Fruits of our Labors

Dear Mom and Dad,

This least week was made up of so much.  On Tuesday, I went on an exchange with the Spanish District Leader in our zone, Thursday, President Sager's came and taught with us which was great being able to learn from his amazing teaching skills.  He was an Institute teacher so he has a lot of experience with allowing the spirit to do the teaching.  And then on Friday, we went on exchanges with the assistants. I got to go to Euless overnight and teach some Tongan people. I am also getting over a season change cold and am excited for the new week that is ahead.

This last week we were able to provide a bit of service and were also able to see the fruits of the service that we have provide recently. The was an older lady who we had helped out a couple weeks ago and we recently started teaching her she was very excited to read the Book of Mormon. She had even suggested that she could go buy one,  not knowing that we gave them out for free. It was so exciting to see the excitement in her eyes.

This Sunday we have a baptism for an investigator. Her name is Sherry and she has been coming to church for about a year. She is super amazing. She has experienced almost all that could go wrong in her life but still pushes through and has amazing faith. The ward here loves her so much and she has helped so many people with her example. Our ward is a very well-off ward but there is one trailer park in the ward and she lives there in the most humble of conditions, however on Sunday she fits in so well and loves being there. I am very excited for her and have really learned to love her and her children the way that Christ would. This has also helped me to understand the love that He has for me too.

Summer is definitely on its way with hotter temperatures and humidity. Surprisingly though, Texas is very close to how Richland acts, minus the wind and plus the humidity. I have a couple pictures of the spring changes - even a popcorn tree. Ha ha.

 I hope Justin's fall did not affect him too much and I am sure he will do a great job in track.

I would like to end with an insight from my studies this week and also make sure to attach some pictures. 

I was reading in thrid nephi chapter 3 about Gidgiddoni and his leadership skills. Verse 19 states,

 19 Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the ^aspirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge.

This scripture talks about how they appointed those who received revelation and prophecy. This made me think how we need to make sure that we seek the Lord's guidance as we direct others, whether as a missionary leader, a parent in a home or a priesthood holder or even a member of the church that leads and sets an example. I know that as we seek the Lords advice in all we do, we will be guided and be able to help others along the straight and narrow path.

Pictures of Spring including a popcorn tree also Tyler Weiss and me. He is leaving tomorrow for his mission in Brazil. He would come out with us pretty often. I am super excited for him going on his mission.

Love Elder Shoemaker

Signs and Wonders of Belief - March 11th, 2013

Dear Mom and dad,

 

This week has been pretty exciting. We had lots of opportunities to get out and meet a lot of people. There was a cool experience as we were about to contact some potential investigators when we knocked on this door. The person who answered looked super familiar as if I had had a face to face conversation with her before, but the thing is, I did not. I had never met her but I knew her. Anyways she has a Book of Mormon and said to call her in the next week to set a time to meet. There was something about this person that said she will join the church and go very far with it. I am excited to share more about what I believe so the spirit can work on the hearts of the people in this area.

 

The time change was definitely very weird and I have to agree that the time between the last daylight savings time was very short. It sounds like Justin is very excited for track and is really getting into his  passions and exploring and finding great activities that will involve him with people that can help him to progress spiritually in his life too.

 

I will try to make sure to get some pictures of the surroundings and the beautiful spring changes. Dad or mom you may have gotten a friend request on facebook from Sister Gershenfeld please make sure it is more of a friendship rather than a check up on Natey chat. I did not really think about that until after she requested y'all as friends.

 

Ha ha speaking of y'alls (Dad) that would very hilarious if that WAS in the scriptures. That is also exciting about the (house) updates. I have thought a lot about getting a new set of scriptures and I am glad I waited.

 

I would like to end with an insight from my studies.

 

I was reading in heleman chapter 14 of the signs of Christs birth and death. I was thinking about what was the purpose of those signs as i read these verses...

 28 And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that^athese signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men—
 29 And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a ^arighteous judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation.
I am greatful for the signs that my Heavenly Father gives me so there is no cause for unbelief in my life.
Love,
Elder Shoemaker

March 4, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad

Jury Duty! Ha ha that would have been kind of interesting. I will be looking out for what happened. Also, it looks like the beach-themed daddy daughter thing was a hit. Wow bro. Hanks daughter looks so much older along with the Scott's youngest daughter. Also, congratulations on shedding the weight and good job Justin on healthy eating. That is one thing that I have really learned out here to have enough energy to get through the day but there is just more than temporal means that gets me through the demanding schedule of missionary work. This past week at zone conference (which went great, and I was also asked to conduct the conference) President Sagers talked about grace. After reading the following definition I commented on how I have felt the Saviors grace, in this way, allowing me to meet the demands of the missionary schedule. I know that without His grace I would not be able to accomplish missionary work by my own means.

"It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means" (Bible Dictionary Grace)

There is a recent convert who husband that we are teaching that is a master gardener too. Every time you talk about master gardener stuff I think about her and vise versa. I might tell her to Facebook you. She seems like the kind of person you would be best friends with. We have a lesson there on Tuesday so keep an eye out.

Thanks dad for sharing about that restoration teaching. We were able to have an amazing restoration lesson this week with a new investigator. As we finished reciting the first vision I asked her how she felt. She said as we recited the experience she felt as if someone was pushing down on her shoulders but as we finished and it instantly went away. We told her that is an example of how God speaks to us through the spirit. She became very excited and cannot wait to learn more.

To answer questions. Elder Hansen is awesome. It is great being able to serve with him. In the pictures below he is the one with blond hair and elder Davis in the one darker hair. We will play basketball in the morning on the court behind the house and sometime jog. The bishop is so cool and he does so much to help us out. We try to play volleyball or basketball on preparation day, and if we sight see it has to be on preparation day so it is a little hard to do. No pranks yet besides post-it noting another missionary's car.

I hope y'all have a great week

Love Elder Shoemaker

P.S. dad are you able convert the scotch video tape i took a picture of?

What's in a Name? ...A personal covenant

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well this past week was the fastest I have ever seen on my mission. Elder Davis is now in Canada and I found out from a member at church yesterday that he has already gone on a date. Ha ha,  I am not surprised. He was very outgoing and was very good at talking with people. Elder Hansen is now here in Lewisville with me.  I had actually met him before and he actually served with Elder Ericson. Elder Hansen is from Aramo Idaho and he has been in the mission field six week longer than me. He kind of grew up around farm stuff and he is definitely a great missionary. I have already grown spiritually as his companion.

This past week we were able to talk to so many people and work super hard. We got out on our bikes one day last week and it went great. We talked with all the people we saw outside and it felt amazing. The morning of the bike day we took, there was actually a thunderstorm during studies. I knew that we needed to be on bikes and prayed that things would get better. By the time we needed to get out, the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in sight the rest of the day! Also something this past week also just made the week. All of the zone leaders for our meeting on Friday went to the temple. I was so thrilled since I had only ever been once for my own endowments. It was such a spiritually refining experience and there was so much spiritual revelation as we were there. Following the trip,  President Sagers shared this scripture in Doctrine and covenants 109: 22-23 and taught about why we go to the temple before our missions -so we as servants may go for armed with power. Bishop Sintay actually showed me this before my mission and is was so great to hear it again.

 22 And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy ^aname may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine ^bangels have charge over them;

 23 And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ^aends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfill that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days.

I will be sure to keep those people in my prayers this week.

It is also exciting to hear about your sisters dinner and a possibility of a family reunion. I would love to go to that. Also, I hope that Justin does great in track.

I was wondering if y'all might be able to crack into the boxes I packed up and try to find my sunglasses. They will be super useful for this summer and help my eyes out a little better. Also, if Justin comes across anything that he may be able to really have a need for and maybe one or two shirts tell him to let me know what stuff and I will most likely say he can use it until I have a use for it again. 

I hope y'all have a wonderful week and I will make sure to do the same.

Love Elder Nathan Shoemaker

P.S. I realized why I had a desire to change to Nathan. In Alma the anti- Nephi -Lehies changed their name to remember the covenant/oath they made, so when I hear the name Nathan it will remind me of my opportunity I had to serve the Lord and how much I loved it. 

An Itty Bitty Letter -Means He Must be Workin' Hard

Sorry for today as I have only about 15 minutes in the library and the computers are very slow.

Anyway, this week was amazing.  We had stake conference and it was a broadcast from Salt Lake,  Elder Eyring and Richard G. Scott spoke and it focused a lot on the topics of virtue and valuing womanhood.

I got the package and it was perfect.  I always try to make biscuits and gravy for my companions before transfers so that was perfect even though it wont be home made. Elder Davis goes home this week and my new companion is Elder Hansen.  I will be more on top of getting a picture with him soon. The work has been going super awesome and we are teaching more each week. I hope y'all have a wonderful week and I will make sure to have more time this next week.

Love Elder Shoemaker

Lots of Zone Work to do 2-11-13

Dear Mom and Dad,

 

This past week was awesome.  We were able to do a lot of teaching but also a lot of other things too. We were able to take one morning to help by providing service.  I also was on exchange in a bike area which was great and exhausting. Cool thing - my hip would react on and off when we would bike and walk in the past but when I was on exchange on the bike there was no pain at all and even the day after there weren't any problems. We also receive a lot of assistance from the ward with people coming out to teach with us. We were actually out with a YSA who is getting ready to go on a mission and he had a friend over named Roman.  We actually were able to teach him and he seems genuinely interested.

 

I will have to warn y'all this next few week will be very packed for me.  I will, however, include as much as I can in my emails about how I am doing and will of course answer the questions you give me. These next few weeks will consist of organizing transfer stuff for the Zone then transfers the next week with a meeting the Friday following transfers. The following week will be a Zone Conference which we will host and the week after will be zone training done by us as zone leaders too. I am excited to see the Lord's hand this next week in our schedule because I know He will allow us to still work hard as missionaries.

 

As for Trek, one strongly recommended tip would be to make sure and load all of the heavy things over the axle of the hand cart and also make sure it is balanced too. This will make is so you will only have to worry about pulling the handcart rather than pulling, balancing, and rearranging the cart all day. I love that string analogy Mom.  I will definitely take that and include it in my teaching and let you know how it goes. There is nothing I am really in need of at this time  that I can think of. I will of course make sure to let you know if I do though. Anyway,  I am doing great and I am continuing to learn so much as a missionary.  It will be sad to see Elder Davis go this next week, but I know that he has accomplished his two years here as a missionary. That is very sad to hear about Austin, I will make sure to set aside some time to write him.

 

Anyway, I hope y'all have a wonderful day.  Here are some pictures of our apartment and I will have a picture of me and Elder Davis next week! Sorry for being slow on getting y'all pictures.

 

Love Elder Shoemaker

The Power of Teaching 2-5-13

Dear Mom and dad,

 

It sounds like y'all are staying super busy and accomplishing great things. It is really cool to see the progress on your diets and how work and activities are going. This past week was busy for Elder Davis and I of course. We had quite a few meetings this week. As a zone leader the last week and the first week of months tend to be very busy.

 

I love being able to see this new teaching methods in the church and how it is applied in the home. The participation that come from the new teaching really helps to cause interactions and allow leaders and parents to see the testimonies of the youth. I think that is amazing and allows for a teacher to modify the lessons to fit the youth. These years are definitely so crucial for the youth of the church and is is so amazing being able to see them progressing. On thing that has really helped us as missionaries to get people to speak up in lessons is asking inspired questions and also direct questions. Sorry if I am rambling but I really love this new teaching method. Especially since it is so close to the teaching method we use. Page 183 in Preach My Gospel talks about asking questions and how to have inspired questions. One other thing that can be taken into consideration is that we need to teach people and not lessons. Meaning don't just teach the assigned lesson but adjust it to the needs of the hearers. Wow!  I just realized how much I love teaching. I hope there was some good feedback there to help with teaching.

 

I also think it is a wonderful idea to use this method in FHE and devotionals. One thing that we can think about is what we are doing is spiritually edifying. It is so good to have discussions on the scriptures because we all get something out of them. Discussion also helps us focus and really study the scriptures rather than just read them.

 

Dad, that is definitely a really cool experience that you were able to have with your patient. It reminds me so much about working with the investigators here and also missionaries. I try not to judge and I always try to go in with a smile on my face. Also, I get to see the progress that the investigators make just like your patient. It is so cool being able to make the correlation between the your nursing and my missionary efforts.

 

Sooooo. I still need to write to President Sagers. I will fill y'all in on the people we are working with next week and also send some pictures. Oh, and tell Victoria that is super exciting to hear about her opportunity to serve in Japan!

 

Love Elder Shoemaker