GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEK

The week was a really good week.  Our district goal was to pass out 14 Book of Mormons.  And at the time, we only had two left.  I started to get curious about what we have in the apartment, and I ended up finding seven more.  So that was definitely a blessing.  Elder Wilson and I passed out 6 Book of Mormons which we are very happy with.  Cuz our District Leader kind of gave us our goal.  And he said two.  So we beat the little goal that he gave us.  Also a funny note, when I came on my missioned I weighted 167, now I weigh 176.  Iv'e gained 9 pounds.  So I guess I'm going to have to stop eating seconds/thirds and start working out more in the morning.  HAHA

Tuesday: We met with an investigator named Patrick. He believe the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph smith is a prophet. But he doesn't believe that just one church is true. So when we meet with him, he just asks us questions that have no eternal significance at all. Somehow he found out about baptisms for the dead, and he firmly doesn't believe they are necessary. We always have some very unique lessons with him. Next we drove to Crosby and went to a less active sister in the branch named Sister Scheller, she has many word of wisdom issues but is a sweet old lady. I noticed the whole time that she was kind of making excuses for why she doesn't want to quit smoking and drinking. Her main reason is, she doesn't want to become like Heavenly Father. She believes it would be too hard. Then she said that she can't go to church every week because it's too far and has cost too much, also she only gets a social security check every month. I said to her as boldly as the spirit told me to, “don't look at the temporal challenges that are put in the way to make it difficult to come to church. Look at the eternal blessings that we receive from going to church. I testified that no worldly road block is too much of a sacrifice to go to church." The spirit testified the trust of what I said, and she started to cry a little, and then said, “Ok, I'll make the sacrifice". - This was the most spiritual experience I have had since coming on my mission.

Wednesday: Elder Wilson and I after having lunch and teaching a lesson to Sister Piecek. We went to family dollar and found a sweet deal for a good but cheap basketball and football. So that has made exercise time for fun. We met with a lady named Arlene and her fiancé Dennis. Arlene was trying to make us feel bad cuz we serve missions, instead of serving in the military. And say many other things that were stereotypical about us and other religions. Dennis was standing up for us because he has worked with members of the church and understand what we are about. Arlene is nice but just has some crazy thoughts, so we helped them move couches and then left cuz we didn't want to deal with her any more. 

Thursday: our morning started with playing Yahtzee with the old folks home. I enjoy doing that cuz these old people are super funny. Missionaries have been doing this for at least 10 years. We then met with Cece, once we got there she said oh you didn't get my text, I cancelled. But we then talked to her for about 15 minutes, and found out that her father is in the hospital and isn't doing well, we taught part of the plan of salvation, and it was good cuz it soften her heart a little bit. Miracle that we didn't get her text. Later we met with Tammy and once we got there, an old investigator that dropped us was there and another non-member. We helped the cook, and the showed them a video call our eternal life, and then gave one non-member a Book of Mormon. It was a miracle that other people were there so we could teach all of them. Next we went to Kyle’s house. And he is a giant less active man. He is nice to us and likes to meet with us, but is pretty rough. We showed him the same video about our eternal life, and he ended up opening up to us and said that he still believes the church is true. He also gave the closing prayer. That was a miracle. Last, we were driving home when we realized we needed milk, so we walk into a store and a young employee starts talking to us. He is 17 and wants to learn more about our church so we gave him a Book of Mormon, a pamphlet, and a card with our number on it. Hopefully we get a call from him. That was also a miracle.

Friday: during exercise time we went to the football field. I'm proud to say I kicked a 35 yard field goal ha-ha. Later, we met with two old catholic ladies and talked with them. We had to leave, but we gave them both Book of Mormons. They are nice people, hopefully we can make them another Sister Peicek, ha-ha just kidding. Later we met a guy named Eric who was atheist, he was nice and he said he would take us out to lunch. 

Saturday: we watched the morning session of Conference at Sister Rono home, her non member husband came in a watched for a bit. So that was cool, next we went to the Decents’ home and helped cut wood between sessions. We then watched the afternoon session with Tyler their 13 year old son who acts way more mature than 13.  We watched priesthood at the church

Sunday: we watched conference all day at the Youngquist’s, and they fed us a ton of food. Later that day we had a lesson with Penny and Andrew who are members, it was good.

Conference was great, it goes by a lot faster and is a lot more enjoyable on a mission.  I noticed a few things, first was how every subject that they talk about is so simple. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a simple church, to live with heavenly Father all you have to do is follow the doctrine of Christ. I noticed most of the topics were the lessons from preach my gospel. Restoration, plan of salvation, doctrine of Christ, and commandment. When president Monson talked in the priesthood session, at the beginning I couldn't understand him, he seemed weak, frail, tired, but joyful. Half way through I saw a change in his countenance, he gained strength, he spoke clearly, and spoke with power and authority. I can testify that he is a prophet of god, Heavenly Father has called him to be a leader of this church, and has qualified him for the work. Has picked him up, gave him strength, and just like him, we are called to have responsibility in the church. We may feel inadequate, but we will be qualified for the call, cuz we have been chosen by God through revelation to serve in that calling.

"Mom, Dad it's him." I know this is the true church, and I am so grateful we have prophets and apostles on the earth today to lead and guide us. I say these things in the name of thy son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love, Elder Jason Schauers 

Fall - Aitkin, MN