Rico 2.0 goes missing...

Some fun with Elder Hancock

Hey Family,

To be honest, it hasn't been looking too good for our investigators that we set baptism dates for last week, still staying optimistic but they both had rougher weeks this week.  As y'all (still don't like that word) have known, baptisms are few and far between here, however, One investigator was singing at a memorial service for someone he knew and he invited us to it and we found someone there, which was awesome.

Funny Story:  So as I have said earlier, Elder Hancock is Elder Roses boy, and we had three or so exchanges with them this week, during which, Rico 2.0 (the name of the duck Maddie gave me) was taken along with all of Elder haycock's ties, except his super ugly ones.

In answer to your question about what happened to my shirts?  North Carolina happened to my shirts, it'll get ya!

Elder Hancock is doing good, He's being transferred to Wilmington and I'm staying, but I don't know who is coming here until Tuesday.

Any unusual food?  Everyone in our ward is a grad student at Duke or UNC, so nothing weird.

Scripture for the week:  Ether 12:37

And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me:  If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean.  And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

Love,
Elder Shields

Numbers are up...

Hey Family,

So this week went very well for us, as far as numbers go it was the best week of my mission.  We were able to set two baptismal dates with our investigators; one on September 10th, and one on September 24th.  We are excited for them, we hope they will be able to make those dates!  Elder Hancock and I are going great.

Scripture for the week:  Ether 6:2

"For it came to pass after the Lord had prepared the stones which the brother of Jared had carried up into the mount, the brother of Jared came down out of the mount, and he did put forth the stones into the vessels which were prepared, one in each end thereof; and behold, they did give light unto the vessels."

Glad the family is doing good, I bet y'all are excited to have Lauren back for a bit!

Love,
Elder Shields

Spirit was Strong...

Hi guys,

Sorry, I guess I'm kind of boring, but not much to say.  I will be honest, I like replying to actual letters more than emails.  Which I know is more expensive and less good I guess but.....

I got my shirts and the Pizza.  Thank you!  It was funny when the pizza guy came we thought that the zone leaders were coming by because one of them is Elder Hancock's trainer so they just come by a lot.  Elder Hancock loves that kind of pizza now.

Elder Hancock and I are doing well, we get along just fine, haha, he has still yet to win a wrestling match!

Investigator/Finding update:  We found a man who has met with missionaries in the past but has issues with how God will allow the world to be in the state that it is in.  We taught about hope and agency and it was a super good lesson, spirit was strong.  Also we found a taxi driver who was waiting for someone in the church parking lot.

We had dinner with the Svennsons.  They are awesome and we mostly talked about how he is moving to Sweden in a few months.

Funny Experience:  I made Elder Hancock bike.....a lot.

One of the things I love and hate most about the mission is how often your weaknesses are shown to you.  One thing I am beginning to see on how happiness comes is not caring about yourself.  Out here we try to focus on our investigators and home we try to focus on caring more about our wife or children's needs more than ours, and therein lies true happiness.  God is so happy because he is so concerned for all of His children.  Anyway, that is a concept I have been looking into a lot recently.

Scripture:  Mormon 9:21

Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, counting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

Have a great week!

Miracles Wrought...

Elders of the District
Hall, Shields, Deveraux and Hancock

Hi All,

I finally got my debit card and my camera!  Yay!

I need some new shirts, a couple short sleeve and one long.  Size 15x32 please.

The fast went great yesterday.  We had a super awesome member family feed us for the dinner that we broke the fast and we had our investigator Neil at church on Sunday!  Also, a less active we have been working with, Brother Howell, came to church, there were miracles wrought.

I wish I could have been there at the dance class, haha, I would have loved to see that, it sounds like it was a great time.

Elder Hancock and I are getting along just fine, there is always some adjustment when you get a new companion.

Investigator Update:  No new investigators but we had one investigator come to church, Neil.  We challenged him to church on the doorstep and had a member come pick him up and he came!  It was great!  He told every one there he will be coming next week!

I have only been invited to dinner one time this week.  The members aren't as good at feeding us here, but they are great with missionary work and helping us out.

Funny Experience:  We are teaching a crazy funny African American lady who is so stereotypical.  She's hilarious!

Scripture for the week:
3 Nephi 27:14-15
"And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whethter they be good or whether they be evil.
And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works."

Hope Y'all have a great week,
Elder Shields

Members are key...

My scripture case that I made...

Hello!

I think the fast is a great idea!  We will for sure remember to fast Sunday!  There is power in fasts, so I'm excited.  I still haven't got the debit card, but I will let you know when I do.

The work is going awesome.  The Members are great and some will come out with us.  Best of all, they invite us over to teach investigators they find in their home!  Members are key.

Elder Hancock is great, he likes to make the work fun.  He's like a little kid.

We found three investigators this week, Jose, we taught in a members home, the Browns, and Mark we found through the area book and Ryan was found while I was on exchange, so I haven't met him yet.

Funny experience:  Elder Hancock hates biking...so we biked a lot.

The most winning sports coach is the NCU girls soccer coach.

The weather really has been bad, you're just wet and sweaty, but I'm used to sweating off a lot of weight.

Scripture for the week:
3 Nephi 18:29-30

"For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall for bid him.
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood."

Have a great week,
Elder Jake