What a Week

Well this week has definitely been an interesting one.  It started off super awesome with us teaching a lot of less active people and finding new people to teach, then we split the area with the sisters and we lost everyone basically.  All the people that we had found to teach, we had to give to them (except that one awesome family that called us over from their porch) and a lot of the less actives we were visiting were on their side as well, so we had to start fresh all over again!  After the split area, we had no success what so ever!  Everyone here is SUPER nice and welcoming, but once you start to talk about religion they will get all defensive and start talking about how they believe in Christ and that they are already saved; they say they believe in Christ but aren't willing to talk with us about Him.  We have met the two pastors of the First Baptist Church down here and they both were super nice but tried to disprove what we were saying, so we just left because we knew it wouldn't go anywhere.   Speaking of other churches, there are about 40 DIFFERENT churches around here, they all basically believe the same thing, but yet they say they're better than the next.

Elder Peck's bike has a flat tire and we are out of miles in our car, so we have to walk everywhere, and in Crestview that means like 5 miles to someones house; I now understand why missionaries go through so many pairs of shoes!  While tracting, I found this massive pinecone that was as big as my head!  I couldn't believe it, but Elder Peck just thought of it as a normal thing.  Guess I'm just that Greenie that is so excited about every little thing, but whatever this place is cool!  My mom sent me a package and now even my family is calling me the Greenie!!  She was so cute and made sure everything she sent was green.

We made our first real meal (not cereal or ramen noodles) and it turned out pretty good!  It was this cheesy noodle stuff that was really good, with some mashed potatoes and gravy.

We were having a really bad couple of days, cause no one was talking to us and the days were super long and we were looking at our feet as we were walking and looked up to see a sign that said "smile" the Lord really does care for us and wants us to not lose hope and keep pressing forward.  The mission is hard work and the days our long, but on Sunday I was reading through the hymn book and came across How Firm a Foundation and it said "I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, up held by my righteous omnipotent hand."  It was really nice to read that and be reminded that the Lord is there to help me through the hard times.  Even though it's hard, I love it here and know that this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing and we will find people to teach!  I love the Gospel no matter what!

 Oh and my sister is super awesome and made this blog for me.

Love and miss you all.

Elder Schipaanboord

Write me letters and send pictures!
 Elder Schipaanboord

800 Spring Creek BLVD APT# 9206

Crestview, FL 32536

Tricking Elder Peck to holding a bowl of water to the ceiling.  hahaha We were showing each other magic tricks and so I told him that I knew this way sick one where the bowl filled with water would stick to the ceiling, so I got on a stool and put the bowl on the ceiling and told him to hold it there with the broom stick, so he did and then I then proceeded to take the stool and run away leaving him holding the bowl of water with no choice but to drop it and get water all over him!