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

 

Go Tar Heels!

My Two Dads! (trainers)

My new area is the Chapel Hill First Ward!  Go Tar Heels!  The most winning sports coach in all history is in our ward.  I love it, this area is great and the ward is super great!

New Address:
108 Shadowood Drive Apt S
Chapel Hill   NC   27514

My new companion is Elder Hancock.  He is from Arizona.  We came out on the same plane.  I love Elder Hancock, he is awesome and a hard worker.  We have a similar sense of humor, we come from different places.  I am a city boy, and he is a farm boy from a cattle ranch.

This is the nicest apartment I have had yet, it has two levels!

The ward is stellar, the wml and the bishop are prime and the members, as far as we can tell, are great.  Both of us are new to the area.

Funny Experience:  The zone leaders have a rubber duck named rico and we stole it.

The teaching pool looks good and has a decent amount of people in it.

Scripture for the week:

Alma 5:14
"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye siritually been born of God?  Have you received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

Have a great week,
Elder Shields

Pressing forward...

Hi Guys,

So, for transfers they like do not tell us anything, so all that I know is that I will be getting transferred, and apparently my new companion is someone I know, so we will see.  No ideas where abouts.  elder Lofgreen will be staying and training.  Just about the whole district is leaving.  My thoughts about you going back to work...I say, do it!  I think that would be awesome.

Investigator/Finding Update:  It has been a struggle this week, but things turned better this Sunday.  One of the young women in our ward has a friend she has been working with and there are plans to get to meet her friend and start teaching her.  There was also a man who is not a member who came to church yesterday who has family who are members so, hopefully things go well with him.  I think we'll see some things happening before I leave.

The gross jelly bean?  Elder Lofgreen just shot me with his finger guns.

Scripture for the week:  They are the ones I have symbolism for on my new planner.  I would send a picture of it but.....hopefully we will be picking up my camera today.

Alma 60:23
"Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things?  Behold I say unto you, Nay.  Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also."

Isaiah 49:15-16
"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Yeas, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

Love,
 Jake

"...Perfect love casteth out all fear."

Hi Family,


Haha, that story about Matt made me laugh pretty good.  He wasn't always the most patient human in the world when it comes to children.  Haha, but I'm glad he is trying, so go him!  And tell Sarah that I say boyz r dum.  Haha cuz we are sometimes.  I have no worries about what is ahead in her future.  I am glad the family is doing good, when are your plans to go boating next?

I got all the info, for my debit card, and yes, I know what to do.

Investigator/Finding Update:  We labored long and hard in the hot sweaty sun and found no one.  Haha it's Zion's Camp out here.  There are some people and some referrals we got that we are excited for; I will let you know how those go!

Funny experience:  I gave Elder Lofgreen a really gross jelly bean and it was funny.

Scripture for the week:

Moroni 8:16
"Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except  they repent.  Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."

love,

Jake

...You still boat without me???

Hi Guys!

My worst nightmare has been realized!  You still will go boating without me...haha just kidding, that is so fun that you go to go though.  Where did you guys go, was it Echo?  Honestly there is not much to report on this week.  We met a lot of nice people, but none of them were willing to listen, there was actually a string of really nice people we were able to talk with, it was a record streak, but; unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, none of them were interested which was sad.  We will keep going, and continue to work hard.  I'm pretty sure I will be transferred next transfer to one of the Fayetteville zones, but we will see what the future holds.

I was not able to get my camera back yet, we don't have the car for a good while and the place is not close by.

The scoobies you sent handle the flight over just fine, and yes, you should send them again!

Investigator Update:  Caleb didn't show up for the appointment and we can't get in touch with him.

Scriptures for the week:

Matthew 26:41
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Alma 13:28
But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted about that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

Have a great week,
Jake