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

James letter 6-24-13

As for the work of this past week, it was a lot different that usual, which I guess is a good thing. Monday at the transfer meeting I was able to say goodbye to all of my former companions still serving, to catch up and say goodbye to old friends, and to take a picture with the elders from my MTC group. It was a tremendously spiritual meeting. It was neat to be a part of history in the making as we go forth into new missions.

Tuesday I gave a training and practice on a topic that has easily changed my mission. That topic is MRLs, how to work with members. I have seen that the best way to accomplish this work is to work with members. If you spend time with them in their home, and help them to do missionary work themselves, then the work will continue to pick up. You find more and more people to teach as you work with members. You love the ward more, and they love you. This was a fact that was mentioned in last nights broadcast. Working with members is the better way. It was neat to be able to teach that to my district because they are just starting, so they don't have to wait to let this change their missions, but they can do it now. We focused on teaching the doctrine of Christ as the message, and to tie all of the missionary work to that. After district meeting we went on a blitz witht he zone leaders. I was with Elder Lee, and we only knocked on a few houses, because we were able to talk in depth with several of the people. We also found an inactive member that may allow us to come and teach her. Elder Mohler, and Morgan found a family. They talked to a very pregnant mother, but couldn't go in to teach because she was alone. They set up a return appointment for that evening, but we weren't able to teach her then either, because she went to the hospital to have her baby. Very pregnant indeed! We met with Amy W, and were able to cover a couple chapters in the Book of Mormon with her, her understanding is very basic, and she is absorbing some, but a lot of the message is going over her head. We are trying to simplify it as much as we can. We were also able to set up a time to teach a family home evening to our bishop and his family.

Wednesday we met with Iris S, and we gave her a large print Book of Mormon. She was really excited about it. We spent the rest of the time playing a kind of game with her. We would read a scripture, and she would tell us if it was from the Book of Mormon, or the Bible. It was a cool way to show her how they teach the same message. We talked with brother Cole, a member in the ward, who is also her son in law, and he said that she has been bragging about the book we gave her, and telling how excited she is about it. A very good sign.

Thursday was a busy day. We did our weekly planning, went to the library to fill out our progress record, and spend some time on mormon.org. We saw the Coopers, and talked about the Gospel. We drew out the diagram that Elder Whiting showed us, with all of the ordinances included on it, and were able to show the importance of doing these things, we also talked about covenants, and what it is that we promise to do as we go through the path back to Him. We had a lesson with Sam again, he dropped us. He says that the priesthood ended when Christ came, that neither Christ nor John the baptist had the priesthood, and that the priesthood is not needed. We tried to answer his questions, but he wouldn't accept any answers. He also doesn't believe that the Bible has ever been changed. Those are just a few of his objections. We talked about what our purpose was in helping him find the truth, and asked him if he felt he had done all to know the truth. He said yes. What else can you do than pray that someday he will find it. He hasn't done anything other than read and pray, and he refuses to accept anything other than what he already knows. I pray that one day he will be humble enough to accept this.

Friday we spent the morning in Salem doing service for the dance festival. It was a tristake youth conference, and I actually saw several kids from my first area. They recognized me and it was cool to talk to them agian. We had a really good lesson with the Martins talking about our identity as children of God, and how Satan tries to make us doubt who we are so we will be miserable.

Saturday we were able to see Brian and Asia again. They invited us to stay for another BBQ, but we had to help out with the dance festival again. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and a restoration pamphlet, and are going to be able to teach through lesson one next time we see them. The dance festival was fun, I got the see some of the parent of the kids from my first area this time, and they were happy to see me as well. There are so many people that I have come to love, and I can't wait for when I can talk to them more often. We even got to dance in the last part of the show, it was awful. I had no idea what was going on, they taught us the moves for 5 minutes, and that was it. We looked bad, but we had fun.

Sunday was a busy day. We had Elder Hansen sit in on our ward council meeting. Sister Dodge spoke about gaining peace by sorting out your priorities; being humble, prayerful, and repentant always. Brother Dodge talked about how the scripture teach us what to do. The broadcast was incredible. A reemphasis on the importance of members working WITH missionaries. There are several things I liked, and I took lots of notes. It will be cool to see the use of technology in missionary work. I am excited to see things start to move forward. As we teach members at dinners we are going to follow up on this broadcast, and encourage them to help out.  

Love Elder Schultz

This past week has been a good one, with a lot of up and down for me personally. Tuesday was a great day, we stopped by and had a great lesson with Lao Y, we taught him the Gospel, and we reemphasized the points a lot to make sure that he understood, and remembered what we were talking about. We asked him at the end if he would like to be baptized, and he said yes. We asked him when, he said three or four months. We then set a date for September 7. He works late nights, and long days on the weekends, so 8am church is hard for him, but he committed to coming for sacrament meeting. He didn't make it this week, but we will keep committing him to it, and he will come. This week we are planning to teach him in a members home. That will cut down on distractions, help him to have friends in the church, and feel more of the Spirit. He is going to progress well, and we may even be able to move his date forward.

Wednesday we had a lesson with Sister H, and we found out that she has some interesting beliefs, and is a very depressed person. We went over the Plan of Salvation, and she believes that you will be reincarnated, so if you don't make it to the Celestial Kingdom in this life you will just come back and try again. We addressed that with the resurrection, your soul and your body will be reunited, never to be divided again. She also asked us two questions, which at the time I was unable to fully answer. What is joy?, and Why should I want to go to the Celestial Kingdom. We have been studying that, and also asking other members and missionaries to try and get a good answer, and this is what we came up with. Joy is a fulfilment of your potential as a child of God. The things that bring joy in life are expressions of your divine nature: Childbirth, Missionary work, Temple work, etc.., those are expressions of your creative powers, and the work of salvation, which is His work, a divine work. So the reason you would want to go to the Celestial Kingdom is because that is the only place that you can reach your full potential as a child of God in becoming as He is. In no other place can you do that. It was cool for me to gain added insight on those topics, and I hope that when we go back to see her that we can help her to understand why.

Thursday we had a bunch of lessons cancel, but we were able to meet with Sam again, and we had a really good lesson with him. We talked more about the Gospel, which in his eye is just faith. We talked about repentance, which by itself he agrees is something you should do, but he doesn't think that it is neccesary for salvation. He also doesn't think that baptism is more than a show of faith. We talked a lot about how faith is proved by works, and that if you don't have works, then you have no faith. You can have works without faith, but then it will be nothing more than checking the boxes, and will do you no good, because you have not real intent. We are judged by our works and our desires; to see if we did what we were commanded, and to see if our heart was in it or not. We shared several scriptures back and forth, and in the end I beleive we each came to the same conclusion, and agreed on it. The why of the works is more important than the work itself. "If a man offereth a gift, and not with real intent, it profiteth him nothing" We have to do the work yes, but the Lord also requires a glad heart and a willing mind.

Friday we had our mission tour, and I was really impacted by it. One of the first things that Elder Whiting said was write what you feel. I wrote down a couple of questions, and payed attention to how I felt about them, and I received answers. One of the questions that I had was how to consecrate myself to the Lord. I am tired of being half into it, and want to just give all of myself to him, but where to begin I'm not sure. He said to resolve to act, so I pormised myself that I would apply whatever he said. He talked also about changing now, and repenting, and using our agency righteously everytime, so that whenever a choice is before you you will choose correctly, narrowing your choices, but securing your freedom. In the leadership meeting he also talked about becoming more like Christ by following His character; by loving and serving others, not thinking about yourself, and being an example. I committed to myself, and later Elder Mohler and I committed to each other that we would be 100% obedient, and set an example for the rest of the district. One other thing that Elder Whiting asked us to do was to pray and ask if Heavenly Father loved us. I did, and I felt nothing.

Saturday we started the morning with service. Elder Mohler was a little nervous about transfer calls because we both thought that he would be leaving, and I would be training, because it was my last chance to do so. When the call came in that we were both staying together, he was relieved, and I was sad, and disappointed, not because we would be together, but because that meant I would never train, and that was the one thing that I have wanted to do my whole mission. I had prayed for it, I had become more obedient, and it didn't happen. That night in my prayers I discussed it with the Lord, I was confused and hurt, and wanted to know why. I told Him that I didn't feel loved, and the most incredible feeling of warmth came over me and enveloped me completely. I knew that He loved me. I asked him to help me to accept his will, and to fulfil my current assignment without any murmurings. Every missionary in my district will have been out five months or less, I would say that my role as a district leader here will enable me to train them all. I don't know why I'm not a trainer, but I know it wasn't His will, and I will accept that. I am sure that there is more that I can learn from Elder Mohler, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.

Sunday the messages in sacrament meeting were great. One of the priests gave a talk on the Plan of Salvation, and he did a great job in teaching it. He focused a lot on the questions why are we here?, where are we going?, and where did we come from? Our sunday school lesson we talked about the kingdoms of glory, and I was able to increase my understanding of that. During my personal study I read through the "how to improve your personal prayers" talk in the Ensign, and was really impressed by it. The experience that he shared at the end of that talk was quite similar to my experience right now. Sometimes the Lords will is one way, and our will is the other way. We have to humble ourselves, and allign our will to His, because His will won't change. He sees things in perspective, and He knows what each of us needs to be able to grow the most. We can only see the here and now, so His will often does not make sense to us, but in the end it is the better way to go. 

 

I got my package Wednesday I think, I loved the tie, it is ridiculous, but way cool. You guys have been so good to me. 

 

Love Elder Schultz

James letter 6-10-13

Its crazy to think that week five is already over. It seems that the more we are doing the faster time goes, which is a good thing I guess, but sometimes I wish that it would slow down just a little bit. Our Monday morning put us off to a good start, we met with Sam B, and read a couple chapters in the Book of Mormon with him, and we also saw the Lalliss family. It is a lot more of the same with them, though there is gradual hints of progress.

Tuesday we had a really good district meeting, where we were trained on teaching the MIT. It really kind of clicked in my head the importance of that, because if you don't have the Atonement, then you don't have the Gospel, the Plan of Salvation doesn't work, and there would be no need of a restoration, and no motivation to keep the commandments. Truly the Atonement is cetral to everything. I have tried hard this week to try and apply the Atonement more fully in my life, and I have seen a big difference. I started going through the Addiction Recovery book during my studies, and it has helped me a lot to understand what I can do to overcome weaknesses, and to use the Atonement. The way it is set up has really helped me realize a few things. One of which is that set backs are ok. When you first do something you are never perfect, you have to keep practicing and practicing, until you improve, and become perfect. Life is nothing more than practicing for eternal life. We are not perfect, but we need to keep practicing until we are. A while ago I was studying virtue in PMG, and to be honest I didn't find most of the scripture very helpful, because they just told you to be virtuous. I knew I needed to do that, but how was my question. This week I found the answer. I must "practice virtue"(D&C 38:24) until I become perfect at it. This changed my perspective my reassuring me that I don't have to be perfect all at once as long as I am still practicing.

Wednesday we were able to break new ground with one of our investigators. She is an elderly woman named Iris S, and she has told us that she doesn't want to be mormon, but she loves us coming by. On Wednesday we committed her to read the Book of Mormon, and she said that she would, and that she was really excited to do it. It was a big step for her. Also we went out with our WML, and visited a couple less active families, one we set up a return, and the second we taught a lesson, and Brother Gleason invited him to be taught the lessons by us. It was really cool to see it flow like that. Thats how the ward mission process should work; the member invites.

Thursday night we did splits; Elder Mohler went out with President Nelson, and I went out with one of our priests. They went and saw Sam Bible, and from all reports it was a really good, Spirit filled lesson. Sam seems like he may be coming around. I went and saw the Sharrows, we were able to watch some of the Bible Videos, and talk about Christ's Ministry. There are some really powerful videos there.

Friday we were able to see the Duffels again, and we set up to come back and do service this week. We also stopped by and saw the Taylors, and were able to give all three of them blessings, I love giving blessings, it is always a testimony to me of the reality of the priesthood. We had our coordination that night, and were able to work out another night to do splits with Brother Gleason for this week.

Saturday I was on exchange with Elder Buhler, and in the morning we had Elder Petersen with us while his companion Elder Thomas took the ACT. We did service with the Sharrows, helping them to clean out their garage. After we reunited Elder Petersen with his companion we went and had lunch with Brian and Asia. We tracted into Brian on Tuesday, and he invited us back. We tried to do service, but he wouldn't let us. Instead we had lunch, and then talked about what we do as missionaries, and answered a few of their questions. They are a really cool couple, and they told us to stop back anytime, so we will. That night we were also able to see the Walkers, and we had a great lesson on Jesus Christ. It is always cool to take time and just talk about the Savior, because He truly is incredible. I can hardly fathom sometimes what He did, but I know He did it.

Sunday I was able to speak in church. I didn't preapare anything, as I usually don't, but I felt inspired to talk about humility. As I was listening to the sacrament hymn "Thy will, O' Lord, be done" the Spirit testified to be that that was indeed true. A sweet reassurance that this is right. I started my talk with that, and then related the scriptures in Alma 32 about being blessed by being compelled to be humble, and being more blessed by humbling yourself. I then shared my own experience with being compelled rather that willfully humbling myself. I got a lot of compliments on my talk. I also saw Rachel L from Fanno Creek ward there, and it was cool to see a familiar face from a past area. We also attended the EQ presidency meeting, and instructed them on how the focus five should work, and we helped them to get it started by talking the three names that they had on their list, and making assignments to invite them to be taught. We are planning on doing this same thing with all of the other quorum and auxillary leaders.

That is a nutshell of the week. It was a good one, and it has gone by fast. I am excited to see what happens with transfers this week, as well as our Mission Tour on Friday. It should be a week full of the Spirit.

 

Love Elder Schultz

it always seems so easy to write these letters, because even though the week may seem slow there is always things happening that help you to progress. I find that there is almost not enough time to write everything that I do, and I don't even write everything that happened. This week was really good. We started off by teaching a FHE lesson to the Lalliss family on obedience. The parents speciffically requested that one, and they even helped to teach it. We gave each of the kids a specific commitment on what they can do to help make their home a happier place by obedience. It was really cool to be able to bring the Spirit into that home, by teaching the Gospel. While the mother reported that they didn't make it through the whole week, they did make it longer than they have in the past.
Tuesday we had the best district meeting ever. The zone leaders asked specifically if they could do the training, and I agreed. They trained us on goals and accountablility. It was just the thing that I needed to hear. The planning, and goal settings are seen in a different light, and the accountablility has really helped. One of the things I started to do was to use my journal to account for all of the days activities, doing this has helped me to be diligent in keeping my journal. And also, every night I have been saying a vocal prayer, and giving an accounting of my day to the Lord. I have seen a difference already. I don't want to write down, or tell about anything that wasn't what it should have been, so I have done a much better job at doing all that I can to help others, and further the work. We were able to have our lesson with Liz, and sister Haws, which went well, we invited both to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Liz wouldn't. She said that she knew Catholicism is true, and she doesn't need to, and to do so would be against her religion.
Wednesday our miracle was our lesson with Don. It was a really good lesson, we asked him what he wants in life, and he replied peace. We had taught the Seminary that morning on how to find peace in a troubled world, so the topic was fresh on our minds, and we knew that the only way to have peace is to live righteously. We invited him to be baptized, and he said he would, if he could quit smoking. He has alreaady done so once, but he doesn't think that he can do it again. We told him about the Atonement, and how Christ knows what he is going through, and how to help him. The Spirit was there, and it was really cool to see. Hopefully we will be able to continue to have experiences like that with him. Also I was studying on the Fall in order to answer some of Sam B's questions, and what I learned is that I don't teach that very well. Heavenly Father set up conditions so that the Fall could occur through the use of Agency. He did not cause it, or he would be an author of sin, and cease to be God, but he knew that it would happen, so he planned for it to happen in his favor. In our lesson that evening I was able to explain that in a way that he understood. We also finished the rest of the Plan of Salvation, and that brought up a whole bunch of other concerns. Including the necessity for baptism, the kingdoms of glory, and missionary work in the spirit world. One step forward three steps back with him.
Thursday we had a good planning session, and we were able to set our baptism goals according to Elder Grow, adapted by Elder Buhler. We also tracted for the first time since I've been in this area. We were able to give out one passalong card, thats it, but we will continue to work. We are going to start small and tract on half hour each day. One other thing that is learned was this: You can't have redemptive work done without work done on both sides of the veil-teaching in spirit world, temple work on earth. The same is true with missionary work. Missionary work doesn't work, unless there is work on both sides-the members, and the missionaries. Also a cool quote "You become what you want to become by consistantly being what you want to be."
Friday we were able to meet Kelly D for the first time. She was really nice, and happy to see us, and she invited us back. She is the mother of a less active family, and she has been brought up a few times for us to go see, and we were finally able to. We were also able to do more tracting, no luck this time.
Saturday we were able to see sister Haws without Liz this time. She said that she would really like lessons of her own, and we agreed. she has a new desire to find out whether or not this is true. We are going to teach her all of the lessons, and then help her deepen her understanding by going more in depth one topic at a time. We were able also to see the Walkers, and she has been flying through the D&C, whether she is getting anything out of it I'm not sure. Everytime we ask her what she thinks about scripture she just says "it just reinforces".

Sunday was weird. It was fast sunday, but I didn't even get to do a full fast, because we still had lunch with the Dodges at noon. I'm going to do another fast on Wednesday, so that I can have a whole one. I also left church right after the sacrament was passed to go with the Elders Holland and Pihno to SPC. Elder Mohler stayed with Ethan G. Spc was good, I enjoyed seeing President Ward again, I will miss him as well when the mission splits. We were able to discuss the strengths and the weaknesses of the wards, and what we could do to help. One thing that I liked was something that the Silverton sisters have been doing. They have been teaching active families through the ward mission process as well, so less active members don't feel singled out, and also it gives the members a way to invite others, by being able to share what their experience was, and even inviting them to their home. I want to see if we can implement that more in this ward. It will help build ward trust, and get the work moving.

 

Elder Mohler and I are getting along great. Its always nice when you are able to have fun with your companion, and to still get work done. We are also working on improving,and there is a lot of work, but we'll get there.

 

I sent a tote home. The Blacks from Hillsboro came and picked it up for me. They are going to be driving down to Utah for a wedding on the 4th, and said that they would probably drop it by on the 5th. I gave them the house phone, and mom's phone, so that they can call, and see when you will be home to receive it. It just a few things that I want to keep, but that I won't have room to fit in my suitcases. Time seems to be going way to fast, I want to stay out longer, would you hate me if I extended?

 

Love Elder Schultz