Time Flies When You are in the Service of the Lord!

Hello Family!

The weeks go by so fast!  Last Monday we started teaching a lady named Mary.
She is a home nurse who we met while she was on the job.  We came
back Monday night, and she let us right in and we taught her about the
Restoration.  She said 'I think I will just have to come and try it
out!'  She is going to try and come this Sunday.  It will be
awesome!

We also stopped by Jen's house.  She is a lady who is going through some hard
times in her family.  She is Jewish, but never was sure what to believe in
life.  She knew a little about Jesus Christ.  We came back Thursday
and had a good lesson with her.  She really liked understanding what
the sacrament and baptism are all about; especially how it relates to
Jewish ceremonies in the Old Testament.

Tuesday we had a good lesson with Daniel, talking about the Plan of
Salvation.  He knows a lot about religion, thus he can get
confused with what everyone says.  But he likes the Book of Mormon,
and believes it is of God.  We also watched with him the "Prophet of
the Restoration" video, which he really liked.

After district meeting on Tuesday we went on a two night blitz with
Endicott and Binghamton elders.  It was a blast.  They have some good
things going on.  We went tracting Wednesday morning, and a lady answered
and let us right in.  She knew some Mormons in Utah, and she is
Catholic, but has a hard time with faith and some of the commandments.
 It was funny because she is a book editor, so we was correcting my
bad grammar the whole time we were talking ;).  She is going to let
them come back.

Friday we went to the Food Bank and did some service, packing over one
ton of donated candy from Valentine's Day and Easter.  It was CRAZY.  But
afterwards the Lions Club members invited us for lunch at
Friendlies.  It was a good lunch!  No one was too
interested in hearing the gospel, even though most of them knew some Mormons.

We also met with Chocolate's grandkids again, and we are hoping they
will be ready for baptism by next month.

Yesterday we had 3 investigators at church.  Awesome!  Then we also
had a lesson with Jim Mallory.  He heard that we don't drink or
smoke, so he doesn't like that too much, but we are still slowly
making progress with him.

Today we are going to go golfing!  It is going to be great!  I hope to
include pictures next time.

Also we are working on a poster for Mormon.org.  I will send a copy,
even though we still haven't gotten approval yet. We don't know if it breaks any
copyright laws.  So don 't be sending it to people!

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Shurtz

He is Risen!

Hello!

Happy Easter!

It has been a good week.  A little cold and windy, but spring is for sure here. 

Tuesday we had President Bulloch give training on studying the scriptures.  It is amazing how much you can learn, especially with the aid of the Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, and other LDS resources!

We had Stake Correlation at President Beck's home.  I am still amazed at his leadership skills.  He goes forward with optimism, even when others are telling him "good luck!"  No wonder he is one of the main executives for Corning.

I also went on exchange with Elder Richins in Elmira.  He is a good missionary, who likes to have a good time while doing the work.  Wednesday morning, we helped a lady transplant some tulips (did not work too well).

Yesterday for Easter we went to the Rodriquez family for dinner.  It was good stuff!  We also had two investigators show up for church. YAY!

Sounds like Grandma's funural was great!  I'm excited to hear it.

Sorry it is so short!  Don't have too much time.  I love you all, and hope you have a great week!

Elder Shurtz

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice!

Conference was amazing!  We had 3 non-members come and watch one session each.  It was a good experience for most.

Tuesday we went to Binghamton for District Meeting, then ran back to Elmira for another district meeting.  In both, we trained on how to use Preach My Gospel more effectively in our studies.  We also had a lesson with Mazie which went pretty well, we hope to be getting her to church within the next two weeks.

Wednesday we went to Ithaca to give our final district meeting training then I went on exchange with Elder Cutler in Ithaca.  He is a very smart Elder.  He will also be back at BYU this Fall.

Thursday we had a lot meetings and planning sessions, and good dinner (steak!), and a great lesson with some recent converts.  I was so tired by the end of it.

Friday we had a good lesson with Steve and Daniel.  We taught about the restoration.

In between conference sessions we worked on stake reports for a coordination meeting this Wednesday at the stake president's house.  We did not find too many people this week, but it is one of our goals for this coming week!

This morning Brother Cleary took us to Watkins Glenns.  Great scenery and waterfalls and rivers right at the bottom of one of the finger lakes.  What a great morning!

This week I have really been enjoying studying the last week (Passion Week) of the Savior.  It is amazing the things he taught, and the things he did.  I was watching the Lamb of God video and thought about what it would be like to sit on the hillside and listen to him teach.  I Love the Scriptures!

Love you all.  Tell the family I say hi.  I'm sorry I can't be there at Grandma's funeral.

Elder Shurtz

What's the Catch?

It has been a busy week, but yet I do not have too many stories to tell.  The weather has been wonderful until today when it dropped back down to the 30's.

Monday we started teaching a former investigator, Steve.

Tuesday we went on blitz with the Assistant to the Presidents after district meeting.  Elder Williams and I taught an awesome lady from Jamaica, Mazie.

We had a great lesson with a lady who has been investigating the church for the past 9 years, but has not been baptized because her husband won't let her.  She has read the Book of Mormon 3 times.  She has read the Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants, and is now reading the Old Testament.  We had Brother Duke come with us from the bishopric, and he was able to introduce himself to the husband who was just getting in as we were leaving.

We also had a good talk with Jim, who we picked up last week.  He is a good guy.

Thursday we had a lesson with Yolanda on the Atonement.  You could tell she really felt the spirit there.

Friday got a phone call from a lady we gave our number to about Christmas time.  She needed some help with some yard work, and her health would not allow her do it.  So we went over and did some work for her.  We are going back next week as well.  It is interesting when she called, because she made sure to say she does not want 'any long sermons,' but when we went over we had a nice conversation about our beliefs with her.  She kept asking us 'whats the catch' no one just comes and does service for free.  She has seen a lot of hypocrisy in the past, and lots of fake people and churches, so that led her away from religion, but I think she is curious about ours.  It will be fun to see what happens there.

We also read Jacob 5-6 with Brother and Sister Cleary.  They loved the allegory of the olive tree (being the teachers they are).

Saturday we had 5 appointments lined up, and all of them fell through!  Frustrating day.  Sunday we had 2 investigators at church.

This morning, Brother Cleary (who is not a member) took us out to see some of the historical sites around town.  We went to the national cemetery, which is the only place in the northern states, where the south did not come remove their soldiers' bodies back south because they feel they were properly buried.  We also went to Mark Twain's grave.  Brother Cleary is a great guy.  He has learned a lot through his studies.  He has a hard time though with believing in Jesus Christ.  But both Elder Duffin and I love to talk with him, and the ward members love him as well.

This week will be busy, and I am so excited for General Confrence.  Tomorrow we have two district meetings to train in.  Then on Wednesday we have one more.  Then after that, we are going on exchange. WOOT!

Love,
Elder Shurtz

Men in Black

It has been a good week.  The weather has been in the 60-70's about all week!  It has even hit 80!  This week, I hear, is supposed to do the same.

Monday we went to dinner with Bro Meacham (the girls were sick, Sister Meacham stayed home with them).  Tuesday we picked up a new investigator, Jim.  He is an awesome older gentleman.  Humble, and kind.  We are seeing him again on Wednesday.


Thursday we taught Brother Chocolate's grandkids again.  They have a hard time staying focused, but they do know a lot.

Thursday night we drove up to Auburn and spent the night with them.  Because they were in a threesome it made it 5 elders in the apartment.  We had to get up at 5:20 so we could all shower and get to Utica on time at 9 am for Zone Leader Conference.

ZLC was great!  President is feeling his time is short, and has a lot to share.  It is amazing to listen to Him teach from the scriptures, and to feel the spirit radiate from him.  I know President Bulloch is one of the reasons why I came to this mission.

After ZLC we stopped in Ithaca for the night, because we had an interview to do there on Saturday morning.  We went tracting since the other elders were in a lesson.  Apparently we scared a little girl who does not answer the door very often.  She was so frightened that she called the police!  As we were at the church the next day, the mother called to see if it was us (I left a card at the door).  Luckily the mother was very nice about it.  Her daughter described us as guys with trench coats on.  What a frightful imagination she has to assume we meant her harm!

Saturday we had an awesome lesson with Sister Cleary and her non-member husband on Jabob 1-4.  They both really liked it, and was probably one of the best lessons we have had with Brother Cleary.  Sister Cleary is a great lady, and Brother Cleary is easy to talk to.

Yesterday was Stake Conference.  It was probably one of the best ones I have been to!  Both President and Sister Bulloch spoke (probably since it was the last stake conference before they go home).  The whole stake conference was on 'let your light shine forth.'
We did not have any investigators come though.  grrrrrr...

Well, I love you all and hope you have a great week!  Tomorrow we go on a blitz with the APs and we need to get next week's training ready for when we go visit all the districts.  I'm going to enjoy the weather!

Love,
Elder Shurtz

Birthday and a Baptism

It has been a busy one!
Monday we went to the Corning Museum of Glass.  It was awesome.  We saw somebody make a glass plate straight from the melting pot.

I then brought Elder Tollefson back to Elmira to work with me.  This is his first transfer, and he is an amazing missionary.  He will do a lot.  After district meeting I then worked with Elder Wilkins who is working in Owego.  He is enthused about the gospel, and is very polite.  He is going to be training this next transfer (Transfer day is on Wednesday.)

Elder Duffin and I then had fun working together again on Wednesday evening, visiting the Meachams, finalizing plans for the baptism.  They shared a story with us on how they realized one of the families who use to babysit for them were Mormons, and they did not find out till this past week.  It is fun to see them recognize how the Lord has been preparing them for their baptism.

Thursday morning I went to Ithaca to work with Elder Stratton. We had fun.  We taught a lady from China who is going to Ithaca for college.  We focused on recognizing the spirit, since she has never had a religion in her life before.  I hope to see her progress.  We had the lesson with the Branch President and his wife in Ithaca.  It just so happens to be Heather Merrill's in-laws.  So that was a nice surprise.

Friday, we made cookies for an investigator they have been having a hard time getting into, and we got in!  Had a small lesson, then went our way to meet up with the other missionaries at the church.  Elder Duffin and I had a second transfer training for Sister Smith, one of the sister missionaries in Ithaca.  The sisters always have a great spirit [they even made me a cake for my birthday!].  Then we met up with the Elders and went got some wings. YUMMM!  Elder Duffin and I then went home, did some weekly planning, and then worked the rest of the day (lunch was too much for us to eat any dinner).

Saturday was awesome!  The baptism was great!  Well attended.  Besides the little boy hitting his head on the pew, and bleeding quite a bit, it went well.  (He is fine now).  The stake president give a talk on baptism, and his niece did a wonderful musical number.  Then Elder Duffin and I were given the privilege of baptizing them.  Elder Duffin baptized Brother Meacham and Grace (9), while I baptized Sister Meacham and Georgia (11).  The spirit was strong.

That night Elder Duffin took me out to Chili's, in celebration of my birthday.  Just by chance, our ward mission leader was their with his family, and bought us dessert.  (Such a good guy).

We also had transfer calls Saturday night!  Elder Duffin and I are staying together.  Both of my sons (elders I trained), Elder Simmonds, and Elder Hall are going to be training this transfer.

Sunday the Meachams were confirmed.  They are glowing.  Tonight, we have dinner with them.

We also stopped by a less-active member who lives in the middle of nowhere.  At first he was very friendly, but then he went into a rampage of why the church is not true, and all this anti-stuff.  It is scary how dark someone can get when they once had so much light.

This week we are excited for Zone Leader Council!  I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Shurtz

 

Marching On!

Hello Family!

Can you believe it is already March?  The weather has been off and on all week (nothing new there), but it is way better than last year!

Tuesday at district meeting we had a lady who does the addiction recovery program come and share with us the program, so we could figure out how to best help investigators who are struggling.  One thing she mentioned, which is sad, that most people who are in the program had some sort of sexual abuse in their life which attributed a lot to their addictions.  Smoking seems to be one of the hardest things for people to quit here in New York.

We had an investigator last week drop us, after coming to church a few times, receiving awesome lessons, and reading from the Book of Mormon.  We feel she was anti-ed, but she is ignoring us, and wont even come to the door when we try her house.  It is sad when that happens.  But, Saturday we found some awesome potentials we are excited to start teaching.

Wednesday we taught mutual.  I forgot how difficult it is to keep youth involved and attentive!  I know I do not want to be a teacher when I grow up!  But, Thursday we had dinner with the Stake President, then had our Stake Missionary Coordination Meeting.  His son goes to a Catholic high school, and said one of his friends is seriously interested in learning more.  The friend came to church with him this last week.  He lives in another area, so we wont be teaching him, but he is an awesome kid.

We also started doing service at a food bank this last week.  Mainly we are filtering and sorting food that is donated, and then the food goes out to the different food pantries in the area.  It looks like it is going to be a good opportunity to talk to some good people.

Friday afternoon I went to my first Catholic mass.  This guy we do service with at the food pantry, invited us, so we accepted. (We have given him a Book of Mormon, and he said he would read it the week earlier.) An experience for sure, but it has made me ever more grateful for the restored gospel.  It was just so obvious how much was lost, distorted, and confused through the ages and how much did have to be restored from on high.

Saturday we went back to the Stake President's house for a birthday party Luau for their niece who was turning 16.  They had some non-member friends there and it was a great opportunity to get to know some of them.  They actually cooked a whole pig for it!  (Poor Wilbur.)

Yesterday we had 7 investigators at church!  It was exciting to see them all get there.  One family, Lasean and James, are going through a hard time, but they still came to church, which was awesome!

This week we have 3 exchanges we are going on.  CRAZY!  This afternoon we are headed to Corning, to check out the Museum of Glass (3rd most visited spot in New York.  Niagara Falls, and Statue of Liberty are the others) On my birthday I will be working with Elder Stratton who was my companion on my last birthday.  Fun stuff!  I think we will be going to Wings over Ithaca (These are amazing wings!  They only have them in some areas like Syracuse, Saratoga, and Ithaca) for lunch to celebrate when we switch back.  We also have the sisters in Ithaca we need to do second transfer training with.

The Meachams are super excited for their baptism this Saturday!  It will be a great week!

Love,
Elder Shurtz

PS - I found this picture at one of the missionary apartments.  I don't think it is from our mission though.