October 18th 2016
Today I had the opportunity to go on splits with Elder Schmidt. Elder
Schmidt is probably one of my most favorite Elders I have met out
here. We have been close friends since we first came in contact!( he's
the kid in the picture that our arms were locked in last weeks
pictures I sent home) Me and elder Schmidt click........
"This is why going out with Elder Schmidt was so refreshing. I didn't feel pressure to pathway someone or stress out about how our numbers were going that day! I actually could just talk to someone and hear what they were going through and then bore witness on how the gospel had changed my life and how it could change their lives! It was the most spiritual day of my mission by far! We had miracle after miracle! When we had just finished knocking a particular street we had decided to keep going. We came to a street where there were 3 directions we could go: left, straight, or right. I was just gonna go straight but then I felt a strong prompting to go left, and the more we walked straight the stronger that prompting became. I stopped to ponder my thoughts on what to do and decided to ask Elder Schmidt to see which way we should go. Elder Schmidt immediately said left. So we went left and started knocking and we got nothing! Everyone either rejected us or was not home. We got to the last house on the street and sadly still nothing. I didn't understand? I was so sure that we we were prompted by the spirit to go down this street. We were about to just leave and go to one of our appointments but we decided to keep knocking as we both felt that there was a reason we went this direction! We went around to the other side of houses that were to the back of the street and decided to continue our knocking. As we we approached the first house we knocked on the door it was answered by a man. We went through our normal routine of explaining who we are and what we do. After we finished he stood there and stared at us for a little bit and then said "This is incredible I cant believe you guys are here" and invited us in! He further told us the hard times he was going through as he fired his heart out to us. We knew if we had stopped we would never been there for Daniel that day! We knew that we were guided to Daniel by the power of the Holy Ghost! The whole day was filled with miracles like this one! We had so much fun that day talking to people, loving them, baring our witness and our testimony with them, sharing spiritual experiences with each other, laughing and having fun. That was the first day I actually felt like a missionary in a while. I love Elder Schmidt and am so thankful to have him as a friend out here on the mission. This day helped me not to forget my purpose here as a missionary."
October 22nd 2016
We traveled to Hull today for splits with the zone leaders it went
very well we found 5 potentials and 1 new investigator and taught 2
lessons within the course of 4 hours. For some reason every time Elder Walters and I get together we seem to catch a little luck. After we finished the day we went back to the flat and ate and waited for Elder Schmidt and Elder Callahan to come back for
mission conference with President Nelson. While we were awaiting we received a
phone call with terrible news that Elder Schmidt's sister had just
passed away and he was going through a hard time. My heart sank. I
tried putting myself in his shoes and tried imagining if something
would have had happened to Leah or Josie while I was gone. I could not
bare the thought. I could not believe what was happening. Elder
Schmidt arrived and came and gave me a big hug. Emotions starting
coming to me, but I did not let myself cry, I wanted to be strong for him
but my heart throbbed for him. After talking and trying to get his
mind off the death of his sister, we went to bed. I slept next to him and I could hear
sniffling and tears come to him. I layed there praying wishing that
someway, somehow he could find comfort.
October 23rd 2016
We woke up at 3 to travel to Leeds today to listen to President Nelson and 5 other general authorities today.
We went over many scriptures and discussed how we are witnesses of Christ. As I thought
he was coming to a conclusion (I thought this because he had just
closed his scriptures and was making closing remarks) he quickly
shared that he had been impressed to share with us a passage of
scripture D&C 31. He shared to us the story of
Thomas B. Marsh who was called to preach the gospel by the Prophet
Joseph Smith. Thomas B Marsh was going through a rough time becausehe had lost family members while he was out serving.
Doctrine and covenants 31 is the letter that the Prophet Joseph Smith
wrote Thomas B. Marsh. The letter was revelation given through Joseph
Smith to Thomas B. Marsh, September 1830. The occasion was
immediately following a conference of the Church (see the heading to
section 30). Thomas B. Marsh had been baptised earlier in the month
and had been ordained an elder in the Church before this revelation
was given.
1–6, Thomas B. Marsh is called to preach the gospel and is assured of
his family’s well-being; 7–13, He is counseled to be patient, pray
always, and follow the Comforter.
1 Thomas, my son, blessed are you because of your faith in my work.
2 Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family;
nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones;
and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be
one with you in my church.
3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is
come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad
tidings of great joy unto this generation.
4 You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant,
Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth,
yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned.
5 Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins
are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back,
for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall
live.
6 Behold, verily I say unto you, go from them only for a little time,
and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them.
7 Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive
you. And I will establish a church by your hand;
8 And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when
they shall be gathered.
9 Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile.
Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast.
10 Behold, I say unto you that you shall be a physician unto the
church, but not unto the world, for they will not receive you.
11 Go your way whithersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the
Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go.
12 Pray always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward.
13 Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. These words are
not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by
the will of the Father. Amen.
After reading this President Nelson bore testimony and his apostolic
witness and testified that as missionaries were not only blessing the
lives of us but our families! Elder Schmidt as president Nelson spoke
these words he crouched over and began to ball into his hands! I knew
that he had just got his question answered! That day I got to witness
in a first hand experience on how gods prophets are inspired for Gods
children here on the earth! The spirit was so strong! We traveled home
that day and Elder Schmidt was happy he looked like he had found piece
he was himself again. I know that Heavenly Father had answered elder
Schmidt's question that day and in doing so he answered mine!
