Take on Us....: September 2010

Monday, September 27, 2010

09/27/10

Transfer Goals:

1. At least one baptism

2. 18 new investigators

3. Teach at least one family

4. Full schedules (20 lessons a week)

In order for these goals to happen we will:

1. Contact at least one hour a day.

2. Be on time to all pros. activities and missionary schedules

3. Teach one active family a week and challenge them for referrals

4. Ask for referals from everyone

5. Schedule a meeting with the Bishop so he can understand our goals and understand his expectations

6. Start a grattitude book where we recogize the Lord's hand in our work

What the Lord promises us:

1. Place people in our path who are prepared

2. create time where investigators schedules will open up

3. Inspire us where to knock

4. Give members missionary opportunities and courage to invite friends

5. Protect us from Illness and evil people

I know that the Lord will grant us these things if we do our part. Each night we return and report and already our schedule is more full than last week. So many appointments cancelled on us and I couldn't believe it...even our legit investigators didn't show up or come to church. My blessing was great last night also and I know that I can make it through this transfer and learn a lot in the process.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Transfer Update 09/22/10

If you are in Lancaster, California then you will be able to drive over a musical road that has been pock marked with special grooves that sing out a tune. However the residents want the road back in original tar because many drive past out of key. Made by Honda as part of an upcoming advertising campaign, the road plays "The William Tell Overture" (the theme from The Lone Ranger) and for best results the company advices you to drive over with a Honda Civic because the company says that the road was tuned specifically to the tires and wheelbase of a Civic.

(Listen for yourself kinda fun!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJFGacuxcSM&feature=related

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to my Mom's amazing Facebook skills (OH DAT MA NICE), I think everyone knows I got transferred to Lancaster to be on a bike. I was DEVASTATED to leave. I loved my companion, loved my area, even more loved my ward, loved my investigators, was working on a fireside we had put together all transfer, loved my zone and especially my district, and the work was really taking off. I know there is always more people to love, but I still REALLY didn't want to leave since I just felt like I had gotten started.

1. My new comp is Sister Walton, we are really different but really similar in a lot of ways. It is going to be interesting because I feel a sense of real urgency to change the way that the work has been going here. Really no one is utilizing the members and many areas have never been contacted...so that is going to change, and change really fast.

2. I am actually in a pretty scary part of town hahaha...last night we went walking in the dark (also something that is going to change...Sister Walton is a little too trusting and it is definitely not safe. Lots of gangs, lots of drugs, and we are definitely in the Ghetto. For sure.) and there are not safe people out. There is Sister Walton out contacting them in her happy tone of voice with her flower in her hair from her safe part of Utah where she never knew alcohol and drugs existed. Good times...

3. You will never guess who I live with....ALTMAN. How I love sisters and all the issues that seem to come. Sister Madebueze and I get along really well so we will lean on each other.

4. I am loving missionary work still and just still trying to get used to everything. I finally feel pretty comfortable in what I am doing and how mission life goes. I still feel like I have been here forever and will be here for eternity. Sometimes I wonder, "And why the judd did I decide to submit myself to so many uncomfortable circumstances??" but then the Lord quickly reminds me of how wonderful the work really is. Give me 3 more transfers and I think I will be begging for time to slow down. As for now it could speed up just a little.

5. I wish I could tell you about any of the investigators we have here but I really didn't get to teach any. Yesterday was kind of a waste of a day and so we figured out a way to be more effective and today we have a full schedule again.Good thing because that is enough to give me a heart attack...having down time or no set appointments.

6. Some of my last investigators I had in my other area are doing really great! I set 3 more baptismal dates just before I left and was ready to set 2 more. It was sad to leave, but when they do get baptized I will go back down to see them! I seriously love mission hills ward and Sister Madebueze also had that area for her Greenie area and so we have agood time talking about all the old investigators.

7. Sister Griffiths got Sister Mackley (hahah) and a new greenie today. President laughed when he called and said, "Well, you have an interesting transfer ahead of you don't you sister griffiths!" She was like, "Of course you would. You would spread me as thin as you can, rip out my bestie companion, and try to pull a quick one on me for my last transfer!" She and I were both ready to hop on a plane to Scotland (where her parents are mission presidents and where she will be returning). We were bummed.

8. We went to say bye to Delmy's family and her little boy is the epitome of a mexican cholo. He wears long shorts, talks like a homie and is three. He will always say, "Peace out homie! hahah Peace out homie! hahahah Peace out homie!" over and over again. He also pretends he is a gangster and will say the funniest things and as I left he says to us, "I luh you homie! I luh YOU homie! I luh you Sissy!" So funny. I got most of it on film and soon I will send a memory card home. It is so funny!

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to my Mom's amazing Facebook skills, I think everyone knows I got transferred to Lancaster to be on a bike. I was DEVASTATED to leave. I loved my companion, loved my area, even more loved my ward, loved my investigators, was working on a fireside we had put together all transfer, loved my zone and especially my district, and the work was really taking off. I know there is always more people to love, but I still REALLY didn't want to leave since I just felt like I had gotten started.

3. You will never guess who I live with....ALTMAN. She is back, I knew that it would happen I just knew it. I will just have to stay far away and do breathing exercises to get through that one. She also hates my companion for some reason and my companion hates her so there is definitely some uptight feelings and much back lashing. How I love sisters and all the issues that seem to come. Sister Madebueze and I get along really well so we will lean on each other.

Well the work continues forward and my testimony grows stronger and stronger each day. I hope all is well with each of you and that you know that you are always in my prayers! I can't wait to hear from some of you! Know that i know that this gospel is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It amazes me how everytime I teach it how much stronger it becomes rooted in my heart. It is true, Christ lives, and Joseph Smith was a prophet. I love it! I promise.

Love Sister Sheltz

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sister Cheltz and Hermanna Griffiths her trainer. Sending Cheltz off!

Week 8 September 15th Letter from Sister Sheltz!

Daniel L. Johnson Sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 1, 2006, at age 59. Former Area Seventy in the Mexico North Area, president of Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission, counselor to mission president and stake president, and bishop. Received bachelor degree in accounting and economics from BYU; former executive in international companies, as well as holding Church and family farming positions throughout the United States and Latin America. Born Dec. 15, 1946, in Colonia Juarez, Mexico, to LeRoy and Rita Skousen Johnson.. Wife, LeAnn Holman Johnson; parents of six children.

Hello Everyone!!

Well, this week the mission has been much harder, but great none-the-less. I am just loving my mission, good times and bad times and love the people I am able to meet. I thought life was stressful before my mission with all I was involved in, but nothing like this. Anything that takes your whole spirit to do is usually pretty rough at times :)

1. This week we had mission conference and it was wonderful! Elder Johnson of the 70 came to speak and it was really great. I learned so much and it was fun to meet many of the other people on my missions. Luckily for me, there are not as many crazy sisters as I hard heard hahaha:) Transfers are coming up and Sister G and I are pretty sure that we will be together still since I am a greenie and this is her last transfer. If anything we think we might be trio training a greenie...hmmmm. Not sure how I feel about adding a 3rd. It was no fun teaching with 3 in the MTC. The only good thing is that it would add one more person to talk to and that is always fun! We will see what happens.

2. Progressing investigators have been far and few between this week because a) we have had so many meetings, B) we already baptized all of our progressing, C) we are trying to meet with all of the members about this fireside and so we have been mostly been doing member lessons, and D) Everyone was out of town for Labor day and school being out. Hopefully we will see more soon. We also had a rough day of contacting yesterday. Love when people tell me that I am going to Hell because I believe in the wrong Jesus. Good times, good times.

3. Monday for P-day we most definitely in fact went to the Zoo!! Way fun, there were like 20 missionaries that went and I am getting to know more and more of the missionaries and we had a blast. We have 2 of THE funniest elders in our district who made it pretty entertaining. Super hot, but way fun.

4. Grandma taught us how to dance this week and how to say, "Peace out homies" as an 86 year old. Sooooo funny I cannot describe...this is why she goes for the younger men because she is too hip. I have great videos of it that I will be sending home and Mom, you can post them for all to enjoy because they are much too good.

5. Delmy unfortunately I think we may have to drop. We think she loves having us over, the spirit that is there, and the fact that we are friends....but we are going to have to tell her that if she has no intentions of keeping her commitments or being baptized that we can't keep visiting her. There are too many people who are ready now, and this is our job. Most of the time dropping people is liberating when it is one of those eternal investigators...but this one is going to be no fun.

6. We are meeting with Brennan tonight and we hope that we will keep his commitment as we extend to him the 7 day challenge to quit smoking and drinking. We think once he stops that he will definitely get his answer. It is going to be intense and I will let you know how it goes!

Everything else is pretty much just trying to find new investigators. HOPEFULLY after this fireside they will be coming out the woodwork, We are doing it stake wide and they announced it in stake conference and so we think we will see good results.

Thanks for any letters or emails that are sent! Can't tell you how much they mean the world for me. Paigey! You can most definitely email. I love your little guts and wish I was there to take care of the old folks too some days. Bon! Tell jill Sawatdee Kah! and that I love Thai people and here.

To everyone else! This gospel is true! I love learning about Joseph Smith and I have learned so much about church history lately. I love that this church is the true church and that it really is the same church Christ set up himself. I love the scriptures and how much they teach us! PLEASE read them. I am so grateful that Christ died for me and for all so that his plan is possible but more importantly that he lives! And he is coming. We need to be preparing for the time that he does come...it is coming fast.

I love this gospel so much and it is true, I promise!

I love you all and know that I continually pray for you each day...and that is A lot of prayers!

Love, Sister Sheltz

Saturday, September 4, 2010

09/01/10 Scary Harry and Ron

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Hello Everyone!

I got word last week that we are able to write our main email to everyone, so everyone's email that put their name on the list I will be sending each week...sure love and miss everyone!!

1. This week has been INCREDIBLE!! We have had amazing things happen and also some scary things, and lots of funny things. I had my first baptism this week and I was so excited! We have been teaching Randy ever since I got here and he was just ready to jump in that font from the first lesson. He is 22 and is really great and his baptism was awesome. I bawlled like a baby knowing that I got to be an instrument for that. In fact, I witnessed 4 baptisms on Sunday. It was a great and draining day. Nothing like 10 hours at the church to do you in. We were exhausted and had a stressful time getting investigators to church. Remember when Sunday used to be a relaxing day?? Not so on the mission. Easily the most stressful, frustrating, and busy day fo the whole week. Nothing gets to you more than when you watch the door like a hawk for investigators who promised to be there and never show. So bummer.

2. Sam Chee's baptism is this week and he is so excited! He has taken a while to get comfortable with the idea of baptism, but after visiting the temple grounds and visitors center he was just so pumped. He passed his interview and he is ready. He stayed for all four baptisms this week and also agreed to a Priesthood Blessing. He is just so "scary" as he would say, instead of scared, of coming to church and of getting a blessing. I think he thought it would be really weird, but he felt the spirit so strongly and that solitified his excitement for a baptism! I love Thai people!

3. We had a really scary experience this week also...I am glad I am alive and not dead. Definitely the Lord protects his missionaries because I don't know how we got out of that apartment...also thank goodness for obedience that we took a male member with us. We went to go visit an Armenian man named Wahe (the one who is always in pain and is older). Well, his son answered the door and was very reluctant to let us in. But we sat down and started visiting with Wahe and then the son came out and asked, "Are you Jehovah's witnesses?" and we of course answered no. He started screaming at us to get out, Wahe, who is old slammed him against the wall and they started fighting in Armenian and he was trying to come after us as Wahe held us back. We kept trying to get out but of course they were blocking the door and he was just screaming at us and wanted to know how we had even gotten in the complex. We ran out as fast as we could and he was trying to chase after us as Wahe held him back . He is pretty tough for as old as he is. I know already from being out here when people are just mad or angry, and you can tell when they have intentions of acting on their anger....that was one of them and I don't know what he would have done to us if we had not had a man there because women are worth nothing in Armenia. Whew...scary.

4. Delmy is another investigator that is a toughy. We have (and they before me) have been trying to get her to come to church forever. She lives with her BF and they have 2 kids together and are working on getting married. They started listening to the lessons and really liked them and she feels the spirit, but Mario doesn't really want anything to do with organized religion. He supports her listening and really loves us to come over, but she doesn't want to take the kids and have to explain why Dad doesn't love God. Well, we had a lesson with her and everything was just going wrong. Every interruption you can imagine and it was super frustrating. Lastly, both of her dogs got out and had been gone for over an hour. Mario left to look for them and hadn't for 20 mins. She apologized that she was going to have to leave and asked us to help her look. Sis G and I went to go look and stopped and prayed. I asked the Lord if it would help her to get to church to please let us find the dang dogs. Both of us had the impression to look down this street, and what do you know, there they were. The animal control pulled up at the same time as we did and we were able to get them for her. Luckily this built her faith, and guess who came to church?! She loved it. She was taking notes, signed up for all the RS stuff, it was hilarious. We will meet with her today and I hope we can just commit her to baptism. The Law of Chastity thing may be an issue...but we know we are going to get her and all the kids. :)

5. Rueben (43) and his Girlfriend Grandma (86) continue to kill us with hilarity every day. Don't worry that Rueben ( I will send pictures to prove it and you will die) showed up wearing Khacki shorts with bball shorts hanging out underneath them, 2 belts, an american flag bandana tied around one belt loop, a compass hanging from the other, long black socks pulled up with black church shoes, and the tightest bright red surf shirt you can imagine. I don't know how to even tell you how funny he is and how much we get a kick out of how crazy he is. He also was using dryer sheets as napkins the other day....I know, I know. I don't get it either. It is completely ridiculous.

6.Awkward story number 2: We go over to teach Randy and his friend and we use a whole lot of object lessons out here, one with with 3 cups and 3 butter knives. We pulled them out and Randy's friend asks, "so what will you use those for?" and Randy answers, "so they can circumsize you." Bahhhh...way awkward.

7. Another awkward story. This guy named Ron comes every week to church without fail on his bike. Years ago he was in a bad motorcycle accident and has really bad brain damage. He of course comes in his T shirt and jeans and every week he gets a pop from the dollar store, brings it in during sacrament meeting and opens it as loudly as he can during the most spiritual of moments. He also afterwards burps as loud as he can. This is great when we bring investigators. He also really likes to clap...after everything. Investigators ALSO get the wrong idea of clapping and this makes for really funny moments. In Sunday School too he started telling everyone that Jesus was a polygamist and alot of other crazy stuff which also makes for a lot of explaining to investigators. Good times, good times. Flosi superhero man always says, "I am going to buy that man many uncarbonated beverages...many, many." Brother Flosi is SO funny and we have a way good relationship with him. Our ward is awesome at ward missionary stuff and the Bishop is helping us with so much! Love that I have a good ward and comp...Ron included.

8. We also have met many people, homeless men in fact, who believe they are Jesus. And also because we won't hug them (Sis Griffiths has a great story about this) then we don't love Jesus. We also saw a man talking to a blank sign and we are sure he believes he is Moses talking to the burning bush. Good times.

Well, the field is great!! I hope everyone else is doing great and loving life. I have had lots of good experiences and I just adore the mission. Is definitely not easy, and because we are literally representatives of Jesus Christ, often times we feel the feelings that he feels for others. That can be great and also hard because sometimes I feel such great sadness for those who are so lost and have so many trials. For the first time this week I lost it, and I felt such sadness for one investigator who just so distraught. Sad times, but also very happy times. This is the most joy and the most hardship I have ever faced. I just love it so much and I am so glad I get to be here doing the work! I am just one lucky girl. I love all of you dearly and pray for each of you so much!! I pray, lots, and lots and lots!! Hope to hear from you soon...I can get emails and I will handwrite you back. This gospel is true! I promise.

Love Always,

Sister Sheltz!

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