the way. I now it because I took 4 years of Spanish ad can't speak any of it. I have studied Tagalog for 3 months and been here a month and I can hold a conversation and teach a whole lesson. And it is all because of my Heavenly Father. Elder Pugmire and I also had an amazing experience with a new investigator this week. We met him on Friday but it wasn't just any meeting. First Elder Pugmire and I were just walking and saw him with his children. We just waved and he waved back but with a gigantic smile. I told Elder Pugmire I felt like I have met him before and we both felt we needed to go back. So we did and right away he let us in. He said he had been wanting to become more religious and he was looking for someone to help him to do so. And then we showed up! That was awesome. So we taught him a great lesson and the next day we were on exchanges so Elder Pugmire and the Elder that was with him taught him and gave him, his wife,and his mother all baptismal dates. The next Sunday, which was two days after we met him, we went to church and loved it. I know he was prepared by our Heavenly Father, just as I was, to receive this message and to receive this Gospel. Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us, He is just waiting for us to want to know exactly what the plan is. And when we want to find out, all we have to do is pray and ask Him. This week was a great experience and I can't wait to continue to meet with him and to meet others that are just as prepared. I love this gospel and it has blessed my life so much. I love this work and all of the people that I have met along the way. I hope you are all doing amazing! The Philippines just just as hot as ever! I love you all.
Elder Stephens
Can you believe it is already December?! I cannot believe it. Time is just flying by! So this week was crazy! We had ta follow up training for all of the new missionaries and trainers. It was awesome. President Stucki taught us all on how to improve with using the 12 week program for all of us new missionaries. We learned a ton. I also went on exchanges for the first time. I did not realize how important and great exchanges are. I learned a ton from the Elder I went on exchanges with. He had me lead every single lesson as well as extend all of the commitments. I was a little scared at first since I am just a month in the field, but once we got going it was great! Every single time he would ask the people at the very end of the lesson if they understood me. they all said yes which was comforting. Then they would ask why and he would explain how I have been here a month and then they would be shocked. It was funny because they thought I had been here a while. They said my Tagalog was great and my confidence was good too considering how long I have been here. I owe it all to my Heavenly Father and the guidance that he gives me. I know I wouldn't be at the point where I am without Him and His Spirit teaching me every step of the way. I now it because I took 4 years of Spanish ad can't speak any of it. I have studied Tagalog for 3 months and been here a month and I can hold a conversation and teach a whole lesson. And it is all because of my Heavenly Father. Elder Pugmire and I also had an amazing experience with a new investigator this week. We met him on Friday but it wasn't just any meeting. First Elder Pugmire and I were just walking and saw him with his children. We just waved and he waved back but with a gigantic smile. I told Elder Pugmire I felt like I have met him before and we both felt we needed to go back. So we did and right away he let us in. He said he had been wanting to become more religious and he was looking for someone to help him to do so. And then we showed up! That was awesome. So we taught him a great lesson and the next day we were on exchanges so Elder Pugmire and the Elder that was with him taught him and gave him, his wife,and his mother all baptismal dates. The next Sunday, which was two days after we met him, we went to church and loved it. I know he was prepared by our Heavenly Father, just as I was, to receive this message and to receive this Gospel. Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us, He is just waiting for us to want to know exactly what the plan is. And when we want to find out, all we have to do is pray and ask Him. This week was a great experience and I can't wait to continue to meet with him and to meet others that are just as prepared. I love this gospel and it has blessed my life so much. I love this work and all of the people that I have met along the way. I hope you are all doing amazing! The Philippines just just as hot as ever! I love you all.
Elder Stephens
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
November 28, 2012
Hey everyone!! So let me tell you about the week. It was awesome!! First off, we had two more baptisms this week!! That makes three for the mission so far. It was so great and it was an awesome service. Two sisters were baptized last Friday and then confirmed the following Sunday. We asked one of the priests here to do the baptizing. We really try to get the members involved as much as we can so that is why we asked him. He agreed to do one of them but he didn't think he would be able to do both. So they asked me to do the other! So yes, to answer all of your questions, I had my first actual baptism with me doing the baptizing. It was great. I felt the spirit so strong and I know the sisters did as well. The following Tuesday we taught them again and it was a great lesson. They talked about how great the baptism was and they expressed how they just wanted to read the scriptures more and more. At the end of the lesson they even asked for an assignment to give them! We also had a ton of lessons with less active members so far this week. We had a devotional last week with Elder Brent H. Nielsen, one of the area seventy here. It was mission tour last week which was also another great part of the week. In the devotional he expressed how important it was to establish the church here in the Philippines., He said it wasn't about the number of baptisms, but about how many of those stay active and eventually make it to the temple and endure to the end. It was great advice and Elder Pugmire and I really focused on that. One of the things he said was to reteach the lessons starting from the beginning to less active families. So we did just that and we saw so many blessings from it. We taught one family the restoration and it made them want to go back to church and read the scriptures again. That made me feel great. So we're going to continue to listen to the council of Elder Nielsen and teach the lessons to these families and eventually establish the church. Another sweet part was it was Thanksgiving!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It was awesome. A senior couple here in our area that we get to serve with actually made us Thanksgiving lunch! It was delicious and made it feel like real Thanksgiving. Then at night we came back and had turkey sandwiches! It totally reminded me of awesome Thanksgiving times back home. Elder Pugmire and I read a ton of scriptures on gratitude on that day. It was sweet since it was Thanksgiving. It made me really realize how much we are blessed and giving thanks to our Father in Heaven is very important because of all those blessings. Lastly, today we went to the temple! It was actually a temple trip to the Manila temple and not just a tour. The temple is so great and I love going there. I am so happy and grateful we get to go each transfer. I guess we get to go once a transfer since we're in the Philippines and it is close enough. I learn a lot each time I go and I love the Spirit I fell there. I already can't wait to return! So that's a whole ton of info about me! I hope you're all doing great. I sure am. The weather is hot, the food is tasty, and the people are amazing. I love you all!!!
Elder Stephens
Elder Stephens
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Helllloooooo
Hey everyone!!
Wow this has been a crazy week. In a good way! So we have been teaching a new investigator this week. He had an accident a year ago and has been in a wheelchair ever since. We came over for one of our lessons and he asked if we knew how to use crutches. thankfully, we did. that sounds weird. Well anyway he asked us if we could teach him because we he didn't know how. One of his legs is stronger than the other. It's not completely 100% but he is able to put some balance on it a little. The other leg has no strength at all so I guess that's what he wanted to use the crutches for. So in the morning for out 30 minute exercise, Elder Pugmire and I go to his house and help him use the crutches. The very first day he did awesome. He got tired quick but I could understand. So we continued to do that but we continued to teach him lessons as well! He has really come along well in the gospel. Everything we teach him, he loves. He always says how much it makes sense to him. I really believe he has been prepared to receive the gospel. I have no doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father has done all that He has done for him so far to prepare him for us to teach him. so as this continues, I'll keep giving you updates. We also had Temple Tour this week! So for those of you who do not know, Temple Tour is just a chance for missionaries to take their investigators and people they are teaching to the temple to show them around. Luckily we have an awesome temple, the Manila temple, to go to. We took a less active family and another investigator who is preparing for baptism this week. They absolutely loved it! The less active family talked about how it was so beautiful and how they remembered when they use to visit all those years ago. One brother even aid he remembers when he used to run around the temple when he was 7. He's like 30 now. That was so great to hear. Our investigator loved it too! She even bought some things in the distribution center. They all talked about how they wanted to go back to the temple and how they wanted to prepare themselves to go inside someday. I loved Temple Tour.
I love you all. Thanks for all the emails and all the love.
Elder Stephens
Wow this has been a crazy week. In a good way! So we have been teaching a new investigator this week. He had an accident a year ago and has been in a wheelchair ever since. We came over for one of our lessons and he asked if we knew how to use crutches. thankfully, we did. that sounds weird. Well anyway he asked us if we could teach him because we he didn't know how. One of his legs is stronger than the other. It's not completely 100% but he is able to put some balance on it a little. The other leg has no strength at all so I guess that's what he wanted to use the crutches for. So in the morning for out 30 minute exercise, Elder Pugmire and I go to his house and help him use the crutches. The very first day he did awesome. He got tired quick but I could understand. So we continued to do that but we continued to teach him lessons as well! He has really come along well in the gospel. Everything we teach him, he loves. He always says how much it makes sense to him. I really believe he has been prepared to receive the gospel. I have no doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father has done all that He has done for him so far to prepare him for us to teach him. so as this continues, I'll keep giving you updates. We also had Temple Tour this week! So for those of you who do not know, Temple Tour is just a chance for missionaries to take their investigators and people they are teaching to the temple to show them around. Luckily we have an awesome temple, the Manila temple, to go to. We took a less active family and another investigator who is preparing for baptism this week. They absolutely loved it! The less active family talked about how it was so beautiful and how they remembered when they use to visit all those years ago. One brother even aid he remembers when he used to run around the temple when he was 7. He's like 30 now. That was so great to hear. Our investigator loved it too! She even bought some things in the distribution center. They all talked about how they wanted to go back to the temple and how they wanted to prepare themselves to go inside someday. I loved Temple Tour.
I love you all. Thanks for all the emails and all the love.
Elder Stephens
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Hey Everyone!
Hey everyone!
So I don't know about you all but i feel like this week went by super duper fast. It feels like I was emailing you all just a few days ago. It is insane that I have been here practically 2 weeks already. There are so many cool experiences that I am having out here in the field. I forgot to mention it last week but we actually had a baptism for a little girl on Sunday. For some reason the branch president felt that she should just get baptized after church last week because there was already a child of record being baptized so they just combined them. Anyway, she got confirmed yesterday so that's kind of why I left it out last week and put it in this week. She is so awesome and she is already really strong in her testimony. We also are focusing a ton on less active families here in the Philippines. A lot of families here tend to be baptized but only stay active for a little while. So one of the big focuses we have here is re-activating those families because we want them to come to church! One of the families is actually doing very very well. They have been coming to church for the past few weeks and yesterday, they son came to church for the first time. It was perfect because we had a primary program and he said he enjoyed it a lot. He said he remembered when he was in Primary and when he was in that program and it brought him so much joy. He absolutely loved it so much. We also began teaching a new family here this week and w have been told in Preach my Gospel to extend the baptismal invitation on the very first lesson .We did that with this new family and they said yes! They said that when they know that the church and the things that we teach them are true, that they would definitely be baptized because they want to belong to the true church. I did not realize how much it helps to actually follow the things that are in the Preach My Gospel. I'm kidding, we follow all of it, but really though it helps out a lot and we are commanded to use it and to abide by it's teachings. So we said we are going to do just that. I realized that I have been taking a bunch of pictures of the landscape and stuff here in the Philippines because it is just so beautiful. Well that's about it from me. Keep on keeping on everyone, I know I will be here in the Philippines. I'll be back in 2 years, don't wait up. I love you all!!
Elder Stephens
Elder Stephens
Monday, November 5, 2012
HEY EVERYONE!
Wow I cannot believe that I am here in the Philippines! It is so insane that I am here now. Let me tell you, it is hot hot hot here in the Philippines. The humidity gets me more than anything I think. The temperature always says its not too hot but then I realize that it is probably 100000% humidity so that's why it's so hot. It's alright though because there's no other place I would rather be right now. So the flight to the Philippines took forever. The worst part was the 16 hour flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. I slept like 10 hours though so it wasn't tooo bad. Then we got here and right away we were tossed into the work. Seriously at the airport they gave us pamphlets and a few Book of Mormon and we were told to give them out to people there at the airport. It was so weird since we just got there and none of us knew the language that well. But it was okay. Then later on after lunch we had some more missionary work! Yup, this is still the first day. We went to Makati in Manila, just a big city and went around talking to as many people as we could. It was actually really cool and we got a lot out of the experience. We talked to a lot more people than at the airport and I actually felt more like a missionary in that situation. That was sweet! Later on we just crashed at the mission home, I hit the bed and I'm pretty sure I fell asleep in like 5 seconds. The next day was the transfer meeting where we all met our companions and where we were going to serve. I met Elder Pugmire, my new companion! He's from Logan, Utah and he's been out for a while now. He's an awesome missionary and we get along very well. It's sweet since I haven't even been out a week here in the field and I'm already getting along with my companion. He was funny right off the bat and has been ever since. Right when they called his name I looked around and he was hunched over and had his finger over his mouth doing the "shhhh" thing. I don't know if you can picture that but I tried. I also found out where my area is. So now I'm serving in the Naic district of the Philippines. There's a ton of areas in the Manila mission and most of them are stakes but Naic isn't strong enough YET so it's still a district. And I'm in the Carissa part of the Naic district. I'm totally excited to be here in this part and I know it's where I am supposed to be. Then we went to a memorial cemetery for the soldiers that fought in World War II. It was really cool. I love that kind of stuff and it was sweet going there and taking pictures and stuff. Then we went to our areas and I was dead tired so again I slept on the whole ride home! Sweet right?! Now I'm in my area and actually we get to serve with a senior missionary couple in our area! There's another set of Elders in another area that's really close to ours and the senior missionaries switch off going to lessons with the four of us. It is so cool and it's great because they don't know Tagalog so they just say everything in English. Most Filipinos know English, at least some of the basics, so they understand most of the things that they are saying. All of the people that we teach are so nice. It is so cool to know that their Filipino blood runs in my veins. I know I'm not from here or anything, or that we're actually family, but it's just sweet being here an experiencing the Philippines in this way. There's no way I would have experienced all of this without my mission and without this call. I am so grateful for it. A lot of the people we teach here are inactive families that were baptized but just don't come anymore. That is one of the focuses of the mission here in the Philippines: to bring those families back. We still teach a lot of non members too to help them come closer to Christ. The people here are so nice that they always let us in because they just don't want to be mean and kick us out. I think that is so awesome. On Sunday, I had my first Sunday here in the Philippines. It was fast Sunday which was so tough because it is so hot here. Luckily we are able to drink water when we absolutely need it because otherwise, I think we would die. We had an awesome testimony meeting and the people here really have strong testimonies. They don't get all into story time and they go up for a little and bear a strong testimony. I love it so much. The language is sort of coming along. I don't have a lot of conversational vocab because all the vocab we do in the MTC is for our lessons. So in the lessons I do pretty well for myself teaching but outside of that I am horrible haha. Understanding is tough too, since I don't know the vocab I don't know most of the words that they are saying and not only that, they speak so so fast sometimes. I've only been here for 5 days tough so I'm not too bummed about that. I know the Lord will help me with the language if I truly work at it and work at it hard. He did in the MTC with the gospel stuff and it has carried over to here in the Philippines. Te food is great. The rice here is way better than the rice in America. They make it here a ton, every meal actually, so it's not surprising that they know how to make it well .We have a Filipino elder in the house with us and he cooks a lot for everyone. We actually came up with a plan to all buy groceries together and he will just cook. I love it since I have no idea how to cook. I'll learn sometime hopefully but as for now, I'm okay with not cooking haha. That sounds so bad. But I really love the Philippines and I am so happy to be serving here. I know the Lord has sent me here for a reason and am so excited to find out what it is. I love this work and I can't wait to serve here for the next 2 years. I'll just end with saying that I know this work is the work of the Lord and that I was called here by Him to help the people in the Philippines come unto Christ. I can't wait to see how much I change fro my mission. I know I already have. I have 22 more months to go and the clock's ticking. I love you all and I really appreciate every one of the emails and letters. See you later!!
Elder Stephens
Elder Stephens
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Last MTC email?!
Hey there everyone!
I can't believe it but it's about that time of the mission. By the way I mean I have one week to go and I'm on my way to the Philippines. It's official, we got out flight plans and we're leaving October 29th! I am super excited and I cannot wait already. This is the most excited and the most nervous I have been the entire time I have been out here. I remember a month ago thinking I wanted to go in the field and teach even though my Tagalog was horrible. Now it's here and I'm super stoked. This past week has been awesome. Obviously the flight plans coming in was super sweet. We have also been doing a lot of reviewing of the Tagalog since we know it all already. Joke joke joke. The Tagalog is really coming along great, I know that the only reason that I've been able to learn Tagalog like this is because of the Spirit teaching me and because of my Heavenly Father helping me out along the way. I am so grateful that He has helped me so much, not only here but throughout my entire life. We had a great couple who came and spoke to us for the Sunday night fireside. They were awesome and they really focused on the way missionaries need to be in order to be successful. So many people have talked about it but it is so true. "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles." It's something like that :) So we've also been teaching a ton of investigators lately. Well it's the same ones, we have just been teaching them a lot because we really need to start getting ready for the field. There was even a day when Elder Webb and I taught four lessons. It was great. The other day we did a practice lesson on one of the fundamentals and we actually did it in English since it was the first time we ever taught it. Elder Webb and I were both thinking that it was so weird that we were teaching in English since we were so use to the Tagalog. It was cool though and we really learned a lot from it. On Sunday we went on our Temple walk and it was actually the last one that we have here at the MTC. It is so weird that we have had all these Temple Walks and all of these other experiences, and now we're coming to the point where basically all of them are the last ones. Like today, for example. Today is our last P-day here at the MTC since w leave on a Monday. It is so weird! So a lot of pictures were taken at the Temple because of the Temple Walk. I am so grateful that I had the chance to come here to the MTC and learn all of the things that I have learned. I have grown so much and it's just a wonderful feeling. I came in not knowing Doctrine and not knowing any Tagalog, and now I know a lot more Doctrine and I can have a full conversation in Tagalog. It is so amazing. I know this church is true with all my heart . I know that missionaries are called by a living prophet to go to countries and states to teach people that they are meant to teach. Out Heavenly Father has a plan for every single one of us, and it's our job to follow that plan and do everything we can to come unto Christ. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to go to the Philippines to teach the people there and I know I'm suppose to go to the Philippines because that is where my Heavenly Father wants me. Well that's about it form me. Last email from the MTC so the next one should be from the Philippines. I love you all and thanks so much for everything!!
Elder Stephens
I can't believe it but it's about that time of the mission. By the way I mean I have one week to go and I'm on my way to the Philippines. It's official, we got out flight plans and we're leaving October 29th! I am super excited and I cannot wait already. This is the most excited and the most nervous I have been the entire time I have been out here. I remember a month ago thinking I wanted to go in the field and teach even though my Tagalog was horrible. Now it's here and I'm super stoked. This past week has been awesome. Obviously the flight plans coming in was super sweet. We have also been doing a lot of reviewing of the Tagalog since we know it all already. Joke joke joke. The Tagalog is really coming along great, I know that the only reason that I've been able to learn Tagalog like this is because of the Spirit teaching me and because of my Heavenly Father helping me out along the way. I am so grateful that He has helped me so much, not only here but throughout my entire life. We had a great couple who came and spoke to us for the Sunday night fireside. They were awesome and they really focused on the way missionaries need to be in order to be successful. So many people have talked about it but it is so true. "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles." It's something like that :) So we've also been teaching a ton of investigators lately. Well it's the same ones, we have just been teaching them a lot because we really need to start getting ready for the field. There was even a day when Elder Webb and I taught four lessons. It was great. The other day we did a practice lesson on one of the fundamentals and we actually did it in English since it was the first time we ever taught it. Elder Webb and I were both thinking that it was so weird that we were teaching in English since we were so use to the Tagalog. It was cool though and we really learned a lot from it. On Sunday we went on our Temple walk and it was actually the last one that we have here at the MTC. It is so weird that we have had all these Temple Walks and all of these other experiences, and now we're coming to the point where basically all of them are the last ones. Like today, for example. Today is our last P-day here at the MTC since w leave on a Monday. It is so weird! So a lot of pictures were taken at the Temple because of the Temple Walk. I am so grateful that I had the chance to come here to the MTC and learn all of the things that I have learned. I have grown so much and it's just a wonderful feeling. I came in not knowing Doctrine and not knowing any Tagalog, and now I know a lot more Doctrine and I can have a full conversation in Tagalog. It is so amazing. I know this church is true with all my heart . I know that missionaries are called by a living prophet to go to countries and states to teach people that they are meant to teach. Out Heavenly Father has a plan for every single one of us, and it's our job to follow that plan and do everything we can to come unto Christ. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to go to the Philippines to teach the people there and I know I'm suppose to go to the Philippines because that is where my Heavenly Father wants me. Well that's about it form me. Last email from the MTC so the next one should be from the Philippines. I love you all and thanks so much for everything!!
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
2 weeks left?!
Hey everyone!!
How is everyone doing?! I hope everyone is great and doing well, I know it's hard without me there but it's all good, right? So first off, this week has been great. It went by so fast and it feels like yesterday I was just writing my last email on p-day. It's been a really good week and everything is coming along just great. I'm learning a lot more doctrine and I'm able to study the scriptures way more than I ever have before. I even was able to memorize a few scriptures along the way! I love all the time we get here to just study scriptures and study exactly what we're going to be teaching out in the field. So last Tuesday, we had an amazing speaker for out Tuesday night devotional. It was Elder Bednar!! It was so awesome to listen to him and he answered so many questions I had going into that fireside. It was after general conference and I took a bunch of notes but didn't really know what to do with them. Elder Bednar Spoke a ton about exactly what I needed to hear. He explained how we can use general conference to help us and he explained his ways of studying the talks and really getting to know them to apply them to his life. Elder Bednar said there are many ways we can study talks given at general conference as well as any other talks given. In his way, it comes down to three things that we can focus on. First we focus on the doctrine that i being talked about. Then we focus on the principles of the talk as well as on the doctrine. Then we recognize the blessings that can be given to us if we follow those principles. It was so helpful and it really allowed me to realize not only the importance of general conference, but the importance it has directly in my life. Like I said before, a ton of the talks were focused on missionary work, and now that I am one, it pertains a lot to me. I was so happy about that. Then Sunday night we had another speaker for Sunday night devotional. I forget his name right now but he talked about noticing the bird's eye view and not the worm's eye view. We need to see the overall picture of everything that we do. We need to see it in our study times, in our lessons to investigators, or anything else that we do as missionaries. The bird's eye view is what could happen as a result. He explained it as people building a beautiful building. There's a contractor and two assistants. One assistant is asked what he's doing and he says he's doing the hard labor while the contractor sits back and gets paid more than he does. Then the other assistant is asked the same question. He says he is helping his contractor build one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Both are doing the same job, but the second assistant realized the importance of his work and the overall picture of it. We need to do this in our work as well. Well that's about it from me. I love you all and thanks so much for everything!
Elder Stephens
How is everyone doing?! I hope everyone is great and doing well, I know it's hard without me there but it's all good, right? So first off, this week has been great. It went by so fast and it feels like yesterday I was just writing my last email on p-day. It's been a really good week and everything is coming along just great. I'm learning a lot more doctrine and I'm able to study the scriptures way more than I ever have before. I even was able to memorize a few scriptures along the way! I love all the time we get here to just study scriptures and study exactly what we're going to be teaching out in the field. So last Tuesday, we had an amazing speaker for out Tuesday night devotional. It was Elder Bednar!! It was so awesome to listen to him and he answered so many questions I had going into that fireside. It was after general conference and I took a bunch of notes but didn't really know what to do with them. Elder Bednar Spoke a ton about exactly what I needed to hear. He explained how we can use general conference to help us and he explained his ways of studying the talks and really getting to know them to apply them to his life. Elder Bednar said there are many ways we can study talks given at general conference as well as any other talks given. In his way, it comes down to three things that we can focus on. First we focus on the doctrine that i being talked about. Then we focus on the principles of the talk as well as on the doctrine. Then we recognize the blessings that can be given to us if we follow those principles. It was so helpful and it really allowed me to realize not only the importance of general conference, but the importance it has directly in my life. Like I said before, a ton of the talks were focused on missionary work, and now that I am one, it pertains a lot to me. I was so happy about that. Then Sunday night we had another speaker for Sunday night devotional. I forget his name right now but he talked about noticing the bird's eye view and not the worm's eye view. We need to see the overall picture of everything that we do. We need to see it in our study times, in our lessons to investigators, or anything else that we do as missionaries. The bird's eye view is what could happen as a result. He explained it as people building a beautiful building. There's a contractor and two assistants. One assistant is asked what he's doing and he says he's doing the hard labor while the contractor sits back and gets paid more than he does. Then the other assistant is asked the same question. He says he is helping his contractor build one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Both are doing the same job, but the second assistant realized the importance of his work and the overall picture of it. We need to do this in our work as well. Well that's about it from me. I love you all and thanks so much for everything!
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Time is flying by!
Hey everyone!
How are you all doing? I'm guessing pretty awesome. So I cannot believe that I only have about 3 weeks left in the MTC. It has gone by so fast. I remember getting in the MTC and seeing the new branch and all. There were Elders who were at the start of their 7th week in the MTC and I couldn't believe how much Tagalog they knew. I never thought I would be at that level. Now those "7 weekers" are us. This week we get new missionaries to the branch and we're going to be the ones to show them the ropes. We'll be the first ones they see leave in 3 weeks just like we did with that first group. It is so awesome to be a missionary and to be in the MTC. How about that general conference?!?! I know I haven't been around long in the church and stuff, but I really felt like that was one of the best conferences ever. There were so many talks on missionary work and service. It was really weir knowing that I was the one those general authorities were talking about. But it was also really exciting and it pumped me up to do that much better since I know that this work is so important, not only to us but to our Heavenly Father as well. I think President Monson set the tone for the entire conference with his big announcement about the age change. 18 year old missionaries? Never thought it would happen. Just kidding haha it's so awesome that young men can go at 18 now. As you might have guessed, the MTC was going nuts! So many people were talking about it. The MTC presidency were going around shaking hands with each other. I bet there were stoked for the new 18 year old missionaries to come in, but I have no idea why they would be. I bet there are going to be so many more missionaries, and I guarantee a ton more sister missionaries. One person was telling us that we're a part of it too. /since the announcement just happened a ton of people are going to want to go out so there is going to be a huge rise in the number of missionaries for a wile. Since we're a little ahead of them, we're probably going to be those missionaries that are going to train them and such. It would be so awesome and probably a little funny at times to train an 18 year old. There were a lot of talks on service too and it really is important for us to serve our neighbors and everyone around us. That's exactly what Jesus Christ did when He was here. He went out of His way to go and serve those that were in need of help. I think it is so important for us to help as many people as we can, especially out here on the mission. Chad Lewis gave a talk at the fireside Sunday night. For those of you who don't know, Chad Lewis played football for BYU in college then went on to the NFL and played for the Eagles. He was so awesome. His wife started out the fireside and the first thing she said was that they were not there because Brother Lewis was in the NFL or famous, but that they were there because of their testimonies in Jesus Christ. I thought that was so awesome and it was a testimony to me that people are so able to be humble even when they have a whole lot. He related a lot of things to football which was cool because you all know that I love football. They main thing that stood out to me was when he was talking about drills. In football we do drills each week, most of them the same exact ones that we feel we have mastered and we don't need to practice them anymore. Then he explained how he did this sideline catch drill one a week every week and how he sort of felt that way. But when the time came that he needed it, he was grateful. He caught a pass in the championship game to go to the Super Bowl, and yes, it was a sideline catch. He said it was the biggest and most important catch of his career and that without that drill, he probably wouldn't have caught it. There are times in our lives that we feel like we're just doing the same thing over and over, but it is so necessary because we never know when we're actually going to need that exact thing. Well that's about it from me! See you when I see you.
Mahal ko kayo!
Elder Stepehens
How are you all doing? I'm guessing pretty awesome. So I cannot believe that I only have about 3 weeks left in the MTC. It has gone by so fast. I remember getting in the MTC and seeing the new branch and all. There were Elders who were at the start of their 7th week in the MTC and I couldn't believe how much Tagalog they knew. I never thought I would be at that level. Now those "7 weekers" are us. This week we get new missionaries to the branch and we're going to be the ones to show them the ropes. We'll be the first ones they see leave in 3 weeks just like we did with that first group. It is so awesome to be a missionary and to be in the MTC. How about that general conference?!?! I know I haven't been around long in the church and stuff, but I really felt like that was one of the best conferences ever. There were so many talks on missionary work and service. It was really weir knowing that I was the one those general authorities were talking about. But it was also really exciting and it pumped me up to do that much better since I know that this work is so important, not only to us but to our Heavenly Father as well. I think President Monson set the tone for the entire conference with his big announcement about the age change. 18 year old missionaries? Never thought it would happen. Just kidding haha it's so awesome that young men can go at 18 now. As you might have guessed, the MTC was going nuts! So many people were talking about it. The MTC presidency were going around shaking hands with each other. I bet there were stoked for the new 18 year old missionaries to come in, but I have no idea why they would be. I bet there are going to be so many more missionaries, and I guarantee a ton more sister missionaries. One person was telling us that we're a part of it too. /since the announcement just happened a ton of people are going to want to go out so there is going to be a huge rise in the number of missionaries for a wile. Since we're a little ahead of them, we're probably going to be those missionaries that are going to train them and such. It would be so awesome and probably a little funny at times to train an 18 year old. There were a lot of talks on service too and it really is important for us to serve our neighbors and everyone around us. That's exactly what Jesus Christ did when He was here. He went out of His way to go and serve those that were in need of help. I think it is so important for us to help as many people as we can, especially out here on the mission. Chad Lewis gave a talk at the fireside Sunday night. For those of you who don't know, Chad Lewis played football for BYU in college then went on to the NFL and played for the Eagles. He was so awesome. His wife started out the fireside and the first thing she said was that they were not there because Brother Lewis was in the NFL or famous, but that they were there because of their testimonies in Jesus Christ. I thought that was so awesome and it was a testimony to me that people are so able to be humble even when they have a whole lot. He related a lot of things to football which was cool because you all know that I love football. They main thing that stood out to me was when he was talking about drills. In football we do drills each week, most of them the same exact ones that we feel we have mastered and we don't need to practice them anymore. Then he explained how he did this sideline catch drill one a week every week and how he sort of felt that way. But when the time came that he needed it, he was grateful. He caught a pass in the championship game to go to the Super Bowl, and yes, it was a sideline catch. He said it was the biggest and most important catch of his career and that without that drill, he probably wouldn't have caught it. There are times in our lives that we feel like we're just doing the same thing over and over, but it is so necessary because we never know when we're actually going to need that exact thing. Well that's about it from me! See you when I see you.
Mahal ko kayo!
Elder Stepehens
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
October?!
Hey everyone!!
How is everyone doing?! I always feel weird saying this because when you read it, you really can't answer me. Anyway, life in the MTC is still pretty awesome. The people are all so great and the language just gets better and better. By that I mean I'm able to speak more and more. Elder Webb and I are really trying to speak our language a lot to really get used to speaking it once we get into the Philippines because we really don't want to be all comfortable with English out there because we won't be speaking it too often The lessons are all going real well. We just got two new investigators this past week, so that gives us a total of four that we're teaching right now. All of them are really receptive and we feel that they are learning a ton. So that's awesome. I use awesome a lot. Fast Sunday was awesome, a lot of us got to bear our testimonies, and Elder Webb and I both got to as well. The spirit was so strong as we bore our testimonies, especially since the whole thing was in Tagalog. We had mission conference for fast Sunday too and it was so cool. There were a ton of speakers since it's two hours long and they all had really great talks. The MTC President, President Brown, talked about the apostasy and the restoration. He really touched on a lot of things and it was really cool because I really got to learn a lot about each subject. I also finished the Book of Mormon again on Sunday. I told myself I was going to finish it twice while i was here, once each month, and so far I'm right on schedule. I get so happy when I read the Book of Mormon and especially when I get all the way done and finish it. My testimony of it grows each time I finish it and I really learn something new each time I read it. That reminds me, I read in Mosiah 4 and a lot of parts really stood out to me. Towards the beginning it talks about the Atonement and how we can be perfected through the Atonement. It also talks about the joy that we can receive when we believe in Jesus Christ and His atonement. It then talked about how our Heavenly Father is so loving and how we really can do all things. Verse 9 really says it all. Then later it talks about how we need to be kind towards everyone. Christ was the perfect example of a giving and a caring person. And it is our job to be giving as well. I also was reading a little in Moses, in chapter 4 actually, and a lot of it talks about what happened in the Garden of Eden. It really just explains why the Fall had to happen and that is was not a total mistake by Adam and Eve. The Fall needed to happen in order for us to truly live the way God intended us to live our lives. Sorry, I just get to study so much here an I felt like sharing. some new changes came about in our district on Sunday, and I got called to be the new District Leader. I'm pretty excited about it, mainly because I get the mail for everyone. No really though, I'm excited to see what happens these next few weeks as I try to be a leader for this district. Honestly, this district is so awesome and it isn't going to be too tough being their District Leader. Well, that's it from me so I hope you all have a great week!!
Mahal ko kayo,
Elder Stephens
How is everyone doing?! I always feel weird saying this because when you read it, you really can't answer me. Anyway, life in the MTC is still pretty awesome. The people are all so great and the language just gets better and better. By that I mean I'm able to speak more and more. Elder Webb and I are really trying to speak our language a lot to really get used to speaking it once we get into the Philippines because we really don't want to be all comfortable with English out there because we won't be speaking it too often The lessons are all going real well. We just got two new investigators this past week, so that gives us a total of four that we're teaching right now. All of them are really receptive and we feel that they are learning a ton. So that's awesome. I use awesome a lot. Fast Sunday was awesome, a lot of us got to bear our testimonies, and Elder Webb and I both got to as well. The spirit was so strong as we bore our testimonies, especially since the whole thing was in Tagalog. We had mission conference for fast Sunday too and it was so cool. There were a ton of speakers since it's two hours long and they all had really great talks. The MTC President, President Brown, talked about the apostasy and the restoration. He really touched on a lot of things and it was really cool because I really got to learn a lot about each subject. I also finished the Book of Mormon again on Sunday. I told myself I was going to finish it twice while i was here, once each month, and so far I'm right on schedule. I get so happy when I read the Book of Mormon and especially when I get all the way done and finish it. My testimony of it grows each time I finish it and I really learn something new each time I read it. That reminds me, I read in Mosiah 4 and a lot of parts really stood out to me. Towards the beginning it talks about the Atonement and how we can be perfected through the Atonement. It also talks about the joy that we can receive when we believe in Jesus Christ and His atonement. It then talked about how our Heavenly Father is so loving and how we really can do all things. Verse 9 really says it all. Then later it talks about how we need to be kind towards everyone. Christ was the perfect example of a giving and a caring person. And it is our job to be giving as well. I also was reading a little in Moses, in chapter 4 actually, and a lot of it talks about what happened in the Garden of Eden. It really just explains why the Fall had to happen and that is was not a total mistake by Adam and Eve. The Fall needed to happen in order for us to truly live the way God intended us to live our lives. Sorry, I just get to study so much here an I felt like sharing. some new changes came about in our district on Sunday, and I got called to be the new District Leader. I'm pretty excited about it, mainly because I get the mail for everyone. No really though, I'm excited to see what happens these next few weeks as I try to be a leader for this district. Honestly, this district is so awesome and it isn't going to be too tough being their District Leader. Well, that's it from me so I hope you all have a great week!!
Mahal ko kayo,
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Hey Y'all!
Kumusta po kayo?! Nagpapasalamat ako para sa mga sulat at para sa mga package. Nagpapasalamat ako para sa mga pnalangin niny. Alam ko po na nagdasal kayo para akin araw araw at marandaman ko ang Bamal ng espiritu araw araw din. Nagdasal po ako para sa inyo araw araw. Paki-dasal po ninyo para sa district ko at para kay Elder Webb at para sa akin.
(How are you? I am thanking each and everyone for the letters that you are sending and the packages. Thank you for the prayers, as well. I know you are all praying for me everyday and I can feel the Holy Spirit inside me. I am also praying for all of you everyday. Please continue praying for my district and for Elder Webb.)
So how is everyone doing?! Thanks for all those dear elders, letters, and packages I have been getting. I'm eating snacks like a champ over here. Learning Tagalog is really awesome. I'm doing pretty good at it right now, there's just so many words that sound exactly the same. It's all good though, I always keep telling myself English is harder and I somehow learned that. We just saw a district going somewhere state side leave yesterday. It's funny cause they got here a week after we did and they are already out in the field. We keep learning more and more about the doctrine as well. Learning the doctrine is so fun! Now I actually know what I'm teaching for myself so when I actually teach it to my investigators, I know what I'm talking about. We learned a lot about how the Book of Mormon is essential in conversation. It's sweet because it's just so true. The Book of Mormon is so important in conversation because once they know that it's true, then everything else falls in place. I also realized that I'm actually stating to get the Book of Mormon more now cause of all the studying I get to do here at the MTC. I really study a crazy amount but it's necessary if I'm going to teach it to other people! Elder Webb and I taught in our district meeting on Sunday and our topic was recognizing the spirit. We did really well and we studied a lot for it cause we knew a member of the branch presidency was going to be there. It was sweet and we talked a lot about how the spirit helps you in the lessons. It we're in tune with the spirit, it allows us to really know what our investigators needs and wants which allows them to have a better experience and ultimately gives them a warming feeling that we actually care. We also had the opportunity to listen to a talk on Sunday by Bother Stephen B. Allen who is like the director of the missionary program. He was totally awesome! He was super funny too. He kept having people stand up for things like, "it you love your companion" and he even said "stand up if you're engaged." It was hilarious cause one guy actually did stand up. His message was really sweet and it was that we have a lot of influence as missionaries. People see us and know exactly who we are and that we really do represent this church when we walk around in our white shirts and ties and badges that say Elder/Sister on them. I can't wait to go out in the field and be a representative of Christ and of this church out there in the Philippines. It's crazy to think I've been here almost a month. That's basically halfway done with my stay here in the MTC. Time is flying by sooo fast. I still remember the day I came in and Brother Stephenson, our teacher, was speaking in Tagalog and I had no idea what he was saying. It was sweet! not... But really though, it's crazy how fast time is flying by here.Well that's it from me! I'll talk to you all later!
Elder Stephens
(How are you? I am thanking each and everyone for the letters that you are sending and the packages. Thank you for the prayers, as well. I know you are all praying for me everyday and I can feel the Holy Spirit inside me. I am also praying for all of you everyday. Please continue praying for my district and for Elder Webb.)
So how is everyone doing?! Thanks for all those dear elders, letters, and packages I have been getting. I'm eating snacks like a champ over here. Learning Tagalog is really awesome. I'm doing pretty good at it right now, there's just so many words that sound exactly the same. It's all good though, I always keep telling myself English is harder and I somehow learned that. We just saw a district going somewhere state side leave yesterday. It's funny cause they got here a week after we did and they are already out in the field. We keep learning more and more about the doctrine as well. Learning the doctrine is so fun! Now I actually know what I'm teaching for myself so when I actually teach it to my investigators, I know what I'm talking about. We learned a lot about how the Book of Mormon is essential in conversation. It's sweet because it's just so true. The Book of Mormon is so important in conversation because once they know that it's true, then everything else falls in place. I also realized that I'm actually stating to get the Book of Mormon more now cause of all the studying I get to do here at the MTC. I really study a crazy amount but it's necessary if I'm going to teach it to other people! Elder Webb and I taught in our district meeting on Sunday and our topic was recognizing the spirit. We did really well and we studied a lot for it cause we knew a member of the branch presidency was going to be there. It was sweet and we talked a lot about how the spirit helps you in the lessons. It we're in tune with the spirit, it allows us to really know what our investigators needs and wants which allows them to have a better experience and ultimately gives them a warming feeling that we actually care. We also had the opportunity to listen to a talk on Sunday by Bother Stephen B. Allen who is like the director of the missionary program. He was totally awesome! He was super funny too. He kept having people stand up for things like, "it you love your companion" and he even said "stand up if you're engaged." It was hilarious cause one guy actually did stand up. His message was really sweet and it was that we have a lot of influence as missionaries. People see us and know exactly who we are and that we really do represent this church when we walk around in our white shirts and ties and badges that say Elder/Sister on them. I can't wait to go out in the field and be a representative of Christ and of this church out there in the Philippines. It's crazy to think I've been here almost a month. That's basically halfway done with my stay here in the MTC. Time is flying by sooo fast. I still remember the day I came in and Brother Stephenson, our teacher, was speaking in Tagalog and I had no idea what he was saying. It was sweet! not... But really though, it's crazy how fast time is flying by here.Well that's it from me! I'll talk to you all later!
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Woot woot!
Hey y'all!! Kumusta po kayo?!
Thanks for all of the letters and emails! I love getting and reading all the awesome things you guys have to say! Thanks for the packages as well. So this week has been just about the same as all the other weeks so far haha. I just learn a whole bunch of Tagalog and get into the doctrine pretty hard too. The Tagalog is really coming along and I'm definitely able to talk a lot more in it. We're getting to the point where we can say most of what we want to say in Tagalog so that's what we're trying to do. We learn so much of it everyday that it's almost impossible to just not think of saying what you want to say in it. I didn't realize there were so many rules when it came to Tagalog, but if you think about it, there's like a million more rules in English and I think I know it pretty good so I'll be just fine. One of our teachers, Brother Stephenson, said that there's about 100,000 words in Tagalog. I think that's what he said at least. He also aid that there's about 40-50 million words in English. I'm glad I don't have to learn that. I'm getting more comfortable speaking in Tagalog and now I don't even have to have notes in our Tagalog lessons with our investigators. I also get a whole bunch of study time every single day so I really just read the Book of Mormon every day and I read a whole bunch of it. This past week I read about the sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger going out and being missionaries. It's so awesome knowing that I'm in the same boat as those guys were all those years ago. Being a missionary is definitely tough, but so many blessings come from it that you just forget about all the times that are hard. We also get to hear a lot of talks while we're here. Every Tuesday night and every Sunday night there are devotionals. I don't know who's going to speak tonight but I'm sure it's going to be great. Sunday night Brother Tracy Watson gave a talk on the Book of Mormon and it was absolutely wonderful. He really focused on how the Book of Mormon is very important in the conversion process for investigators and how it is the foundation of our religion. I love reading the Book of Mormon and I really learn something new every time I read it. I get bummed when I'm reading it and then it comes time for lunch and I have to put it down. The temple really is a wonderful place. I get to go a lot being at the MTC. It's so awesome every single time and the spirit is super strong there. I hope I get to go to the temple in Manila, I know you get to at the end of the mission but I would like to go throughout it every once in a while. Well I think that's all I got to say, I love you all!
Elder Stephens
Thanks for all of the letters and emails! I love getting and reading all the awesome things you guys have to say! Thanks for the packages as well. So this week has been just about the same as all the other weeks so far haha. I just learn a whole bunch of Tagalog and get into the doctrine pretty hard too. The Tagalog is really coming along and I'm definitely able to talk a lot more in it. We're getting to the point where we can say most of what we want to say in Tagalog so that's what we're trying to do. We learn so much of it everyday that it's almost impossible to just not think of saying what you want to say in it. I didn't realize there were so many rules when it came to Tagalog, but if you think about it, there's like a million more rules in English and I think I know it pretty good so I'll be just fine. One of our teachers, Brother Stephenson, said that there's about 100,000 words in Tagalog. I think that's what he said at least. He also aid that there's about 40-50 million words in English. I'm glad I don't have to learn that. I'm getting more comfortable speaking in Tagalog and now I don't even have to have notes in our Tagalog lessons with our investigators. I also get a whole bunch of study time every single day so I really just read the Book of Mormon every day and I read a whole bunch of it. This past week I read about the sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger going out and being missionaries. It's so awesome knowing that I'm in the same boat as those guys were all those years ago. Being a missionary is definitely tough, but so many blessings come from it that you just forget about all the times that are hard. We also get to hear a lot of talks while we're here. Every Tuesday night and every Sunday night there are devotionals. I don't know who's going to speak tonight but I'm sure it's going to be great. Sunday night Brother Tracy Watson gave a talk on the Book of Mormon and it was absolutely wonderful. He really focused on how the Book of Mormon is very important in the conversion process for investigators and how it is the foundation of our religion. I love reading the Book of Mormon and I really learn something new every time I read it. I get bummed when I'm reading it and then it comes time for lunch and I have to put it down. The temple really is a wonderful place. I get to go a lot being at the MTC. It's so awesome every single time and the spirit is super strong there. I hope I get to go to the temple in Manila, I know you get to at the end of the mission but I would like to go throughout it every once in a while. Well I think that's all I got to say, I love you all!
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Pictures!
Just some pictures from the past couple weeks!
Elder Stephens, Elder Urry, Elder Carter, Elder Farrow, and Elder Chapman all together!
Week 2!!
Hey Everyone!! Wow this week has been super amazing! Thank you for all the emails and all the dear elders. They really keep me going in this place to feel all the love and all the support of each and every day. So this week we learned a lot about the doctrine. We really dug deep into lesson one and it was awe3some just getting to do that just so I know more about the doctrine for when I want to teach out in the field. Our first investigator, Sister Zabala, ended up being our second teacher! Her name is Sister Ward and she totally speaks English. She's actually from flagstaff. that would have been so nice to be able to talk to her in English more but I'm glad she didn't because it really made us speak in the language more than we were used to. Tagalog is such a crazy language, I thought i would have known that by now listening to you mom, but now that I'm actually learning it I know how crazy it actually is. Once I really get to know more about it though I know it's going to get easier and easier. We have learned a lot about the verb conjugations and stuff and we really focused a lot on more of the grammar this week which helped out so much. It's so much easier to make my own sentences now in Tagalog rather than just try to memorize some from the books and from TALL. TALL is just some computer program that has a bunch of vocab and phrases that we can memorize and learn and it helped but I like doing the vocab and just making my sentences. It's crazy how much I have learned already. Just a week ago we learned how to pray, and now this week I'm praying in front of groups of people with no hesitation at all. Time is flying by here at the MTC. I feel like I've only been here a week. It's crazy to think that it's already been two! I also saw Elder Carter, Elder Urry, Elder Chapman, and elder Farrow and we all got to take pictures together. I think it's so crazy that we were all in here at the same time! The spirit is what guides us in this work. We are just the instruments in the Lord's hands, it's the spirit that does the converting, not us. So that's all from me, I'm glad I was able to send a lot this week since I didn't have to read a bunch of emails. I love you all and thanks for everything!!
Elder Stephens
Elder Stephens
Monday, September 10, 2012
FIRST WEEK!
Hey Everyone!!
So just to let everyone know, Tuesday is my p-day so I'll be r=writing an email every Tuesday. Oh and if you could do the Dear Elder thing that could help me a lot since it's hard to read all the emails and write a big email in only 30 minutes. WE only get 30 minutes and some people get a little annoyed since they want to write too. It's no problem at all. So this week went by and it seemed like it was going slow until we got to p-day and realized I have been here 6 days. Everyone always says that the days go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days. This is sooo true. They very first day I got here my host companion took me to my room and then to class. And right away my teacher Brother Stephenson started talking in only Tagalog and no English. Yesterday was the first day he taught in English. Learning Tagalog is super crazy, there are so many things in it, but I know it's not as hard as learning English. English has got to be one of the hardest languages to learn since there are so many meanings for just the exact same word. We have learned how to pray, how to bear our testimonies, and we have an investigator named Queen Zabala who we have taught 3 lessons to already. She always talks in Tagalog and when we ask her questions she totally goes off and says a whole bunch of stuff and we just nod and say "mabuti" which means good! Yea I don't know if it's good or not but she always has a good look on her face so I sure hope so. The food is decent, it makes a lot of Elders in my district gassy. Especially my roommates Elder Lomu and Elder MCBride. My companions name is Elder Webb and he's awesome. He's goofy and funny and we get along super well. He always goes off talking about nerdy things like comics an TV shows. He is soo great. My district is super awesome as well. Elder Lomu and Elder McBride are two huge Elders and they totally are the enforcers. Elder Mcbride is our district leader and I honestly believe it's because he is gigantic. Elder Brockbank, oh dad I think he's the one elder you were talking about who is going to be in the Philippine Islands the same time as me, well he's a red head and he has a girl at home. Elder Wong is from New Zealand and he has a sweet accent. I always try to mimic his accent and I guess I always sound Australian. I honestly thought I was doing it great. Elder Conrow is a small elder but he is hands down the funniest elder in the district. He ways the funniest things and it's really funny because you would never know it from him. Elder Branham is really serious all the time and he always keeps Elder Conrow in Check. Elder Taylor is too cool for school and Edler Ellis just laughs all the time. Elder Park is a baseball player and a lifeguard and he's great. He wanted to switch companions or something so he would be with me. Elder Kiser is really nerdy and little but he is amazing at singing. He also makes his own songs. Well I'm out of time so I'm not able to write a lot more. I love you all and miss you all. Thanks for the letters and prayers. They help out a lot. Again, please write the Dear Elder. I know this work is true and that I am doing it for the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ helps me with everything. I know that the spirit helps guide us and keep us safe and that his is what I am supposed to do. I love my family so much. I am so grateful for my parents and their love and support for me. I can't wait to get more letters and emails and I can't wait to write again. I LOVE YOU ALL!
Elder Stephens
So just to let everyone know, Tuesday is my p-day so I'll be r=writing an email every Tuesday. Oh and if you could do the Dear Elder thing that could help me a lot since it's hard to read all the emails and write a big email in only 30 minutes. WE only get 30 minutes and some people get a little annoyed since they want to write too. It's no problem at all. So this week went by and it seemed like it was going slow until we got to p-day and realized I have been here 6 days. Everyone always says that the days go by like weeks and the weeks go by like days. This is sooo true. They very first day I got here my host companion took me to my room and then to class. And right away my teacher Brother Stephenson started talking in only Tagalog and no English. Yesterday was the first day he taught in English. Learning Tagalog is super crazy, there are so many things in it, but I know it's not as hard as learning English. English has got to be one of the hardest languages to learn since there are so many meanings for just the exact same word. We have learned how to pray, how to bear our testimonies, and we have an investigator named Queen Zabala who we have taught 3 lessons to already. She always talks in Tagalog and when we ask her questions she totally goes off and says a whole bunch of stuff and we just nod and say "mabuti" which means good! Yea I don't know if it's good or not but she always has a good look on her face so I sure hope so. The food is decent, it makes a lot of Elders in my district gassy. Especially my roommates Elder Lomu and Elder MCBride. My companions name is Elder Webb and he's awesome. He's goofy and funny and we get along super well. He always goes off talking about nerdy things like comics an TV shows. He is soo great. My district is super awesome as well. Elder Lomu and Elder McBride are two huge Elders and they totally are the enforcers. Elder Mcbride is our district leader and I honestly believe it's because he is gigantic. Elder Brockbank, oh dad I think he's the one elder you were talking about who is going to be in the Philippine Islands the same time as me, well he's a red head and he has a girl at home. Elder Wong is from New Zealand and he has a sweet accent. I always try to mimic his accent and I guess I always sound Australian. I honestly thought I was doing it great. Elder Conrow is a small elder but he is hands down the funniest elder in the district. He ways the funniest things and it's really funny because you would never know it from him. Elder Branham is really serious all the time and he always keeps Elder Conrow in Check. Elder Taylor is too cool for school and Edler Ellis just laughs all the time. Elder Park is a baseball player and a lifeguard and he's great. He wanted to switch companions or something so he would be with me. Elder Kiser is really nerdy and little but he is amazing at singing. He also makes his own songs. Well I'm out of time so I'm not able to write a lot more. I love you all and miss you all. Thanks for the letters and prayers. They help out a lot. Again, please write the Dear Elder. I know this work is true and that I am doing it for the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ helps me with everything. I know that the spirit helps guide us and keep us safe and that his is what I am supposed to do. I love my family so much. I am so grateful for my parents and their love and support for me. I can't wait to get more letters and emails and I can't wait to write again. I LOVE YOU ALL!
Elder Stephens
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