Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 December 30, 2012
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
This week is a little harder write. There were a lot of major events that took place.
First we'll write of the joyful news. The young women we helped reactivate last year and her husband, who we taught and baptized, had their first baby this week, Svetlana a beautiful little girl. Stephanie called and asked us for a blessing as she started into labor. They told us the blessing saved the baby and prevented an emergency C-section. Both mother and baby are well and happy but there were some scary moments.
David Butterfield came to church. David was a person Elder Sheffer taught on his first mission here, with Elder Wright. He was baptized and was very active for a few years. He had some hard things hit him and his first wife left. He was able to meet and marry another member who had lost her husband in a terrible accident. They went inactive. This is the first time he has been to church for a few years. He is such a good man. This Sunday he signed up to go out with the Elders and to go work in the vineyard next Saturday. We will attach the picture of him 36 years ago and the one from Sunday December 30, 2012.
Jason and Laurel are getting married. This is a part member couple with twin daughters. He left the room when we came to their home. We told her we wanted to bless their home and wanted him there if he was willing. He came back in. We talked of concerns and blessed their home as set apart ordained representatives of Jesus Christ. He felt the spirit strongly and invited us back. On our return visit we prayed with him and told him how much the Lord loved him. We told him the Lord wanted him to be a member of his church and challenged him to be baptized on January 19. He said he would. We challenged him to get married and he said, "Sure!" This is when Laurel started really getting excited. He said he was possibly leaving to work on an off shore oil rig for two weeks on January 3rd. So we challenged him to marry on the second. He said yes. So, Sister Sheffer has another wedding to plan and little time to pull it off. It will be great (as usual).
Now we go to the hard part. We were at the only baptism for our stake this month when we got the text from Esther (Sister Sheffer's sister) telling us of the passing of Tanya. She has been like a sister to us for more than 30 years. Our hearts are aching and tears are being shed.
We got word today of a member who was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle. Frank Sumpter was one of the first people we met here in Visalia. He was at so many of the activities and functions we attended throughout the stake. He would always greet us and let us know he was there. He had a bicycle built for two he wanted us to ride. (We would have if we had helmets.) He had a shaggy beard and rode his motorcycle everywhere he went.
He was rushed to the Visalia Hospital where he underwent an emergency surgery. He had internal bleeding and died early this morning. Every night he would go over to the stake center and lock the building. He helped set up or take down. He will be greatly missed.
We ate a lot of places for Christmas. We watched "Brave" on Christmas Eve with the Zone. We have been walking in the mornings and there is a tree that is dropping bright red and green berries that crunch beneath your feet. They reminded us so much of Christmas and Christmas songs we took pictures of them.
We resolve to learn more about our Savior and his attributes, humility, patience, charity, etc... The New Year has so many possibilities.
We love you and wish you all the best,
Sister and Elder Sheffer
Ecclesiastes 3:10-11, 13-14
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
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