Apologies if my letters have been
short or impersonal, I will make sure to answer all questions and be
more informative about the past week.
I will start with this last week.
It honestly started off very hard. We started the week off with high
expectations (which in the end it worked out) but they got shot down
with two very ineffective days. We analyzed the beginning of the week and
decide to just get out and work. We parked the car for a day and went
out and WOW! - found so many people and flipped the week back over. We had Zone Conference this week on Thursday. It was an all day thing from 9-4.
There was a story shared about two fishermen. One who took all day for his
fishing trip however he only fished for 2 hours because he took his
time getting there and preparing to go. The other fisherman took all day
too but was on the water with his line in the water as much as he
could. It felt like a slap to my face - not that I ever wasted time but I
realized I could have my line in the water longer. I payed attention to
what I was doing and focused on having my line in the water longer. One
amazing example was the day after Zone Conference. We went to stop by
some people's house but they were not home. There was a street close by called
Brenda Lane. I had remembered seeing the name before and knew we needed
to tract that street. Funny thing though - that street name was not on any
records I looked at, but it was where we needed to be. We knocked three
houses and at the third house was a lady that was outside that said
"not interested" right away. However, we were persistent and talked to her
more. We ended up teaching the Restoration to her and it was an amazing
spiritual lesson. As we were finishing, her boy friend drove up hopped
out and said right away, "okay you guys need to get out of here" I
thought he was serious at first, then he laughed and said just kidding. We
then taught him the Restoration and at the end of the lesson he said
there was something different about Mormons eyes and they both said they
are excited to read the Book of Mormon. Anyway, we also found more
people that were so ready to learn this past week. Me and Elder Fa'onelua were also able to teach the Sunday school class on Sunday and
we also were invited to a Seminary Fireside to speak. I used part of
what i have in my letter that i am writing to dad for the youth (by the
way sorry I have been pretty slow on that dad. I have been learning to
manage my time and have been super busy as the District Leader and it
has taken a while to get things strait with Elder Fa'onelua but now we
seriously are getting along way better than I have with anyone. It is so
great and I will be very sad when he goes home) We currently have 8
baptismal dates set for the month of August. It is so awesome. We
have to make up for the last to months. Overall we had an amazing and
trying week. If I could do one thing it would be to slow down time
because things are going by way too fast.
I will be sending pictures this week
with my letter that is written to the youth. I just printed them off
today. I lost my computer cord for my camera so I will have to use snail
mail. Surprisingly, the temperature here has been great - actually cooler
than it is at home, but the humidity makes it feel just as hot. It sounds
like the ward camp out was fun but short at the same time. There should
be a better turn out with the breakfast idea. It is crazy to hear about
all of the young women moving up going to college and Brianna and
Cheyenne entering YW. I will definitely have to make sure to wish Chelsey Happy Birthday and also I cannot believe they have almost been married a year.
It feels like it was yesterday.
Here in Temple we only cover the
temple Second Ward. The members here are amazing we went on exchanges
every day this past week besides Monday. We have also been super booked
on dinners and I have been having to watch myself. We are luck though. We have a work out room that we get up at 5:50 every morning to go and
use to stay fit an healthy.
I have had to do an evaluation of my
mission lately. I felt like I started off super strong, then when I got
here I was not growing as much as I wanted to. I know it cannot be blamed
on companions but last transfer was very difficult. Also the beginning
of this transfer, but now this past week has really changed a lot of
things. Me and my companion are getting along great and doing awesome.
Thank you for the letters today. It is great to here about missionaries
lives being changed by their missions and mine truly has made me so
different in an amazing way. I have to admit I have been slacking on my
journal but that is going to change especially now that I have confessed. Haha. Anyway, I am sure you noticed my progression slow for a little
but all is well and I truly am getting lost out here and I love it.
Love your missionary,
Elder Shoemaker
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