Microbrew fest?

 Area:  Parkville, Missouri
Companion:  Elder Christensen

What a week!  

This past week we found some nice trails to run.  Nothing like Utah trails, but a short glimpse.  It was nice to run trails finally and kinda feel a little at home.  :)  We found a pack of wild turkeys while up there and started to chase them around for awhile...

The humidity has started to come.  It isn't to bad right now but occasionally there will be a day or two that hit ya hard.  

Funny story.  We were at a dinner with a family and their daughter was being crazy and running around as normal 7 year olds do.  We were trying to talk and enjoy the meal and it was just really distracting.  Elder Christensen said to her, " I bet you can't be reverent for 5 minutes?!"  She immediately sat down and folded her arms.  Elder Christensen pulled out the phone and put a timer on.  Then the father said, "When that number reaches 10, you can be done."  haha!  She sat there for 10 minutes staring at the phone screen!  

We went on exchanges at the beginning of the week and the Elder that came with me wanted to see a little of downtown Parkville.  So I took him down to English Landing Park.  When we were down there I noticed a bunch of port-a-potties and tents being put up.  I thought there was going to be a race there or something.  So Elder Christensen and I go back the next day to see what was going on and hopefully talk to a bunch of people for awhile.  We get down there and look at the events sign and it says, "Microwbrew Fest."  Haha!  Elder Christensen said there isn't anyone who needs Jesus more.  We decided we probably shouldn't try and talk to people there. haha

We have had some serious finding miracles this week.  We found 3 new investigators who are awesome!  Our teaching pool is expanding like crazy.  At the beginning of this transfer we had 4 people we were teaching.  Now we are up to 12!  The way we found most of these people are through talking with everyone who is at or near the appointments we have set.  Heavenly Father is plopping people right into our lap!  There is a youth at church yesterday who got the OK from his non member father who wouldn't let him get baptized until he turned 18.  Now he is 18 and got the OK!  He has been waiting for 10 years to be baptized and has been coming to church since he was a baby.  How would that be?  To have that held back from you for so long?  I feel very very blessed!  So we are teaching him through the lessons in a week and a half before his interview with the zone leaders.  He is already pretty well versed in everything though.  There are many many other experiences and miracle that have been great this week as well.  Heavenly Father never stops blessing us!

Sounds like the cabin is taking flight!  The rooms look awesome!  It is really coming together.  From the emails, you all have your hands full with up keep and cleaning.  Sounds fun to me!  

I'll let you know the details about Mothers Day as soon as I know for myself.  It is on the 10th right?  I will be able to facetime and if not facetime, skype.  :)

Love you all!

Elder Shoemaker  

Let me baptize you in the Missouri River!

Area:  Parkville, Missouri
Companion:  Elder Christensen


Hello fellow DNA!

Yes, I did get the contacts.  Thank you so much!!  should last me probably the rest of mah mission. 

This week has been full of amazing things and tender mercies.  Being on foot and biking around gives so much more opportunity to talk with people.  We decided to go down to a park by the Missouri River (English Landing Park) that has a 3 mile long walking path.  We walked down there and right off the bat we run into a guy who is a Community of Christ member, or so claims to be.  We start talking to him and he says, "Let me baptize you into the right church right now in the Missouri River!"  While he was saying this he grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward the river in a joking manor.  He started to make different comments and bashing and we would just dish it right back... not necessarily the best thing to do but he brought in upon himself. haha!  We stopped walking and another guy comes and joins in and starts bashing with us with the other guy (we get bashed on a lot by professors and COC member and what not).  Anyway, it ended in this guy running off and us bidding him a fond farewell. :)  

We had the opportunity to play some pros ball.  Basically is just jumping into a sports game in your proselyting clothes.  We played with some young kids in the ghetto for about 20 minutes and I will say, my soccer skills have increased dramatically!  Now all those kids like us over there which is good.

I would have to say the highlight of my week was doing service at the Bishop's Storehouse.  Because of the fact that I ran into Brother Hawkins from the Independence 4th ward!  We talked for awhile and he told me that David (baptism from last area) was able to make it to the temple and do baptisms for the dead for his own ancestors.  Best news I have gotten for awhile.  It is so great to hear such good success stories like that.  

That's bout it for this week!

Love you all,

Elder Shoemaker

Oh you know, just chillin' in the hammock in the middle of a Missouri rain storm! 

 

Agency, a blessing and a curse

Area:  Parkville, Missouri
Companion:  Elder Christensen


This has been one eventful week.  Full of ups, downs, twists, and turns.  Seems to be the story of every missionaries day/week. haha

I appreciate all the little emails from everyone this week!  It is nice to hear from everyone and to see what is going on in everyone's life.  

We didn't get hit by any thing too bad as far as the storms.  Just a lot of rain and wind!  Although I did have a dream last night that there were 6 tornado's coming for Elder Chrisensen and I and all we did was stand there and take pictures... haha!   

Welp, we got the news that we are now going to part-time car.  Here come the Poppy legs again!  Parkville is one hilly place, more so than Independence and this area is a lot bigger.  It just gives us more opportunity to talk with everyone we see.  Should be fun!  

Bobbi, Bobbi, Bobbi...  So we had an appointment with Bobbi on Friday in which she canceled.  So we decided to just stop by Saturday night.  She told us that she no longer wanted to be baptized because she didn't believe that Book of Mormon could be real and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  I don't know what more she needed!  She told us she never got a big experience that she wanted so therefore it isn't true.  Those moments straight up suck when people drop you!  But, on the bright side, we found two new investigators this week!  It has been about 7 weeks since we have found anyone new to teach.   

We had an amazing zone conference again this past Friday.  It was a long one!  .......but the main thing that I really took out of it was that we need to have no fear.  We are members of The Church of JESUS CHRIST on the earth today and he is with us always!  Never back down because of the fear of man when you have a message of Jesus Christ.  Do we fear man, more than God? 

We now have "Tiwi" in our car...  A little black box that tracks our every move, kind of like a babysitter!  I guess there has been some reckless driving in the mission so time to crack down.  He talks to you in a very annoying voice too.  You just have to drive like a champ to get it to be quiet.  

Well, That is about all I got for this week!  

Love you all!

Elder Shoemaker

 

1st Edition of the Book of Mormon!  A member of our ward owns it, it was his fathers. 

He whipped it out and my jaw just dropped!  Super cool!  

 

Elder Christensen and I striking a stunning pose...

This Stake Center where this picture was taken is right next to the Temple!  So cool.  About a 1 minute walk from it.

Maybe someone will take the BOM out of this book exchange box? 

 

I have never loved CONFERENCE more!

Area:  Parkville, Missouri
Companion:  Elder Christensen

Flablam!!

The day is here and it came oh so fast!  This week has just flown by and I blame transfers, conference, appointments, ward members, and Heavenly Father. :)   

Thanks for the Easter box!  I loved it and am working on my duck calls now :0  I think Elder Jones was about ready to smack it out of my hands haha!  Like a kid trying to learn the violin for the first time.   

Transfers went great.  I was good to go back into Independence and see all my mission buds!  Some went home this transfer which is crazy.  It was sad to see Elder Jones leave, but I know it was for the best and that the Lord has His hand in this work.  He was transferred to Raytown, which is right next to my old area in Independence so I know it pretty well actually.  I was excited for him to go there.  My new companion is Elder Christensen from Idaho Falls, ID.  He is a great guy!  He has been out for 20 months so he is on the down low, but not trunky non the less!  This is going to be a great transfer.  I am grateful to have a companion who has been out longer than me, I have been learning a lot from him and that's what I need.  

General Conference was so great!!  I loved it so much and it always seems to be exactly what my missionary brain needs.  Conference in the mission field is amazing, I have never loved it more!  It is such a great opportunity to better yourself and get a nice spiritual recharge.  I wouldn't have minded if they had done another couple sessions!  My favorite talk I would have to say was Elder Kevin Pearson.  I have always loved the tree of life and how much is in that and he helped me see a lot of what I was missing!  I also loved Ucthdorf's talk on grace, really deep and profound.  A lot to think about.  Can't wait for the next Ensign to come out so I can read them all again. 

That was pretty crazy about the opposing sustaining's in the 2nd session.  Never heard of that happening before.  But, these are the last days and there are going to be many people who are going to try and raise a rebellion against the truth.  Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on the earth today and that is all that matters. :)  I'm sure Heavenly Father will do what is needed to those people who rejected him. ;)  The picture you sent was really funny!!  :D

So Bobbi our investigator is doing well!  We had plans to watch General Conference with her and have dinner as well Saturday afternoon session, but that ended up not working out, but she still watched General Conference by herself!  That was great news.  She said she didn't feel anything too special that stuck out to her specifically and that it was really boring.  I just wanted to say, "Are you sure you were weren't watch Joe Olestein?" haha! I was so surprised because I got so much out of it.  So we asked her to watch the Woman's session and see how she likes that.  She is now on date to be baptized on the 18th of April, so we are praying for her!  

Overall, Heavenly Father is just so good to us.  Our mission president, President Vest shared something from Brad Wilcox this past letter to us.  There was one line I really liked out of it. 

"The Atonement is not just about sins but also struggles."  

This has proven to be so true as we go about our days with whatever struggle it may be.  He is always there and always knows.  One thing that I really like in conference was the analogy of our church being like a hospital and we are the patients, trying to become better. 

Love you my wonderful family!!

Love,

Elder Shoemaker  
   

My New Companion - Elder Christensen (with possible edits..ha ha)

Elder Shoemaker and Elder Christensen -- New Duo!