Weapons of Rebellion

Mom,

Thank you for the email that sent I really enjoyed the stories!

I hope everything is doing well over there and the family is doing good. I'm excited to Skype y'all again on Christmas.

I'm not sick because my body is tough like an ox. The language is not a problem and I love the people here.

Things here are good! I'm really trying my best and having fun. I'm the oldest zone leader in the mission but I still have the fire of a new missionary. I love the missionaries that are in my zone. I do my best to serve them and and help them in anyway that I can. Our zone is still continuing our legacy and the Bangued Warriors are the best zone in our mission. What a blessing.

Something happened last week that really changed my life. Here's the story:

I learned that there was a certain elder in my zone that was being disobedient and had a secret cellphone. He had some members buy it for him and he was using it to keep in touch with his family and of course, his girlfriend back home. When I found this out, I was deeply saddened because this is a good elder. He is really good in the language and is a good teacher. This isn't my first encounter with disobedience before in the mission but I've gotten wiser the longer I've been out in the mission. A different leader's first instinct would probably be to chastise the missionary and most likely call President. But I've learned better approaches that I feel have a more lasting effect. So, when I confirmed of what the elder was doing I conducted exchanges with him. I didn't say anything I just acted like it was a normal exchange.We worked hard and had a good day. I tried to get know him more and I asked a lot about his family and he opened up about how certain members in his family have died while being out in the mission. I learned other things of what he's gone through that brought more light to me. 

We went home and I cooked him dinner and washed his clothes. The elder didn't really know how to respond to that but he was grateful. When we went to bed, as we laid in our beds. I was direct and asked the elder why he had a phone. It seemed almost out of nowhere. I didn't yell or get loud, I just went strait to the point. The elder's face went red and he had tears in his eyes. He stuttered and tried to give me some excuses. I listened. He expressed how he's been wanting to get rid of it but never got around to it. When he was finished talking, I paused a long time. Then I expressed my love for him and how grateful I was that he was in my zone. I then expressed how I felt disappointed and knew that he was better then that. I told him that he needed to repent so he can feel the Spirit more in his life. He said he wanted that. 

So I gave him two options. We either tell President or we get rid of it. He agreed to get rid of it but when I told him that I meant in that very moment, he was a little shocked. He asked if he could send it home or give it to a member, because it was a really nice phone. I explained that he couldn't chose the consequences, he has no right. (sounds familiar? I sounded like dad haha) So when he asked what we were going to do, I went to the scriptures. We read from Alma and read about the people of Ammon. We read about the change and the covenant that they made with the Lord. And when we read the part that they buried their "weapons of rebellion," the elder stopped and realized what I was hinting at. I looked at him and asked, "Are you willing to bury your weapon of rebellion?" The Spirit entered the room and with tears in his eyes the elder said yes. And that's what we did. 

Went outside and dug a big hole, the missionary gave me the SIM card and I destroyed it and I watched as this missionary literally buried his weapons of rebellion. We filled the hole again and placed a big stone on the top. As we both stared at the ground I asked if he would be willing to say a prayer. I've never felt the Spirit so strong in my life. It was one of the most sincere prayers that I've ever heard that really came from a broken heart. He asked for forgiveness and strength to overcome the temptation in his life. He asked a special blessing for his broken family back home. He thanked Heavenly Father for me, as his zone leader, for standing up for what's right. After his prayer we embraced and both cried together. It will be a moment that I will never forget.

Sometimes we judge people because of their sins or past actions or things they've done. What I've learned is that's not how God see's us. Remember Alma the Younger? He was destroying the church and was a very wicked man, but what did God do? He sent a angel from the heavens. How ironic. A wicked man gets a visit from a heavenly messenger. Maybe that's all we need is an angel to come and wake us up. I was the angel for this missionary and now he is truly converted and is doing well. I've seen many angels in my life, most of time through my parents. Maybe there are weapons of rebellion that we need to bury in our lives. I know that I have plenty. We are all sinners. We all need to repent. We all need His love and saving grace.

Mom, please tell the family that I love them so much. More then ever. Thank you for the prayers and know that you're in my mine. I'm grateful to be a missionary. I love the Philippines. I love this gospel. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll see you all soon.

Your Valiant Missionary,

Elder Strader

Power of the Priesthood

Family and Friends,

What a crazy week! The days just fly by so fast but I'm having the time of my life here.

Nothing too crazy has happened but I'm really loving it here in Bangued. Elder D and I are really working hard. Now that I feel more comfortable with the language and I'm trying to focus on my teaching. We're bold in our lessons. I feel the Spirit and we've been guided in lessons. Yesterday, me and Elder D taught the head engineer of Abra. He's every smart, studied in Europe and has a big house and is VERY wealthy. We always try to teach him and but he always says he's busy. He's so wealthy and is a potential leader, the struggling branches need someone like him. Even though we get a sense that he doesn't like us coming all the time...I fear no man. Well his name is Danny and we went to his house for the millionth time. We went to the gate and rang the door bell (first house that I've ever seen with a doorbell here in the Philippines) and D came out and the conversation went a little like this:

*Translated into English

Us: Hello brother Danny! How are you?

Danny: I'm busy. Next time.

Us: Danny I like your hair today! Did you get a hair cut? (you can see we're desperate)

Danny: I'm sorry. I'm just too busy. Come back next time.

Me: Brother Danny we're busy too. We teach a lot of people but we still make time to come here. We have a message that will change your life and bless your family and all we're asking is for 5 minutes.

Danny: 5 minutes?

Me: 5 minutes.

Danny: You have 5 minutes. Come in.

We taught Priesthood in the first lesson. We focused on the family and how his family needs Priesthood. We told him that, without the Priesthood, his family can't be together forever. We read scriptures. The Spirit was strong. Danny asked us," Can a normal dad like me hold that kind of power?" With tears in my eyes, I said "Yes Brother Danny, if you're worthy, humble and have a desire follow Jesus Christ and you can hold the Priesthood. You can bless you're own family." Brother Danny asked how could he hold the Priesthood and we told him our 5 minutes were up. I told him I was a man of my word. We ended in a kneeling prayer and Brother Danny prayed for the first time in his life. I can't explain to you what it's like to hear someone pray to their Heavenly Father for the first time. What a tender mercy that I can witness that first divine connection. Danny said we could come back and teach his family more about the Priesthood.

I just want to bear my testimony of the power in the Priesthood. I've seen and felt its power my whole life. I'm grateful that I always had a worthy Priesthood holder in my home. I'm grateful that I had a mother who always helped my dad honor his Priesthood. I know it is the power of God. I know that it was restored through Joseph Smith. I know families can be together forever because of the Priesthood. I love my Savior. I love the Filipino people. I love you all and I'll see you soon!

Your Valiant Missionary,

Elder Strader

Here are some pictures! Me and Elder D explore this cave in our area on P-day! 

Dirt Floors and Family Pictures

Mom,

Sorry for the crappy emails lately. Things have been busy and I'm really not good at this email thing, but don't worry I've been keeping a journal and I'll tell all my stories when I come home. I'm a way better story teller anyway.

Things here in Bangued have been doing really well. I've been going to the gym everyday in the mornings and I feel strong. My body has changed so much on the mission. I don't know if you'll be able to recognize me when I come back haha. Elder D is my companion and I knew him in the MTC. I'm learning a lot from him and we're having a lot of success here. The zone is doing well and I'm not trying to brag or be prideful but I'm pretty well known here in my mission. I feel this pressure to perform well. Whenever I walk into zone trainings or surprise check apartments, missionaries stand up and give me respect. It's almost like a fear, which is something I don't want. But mostly I think it's because they respect me. I work hard and try to love every one. I fear no man, only God. I'm bold but not overbearing. When it comes to my missionaries I serve them and give my best and expect the same from them. Looking back I was a good leader on the wrestling team or youth conference but I've learned a little here of how to be a Christ-like leader.And if you lead like Christ, then you'll see success. I strive to be exactly obedient but there are some things that I don't follow. Don't freak out mom. I think one of reasons why my zones have seen success is because I try to be different and follow the Spirit. Our zone training's have set schedules of what we're supposed to do but I don't always follow it...sometimes the training's here is like this," missionaries take like 1 hour bus rides to the chapel and everyone sits down and the zone leaders give a 3 hour training/workshops. There's no fire. No application. Just a lot of talking. It's the same thing every week, same everywhere in the mission. So I try to mix it up a little bit. I do rotations, I invite members from the local branches to come to our trainings and act as investigators, I always bring food, sometimes we do team building games. But it's different every week. I try my best to adjust to the needs of the zone and the Lord has blessed us with success."

Don't worry I've talked with my Mission President and he approves of what I've been doing. This calling really has pushed me and I'm truly grateful. I have no regrets.  I love it here so much.

Other then that I'm doing good. I speak the language well and I feel like I can finally connect with people. I dream in Tagalog. I love the people here. 

So for your simplify question. Yes, I have seen a lot of poverty here. People living in houses that, I'm not joking, are as big as my closet back home. People washing their clothes in the river and little kids selling candy on the streets. Sometimes it's hard for me to look. I've given half of my white shirts to members and I only have one belt and one pair of shoes. The more I give away the more I feel that I'm putting off the natural man. I wash my clothes by hand and before I say my night prayers, I have to dust off the rat poop that's on my bed. We go in homes and people always try to feed us even if they have nothing. Moments when I'm sitting on a dirt floor and a family of 5 gives me a bowl of rice and when I look inside the bowl and there are ants and maggots, but when I look at there faces and they say that they're sorry because it's not enough. I just smile and with tears in my eyes eat it humbly. Things like that change your life. One thing you'll see in everyone's house is pictures of their families. Dirt floors and family pictures. Another thing you'll always see in most people's homes is a picture of Jesus Christ. Isn't that powerful? So if that's not simplifying your life, I don't know what else is. All you need is your family and the Savior of the world, and "all these things shall be added unto to you." 

I hope that helps, I'm really sorry I'm bad at this email thing. Mom I just want to thank you for your emails and prayers. Please don't worry about me. I'm working hard and I'm trying to lose myself in the work. I know if I work harder I will get a hot wife and my family will receive more blessings. Are you feeling those blessings? If not, I got to get off this computer and go work haha. I love you mom. I'm really trying to make you proud. You can't see all that I'm doing here but when I hug you in the airport you'll feel that I really did my very best for the Lord. I will always be your stripling warrior and I will not fear or doubt because my mother knew it. Mahal ko kayo!

Anak mo,

Elder Strader

Message para kay Sydnie,

SYDNIE,

Hey you got baptized! I wish I was there. You look so big in your pictures. Sydnie I love how you're inviting your friends to your baptism! You're a missionary too, like me! Sid, I want you to know that I love you so much. Do you know that? And your Heavenly Father loves you even MORE. We don't even understand His love for us. And we are both so "masaya" (happy) that you decided to be abptized and follow His Son Jesus Christ. Now baptism is the only the first step, you've got a long ways ahead but don't worry, you're not alone. You're never alone. Keep being a good example and always love everyone. I miss you and love you. I'll be home soon. 

Love,

kuya

Dear family,

How are you guys? Thanks for all the emails and prayers, I can reassure you that I feel those prayers. Some days I feel an extra strength or energy, pushing me that day, and I'm not sure where it came from. I testify of the power that comes from sincere prayer. Keep them coming. 

Things are going really good! I love my area, my companion, and the people we're teaching! I'm sorry for another short email but I love this gospel and you guys!

Love,

Elder Strader

P.S Who keeps saying that I'm getting fat on the mission??? Haha

Family and Friends,

What a awesome week! Elder D is the man and we're having a lot of fun together! The zone is still continuing it's legacy and we can't help but feel blessed. 

Sorry for the short email but here are some pictures! I love this gospel and all of you! The church is true!

Your Valiant Missionary,

Elder Strader

Family and Friends,

I'm sorry for the lazy emails lately, it's just a lot of things are going on. 

So, I'm loving it here in Bangued. It's beautiful up here and we don't get that many death threats like people say. I love the zone and we've been seeing a lot of success. Let me give you a little background of what has going up here the past 2 months. 

When I showed up here, Bangued was the one the worst zones in our mission. When I say worst I mean lowest in baptisms and in other statistic things. As I looked back on the past stats of the zone and as I went in exchanges with missionaries in their area's, I noticed some red flags. 

1) Our zone has baptisms but they're a lot of individuals.  A lot of missionaries were teaching young children and youth. There hasn't been a family baptism in a long time. 

2) I found in some area's where a lot of women and gay's were being taught.

3) All the branches here in Bangued are small and weak and really don't have any potential leaders. We don't have that much Priesthood holders They heavily rely on the missionaries for everything. For example, I taught Relief Society last week...you picking up what I'm putting down? 

So as I noticed these things in our zone and knowing we have hard working missionaries but yet this zone isn't seeing a success. After prayer and fasting I felt like what our zone was really lacking was a goal. Not just a goal to get high stats or lessons but we really didn't have a goal to push for. Remember in the Book of Mormon with Captain Moroni and the Title liberty? There were problems with the government and separation within the people and then Moroni came and presented the famous Title of Liberty, which stated what they were willing to fight for, what their priories were and they made a covenant with God. As I reflected on our zone I asked myself, "What are we fighting for as a zone?" What really is our goal? What do we want to accomplish? So with some inspiration and a lot of praying and fasting, we made the goal for our zone BUILD the KINDGOM. 

What the build the kingdom means is we change our focus to people that can really help these struggling branches up here in the mountains of abra. Building the Kingdom isn't really focused on "stats" but on finding families and future leaders. Instead trying to baptize 10 year olds we go find engineers. When we see a big wealthy house, we don't get scared but walk right up the door. We also pushed for weekly baptisms in our zone. What that means our zone will have a baptism every week. The baptisms will be future leaders and families. We push for the middle class. We know the gospel is for everyone but we need to focus on people that help the church and help themselves.  And we will the build the Lord's kingdom here in Bangued. 

The zone responded well to this goal and went to work. We changed our focus and applied more of the concept "smart work and along with hard work." Being united with a goal that isn't just focused on numbers really motivated the zone. And miracles have happened the last 2 months. We teach more families and future leaders. Me and my companion are teaching a professor and lawyer and their families. We have missionaries that are teaching the mayor of Bangued city and the police captain of the city. We have no fear. For the last 7 weeks Bangued Zone has baptized weekly. We're now the top baptizing zone in the mission and we have many more weeks a head. 

Now, I say all of these not to brag or bring attention to me. What this zone needed was a goal or a "title of liberty" you might say. What I've witnessed here in Bangued Zone is a miracle. Because we relied on the Lord and we knew what we were fighting for. We had a goal has a zone. We put our focus to the most important things. As I reflect on these things I feel it can apply to all of us. Sometimes we feel our life has no direction. We're good people, doing good things but we feel there is a lack of something. When we're asked, "What are you fighting for?" We don't know. Maybe our focus is on, other, not as important things

I invite you all to find a goal for yourself or your family. What is your title of Liberty? What are you fighting for? a temple sealing? To be successful? To be a good father or to make money? Don't go through the motions. I want to testify, as disciple of Christ, that I know what and whom I'm fighting for. I know where I want to end up. I have no fear. I can't be stopped. I know the Book of Mormon is true because I read it. I know my Heavenly Father loves because I've felt it. And as a missionary I know that I'm here in the Philippines to build His kingdom. Till we meet again. Love you all!

Your Valiant Missionary,

Elder Strader 

P.S. Here's my new companion Elder D! We were friends in the MTC and I'm so excited to work with him. He's from Las Vegas. 

Family and Friends,

I'm sorry for my crappy emails lately. The internet connection here in Abra is really SLOW. So us missionaries up here can't email as long. Please bear with me.

So a little update with my area. Remember in Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life? Of course you do. With the Tree and Iron Rod and stuff? Being out here in Abra, I feel like I'm living that in real life, except I feel like there is a missing part 2 in Lehi's vision. I feel like I got to the tree and partook of the fruit but there is a twist. I have a backpack and I fill the it with extra fruit and then I jump over the river of misery and travel through the mists of darkness, where I then make my way to the Great Spacious building, after climbing the walls I then proselyte and try to take my fellow men back to the tree. Hahaha that is the life of a missionary. But really it's like Babylon here. Prostitutes outside our apartment and "Disco Bars" across the street of the Chapel. Sometimes it's hopeless to track at night because a lot of people are drunk and it's not safe for two white Americans walking around after 8pm. But I'm not afraid. I have some wrestling experience under my belt and my companion is a college football player, but the real reason of why I'm not scared is because I know who is watching out for me. Why should I fear? I'm dong my Father's will and nothing can stop this work. I'm in good hands.

I want all of you to know that I know my Savior lives. I know through the Book of Mormon we can find answers to our problems and trials. I love being a missionary. All of you are in my prayers and I hope I'm in yours. I'll see you soon.

Your Valiant Missionary,

Elder Strader

Here are some pictures of me in our area and a picture of me and Elder Baker when we went frog hunting with some fiipino kids