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