10-24-11

Magandang hapon po or mayong apon for you cebuano speakers out there

   I’m doing pretty good, this week has been pretty good. The area is starting to pick up a little bit, and this week we decided to split it down the middle with the APs. We've been working that side already so it works really good. We found some new investigators and it’s been good.

This week has been great. Elder Holland and Elder Callister have been here in the Philippines all week. Elder Callister and Elder Nielson of the Area presidency did a mission fireside for us on Wednesday and it was pretty legit. Them and their wives spoke and it was all good. Elder Nielson talked about changing the culture around here, that Catholic culture of going to church on Christmas, Easter and your birthday. He compared it to Samoa, where the whole country shuts down on Sundays and the belief of the Sabbath day is very strong. He said 75,000 people have been baptized in the past 10 years here in the Philippines but only 10,000 are active and so that’s our big problem that we have to change. Elder Callister shared about Christ's church (all from the New Testament and made Elder Stover look silly when he raised his hand and shared a Book of Mormon reference, whoops haha) and also about being a consecrated missionary, way good stuff. He talked about how if we only change our behavior on our mission, we'll go back home and be the exact same person. We have to change our nature to be the person we want to be. So that's what I’m working on. Time flies by and I don’t want to be the same person when I get home so I’m going to keep working on that nature. It’s kind of a hard thing to get it "rooted out of my breast".

On Friday Elder Holland gave a fireside for missionary age YSA that haven’t served. We asked president if we could go but he told us to go to work, which I was fine with, no biggie. Well not until I found that that President let the AP's go and not to tell us. Ya I was kind of mad about that but forgive and forget, right? On Saturday Elder Holland and all of them had priesthood leadership training with all the leaders from 3 missions and president said we could come and listen to his talk. We got there late because of temple tour but we did get to meet Elder Holland and he put his hands on our shoulders and asked how we were doing saving the less actives. We said doing our bes,t then he touched my head and said he liked my haircut. Not bad..not bad.

haha but ya temple tour was good. We took our new investigator, Marian and her friend Rose. They live with our other investigator, Lucille and her husband Rio who's a member. Lucille couldn’t make it but we had fun with the other two. They show this awesome video about Christ in the end and some good tears are shed. Marian is astig though, we gave her a Book of Mormon the first time we taught her and she read the 1st chapter and half of the second one and took notes. I was impressed, cool stuff. We got some other new investigators as well. Brother Joel is someone we just talked to and the second time we came to teach, on Sunday, he was looking for us and so excited to see us. It was cool and he believes in Joseph Smith as a prophet. Cool guy with some interesting experiences about Christ.

Oh man and we talked to this one guy as well. I don’t mean to down anyone beliefs but man his were pretty different, like how he's a healer guy (forgot the exact title) that does it the way Christ did and how he does water healing, blind healing and like 3 other healings. It sounded like Avatar to me but hey, he liked to talk about muslims too. We set up an appointment with him for tonight so we'll see how it goes.

Anyways, It’s been a pretty good week. Elder Quinton is doing pretty good. I’m trying to help him teach a little more, he's pretty shy about Tagalog. I’m trying to get him to just practice but he’s a bit hesitant, good guy though, once he gets more confidence in himself, a bit more faith in the gift of tongues, and he'll be fine.

Love you all, hope everything is going great. Thanks for the pictures Mom from conference, appreciate them. Pray for you all, and I’m grateful for all you do.

love

Elder Stover

10-17-11

Hello po everybody

Well this week has been pretty good, better than last week. We actually got some real good weekly planning last night and that really does make a world of difference. When you have at least a plan and idea about the week, it can take a lot of stress and worry out, especially for me. So I think that alone might have really just helped a lot. I was feeling kind of sick at the beginning of this week but it’s gone away.

We had some sweet things happen this week and some not so sweet things. Our investigator, brother Joe, left to go work in Saudi Arabia. He had been looking for work over there and then we went to teach him on Wednesday and he told us he was leaving on Friday. He was a really nice guy and loved to read what we left him but I think he didn’t quite get the whole picture either. We only taught him a few times, I just hope he'll continue to read the Book of Mormon like he said he would.

On Tuesday night we had to take some desks out to Pasig, which used to be part of the Manila mission. We passed the turn and came to SLEX, a big freeway in the Manila mission and had to go a few miles before we could turn around. If I had a piso for every time I’ve been to the Manila mission while here in the office, I’d have like 10 pisos. Fun time tho haha

Wednesday was an ok day, we had zone conference. It was all about teaching doctrine and so we practiced pretty much the whole time. For some reason I kind of struggled, kind of was tense and those kinds of feelings drive the Spirit. My teaching wasn’t good and I could just tell. It’s disappointing when that sort of thing happens, only having a year left and not feeling like that great of a teacher. I was comparing myself and that’s always bad, feeling I need to be at a certain level. But the Spirit and this work isn't about levels, no matter how much sometimes we want to put it. I was reading the talk that Tana sent me, "Forget Me Not", it really, really helped. Those 5 things are things I’ve been doing or forgetting to do lately. I need to do more forgetting and that it will be ok and not to worry so much. Worry and stress breed more worry and stress and don’t solve anything. I’m doing my best and that’s all anyone can ask of me.

 We've been trying to find some referrals and former investigators and we had some luck. We found this one, Sister Marlene and her daughter Haidee. Haidee had just gotten in a bad motor accident the night before, hit a rock and got scrapes all over, it was pretty bad as she could barely walk. We talked with them and gave them a new Book of Mormon because the old one got destroyed in a flood. They’re really nice and just have this desire that you can feel, but the problem is Marlene's husband. He is not open to the gospel, he’s a drunk with no job and does not like Mormon missionaries at his house. He's the reason that they weren’t able to be baptized in the 1st place. So keep them in your prayers please. They need the Gospel and brother's heart needs to be softened.

On Saturday we celebrated Ben's birthday because his birthday was on Sunday. We surprised him with balloons in the morning and played some tennis with him and president. We played doubles and my partner was President. He’s really good so we went undefeated the whole time haha. It was really fun though. Then we had a baptism! Well it was in our ward but it was really the Assistant's because me and Elder Quinton never taught her. Her name is Haydee and she's from the province but staying as house help for a member in our ward. She's 16 and so cool. Her testimony is so strong and the baptism was really good. It was simple, not a ton of people there but the Spirit was strong. Haydee is the only member in her family and will go back to the province in about a year. She bore her testimony and said how hard It was going to be but she knew the Lord would help her. Then we ate at her house and oh man it was good food. I love filipino food so much, I don’t know how I’m going to live without in another year haha. Then because it was Ben's birthday we ate at Johnny Rockets by our house and it was good but man I cannot handle burgers anymore. I’m a total wuss and couldn’t even finish mine. If it’s not rice, I just can’t do it. haha.

And so another week is ahead of us. I’m going to try to serve with those that I’m around. I feel better about the work and a bit more in control but not at the same time. It’s overall a better feeling and I know this will be a good week. Look good, feel good, think good, play good. I love this work and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than where I am right now.

love

Elder Stover

10-10-11

Well this has been a pretty challenging week. It’s been crazy, it’s been busy, stressful and I’m tired.

On Saturday we were supposed to be watching conference in the morning and then get a bit of a P-day the end of the day. But, what happened is with all the flooding happening up north in Bulacan (QC North mission now) we got asked (told) to participate in a service project at the area office of repacking rice. It was done in the downstairs parking garage and we took 50 kilo bags and repacked them into smaller bags so they could be shipped up north and handed out to those affected by the flooding. I didn’t go into it with the best attitude but I worked really hard hoping we could get it done pretty fast so we could go watch Conference. That was at 8 am. It didn’t end until 2 pm. haha So 6 hours of carrying 50 kilo bags around a garage and I was way tired. One thing that I thought about tho, was how it was better to be doing service rather than to be listening to the prophet talk about service. It really was a good experience and later as we did watch conference and they did talk about service it was a good feeling. It was hard work tho, we were all soaked in sweat and the burlap of the bags did havoc on my hands and fingers, but that was ok because we got to watch the Saturday sessions (except priesthood) that evening and then Sunday we watched it at the stake center (where the mission office is) and we had 4 investigators come! It was pretty sweet plus a less active guy that came too. I got to see members from the QC 2nd ward there too, which was cool. Then back to the mission home for the last session and priesthood.

Priesthood was an amazing session. One talk that hit me really hard was the one by President Eyring, I wrote down more and maybe learned more from other talks but I didn’t feel the spirit as strong as I felt it in that one. (and I felt it pretty strong a few times). I had fasted last week to be able to receive a little revelation about how to do this training thing, how to do it the way the Lord wants and give it my all. That talk was the answer to my prayers and fast. Just a few minutes in to the talk it just hit me so hard and it was almost like a voice told me "this one is for you". There's always those certain messages that just seem to be made to our situation at that certain time and it’s how I know those men are inspired of God and that they speak to all of us because He loves us and they love us. I know He loves me and he is totally aware of my situation. It was what I needed. I wish I could re-watch it over and over because that is when the good feelings kind of ended. Right after I got slapped in the face with how I’ve got to do more than just listen and feel the Spirit from those talks. Now is the time to apply it and actually use it. 

 Anyways just been a tough week, it’s been fun too. We had Zone leader council on Wednesday and the Mindoro Zone Leader's hung out with us the whole day and it was well needed, really loosened me up. I’ve gotten in some good study when I’ve found the time. The scriptures are amazing and they get you thru the day. Maybe that is a big reason why I’m struggling today- no scriptures, especially after the spiritual feast the past 2 days (withdrawals haha). I also woke up feeling pretty sick and just not good, just basically tired. Today is our "p-day" but not really, just given time by president to buy some groceries.

I just feel like time is moving way too fast. Then you add into that this week was my year mark and I just feel like a crappy missionary, like I’m not smart enough, mature enough, or magaling enough to be a missionary that’s halfway done. It’s just been hard having my first junior companion and yet not really feeling like the senior at the same time. We need a bit of independence from the assistants or we're both going to go crazy. We'll see if it’s possible and if not, we'll both half to suck it up I guess.

The biggest thing I learned from President Eyring's talk was how he said we must make those "junior companions" feel that we need their help. I’ve got to try it, even just sharing about how I’m struggling and just asking for his help and support, like president told me this week, communication is big. I’ve been keeping stuff inside for a long time and it really isn’t helping. I’ve just got to be open and trust the other person and ask for that help.

I know this church is true. It’s when you go to where you can’t go anymore and then you keep going that you fulfill your potential as a servant of God. I know that’s true and I just got to live it,110 percent.

Love you all! Thanks for all the love and support

love

Elder Stover

10-3-11

Heyyoo.

Well this week was really long and really fast. It doesn’t seem weird to say that because that's about every week on the mission, especially in the office.

On Monday night we had a sweet FHE at one of our investigators along with that senior couple, the Bells. They taught a little lesson (in English) about general conference and all the names of the apostles. I thought it was cool and we had a really good turn out. I had a ton of fun and it was an awesome way to go out haha. Then the next day wasn't too much except for a few sisters going home who had their exit day. One is Sister Bonafe, who is my nanay (mom) in the mission (oldest sister in your district or zone). She is actually extending til the 13^th and is so awesome. She’s one of the hardest working missionaries I’ve ever met, and baptizes like crazy. She's way magaling. So on Wednesday I actually got to go to what they call Exit Day where you go to the American War Cemetary and Memorial, from World War 2. It’s beautiful over there, reminds me of the cemetary at Arlington in Washington DC. So that was fun and basically the whole Exit Day is pretty fun, especially because that’s the day we get to do a session in the temple as well.

Then transfers on Thursday, a lot less people got transferred, which was nice, but it’s always hectic . Just from that day I have almost 100 baptismal records to put in the system this week. Hopefully I can find time haha. We got 12 new missionaries, all foreigners that day too, some of them are really pretty cool. We drove a few out to their areas and I was surprised how good some of them are at Tagalog, like saying stuff I didn’t learn till like my 3rd or 4th transfer haha. I was a rough night tho because we drove one companionship out to the farthest area (about 2 hours one way, which is pretty close haha) and didn’t get back till around 11. Then at 3 in the morning drove the 3 missionaries going out to Mindoro to the airport. So ya, that Friday is always rough. President lets us sleep in an extra hour that day but then that just sets you back with all you have to do, add in that 2 hour comp study (believe me the assistants make sure we do it, always on my back about it) and we had no time in the office. That night we found some time to take the new elders in Quezon City 2nd around the area a bit and show them a few ward missionaries and recent converts. They’re going to do good in that area so that'll be way good

but we have our new ward now, the Cubao ward. They’re actually way awesome. On Saturday night they had a baptism of this girl, Mariecar a YSA (young single adult). The ward is way supportive, and really young. When we went on Sunday I almost though it was a YSA ward or maybe a college ward haha. That’s also because most of the area is boarding type houses so a lot of people are going to school and stuff, but they’re awesome. The bishop is like 30 and totally looks like a Filipino Tom Cruise, no jokes. When I first saw him I thought he was just another YSA. The assistants have been working hard tho to find some potential in that ward with part member families and finding former investigators. I’m pretty pumped about that and Sunday was really a pretty good day, even with fasting and all. I mean it’s probably easier to fast when you drive around all day but still haha. We taught this one family yesterday that was a former investigator, and it went so well. It was a lady about 30, her husband who's 25, the lady's daughter who is around 14 and their friend in his 20s. They all listened so well and asked a ton of questions, too many to answer all at once haha. But they just sincerely listened, not just acted like it because we're two white guys. I worked with Elder Haws and it was fun, poor Elder Quinton is having a hard time. He's really not very good at Tagalog, like nobody is just starting their 2nd transfer, but he makes mistakes that I corrected when I was in the MTC. I feel bad in a way because a lot of the stuff they do in the MTC is way different from when I was there, especially in the language and it didn’t seem to help him much. Elder Agner (the other assistant) who is Filipino, is determined to speak Tagalog to him and he struggles to understand. He gets kind of overwhelmed and I’m trying to find the right balance of correcting him and giving him encouragement, but when everyone introduces you right away as the guy who sucks at Tagalog, I’m sure that can bring you down. It’s funny tho, I think I forgot how hard it was those first few months, not understanding but trying so hard. The only thing that gets me with him is that sometimes he just doesn’t seem to try very hard. I’m just trying to motivate him and convince him that he'll get there if he just tries and has some faith.

Anyways I am really excited for conference this coming weekend. It happens to fall on our P-day but that’s ok, you got to do what you got to do haha. I’m just ready to get some good nourishing, with having to do my study everyday I may get sick of all that spiritual nourishing and no time for the other stuff, but I’ll take it for this weekend. You’ve got to be careful what you wish for right? I wanted to be able to find time to get my study in the past few transfers and now it’s being forced on me haha.

I love this work, now I’m just learning to love every part of it. I love you guys too and hope all is well. I hope everyone took good notes too in conference, I need to!

Love, Elder Stover

9-26-11

musta everybody!

Anyways this week has been a busy one. One big thing happened on Wednesday, my new comp got called into the office. Do you want to know who it is? Elder Quinton, the one I told you is from Magrath! haha pretty crazy huh?   This transfer is going to be very interesting. We have this new training program with the 2 hour companionship study. We did it for the first time on Saturday and it was kind of a struggle. He hates the program and I wasn’t prepared so it just went ok. It’s going to take a lot more prep on my part to make it worthwhile, to help him learn and do better with the Gospel. The thing is he gets it, he knows how to teach, just in English haha. I think the language is going to be the hardest thing, ok I don’t think, I know. I forgot how much I’ve learned in the past 10 months. There are so many words and phrases that I want to teach him but I know I’d just overload him. It is funny how I’ve always wanted to train/follow up and now it’s here and I’m not as sure haha. It’s going to be a fun transfer time. We already get along way better than me and Biado. He just got his license today so I’ll just make him drive all the time and no one will have to get back at Elder Stover for his driving.

The actual teaching this week seemed to go pretty good. We got this referral from the referral center in Provo and we went over there and he just flat out told us that he's looking at for a new religion because he was born catholic and doesn’t believe in anything they do. He had gone on mormon.org and requested a Book of Mormon. So we went over there and just the way he was, so open about it almost shocked me. Amazing how much you can feel the Spirit when the other person is open and invites it himself. Without us mentioning it he said he would go to church on Sunday and see what it’s all about. I left there feeling so good, something like that had never happened to me my whole mission. Then on Saturday night he texted me and told me he wouldn’t be able to make it because he had something come up, I guess. It was pretty disappointing, hopefully we can see him before we leave the ward and turn him over to the new missionaries. I hope I get to exchange with the new missionaries coming into that ward so I can show them a few investigators and help them out a bit in the area. Coming into an area like that must be really hard, especially when lazy office elders were there before you haha.

Anyways other than that, we haven’t been able to teach Evelyn until Friday night. It didn’t go that well and she seemed a little weird. She's kind of in a "woe is me" attitude all of a sudden and everything that we tried to testify and help her understand didn’t seem to stick. She always seems to be gone or busy when we come so I don’t know what happened. She still won’t come to church.

We did teach one family, the Matriano family, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned them before. The mom is less active and her son Andrew is 13 and not a member yet. So we teach him and sisters niece who is 24, they both just eat it up. We taught about the plan of salvation, about life after death and it was good. Her niece, Liza, has some crazy good questions. She even read the assignment we gave her, Alma 40, and had some deep questions. Some we answered and some we just had to tell her to wait haha. Andrew is awesome because he doesn’t say much but he is listening and writes down about everything we say. We had the opportunity to take a senior couple out working with us that night. They don’t understand Tagalog but you just ask them to testify at the end and it brings the spirit so strong, their testimonies are amazing. Their names are the Bells and they’re longtime converts and oh man they are sweet. We're having a family home evening over at the Matriano family later tonight and we invited them and they have great idea for a lesson. Working with them really gets you renewed about the work, how it should always feel and why it’s the greatest work in the world.

Then on Saturday was my birthday. It went pretty good, nothing too exciting. The DeLaMares had us over for pizza and then we watched a movie with Ben (Sons of Provo oh man I love that movie haha). The night before I ordered pizza for all of us, Yellow Cab Pizza. I don’t know if we have that in Arizona, but over here its top notch, so good. That’s about it tho. That’s what you do on your birthday in the mission, buy a bunch of stuff to eat to get you fat haha. It was good and I’m way thankful for the package you guys sent me. I also got one from Nicole which I guess isn’t my birthday one? But it was still good =P

Anyways not much else. It is transfers this week so getting busier and with a new area and training, a lot of stuff to learn and get used to. It’s a transfer of change, one I really need. I’m excited and a bit nervous.

Oh and an elder that was in my district in the MTC but went home a few days in is coming back! He'll get here in March I’m way pumped! When I heard that it got me pretty pumped, he’s a way sweet dude and it’s just good to hear. I also got a reply back from Cody Anderson which was way cool. He sounds really good, a ZL now, he is the man for sure.

Anyways hope everyone has a good week. Enjoy conference! We don’t watch it here until next week so I’m kind of jealous. I can’t believe it’s already here tho, I haven’t read all the talks from the last one yet haha. Time flies and now I’m an old man! haha I think once you hit 20 birthdays aren’t really fun anymore haha

Love you all, hope all is well, you are all in my prayers
loves
Elder Stover