Elder Rhett Aaron Shaw

Happy Father's Day Daddy's!

Also Happy Flag Day tomorrow. Be Patriotic! Whip the American flag out and wave um! ;)

Oh my gosh!!! I can't believe that we will be half-way through the month this week. Where does the time go? So I heard that it has been super hot in AZ...mmmm I might not come home until the end of the year when it is cooler. Ha! It has been gorgeous here. It has cooled off a bit and has been sunny. Summer's here in Portland are simply put, "Perfect!" Not too hot, not too cold, everything is green...it's the best!

Another Day of Service!

So this week was crazy! The 1st part of our week was rough. We tracted a lot of Tues and Weds with no luck. All of our lessons cancelled! ;( What was going on? We were being obedient, and diligent. It was already Thursday, we have been working our butts off and we haven't taught a single lesson? We couldn't quit!! We kept knocking and talked with everyone. Thursday afternoon we were tracting on NW 125th Ave. The 1st 20 houses that we knocked on people either didn't answer or weren't interested. Right when we were about to leave I had a thought come to my head actually a poem that was my Great Grandma's "Don't Quit." So we kept knocking and pushing ourselves and MIRACLES!!! We found 4 new investigators and was able to teach 7 lessons that day!!!! God hears and answers our prayers. We need to keep pressing forward especially when we feel like we are going to quit because that is when miracles happen. I have seen it so much on my mission. NEVER GIVE UP!

Guess who?

2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." I know that as we labor diligently and do all that we can do that the Lord is able to step in and make up the difference. If our best is 90% Christ will take care of the 10%, if our best is only 5% then Christ will do 95%. We need to not only do our best, but also be patient for the blessings that our Heavenly Father will pour on us. "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven, but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust in God and believe in good things to come." -Elder Jeffery R. Holland. I know that as we apply the atonement in our lives everyday through prayer and by the way we live that we can partake of the enabling power of the atonement that is available to each of us. Christ wants to help us. We need to come unto him.

So the Car Wash....WAS A SUCCESS!! We had over 20 non-members show up and we washed at least 30 cars. We had so much support from the members in the ward. They loved the idea so we will be doing a car wash once a month in the summer months here! I will attach some pics. It was a lot of fun!

The Allens

The work is progressing here!!! This past week we had 4 investigators at church!!! YAHOOOOOO! We have been pumping up the members to reach out to their neighbors, going into their homes and teaching the restoration, been texting members uplifting scriptures and motivating them to do missionary work and.....IT HAS BEEN PAYING OFF! The Sorenson's invited a non-member friend to church this past Sunday and her and her son came! Her name is Arpitha! She is a single mom with 2 kids and comes from a non-Christian family. She is so sweet and we are looking forward to teaching them here soon. We also had several less actives come to church. The ward was soooo excited! They are beginning to see that they can do missionary work!! It's sooo exciting!! More success is right around the corner. ;)

At the end of the week we were able to teach 17 lessons and was able to find 5 new investigators. We got in with some part member families which is super exciting. Not only was it a successful week, but we had so much fun as always. So many laughs. I will send you some pics and a video!

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful day, week, and Father's Day!

Love,

Elder Shaw