Dear Family and Friends,
This week we were teaching a lady. She was saying she didn't think the church sent out missionaries our age. When Sister Sheffer told her she had five grown children and 6 + grandchildren, the lady looked at her more closely and then said, "You are so well preserved!" She said Elder Sheffer looked well preserved too. So we and the twinky suddenly had so much in common.
On Tuesday we were invited to dinner. It was a part member family. The husband (Mike)was in the military and the wife (Jackie)was the non-member. The missionaries told us they have been trying to meet with this family for a long time. When we got there, they had a wonderful dinner for us. She told us that she had taken the lessons before. The missionaries would find her, teach her a couple of lessons and then they would be sent to another base. The missionaries would find her again and teach a couple of lessons and then they would move again. She suggested that we start at the beginning. We said to her that it would be better if we went to whatever was giving her difficulty and talk about that. She talked about living prophets, Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, and a few other things. Then she said I guess I don't have problems with any of that. So we challenged her to baptism on the 21st of July. The spirit was strong and she accepted. Her husband would baptize her. He had been inactive for many years, but when they moved here he had contacted the bishop and just received clearance to use his priesthood again. She had a neighbor who went bike riding with her every morning. They had started talking about the gospel. She had borne her testimony and answered questions for her. So, when we came in all that was left to do was challenge her and set a date. But, that isn't where it ends. It turns out that his parents live in Orem and live in the ward where we moved up to after teaching our first year in Milford back in 1982. His sister babysat our two boys. They were coming down to bless Mike's baby that weekend. The young missionaries decided to try to get special permission to baptize her while her in-laws were in town. We had committed her to the word of wisdom and had taken all her tea and coffee. We had told her there was a waiting period before baptism. She was okay with that, but President Gelwix himself came down and gave her the baptismal interview and waived the waiting period. So she was baptized on Saturday with her in-laws down from Utah and her parents, who are not members came to the baptism. Sunday we confirmed her a member and then went over to her house to bless their baby. Mike's parents are Skip and Tauna Riffle. The last time we saw them was a Uncle Nolan Cirtus' funeral. We didn't know we were related. It was a very special moment for that family and we were so blest to be part if it.
We were asked to be a part of two other lessons this week where we were able to be a part of the baptismal challenges, both accepted. One will be on the Aug. 4 and the other on the 28 of July. Our district leader texted us this morning telling us we need to challenge more this coming week.
We had other things going this week as well. We helped with a Priest/Laurel activity with zip lines, water slides and tube floats down the river. No, Sister Sheffer didn't let Elder Sheffer try any of them, since they all ended in the river, but there is no rule against swimming for Senior Couples. Sister Sheffer thinks that's because Elder Sheffer should be old enough to know better than to try any of that stuff.
We had some great lessons with part members and investigators too. We had a couple of heart crushers too. One couple we have been working with since Thanksgiving said they are going to stop coming. They had attended since Feb. and were outstanding people. They referred to themselves as "Dry Mormons". It was crushing to walk away. I hope we will be able to get back with them soon. God is over all. We love you all and wish we could have gone to the family reunions. Give everyone hugs for us. Elder and Sister Sheffer
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