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

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