Hectic

This week was a pretty hectic one, we hardly got any time to proselyte in our own area. On Tuesday we didn't have district meeting, but we had interviews with President, which are always good, I love hanging out with him and just getting some one on one time with an inspired Servant of the Lord, he always gives the best advice and helps so much! Since zone training was the following day, we had all the missionaries spend the night here in Panama, so we went on mini exchanges and picked a spot and tracted for like 3 hours! We had a total of 24 missionaries just out and about tracting, it was pretty cool! We found a couple of pretty solid people that we should start teaching this week, in fact one of the people we talked to, Jim Firimonte, loved what we had to say and said "Alright, I will read this (The Book of Mormon) and I want you back so we can discuss it." It's really cool what happens when you get out and put your trust in the Lord. The night of interviews we had a little zone building activity with lots of games and had a camp fire with s'mores, it was so sweet! This zone really is the best, I hope i don't leave for a while, but i think i will....

Wednesday we had our zone training and it went so well! It's crazy how the Spirit works; we had an elder teach on obedience, and then we were going to teach on the correct way to correct disobedience (with love and kindness), but he did it all, and it went perfectly with the training! We also were trained a little on finding, and something that was said really stuck with me, "You are here, because were 'found' by someone who wouldn't give up on you, so go out and find someone to return the favor." It made me think of the scripture "Freely ye have received, freely give." The Lord has given so much to us, so we must return the favor and serve Him by serving His children all around us.

When we finally got back into our area, we had dinner with a returning member family. While there we talked about the power of prayer, and they bore very powerful testimony of prayer. The dad, back in the day when he was in the army, he wanted to know if God was truly there, so he prayed and asked God to stop blessing him so he could know that he truly was there.  He said within a matter of 3 months he needed a hip replacement, which failed, so he got another one, and that surgery caused him to start having seizures..... it's is so crazy how much Heavenly Father truly does bless us!! Most of the things he blesses us with will never go noticed, because it is things that he prevents from happening. I am so thankful that God is in my life and for all of the very little things that He has given me! One thing I love to do is give a prayer of thanksgiving and just pray and thank Heavenly Father for everything I have. Every time I do, I see all the very little things, like socks, shoes, a bed, a car, scriptures, a phone, etc.. I encourage all of you to do the same, you will not regret it!

Something that I have been noticing a lot in my life lately is the abundance of the Spirit. I have always heard that if you live right you can always have the Spirit to be with you, but I never understood that until just recently. I can't explain it but I can literally feel of God's light and love at all times of the day! We will be driving down the road talking, and out of no where I will feel God's light, it is truly incredible!! The joy and happiness that this gospel brings to be is worth any sacrifice! I wouldn't trade the feelings that I have for the world!! I truly love this gospel so much!

Thank y'all for all that y'all do! I really appreciate each one of you and look up to you so much! Each of you has taught me at least on thing that has had a lasting impact on my life, so thank you! I hope y'all have a great week!

Elder Schipaanboord

Sorry no pictures, I get my camera back next Wednesday at transfers!