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
No comments:
Post a Comment