Bye Chipley!!

This week has been absolutely crazy!!  We taught Jonita a bunch this week and had so much success!  We found out that her question that has been bugging her for years was about the literal gathering of Israel in the new Jerusalem, cause someone had said something to her years ago about it and flipped out and told him he was a liar.  Well we taught her about it and showed it to her in The Book of Mormon and she said "Alright, it's true, I believe it all."  So we then asked her if she would be baptized and with out hesitation she said "YES!"  It was so sick!!  We also went over and taught her about The Word of Wisdom and she basically taught it to us and 100%, accepted it, and said that she is already living it!!  While teaching her she said something to the member that made all the hardships on the mission worth it; she said "There is just something about these two Elder's that really clicked with me, they weren't like the others I have met, they were just for me."  It was so amazing!  I am so thankful that she stopped us that day in Walmart and that I have had the pleasure of meeting with and teaching her! 

We also met with Nancy and Westly Kelly this week and talked a lot about baptism.  We taught them about the sticky note thing with The Book of Mormon and they got very specific answers, it kinda freaked out Westly hahahaha.  Westly has never been baptized but wants to and Nancy wants to become a member so bad, so we committed them to be baptized, and they accepted, they are praying for a date right now!!! 

On Sunday, none of the speakers showed up so the First Counselor in the Bishopric came up to Sabin and I right before the meeting started, literally 3 minutes before, and asked if we would give a talk.  It's crazy how much I have grown, I wasn't scared at all!  I have learned that if you know the doctrine and what you want to speak about you really don't need notes at all, you can just get up there and start talking about it.  So I decided to speak about something that I have been pondering a lot lately, and that is prayer.  It's so amazing that we have the ability to speak with our Heavenly Father!  The person who made everything and has all the power in the Universe wants to hear from us, and will help us!  I think that the more sincere and humble our prayers are and the more we pray for things to line up with the Lord's will, the more powerful our prayers will be and the more answers you will get.  One thing I have been doing lately is really and sincerely thinking and visualizing that I am speaking with Heavenly Father and truly thank Him for the blessings in my life and ask for His help.  As I have done this, I have realized a huge difference!!  I am thankful that we have the wonderful gift of prayer, and I know that God answers them!!  If you don't believe me, try it!  Offer up a humble and sincere prayer and I promise that the Lord will answer your prayer!!  He does it for me all the time!

It is amazing how much work is going on here in the Chipley ward, I am so thankful that I got to be a part of it, BUT of course, right when the baptism start to come, I get transferred....): that is okay though, I truly have loved this area; it took a while but I really do love the people and have enjoyed my time here.  The Lord has bigger and better things for me in store.  I am being transferred down to Lynn Haven to be with Elder Abrams!!  I am really excited!  I have served around Abrams multiple times and have been on exchanges with him and can't wait to put in work with him!

 

My new address is: 

2401 Stanford RD

APT 503 

Panama City, FL 32405

Thank you for every thing that y'all do for me!  I really do love all of you and hope that y'all have a great week!

Elder Schipaanboord