What a wonderful time of the year to be a missionary, to be able to call home and talk with family. This last week in Woodburn has been pretty good, but I have a few things to report on the work and the area.
My first night we were able to meet with the whole bishopric, and the WML. We also saw a member family, the Coopers, who I guess is active, and we spent some time with them going through the gospel principles book. We also saw them 3 more times that week. I'm not entirely sure why we are going over that much if they are an active family. They do seem like they need some nourishment, but I would say that a good home teacher would be just as effective.
Tuesday we saw the Coopers again, and we were able to meet with the Walkers, who we also see several times a week. They are a less-active mother daughter, and we went in and taught them, and no male was present. I talked to Elder Mohler afterwards, and apparently they have been going into single sisters homes anyway because most of the people are 50+ in age. I'm not completely sure, but I don't believe there is an exception. After talking to him about it we were able to take members with us to every other lesson this week.
Wednesday we had our zone meeting, we learned about the ward mission process, and how to train the ward council on invitations. We talked to our WML about it, and during ward council we were able to bring it up. We didn't train, but they started talking about people to put on the "master list". We don't have very many names on that at the moment, but we will work on it, and see if we can't get the process moving correctly. That afternoon, we saw an investigator, and in essence, just talked with her for an hour, which from what Elder Mohler has told me is also typical. He said that she doesn't want to be preached to, and so they are fellowshipping her. That is also not our place, and its not a lesson, unless you teach something, but they have been counting those "fellowshipping visits" as lessons as well. This weeks numbers are inflated due to that, and thats something else that I'm working with Elder Mohler on.
Thursday we saw the Walkers again, and also the Coopers. We had a decent weekly planning session, in the which I learned that they had "adjusted" the Grow planning. Instead of setting weekly goals five weeks out, they set monthly goals, and don't worry about the weekly for baptisms. Also it was a struggle to actually plan for the lessons we were going to teach. It seems like they haven't had very many actual teaching lessons, and so they don't need to plan for any. Elder Mohler also wanted to plan a schedule for the whole week as well, so that daily planning would be shorter. He also didn't want to follow the steps in planning. Planning is something that needs a lot of improvement, and I hope that I am able to help him do it correctly.
Friday we were able to set up a few appointments with less-active members. We saw the Walkers again. We also had a "lesson" with the Lalliss family. They are a really fun family. The kids are active, and the parents aren't. They are another family that doesn't want to be "preached to", and so there is no teaching taking place. We also see them several times a week. As we were leaving that night we were going and shaking everyones hands, and the 16 year old daughter decided to play hard to get, and pulled back from Elder Mohler. In an attempt to get back at her like a "big brother should", he is the oldest in his family, he looked for something to spray her with. When he couldn't find anything he grabbed a lighter, and intended to scare her by holding it by her face. She didn't flinch. And then her hair caught fire. She had a 6-8 inch flame on the side of her head, and I thought that he had killed her. Her mom screamed. She was able to put it out, and she was fine. He was shocked, and didn't know what to do, so he tried to laugh it off. He felt awful. As we left the whole house smelt like burnt hair. It was wonderful.
Saturday we had breakfast with the Coopers. We had our first real lesson with the Martins, another less-active family. He has adrenal cancer, and he feels he is not worth much. We had a lesson on the worth of souls, and at the end he asked for a blessing. He came to church yesterday, and he also paid his tithing, which has been a struggle for him. After our lesson with them we completed our PMG surveys, had dinner, and then I was picked up by a member from Raleigh Hills to go to Coltrane's baptism. That was a really special experience. They were so glad to see me. I am so glad that I was able to get to know them like I did. They are a family I'll never forget, and I can see such a huge change in them, they were so happy. While I was at the baptism. Elder Mohler was with our WML teaching. He saw Don, and investigator, and he saw the Walkers again.
Sunday was such a great day. Church was of course focused on Mothers, and it was great. I wrote down a lot of thoughts, a few of which I'll share:
We dishonor our mothers when we break the commandments, and when we break the commandments we dishonor mothers. When we keep the commandments we honor mothers, and when we honor mothers we keep the commandments.
Men are given the priesthood that they may help save mankind. Woman are born with the innate ability to Mother, which is a powerful tool in the salvation to us all.
The title of Mother is eternally significant, and is one of the greatest blessings in life. A woman should never feel lower because she is "just a mother", rather a woman should feel above all because she is just that, a Mother.
We had lunch with a member family, and we saw the Coopers again. We called home at their house, so I talked with them while Elder Mohler called home and vice-versa. We saw the Lalliss again that night as well.
So, it is easy to see all of the things that we need to work on in this area, but I don't want to have a negative letter, so here are the good things. Elder Mohler loves the people. It is a great example to me to see how much he cares for them. It is a lot easier to serve if you love those you serve with. He also has a real desire to serve, and to be better. He doesn't want to waste his mission, and he knows it goes fast. He wants to do better, and I hope that I will be able to help him.
It was great talking to you guys yesterday. Love you.
Elder Schultz
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