2 John 1:12 "Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."

Love,
Elder Shaw

Happy Pioneer Weekend!!!

I will keep this weeks email brief:

On Tuesday I had my last zone meeting and I was able to bear my
testimony. I was surprised. I keep it all together! :) I feel so numb
to it all...it doesn't feel like I am going home...it is soooo weird.
My mind tells me that I am going home, but my heart make me feel like
I am never going to leave. It is so nice that we only say "see you
later," rather than "goodbye," in this gospel. Oregon and its people
will forever be in my heart.


It feels like I haven't been in Estacada all last week. With zone
meeting on Tues, exchanges on Thurs, VC trip with Sarah and James
Dysart on Friday, and my baptism on Sat, the week flew by soooo fast!
I was able to take a quick tour of the mission. Hehehe! It has been so
good though. It feels like everything is falling into place. I have
been able to wrap up and tie some loose ends...my work here is almost
finished I can feel it.


Sarah Dysart will be baptized this Sunday, the 31st, so some of her
family members could come and support her...she is sooo ready. We had
a wonderful lesson at the visitors center this past week. Very spirit
filled! She is excited to be able to do baptisms for the dead shortly
after her baptism.



The baptism was crazy awesome on Saturday. So excited for Tia...boy it
was fun baptizing her...she is a nut! Haha! It went great until...! I
said it perfectly and got her down in the water and brought her back
up. She was stable and on her feet before I let her go. It went
perfect, but then I guess she just slipped and splashed everywhere...I
was so embarrassed....not quit sure if she did it on purpose?? oh well
that is Tia for ya. :) It wouldn't have been her baptism if it didn't
happen! Haha! We love her!!


This week I have a departing interview with President Ballard on Tues
and we have a ward party on Saturday and the baptism Sunday. I have a
feeling that this coming week is going to fly by...hopefully I will
have time to take a breath, reflect, and enjoy. It is great to be a
missionary! <3

I shared a talk yesterday and would like to close this email with some
of the thoughts I shared. I talked about how we are all modern day
pioneers and how we can listen to the promptings of the spirit and
receive guidance, direction, peace, and comfort. Boy does the spirit
make all of the difference. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy
Ghost!

"To be a Latter-day Saint is to be a pioneer, for the definition of a
pioneer is “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for
others to follow.” And to be a pioneer is to become acquainted with
sacrifice. Although members of the Church are no longer asked to leave
their homes to make the journey to Zion, they often must leave behind
old habits, longtime customs, and cherished friends. Some make the
agonizing decision to leave behind family members who oppose their
Church membership. Latter-day Saints move forward, however, praying
that precious ones will yet understand and accept.

The path of a pioneer is not easy, but we follow in the footsteps of
the ultimate Pioneer--even the Savior--who went before, showing us the
way to follow." (July Ensign 1st presidency message)

We have a lot of different choices that we have to make in this
journey in life...not all of them are easy. Sometimes we don't know
where to go. As we are obedient and strive to have the Holy Spirit
with us everyday it will be given us where we should go? What we
should choose? And how we should be?

How do we recognize when the spirit is prompting us to do something?
How do we know that it is the spirit prompting us?

=>Moroni 7:12-13

"Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is
evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and
fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin,
and to do that which is evil continually.

But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good
continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do
good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."

I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week...I guess I will be
seeing you all in 8 days!?!?! ;)

Love,
Elder Shaw

What a week! 

This week has been full of so many different emotions. Happiness, sadness, excitement, nervousness...way too many! I just want to skip the next two weeks, but I have to face it and put on my big boy pants...It's been tough...

It has been incredible week as far as the work has been! We had 6 investigators at church this past Sunday!! We had several people show from Job Corp (it is like a camp for troubled teens): Homer, Jacob, and Eddie, we also had Jason Lazott, Kim James, and Jenna one of the bishops son's girlfriends that we are trying to work with. :) We also had several less actives: Sister Egge, Bro and Sister Higley, the Millers, Brother Barbara, Mary, and Linda (both have been coming consistently now! Yahoo!) It was a very special Sunday! The spirit was so strong...darn these emotions...I swear that my eyes just leak now...it's the worst!!!

Sarah Dysart will now be getting baptized on Jul 30th...my 2 year mark...WOW! She was willing to be baptized on the 23rd, but we had to push it back a week to make sure we could teach all the lessons and that she will be ready. We will be taking her to the family history center on Weds and the visitors center on Friday!

I got a call this past week from Sister Jones and Clemence in the Oak Hills ward (ward right by Skyline) and they told me that one of their investigators will be getting baptized this coming Saturday and that she asked them if I could baptize her! Her name is Tia Chambers and wow has she come a long way. I met her when we first started youth sports and we hit if off well. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!!!! Brother Tolman said that he can take me this Saturday! Off to Cedar Mill I go!

We have dinner with the Ferguson Family this coming weds! They are such an awesome family. They LOVED the BBQ last Monday and really want to get involved with the ward...I wish I had more time to see them go into the water of baptism. It is going to happen!!!! We have sooo many people that we are close to setting more dates with!! I am going to have to get a yearly airline pass to Portland so I can come back to all of the baptisms!!! We have also been able to begin teaching the Somerville family. Dylan Somerville is a non-member who is 16, his dad is Michael Somerville who has been inactive as well as Rebecca Somerville, his grandma. We had an awesome lesson this past week with Sister Pierce and will be going back this Thursday! I also got in touch with Nina Gandert, an investigator that I taught here when I was a Greenie. I had the prompting to call her on Thurs and I was so happy I did. She has been going through a lot and could really use us visiting her to get her back on her feet. She had an Aunt that passes away last week, and she went to the coast this past week to visit a friend who drank too much who gave Nina a black eye and a broke leg. She was in bad shape. We gave her a blessing and will be stopping by this week to check in on her.

I had my departing temple trip this past Friday...it was soooo good! Again here come the water works! We had a chapel session at 10:00 before our session at 10:30, where the temple president and his wife, President and Sister Pond addressed us as did President and Sister Ballard. We, the elders where President and Sister Ballard's 1st group of missionaries "Cradle to Grave," as president calls it which made the meeting more tender. Also Bingham Ballard was able to receive his endownment at that departing missionary temple session which was so cool! When I entered the Celestial Room President Ballard was waiting there and he gave me a big hug and told me that he was so proud of me for my efforts and growth and said that he loved me and was so grateful for all that I have done on my mission. I was doing my best to hold back tears...I really felt my Heavenly Father accept my efforts as a full-time missionary as I had laid my sacrifice of my efforts on the alter of the temple that day. It was a wonderful session and experience. President Ballard then had us all circle up and he answered any of our questions about the temple endowment...it was sooo neat. Afterwords we had lunch at the temple, which was really yummy! I got to see Marilyn Jones there as well as several members from the Skyline Ward: Jade Thelin and his wife as well as Bishop Wilson and his wife. I love to go to the temple!! I can't wait to take my family to the Portland Oregon temple...I guess I can never say goodbye, only see you later! ;)

On Saturday we had a baptism for Jesse Arango! We had over 70 people show up. We had several non-members show up and we were able to do a presentation while Jesse was changing about the Restoration of the Gospel. It went very well. The spirit was so strong! I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It really brings families together.

These next 2 weeks are packed! I have several lunch's set up with members in previous areas. Sister Gibson from Hazeldale, the Talley's from Canby, and several others that want to see me before I leave. We also have our Zone Meeting tomorrow where I will be giving a departing testimony which is crazy. We have exchanges this week and I will have my departing interview next week...the finish line is in reach...trying to find the time to do so many things and trying to keep my emotions in check...it is going to be hard leaving, but I can always come back and visit! ;)

I would like to close with an experience that I had this past Saturday:

We had a lesson up at Job Corp at 7 on Saturday. It is 26 miles outside of Estacada! You just follow HWY 224 down for 26 miles, it is a beautiful drive! Right as we were leaving Estacada I looked at how much gas we had. We had enough for the trip there and back, but I felt the spirit tell me that I needed to go fill up so not postponing the prompting we turned around and quickly filled up at a nearby shell station and we were on our way. There are no gas stations up 224...We had a wonderful 1st discussion with several new investigators up at Job Corp. We left at 8, but before we left we stopped for a bathroom break before our long journey back to Estacada. We had several other things that we had to get done that night so I usually stick to the speed limit and race home, but the spirit prompted me to take my time getting back and to enjoy the beauty around me, so instead of going 62 mph I was going 45-50 mph. We were only 10 miles out of Estacada when we saw a terrible car accident that was blocking the HWY. Two cars were involved. There was a family of 4 in one: a father, mother, and 2 sons ages 10 and 7, in the other were two men. Alcohol was involved. We ran to the scene to see if there was anything we could do. They were all in bad shape...one of the men, Josh was stuck inside one of the cars and wasn't doing too good, the other man and the family where struggling on the side of the road. 911 was called and the police and ambulance was on their way. The little 7 year old boy, his name was Keegan, was unconscious. CPR was being performed, but nothing was working. Elder Hansen and I ran over and started to give him a blessing. Elder Hansen anointed and I sealed...When I put my hands on his head I felt that he was already gone...I was lost for words...the only thing I could say was "Let Gods will be done." It was a traumatic experience to watch someone so young, someone so innocent and pure die before your eyes. I was choking on my tears...I had to be strong, I couldn't break down in front of this family. They needed our strength and hopefulness. What killed me was to see Keegan's 10 year old brother cry out, "Dear God please let my brother live." We were doing our best to comfort the family telling them that it will all be ok and that their family will be together again, but all that we could really do was to wait and pray for a miracle. Finally almost 30 mins later the paramedics arrived. They called for 4 Life Flights. The Father, Mother, Josh, and the 10 year old boy were Life Flighted out of there. The other man was taken to the hospital via ambulance. From the tragic accident, 2 died, Keegan and Josh. That was one of the longest nights in my life. Terrible images are still in my head. My heart aches for that family. They closed the road until the next day. They told us that we had to leave the scene. Where would we go? How will we get back home? It was already 9:45. It was dark we had no idea where we were. We had no cell phone reception so we couldn't tell anyone where we were. Our GPS wouldn't work either...Miracles never cease. We traveled up 224 and low and behold we have a family up by Job Corp who are members. The Wilson's. They moved up here a year ago, another blessing. We finally found their house and they welcomed us in and we told them what happened. They pulled out a map and told us that their was only 1 other way home which was to go around Timothy Lake, up close to Mt. Hood, down HWY 26 to Sandy and then from Sandy to Estacada. The trip is very dangerous at night, lots of gravel roads and cliffs, and would take about 2 hrs. We said a family prayer and off we went. Angles were protecting us and guiding us that night. I could feel them. We got home around 1 A.M on Sunday morning.

Although this experience was painful to witness, I learned a lot from it. I am so grateful for the gift of the spirit who comforts us, guides us, and prompts us. I am grateful that we were worthy and willing to listen to the promptings of the spirit which ultimately saved our lives. What if we didn't fill up? What if we went the speed limit coming back from Job Corp? Things would have turned out differently. We could have been involved in the accident. We could have been stranded on HWY 224 throughout the night with no one knowing where we were. Since we listened to the spirit we had a full tank of gas to make it home that night, we arrived to the scene of the accident 5 mins later, and we were able to comfort people in their times of need. Angles were with us that night. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation. I know that family's can be together forever. I know that all of the things that are unfair and not right that happens in our lives can be made right through the the atonement of Jesus Christ. We can be healed physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Life is so precious. We never know when it is our time to leave this life. That could have been anyone involved in the accident. We need to live life everyday to its fullest. Make sure that we are kind to each other, love each other, serve each other. Live your life with no regrets.

I love you all and I want you to know what a blessing you are in my life. Please share your love with others and let's help each other strive to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

With love,

Elder Shaw

Happy 7 ELEVEN Day!!! 

The day to hit up all of the 7 Eleven's and get a free slurpy! :p

Another week bites the dust...I can't keep track of time anymore...It just has gone by sooo fast. There are SO many things that I have to get done in the remaining 3 weeks of my mission. It doesn't feel like I am going home soon...it feels like I have a lot of time left with all of the things we are doing and accomplishing....yet I can also feel it because of how exhausted I feel everyday...the struggle is real, BUT I am going to sprint hard core to the finish! :) Kick it in Elder Shaw!!!

I was able to go to the temple this past week for our quarterly temple trip. It is always so nice to go to the temple. I always feel so refreshed when I leave. We have our departing temple trip this Friday which will be exciting. Brigham Ballard, President and sister Ballards son is leaving for Canada on his mission in mid August. He will be receiving his endownment that session...who knows...Elder Ballard might be there!?! ;)

This past week have been the same old same old. We have been visiting and teaching a lot people. Sara is still on for the 23rd...we might have to push it back a week...time will tell. We have been busy catching up on the discussions and have been answering several of her concerns. She has a good heart and desire to follow the Savior. It goes to show that we need to "Doubt our Doubts, before we Doubt our Faith." We need to start were we are: cling to the principles of the gospel that we know to be true and then CPR (church, prayer, read) and patiently wait until we receive the answers. We don't achieve conversion overnight. It takes time. We achieve conversion by being obedient, doing the lords will, and putting our faith and trust in the Lord during the bad and the good.

We also saw April this past week. She has had a rough life. We were able to teach more about the plan of salvation and we were able to give her a blessing with bro Tolman. She will be baptized...she just has a lot of things to work through. She is incredible!

We were able to go out with the relief society this past week for covenant path. We went with Sister Richards and Sister Rex. I love them so much!!! We had a blast and we were able to see a lot of less active sisters. All three of them came to church this past week! IT WORKS! :)

Three awesome Missionaries! Great to see Tanner!

So I had a neat surprise on Sunday. Elder Tanner Olsen came to church here in Estacada! It was sooo good to see him again. I wish we had more time because Sunday's are usually crazy and we had a couple investigators there so we had to make sure that they got taken care of. I should be able to see Tanner today. We will be meeting up for lunch in sandy and then we will be going up to mt hood one last time. :)

This evening we will be going to a bbq put on by the Elders Quorum Presidency at Eagle Fern Park. It should be a lot of fun. The Ferguson's and the Arango's will be there too! I love the Ferguson Family!! I wish I could stay longer to see them progress more towards baptism. They are such a sweet family. We will be having a lesson with them this tues! They have no religious background except that they believe in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It has been so cool to teach them. We stopped by on Sunday after church and invited them to the BBQ! They are super excited and they were so happy that we were able to stop by. Moments like this....I wish I had more time on my mission...this family will be baptized!!! :)

Well I hope that everyone has a wonderful week! Remember who you are! Keep the Faith! And always remember to NEVER QUIT! ;)

Here is a thought from my studies this past week. I was able to revisit some conference talks. I love the talk by Elder Renlund "Latter-day Saints Keep on Trying." He says,

"My invitation to all of us is to evaluate our lives, repent, and keep on trying. If we don’t try, we’re just latter-day sinners; if we don’t persevere, we’re latter-day quitters; and if we don’t allow others to try, we’re just latter-day hypocrites. As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints. As we change, we will find that God indeed cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming than about who we once were."

I know that this gospel is a gospel of transformation. It can change us from bad to good, to good to better, and from better to best. We need to continue to endure and help others on our way. I know that God cares more about who we are then about we we once were. I love you all and I am so grateful for your love and support.

With love,

Elder Shaw

P.S make sure that you get your free at Slurpee's 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

We had another incredible week here in Estacada! We were able to set up a baptismal date with one of our investigators, Sara Dysart for the 23rd of July!! We are sooo excited! We were also able to meet and teach a wonderful family, The Ferguson's! We had a lesson with them on Weds with bro Trujillo and hit if off well. They don't have a solid background in religion so we have been teaching them as simply as we can. They really enjoyed our lesson and they even asked us when church was. They will be baptized sometime in August...wow they are solid! Tony is the husband, Jennifer is the wife and they have a son and a daughter: Tyler and Olivia. Such a neat family. So happy to have the privilege of working with them and to help them come to know who their savior is and how much their Heavenly Father loves them. We are stoked! April Newton is on her way toward baptism. We have been having wonderful lessons with her at sister bethea's house, a less active that we teach. April has had a rough life and in our last discussion we were talking about the Holy Ghost and the comfort and peace it gives us. She then brought up baptism, but said that she wasn't ready yet to set a date. We shall see how this week goes. We are shooting for her to be baptized on July 30th, but will push it back if needed. We also have been able to stop by several more less actives. 

I got to see my little sister Egge! She hasn't changed a bit! She is a hoot! We were also able to teach Gena and after the lesson was able to hold her pet snakes!! They were soooo cool. I wasn't even scared...I loved it! We were also able to set up a lunch and lesson with Preston Marshall, a less active that we were working with when I was here 18 months ago. I guess we were the last elders who would stop by and visit him...it has been like that with a lot people here. :( We made a Scottish Lunch where we made potato dough, fried some duck eggs, and made some more haggis! Wow...that food definitely has an acquired taste!...it wasn't my favorite. It was a good experience though. We also had a less active pop up in our areabook that the ward nor us even knew about. Katie Paulson recently moved from Vancouver and is trying to get her life back in order. She is solid. We had a lesson with her on Saturday and committed her to come back to church. She was there Sunday! She really wants to change and wants to be more involved in the church. She is awesome!!

We were also able to do a lot of service this week. We were able to help Melodie on Tuesday and was able to share with her a message. She is sooo good to us. She always drops off food and is such a sweetheart. Hopefully we will be teaching her and her husband soon. We also were able to help the Haggstroms finish their pool in their backyard. It was a lot of work! They are such a neat family!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!!! Our's was sooooo sweeeet! We had a pancake breakfast at the Mt. Hood Stake Center at 9 am. We were able to help serve the food and clean up afterwords. There were over 500 people that showed up. It was great. Since today is also our pday we had to get all of our shopping, emails, and laundry done etc, while also celebrating the 4th! It has been crazy, but a blast. After the breakfast we shopped and ran some errands. We then when to the Estacada Timber Festival in the afternoon until 4 when we had 4th of July Dinner with Bishop Hawkins and his family. At the Festival we were able to watch the timber competition with the Browns (I will try to send some videos), and Elder Hansen and I went on the "kamikaze" the ride that is usually at all carnivals that look like hammer heads. I wasn't been scared! It was SOOOO MUCH FUN!!! I was screaming and yelling having a good old time. It was a blast. I will send you some pics and a video. :) Dinner at Bishops was wonderful! It has been gorgeous here, perfect temperature with sunlight....I hope it cools off in AZ or I am going to die....anyway it was perfect. We had yummy food and it was sooo good to talk to them. They are part of my family up here in Oregon. It felt like home. We are going to go with the Browns to watch fireworks tonight. We able to stay out until 11 tonight! It should be fun!

Yes, It's a snake!!

Here is a short and sweet thought going along with America's birthday!

America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” -Alexis De Toqueville

2 Nephi 1:7 "Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever."

I hope that everyone stays safe and has a wonderful week. 

I love you all!

Elder Shaw

Back in the Good O' Woods of Estacada!

This past week has flown by so fast...I don't know where the time went!?! I feel like one of the luckiest missionary's ever to be able to come back to where I started my mission to see the changes and growth in the ward and in myself. Not only was I super excited to see everyone, but the ward was excited to see me! Elder Hansen and I were asked to speak on Sunday and share our testimonies and it truly felt like my homecoming talk...WEIRD! I am not ready for that! This week we have hit the ground running! The elder before us only taught an average of 2 lessons a week...this past week we taught 20!! We had 6 member presents, 2 other lessons, 12 RCLA's, and we found 3 new investigators as well as 2 new families to teach!! In ward council this past week Bishop Hawkins called us the energizer bunny, we keep going and going. It was such a blessing to see a lot of the less actives and former investigators this past week as well as meet new members, new investigators, and watch in awe some of the less actives come back to church. It has been a real blessing to see some of the fruits of the efforts here. I know that we can sometimes feel like our efforts aren't good enough or that all of our hard work may not pay off sometimes, but the blessings come. When I shared my testimony I was doing all that I could not to get too emotional...I only got choked up 5 times no big... ;) I guess I have gotten a little tougher!

ITS THE FINAL COMPANION! Elder Hansen is incredible! He is a farmer from Logan, Utah specifically Hyde Park, Utah. He is so funny, is a hard worker, and a great comp to end my mission with. Another blessing!

The Brown's are incredible. They aren't the Peterson's, but they have brought so much good to the ward. So sad that they are leaving on July 20th. ;( We aren't sure if they will have a replacement so it may just be back to 1 set in Estacada now that the Spanish is gone. The cool part is that I will be able to go to the departing temple trip with the Browns and bear my testimony with them. Sister Brown is from Mesa, Arizona!!! So is such a sweet lady with a great sense of humor. Elder Brown is the prankster and jokester. We love them so much and work really close with them. We have our nightly prayers with them and for p day this morning we were able to hang out with them. Such great people.

So Monday we rushed over to Estacada...I forget how Estacada is in they middle of nowhere. A lot of travel time, but boy did it feel good to drive into town. It has felt like nothing has changed. It is so cool. When we have been going around town I have been able to talk with people (non members) that I did when I was a Greenie. They were so happy and surprised to see me back. It feels like home! So we got here and dropped off our things in our apartment, but then we learned that we would be moving into the Spanish Elders apartment which is a lot cooler and nicer (apartment number is now #104 mommy;) We scrambled and moved all of our stuff downstairs and tried to get things settled in our new apartment. We then raced over to a dinner that we didn't know we had (the area was sooo disorganized!!). Our 1st dinner back was with Marilyn and Tom Jones!!!! I was dying inside!! So excited to see them. It was sooo funny...on our way to dinner we saw a butch of little kids jumping on the trampoline nude and I told Elder Hansen "Welcome to Estacada!" I was dying laughing!!! Marilyn and Tom are doing sooo good. They were so surprised to see me again. We were able to have dinner with them and we set a date for Tom to receive the Melchizedek priesthood for July 31st...my last Sunday of my mission. They are so sweet...I love them sooo much! Both have been coming to church weekly...another tender mercy to see them grow and their testimonies strengthened...I felt like a parent!

Kinda cool so we had Sister Billows text us when we got here and asked if we could come over and have a lesson. What is funny is that my first dinner on my mission was with the Billows so that was sweet! BOTH of them came to church this past Sunday!!!

We were able to teach and catch up with Gena Chasteen, Sister Felicia English, the Darity's, Edie Karlin, the Steens, and the Higley's this past week and invited them to church. It was so good to seem them all again and to try to finish what we started here. I love them all so much. It was like catching up with family, but things were different...I was different. I could feel how I have gained so much confidence and a burning testimony on my mission. The atonement has really changed me and it was really cool to have a lot of the members comment how I have grown. :)

This past week we were able to meet with some new investigators. Sara Dysart, April Newton, and Troy Schupp. We are planning to set some dates here this week with Sara and April. April is already praying about getting baptized! So much potential here. We also have a lot of youth from Job Core coming down to attend church and wanting to meet with us! One week there was 12 people from Job Core coming down to attend church with us. We were able to meet with Keith and Zedekiah and will have lessons with them both this week probably on Thursday. Soooo much potential that we are busting out the seams! We got a referral from Bro Trujillo the elders quorum president of a family, the Ferguson's who were interested in learning about the church. We will be going and teaching them with bro Trujillo this weds. WE ARE SOOO EXCITED!

We were able to do service for several non members this week. We did service for a family we met, the Haggstroms and started teaching Matt (the dad) the restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. He was really interested and him and the family were so good to us. We will hopefully teach the family this weds. We also meet a gal, Melodie and was able to help her on her clients property. She takes care of a man named Gary who has altimeters and Parkinson's and keeps the property ship shape. When we got there we shoveled rotten straw and oh my gosh...it smelt so bad!! I was dry heaving and was dying....I had to smile and say, "It's soo good to be back in Estacada." Elder Hansen was laughing sooo hard because he was use to it...I had to laugh. We will be going over there Tues and hopefully will be able to teach her. She has been taught before so we shall see how it goes.

One Sunday we were able to have dinner with the Browns who invited the Higley's and the Lazott's (Summer and Jason got married). As you know the Higley's are less active and Jason is a non member. After our yummy dinner we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and had an amazing discussion. Jason and most especially the Higley's really opened up. I was bawling....it is so sad to see and hear of some of the terrible things that happen to people. My heart just aches...I couldn't imagine how the Savior feels. It was a humbling week. I am so grateful for my savior who knows and loves me.

Something that the Browns shared with all of us at dinner really stood out to me this past week. "Are you a part of the INN crowd, or one of the STABLE few?" Referring to Jesus Christ's birth it really makes you think about where we are at spiritually compared and where we are at in the world. Where are you? In the Inn or with Christ at the Stable?

Until next time! Have a great week!! I love you all!!

Love,

Elder Shaw

Back to Estacada!

Well transfer news is in and I will be getting transferred for one
last time. You are not going to believe where I am going....I AM GOING
BACK TO ESTACADA FOR 6 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!  I got an email this past
week from President Ballard asking me if I would be willing to go
back. Recently, the missionary's down there haven't been doing squat
and the missionary's have lost the trust in the ward. My job for the
next 6 weeks is to work my butt off and gain the trust back and get
things moving. That is my plan and I am sooo excited!!! I will be
white washing in (where 2 brand new missionary's go into an area)
which I am excited about because I will be able to just jump right in
and not have anyone to hold me back. My comp is amazing too!! Elder
Hansen! I was able to serve around him in Oregon City and he is such a
great, hardworking missionary with a lot of humor! ;) We will have a
blast!!!

Also quick update with the Skyline Ward...this next transfer the ward
will be losing the sisters. There are only Elders in the ward now. I
am so excited/proud to have Elder Valentine take over the area. His
new companion is Elder Vincent. Elder Valentine will do a great job,
hopefully things will keep moving forward. This past week we were able
to do a lot of service! We were able to help out Jeff with his yard
again on Weds, go to the food bank, volunteer at an 8th Grade end of
the year party which was fun, help out at the blueberry farm, pick up
llama poop :/, help out at Bob the bike guys, and move bark dust for a
less active family in the ward where we were able to get in contact
with another less active family. Service for dayz! It was a fun filled
week...on a sad note we had to drop Nels, our atheist that we are
teaching. We taught him the doctrine and there is only so much we can
do. It comes down to praying to know if the things we teach are true
that is how we find truth is by asking the source who won't lie to us
and is all knowing. We will keep in contact with him though...such a
sweet man.

You aren't going to believe what I did on Sunday...I sang a solo...:/
I usually don't sing, but it was TJ Kennedy's farewell so the
missionary's sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go." I was asked to
sing the verses and then all of us came together on the chorus. I
guess we did a good job...ugh it was my first time ever singing in
sacrament meeting so I was super nervous...oh well happy it is over!

Today is going to be very crazy and busy...I have to finish backing
(since we got the official news last night and I was running around
getting pics with members here), sister Allen who I love and will miss
in the ward gave is Columbia passes so we will head over there at 9.
We will then try to get together one last time as a district before we
all get split up ;( so sad...this has been one of my favorite
districts. We will be meeting up at 11:30 before transfers and will
eat at the Beaverton sub shop. Then we will be off to transfers and
then I will pick up my new comp and we will start heading down to
Estacada and get to work (the only drawback of going to Estacada is
that you are literally in the middle of nowhere...oh well it will be
fun...AGAIN! ;)

I love you all so much! Thanks for all of your love and support!!
Here is a short thought that I would love to leave with you from a
mission tour that we had this past week with Elder Nielson. It was
pretty amazing! Here are some of my notes:

Atonement 2 Parts:

Redeeming Power: sin, cleanse, repent, forgiveness, baptize, and saved
by grace.
*we access the redeeming power by REPENTANCE
-helps us become good from bad

Enabling Power: strength, load, change, become, changed by grace,
endure, SUBMIT CHEERFULLY, PATIENCE WTH GODS WILL.
*we access the enabling power by submitting cheerfully and with patience.
-helps us become our best from better and good.

Mosiah 24:15
Mosiah 3:19- the natural man is like a flowing river. We need to
change the flow of the river. Natural Man means opportunity to change
and become better.
Mosiah 27:25

****when a trial comes submit cheerfully and be patient****

I learned even more about the atonement from Elder Nielson,
specifically about the enabling power. I have felt my savior Jesus
Christ carry me in some parts of my mission as I have accessed the
enabling power of the atonement. Patience is required, but as we
submit to gods will cheerfully we will be able to be strengthened and
changed from good to better to our best.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Elder 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

June is HERE! 

So is the heat! It has been in the 100's over the weekend. It makes Oregon feel like more of my home haha. I am sooo happy and blessed that we have a car. It has been super toasty and add the humidity it hasn't been my favorite. Our apartment, like most places here, don't all have AC so it has been super warm and muggy. EVERYBODY and their dog left this weekend for the beach. It was super funny tracting...almost NOBODY was home. They all left trying to escape the heat. On the bright side I was able to get some color so I am not so pasty white.......maybe even a tan? ;)

It was a busy, fun filled week this past week. In the ward we have been starting ultimate frisbee every evening for family home evening. It has been soooooo much fun! The Kramers in our ward have kicked it off. We will be playing tonight at 7 and will have a lot of non-members there. We are stoaked!

This past tues I went on an exchange with the Sunset Hill Elders. I went over there with Elder Prestgard and I'll be honest, I LOVED being on a bike. (Probably because I knew it wasn't permanent). It was super hot though. We were running to and from our appointments. We had some service with a less active where we trimmed some of her bushes and trees back. We had a couple lessons with some investigators and MRL's with members. At the end of the day I was so salty (not attitude of course, but because of sweat and heat;). It was a fun exchange full of little miracles.

On Wednesday, we finished the exchange and then went over to Joan's Blueberry Farm to help her weed and get things prepared for the blueberry season among us. It was great to be in the sun and we got a lot accomplished. She is the sweetest lady. The sisters have been trying to teach her, but she is a very free spirit-> very much into nature and animals. After service, we went on a split with Bro. Defnet and Bro. Jeremy Thelin to cover two lessons we scheduled that day. Bro Defnet went with Elder Valentine to teach Nels and Bro Thelin and I went over to Hennilee's house. We were able to see the entire family: Kayla (age 11), Kyle (age 6), Hennilee and we were able to meet the dad Grant. We taught a short lesson since they were super busy and set up a return appointment for this tues at 5. We are hoping that this is one of the families that we have been praying for to teach and baptize. After our short lesson I took bro Thelin tracting and he was impressed with what we did. I also the some of the greatest conversations with him. Again, love the Thelins. We then reunited and then Bro Thelin took us out to Shari's which was the bomb.com. I have fallen in love with their s'mores pie shake...mmmm it is soooo good!!!!

Thursday I had my last zone meeting...it was weird so I tried not to think to much about it. I had my last stewardship interview with President Ballard. I love him!! So grateful to have had him as my mission president these past 2 years. I have learned much from his example and service. He talked about how he has a special place in his heart for me and for those that come to the field with me since we were his first group. We then talked about the area and I guess I am doing an amazing job with the members? It is so easy to feel like your efforts aren't taking things anywhere, but it was so good to hear how it has been making an effort. The ward loves us yay!! We then talked about how next transfer would look like. It is in a toss up. I could stay and Elder Valentine could leave or he could stay and I leave. I am pushing to have Elder Valentine stay because I know that as a new missionary have the opportunity to take over an area can be difficult, but all of the things you learn and grow makes it worth it. We shall see what happens?

Friday Food Bank! Nice to escape the heat and participate in the fresh alliance at the food bank. Always a blast. We then went tracting some more and had a couple of member referral lessons. Then on Saturday we had our morning sports with the youth and played some tennis at the park and did some Zumba. It was a blast! Then for lunch we had jumba juice. I got the usual Caribbean Passion...mmmm so good! We then met up as a district and had our weekly "chalk in the park," (where we draw the plan of salvation at several parks in the area) and then did a "car wash demo at the church. Everything seems to be coming together which makes me less stressed and even more happy. We then had our usual Saturday blitz. We went to the Sunset Hills area and I tracted with Elder Anderson. I had 3 awkward moments in the row when we went tracting. I was talking to this lady who was doing some yard work outside and asked her if she needed any help. She said no and then I was trying to strike up a conversation with her, but then she literally ran inside the garage, closed it and slammed the door behind her...mmmm awk. The next house we knocked on a crusty member (we don't know if she is active or not) she answered and told us that she was already LDS...mmmm awk. Then the last house we knocked and I rang the doorbell, but you know sometimes the doorbell likes to stick and so I accidentally rang it again...AT LEAST 3 times. There was a party going on inside that we didn't know of so I guess I was just adding some more music to the party. Hehehe! After the blitz we contacted some less actives and then had dinner with our bishop. He smoked the best chicken ever. Mmmmhmmm goood! We love the wilsons. After dinner and our message we were able to swing on their 3 swings which was hilarious...you know me always making things goofy. :)

Sunday Funday! We had a great fast and testimony meetings...so weird that I only have 1 more...ugh I got a little emotional, but kept my cool. The services were great! We then met for choir practice and prepared for our performance next Sunday. We also were asked to sing with the primary on Father's Day "We'll Bring the World His Truth." I love that song...I hope I can keep it together!

Things have been pretty fine and dandy here. Just having the time of my life. Today for p-day we are going over to Justin and Ashley Thelin's home to play in their gym, volleyball outside, and to gorge ourselves in Kalua pork! 😋 it's gonna be fun!!

For a thought this week I would like to leave 2 quotes that I found that I absolutely love!

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: “It is very important to be happy in this work. We have a lot of gloomy people in the Church because they do not understand, I guess, that this is the gospel of happiness. It is something to be happy about, to get excited about.”

“… Service keeps us from forgetting the Lord our God, because being among and serving our brothers and sisters reminds us that Father is ever there and is pleased when we serve, for while the recipients of our service are our neighbors, they are His children.” Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Giving service=receiving happiness

I love you all and I am grateful for your love and support. Special prayers to Lana Tucker, Packer Family, and many others who are going through some difficult times. We love you, the lord loves you and knows your pains and sufferings. Keep pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a brightness of hope and love for God.

Love you!

Elder Shaw

Happy Memorial Day!!! 

Crazy that we are already at the tail end of May?! Where does the time go??

Everything has been peachy over here this past week! Same old same old. We had a lot of cancellations due to a lot of people going out of town for the week end. We were able to provide a lot of service though this past week helping Joan, a non-member with her blueberry farm, did some yard work with Jeff again this past weds, food bank on Fridays, and we were able to make it over to Beaverton to help out at the faith cafe on Sunday. It is crazy how many people I run into that I know! It was funny...so I met Dan at the food bank several weeks again ago and usually see him every time we go. He is such a nice guy. He does a lot in the community. Well when we went to faith cafe guess who was there?? Dan and his wife! It was so cool! I walked in and saw Dan and I started to wave and laugh a little since we seem to always run into people we know all the time and I knew it wasn't a coincidence. Anyways I was able to meet his wife Jessica, such great people. They both are very active in Catholicism, they go to the huge Catholic Church just behind where we live. It turns out the Jessica use to live in phoenix so we were able to chat a bit about the good old AZ which was fun.

It is so much fun to just talk with people. I have found that I really enjoy talking with people I don't know...its WIERD. Whether it be on the street or behind a door (that's fun because you never know what you are going to get) I like to ask them questions and get to know the people here better. It always feels good to help others feel like they are important and are loved. We are all brothers and sisters here! :)

Some miracles that we had this week: we were able to make contact with a potential that we tracted in on sat. His name is Mostafa! He is an older man who is from Iran who is very sweet and loves to talk. It was the perfect timing. So we knocked on the door and Shadi, his daughter answered and we asked if Mostafa was there and she told that he was and let us in. She then told us that he just had back surgery and is in a lot of pain, but said that he could use a visit. He was so sweet! We were able to talk to him for a bit, he gave us some yummy assorted chocolates and talked about his time as an army general in Iran. We then asked him if he would like a blessing and was able to explain to him that we could give him a blessing of healing and comfort. He said that he would like that. We gave him a blessing and told him that we will stop by in a couple of weeks to see how he is doing. It was a neat experience.

We were also able to get in contact with a couple other potential investigators which was great! While tracting we were able to get a new investigator, Annie who we will start teaching which we are super excited about that!

So this week I felt like I was going to die! Oregon allergies are the WORST!! Usually my allergies here start at the end of May to the end of June. They were so bad this week...it has been so exhausting! Sinus headaches, always itchy, sneezing constantly...it has been no fun. It takes a lot out of you....its been an exhausting week! Allergy meds for dayz here! Pushing the vitamin C and the fluids.

I couldn't remember if I talked about this yet, but we have been planning a Car Wash for members to invite their non-member friends to the church for free food and a free car wash. It has taken a lot of planning and work, but we are excited. We hope to see several miracles from this activity. It will be held at the church and we will have the food inside so that people could go inside while their car is being washed and enjoy some food and, if they would like, go on a church tour. It will be a great way for non-members to come inside the building and see what we are all about. It will be on June 11th from 11 to 2 pm. We will be involving the youth specifically, but have announced it to the entire ward going into primary, Sunday school, relief society, YM and YW, elders, and high priests. We are hoping for a huge turn out from our ward! Super exciting!!

Here is a short thought for this week! I love this scripture!

John 14: 26-27

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

This gospel brings us peace that we can't find anywhere else in this world. I know that as we follow in the savior's footsteps that we can find peace and safety in a troubled world. So grateful to share this "good news" with everyone. We have a message of safety and peace.

Have an awesome week and a fantastic Memorial Day! Thanks for all of those who have sacrificed their time and lives for this beautiful country. We are so blessed!

Love you all!

Elder Shaw