Sunday, November 25, 2012
Turkey Bowl and Conferences
Turkey Bowl and Conferences November 25, 2012
Dear Family and Friends,
This week was so unlike any other! On Monday we had interviews with the President for our Zone. We were asked to take an Elder to a doctor's appointment after that and the day was pretty much spent. Not much time for the work. Tuesday was Zone Conference in Tulare from 8:00 in the morning until 5:30 in the evening. Then we went to a home with less actives and had a dinner and a lesson. There was a couple of lessons that night and then home to bed. Wednesday was preparation day for our Zone because of President interviews on Monday. We didn't get many lessons that night. We did help a member who we baptized almost a year ago with her papers. She has three routes. This was the paper that had all of the Christmas and Black Friday ads. We helped her fold and package over 1,700 bundles, then we filled her car to the roof. It took over five hours.
On Thursday we had the annual "Turkey Bowl". This is when the 1st and 2nd Wards get together at 8:00 AM on Thanksgiving and play football. Sister Sheffer didn't play at all this year. Elder Sheffer was in for only an hour before he gave out. The good news is he never fumbled, missed a reception, or had his flag pulled. He was thrown to once before the game started and once with a Sponge Bob Football after he quit the game. After that we visited several investigators and left "Harvest Blessings". This is where you give Priesthood Blessings in non-members' homes. It was very powerful.
Next to the Henricksen's home for 17 "Miracles" all 20 missionaries from the zone came. We had treats and watched the show in their home theater room. After that Elder Sheffer went long boarding while Sister Sheffer filmed. The members didn't realize that this wasn't against the Senior Missionary rules and narrated the video. We put it on Facebook. David Gaile Sheffer is the name we use on Facebook.
Next it was off to Three Rivers where we had dinner with an inactive member, his daughter, his non-member wife, and a couple from up the street who were also not members. We had a wonderful dinner and then gave the home, family, and friends a missionary blessing. He asked Sister Sheffer to be voice. The spirit was so strong. After the blessing he went over and hugged and kissed Sister Sheffer on the cheek.
On Saturday we had three baptisms. Elder and Sister Sheffer sang I Am A Child Of God in a group of saints. The twist is it was a Spanish Baptism and we had to sing in Spanish.
The next baptism was conducted by Elder Sheffer. It was a manna baptism. The president says there are two types of baptisms, "Manna or Liahona". The manna baptism is given you from Heaven. The Liahona baptism is one where the Lord shows you which way to go, but you have to work hard and follow directions. This one was a young girl from Sacramento who came here to be baptized because it was easier for family to come here to be a part of it. We just filled the font and conducted the service.
At the third baptism Elder and Sister Sheffer gave a talk on baptism. This one was definitely a Liahona baptism. A very busy day filled with other work as we could fit it in. We also found out that Alan and Kim are expecting!
We only attended three wards on Sunday. We are now doing reports for the week and writing all the thank you notes that are needed because of all the kindness we have received.
Elder Muñoz, our trainer, finished his mission about a month ago. He came back this weekend to baptize the lady we have been teaching. He is staying with us. It was so nice he could come back for the baptism. We know that the Lord is in the work that missionaries do. We are so grateful to be a part of this work.
"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, then God will endow us with power from on high." -Ezra Taft Benson
Sunday, November 18, 2012
To Tell The Truth
We are all enlisted till the conflict is over. I was assigned to type up the letter home this week. I have a different style than Elder Sheffer and mentioned it last week. He said I could have the opportunity to write this week. It has been a week full of so many visits. But on the other hand it has been a week like many others. There is a sweet lady who has been preparing for baptism by not smoking. Smoking is a very difficult habit to break. She has been texting the Elders and us for support. Sometimes it is at 3:00am. She is doing well. She has been strong for over 10 days. Remember the Hymn ends with Happy are we, Happy are we.
We have been asked to do more finding. It is not easy. That is the part of missionary work that keeps you humble. We hope that one day we will enjoy the idea of going out to find new people to teach.
The Holidays are here and going by so fast. We think that next year Costco will set up their Christmas Displays in June. We hear that there has been snow in Utah. We were surprised to have rain here. I am wearing a long wool coat and the members are saying, "So, you must be acclimatized to the winters in Visalia." We say, "Yes, after over a month of triple digit days who wouldn't be?"
We are grateful for the wonderful people here in the Visalia Stake. They love the Lord and work so hard to help one another and support and missionaries.
To Tell The Truth—Do you remember the TV show were three people would pretend to be the same person and they were asked questions and at the end they would say will the real person stand up. It was fun to be a detective and try to discern who was telling the truth. Well we send pictures of the Senior Missionaries wearing our name tags to the Stake President for Halloween as a Trick or Treat and asked him to help us discern who the Sheffer's really are.
The ward senior missionaries are doing an amazing job. They are serving and helping, especially with the less actives and the new converts. They will support these members in many ways and be there long after the missionaries have gone.
We had a baptism of Jose Valencia. He has overcome many obstacles especially with his wife. After his baptism he said to Elder Sheffer, "I have changed so much for the better. I am sure she will listen to the gospel for herself soon." It is wonderful to see the joy that comes into the lives of people as they accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please remember to send a letter to your favorite missionary or press the reply button and send a few words to us. Love you all. Elder and Sister Sheffer
Monday, November 12, 2012
Feast or Famine
Feast or Famine November 11, 2012
Dear Family and Friends,
On Monday (Feast) we were invited to dinner at two different places. We were feeling like the young Elders. But we couldn't sustain that work load like the young ones can. We did our best.
On Tuesday (Famine) it was all our own food. It was sad. We visited people at the hospital and went to the high school to see the "Cow Hide," the prize for winning the football game between rival schools, and talking to people in the parking lot. Our teaching pool is down and we are "Tracking" or something close to it. The Zone Leaders want every companionship to do one hour of finding new people every day.
On Wednesday (Feast) we had two dinner appointments again. You might think this is poor planning on our part, but it is simply how it worked out. One canceled the other one was an etiquette dinner in which we presented a lesson on manners. Yes, we did. Then we did the lessons for the night. We were told by our Saturday baptism that she was tired of Satan trying to discourage her from getting baptized, so she wanted to move it up to Thursday night.
We spent all of Thursday (Famine) getting everything set up for the surprise baptism of Caitlynn Deason. No meals that day. Whenever we were close to the apartment we would stop and grab something to eat. Sarah Browning called us just as we finished the baptism and said she needed help. She is an investigator we have been working with who hadn't been able to quit smoking. She quit. When she is having problems she calls the Elders or us. We went down and drove her out into the orchards and talked for a while then took her back home. She will be baptized on the 24 with her sister. They will make it! We believe.
On Friday (Feast) we had a conference in Fresno. They provided us with a great lunch. On the way home we saw the shadow of a light pole on a building. We aren't your normal Christian Cross kind of people but the cross on the building did deserve a picture. We include in the picture the light pole that was making the shadow. We got back to Visalia just in time for the 2nd Ward's pot luck dinner. They had a great program with it, but we had to go and teach Stephanie Fairfield a lesson.
We are not sure what day of the week it was, Friday or Saturday. We took the camera to the track where Sister Sheffer runs and Elder Sheffer walks. Elder Sheffer got a picture of Sister Sheffer and also found a jersey left there by one of the teams that had played the game the night before. Interestingly enough it was Bert's old number. We had to have a picture before we turned it in.
On Saturday (Feast) we had the Relief Society crafts day with lunch. They offered us some leftovers. We were running around working hard but needed to do reports, so we went home to do those, only to have the 1st Ward Elders call us from a few miles away with a flat tire. They said they were clear across town freezing with a flat tire. They don't know what clear across town means. We do.
Sunday (Famine/Feast) we started meetings so early that we had no breakfast. We were in meetings solid until about 3:30. We attended five different wards meetings by that time. We had lunch then at 5:00 we had a dinner appointment. It was fabulous. Sister Sheffer doesn't take seconds. She did for this meal. Wow, what a great dinner! Then we rushed off to the baptism of Corey Candleario. He is a 16 year old boy who we have been working a lot with. (With the young Elders). It was an amazing experience. Afterward, they had a dinner prepared for all who attended. It had only been a few hours after lunch and dinner, but Elder Sheffer was able to eat again. Sister Sheffer politely nibbled. We finished up the day by going to an investigator's home at 10:30 to celebrate 100 hours without a cigarette. We got permission to stay out late, but were to tired to enjoy it.
We love you all! The church is true! Living by its teachings brings happiness from the Lord!
Love,
Elder and Sister Sheffer
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Snap Cackle Pop
Snap Cackle Pop November 4, 2012
Chiropractor/Halloween/Chiropractor
Missionary Halloween Thought
Women are angels! When someone breaks their wings, or spirits, or hearts… They simply continue to fly…on broomsticks. They are flexible like that. (Gentlemen, let us protect those wings!)
Dear Family and Friends,
Elder Sheffer started and ended the week at the chiropractor's office. He wants us to continue coming for another four weeks. The pain hits less often, but with greater intensity. We haven't taken any time off for this yet, except for the appointment times. We even go out tracking.
We went to our first farewell to missionaries in Fresno last Tuesday. Our last trainer was going home. He met us on the night we drove into Visalia, and was in the Visalia 1st Ward the last 14 months of his mission. I guess you can call us fully trained now.
Wednesday was Halloween. We had parties last Saturday in most of the wards, but 4th Ward had a chili dinner and trunk or treat in the parking lot. Two investigators came and we sat down and taught them a lesson after dinner. It ended after everyone else had left the building. Elder Sheffer didn't receive any candy. He did have all the chili he could eat though. Sister Sheffer made a salad before the party. She wasn't in the chili mood again, after judging the 29 pots of chili at the 1st Ward Party before going to the 3rd Ward Chili party. We were going to change nametags for our costume, but we were instructed not to cross dress.
A sweet sister in 2nd Ward belongs to an on line knitting club. It is the Star Trek club. She was assigned to knit a shawl and post a picture of it. She gave it as a gift to Sister Sheffer. It is very unique but Sister Sheffer had a great time finding a way to wear it.
At transfers this week we had a new Elder going to Woodlake. We were asked to drive them to their apartment. This Elder had more than enough to go around. He filled the trunk plus, plus.
Training Senior Missionary couples is taking some of our time now. We hope each ward is able to call a couple to serve. We are having great results from their work in the different wards.
We made a birthday cake for a shut in. She wanted a cake with coconut frosting. She talked with us a few weeks ago. We were at least the second cake. She talked to more than just us.
On Saturday we went to the temple with a recent convert/less active who has been back to church for a while. It was a great session and something new and wonderful for her. She has been preparing family file names for her next trip.
We went to the hospital this week and cried with those in pain. We have cried with the sinner and the saint, or maybe the sinner who is working on the saint part. That should describe most of us. Either way the emotions and spirit take the energy out of a person. It is way worth it though.
We celebrated the anniversary of the couple that we helped marry way back at the first of our mission this week. We have seen many changes here. The biggest changes we find in ourselves.
We love you all, and are praying for you,
Sister and Elder Sheffer
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