Sick Again

Well, I got sick again.  Gosh, I've been sick for like 3 weeks now, it is so rough!  Thankfully it's not bad enough to keep us inside but man it makes it pretty hard to concentrate during study time and the lessons.  I can't wait to regain my heath!

 

So we taught Kelsey and the Anderson clan the Word of Wisdom this week.  We thought that it was going to be a rough lesson for them but they actually enjoyed it a lot.  Some of the people there have a hard time with some of the things in the Word of Wisdom but they understand that it is there to help them.  One of the girls that was there for the lesson (Roxy : 21) had a personal testimony of this and that it would make her life so much better if she could kick her bad habits.  It was pretty powerful to hear her testimony and see it in her eyes as well!  We are going to start working with her some more because she really does want a better life for her and her 2 kids (not living with them).

 

We also went to see Ingram family that has a LOT of drama in their lives (I could write 10 pages and still not have covered it all).  They just got their house back, we went inside for the first time and it was so dang sad.  I realized how fortunate that we are!  This house was bad, like really bad... I felt terrible for them and the kids.  I wish I could do something for them!  We can't really do much and it is hard to see.  The mom and grandma aren't very nice people but it's the kids that we love so much!  They are the sweetest people and deserve the world but yet they have almost nothing.  It kills me!  I thought that staying in the states meant that I would be around all these well off families that have it made but I have seen WAY more people that have hardly anything, it is so sad.  Never take what you have for granted. take a step back from your busy lives and look at all the things that you have and thank the Lord for them.  For a house, for shoes, clothes, a washer and dryer, a bathroom.   Whatever it is, tell the Lord how thankful you are for it because there are some people out there that don't have it.

 

I really do love you guys and hope that you have an awesome week!

 

Elder Schipaanboord

A Couple Days Off

This week was a strange one.  We had big plans to teach a bunch of people but it all fell through when Elder Peck and I both got sick.  We layed in bed, sleeping, because we couldn't move.  Then when we got feeling better,  Elder Peck messed up his ankle pretty bad, so we couldn't do much that day either.  When it is all said and done, we spent 3 days inside doing nothing but sleeping and reading.  It was pretty boring and made the days go by so slow!  It made us really want to go out and teach even more!

After we recovered, we went out and taught a bunch of lessons!  It was awesome!  We have been teaching a lot of investigators lately who actually want to learn, rather than people who are just too nice to say no to us, so everything actually feels worth it!

We taught on lesson on the porch of the Walker's house, because there wasn't another guy there, so we couldn't go in.  We set up two chairs in their doorway while they had chairs all around their door on the inside, it was pretty funny, but pretty cool too!

We also taught a lesson to a less active and recent convert family, the Mallory's, all about peace and how true and long lasting peace only comes when you put Jesus Christ at the center of your life.  We then talked about going to the temple and they really felt the spirit and that they need to start working towards going through the temple.

This sunday we had regional conference where Elder Rasband and Elder Hales spoke via broadcast.  They talked a lot about temple work and how each stone laid for a temple weakens the powers of the advisory.  That's how it is with our testimony as well.  The more stones we add to the foundation of our testimony, the less power the adversary has over us and the easier our lives become.

I am so thankful for all that the Lord has blessed me with and know that our Heavenly Father is always there for us and will make our lives a lot better if we just come to him.  Matt :11

I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

Elder Schipaanboord

Elder Peck's ankle

Busy, Busy, Busy

This week was super crazy!!  We had so much stuff going on all week!!  We had to say good bye to Sister Haught, as she left to her new area (she has been here 9 months).  We also taught the most lessons since I have been out!  We were on fire!  It was incredible how much the Lord blessed us and put people in our paths.  There were a couple of investigator families that we were thinking about dropping because we could never get a hold of them but we were able to go and have a good lesson with and they want us to start coming back at least once a week!!  We also have a new investigator, who is really interested in the church.  We taught him the restoration and he is super excited to read The Book of Mormon, I cant wait to meet back with all theses people and continue to teach them!

 

On Sunday we had Kelsey show up to church (the other people living with her couldn't get off work or find a ride) and she loved it!  We went over to her house later in the day and she told us all about the stuff she learned, she is so excited to be baptized and is making everyone else listen to what we teach, because she loves it so much!  Also, at church was a less active member who we have gone to see 3 or 4 times but have never gotten in to share something with him.  He randomly showed up and enjoyed it!  Everyone at church came up and introduced themselves to him, it was awesome how welcomed he felt.

 

The people that we are teaching are super prepared, its amazing!  I know that the Lord has been working with them for a while and are now going to be receiving his gospel soon!

 

Today, we got to go with a member down to Eglin Air Force base and get a personal tour of their new planes and we got to watch them take off like 300 yards away from us!!  We got to get up close and personal with one and got see a bunch of its components.  They couldn't really tell us much because it is pretty classified (some technology on it).  The member also took us to the airforce clothing store where he ordered some patches for us (with our last names on them and one with FTM [Florida Tallahassee Mission]) and bought us shirts; it was such a fun time, super cold, but fun!!

I am looking forward to this upcoming week, we have great plans to help the people we are teaching progress.  I hope that y'all have a great week and take time to remember all the miracles and sacrifice that our Savior preformed.

Love you all!

Elder Schipaanboord 

 

From Christmas

From Christmas

From Christmas

From Christmas

 

P-Day

Goodbye Sister Haught

Elder Peck thinks he's a thug.

Hanging out with Justin Walker.

Elder Peck gave Justin a haircut.  He was crying because the trimmers were super hot.

Two F-35's

 

Bro. Holmsted

 

Elgin

 

Rain, Rain and more Rain

This week was pretty crazy with all the rain storms that we have been having!!  Just about every day this week there was a down pour for the entire day!!  There was one day where we woke up and looked outside our apartment only to see that there was a river right behind our complex that wasn't supposed to be there.   But the work must go on!

We went on two trade offs this week (one with Elder Judd and one with Elder Burch).  On both of these trade offs, I had to take over the area for a day, and let me tell ya, it was pretty scary!  I was in charge of planning, contacts, and teaching, but boy am I grateful for the opportunity!!  Over those 2 days, I grew so much!  I now feel mostly comfortable with teaching and contacting people, its still a little scary but man it is much much easier now!  It's crazy how when you are kinda put in a situation where you are forced to do something that you figure it our and grow so much more.  "There is little growth in the comfort zone, and there is little comfort in the growth zone."  That saying is so true!!

On one of the trade offs, we went to this one house to teach an investigator who is going to get baptized, this guy there was kinda making jokes and getting super sidetracted and talked about how he had been baptized before a lot of times.  I was just sick of it and laid down the law.  I told him that just as Christ was baptized once that we are only to be baptized once, by immersion, and someone who holds the proper authority.  I then told him that Christ set the example and was baptized this way, and that he WALKED 70 miles to be baptized by someone who held the proper authority.  It was so cool!  He just sat there and was all ears and was just like "wow" and you could tell that it all made sense to him.  We then asked him that when he comes to know that the things are true if he will get baptized, and he agreed!

The next time that we went over there, the lady that owns the house (less active member) told him a little bit about blessings, so he asked if we could give a blessing to his son.  We taught him what a blessing is and how it is done and then gave is baby a blessing.  He really loved it and was super appreciative of it.  It was pretty neat because he asked me to give the blessing because he knows me more and likes me.  Then the member said, "You know, if you get baptized, one of them can baptize you."  He immediately pointed at me and said "You're my man."  hahaha   It was funny the way he reacted but super cool that he would want me to do that.  Hopefully he can continue to progress and make and keep that commitment.

In the same house, there are 18 people there, 13 who are of age to be baptized.  They are all now gathering around as we share a message!  The cute 10 year old girl, who is going to be baptized soon, always goes and rounds them all up and has them sit on the floor while we teach.  They get sidetracted, so we have to call them out and ask them what we just talked about, and then they start to pay attention.  I feel just like a middle school teacher hahaha.  But all these people love us!  They are all committed to come to church this week but don't have a ride, so we are working on finding one for them.  Everyone is in shock that these people are listening to us but it is so cool what the Lord can do!

We got transfer calls last night, and I was super scared and stressed out because we are finally picking up the work and have investigators to teach!  Thankfully I am staying here with Elder Peck for at least one more transfer.  I am so excited that I get to keep teaching all of these people and will hopefully get to see at least one get baptized before I leave.

I love you guys so much and hope that you have an amazing 2016!

Elder Schipaanboord

PS- Dallin's birthday is coming up (right after Valentine's).  Let's get some birthday love heading his way!!