Happy Monday!
Highlights from last week:
Miracles!!!!
We were able to get in the door with 2 part member families this past week! The Dahle Family and the Soriano Family. Ever since I have been serving in Canby we have been trying to set up weekly lessons with these particular families and now we were finally able too! Oh Yeah! I was able to officially meet Brandon Soriano and his two daughters, Katherine and Marcie at our monthly ward "Taco Night," at Debi and Allen Clark's house. Brandon is a very nice man and his two daughters are the sweetest things. We were able to have a great lesson with them this past Tues and invited them to come to church WHICH THEY CAME ON SUNDAY!!! :) Sad part is that he is going to be moving soon so our time is limited...we will have to help him get back on his feet in the gospel and help him on his way. Super excited to work with them. Now the Dahle family is incredible! So Jeana Dahle is a less active mother of 2 daughters: Megan and Katelyn who is currently living with her boyfriend Kelly (non-member). Katelyn recently returned from serving a mission in South Carolina and Megan is less active currently living in Portland. Jeana is super solid. We have only met with her 3 times and she has already been coming to church for several weeks now (helps to have a RM living with her haha). She has stopped drinking coffee, tea, and alcohol (been clean for over a month now) and is doing her best to become active in the church again. She has a crazy busy job, but does all that she can to live the gospel. So neat to watch her grow in these past 4 months...it is amazing what a little time and prayer can do. Anyways they invited us over for dinner this past Sunday and we had such a great time. I laughed so much! The dinner conversations that we had reminded me of the ones we would have at home as a family (boy do I miss my sisters;). We were all sharing funny and embarrassing stories (sadly I have a lot haha). We were then able to share a message with them and wow...we had a wonderful discussion. Everyone shared really great insights. Kelly was even involved! We have an appointment with them this Friday and are hoping that we will be able to teach Kelly the missionary discussions. MIRACLES!!!
While we were contacting some potential and former investigators, we felt inclined to stop by Connie Owens. The last time missionary's had contact with her has been over 2 years. She seemed to be progressing well and then things just stopped. We knocked on the door and Connie answered. She seemed surprised, but pleased that we stopped by. She lead us in and then started to whip out concerns left and right. She is a very sweet and nice lady, but boy does she have a bold personality. It was as if she was getting in a debate with us, but was really interested in what we had to say. It turns out that she had an incident that left her to have some mental disabilities. It was so sad to watch her struggle internally. I could tell that she was frustrated with herself because she wanted to believe, but it wasn't making sense in her brain. It turns out that she had a date set to be baptized years ago, but at the last minute felt like she wasn't ready. We will see how things go and hopefully help her gain the confidence she needs to press forward and excersize her faith.
Quick update with Fabian and Lucy Sifuentez. To keep the peace Fabian has been going to a Non-Denominational Christian Church with Lucy and on Valentine's Day they were both baptized there. We see it as a dress rehearsal for when they are baptized in the church! ;) Anyways, they invited us over for dinner on Saturday and afterwords we had a lesson on the Book of Mormon and tried to answer any of Lucy's questions. It was so cool. Ever since she was baptized she has become a lot more open to the messages that we share and to the Book of Mormon. It will take some time so we have been working with them step by step. Great things are going to happen to their family eventually. I love working with them so much. Another great family!
So Drew is getting baptized this Sat. @ 1! He has already had his interview and we have the program all set. The Talley's wanted me and Elder Katieli to sing and to be the witnesses. One of his friends in the Stafford Ward that the Talley's grew really close too when Dom was investigating the Church will be baptizing him. I am so excited! Being able to watch his conversion has been a real treat...I am going to try to keep it together this Saturday, but no promises! ;)
Oh I almost forgot...TRACY CAME TO CHURCH THIS PAST SUNDAY!!! It was a miracle! So neat to see her at church. She really enjoyed it and it was neat to watch her sit by her parents, brother and sister Morehouse. I know that it was a special day for them too!
I am so grateful to be a missionary! Helping to remind my brothers and sisters the truths that they already know and help them come unto Christ and be strengthened in him. It doesn't get better than this!!! I am going to miss doing this 24/7. Yes it is exhausting, but boy is it worth it! So grateful for these next 5 months. They say that in a missionary's last 6 months on their mission that they really grow the most. I am ready and excited to allow the Lord to mold and shape me into the person that he needs me to be. It is difficult, but I know that he knows what is best!
Have an incredible week! Keep smiling! Keep serving! Keep loving! :) Thank you for all of your love and support!
I would like to leave with this thought. I LOVE THIS!!
"Have Thine own way, Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter;
I am the clay.
Mould me and make me
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still."
May we trust the lord and let him mold us into the beings we are meant to be.
Love,
Elder Shaw
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