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!

Excerpts from my letter home 08/25/10

I am learning Spanish and it is coming along really well! I can for sure give my testimony and prayers and I can't believe how much I understand. I know I will be fluent by the time I get home because like 90 percent of all the people we talk to speak it.

My P-day is on Monday, however, because of budget cuts the library is not open on monday so we email on wednesdays at 10. The week has gone really well though and we have just seen SO much success. I can't believe how prepared people are to hear the gospel. Of course we see a lot of slammed doors, but honestly we don't have to do a lot of door knocking because we try and work with the members.

Last night we taught 3 of the most powerful lessons. We have one guy named Brennan that is super intellectual, is so great, and is SUPER catholic. He can't decide if God is telling him that he needs to be more Catholic, or if he needs to be mormon. Of course we know, and we talked about the priesthood last night and it was so amazing!! But because he is so provoked by his dang brain he can't quite feel it yet. Man oh man, but when he decides he is going to be the most rock solid member you ever knew.

 

Randy, the 23 year old will be baptized on sunday! And Sam Chee the Thai guy on the 6th. I am so excited for Sam. He had so many hesitations and this week he went with the ward to the Santa Monica temple to the new visitors center and they all said he was balling and telling everyone that he was getting baptized for sure! So that is the best news ever! We are just about to go to an appointment with him so that will be great.

 

Ok, funny stories of the week.

 

1. We have a guy in our ward named Bro Flosi who just got called as our new Ward missionary leader. Mom he served his mish in Finland! Well, he is like 30, unmarried, no one knows anything about him except that he works for the FBI. So as we started to try and get him to come toour appointments or anything he would be like, "Ya, I can try and be there, but a lot of times things come up." Sister Griffy and I thought long and hard about this answer, and we decided that for sure he is a super hero. We know it. All he ever does is tell us how things randomly occur. On sunday, we were sitting there and he gave us that same answer...I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. We HAD to tell him that we knew. We decided he shoots webs of floss and that his FBI cover was way good. Oh he thought it was hilarious! And it really broke the ice with him. We got him to our appointments last night and we think he is golden. We told him he is welcome to come to any of our appointments...pending....that he doesn't have to go save the world. We are convinced!!

 

2. Sister Garcia this week (the one who should be Papa's sister) always gives us a good laugh...always. We do a lot of appointments at her house (she is the lady that added you on facebook, her mom) and so she sits in on all of the lessons. Randy, the one getting baptized has had some really amazing experiences. Well we are sitting there and after the prayer this is the convo:

 

Randy: Whoa! Did you feel that? That jolt? Like electricity?

Us: No, we didn't! It was probably the spirit...

Silence for like 30 seconds...

Grandma: It was my hand! I can only straighten these three fingers, not this one unless I do dis!

 

Uhhh... ok...hahaha. We laughed so hard.

 

3. We also met many men who think they are Jesus and because we won't hug them we don't love Jesus. We also saw a man talking to the sign on the street who thinks he is moses talking to the burning bush. Perfect.

 

The area we are in can be super sketchy but I love it. We have so much fun and we have met so many great people. I can't even handle how  fun this work is!! My testimony is just so solid on this work. The more I preach about it, the more grounded it becomes in my heart. I can't believe how the Lord works through us too....I have given so many lessons that have nothing to do with me, only with my worthiness to be an instrument. So much comes out of my mouth that I have no idea about. I love it so much, and I love the work. It is true!! And nothing is more beautiful than this opportunity!!

 

Thanks for all the emails and love and support! I sure love all of you so much. My prayers are always with you in them.

 

Love Sister Sheltz!

MY NEW APPARTMENT AND COMPANION

8/18/10
I have been so anxious to write you and tell you how AMAZING it it out here. I don't know where to begin or how to be able to even describe how the first week has been and how much I love it here!!

1. My companion Sister Griffiths is AMAZING!! I am so so so happy that I have her as a trainer because she is an extremely hard worker, is hilarious, and I think we are the same person. We teach so well together and we just have the spirit and unity so much in our companionship. From day one it is like we have known each other our entire lives. Her parents are currently mission presidents in Ireland and Scottland.
People are CRAZY out here! Hahah! I love it. I am in a pretty sketchy area which is called Mission Hills. It is not horrible, but it is definitely LA.  We cover part of LA and we have run into some real winners. Sister Griffiths and I have constant laugh attacks at the crazy things people say to us. I can't even tell you all the crazy things I have seen because there is no way to recall the hilarity of it. I love it so much! Door knocking still scares the Judd out of me and I am not sure how I feel about it. We haven't gotten to do it too much because we literally have too many appointments which is amazing! The work is kickin out here.

2.There is also a man in our ward named Wahe who is from Armania who is also falling apart. Yesterday is his THICK accent said, "MY EYE! NO work. MY HEART! No work!! Everything break, Everything.... NEEDLES, needles EVERYWHERE!!" He got a blessing that made him feel better. Also yesterday in our lesson we asked, "So why do you guys keep having us back over, what do you feel when we come??" He said, "You face...BEAUTIFUL, I love-a dah white woman!" We both smack our heads, Wrong! Wrong answer. Hahaha good times, good times.

3.We have AMAZING investigators:

Sam Chee: So excited about him!! He is a Thai man with a B. Date set for 9/5! I can't even stand it. My first day we got there we talked all about Thailand and he is so excited. He plays the music at the Methodist church and he loves it. He is totally a man of God but he can't understand why he needs to come to our church. He says when he prays, "I not hear words to tell me it true!" We read to him about the feelings that you feel when god is speaking and he looked at us and said, "Woah, I sink it must be true!" I loved it and of course I dying. We use a lot of object lessons with him and he is literally a child and loves them so much. He gets so excited about the church and he is loving it.

4.It is so great, and it has been so fun. Sis G and I have a blast together and I love just being with so many awesome people. Everyone should go on a mission because it is literally the funnest thing ever. I don't know how I will ever come home!! People love us too much.

5.Packages are safe to mail because they put them in a lock box. I would love to hear from anyone and so letters can be sent there.

I am out of time we have an appoint but I love you all! The gospel is true!! I promise!!

Love Sis Gould

Final MTC letter before she left for Cali!!!

Hellllooo All!!!

 

Oh how I love P-days because I get to think about my cute little fam and friends all day! Can you believe it?! Tomorrow I enter the real field!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!! Nervous in some ways but not in others. I know that we will probably be knocking doors as soon as we get there and I am nervous about that. But also not because I am confident in the Lord and I know he will help me! This week has been simply amazing. I have learned so much and been so close to the spirit. We have had some amazing experiences, especially teaching one of our "investigators" Brigitta. It was awesome and I have never felt the spirit help me so much ever. It is amazing as you become such an instrument how much the things you need to say just completely roll out of your mouth. Sometimes I would stop and think...."uhhmmm, ok that was NOT me saying that. I don't even know what I just said." But then I would see her crying a little and I knew it came from the Lord. This work is amazing, and with that being said it was also a really hard week too...when is it not? This mission is supposed to be hard! We watched an awesome talk by Elder Holland that changed my view on missionary work once again. One of my fave quotes he said,

 

"If we are going to be his disciples we better have some proof of spending some time in that garden. That means some tears shed and some frustration...but at the end of our missions we will be able to stand and say, 'I have suffered the will of the Father."

 

Thank you to all for all of you letters! I can't tell you how much they mean to me and for all the nice packages!! I am so grateful for so much support.

 

That is true!! These were meant to be hard and I love it so much. I am challenged with something new every day.

This gospel is SOOO incredibly true. I love it so much I can hardly stand it. The Savior lives!! Joseph Smith restored the true church. I know it. I PROMISE he did!! I love you bits and bunches!!

 

LOVE SISTER GOULDIE!

 

 

Email #2 from the MTC

P day is here again and I can't believe it! Time went so slow at the beginning and now it is flying by faster than I can imagine!! Believe it or not next wednesday I will be on a plane to my first area. GOOD NEWS!! I can call home at the airport!! They gave us permission in our last meeting. It will be pretty early because our flight leaves at like 8:40 so I will be there early in the morning. So expect a call from sister gould!! Yahoo!!
Also thank you so much to EVERYONE for all your sweet and encouraging letters. I can't tell you how much it means to get them and I will be writing back today! Love P day and can't wait to get to the temple today.
Anyway, all in all I am SOOOOOOOOOO happy to be here. I have learned so much and it is amazing as you really go back  to the basics and start to study those things in great detail, my testimony has been strengthened so much. It is that solid testimony that reminds me why I am here. I cannot WAIT To get to the field and start working!! It will be amazing.

 

The gospel  is true!!

 

Love Sister Gould :)

Excerpts from my letter home

"Classes are good- and hard. I thought thinking about only one thing would be a break, but  thinking  spiritual all the time can be exhausting! I study so hard, and sometimes I feel like my eyeballs are on the floor on one side of the room and my brain is mush on the other! BUT, I am learning a lot! I absolutely LOVE our district. These 19 yr. olds really help loosen me up so I don't get too serious with myself. Also, chivalry is NOT dead at the MTC. Sisters always go first and I don't think I have opened a door myself since I have been here. They take your trays and stand up when you come in the room! Its AMAZING!!! Food is OK, Mostly stick to wraps and salads. Funny how the days are so long, but fly by! I have 2 gym classes and love to work out! I'm not used to sitting this much. I am just working really hard, and trying my best. I love it! This week has been great and I am getting more used to it."

Chelsea's P-day is on Tuesdays and she will be departing the MTC about the 9th or 11th of Aug. You can write to her on dearelder.com. Her box # is 262 CA SFER. She loves loves LOVES mail like any missionary! She would love to hear from anyone!

*note, this is just a generic pic of some sweet sisters, not Chels. Ha!

Chelsea's get together at the house w/ family and friends. MTC send off!! Wish I would have taken pictures of EVERYONE there, but I was busy cookin. Thanks so much to everyone who helped with the food and came to support Chelsea! Couldn't have done it with out you! It was a great week!