james letter 5-29-12

This week has gone by a little better. We had a good comp inventory on Thursday, and were able to work some things out. The rest of last week went by much smoother. We were able to teach 20 lessons again, and we got along pretty well for the rest of the week. Yesterday we played football and basketball for Pday. It was a lot of fun. While we were playing basketball though, Elder F threw what can only be described as a tantrum, because we didn't listen to what he was saying. He acts like a child, but doesn't understand that acting that way makes people treat you that way. I'm not sure what I can do about that, he doesn't like me because I didn't take his side.

Last Monday we had a lesson with a couple new investigators. The one was drunk, and the other was a little tipsy. It was interesting to see that the drunk one, whose name is Scott, really wants to change. As he talked you could tell that he wasn't happy with his life the way it is. He wants to come to CHurch, and he wants to do something good for a change. We taught about the Book of Mormon, and read Moroni's promise with him. The Spirit was there so strong, and I know that even in his drunken state he could feel it. He promised that next time he would be sober, and that he would read and pray. When he flipped open the Book of Mormon, he flipped right to the index with the headings Drunk, Drunken, Drunkard, and the next one down being Dumb. He said it was a sign, and I took it as proof that God has a sense of humor.

Tuesday night we had a good lesson with the B family. They are a member family in our ward, and the bishop asked us to teach them, and prepare their 8 year old for baptism. There are some other issues with them as well, but they are great people. We taught about the Plan of Salvation, and I was able to use that puzzle that VInce gave me. They had a nonmember friend there, and we were able to answer some of her questions as well.

Wednesday was ridiculous. We went tracting, and we found six potential investigators. Unfortunatly for us though, they are all spanish speaking, and so we had to pass them off as referrals to the spanish elders. Because of this though, we decided that we should go on a tracting blitz with them, and we got several potentials of our own. Two set appointments, and two others that accepted soft baptismal commitments. It was really cool.

The next exciting thing that happened was on friday. IT was a beautiful day all day long. The sun was shining, and it was a blue sky, with a couple little white clouds. It was really warm too. While we were in dinner though it started to rain. Just a little sprinkling, nothing out of the ordinary for Oregon, though a little disappointing after the rest of that day. THen while we were in there it started to hale. Big white chunks were bouncing everywhere. Then it started to rain again. Big fat drops came down in sheets. IT stormed hard like in Utah, and there was even lightning, and thunder, which is the first time I've seen in in Oregon. Elder F didn't have a rain coat. I had mine in my backpack, but in the time it took to run to our bikes across the street, and back to put them in the garage he was soaked, and I was very moist to say the least. We then ran back out to the member who was waiting for us to take us to a lesson. The lesson was in a trailor park, and there was a waterfall coming off of the awning. It was nuts. I'm glad we didn't have to bike in it. Saturday was a perfectly nice day too. Oregon is crazy.

Sunday Jason got the priesthood. He asked me to ordain him. I was really nervous, but the Spirit was there to help. It made me remember the chain of authority cards, and how I don't have one. Could you get one for me? I would LIke mine, and then I could give him his. I think that would be really neat for him.

Thats all I have time for. I love you guys.

Tell Grandpa Stratton that I love him, and that I will see him again sometime. Maybe "God be with you till we meet again would be appropriate for his funeral.

Love Elder Schultz

james letter 5-16-12

I'm sorry that I wasn't able to write on Monday. I had to go to the doctor to get my smashed toe taken care of. The doctor cut of the nail. It looks way nasty, but it feels loads better. When we got back we went straight to our zone P-day, we had our dinner, and when we came back to the library that night the internet was down. We were on exchanges yesterday, and so this morning was as soon as we could get in.

It is going to be kind of a short letter, as I don't have very much time. This last week was kind of a mess, and a little disappointing, but I know that we will do better this week.

So I turned 20 yesterday. I hadn't told anyone about my birthday, because I didn't want all the attention. It didn't seem like a big deal at all to me, so I tried to keep it under wraps. That didn't happen.

We were on exchanges yesterday, and during our morning studies we got a call from the mission office, and they sang to me over the phone. Elder Wilcox scolded me for not telling him it was my birthday, and I told him not to tell anyone else.

We also had our district meeting yesterday, and when we walked into the room Elders Davis, Judkins, Aki, Jensen, Baxter and Auwen had decorated the blackboard with chalk balloons and happy birthdays, including some in german. They sang to me in district meeting too.

I made it almost through the rest of the day without anyone else saying anything, but when we got back from our last appointment the Simmons were sitting outside, and their son and his kids were there. When I got out of the car they started singing to me too. I wasn't sure how they found out, but they told me that a young lady came by and dropped off something. They told me to look in the fridge, and when I didn there was a homemade cherry pie. There was also a card saying happy birthday from Julie and Emily. I thought that they had already gone home, so I was a little confused, but I guess they had gotten their sister, I think her name was Anna?, to drop it off. It was really neat. I shared it with the other elders.

So far its been pretty good week. As companions we are still rubbing against each other, but we are doing a little better that we were.

Thats all I have time for.

Love Elder Schultz

james letter 5-21-12

Still struggling, but working to overcome the current challenges. This week during weekly planning we had an argument. I felt awful, and afterwards we prayed to get the Spirit back, and I apologized for losing my temper. I felt a lot better afterwards. We have decide to read through the Book of Mormon together during our companionship study. I was the one who came up with that idea. I have seen first hand the Spirit and power that comes from the Book of Mormon. I have seen less active members who are mad and yelling at each other end up perfectly calm just by reading through a chapter in the Book of Mormon. I hope and pray that it will do that same thing for us.

Some good things to report for this week. We have been praying together a lot more to try and strengthen our relationship, and I believe that it is slowly improving. Its still not the best, but we have had some good conversations, and gotten to know each other a little better. Understanding where you came from helps to clear up why you are the way you are.

We finally saw Mercy this week. She was the one who had a date for the 5th, and then had a stroke. I was on exchanges with Elder Wilcox, and while we were riding to somewhere else he got a flat tire. We had a member come and pick us up so that we could patch it. He took us to his house, and when we were leaving we rode past Mercys house and I decided to stop. She was there, and we were able to teach her again. She is still concerned about tithing. She feels she should pay, but she is worried about her ability to do so. She is going out of town for a month, but she agreed to meet with the bishop when she got back. Its still touch and go with her.

Right now we have about five investigators that we havn't been able to meet with. I guess we will just have to work on finding more.

We did get a new investigator this week. His name is Robert, he has a wife and a couple kids that we havnt met yet. He wants to learn more so that he can make a decision on which church is true. I see a lot of potential with him.

I believe that is all for this week. Mom, I did get your package, but it came on wednesday. Thanks a bunch for the tie, its a really good one, and the tie rack will be much used and appreciated. I'm glad to hear that Grandpa is doing better. Tell him that I said hi. Keep praying for me.

Love

Elder Schultz

james letter 5-7-12

This week has been a good and bad one. We were busy, which was great. We were able to teach 23 lessons, and have 16.5 hours of finding time. Both of those are above the standard.

We had one investigator at Church, and he would be baptized soon, were it not for some legal problems he has. I'm not sure what to do about those, but I mentioned them to my Mission President, and he is going to give us some guidance.

Sunday we taught seven lessons, which is the most I've taught in a day thus far. One of those lessons was to the High Priest Group. We taught them the principles to the first lesson(the Restoration), and then did a Training+Practice with them like we do in our District Meetings. The goal of this was to help them know how they can use Preach My Gospel in their own missionary work, and in their own lives. First we need to know the doctrine, and then we need to share it.

Now as for the not-so-good part of the week. My new companion is a hard one, and its not just me that thinks so. Apparently he has had several six week companions. The thing is he is really immature. He reminds me of the Deacons Quorum. President has him as the Senor Companion(for the first time in his mission), but I feel like I am babysitting him. I saw the Assistants on Friday at our District Meeting, and I told them how I felt. They said that thats what they thought would happen, and that thats what everyone else said too. They told me that President thinks that I can handle it, and that I just need to love him. I'm glad President has confidence in me, but I can tell that this is not going to be easy.

I was thinking about it though, and one of the things that I learned most from Elder Fan was how to love people. He had a really hard companion too, and he told me how he was able to deal with it by just loving him. Its hard for me, but I feel that with the Lord's help I will be able to do it.

As for the phone call on Sunday. It will probably be coming sometime between 10am-1pm, so expect in then. If that doesn't work I'll see if I can call later that night about 8:30pm. Of course this is all PST, so you will need to accomodate for that. You guys are one hour ahead? I think thats right. Anyway, I will talk to you then.

For MOM: You asked what I want for my birthday. The answer to that is I have no idea. It would be nice to see Emily while she is up here, but I would need permission from President, which I'm sure would be no. Maybe she could drop by the house and talk to the members we live with. I'll be gone all day. Other than that I guess just some more ties, and another tie-rack(the last one is full already). Pretzel M&Ms are nice too. I don't know what else.

So I have something for you guys to do this week. Read MORONI 10. In that chapter Moroni give us several Challenges. Read the chapter and write down what he is asking us to do, and then I want you to find a way that you can apply them in your life. Hint: the word exhort means to strongly encourage, or challenge.

Thats all for this week, and time here is up. I will talk to you on Sunday.

Love

Elder Schultz

James letter 4/23/2012

The weather up here the last couple days has been fantastic. The thermometer is the Simmon's car on the way to Church said it was 87 outside. I believe it. It was hot. 
 
This week has been quite the rollercoaster. We didn't have very many lessons. It was hard to catch people at home. It was a little frustrating some days, but it comes with the territory. Saturday Bro S almost died again. Last Sunday the same thing happened, but we didn't find out till Monday. This time we were home, and Sister S came and got us. She was crying, and asked us to give him a blessing. We did, and then we helped carry him to the van, so they could drive him to the hospital. He was completely limp, and unresponsive. When they left we went back downstairs, and I said a prayer. I sent out a message to our district, and had them pray for him too. We came back that night and he was back home, and doing well. They are not sure what happened, but it was quite a scare. 
 
We have two baptisms scheduled for this Saturday. One of them will be cutting it close, because we weren't able to have a second lesson with him, and so we still havn't taught him about tithing, and he also needs a baptismal interview. I think he can make it, but it may be a buzzer-beater. 
 
I had my quarterly interview with President on Friday. We talked a lot about how the work is going, and how I am doing. He asked me a lot about how I am getting along with my companion. I told him it wasn't the best, but there were no real problems. Elder just wants to leave Hillsboro and get a car. President just said" We'll see." Elder D didn't like that when I told him, it was too open-ended. I laughed as he freaked out about it. Transfers are next Monday, so I may be writing on Tuesday instead of Monday. Like President said, we'll see.
 
Thats exciting news for Connor. He was the last family member I saw before I came out here, because he was working in the MTC bookstore, and I caught him there once. You should tell him and McKenna to write me, and Julia too. She's been slacking. 
 
Church this week was really great. We had a young womens program, and the talked a lot about being an example to those around you, and knowing, and remembering who you are. 
 
Did you two have a chance to talk about my questions from last time? I know dad at least went over them. If not, then you should talk about them this week. 
 
I don't need a German Book of Mormon, I baught one in the MTC for $1.50. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that in one of my letters, but I guess that was over seven months ago. 
 
Time is short today. So this one is going to be short. Hope that you two are doing great. 
 
Love 
 
Elder Schultz

James letter 4-30-12

Transfers were yesterday. I am still serving in Hillsboro, but am now with a new companion. His name is Elder F. He is a Tongan from Colorado. He has been out 17 months, and this may be his last area.

We had one baptism last Saturday. He is 18, and we are going to see whether or not he wants to serve a mission himself. He was a lot of fun to teach, and he was very prepared. We mostly just reviewed the lessons with him, because he had gone to Seminary with his girlfriend. He even knew about Kolob. He was confirmed on Sunday, and he is doing great.

The other investigator we had scheduled to be baptized last Saturday was unable to because he is only 16, and his mom said it was too soon for him. We are going to continue to work with him, so that he can be baptized later down the road.

This last week with Elder D was a good one, we had a baptism, and we taught quite a few lessons. Sunday we spent most of the day saying goodbye to members. He is now a Zone Leader in Forest Grove, and I totally called it. We had a new Assistant to the President called yesterday too. They called Elder L, who took my spot in Tigard, he replaced Elder B, who had been AP for a year.

We have a lesson tonight with a family that we started teaching last week, they are really cool, and have a lot of potential, I believe that they will be baptized sometime in the near future.

We are meeting with our Bishop tonight, this will be the first time I have met with him. We stopped by last night to see him and thats when we set this up. That was the first time since I have been here that I have seen him outside of Church.

So there is something coming up that you might want to know about. The 13th of May is Mothers Day, and, as such, is the only other day where I am allowed to call home. I need to know what time you would like me to call that day. I have Church here from 2-5, but any other time should work fine.

Another interesting note, I am going to be 20 this year, in just a few days. Its crazy to think that I've already hit 20, it seems like just the other day when I was still a kid going to school without a care in the world. Now of course I have several cares, and none of them seem to go smoothly.

Also I'm pretty sure that we lost the car-share, so we are back on bikes permanently. I don't mind, but Elder F is way out of shape, and is not having fun on bike. Oh well, what do you do.

Thats all for this week, as I'm out of time. I hope that you have a great week. Remember that God loves us, and watches out for us as long as we do whats right.

Love

Elder Schultz