Training

Hey people! This week has been a good one! There were some ups and downs but all for our growth and benefit! Plus some interesting moments. Now that I have served in the south for quite some time, I'm pretty used to people bashing with us and not agreeing with what we teach but this week was the first time that I have ever been bashed by a MEMBER! We went to visit a less active member and he told us he was Mormon for 29 years, then got remarried and went to the baptist church with his wife. Now he doesn't agree with a lot of our teachings. We tried to talk about the BOM but he completely shut us down over the stupidest things and kept arguing everything that we said. It was really frustrating trying to teach him but ultimately all that we could do was bear testimony. Even though he didn't accept our testimonies or anything we had to say, it was pretty cool to feel the Spirit confirm the truth of the things we said; I have found that the more I bear my testimony the stronger it gets, I love it!

I have started to study the gospel topic by topic, by using the bible dictionary and topical guide, it has changed my whole life, it's amazing!! This week I studied about charity and learned two really cool things. The first of which was that "pure religion.. is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions.." (James1:27), I love that!! If you think about what the Savior came and did, he went out serving those all around Him and helping them to have a better life; the Savior said "for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do." So why then don't we reach out and help our fellow man more? This is going to be a new focus for me, loving those around me and doing all that I can for them. The next thing that I learned is that "charity edifieth"(1Cor8:1). As I thought about this I thought of D&C50:22 that says "wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." If I want to understand those that I teach and their individual circumstances and want them to understand me and what I teach, then I must have charity for them so that we can be edified together and have one goal, to help lift them up and have a better life.

I was able to go on exchanges with the zone leaders this week, and had such a good time! I miss being a zone leader and being able to go on exchanges so often and being able to get to know so many different missionaries, but it's awesome just being able to go out and work in my area every single day with 100% focus. This exchange we worked so hard, and had so much fun! I have realized that the worth of a mission isn't in the success, but its in the work. As we were out, we went to try this less active, and found that she lived IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD! Like the hood, hood. She was the only white person in this entire apartment complex and neighborhood! hahahaha! We had never been there before! As we were talking with some of her neighbors she came out and was so happy to see us and welcomed us right into her home! Her dad used to be a Branch President in the Geneva branch but she hasn't been to church in quite sometime, so it was neat being able to sit down with her and talk about the basics of the gospel with her. After our lesson we talked about coming over at least once a week and she got super excited! This made me realize that no matter where you are, there are people that are ready to hear the message, even in the darkest areas.

The work here in Enterprise is really starting to pick up. We had 3 investigators at church this week and a bunch of member keep suggesting people to go and see. Even though we don't have a crazy amount of people to teach, we are on the edge of something great happening, I can just feel it! I really see a lot of potential for the next couple of transfers, I am excited! We got transfer calls yesterday, and I found out that I will be training a new missionary here in enterprise for my last 2 transfers! I am really excited!!! With the end of my mission not too far off, I have learned a lot by trial and error, and have also seen a lot of incredible missionaries and how they work, so I will be able to teach this new missionary all about being the most effective and powerful missionary possible, how to teach effectively, the importance of the Spirit, how and what to study, how to work with ward members, and what it means to be converted and a true disciple of Jesus Christ.  Honestly, the best thing about training a new missionary is that I will be getting trained by him in so many different ways. New missionaries are so humble and sincere, stick to the basics of missionary work, and rely so much on our Father in Heaven, I am really excited to learn all that I can from him!

thank yall for all that you do and say, i love yall!

keep on keepin on!

elder schipaanboord