James letter 9-23-13

This week has been awesome. We have had a bunch of success, even with lots of disappointments. Our week started like normal, with nothing really to report on until our lesson Tuesday with sister Kaufman(although I did smother a mouse in a glue-trap on Monday). The lesson with sister Kaufman was good, we talked about scripture study and prayer. Two things that are so little that we seem to overlook, but no matter how small, they make the biggest difference sometimes. That night I went with Jerri B to see Dirk M and his wife. We talked with them for a while, and I was able to share with her about missionary service, and our purpose as missionaries. She accepted the invitation to take the lessons, but she wants to wait until after she has the baby on the 28th. Understandable I think. Brother B also taught her a little about eternal families. She is eager to learn, and I can see her progressing well.

Wednesday we helped Dirk out with some yardwork, mostly pulling weeds, but I did get on his roof and clean out his gutters. That night, we had our first lesson with Joey, and it was awesome! She is so ready to hear the gospel. She talked about how when she came to church for the first time she felt like she needed to be there. She is really anxious to learn, and when we talked to her at church on Sunday she had read in the Book of Mormon already. Our lessons that night was just her, and her boyfriend Daniel, who is a less active member, but this week we hope to be able to involve the rest of her six kids.

Thursday was depressing. We spent the whole day in Lafayette, and all of our plans went through, so we turned to the ward list to start visiting everybody. We went through every member in Lafayette, and didn't talk to anyone. We had our dinner at 5, and from that point on it was a little better, but it was a hard day.

Friday we had a temple trip, and it was amazing. I love the new video. I learned so much from being in there. It was a great time to relax, and ponder. Elder Sykosky hasn't been through the temple, due to his trial mission, and so he waited in the car with our member for three hours. He has a lot of strange circumstances regarding his mission.

Saturday we started the day with service, pulling out blackberries from the Elementary school, then we had our district meeting. As part of that we talked about using our strengths to share the gospel, and we watched the video of Elder Kane, who is in our district. I don't know if you have seen it or not, but it is worth looking up I think. If you search for McMinnville Farmers Market, and look for mormon missionary beatboxing you should be able to find it. We had a stake BBQ that night, and he performed for us there. I have never heard so many noises coming out of someones face at once. Its crazy.

Sunday we reviewed our ward goals for September, we didn't reach a lot of the goals, but we have improved a lot. It is really cool to see. Sacrament was awesome, I got to speak, which I love doing. We had two youth speakers, a rest hymn, and my companion go before me, and I was left with 20-25 minutes. I was super happy. I spoke about redemption. I can't share all of it, because I don't write things down, but the just of it I can share.

I asked everyone to picture themselves in chains, sitting alone in a damp dark cell. There is no way for you to escape. You feel hopeless. Then someone comes to you, and sets you free, inviting you to follow him, and come into the light beyond the open door. What do you do? Do you follow him, or do you put the chains back on. In regards to redemption that is exactly how it is in a spiritual sense. We are all in spiritual bondage due to our fallen state. Because of Christ and the Atonement, everyone on earth is set free from this spiritual bondage, which includes all of the effects of the fall. Everyone is resurrected, and everyone is brought back into the presence of the Father to be judged. The second part of Christ's redemption for us is our individual sins. He asks us to redeem ourselves by following Him. If we do so, we are set free. If we do not, then we are in essence putting the chains back on. When you think of it like that the choice is easy, but often times we don't make the correct choice. I talked about how the Gospel is how we redeem ourselves, and how missionary work is how we redeem others. I also talked to those who think that the are "too far gone", by reminding them of Alma the Younger, Saul, and the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, all of whom were "too far gone", but were still able to repent, and be forgiven. I got lots of compliments on it. I am excited to speak again in a month.

Sunday night we met with the Smith family, a part member family of nine. We were able to teach them, and they are going to continue meeting with us. They are way fun. We were going to have a lesson with Summer, but her grandparents, both active members, kind of talked her out of it it seems. She is willing when we talk to her, but not when they do. They told her that if she's not ready to be baptized that she can't meet with us. That is false, and hopefully we will be able to remedy the situation.

As for what to take out of my room, I have no idea. I'm not sure if I remember what even there. I do only have three weeks left, so if you can wait that long I can look through, and we can do it then.

Elder Sykosky is such an awesome companion, he is keeping me on the right track; working hard, and being obedient. I am grateful to be able to end my mission on such a good note.

Love Elder Schultz

HEY WHAT UP ITS KANE!!!! I just gave your son a wet willie ...or tried to anyway 

James letter 9-16-13

This week has been a good one, my companion does a really good job with following the Spirit, even when he is not sure what it is saying. He recognizes the prompting, and just needs to learn to understand the voice.

Last Monday the people from the strengths quest came and talked about our strengths. I was able to see just how each of the strengths applied, and saw aspects of them in my life. It was a really neat experience to sit down and talk about them. My strengths were: Strategic, Adaptability, Significance, Maximizer, Learner. I look for all of the possibilities, and make plans to acheive the best. I can adapt to unforseen changes, and like the freedom to do things my way. I want to be seen as significant to others, so I do significant things. I want to make the best out of every situation, and surround myself with the best. I love to learn new things, and then teach them to others. These strengths fit perfectly into my chosen path of the military. Elder Sykosky was a little disappointed that he hadn't taken the test, but we went through the desription cards, and picked out a few that seem to fit him. It will be interesting to see if we are right.

Wednesday morning we were stopping by all of the former investigators in the area, and trying to find new people to teach. We didn't have much luck, but later that night we had seen everyone in our plans, and still had time left over, and Elder Sykosky suggested that we go see one of them again. We did so, and were able to talk with her, and she invited us back. We don't have a set appoinment right now, but it seems very promising. We wouldn't have found her if the people we had planned to see had been home, or my companion didn't listen to the Spirit.

Friday our zone meeting was powerful. We talked about fears and faith again. We seperated and prayed, and came up with a list of things that we are afraid of, that was an experience in and of itself. I wanted to try and justify my fears so that I didn't have to face them. We wrote them down, and then went out and buried them. Again it was strange how I didn't want to let them go. I dropped my list into the hole, and it was done. I haven't thought much about what I was afraid of since then, but I feel that I am doing things right. Elder Sykosky mentioned how that was something that he needed to do again, because he is afraid of what is going to happen. He is much more confident, despite his lack of knowledge and experience. I have seen a lot of growth in him.

Sunday was full of good experiences as well. Summer, our first promising investigator in a while came to church. We had a couple members bring non member friends. One of the questions that stood out to me in sister Wilkens talk was: what are you willing to sacrifice for eternity. The neat experience of the day was our conversation with Maggie. She talked about what sent her down the rabbit hole of sin, and we were able to testify of the atonement, and invite her to read from the Book of Mormon everyday. She is trying hard, but keeps feeling like she is not good enough, and she doesn't know whats right. We told her what our job is, and how we can help her understand, but she has to do it herself. She was willing to try it out, but she thinks that she is too far gone. As I bore testimony of the Atonement I felt a power behind my words that I haven't felt very much it seems. Its the power that comes when you are doing missionary work the right way; loving the people, and desiring their salvation. My greatest hope right now is to help her see through His eyes, because if she can see that way, her life will change forever.

I hit my two year mark on Saturday, it's strange to think that its been that long since I've seen you guys. It has been a long, hard road for me, but it has gone by so fast, and I've learned so much. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

 

I'm speaking in church mext week on Redemption, and I've learned a lot this last week as I've studied that topic. What do they want me to talk on for my homecoming, that way I can start thinking about it.

Love Elder Schultz

James's letter 9-2-13

This last week was a good one. I feel that Elder Barrow and I came closer together, and we helped each other learn what we needed to. Monday started off pretty typical, after our dinner we had a lesson with Maggie, we focused a lot on the Atonement, which has been a trend with our lessons thus far. Whenever we leave that home there is always a great spirit there, and we know that we have done good. That night as I laid in bed I was thinking about lots of things, and a thought popped into my mind that I got up and wrote down. It is this: my mission hasn't changed me, it's uncovered me. I am now who I was supposed to be all along.-I think that is true. We are each born as a son or daughter of God, and are divine. All we have to really do is become who we are supposed to be all along. I enjoy the little revelations and thoughts that He gives me.

Tuesday we had our first lesson with sister Kaufman, who our bishop invited to take the lessons. We taught her the Plan of Salvation, which was a little rough again, but much better. We also had splits that night, and I went with brother Hansford, and started teaching him and his family the lessons. I taught the restoration, and was able to ask lots of questions to keep the kids involved, they had a great time with it, and the Spirit was there very strongly. It was probably the best lesson that I've taught in this area. That night we started an exchange with Elders Holland, and Horton. Elder Barrow got to practice his spanish with Holland for a day, and I got the spend all day Wednesday in Dayton covering the YSA ward. It was a lot of fun, Elder Horton is a really good missionary.

Thursday  we taught the Larsens in our ward the Restoration as well, and that went pretty well, during part of the lesson we talked about the Atonement, and on fast sunday sister larsen got up and bore her testimony about the missionaries, and how inspired they are, and how valuable their teaching is. It was a great sign of trust, and helped build the wards confidence in us.  We also had our coordination, and we had everyone practice teaching the restoration. During his exchange with Elder Holland, Barrow learned a few things that Elder Corbridge taught us in our mission tour about teaching the Atonement in every principle, and so he wanted to just teach them how to do that. I couldn't dissuade him. It went well, but it was like trying to give them meat before milk. They need to know the material before they can get in deep with it.

Friday I was on exchange with Elder Burton. We had on ok district meeting. He taught us about "the prayer approach". To me it is more of a business technique than preaching the Gospel. That has pretty much been how is has been all transfer. In Portland our District Meetings were very spiritual, and everyone participated, and helped teach, and instruct each other on following the spirit, and how to do the work. Here it has been Elder Burton lecturing us, and then teaching us sales techniques, and specific approaches to use. Instead of here are some skills, follow the Spirit, it is here is the approach, use it. I'm not a fan. Our exchange was good though, we taught the Agho family the restoration, and they invited us to dinner tonight, they also came to church on Sunday. We did a little bit of service, and were able to do some tracting, and get a few potentials. Elder Burton thought they should be counted as new, but the one we didn't have a specific return appointment, and the other we didn't teach. I didn't feel they were solid enough to be considered new, so I didn't count them. I will count them if we are able to start teaching, not if we talk to them, and they tell us we can come back.

Saturday we saw Erick O, and were able to catch him at the perfect time. He was pretty upset, and was about to start drinking. We helped him calm down, and we gave him a blessing. By the end of our visit he was in tears. When we left he gave us each a transformer from his collection. It was pretty special. WE spent a lot of the day saying goodbye to some of the people that Elder Barrow had come to love in his time here, as he was told he was getting transferred. I was a little surprised that I was asked to train for my last six weeks. In Portland if you trained, it was for the whole 12 weeks, so I didn't expect it. I am excited to get that opportunity. It was a lesson to me about how God hears, and answers our prayers, even about the little things.

I think it was Tuesday that Elder Barrow and I got in an argument again, that ended in both of us praying together, and me reading my patriarchal blessing searching for what to do. Again I was guided and instructed by the Lord. I have been receiving more and more revelation to prepare me for my life at home, and it has been incredible.  

I have been thinking a lot about what to do when I return home so that I am not a burden on you with the lack of money coming in, and I think that I am going to pursue the course that I talked about in my last phone call. I am going to come home, enlist in the Guard, contract in ROTC, and then get a second job as well. That way I can have enough money to pay for my own bills, and be prepared more for the future. I am going to take a strengths assessment test too, that President recommended, so I will let you know how that goes next time hopefully.
Love Elder Schultz