This transfer has gone by so fast. I can hardly believe that it is already week 6. I have mixed feelings about the speed that time is going by because on the bright side it means we are working hard and getting along, but on the down side, it means that I am going home too soon. I hope time starts to slow down a little, but I know this cannot be as long as we are working, and I will not stop working.
Again we had a terrific week. Our first night we were able to teach Andy A. His girlfriend Jackie wasn't there, but plans on attending this week. Our lesson with Andy was great. We were able to teach the Restoration, and help him to understand what our message is. He had read all that we left him, plus a little, and he also prayed for the first time in his life. He says that he had a hard time focusing, but the fact that he was willing to do it is a testimony of his desire. He didn't come to church this week, but we hope that he will begin attending soon.
Tuesday we had our district meeting on the use of scriptures. That is something that I really have a testimony of. I have seen countless examples of how the scriptures can help others. In our sunday school this week we talked about spiritual gifts, and I made a list of the gifts that I have, and I would say that the knowledge, and ability to explain scriptures is one of my strong suits, however, I think I could improve on my application of scripture in my own life. It is interesting to note that while it seems so easy to apply it to others, sometimes it is hard to apply it to yourself. We had a lesson with Meron afterwards. We read through Alma 32, and talked about humility. The Spirit was there strongly, and we were able to help here understand where humility plays in to receiving an answer. If you are not humble, then you think that you don't need to change, and the answers that he gives us cause us to change. At the end of the lesson she brought up a scripture that I had actually read that morning. It talks about how there will be many in that day that will come and say "Lord, Lord, have we not done many great works in thy name?" and He will turn to them and say "I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity." She realized by this that the claim of every church is that they are doing it in the name of the Lord. She also realized that clearly some of those would not be accepted, and she wanted to know which one would be. I was so happy that she finally discovered on her own the thing we had been trying to teach. There is only one church with authority, and to find out if this is it, you must read and pray about the Book of Mormon. We were also able to meet with the Rivers, and talk to them about prophets. What a great blessing it is to have a prophet on the earth today. We also had a lesson with sister Lowe, and Coltrane. We taught them the Plan of Salvation, and had a large emphasis on repentance for her. She has come from a dark place in her life, but is trying hard now to repent and change. They have both been reading and praying everyday.
Wednesday we were able to spend time in the temple. I always love going to the temple. It is such a great place to be able to sit and ponder, and come closer to God. I can't say all of the things that I learned, but I can say that it was a great experience. That night we were able to teach the principle of faith to the Cub Scouts. to do so we turned off the lights, and explained while being in complete darkness that to have the lights on is to have a "perfect knowledge", but to have the lights off is to have no faith. We then turned on a flashlight, and it gave us a small beam of light, by which we could now see enough to take a few steps forward. We then explained this to be faith. It is still not a "perfect knowledge, but it is enough to be able to see a few steps ahead. We then explained that as we take those steps our faith grows, and so does the light by which we see. It continues this way "until the perfect day", when we no longer will have faith, but a knowledge.
Thursday we were able to meet with Clancy, and talk with him about the Temple. He wants to return, and knows what he needs to do to get there, and he wants to wait until he is there to talk to the bishop. We told him that the bishop can help him to know what else he can do to get to that point. We also were able to meet with Coltrane and his mom again. We taught them about the Gospel, and again focused on repentance. The Gospel really is meant to help us change. As we live the Gospel we become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It is not a checklist of things to do to get back to heaven, but it is a list of things you can do to help you be heavenly. I am grateful for it, and the opportunity I have to change.
Friday I had a great exchange with Elder Perkins. He is a great missionary. He is friendly, and talks to everyone. He includes the MIT in all his teaching, and he is focused on helping others. Throughout our day together we were able to have fun, and fulfill our purpose as a missionary. During our exchange we were able to teach Dirk about scripture study, prayer, obedience, and following the prophet. Obedience is really central to everything. Scriptures and prayer help us align ourselves with God, and give us a desire to be obedient, and the prophet helps us to understand the scriptures and the doctrine, and stay on the "straight and narrow". We were also able to meet with Rebecca L, we read through the Book of Mormon with her, and talked about the Atonement, and the Sacrament. She said that she is waiting until she is keeping all of the commandments before she partakes, in other words she is waiting until she is better to take the medicine. The Sacrament is what is going to help us overcome our weaknesses and become clean. We can take it as long as we are repentant, and have not committed serious sin. What a great blessing it is to be able to get an extra boost every week.
Saturday we were able to meet with our WML, and our bishop. Our bishop is happy, and grateful for the work we are doing here, and he mentions it frequently. I am glad to have his trust. That day included several visits, and some tracting.
Sunday was a great day. It was our ward conference, and our bishop spoke about "small and simple means". What a gem of truth! It is by small and simple means, especially in missionary work, that great things are brought to pass. It is by several small things that a person is prepared to be taught, and receive the Gospel. The stake president also spoke about missionary work, and how it is the missionaries job to teach, and the members job to find. What amazing missionary work would come about if that is exactly how it worked. However, there are many who don't understand this, and so we are left to try and do it on our own, and we yield far less results that if we work together with members. In sunday school we were able to talke about spiritual gifts like I said. I made a goal to discover the ones I have. Learn of the ones I'm promised in my Patriarchal Blessing, and then use the ones I have, and develop the ones I'm promised. In priesthood meeting we talked about ministering. That is something I don't think I am very good at. I am currently a one sided leader, which is fine by the worlds standards, but not enough by the Lords. I will work to improve. We also met with sister Lowe again, Coltrane was out of town, and so we are going to have to move his baptism back one week. We talked with her about scripture study, and also about the opposition that comes during repentance. She talked to bishop to begin that process, and she is grateful for our support to her during this time.
That is about it for this week. I have really enjoyed the time I have spent with Elder Pugmire. What a great example he is to me of a dedicated, obedient missionary. He is a great teacher, and a great missionary. I can see him doing great things soon. I hope, for my sake, that I am able to stay as his companion for one more transfer, but "be it according to the will of the Lord". I will do whatever He asks of me. Its taken me a long time to get to this point, but it is a good point to be at.
Love Elder Schultz
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