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.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment