Well I am glad to be able to report on another busy week. This week we were able to find new people to teach, and this next week we should be able to report some new investigators.

Last Monday we went downtown to say goodbye. We saw S R on the street and were able to talk with him. He cut his hair, and no longer has a ponytail, he kept his beard, but he looks good. Monday night we were able to make some visits to some of our potentials, we met a few that weren't interested in pursuing this any further, but while we were out we were able to see the Myer family, and set up an appoinment with them.

Tuesday we had our District Meeting, and Elder Ball trained on chapter 4 in PMG. We talked about following, recognizing the Spirit, and how that affects our work. It was a very good training. I had assigned them both to train, but it ended up being just Elder Ball. I have an exchange with them this Friday, and I will talk to them about how they are doing. Tuesday we were able to do some more tracting, and we gave away three Book of Mormons. One of the people we found wanted to learn more, and said she was a self teacher. We left her with some information, and will stop back to see how much she has learned. If she truly is a self teacher, then she will learn for herself that it is true, and then we will be able to teach her. We were able to meet with Clancy that night; we taught him about tithing and fasting. Those have been a couple of things that he has struggled with, but he understood that if he wanted to go back to the temple that it was something he needed to do. He asked us to teach him about the resurrection this week. He came to church this week again.

Wednesday was full of tracting. We are still trying to find people as we teach and testify. We are showing the Lord that we want to work, and he has been rewarding us. We met a woman who said that she had almost converted once, when she was going to marry a member, but she stopped when she found out that her father wouldn't be able to attend the marraige in the temple. Hopefully we will be able to help her have desires to try again, and this time join. David and Melissa cancelled our lesson, and we weren't able to meet with them all week, and they didn't come to church.

Thursday we had a really good weekly planning session, but it went longer that usual. We were able to talk in depth about the people and how we could best help them. I feel that we are more prepared for this week after really discussing their progress, and how to help them improve. That night we were able to set up an appoinment with T M, a less active member, and also T H, and potential investigator. We met with Howard that night as well, and were able to talk with him about the Atonement, and how we have seen a change in him. We also went over our plans for the lesson we were going to teach to Dirk on Friday. He didn't make it to the appointment with Dirk, and he didn't come to church.

Friday I learned a ton at a leadership training meeting. The trainings on baptismal interviews were especially helpful. I had never realized that being in leadership meant that I have delegated keys. This means even more to me about the trust that I have been given, and I hope that I can do a good job serving those in my district. After the meeting we were able to meet with the Myers. We talked with them about scriptures and prayer. We had a really good lesson, and they told us that they would be at church. We called them before, but they didn't answer, and they didn't come. We had dinner that night with our bishop, and we were able to talk with him about his meeting with Elder Hansen, and how we can get the ward mission process going. He is on board, and he trusts us to do a good job. He gave us a few names to see, and we have stopped by them already. No answer, but we will keep trying. We met with Dirk that night, without a member. He had questions on how to recognize the Spirit, and how he should pray about the Book of Mormon. We read through Moroni 7 with him, and answered his questions. He really wants to do things right so he can know. We asked him at the end of the lesson how he felt, he said that he didn't feel anything at that time, but that he felt something as we were reading the Book of Mormon. It was great to help him see that he felt the Spirit. We told him to keep watching out for that. We invited him to church again, and he told us that he will come soon.  He is progressing a lot, as soon as he comes to church he will know that its true, and will be baptized.

Saturday we were able to do some service. We helped a family in our ward move. We met with our WML afterwards, and were able to go through the progress record, and talk about what we could do for them. We gave the bishop a copy of the progress record right after. We met with the Rivers family that afternoon. They are a hard family to get in with, some time ago they were offended, and haven't come to church since. They have stood us up on appoinments before, but this time we were able to meet with them. We went over the first lesson, and talked about how prayer and study of the scriptures can help us know for ourselves. We set up a return appoinment, and I hope that we are able to meet with them again. We also saw the Lyons that night. We talked with her about why she joined the church. Her story is incredible. The Spirit has definitely been involved in her life. She has a problem understanding God, and who he is, and how he works. We talked about faith, and were able to have a member of the Relief Society come, and bear testimony. She came to church this week, and stayed all three hours.

Sunday Jason and Pamela came to church. The choir sang, and Jason clapped. Everyone was looking around trying to figure out who it was. He was laughing. He knew he shouldn't have done it. They left right after sacrament. We had a man named Lance Leavitt come to church also, he is an inactive member. He hasn't been to church in 30 years, but wants to be active again. He was really moved by the meeting, and he was able to meet with bishop during the second hour. We have an appointment with him for this Tuesday. After church we stopped by more of our potentials. We were able to see Wendy again. She was so happy to see us. She read all of the Restoration pamphlet, and she started on the Book of Mormon. She asked us a lot of questions, and we invited her to the Visitors Center. She told us that we could come back again this weekend. We don't have a time set, but we are planning to take someone by there, so we can teach.

It has been a great week, and I am looking forward to another good one. We have been tremendously blessed in our work here, and have still been able to teach over 20 lessons. This week we will be able to get new investigators, and soon we will be able to have baptisms.

Elder Lott and I are still getting along great. He is such a good kid. He loves serving, and wants to work hard and be obedient. He is always trying to improve, and he is helping me to change and improve as well. I will be sad when we will have to be split as companions, but I will always be able to look at this time with joyful memories.

Love Elder Schultz

James letter 1/14/13

I'm not entirely sure where to start for this week. I was made the district leader, and with that we also found out that we were losing the branch, and gaining a full-time car. I knew since Saturday that I was going to be the district leader, I just had a feeling. I am thankful to have the car full-time, it has helped us to get a lot done this week. Losing Market cut our teaching pool in half, and we had a lot of cancelled appointments, but we were still able to teach 20 lessons this week. So last Monday we had a lesson with Dirk. We were able to teach about church, and the importance of it. We brought a returning less active member, and he bore his testimony about how coming o church has helped him in his life. It was powerful, and really cool to see how the Spirit has changed his life. That night we did an hour of tracting with no real success, it was an interesting street, with some very interesting things heard through the door.

Tuesday I conducted my first district meeting, I do admit I was a little unsure about it. I did a training on effective study, and how we can use that to improve our teaching. Just like the sons of Mosiah, they studied the scriptures, fasted, and prayed, and then they taught with power and authority. I think it went well. I forgot to go over the accounting. Elder D is our new zone leader, and it is good to be around him again. I am looking forward to serving with Elders H, and L as well, they are new to the district.  After district meeting we went out tracting again, we have been trying to get our teaching pool up to the size it was. We were able to teach a lesson on the doorstep, and leave a Book of Mormon, but a lot of people weren't home. That night we had three lessons cancel, one of them rescheduled. We were able to meet with Clancy, and he came to church again this week. We taught him about the temple, and encouraged him to get back there.

Wednesday brought more tracting. Elder Lott and I have been trying to improve our tracting skills, and we have seen great results. Instead of saying "we are missionaries...would you have a few minutes to talk..." we go strait into teaching and testifying. We have been able to teach a lot more during tracting, and we have gotten a lot of potential investigators from that as well. We also went downtown with the Browns and met with Ken, we told him we were thinking about moving his date, and he said "No Way!" He was very adamant about not waiting anymore. He was baptized on Saturday, and we were able to witness that. It was great to see his excitement and commitment to that act. That night we had another lesson cancel on us, and we weren't able to reschedule.

Thursday we did more tracting, still with great success. We taught one lesson, and were able to find three potentials. We had dinner with Howard, and we talked about the Atonement,and what he can do to return to the temple, we set that as a goal for him as well. He was at church again for all three hours. That day was also Elder Lott's birthday, and Monday I texted a family in the ward and asked them to make his favorite cake: german chocolate with coconut pecan frosting. They did so, and at the end of the night we stopped by as a surprise to Elder Lott, and had cake to celebrate his birthday. It felt good to be able to do something like that for him. We also sang to him as a district after sports that morning.

Thursday night Elder Lott proposed that we fast for help with our finding. I agreed that it was a good idea so Friday we fasted. We tracted all morning, and didn't even take an hour for lunch(what would be the point we weren't eating) We were able to teach 5 lessons that day. One of the places we tracted was a rich area, and we were a little hessitant, but we found someone who knows the bishop and his family, and we are going to have them fellowship more. We had two other invite us back, and the last door, we found someone who has been searching for God, and he wanted to come to church. He wasn't able to make it this week, but we are going to stop by and start to teach him. We were able to meet with the Lyons that night, and a member family. We also gave a blessing at OHSU. One funny story from tracting. The first neighborhood we knocked in apparently had some break-ins recently, and we ended up scaring some old lady. We had no idea until the cops pulled up and asked us what we were selling. When we told them we were missionaries they recognized us and realized it was a mistake. The cop was really nice about it, and we were able to talk with him a little bit too.

Saturday we tried to find more less actives to teach. We went through a lot of the ward list to find those no one knows about, or are unordained, or not current with their priesthood. We didn't have much luck. Most people weren't home. We tracted some more, and found a family, we were hoping to be able to teach them, but the mom said no. It was very sad. I was hoping to be able to teach a whole family. That night we went to Ken's baptism, and we met with one of our ward missionaries, and helped him prepare a lesson for church, and we role-played with him ways he could give a pass-along card to a friend.

Sunday it was nice to only have one ward to go to, although I do miss the branch already. We were able to meet with P Whitten, and recent convert, and go over one of the new member lessons. We talked about prophets, and scripture study.  We met with our elders quorum president, and got a few people from him to go see. We met the Browns downtown again to see Jeff and Sarah. Sarah had called us and asked for a blessing, and we decided it would be a good opportunity to "phase us out". They were in the middle of withdrawls from quitting the drugs they were on. They both want to be happier, and are tired of the lifestyle they had. They knew what they needed to do, and are finally doing it. They have come such a long way, and I am sorry not to be able to work with them anymore.

I've done a lot of study and prayer this week so I can know what I can do to be a good district leader. I don't want to let the Lord down. There are several things from the scriptures, PMG and my patriarchal blessing that have helped me learn a lot about what is expected of me, and I am confident that I can live up to those expectations. I have been thinking a lot obout what I can do to halp the district, and I had them each set goals for improvement in their area. I am planning on using these to plan the training and practices. This week we are learning about following the Spirit, which is central to everything we do. I have been able to feel the Spirit a lot this week, and have received revelation on what to do. I know by that that I am worthy, and it feels good. My desires are changing, and Elder Lott is such a great support to me. I have had my testimony confirmed, and I feel good about what I am doing. Thank you for your love and support, you are the best family anyone could ask for.

Love Elder Schultz

This last week was a busy one, but it wasn't as good as it could have been. Unfortunately we had a couple lessons cancell, and we weren't able to get as many members to our lessons this week. Monday night we met with Howard after our dinner, and we were able to talk with him about the priesthood, and what it means to us in our lives. We asked him what has been stopping him from coming to the priesthood meetings when he comes to church. He said that he was just not there yet. We invited him to come, and yesterday he stayed for all three hours. 
Tuesday we met with David and Melissa, and went over the Plan of Salvation with them, we really focused on what it meant to them now. We taught simply and clearly, and I believe that their understanding increased. We were also able to meet with Clancy. He was excited to hear about the new time for church. We meet at 9am. He told us that since he stays up late at night, that the later times are more difficult to go to, because he is so tired. He said that if nothing else he could just stay awake three more hours, and go to be when he gets home from church. He came to church this week as well, and stayed for all three hours. 
Wednesday we were able to meet with Dirk. His brother moved into his house over the last week, and so he wasn't able to read, but his brother sat in on part of the lesson, and should be there for our next appoinment as well. We are really focusing on church attendance so that we can help him to feel more of the Spirit, and what a greater portion of that in his life. We also were able to do some tracting in one of the far corners of our area. It was way up on the top of a hill. It was really cold and windy, and has been all week. No rain, just cold. Going up there I was thankful that we had the car for that week, because it was a steep windy road with a lot of blind corners, and bad drivers.  We went there looking for a former investigator. They weren't home, so we will probably try again, but not untill we have the car again. We also saw Tom M. He is a less active member that we tracted into, and he invited us back. We talked to him about prayer. He has a non member wife that he said has asked a few questions, but wasn't interested. We are going to try and see if we can meet her sometime. 
THursday we were able to meet with the Ms, we went over 1 Nephi 8 on the Tree of Life. We talked about what it meant, and how we could get to the tree, and then share it with others. We stopped up at OHSU to see a family with a son that has cancer. Their father came to church a couple weeks ago and asked if we would stop by. The mother had her name removed from the records after a family tragedy, and the father is not a member, but he mentioned the power that he felt when a blessing was given to his son. Our visit was good for both of them, he said as we were leaving that we may convert him yet. They were both so appreciative. We also had a lesson with Jason. He read this week, and he had a huge smile on his face when he told us. We taught him about prophets, and helped him to understand what their role is, and why they are important. He came to church this week as well. 
Friday we were able to meet with a man named Jocelyn. He is from Haiti, and doesn't speak much English, but he wants to learn more, and he loves the company, and the help that we have given him. He can't read, and so teaching him will be difficult, but we may be able to. He feels very strongly about his family, and he misses them a lot. He hasn't seen them since he came to America 20 years ago. I feel that our Fathers Plan for eternal families will be especially meaningful to him. We also saw Ronnie, we went over the Plan of Salvation with him, and he asked us why. He said that he feels that Elder Lott is nervous, and a little reserved. He told him that he needs to open up and be himself. Elder Lott was worried about what he said all week. I told him that no matter what he needs to remember that he is a good missionary, and I love him. We worked out a study plan for this transfer where everyday we are going to study a principle in one of the lessons, read through it, and then look up the scriptures and practice, so that I can help him improve his teaching skills. We started that this morning, and it went really well. I feel that by doing that it will help him a lot. 
Saturday Ken had his baptismal interview. He passed. We went over the information on the baptismal record, and left him an assignment to get the rest of the information to us this week. He has been reading and praying this last week, and was doing really well. he didn't come to church again though, and my companion and I are worried about him. We may push back his baptism a week of two just to make sure that he is ready. We also saw Jeff ans Sarah. We taught the Gospel from Faith to Baptism. We asked him to pray for a date on which he could be baptized. She is going to quit smoking marijuana this week. They are progressing well, but they didn't come to church either. 
So our Sundays are going to be interesting now. We have Raleigh Hills at 9am now, and Market Street is at 10am, there is no way with travel that both of us can be in both sacrament meetings. We are going to do exchanges with our WMLs each week, and we will alternate who goes to which ward each week. This week I went to Market. We had a homeless person come in with a lit ciggarette, and a pack in his hand. He sat down and was crying. President N took the ciggarettes from him. He said that he had been inactive for 40 years and God was giving him a second chance. He got up and bore his testimony. Twice. He tried three times, but since someone else was already talking they held him back. During Gospel Principles he kept interrupting with off topic remarks, or inapproptiate comments. In priesthood he did the same, interrupting, and he was escorted out of the class by the branch president. It was so sad to see someone in his condition. He was so lonely, and had been that way for so long that he just lost all of his social skills. That experience made me so grateful for the blessings that I have.
I am grateful for the opportunity I have to continue serving with Elder Lott. He has been such a good example of humility, and diligence to me. I have learned a lot from him already, and look forward to what I may yet learn. He is from Mesa close by the temple. Where does aunt Sandy live? He may know her. There are three other elders in our district from Mesa, and several more in our mission. You should ask her if anyone from her ward or stake is up here. 
 
Love Elder Schultz