Monday, October 31, 2011

James letter 10-31-11

This week in Tigard....
We invented a new sport called Cup-Ball. It is an epic cross between lacross and ultimate frisbee. It is a intense game of athleticism and skill played using a cup, and a rubber band ball. It makes P-day sweet.
Tuesday we taught a lesson with an investigator and we invited her to be baptized. She said she wasn't sure if she was ready for that kind of commitment, but that she would pray about it. She didn't come to church yesterday.
Wednesday we taught our rock-solid investigator. He already has a testimony, and we gave him a baptismal date of November 19th. He didn't make it to church yesterday though, so we'll have to push that back.
Thursday we had a doorstep lesson with one of our investigators that is so close, but so far. She won't pray with intent, because she is content with life. We shared a short powerful message about our purpose and that its up to her. It hit her hard.

Our baptism investigator had his baptismal interview as well. He passed, and said he had the intention of serving a mission.
Friday we did our weekly service. My companion got a new suit, and we made ties from the lining of his old one, using duck tape. They are sweet, we are wearing them today for Halloween. We call them Franken-ties.
Saturday our investigator was baptized. We spent two and a half hours filling the font. The baptism went well, but the brother who baptized went in after we shut the curtain and drained the font. It wouldn't have been a problem except the other elders had a baptism an hour after ours got over. We turned the font on, said a frantic prayer, and began filling a 10 gallon bucket and water pitchers from the kitchen with hot water from the showers, and sinks in the bathroom. We filled the font in 45 minutes.
Sunday he was confirmed. The brother that did it came up as we were gathering around him and whispered in a nervous tone "I've never done this before". I just kept thinking "Neither have I." We pulled out the white handbook and got it done. We also gave talks in Sacrament meeting, which was interesting because they gave us a topic that wasn't in our lessons, so we had almost no study time. We gave a 15 minute talk with only 10 minutes of preparation.
Thats the jist of what happened this week. I tried to put up pictures but the computer won't work here so I'll have to try somewhere else. Love you.
Elder Schultz

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Millennium

I always wondered what it would be like during the millennium. I had the impression that it would be much as it is now with spirits coming to get bodies and learning how to use them. Going to school, learning, growing except the wicked would all be gone.

I also wondered how the wicked would burn without the rest of us being burned with them. I was reading in Alma yesterday and they talked about Zeezrom burning up with a fever after he was kicked out of the land of Ammonihah. I believe this is how they will burn. Their own conscience will burn them from within.

Monday, October 24, 2011

James letter 10-24-11

So I'll start off by saying that prayers are answered. We were told in our mission conference that we need to set baptism goals four weeks out, and then work towards attaining our goals. So we set our goal, and then have been praying that we could accomplish it. We have five new investigators.
One of them is one of those pearls. He carves wood and stone into really beautiful things. he told us his story, and we could both just feel the Spirit so strong. He was about to kill himself, and he prayed to God to help him, and then he picked up a rock and started to carve, and has been doing that ever since; it is truly a gift from God. Lately he has been praying to find guidance, and then a week after that we knocked on his door. He had been thinking a lot about JOHN 10:16, and the people in America. So when we gave him the Book of Mormon he was way excited about reading it. We saw him on Saturday and taught him the Plan of Salvation. He was so excited to hear that things that he thought about were in line with God's word. Things like the fact that God wants to save everyone. It was an amazing lesson. When he said the prayer at the end he told God that he knew that what we were teaching him were true, and he just wanted to make sure. This guy already knows, and we have only taught him once! He has accepted a soft baptismal invitation, and we will get a firm date soon. God has definetly led us to him, because he is ready for this Gospel.
Another investigator, we have been teaching for a few weeks now, she is so close. I know she has felt the Spirit, but its up to her now to make that step and ask God. If she would do that she would recognize the fact that she knows this is right. I hope that she will ask, but I'm not sure if she will. It makes me sad to think that she is so close, and yet so far.
We have also been teaching a 19 year old. She has a three year old son, and has gone through hard times. She works a lot, but has been really open and receptive to our message thus far. I hope to see her progress in the near future.
Another is being baptized this Saturday, the 29th. We have taught him all of the lessons, and based on the Spirit we felt when we talked to him about his repentance, he really wants this, and has been willing to change. He has truly repented. I look forward to see him progress in this Gospel.
My companion and I are still getting along great. I love this guy. He is always finding something to laugh at, even when something kind of stinks. We invented a new game called cup ball. It is sort of a mix between lacross and ultimate frisbee, without all the hitting. We are going to play it today for P-day.
I really feel that I am growing myself everytime I teach someone, or truly study the scriptures. It helps to have a purpose in your study, so I would encourage you to always try to find something to learn from what you read, because it is there. Don't just read to read, really ponder the message the scriptures contain, and you will find that you enjoy them more and more.
Also I think that my prayers and improving immensly. I really am praying for specific things, and people, and it helps me to recognize the answers. When you ask specific questions, you get specific answers.
I got my new bike, its pretty sweet. I'll put up some pictures next time as I forgot my camera today. Also I'll put up a picture of our costumes for the ward party on friday. We were secret service agents. we have sunglasses and earphones and everything. it was sweet, we got a lot of compliments. Also I got my first letter this week. So that was awesome.
Thats about all for now. I'll write again next week. Keep me in your prayers and remember: Mosiah 2:17.

Monday, October 17, 2011

James letter 10-17-11

This week in the wonderful world of Oregon....
There were blue skies everyday but two, it was a pleasant and surprising change from what it was last week. This place really is beautiful when you have a blue sky to accompany the green.
I have big news. Last thursday we taught Austin. I don't remember if I told you about him or not, but he is a 14 year old we have been teaching. He has been a little flakey, but we taught a lesson on the commandments and the sabbath, and he has been to church the last two weeks. Thursday when we taught him we had a really great lesson about the gospel, and the things we need to do in in. For more references see article of faith 4. At the end of the lesson I invited him to be baptized and, wait for it, he said yes! It was so cool. That friday we took him to a baptisimal service so he could see what baptism was and we could answer questions. He is really excited about it. He keeps telling everyone that he is going to be baptized on the 29th. I told President Morby, and he said that is was amazing to see me get a baptism after two weeks, and that he knows some who have been almost a year without one. I know its not about the number, but its comforting to know that something we are doing is right.
I have been seriously studying the Book of Mormon. I have been writing down thoughts, and ways to apply the scriptures to myself, my companion, and my investigators. It has been incredible to see just how much there really is in the scriptures that you can apply to yourself. I would encourage you to do the same with your scripture study. There is always something we can get out of the scriptures, even if its just reasons to obey the Lord. Write down spiritual impressions. If you do you will get more and more, because the Lord knows you are listening.
Saturday we went on a blitz with the spanish elders. That is when you each take a different companion and tract an entire place. We did an entire appartment complex, and after knocking on at least ten doors that smelled of marijuana we got five potential investigators. So I would consider that a success. We also gave away three Book of Mormons that day.
I'm glad you are giving out my address. I havn't had any mail since I left. It's been kind of depressing. The work is good. The scriptures are awesome. And remember: Faith is believing that something will bless you even if you don't know how.

The commandments are given for a reason, they will always benifit us. Even if we can't see past the mark we can always be sure that the Lord will look after us. I love you guys. I love this work. And above all I love the Lord.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

James letter 10-10-11

So this week in Oregon:
It rained......and rained.....and rained some more.
IT has rained almost everyday since I've been here. Tuesday we spent two hours tracting in the rain, and I got thoroughly soaked, especially because I didn't have fenders on the bike( which I had never seen until I got here, but I see why they are important.) Two hours in the rain and we only met one person that seemed interested, and we havn't been able to get ahold of him since, so who knows.
Wednesday we taught a less-active family who has an eight year old daughter. The oldest daughter was 16 and asked for a blessing at the end of the lesson. I was chosen to bless. I felt a little overwhelmed, but calm at the same time. We saw them at church on Sunday, and she said she was feeling much better. Friday is when I broke my bike. I'll start by prefacing the situation. The ground is always wet. Always. So we were riding our bikes to our weekly service and we were on a paved trail. Right as I was going over a bridge my bike decided it didn't like me and turned sideways and slid out from under me. It was quite exciting. The downside to this moment was it completely broke my pedal, which is essential for a bike to have. I'll buy the cheapest working bike I can find so you don't need to worry about that.
Saturday we walked everywhere, which wasn't too bad because the sun actually came out for the first, and last, time since I've been here. We walked to the Library so I could email you( I had permission to email you not on P-day). On our way we were talking to everyone we saw. Just before we got to the library there was this scraggily bearded man that sort of looked like a homeless person smoking a pipe. I didn't really want to talk with him, but we tried anyway. He walked away from us before we could say anything. When we came out of the library we saw him again and were able to start a conversation. He is an Irish-Catholic and is in the process of starting up a church in Portland. We talked to him for a while about God and how he talks to us. He said he prays all the time and has a really good relationship with Him. I asked him if he would be interested in learning more about our church and he said yes very excitedly. I pulled a Book of Mormon out of my backpack and gave it to him. He took it, and said that he would read it. We also asked him to pray about it before and after, and he said that he never reads a book without praying before, so thats a good sign. I hope we will be able to teach him. It just goes to show you can't judge a book by it's cover.
Yesterday was my first sunday in the ward, and so the bishop asked me to stand and introduce myself. It was no problem, because I had planned on doing that anyway. The members here are really nice, and they feed us almost every meal. I think I may be putting on weight. Which is kind of sad, but my companion wants me to help him get into shape, so we are going to start running every morning.
Elder Fannin is a really cool guy. I have been learning a lot from him. He only has four months left, and its a good possibility that I will kill him off. The mission president and his wife are great people. They are both so warm and caring. We stopped by the Portland temple to take pictures. It really is a beautiful temple. We are able to go through every three months, so it will be a while before I can actually go through. I hope you guys are doing great.
Did you give my address to the ward? Because I need to get a letter so that I have something with my address on it so I can get a library card. Right now I have to get a visitors pass everytime, and it take a while. Also I'd love to hear from somebody during the week. I find that now that I have a little more free time I have more time to think about home, and it's kind of sad when no one writes.
Love always,
Elder Schultz

Monday, October 3, 2011

James letter 10-3-11

So it's happened. I'm am now in Portland, Oregon. Well, actually I am in a place called Tigard, which is near Tualatin. It is so beautiful here. There is so much green everywhere. It was raining when we arrived and for about an hour or so afterward. It smells like pine sap and rain. I like it.
The two investigators at the MTC were real members playing the part, but if I told you that it wouldn't have been as cool. I am going to miss them though, even though they were just acting.
My trainer's name is Elder Fannin. He seems like a pretty cool guy, but then again I have only been here for five hours so I don't really know him that well. It is so weird being seperated from my MTC companions, roommates and friends. I hope I will see some of them again. There were seventeen on us on the plane to Portland. It was like an invading army.
President Morby is a really cool guy. He and his wife are both really nice. The best thing about him though is he looks like the Emperor in Star Wars. Tell dad to watch #3 and see. I can finally listen to music again too. What a relief, I was going insane. The music in the van on the way out of the airport was literally music to my ears.
P-day is monday here, so my writing will come then. Also we have an hour, so I will be able to write more. Thats all now. I'll write more about my experiences here when I actually have some. I love you. I know this Church is true, and that this is where I'm supposed to be.
I'm loving it out here. I'm so glad I came. I have been out three weeks on wednesday. What a miracle it is to have made it this far. And I have to say going to the airport, and escaping the compound was the best thing to happen so far. That and the consumption of real food. Next weeks email will be better, as I will actually have some experiences out here.
Conference was great. Elder Hollands talk in Priesthood session was one of my favorites. His and President Monsons in the same session. I took almost twelve pages of notes altogether. Sitting on the hard bleacher chairs in the MTC wasn't fun at all, but watching conference was. Sunday we had a devotional and Chad Lewis came and spoke. It was a really great way to end my experience at the MTC. I loved it there. It's kind of weird being in the real world again. My district family is all split up, but on the bright side I can once again listen to music. Thats all for now. Love you always.

-James.