Tuesday, February 21, 2012
February 20, 2012 E-Mail
It was another crazy week. We stayed really busy, and whenever that happens the time just really flies by. And we were even able to find a few new investigators. We tracted into a pretty old guy a little over a week ago and then we took him on a church tour this week. I don't think he's really interested in what we are teaching, but more interested in the building itself. But he's a really nice guy. And then we met a kid named Larry. Larry seems very prepared for the gospel at this time. Some other missionaries met him at the library and gave us the referral. He's only 19 years old and he has a girlfriend and a 1 year old daughter. But they aren't living together. I think their may be some arguing going on between them right now. Well he's pretty much homeless and living in a motel room. He started on drugs when he was about 13 and just got clean about 3 months ago. And he also just got out of prison recently. When he decided to quit doing drugs he pretty much had to turn his back on all of his family members. Because they all do drugs. So right now his life pretty much sucks. We taught him a couple of times this past week and took him on a church tour and he loved it all. The spirit was very strong. Yesterday morning he called us so we could get him a ride to church. We had it all set up and then he called right before and told us he had to go to the hospital because he has some heart problems. And that's the last we have heard. Hopefully we will make contact with him today or tomorrow. The sister missionaries also told us about a lady that just showed up to church yesterday. It turns out that she lives in our boundaries. We should start teaching her soon. We tract quit a bit and it doesn't always work, but I think it shows our faith and then we are always blessed with finding people in different ways. A few non-members came to the singles ward yesterday with their friends too. I think we will teach at least one of them this week. So things are going great. I'm sorry this is so short but this computer is messed up. I feel like Nick in Argentina. I can type a lot faster than it can think. It has taken me a very long time just to get this much written down. I know this church is true and I know that we are blessed as we are faithful and diligent. We can have the guidance of the Holy Ghost just as Nephi had the Liahona. We just need to apply our faith and do our part. I love you all! I hope you have a great week!
Monday, February 13, 2012
February 13, 2012 E-Mail
Things are going well. My new companion is Elder Jensen from South Jordan. He's a really cool guy and has been on his mission for about 18 months. So far we seem to work really well together. It's always a good sign when the week goes by so fast that you can't remember any of it. Pretty much I can only remember what happened yesterday. Ashley got confirmed. It was really neat. Her in-laws came, and her father in-law is the one that did the confirmation. It was fast Sunday for us because the previous Sunday was stake conference. Later on in the meeting Seth, her husband, got up and bore his testimony. It was really awesome and the spirit was so strong. So she is now a member of the church with the goal to be sealed in the temple in a year.
On Saturday we had a lesson with a girl who was baptized right before I got here. She is young, 19, and faces a lot of the temptations and trials that people our age face. Well it seemed like she was sort of doubting some things. She had a lot of questions to ask us. Well the whole time I felt prompted to do a couple of things, number one was to give her a priesthood blessing, and number two was to help her understand what she does believe in. We had a team teacher with us and he felt some of the same promptings. So I simply asked her if she believed in God, Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and Joseph Smith. Her response to all of those questions was yes. She got a big smile on her face and just said wow that made me so happy. I told her as long as she believed in those things that everything was alright and the rest would come with time. I love when the spirit works through us to help our Heavenly Father's children. I also gave her a blessing at the end and that helped a lot. Things like that help me realize that God is real and that he can communicate with us.
In that same lesson, the team teacher was talking about his mission and how they would pray that people would just show up to church to be taught. So I decided I would pray for the same thing. And yesterday two non-members showed up to church! One is a 9 year old in a part member family who was being taught previously. We were able to set up an appointment with their family. Then the other guy just came with his girlfriend. She didn't want us to push him yesterday but she said if he comes next week that we could ask him to be taught. It was a tender mercy from the Lord and an answer to my prayers. And that is all that I can remember from this week. I know that this church is true. I'm so grateful for prayer. I know that we can establish a relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer. He listens. And he answers. I hope you all have a great week!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
On Saturday we had a lesson with a girl who was baptized right before I got here. She is young, 19, and faces a lot of the temptations and trials that people our age face. Well it seemed like she was sort of doubting some things. She had a lot of questions to ask us. Well the whole time I felt prompted to do a couple of things, number one was to give her a priesthood blessing, and number two was to help her understand what she does believe in. We had a team teacher with us and he felt some of the same promptings. So I simply asked her if she believed in God, Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and Joseph Smith. Her response to all of those questions was yes. She got a big smile on her face and just said wow that made me so happy. I told her as long as she believed in those things that everything was alright and the rest would come with time. I love when the spirit works through us to help our Heavenly Father's children. I also gave her a blessing at the end and that helped a lot. Things like that help me realize that God is real and that he can communicate with us.
In that same lesson, the team teacher was talking about his mission and how they would pray that people would just show up to church to be taught. So I decided I would pray for the same thing. And yesterday two non-members showed up to church! One is a 9 year old in a part member family who was being taught previously. We were able to set up an appointment with their family. Then the other guy just came with his girlfriend. She didn't want us to push him yesterday but she said if he comes next week that we could ask him to be taught. It was a tender mercy from the Lord and an answer to my prayers. And that is all that I can remember from this week. I know that this church is true. I'm so grateful for prayer. I know that we can establish a relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer. He listens. And he answers. I hope you all have a great week!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
February 6, 2012 E-mail
This week was another crazy one and it just flew by. And I don't have my companion here by my side to remind me of everything that happened. He left yesterday for the mission home and is probably getting on a plane right now to head to Vegas. He worked all the way up to the end and was excited to go home. I'm really grateful that I had the opportunity to be his companion. We worked really well together. Transfers this time aren't to exciting because I already knew that I was staying. And my new companions name is Elder Jensen. I don't know who he is. I will meet him tomorrow. He served with Elder Soderberg and he told me that he is really cool. So I'm excited.
The good news is, we had a baptism! Ashley got baptized on Saturday and it was awesome. Everything went well. Her husband Seth was able to baptize her. He was really nervous but I could tell that it meant a lot to the both of them. A lot of ward members came as well as their family members. Even her family came, her mom isn't a member and her dad is very less-active. We have been trying to pick up the work in the young single adult ward. We have found a couple of new investigators recently but they are just all so busy with school and work and things that they struggle to find time to meet with us. We had a church tour with one this week and with his girlfriend as well. Ithink they will get baptized. I'm just not sure when. Young single adults can be hard to work with because of all the temptations that are out there such as drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. It's sad how satan can just tear people down. And his target is either to destroy the family, or make it so that people can't start families. That's why everyone needs the gospel! That is for sure something that I've learned on my mission, if you want happiness, then live the gospel. It won't wipe our problems away, but it will help us deal with them. I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life and all it has done for me. I'm grateful for my Savior. I know that he died for our sins. Through him we can be cleansed and return to live with our Heavenly Father and our families. I know that this church is true. I love you all! Have a great week. Thanks for everything.
The good news is, we had a baptism! Ashley got baptized on Saturday and it was awesome. Everything went well. Her husband Seth was able to baptize her. He was really nervous but I could tell that it meant a lot to the both of them. A lot of ward members came as well as their family members. Even her family came, her mom isn't a member and her dad is very less-active. We have been trying to pick up the work in the young single adult ward. We have found a couple of new investigators recently but they are just all so busy with school and work and things that they struggle to find time to meet with us. We had a church tour with one this week and with his girlfriend as well. Ithink they will get baptized. I'm just not sure when. Young single adults can be hard to work with because of all the temptations that are out there such as drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. It's sad how satan can just tear people down. And his target is either to destroy the family, or make it so that people can't start families. That's why everyone needs the gospel! That is for sure something that I've learned on my mission, if you want happiness, then live the gospel. It won't wipe our problems away, but it will help us deal with them. I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life and all it has done for me. I'm grateful for my Savior. I know that he died for our sins. Through him we can be cleansed and return to live with our Heavenly Father and our families. I know that this church is true. I love you all! Have a great week. Thanks for everything.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012 E-Mail
This week really flew by so I can't remember much that happened. We are excited for this Saturday because our investigator Ashley should be getting baptized. She is really excited and is getting a lot of support from her husband's family as well as the ward. This ward doesn't have very many convert baptisms, so when there is one. They get very excited. The last baptism before this one was last January if I remember right.
Yesterday we went to our PEC meeting and the Bishop called on my companion to say the opening prayer. After he said well the reason why we picked on Elder Soderberg to say the prayer was because.... Well I thought he was going to say because that will be his last meeting in that ward. But that's not what he said. He said because I'm going to ask his companion Elder Schvaneveldt to speak in sacrament meeting. And I hate speaking! Especially at last minute. But it went really well. I spoke with some old guy and he told me he could take up anytime that I couldn't. But I took up my 12 minutes and it went alright.
We had a pretty neat experience this week. Our appointments had fallen through and we didn't really know what to do because it was later at night and our teaching pool is really small right now. Well we felt prompted to go see a guy we have been working with. We got there and he was just completely drunk. At first he was being sort of comical and he invited us in. Well then he got really sad and was even crying on my companions shoulder. That part was pretty funny. but he has been through a lot because he has a couple of kids and doesn't get to see them often and he's been to Iraq and stuff too. So his life has been tough. Well he told us he just wanted to kill himself because he had nothing to live for. All I could really think of doing was to give him a blessing. So we gave him a blessing and right after he was different. He asked us why we came over and we told him because we felt prompted to. He told us that if we wouldn't have came over that night that he probably would have killed himself. I'm not sure if he really would have or not, but it was neat to see how the Lord works. Either way it was obvious that he needed our help that night.
Last night I also found out that one of my investigators in Wenatchee is going to get baptized this coming Saturday. Her name is Kathy, you may remember me talking to her. She was really strong in another church and was actually the reason why the Christian Orthodox church went to Wenatchee. Well Elder Kurtz called and told me that he saw her on Saturday at a baptism and he went to say goodbye to her because he goes home soon. She told him how she wished she would have been on the ball earlier so that she could get baptized while the first missionaries that taught her were still there. Well that night at 2 in the morning she woke up and she couldn't sleep and all she could do was think about the conversation she had with Elder Kurtz. So she texted the missionaries and asked if their was any way she could be baptized before Elder Kurtz went home. That made me really happy. I was hoping she would get baptized when I was in that area but she was having some health issues and other road blocks. It's so great to see people accept the gospel and receive all of the blessings included with it.
I'm so grateful for the Gospel and the comfort it has given me during rough times. And also the happiness it has given me during good times. I know that this gospel is true. I know that God is our Father in Heaven and that Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. I know that this church is true and that it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I hope you all have a great week! And thanks for everything!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
Yesterday we went to our PEC meeting and the Bishop called on my companion to say the opening prayer. After he said well the reason why we picked on Elder Soderberg to say the prayer was because.... Well I thought he was going to say because that will be his last meeting in that ward. But that's not what he said. He said because I'm going to ask his companion Elder Schvaneveldt to speak in sacrament meeting. And I hate speaking! Especially at last minute. But it went really well. I spoke with some old guy and he told me he could take up anytime that I couldn't. But I took up my 12 minutes and it went alright.
We had a pretty neat experience this week. Our appointments had fallen through and we didn't really know what to do because it was later at night and our teaching pool is really small right now. Well we felt prompted to go see a guy we have been working with. We got there and he was just completely drunk. At first he was being sort of comical and he invited us in. Well then he got really sad and was even crying on my companions shoulder. That part was pretty funny. but he has been through a lot because he has a couple of kids and doesn't get to see them often and he's been to Iraq and stuff too. So his life has been tough. Well he told us he just wanted to kill himself because he had nothing to live for. All I could really think of doing was to give him a blessing. So we gave him a blessing and right after he was different. He asked us why we came over and we told him because we felt prompted to. He told us that if we wouldn't have came over that night that he probably would have killed himself. I'm not sure if he really would have or not, but it was neat to see how the Lord works. Either way it was obvious that he needed our help that night.
Last night I also found out that one of my investigators in Wenatchee is going to get baptized this coming Saturday. Her name is Kathy, you may remember me talking to her. She was really strong in another church and was actually the reason why the Christian Orthodox church went to Wenatchee. Well Elder Kurtz called and told me that he saw her on Saturday at a baptism and he went to say goodbye to her because he goes home soon. She told him how she wished she would have been on the ball earlier so that she could get baptized while the first missionaries that taught her were still there. Well that night at 2 in the morning she woke up and she couldn't sleep and all she could do was think about the conversation she had with Elder Kurtz. So she texted the missionaries and asked if their was any way she could be baptized before Elder Kurtz went home. That made me really happy. I was hoping she would get baptized when I was in that area but she was having some health issues and other road blocks. It's so great to see people accept the gospel and receive all of the blessings included with it.
I'm so grateful for the Gospel and the comfort it has given me during rough times. And also the happiness it has given me during good times. I know that this gospel is true. I know that God is our Father in Heaven and that Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. I know that this church is true and that it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I hope you all have a great week! And thanks for everything!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
January 23, 2012 E-Mail
Well it sounds like it was a long stressful week for everyone. I'm glad that Grandpa's graveside service went well. Was he buried in North Ogden? It makes me sad to know that he is gone, but happier to know that he's not suffering and that he's with those loved ones that passed before him. I'm sure he's happy as well. It was a pretty slow week for us as far as teaching and finding go. The weather hasn't been the greatest and that always slows things down. It's been snowing and doing ice rain. Luckily we have a car and are not on bikes. Our investigator Ashley is still doing very well and looking forward to the 4th to be baptized. Her husband also found out that he will be able to baptize her. They're accepting all of the commandments with no problem and living all of them. We taught them the word of wisdom a couple of weeks ago and she hasn't smoked since. We also taught them about tithing and as soon as we mentioned it they told us that is what they had talked about while they were eating dinner, and yes, that they were willing to pay it. And that's about the most exciting thing of the week. We got to shovel some snow for people which I always like doing because I really miss the physical part about work. The emotional part seems to be harder on my body than the physical part. Before I forget, a couple of weeks ago I was at a stake meeting in Ephrata because that is a stake in our zone as well. I met a guy in the stake presidency, his name is President Yates and he is from Quincy. Anyways, he said that he knew Grandpa Schvaneveldt quite well. I guess His dad worked with him or something. I didn't quite catch the whole story of how they know each other. But I'm sure that Grandpa Schvaneveldt will remember him. I've decided that if I ever was a bum or homeless that I would easily be able to survive. Yesterday we went and decided to knock some doors after our dinner appointment and before our next appointment. Well the third door we knocked on some lady came out and told us that they were having a dinner party and invited us back another time. As we were walking off we heard the door open again and she hollered for us to come back. So we did and they invited us in for dinner. I'm not sure that has every happened to me before with an american person. None of them were members or anything. But they were just nice people. And a few of them were a little intoxicated. They may or may not have had something to do with it. But that let me know that if I was every a bum I would just go door to door and get some good home cooked meals. Well that was pretty much our week. Things are a little slow but still going well. I love this gospel and I'm so grateful for it in my life. I'm so grateful for the plan of salvation and the knowledge that we have that we will see our loved ones again. I love Grandpa so much but I know he is happier and that we will get to see him again. Have great week!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
January 18, 2012 E-Mail
Well yesterday right after lunch I got a call from Sister Palmer letting me know that Grandpa wasn't doing well. As you can imagine, that was something very difficult for me and I didn't really know what to do. We just happened to be at the church doing some paperwork so I just sat for a long time in silence. My companion has been very loving and understanding through the whole deal because he lost his aunt about 6 months into his mission. It also was very unexpected. Things were going great because after receiving e-mails on Monday I thought that he would be okay and that he would get to go home. I guess I just didn't realize how bad he was. To this point I still don't realize and it's hard to understand that he is gone. The Grandpa I know is 100% healthy. It was a long day yesterday and a long night last night not knowing if he had passed or if he was just suffering. This morning I got a call from the Mission President letting me know that he had passed. I was sad but at the same time comforted. I know he is in a better place. I also know how bad he missed Mike. Well now he is just hanging out with him having a good old time. This morning all I could really think of doing was to read the scriptures. So I opened up to Alma 40 and just started to read. I was very comforted as I came across a few verses, mainly 11 and 12. I now know that Grandpa has gone back home to the God that gave him life. I also know that he was one of the most righteous persons that I know. While reading verse 12 I realized that he is in a state of happiness, rest, and peace. He is happier now than he ever has been. To be honest I'm probably dealing with this a lot better here than I would if I were there. After talking to President Palmer this morning he helped me realize that it's better to remember someone when they are strong and healthy rather than when they are weak and suffering. He also told me that Grandpa has just gone on a mission. Similar to how I can't just pick up the phone and call you all, Grandpa can't pick up the phone and call us. But he is still there. He is just participating in a greater work. And better yet, he's doing it with Mike. I'm so grateful for the close relationship I was able to develop with him. As you all know, he is my hero and means so much to me. He taught me so much and I'm grateful for that. I will never forget those things. Many people don't get the chance to know their grandparents. I am extremely blessed with the grandparents I have and all they have done for me. I know that the gospel is true. I know that Heavenly Father has an eternal plan for all of us. And I know that Grandpa lived up to his potential and that everything will be okay. I'm so grateful for the temples and the priesthood power here on the earth today that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I'm so grateful that I'm sealed to all of you and that we will all be one big happy family in heaven. I'm extremely sad, but at the same time I am very comforted in the atoning power of our Saviour Jesus Christ. He didn't only pay the price for our sins but also for our pains and sorrows. Through prayer and study of the scriptures I have felt that work in my life at this difficult time. I'm grateful that he is not suffering anymore and that he left peacefully. We were sitting in a meeting last night with the stake presidency and one of them is on chemo. I was so grateful that Grandpa didn't have to experience any of that crap and that he went quickly. I'm also grateful for getting to see him and talk to him on Christmas. Take good care of Grandma and I'll be there soon to help. Understand that as we live the gospel and follow the plan of salvation that we have nothing to worry about. As we are worthy, we will be accepted into the celestial kingdom. Our time here is but little. Our time there is for eternity. You're in my thoughts and I pray that you may all be comforted at this time. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers in my behalf. I'm doing well. I love you all so much and appreciate the love and support I get from all of you.
Love, Kade
Love, Kade
January 16, 2012 E-Mail
It's been a pretty good week but things have just flown by. We had a lot of meetings and trainings again this week so we really weren't able to work in our own area a whole lot. But things are going great. Seth and Ashley that I talked about last week are doing really well. They came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it. They even announced her baptism. They never do that the first week that they come to church. We were able to teach them a few times this week and one of the times was about the word of wisdom. They both have a little problem but quit right then and there. It was really neat to see that. There is no doubt in my mind that I was transferred to this area partially just for them. It's nothing that I did, but it's just the way that God works.
As you can imagine, Grandpa has been on my mind quite a bit. It was neat because I got to teach the plan of salvation last night to Seth and Ashley. While teaching them I just felt the spirit telling me that the things I was sharing were true. As I related how I had never really worried about the plan of salvation in my own life because I've never been around birth really or death. Being the baby of the family and Tydan not being born until after I was gone. Well I told them how the plan of salvation had been on my mind more than ever over the past week. As I testified of it, I was very comforted in knowing that God does what He does for a reason. Sometimes we don't know why. I was also able to be with the Mission President a lot this past week because of different meetings that we had and he gave me a blessing of comfort and I know that helped.
On top of all this, on Saturday we went to Spokane and listened to Elder Holland of the twelve and Elder Bussey of the seventy. That was a wonderful experience and we even got to shake their hands. They talked about many things such as remaining active in the church after the mission, revelation, and the book of mormon. But really what I learned is that we just need to go on with faith regardless of what stumbling blocks fall in the way. We don't have the answers to everything, but that's where faith comes in. If we had answers to everything then there would be no point in being here. It's all part of our progression. At the end Elder Holland left us with a blessing. He talked about how regardless of what is going on at home, God would take care of it. And that's really what caught my attention. That's sort of my week in a nutshell.
I know that these things are true. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He has a purpose for all of us. As we continue on with faith and follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be able to return to live with Him and with our loved ones forever. I hope you all have a great week!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
As you can imagine, Grandpa has been on my mind quite a bit. It was neat because I got to teach the plan of salvation last night to Seth and Ashley. While teaching them I just felt the spirit telling me that the things I was sharing were true. As I related how I had never really worried about the plan of salvation in my own life because I've never been around birth really or death. Being the baby of the family and Tydan not being born until after I was gone. Well I told them how the plan of salvation had been on my mind more than ever over the past week. As I testified of it, I was very comforted in knowing that God does what He does for a reason. Sometimes we don't know why. I was also able to be with the Mission President a lot this past week because of different meetings that we had and he gave me a blessing of comfort and I know that helped.
On top of all this, on Saturday we went to Spokane and listened to Elder Holland of the twelve and Elder Bussey of the seventy. That was a wonderful experience and we even got to shake their hands. They talked about many things such as remaining active in the church after the mission, revelation, and the book of mormon. But really what I learned is that we just need to go on with faith regardless of what stumbling blocks fall in the way. We don't have the answers to everything, but that's where faith comes in. If we had answers to everything then there would be no point in being here. It's all part of our progression. At the end Elder Holland left us with a blessing. He talked about how regardless of what is going on at home, God would take care of it. And that's really what caught my attention. That's sort of my week in a nutshell.
I know that these things are true. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He has a purpose for all of us. As we continue on with faith and follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be able to return to live with Him and with our loved ones forever. I hope you all have a great week!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt
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