James letter 7-29-13

So I have to say that I really like the Yamhill ward. The members here are great, the scenery is beautiful, and there is lots of time to talk with your companion as you drive. I really enjoy the country, it is a refreshing change of pace from the city life. Wednesday we had a lesson with Damin, he is one of our investigators, and he told us that he thinks that the Book of Mormon is good, and it teaches the same things as the Bible, and he wanted to know what the difference was. We talked about the priesthood, because that is what sets us apart, the priesthood, and modern prophets. He said that he would continue to pray and seek the truth. I think that he is looking for something other than what he is going to get. He didn't come to church this week, so for this week our lesson is going to cover personal revelation and church attendance.

Thursday we met with a couple less-active members that are taking temple prep classes. The first on Don D seems to not want to put in any effort. The second the Olsens really want to make it there. He was telling us that he has a carnival that his family does every year, and this year he decided not to go because he had to go to church to take the temple prep class. It is really cool to see that desire in people. We had our coorelation meeting that night as well. Our WML doesn't want to have more than two meetings a month, and it doesn't seem like he cares to much about the work. I get that feeling from a few of the members; they are just indifferent some of them. When we talked with our bishop he mentioned that as well. He is going to release and call some new people to the ward council that should help with the work. He is on board with us. During our weekly planning we came up with a vision for the area, and what we feel we should work towards is splitting the wards. We believe that through finding teaching and baptizing new members, reactivating less active members, and helping active members progress we can get a Lafayette ward, and a Yamhill ward. In ward council on Sunday our bishop made a similar comment, so we know that the Lord wants that to happen.

District meeting on Friday was great. We talked about working with members, which I have always considered myself good at. My second companion was very knowledgeable about that and he taught me a lot. In out training Elder Burton shared a few things that I hadn't thought of. One of them was a Book of Mormon challenge. You give a member family a copy and have them write their testimony in it, and then prayerfully select another active family to place it. You then go to that family, and give them a book to write their testimony in, and do the same thing as before. They then place the written copy from the first members. It is a cool way to involve all of the members, and get them excited about the work. We have started it with a few families, and they really like the idea. Great things are going to happen soon.  Also that day we found a new less active member to teach, his name is Dirk M. He has PTSD, but was glad to see us, and invited us back. We were also able to set up two other appointments with less actives.

Saturday we met with Bill C, another investigator, we had a good discussion with him. He doesn't believe that there is only one way, but he believes that God would want everyone to be united. His comments didn't seem to make a lot of sense to me, but who knows. He invited us over for dinner, and we set up a time to do so.

Sunday I had a warm welcome to the ward. We went to the combined teacher/priest quorum, and we were talking about the duties on teachers and priests. I pointed out a scripture in D&C 107 that tells how big your quorum can/should be. The teachers president said " I can have 24 in my quorum?" We said yes, and he replied with, "I better get on that." By the end of the lesson they have learned more about their duties as priesthood holders, and more specifically about their commission to share the gospel. A few of the notes that I wrote down from sacrament include a thought of what judgement will be like. The speaker was talking about the temple recommend interview, and I think that judgement might be something like that. God sitting us down and asking us a few questions about our diligence and worthiness, and then asking us if we think ourselves worthy to enter his presence.

I have been doing great this week. Elder Barrow and I get along great, we have similar personalities, and our work together is fun. Things in this ward are about to explode we can feel it. The Lord is definitely hastening his work. I haven't thought much about the events of last week, I feel it is better to move on and continue with the work, so I don't get distracted.  I was wondering if my extension is still approved, my parents were asking, and I wasn't sure.

Love Elder Schultz 

James letter 7-22-13

So I don't have my planner from this last transfer, which means there will be no rundown on the work for this week, however, there has been an interesting situation arise which I can tell you a little bit about.

This last week was the last week of the transfer, and things were going good. Tuesday night I found out that my extension was approved by President Samuelian, I was really excited about it. Saturday I got a call from President asking me to train. I was so happy, that has been what I've wanted to do my entire mission. Elder Mohler was getting transferred, and we spent most of Saturday and Sunday saying goodbye to everyone. Sunday night at 11:30 I got a call from President, informing me that there was a problem, and I would no longer be training, and because of it I would be transferred out of Woodburn. So it turns out that Elder Mohler stayed, and is going to train the new missionary, and I got transferred. This means that my extension may also not be happening, I'm not sure. I will let you know when I know. As of right now I am still extending, but I'm not sure if it will stay that way.

Now I am in Yamhill, which is in the middle of nowhere. My companion's name is Elder Barrow, he has been out for 5 weeks, so I am finishing his training, I guess that counts as training, but not really. The work here seems pretty slow as well, which is not too thrilling. I will have more to say next week, but for now this is it. Love you.

Elder Schultz

Note from James 7/19/13

I was told Tuesday, that my extension has been approved, I am staying until October.

James Letter 7-15-13

Well, lets start off right at the beginning of this week, Monday morning we were playing soccer with the Spanich Elders, and I smashed my toe, the same one as I smashed last time. It was pretty painful, but it went away, and I was able to walk until my doctors appoinment Thursday. I also had my interviews with Sister Samuelian and President Samuelian. I feel that I was holding back a little, and I don't know why. I know that I am supposed to be here in this mission under his leadership, but I guess I was still holding on to President Morby. I have been thinking about that a lot this week, and have made it a goal to be more open and free with my comments, and feelings. In our interview he asked me to write about some of the things that I learned later in my mission that I wished I had learned from the start. One of those things was obedience, and obedience to the morning schedule in particular. Morning excercise, and diligent study really does make such a difference. It changes the amount of the Spirit that you have, and it changes your attitude. I found that whenever I was obedient to the schedule I was happier, that is a lesson that was slowly learned, and still not 100%, but I work on improving daily.

Tuesday we have an exciting miracle to share. Elder Porter, and Elder Lima called us, and asked if we would like to blitz with them, and we said yes. As Elder Mohler and myself prayed about where to go we both chose intersecting streets, so there we went. As we were traveling there the Spanish Elders told us it wasn't in there area, but since it was where the Lord wanted us to go, we went anyway. We tracted in opposite directions, and knocked on all of the doors on the two neighboring streets. When we were about done, we were finishing up the street that I had chosen, and we saw Elders Lima and Mohler walking towards us. We talked with them about how it had gone, and then asked if they had knocked on the corner house, they hadn't, so Elder Porter and I went for it. A young woman answered and agreed to hear our message, we shared about our Father in Heaven, how he loves us and has called prophets in every age, and how he has done so again today and we can know for ourselves. She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon, and invited us back. Her house was on the corner of the two streets that we had picked, and it was the last house we knocked on. We had indeed been guided by the Lord.

Wednesday our big highlight was our lesson with sister Haws, we talked with her about charity, and that was a topic that she didn't grasp, and didn't think that she could ever have the kind of love that we were describing. We talked about the Atonement of Christ, how it was the ultimate act of charity, and invited her to use it in her life. She asked how she could know how, and I told her to study the scriptures. Everything we need to know is in the scriptures. Her response to that was that all she needed to do was to accept Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It was a very born-again Christian response. The topic then turned to if you accept him, then you follow him. I found a scripture this week that backs up the need for following his teachings, its Colossians 2:6

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

If we accept Christ we will do what he asks.

Thursday morning we went to the doctor to get my toe taken care of, and it turned out to be a lot worse than they thought. The doctor started to cut away the nail, and realized that it had ripped up the nailbed and wasnt detached. He was worried that it night have exposed the bone( that was not the case), and had to numb my toe, and take it off that way. The swelling was so bad, and the pain so bad that I couldn't put on a shoe or walk on it, and I was on crutches until Saturday. That was not the most enjoyable time, but we were still able to work, and now I can walk on it fine. Its still tender, but its managable.

Friday our zone meeting was a powerful experience for me. Talking about culture, and living the higher law( obedience with a purpose) really struck me. In the OPM we were focused on obedience, but it was just exact obedience, and there didn't seem to be as much of a purpose. Also we were focused on baptisms, not on changing ourselves. I like the new focus, and while the old was good, I know that for me this culture, and vision will help me to change my life. We went and buried our fears as well, which was also a good chance to really ponder what I was afraid of. They all seem like such unsignificant things, but they stop your faith. I hope that I will truly be able to bury my fears, and keep them there.

Saturday I conducted an exchange with the Woodburn 2nd Elders. I was with Elder Hayden. I really felt overall that I made a difference for him, and was able to teach him a lot. I looked back on the exchanges that had meant a lot to me, and I felt that I had done for him what those Elders had done for me. Elder Hayden is a good planner, and a great teacher. He really knows the doctrine, and cares for the people. In one of our lessons we had planned to teach lesson 3, but the Spirit guided us otherwise, and we both taught on the same page, despite the change in plan. he did a good job in following the inspiration received. Also that night we were able to sit down and teach a new investigator. We taught simply and powerfully the message of the restoration. At the end of the lesson we were able to help him see that the Spirit was there, and that that was what he needed to seek out. He was very prepared to receive us, and I am sure he will be baptized. As we ended the exchange I talked with Elder Hayden about what he learned, and about what the most difficult thing about being a missionary was for him. He said loving his companion was hard, so I shared with him something that helped me to love my companions. That is to write down something good about them each day, when you focus on the good, you will grow to appreciate them, and forgive their faults. Also he was worried about teaching with the Spirit, because he can't always recognize it. I shared a scripture in D&C 11 that says to " put your trust in that Spirit that leadeth to do good." The basic thing is if it invites to do good it is the Spirit. So if your teaching is inviting to do good, and you are learning new truths, and they are learning new truths, then the Spirit is there, even if it doesn't seem overwhelming to you.

i met your friend on Sunday, and yes she took a picture of Elder Mohler and myself. It is a small world isn't it? I'm not sure when I will find out whether or not I get to extend for sure or not. I asked President about it in my email. I imagine by the end of this week I'll know. Transfers is on Monday, Elder Mohler may be leaving, but we'll find out.

Love Elder Schultz

James Letter 7-8-13

This week in the work of the Woodburn 1st ward...
Monday at our dinner we challenged the family we ate dinner with to give out pass along cards to their friends, they each thought of someone, and we decided to make it a compitition with the daughters, so we added up the amount that they were going to give away, and we offered to double it. The "loser" buys ice cream for everyone. The great thing about it is there really is no loser, because the work is moving forward. We asked them about it yesterday, and the father was happy to announce that while they have yet to give out any cards because of the busy holiday, they have been talking about it all week. They also stopped by the Portland Temple Visitor's Center, and when they were watching the I'm a Mormon videos they were talking with their daughters about how they could share this experience, and combine it with an invitation when they give out the card. Missionary work is on their mind.
Tuesday most of our day was spent in Albany, or on the way to, however, it was one of the best days of this week for me. As i sat in the chapel and listened to President Samuelian speak to us I knew that I was supposed to come to this mission, and I knew that things were going to work out the best. My prayers have been answered again, just not in the way I expected. On the ride home we listened to The First Great Commandment by Elder Holland, and as he elaborated on the story of Christ and Peter on the beach the Spirit spoke to me, and aksed me how many times I go before the Lord and have the same old conversation, asking forgiveness for the same old things, being called to do the same thing. The call to be a disciple will never change. I need to always make sure that I remember that, and that I am living up to His expectations all of the time, instead of just most of the time. In our comanion study this week Elder Mohler shared his thoughts when reading about George Albert Smith. When he was sick he had a dream where his grandfather came to him and asked "What have you done with my name?" We have all taken upon ourselves the name of Christ, what have we done with His name?
Wednesday we had a great lesson with sister Haws. We talked a lot about hope. That was another word that she just doesn't understand. She still sees no reason to want to return Home. As we talked about hope and trials the Spirit was very present, bearing witness to me as well that all of the hard things we go through are designed to purify us, and make us in to who we are capable of becoming. Perspective makes trials easier to overcome. We also had a great lesson with sister Howard, we discussed the Plan of Salvation; we spent a lot of time on agency, because she had a lot of questions.
Thursday we started the morning at the ward activity, I ran the 5k with Elder Hayden, while Elder Marchant and Mohler stayed back. I hadn't ran in a long time, but I did ok. After that we went with our bishop and his family to watch the parade in St. Paul, we had a blast with them. There were lots of members sitting around us at the parade, and most of them were sitting with nonmember friends, it was a great opportunity to put us out there, and meet new people. We helped the Lalliss family put in a pool after that, and we had lunch with them. Our dinner took us out to eat, we were in on time, and got all of our planning done, and even saw some fireworks from our window. It was a good night.
Friday we had our district meeting. We talked about finding, and did a practice on tracting. The practice went really well, we wrote up a profile for the person tracted into, and clues for the missionaries. The missionaries used the clues to know how the approach the person, and teach them what they need. That evening we went on a tracting blitz with the spanish elders, and I was going to try and implement what I learned, but I ended up not even saying more than a few words. Everyone we talked to spoke spanish. They had good success, but we did not.
Saturday we helped some of our members reroof their house. We were there until lunch, and then went to the Coopers to help them move some furniture. It was a lot of service, but some good finding opportunities. We had a lesson with the Walkers that night, and pretty much had the same conversation as the last time we saw them. I related my experience from earlier in the week, and they changed the subject. They promised to come to church, and didn't. She always says fow strong she feels about it, and how it has to be true, but she just wont live it. It kind of reminds me of myself sometimes. I don't doubt that its true, but sometimes I still just don't do it.
Our fast and testimony meeting Sunday turned into missionary work Sunday. Several members got up and talked about missionary work, and lots of them mentioned how good the missionaries are. I looked around to see if there was another set of missionaries there that I didn't know about, but there wasn't. It showed the trust that the members have in us, hopefully that will lead them to inviting their friends to hear the Gospel.
Thats all of the highlights from the week. Oh, Elder Buhler called, he is one of the assistants to president, and asked me if I would extend. I am going to say yes I will. I will stay out a full transfer longer, and my new end date will be October 14.
Love Elder Schultz

James letter 7-1-13

This last week has been busy for us, with teaching appointments, and meetings. Lots of good things have happened, and I hope to see a lot of good things happen still. I have learned that if you focus on the miracles, you start to see just how much the Lord really is involved in His work.
Monday we were able to meet with brother Lalliss. We have been meeting with him and his family for some time, and his kids come to church, but he and his wife do not. His family has been in Utah for a week, but while they were gone, he agreed to still meet with us, a good sign of progress for him. Also last Sunday Brian, a nonmember that lives with them came to church, and brother Lalliss said that he almost came with. That is the most progress that he has made. He is warm, and friendly, but he has lots of deep doctrinal questions, and he won't put them aside.
Tuesday we met with Amy W, and her husband Jeff. She was invited by brother Gleason, our WML, to meet with us. Our first meeting with her was last week, this week we talked with both of them. He has PTSD, and is angry at God, and wants nothing to do with religion. She is much more open and accepting, but her work is holding her back right now. On our way to her house we were able to talk to a couple teenagers, and were able to invite them to come and play soccer with us in the mornings for our excercise, they are not interested in learning right now, but maybe in the future. Also that night we had dinner and an FHE with our Bishop, and his family, we taught them a lesson on the Gospel, and asked them about people they know that they could share the Gospel with. We commited them to bear their testimony this week with the friend that they chose, and to invite them to learn more. It was a good lesson, and Bishop Christiansen was impressed with us, a good sign.
Wednesday we were able to meet with Iris S, an investigator we have been meeting with for a while. She is the mother of our primary president, and due to her age, she has struggles with reading. We were finally able to get her a large print copy of the Book of Mormon last week, and all week she has been bragging about it to her family and friends. She is very excited to read, and she is curious to know more. We had our coordination meeting that night, and after the meeting brother Gleason came out with us to visit Brian and Asia, an investigator couple. We were able to give her a Book of Mormon last week, and as we met with them she was asking lots of questions. She is very curious, and wanting to know, and he is more quiet, and reserved. They are gone for two weeks, but she commited to reading the Book of Mormon while she is on her trip, and we are going to continue teaching when she gets back. Brother Gleason lives about a block away, so he is a good fellowshipper for them.
Thursday we met with the Coopers, we were talking about the small things that add up, more specifically sins. We used a couple phonebooks, and each time the didn't keep a commandment we would fold down a page from one book, and then the other. We continued doing this until they were intwined together a little, then we pulled them apart to show that in the beginning you could repent easily. Then we started over, and intertwined the whole phonebook. We then were unable to pull them apart, which showed the power that Satan can gain as you constantly choose to do wrong. We then talked about the Atonement, and how gradually it can help you to overcome your addiction to sin, and clease you. We then pulled the books apart a few pages at a time. Repentance is not always instantaneaous, but it always brings the same result: freedom from bondage. We were also able to meet with the Howards, an active family, that invited us to teach them the lessons as a refresher. We taught through the Restoration, and invited them to reread the Book of Mormon and pray about it, and to give a Book of Mormon to her nonmenber brother.
Friday we had our Zone Conference. We talked about revelation, and I received a lot. I don't have my notes with me, so I can't tell you about everything I learned, but here are a few highlights. When you have fear, you have no faith. When you have no faith, you will receive no revelation. You must act, to show your faith, then you will be led, and revelation will come. I think that we are often guided by the Spirit without ever even realizing it, because we are so used to it. We have been promised to ALWAYS have His Spirit, and when He makes a promise He keeps it. We take it for granted sometimes, and are unable to recognize whats always there. We must train ourselves to pay more attention to what is there, and we will recognize it. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to President and Sister Morby, I will miss them a lot, but I look forward to getting to know you and your wife.
Saturday we were able to do service with sister Haws. We helped her put up wallpaper. I am never going to do that again. The project didn't go very smoothly, because she wanted it her way, and didn't want to follow directions. We did it her way, and it doesn't look as good. It was a lesson to me to follow directions, in worldly things, and heavenly. If we want a worldy thing to work, follow directions, if we want to return to Him, follow directions(the scriptures). At this point she is not following either. We also met with the Walkers, an LA family. We used the phonebook lesson with them as well, and were able to talk about the reverse of it too. By doing small good things you will ground yourself to the Gospel, and to Christ. We encouraged her to set a goal on when she can go to the temple, and to talk with the bishop, she said she would, but she didn't come to church.
Sunday we had the opportunity to take part in teaching the 5th sunday lesson on missionary work. We went over a few things from last weeks broadcast, and we did a role-play with them to show the contrast between missionary invite, and member invite. It was a really cool opportunity, and it helped the to get more excited about the work.

Thats about all that I have time for, my hour is almost up on the computer, and I need to write home still. Elder Mohler, and I are doing great. We get along real well, and teach well together. He is a new missionary, about 5 months out, and he has come a long way. He is a good missionary, and ready to train.

 

Thats awesome about Seth and the others. I can't believe they are leaving already, it doesn't seem like they are old enough to go, but I guess they are. I can't think of any songs really that I would want, and honestly I don't really want to think about it. I do like hymn 29 a lot, that A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, maybe you could do that one.

 

Did you really get my return information? That is not still far enough away...maybe not. I can' t beleive its that close. Sister Lalliss is the one that brought the machete. I was going to tell you she was coming, but forgot. I hope it wasn't too much of a surprise. The machete was free, given to me by a less active member in my last area. I couldn't take in on the plane, and forgot to put it in the tote, so I figured I would send it with her. You never know when you might need one. Don't think me too weird... 

Love Elder Schultz