What Just Happened?

What just happened?                                                                                    March 24, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

                We had a busy week. Week four of transfers ends tonight. We were notified that our replacement couple will be here on April 6^th. We are to show them the ropes for a couple of days and then disappear. We are to have our apartment perfect by that day. On the morning of the 10^th of April we will drive as far as Saint George and stay with Dan and Cathy Sheffer overnight and then come on in on the 11^th of April. The weeks are going by so fast now that it seems we turn around and another one is gone. We have to ask ourselves, "What just happened?"

                We were asked by the Stake Relief Society president to go to her home where she could go through our mission pictures and make copies for the Relief Society history. Sister Crane said that we should have been the stake photographers because we had been in so many places throughout the year.   

                We are having a great activity as a zone. To encourage the missionaries to help their investigators progress we are earning eggs for an Easter egg hunt by giving lessons. It is a fun way to encourage the companionships. We will have the hunt on April 1^st. That is a great way to celebrate April Fools.

                There is a sweet couple from Exeter who is going up to Utah for business and General Conference. Brother Hightower is the high councilman over missionary work. They are taking three boxes up for us. We are so grateful. It will be easier to load our car for our return trip.

                Today we started in the 1^st Ward, and then went to the 3^rd Ward. We taught Priesthood in that ward. Then to the 6^th Ward and then to the 7^th Branch. After meetings we taught three lessons, had two visits and then went home. The big drama today was in the Single's Branch. A young man who was baptized a few months ago was dumped by his girlfriend for not living gospel standards. He took it hard. Today he dressed all in black including a black face mask gloves and glasses. When he sat down in the chapel several people freaked out. He looked scary and this was the church where the bishop was shot just a few years ago. Many of the people there were in the building when that terrible event occurred. We went and talked with him. We explained that some of the people were scared and he needed to uncover his face or sit out in the foyer with us. He refused. The whole time he never said a word. Then he decided to leave the building.

Elder Sheffer went with Brother Hightower to test drive the car. Brother Hightower is a great mechanic and our car has been giving us a little trouble. On the way back to the building, we passed three police cars parked and talking to the young man. The people had been made nervous enough that they had called the police. He is a good young man, but you have to be careful sometimes.

                Today we went to dinner. They asked, "Now that you are finishing your mission are you going to go out again?"

                Elder Sheffer answered, "I would like to take her out every week, but I am afraid in a couple of weeks we'll have to start paying for our dinners."

                                                                God bless you all. Elder and Sister Sheffer

PS Sister Sheffer found a street named Norman. That is her father's name.

Elder Sheffer is posing with a squirrel trap.

Elder Sheffer is standing with Joncina the crossing guard at the elementary school. We met him when we first came out on our mission. He blesses everyone and blesses his crosswalk every morning.

Elder Sheffer with Brother Allen Ross-- Elder Sheffer replaced Elder Ross in Visalia in January 1977-- small world

Luck of the Irish

Luck of the Irish

The Luck of the Irish                                                                                                       March 18, 2013

 

        We had a very full week. Sunday was St. Patrick's Day and we were invited to enjoy dinner at the Mann's home. They served us Irish Shepherd's Pie which they renamed in our honor. They said from now on we'll call it Sheffer's Pie. Sister Mann is from Blackfoot, Idaho and she told us that this special pie had to be made with Idaho potatoes. She has an amazing collection of Idaho potato memorabilia. In the picture notice the potato plush doll.

        We also celebrated with Danniel Lewis who was baptized one year ago Sunday. She will be graduating from high school this year and going on a trip to Europe.

        Saturday, we had a wonderful anniversary. Judith Arribere was baptized and she was married right after by the bishop. She is an amazing woman who has had a full and difficult life and she smiles through it all.  Kent Woolley, her new husband, has been by her side for five years and helped her through many things. She has been a governor in the Lion's club and is truly a woman of service. We now share the same anniversary date.

        Friday was our last tri zone conference. We love being with the missionaries. We learn so much and are well fed spiritually and physically. The time and effort that goes into these meetings is understood by very few. We so appreciate the service given by so many.

        Thursday, after the interview for Judith and her surprise announcement of her wedding plans we were able to drive to Fresno and Sister Sheffer was asked to be the escort for Itha Jack for her endowments. She was baptized in February last year. She was glowing and felt the spirit of the moment. She hopes to return soon to be sealed to her husband who passed away three years ago. We don't know if we will still be here for that, but she has great support from the ward.

        We are still working hard and having many lessons and meeting wonderful people. We have a lot of details to take care of before the Williams come to town. That is the couple who will replace us. We take one day at a time, but the days are flying by.

        We heard from our bishop, Bishop Rich in our home ward. We will be speaking in sacrament meeting on April 21^st. The meeting starts at 1:00pm. The chapel is across the street from our home. 445 West 1800 South, Orem UT.

        We still need to file our taxes!! So much to do. We love our mission and we understand now why it is so difficult to return home. We love the people here and in each ward. We have been asked to purchase a home and move to Visalia. We know we will always be welcome.  In so many ways this place feels like home to us.

        We miss our family and friends at home. We are grateful that there is technology to help in keeping in touch with the world of friends and family. 

        Elder Sheffer was surprised that we took 75 photos this week. Please enjoy a few.

                                                                        All our love, God bless  Elder and Sister Sheffer

 

A Special Witness of Jesus Christ

March 11, 2013

Sister Sheffer finished Preach My Gospel from cover to cover reading all of the references. It only took six months.

The gas prices here are very high, over $4.00 a gallon. 

A Special Witness of Jesus Christ

A Special Witness of Jesus Christ

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                                              March 10, 2013

This week we were asked to invite 15 people a day to come and see an apostle of Christ. We had seven nonmembers and quite a few inactives come and listen to D. Todd Christofferson. It was amazing. Three of our investigators now have solid baptismal dates. We need to get with the rest of them before the spirit fades. We asked each one to ask God a question in prayer and then come to the conference and receive the answer. When the Apostle got up he apologized for the disjointed talk he would give, but said he was impressed to talk about several different things. He then answered the questions our investigators had. (The ones we visited with right after were very touched. The others too, but we haven't confirmed it with them yet.) The stake was instructed to save half the chapel for nonmembers. It was filled up, members who brought nonmembers sat by them to fellowship. After the conference we were greeting people and a brother came up to introduce himself. It was Mark Moeai, the son of Ann and Tui Moeai from our home ward. His parents said, When you go to Visalia you might see the Sheffers. We were able to take a picture.

We have been sending out our farewell notices. This mission invites people up to the stake center by the Temple to hear departing missionaries bear their testimonies. We called Israel Madrano, our first baptism, and invited him. He was having a family birthday party at Chuck E Cheese in Visalia. He invited us over. We were able to see the whole family. One of the brothers is in a gang and showed us his wound. He was in Strathmore and was shot at seven times. One bullet went through his elbow and into his ribs. He showed us his scars, or they will be once they heal.

We had two of our recent converts move away last week. One gave us a bunch of freezer food and the other gave us some food, a Juicer, and a wheat grinder. They asked us to find some people who could use them. It seemed like just the next day that a lady we are teaching, who has no teeth, told us that she would be so much healthier if she could just get a juicer. Her sister was going to try to get her one, but they were too expensive. We told her about the juicer and delivered it to her. It was a high end juicer which was in great shape. This is another one of the everyday miracles that happen on missions. It seems like every day God is letting us know that he is aware of every one of his children.

The new Stake President's wife was a seminary teacher and they released her and called Brother Henrikson  the dentist Elder Sheffer has visited several times. When we were visiting this last time Elder Sheffer offered our services as a substitute any time he needed one. He said that he was looking for one for March 8^th. It was a great experience even though it was early. The course of study this year is New Testament.  

We received several calls inviting us to the second ward Pot Luck . We became suspicious. Someone finally told us that it was a farewell for us and that we would be asked to bare our testimonies. It was a sweet experience.  They song "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." We shed tears and took pictures.

One of our ward senior missionary couples is very much into music. Brother Baughman sings in barber shop groups. He invited us to a concert and even gifted us the tickets to go. It reminded us of concerts that Esther Duncan's group does. What a treat.

                                                                                The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. God bless you all

                                                                                Elder and Sister Sheffer

Move to Visalia to Hear the Gospel

Move to Visalia to Hear the Gospel

When we first arrived in Visalia we heard from many of the members about a special visit they had from Elder Henry B. Eyring seven and a half years ago. He had said that many people would move to Visalia not knowing why. The reason would be to receive the gospel. He also said that there were thousands of people ready to hear the gospel. This week we had two recent converts move from Visalia after being baptized. The Woods moved to Texas and the Allens moved to Pennsylvania. It was interesting. Usually the missionaries are the ones that move around, not the converts. Neither of the converts had been to the temple. In the Missionary Committee Meeting Sister Sheffer told the group that these converts need to get to the temple before they left.  It seemed like an impossible task, but everyone jumped in and helped. By that evening the converts had recommends in their hands. They had babysitting arranged. They also had an appointment with the family history consultant in their ward to get family names. They had another ward offer to take them with them to the temple on Tuesday night. It made our head spin to watch it all unfold. Many people doing much work for someone else to make something wonderful happen. What a miracle! Here in Visalia this kind of miracle is commonplace. (If miracles ever can be) If we all lift where we stand huge burdens are made light.

The stake is a beehive of activity preparing and inviting for the visit of D. Todd Christsoffersen, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know of seven investigators who will be there to learn at the feet of an apostle. This week will be filled with inviting as many people as we can in addition to those we are teaching. Everyone is excited to hear what inspiration and guidance the Lord has for this part of His vineyard.

This last transfer there were so many new missionaries and visa waiters that we had a late night phone call from our zone leader asking if we would go to Costco and purchase a traveling fold-up bed for a threesome of Elders. We were not able to buy it that night because we had appointments that didn't finish until after Costco was closed. We felt a little sad for the Elder who was chosen to sleep on the floor that night.

We had the opportunity to help serve lunch to the homeless. It is called the Bethlehem Center and the Stake helps on the third Tuesday of each month.  This was our third time of helping. We are able to help when it is transfer week and we don't have district meeting. So, a third Tuesday on a transfer week is rare. We have enjoyed serving.

We have heard that one of the 58 new missions will be Bakersfield, just south of us. We are wondering how the boundaries will change but this change is scheduled for July and we will be home.

There are always miracles large and small found in the Lord's work. We appreciate members who reach out in small ways to touch people's lives. Seeds are planted every day and they grow. (Alma 32)

                Thank you for your replies, letters, and updates. We love you all. God bless you

Elder and Sister Sheffer

PS Our Facebook is David Gaile Sheffer and our blog is http://grandmagaile.blogspot.com