I HEART Abbott

This week has been so sick! Elder Abbott and I are really getting along and  have been having so much fun with each other and we are working so hard as well. We went on two exchanges this week and made it a point to focus on the missions slogan of "more faith than fear" by talking with everyone, it was so fun! We were able to find some new investigators and really help the elders out a lot.
 

But on the real though, I literally love Elder Abbott soooo much!! He is one of my favorite companions! He and I have the same personality and lots of the same interests. This morning for P-day we went to the pier and had a super sick photo shoot with his crazy good camera. We are working super hard with one another and have been blessed to have lots of people fall into our lap to teach; I am finally feeling that this is what missionary work is all about: having fun, growing up, and learning lots. I love it!!

 

We had zone conference this week and a lot of great spiritual upliftment. There was a training on the first great commandment, and it was so great! I feel that we could all give a little bit more love to God; we can give up some time on our phone or tv to read or pray, or even get out and serve God's children, we just need to be a little bit more "anxiously engaged in a good cause" rather than wasting our time away on things that don't matter now, and definitely wont matter a year down the road. As we were talking about this, President Smith got choked up, and told us that his son was getting sealed in the DC temple, and he couldn't be there.... he then said that if he couldn't be there with him, than he couldn't think of of a better place to be than with us. It's so amazing how much he has sacrificed to come and serve us and the Lord. He literally sold his home in Arizona, left his law firm, and moved to Florida to tend 185 missionaries for 3 years, if that isn't love, I don't know what is.

 

Recently I have really been trying to focus on doing things out of a love and devotion for the Savior, rather than obligation, and it has really changed my whole out look on the mission and life in general. When things are done out of love there is so much more meaning, dignity, and diligence behind it. I am so thankful for my Savior and all that he has done for me, and continues to do! If we just turn towards him and simply do the things he asks us to do than our life will improve, no matter what!!!! All it takes is a desire to have a better life, a particle of faith, and experimenting upon that particle to see if it brings forth good fruit, but it always does!

I love y'all and hope that you have a great week!!

Elder Schipaanboord