One Eternal Round

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                              April 6, 2013

                This is the last letter from our apartment in Visalia. It is probably the last letter from Visalia. We need to be out of our apartment today because the Williams are coming to replace us today. We will be sleeping at the 1^st Ward bishop's house for our last four days on the mission.

                Elder Sheffer was so anxious that he woke up before 4:00A.M.  and said, "We need to wash to mattress cover right now." Sounds crazy doesn't it. Well not really. A few days ago the mission office called and said that they had receive a letter from the power company that stated there would be a planned power outage in our area for repairs and it would start at 6:00am and end at 6:00pm on Saturday the 6^th of April. That is today. So, your Dad figured that he needed to start the laundry at 4:30am to be sure there would be enough time to have the mattress cover dried and the apartment vacuumed before the power was turned off.

                We have spent the last two days cleaning and packing, whenever we aren't teaching. We are leaving most of our things in the garage and on Wednesday we will pack the car and drive off. The funny thing is that Thursday the Sister over housing called and said they were going to bring more things for the apartment. We were one of the first senior couples to come on a mission when the policy changed and the mission was to find and furnish the apartments. They didn't know what the budget was for this task. So, for us we got dishes for four, four chairs, a table, a desk, dresser, nightstand, couch, love seat and four lamps. All the young Elders loved the fact that we had a couch. Our back room was empty. So, the trailer arrived and out came a leather recliner and two twin beds for the guest room, additional dressers, coffee table, end tables, and the list goes on. We had four Elders come over to help assemble the new furniture. Elder Sheffer said, "I knew if I served a good mission I would be blessed with a recliner.  But I didn't know I would only have it for twenty four hours."

                Just before the priesthood session the Williams arrived. They are an amazing couple who have served two missions. The first was in the Ukraine and the second was at Nauvoo.

April 8, 2013

                We fed the sisters Saturday morning. Sister Baysden will be going home with us because she broke her colar bone. She was scheduled to go on the next transfer, so that was in an acceptable time window. In the picture Sister Sheffer is feeding her a grapefruit because her arm made eating grapefruit hard.

                Sunday the 7^th we enjoyed conference and prepared for our last baptism. Michael Malmgren was baptized by his father-in-law Wilem Madra who lives in North Salt Lake but was planning to vacation in Death Valley when Michael decide to be baptized. Michael had wanted to stop smoking for many years and we were able to use and stop smoking program with him which has the person make commitments, we would call and support him every day for a week. That was one of the final steps for him. When the baptism and confirmation was complete he asked to share his testimony. As he said it, "I wanted to be the first to welcome everyone into my family." He has a very kind heart. We are so grateful to have a wonderful ward senior couple who will teach him the new member lessons. We had to make a late night trip to the Exeter bishop's house to get his signature on the baptismal record so we could send it into the mission office. The bishop was not in town for the baptism. The bishop said, "I can't sign this form without a tie on." Elder Sheffer decided to share his tie with him, the form was signed.

                Our last meeting Sunday night was with the ward senior missionaries. We have heard that another couple will be called soon. We are so excited. This will leave only one ward that doesn't have a ward senior couple. The Williams the full time senior couple was there and they are excited. We know that just like us they are overwhelmed. They have a wonderful spirit and desire. They will be helped and well supported by the members here in Visalia. We were able to take a picture of this amazing group. The Lara couple from the 5^th Ward wasn't at the meeting. They work with the Spanish Ward.

                Today is our last official proselyting day. We are sad to think of it ending. There will be many tears tomorrow night at the farewell. We love the Lord and His children and the best work in the world is missionary work. But we know that His work is one eternal round and we are so very grateful that we have been able to do this work for a short season and hope to serve again sometime.

                After tonight's lessons we will turn our full attention to home and our beautiful family who has grown so much and been so patient in sharing us with the people of Visalia. We are excited to see them and hold them in our arms. It is very difficult to have your grandchildren hug the computer goodbye after a Skype visit. We love you all. We will be home on the 11^th of April and our homecoming is on the 21^st of April at 1:00pm. We hope to see you there.

               

                                                God Bless You  Elder and Sister Sheffer

               

               

Fwd: The Final Week

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The Final Week                                                  April 1, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

This Easter Sunday two of the wards we attended talked about the Savior's finally week of his mortal life. He entered Jerusalem as a recognized welcomed king. Only He knew what truly was coming. He tried to prepare His disciples, but they couldn't see the possibility.

We now face our final week in Visalia. Our mission is quickly coming to an end. We will be out of our apartment on the morning of April 6^th. The new couple comes in on that day. The bishop from the 1^st Ward has allowed us to stay in his home for our final four nights. Uncle Dan and Aunt Cathy will host us on the night of April 10^th, in Saint George.  Then it all comes to an end and only the Lord knows what lies before us. He is trying to prepare us, hope we can follow His guidance.

The Brown family had a date at one time, it passed. They haven't set a new one and now it looks like it will be someone else's turn to work with this wonderful family. We had a family night with them. We brought a Hill Cumorah Cake it was the Barbara's birthday. They truly are the salt of the Earth. They will be baptized soon.

On Wednesday we had a President's interview. After interviewing the whole mission he called a special zone conference. The eight northern zones met with him on Saturday in two different sessions. We met with him on Sunday with the three southern zones, Hanford, Porterville, and Visalia. After the conference we had a kneeling prayer. Sister Sheffer caught President and Sister Gelwix on their knees before they got up. It was a great picture.

Mike Malmgren is the young man we are teaching. He will be baptized on April 7^th. We have worked with him for over a year. He has quit smoking with the program that is in our resource binder. He has wanted to join for years. His wife is a member. This is so exciting. They will be able to be married for eternity in about a year.

Friday we went to the temple again with Itha Jack. She took us to lunch afterwards. It was a great morning. At the restaurant when they finished preparing the order they called for Aida. This was also very special for us because it was only her second time at the temple and when missionaries leave to mission they are able to attend the temple one last time with the President and his wife. This time the temple will be closed. We were so happy to go with Itha just before the temple closed for cleaning.

We were invited to the Stake Youth Baptism Saturday. There were 9 baptisms. We knew most of the families. It has been such a blessing to get to know so many wonderful people here. We were able to help with two of the confirmations. One on that day (Sister DeForest) and the other at church the next morning (Sister Smythe).

Sunday was so full of meetings. After attending several wards the Zone Conference went from 3:30 to 7:30. The conference was great. It answered a lot of our questions. The Lord truly does help us through the mission experience. After the conference we had a visit to the hospital and then home for a greatly anticipated rest. It wasn't possible to write our weekly letter Sunday night this week. It took to much energy to move your fingers on the keyboard. The pictures this week are people and places.

We had a delightful Easter Dinner with the Gubler family. They have invited us for Christmas Dinners, and now Easter. They really take care of us on the holidays. They also give us as much citrus as we can use as long as it is in season. We have been spoiled with the freshest citrus in the world.

We Love You all!

Elder and Sister Sheffer

pictures:

President and Sister Gelwix

Elder Robert Wright III last night in the mission

Sister Sheffer at temple with Itha Jack

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