What a week!

So we pretty much had the best district P-Day ever! We did the 4-T hike! The train, trial, tram, and trolley! It was great! We got to see Portland at its greatest! To make things even better, it was a warm sunny day today. I sent several pictures so you could experience the beauty of Portland! :)

This week was a busy, productive, and fun filled week! We taught 20 lessons, have 5 progressing investigators (we will be setting some dates soon, I'll keep you posted), and have been having a lot of fun. Also and the bright side, my headaches are nearly gone! I had 4 days is past week without a headache!!! So blessed! Thanks for all of your prayers and love! I can feel it! I am so lucky and blessed to have such wonderful friends and family for support!

Tasha one of our investigators is getting ready to be baptized soon. Her mother Tammi, a recent convert, is planning on getting married on May 23, to one of our investigators, Logan! Crazy stuff! I get to take part in another wedding!!!

This Saturday we had the privilege to see and hear from Jeffery R. Holland and let me tell you it was an amazing experience! Words couldn't describe it! We also had the golden opportunity to shake his hand. When we did he would look deep into our eyes at our souls! Wow!!! It was crazy! It had to have been the most uplifting and spiritual experiences in my entire life! Words couldn't give the experience justice! So cool!

This past week has just been a busy one! It has been great!

Now for a spiritual thought that Elder Holland shared with us about opening our mouths.

In Moses chapter 6 verses 31-34 it talks about Enoch who had a desire to share the gospel, but he didn't have the capabilities or spiritual gifts to do so. So he went to the lord to ask for his help and guidance and the lord blessed him with the spiritual gifts to preach the gospel:

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I know that when we have the desire to do good and ask the lord to help us that we can receive the spiritual gifts we need. We just need to open our mouths and ask our Heavenly Father for the things we need. I know that the power of pray works! I am so grateful for the ability to pray to my father in heaven.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I love you all so much! Remember to always go to your Heavenly Father in prayer for help. He LOVES YOU!!! I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to proclaim his love to my brother and sisters!

All my Love,
Elder Shaw

So, crazy things have been happening in the mission. 
We are downsizing!! Since 2 missions opened up in Washington we aren't going to be getting a lot of new missionary's. In the next 3 months we are losing over 50 missionary's and 4   sets of senior couples! We may have to start to cover multiple wards.
This past week we made hats for the homeless. 
We made over 60! It was super fun!


So this transfer was crazy. My entire district pretty much went home. Now I have a new district that I am over and a new comp, Elder Alatini! He is Togan!!! :) He is great! It’s funny, I actually knew him in Mt Hood. He was one of my zone leaders there. On a sad note, we are no longer serving with the Hazeldale sisters: Sister Paxman and Sister K! I am going to miss them! Now there will only be elders in the ward . . . crazy stuff. :/ On a happier note, we have more people to teach! One of our progressing investigators, Tasha is getting close to baptism we will be setting a date tonight!!!! :)


Just going through a lot of adjustments and changes. All is well here! Can't wait to see you in 3 weeks (Mother’s Day!)! I am just chilling today. 

Trying to catch my breath. :) 


All my love,
Elder Shaw

Sister Paxman, Elder Clark, Tasha and 
Taylor! I love them!

Back to the basics!

So sorry for not emailing everyone these past 2 weeks; still on the road of recovery, but I am doing my very best. The atonement is real! Please forgive me!!! :)

I can't believe that we are already at the end of this transfer...time if going by sooo fast . . . it’s scary! We have been able to find more people to teach, by asking EVERYONE, less actives, members, investigators for anyone who is interested in hearing the gospel. We have been able to see some success which has been awesome.

Me playing the ukulele!
Aloha!

It is so sad to see sooo many missionary's that will be going home in the next 3 months! I am not going to know anybody! Oh well, I get to make more new friends! I love serving my mission! It has been tough, but oh so rewarding. The district is going to be filled with new missionaries so we have a lot of changes coming up which is exciting in its own way.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak in church. I was able to participate in a missionary homecoming and boy was that tough.  I love it out here so much! My topic was one "how can I liken the events of the Apostasy and the Restoration to my life." I would have 15 minutes to speak and I had everything ready to go until I got a call from the bishopric who told me that i would only have 5 minutes. I said a little prayer on what I should say and then it came to me...My conversion story to the gospel! It was so funny!  There were over 400 members there so when I got up to introduce myself to begin talking I said, "Thanks for all of you who came today to hear me speak!" The members got a kick out of that! It was hilarious! Because I only had 5 minutes I let the spirit guide me on what I should say. It was so cool to not have to look at my notes and to just speak from the heart and look out into the audience, into many of the members faces. It was AWESOME! Anyway back to the spirit side of things!

Watch out Mr. Woods!

Very briefly I told about my conversion to the gospel. In a way it was similar to Joseph Smith’s. I had a question and prayed. I have always wanted to please people, didn't matter if I was happy, as long as others were happy, I was happy. I went to church, read my scriptures, prayed, did all of the things "good boys" would do. I was dancing, but wasn't really hearing the music. I needed to develop a testimony of my own. I began to pray and read my scriptures more sincerely. I asked Heavenly Father if this church was true. My answer was among the lines of, "Why are you asking me, you already know it is true!" I know that we can receive revelation through DAILY prayer and scripture study! If you ever have a question ALWAYS go to the source. We have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us. Draw closer to him and our savior Jesus Christ through daily prayer and scripture study. I have been so blessed to have been able to develop a habit of daily study on my mission, and boy does it make a difference. If you aren't reading your scriptures and praying daily, individually, and with your family, I plead with you to make it a priority. We receive so much strength when we do the basics of the gospel. We are blessed with Holy Ghost to give us comfort, direction, guidance, and peace. Your sacrifice to read and pray daily will NEVER be wasted I promise you!

Diego, the first investigator I interviewed
to be baptized! He is so awesome!

I am so blessed to be a member of the restored gospel in these latter days! If there is anyone who is struggling with their testimony always remember to return to the basics: prayer, scripture study, and church attendance. If you are just dancing or going through the motions of living the gospel, please listen to the music! Develop your testimony!

Live and love the gospel! Always remember who you are! You are all AMAZING! That is why you are my friends! haha!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week full of success and happiness! Don't you ever quit! ;)

All my love,

Elder Shaw

Hey!

Trying to take care of myself! Too many appointments!!!  ! Just got back from the doctor appointments! I love my chiropractor! I honestly feel like if these headaches go away it is because of him!

 

So the news with the neurologist is that they are going to put me back on Anitriptiline. I will take it at night before I go to bed. Then I will try the Advil and Aleeve and see if it will be able to knock out the headaches. I saw the chiropractor today and will be seeing him weekly.  I love my chiropractor! I honestly feel like if these headaches go away it is because of what he does!   Today he found a knot on my neck that could be causing my headaches.  He adjusted me and did a stimulus. It felt amazing! Anyways, just taking each day as it comes; trying to get better.

This coming Sunday I get to talk in church! My topic is “Making a Personal Connection to the Restoration of the Gospel”. Super exciting!

Today for p-day we will be going with some other missionary's to the driving range and hit golf balls!

Oh! Thank you so much for the Easter package! It made my week! Also the dark chocolate tasted yummy! The chicken was hilarious! Made me laugh! Brittney!!! I loved the wand! I put it on my bag so I could have both kinds of magic...oil and my wand!! haha! I also loved the pictures too! Made me smile.

It was awesome to see pics of you guys! Your Easter dinner was like mine...very small but great! This Easter we ate at the Gibson's. I call Sister Gibson “Mama G”! I love that family! The food was great and we left with our tummy's filled up full! Very yummy!

Conference was AMAZING! At the priesthood session I couldn't help but to think of you dad! So blessed to have such an amazing father who honors his priesthood and his wife!! So blessed! I am excited to review the conference sessions over again...so many good things! Also this past week we were able to have Zone Conference which was great! I ended this week feeling very edified and uplifted!

Also I forgot to tell you....Elder Holland is coming to the mission!!!!  He comes on April 25, 2015. Also it was neat to see and hear from Elder Ballard and Elder Nielsen of the seventy at conference.  I MET THEM!!!!  It was sooo cool.

 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! 

Love you!
Elder Shaw