This week could hardly have gotten any better, well I guess that's not entirely true, but it was a great week nonetheless. Monday we started off on a good note. We were able to meet with Nathan and Brian, they also had a friend there whose name was Jeff. We taught about the Gospel. It didn't go over well, because you don't work your way into heaven. This is true, but you still have to work, or you don't get there. Turns out Jeff was actually a member, who is inactive. They all seem to believe in each of the individual points, but they don't believe that they form the Gospel, and that that is what will help you enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and that there is no other way. After our lesson with them we drove up by OHSU, and met with a young unmarried couple named Andy and Jackie. We found Andy a few weeks ago, and were invited back. We taught them about God. They are more agnostic than anything, but they are willing to find out for sure, and they want to learn. We told them that that is all you need. Just like Alma said, even if you can no more that DESIRE to believe. If you have a desire you can progress.

Tuesday we had our district meeting on commitments, elders Palmer and Perkins taught us about the importance of following up. I think that is an easy thing to overlook if we are not careful. That is why writing it down is so helpful. If we write it down we can look back and remember what we have asked them to do. We had several lessons fall through that day, but we were able to meet with Howard, we went over some of the commandments with him, especially missionary work. We also met with sister Liliquist, with her we read through 2 Nephi 4, and talked about receiving strength through the Atonement.

Wednesday we also had several appointments fall through, but we were able to do some tracting, and find a member, who we didn't know was there, and are working on pulling her records. We also met with Clancy. We read through a section in D&C with him again.

Thursday we met with Lyle, and were able to go over the Restoration with him. He graduated with a degree in Protestant religion, and has since become very skeptical about religion in general. He said he was uncomfortable with praying, and coming to church with us, but that he would read and pray on his own. We also met with Jenny. We had a really good lesson on the Plan of Salvation, but at the end we weren't able to get a solid return appointment. I'm not sure what, but there may have been something bothering her that she didn't tell us. We also met with the Rivers that night. We shared a quick message on the Atonement. They didn't come to church Sunday, but they did meet with the Bishop.

Friday we were able to meet with Dirk. We taught him about the 10 commandments, keeping the Sabbath day holy, and the law of chastity. We told him that by living the commandments you will have more of the Spirit in your life, and would be more receptive to the answer that God is giving you. We also met with Shawn and Kristian for the last time. We met there with elders Perkins and Palmer, so we could hand off teaching to them. Kristians brother Brandon sat in, but both he and Kristian were drunk. Hopefully as they continue teaching, they will be able to help them to be baptized. We also had another lesson with Nathan. We talked about grace. We watched a talk given by one of the General Authorities, and they agreed whole heartedly with what he said, he worded it better that we could. I also learned a lot from his talk. I learned  that Grace is what does everything, and that that is what enables you to return to heaven by changing you from the natural man to a saint. Jesus Christ when he performed the Atonement helped us all overcome physical death, and our first spiritual death. Everyone will get their body back, and live forever, and everyone will be brought back into the presence of God temporarily, to be judged. The deciding factor is how long we will stay in His presence. If we choose not to live the Gospel, and keep the commandments, then we are choosing not to change ourselves. We remain as the natural man, and therefore remain and enemy to God, and must be cast off, dying a second spiritual death. Being as though there were no redemption made. If we do choose to live the Gospel and the commandments, we will be able to stay in His presence forever. I learned lots more that I don't have time to explain in this email. Needless to say that my testimony of the Savior has grown immensely.

Saturday was mostly tracting. We did meet with our bishop, and were able to report to him all of the work that we have been doing, and report on the status of the names he asked us to see. We have seen all but two of them. In the evening we were able to teach a few member families.

Sunday was amazing. Sacrament meeting was focused on temples, and I was excited because we get to go there on Wednesday. Nathan came, and took lots of notes, and stayed all three hours. He said that he really liked how we broke up into groups, said it made learning easy, by creating a better environment for it. We were also able to meet with the Lowe family. Sister Lowe is a returning member, and her 12 year old son wants to be baptized. They have come the last two weeks in a row. We had a great lesson with them on the Restoration, and were able to set a baptismal date with him for May 4.

That was about it or our week. It was incredible, and it went by incredibly fast. Mothers day is almost hear, and I am excited for my last phone call home. The last few weeks I have grown a lot spiritually, and I have been able to tell. Elder Pugmire has been a great example to me in his diligent study, and faithful prayers. He has a great focus on his purpose as a missionary, and we are doing great work together. I am grateful for the privilege to serve with him.

 

Love Elder Schultz