11-26-12

Dear Family,

Well the big news is that Tyler was baptized on Saturday! He passed his interview with no problem and he was sooo excited I wish you could have seen his face. I forgot to bring my camera so I will have to send pictures next week. We were so worried though about the baptism because everything was going wrong! When we got there I was on an exchange with another missionary trying to help them and to give them a few trainings. So when we got there there was another baptism going on. That was no big deal but the thing that turned out bad was that they didn't know that we were going to be having a baptism after them and so they pulled the plug and drained the font!!! Elder Makaya said that he would go take care of it and start filling it again. No big deal it was only going to set us back about 5 minutes so it was going to be fine. Well we were out taking pictures and something told me to go and check the font to make sure everything was going well. When I got back in the 2nd counselor of the bishopric was like ELDER SHELLEY WHY IS THE FONT ONLY AN INCH DEEP???? We ran in to see that Elder Makaya had not pushed the plug all the way down and so it wasn't even filling! I jumped down in and pushed the plug in and turned the water back on but by that time all the hot water was gone and the only thing coming out of the spout was ice cold watter!!!.... haha oh the memories. His family was so good about it though and understanding. We finally got started about 30 minutes late but it all turned out great. When they got into the water you could hear their breath be taken away as they got in the water.  As Tyler came up though he just kinda sat there and said "wow! I am so warm!" Even through ice cold water that they could barely stand before the spirit entered his body and he could feel the warmth! Such an amazing spirit. He asked me to confirm him on Sunday and so we did that. His dad even came to church to see it happen! He hadn't been in a church in over ten years! It was such a blessing. We aren't sure if he will come back next Sunday but we do know that he had a good experience and enjoyed the spirit that was there!

    So I was asked last week if I would speak in church! You all know how I am- I love to speak in church and so when they told me that I would be speakinglast, but that I would only have ten minutes I was a little disappointed.. hahaha I have a hard time keeping my talks to 15 let alone 10! But when we got there I found out that the youth speaker didn't show up- so I thought ok great I will get a little more time then I thought. Well the lady that spoke before me was a recent convert and got stage fright when she stood up there. She spoke for 5 minutes and then sat down!!! My ten minutes turned into 33 really fast!... That is a little longer then I am used to and a little more time then I had material to cover. When I went up, the bishop told me that he didn't have any back ups and to just do the best I could and if we got out early we got out early! Well he must not have none that I am a Shelley and could talk about nothin for hours! haha It went really well. I was asked to talk on the power of the priesthood and how it has blessed my life and the life of my family. I was also given a talk that Pres. Monson gave in April of 2012 and that was an amazing talk. The spirit told me exactly what to say and I was told afterwards that I did a great job. Ha the bishop even came up to me after and told me that he forsees stake president in my future because of my speaking skills!.. I sure hope not haha that is a lot of stress I am not sure I could do!  I was able to tell about how dad taught me young to work hard in my priesthood and to always be 100% in home teaching and serving my fellow ward members! I also talked about how mom and Kailei taught me young to be a mature kid and to honor and hold my priesthood close to me! I was able to talk about the blessings that I received from President Schmutz and Elder Bailey while in the Philippines- that I know literally kept me alive and the blessings that I was given for my feet that has changed my life for ever! The priesthood has always been so important to me and I thank all those men out there that read this letter for their example and for their support for me. You know who you are- so thank you!!!

    Thanksgiving was great! We were fed by three families by the end of the day!!!! I gained 7 pounds.... hahahaha We ate everything from basic turkey and potatoes to tri tip which was amazing and ham and pies and just a ton of stuff. It was a great day and I really felt close to the families and to my companion. The Lord has given us the opportunity to stay together for at least one more transfer and so we are excited about that. I am glad that I am able to say that because two weeks ago I would have been really down that I had to stay with him one more time. But he has taught me so many things and I am a better man for knowing him! I am so thankful for his patience with me and for his humility. We are not best friends but that's ok because we don't have to be. But we are brothers in the gospel and we love our missions and so we get along fine! We just needed to find that happy middle ground and start talking more. It was like pulling teeth to get him to talk but he is starting to come out of his shell a little bit more and I am loving it!

    Thank you all so much for all your love and your support to me! I love you with all my heart. To think that one year ago Friday I entered the MTC is crazy! It has flown by so fast! I don't even want to think about how fast this last year is going to go!.. I am really going to miss this work and this mission! Ha and then to think that I entered the mtc 260 pounds and now I stand at a total of 186 just is mind blowing! The Lord took care of me and I was so comfortable being in his arms! Please stay close to each other and to the gospel! This is truly the true gospel of our savior Jesus Christ and he is the head of it! He is our foundation and he will never fall. Build your life on his shoulders and let him reach down his hand with the love and power of the atonement and let him change your life as he has changed mine! Thank you all so much again and I love you so much!

 

Love,

Elder Shelley!

11-19-12

Hey family!

    So here is the big news!!!!! We are going to be having another baptism on Saturday!!! I realized that I don't think I have even talked at all about Tyler. I have been so caught up in all the negative things that I guess I completely forgot to mention that we have been teaching a 19 year old guy who has been progressing for quite some time now. He hasn't missed a Sunday in about a month and has been working so hard to be worthy of baptism. His interview by the zone leaders will be this Thursday night after they have Thanksgiving dinner and then he will be baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! We are so proud of him and the choices that he has made. His family is completely inactive but have all supported him through his choices and are even going to be at his baptism. His mom and sister are not members so we are hoping that this change in their son and the spirit that they will feel at the baptism will soften their hearts and change their views on the church! I will send pictures next week and share more after the baptism.

    Me and Elder Makaya have been doing much better. I have had to really learn how to be an example through the small and simple things. He is the type of guy that if you ask him to do something he will do the complete opposite just to upset you. But we have had some really good talks the past few weeks ha and a few fights but have come out on top of it all because of the fact that we have one thing in common. We both love the Savior more then we love ourselves. We both want the exact same things from our mission, he just never had the right example or training on how to succeed on his mission. I have been so very blessed to help him through some really hard times and to be able to help him see that through obedience great blessings come. There are still days where I just want to give up and do everything myself but then I think back to the Savior and I am sure that he wanted to step in many of times when the apostles tried to heal someone but didn't have the faith to do it. The Lord let them try though and then used the experience that they had to help them see that they needed to change a few things and to have more faith. I have given him plenty of opportunities to teach even when he didn't feel completely comfortable and he didn't do great, but he walked away learning from the experience. President talked to me and told me how proud he was that I am being patient with him. He talked about the fact that come January is when our mission will start to get in the 18 year old elders that will only have been in the MTC for 2 weeks. He said that they will not know how to be a missionary and that he is going to need people who know how to work with others and to help them without making them feel dumb or inadequate. That scared me a little bit because the idea of training is a little overwhelming to me. I hope that he is not going to call me too quick because I have a lot of things that I need to learn before I feel I could train properly. I know that they Lord will help me through what ever callings I am given!

    Thank you everyone so much for your love and for your support through my mission. I have come to feel of my Saviors love in more ways then I can even imagine. This being the Thanksgiving/ Christmas holiday my mind has been taken back a few times on what I am thankful for. One is that I am so thankful for the fact that I get to be back on my mission. I can't even explain the pain that went along with my first calling in the Philippines but even through all of that and what should have been a very deadly sickness the Lord carried me through it and helped me back on my feet. I am also thankful for a great family that was so loving and supportive as I struggled to regain my strength and my desire to serve. It's a scary thing to return to something that almost killed you the first time but as I was given friends and family that talked me up and gave me great advice I was able to return to the greatest job I have ever had- to be a direct minister of the Savior! He is my life right now and I can't explain enough the joy that comes from serving him every second of your life! I am so thankful for the love and prayers that I feel from everyone back at home. Please know that I return the prayers and ask Heavenly Father every day to keep you safe and to feel his love!

    Thanksgiving is coming fast. We will be spending it with a family in the ward. They are a very traditional Hispanic family and we have heard that they don't have turkey usually so we will see what happens. We will be thankful for the food no matter what it is, because we don't have to buy it or prepare it! hahaha Please have an amazing Thanksgiving and enjoy the time as a family! Just think- Kailei will be home for the next one and then the next one we will all be back together! Can't wait. Hey Preston would be home for next Thanksgiving also- so grandma maybe you could invite him over to fall asleep on the floor again with his shirt half way up!!! =P hahahaha good memories good memories!

    The activity went pretty well last week. No body wanted to throw horse shoes so I only got to throw for like 5 minutes. It was fun though, we roastedmarshmallows and talked about our missions and stuff. It was a good time.

     Guys I love this gospel so much and I have such a testimony of it! I love my Savior and the chance he gives us to become better and become the people we are meant to become! Please stay close to the gospel this Christmas season and stay tune for Mormon.org/christmas that will be coming online starting Saturday! It will be a great opportunity to share the gospel and invite friends and family to check it out so make sure to go online Saturday and get to know the website! Love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Shelley

11-12-12

Dear Family,

     That is way cool about Mesa Marching!!! I didn't get a letter from Kadon this week so if he sent one I never got it. But way to go that is soooo cool I am sure Mr. Brooks was proud! I know that he puts in a lot of work and so do the students! Good for you all. Sister Clawson sent some pics to me. I wasn't able to look through all of them but I saw the one with mom, grandma, unk and aunt lissa and you all looked so good and that was fun to see you. I can't wait till next transfer because that will be the Christmas transfer which means we will get to skype! Lookin forward to that!

      So this is going to have to be a very short email because I have been planning this district activity for our district and it is going to be happening in about an hour and there are still a few things we are going to have to go pick up. There is a member that has horse shoe pits and like a camp ground area with a fire pit and things like that, so we are going over there to roast smores and have hot coco and throw horse shoes. When I found out that they had pits I had to get over there and throw! I need to do something that I used to do at home to relax and refocus. It has gotten dang cold here the last three days. It has been in the 30s every night around 6 or 7 and so I am trying to get used to that. I would love some gloves just like small knit ones or something just to keep the wind off of them and maybe a knit hat if you could That would be great. I thought that I threw my grey hoody in my suit case but must not have, so if that is laying around I could use that also. Mom the protein is great. Thank you. I like vanilla better still but I am using the strawberry also. Thank you for sending that it is really helping me with my energy. 

      I am so glad that Pres. Millet enjoyed my letter and that he used it in his talk. I hope that the young men listened to the spirit that comes from hearing about someone like Marlin being converted can bring. It is a life changing experience and trust me if they think about it and can even picture the joy that comes from watching someone you have grown to love so much enter the font, every single one of them will go on a mission. I can tell you personally that there is no better sound then to walk into a church and hear water running!!! My heart has been changed for good since I have come on a mission and I will never be the same person again. I was never a terrible person but at the same time there are so many things that I am going to change when I am home. I hope to be able to help the missionaries change lives like I have seen my own life be changed. I have really enjoyed my experiences while being here. Me and Elder Makaya are not doing well at all. He has not said a word to me in the 3 days and so I feel very very alone but at the same time the Lord is teaching me Chirstlike attributes and so I will grow from this. I had to talk to the zone leaders about him though and about his disobedience that I can't continue to allow him to be this disobedient because my feet have hurt more this transfer then any other in the past. They have talked to him and he is not willing to change. President just wants us to love him and to try to set the right example. They have me teaching him language for an hour a day and he is not at all happy about that. But we will see how everything turns out. I do hope that President transfers him or me though in the next transfer because I have been so stressed that I am getting sick from all the cramps and things that have been happening. Please pray for us to get along. He has been my hardest companion so far but at the same time I have learned more about being a strong leader and missionary from him. I just don't know if I am goin to be able to continue to learn all this for another 6 weeks..

      I was on an exchange with the zone leaders last week and we tracted for 3 hours straight!!!!!!!!!! If you don't know... yea that is a LONG time! In the first 2 hours we had a total of 4 doors open and all of those 4 closed within 5 seconds of opening. But we kept tracting and were determined not to stop until we had found a new investigator for our area! Finally we had a lady who opened the door and was willing to allow us to come back. We ended up teaching her on Saturday and had one of the most spiritual lessons I have had in a long time!!! The member that we brought with us was great and taught a lot of the doctrine with me so that she could understand and so that she could relate to it! WE are excited for her and have big plans for her. She should be at church next Sunday and we are hoping to extend a baptismal date this next Saturday! Her name is Peggy and she is great!

      Guys I love this gospel sooo much! I know that this has been a very hard transfer but at the same time the lord works in weird ways sometimes to teach us the things that we need to learn! We go through hard times to be refined and fine tuned. I am going to continue to work hard whether my companion wants to or not. Thanks for all the prayers and the love! I love you all.

 

Love,

Elder Shelley

11-5-12

Dear Family,

      HE GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brother Marlin Jefferson is officially a member of the church and has the priesthood!!!! I wish that you all could have been there to witness that mans baptism. To see an ex gang member have tears in his eyes for an entire hour straight is a very humbling experience. I hope you can see in my face the joy that I felt as I was there! I have never felt the spirit so strongly in my entire life. I as able to baptize him and he was so awesome! I had to wear a jump suit for a few reasons. One they were afraid that my pants wouldn't stay up when they got wet because I have lost probably another 2 or so inches around the waist and my white pants don't fit anymore. But the main reason was that Marlin wanted me to wear one too because he was still a little uncomfortable in his because of his tattoos on his arms. So when we baptized him he knelt on the ground in the font and we did it face forward.  It was very different from what we normally do but at the same time it made it very very special! When he came up out of the water he just kept kneeling there and kept his eyes closed! I didn't know what to do so I just asked him if he was ok. I was afraid that we had hurt his back.. He said hold on elder, Let me enjoy this feeling for a little bit. Tears were flowing down his face as he knelt there. His mouth was moving a little bit and I asked him about that later. He said that he would have felt so ungrateful if he had not thanked his Father in Heaven right then and there.  We then left the water and stood and watched as his step son baptized his step daughter! As I was standing there I had the coolest feeling! I realized that I was basically standing next to an angel! Marlin at that point was 100% perfect! He was cleaner than any other person on this earth. After she was baptized we were going to go change and Marlin just gave him a huge hug and said Elder Shelley you have changed my life and the life of my family forever! You will never know how happy I am and how much I owe you for coming to my house and challenging me to baptism. He told me that he had told over 6 sets of Elders no over the years but for some reason when I asked him and challenged him for some reason he was not able to say no. He said that he knew that it was his time to make that huge change and to stop smoking. He is talking to doctors to get all of his tattoos removed and to start a new life with his family! November 3 2013 I will be walking through the doors of the temple with him and his family to witness their sealing! He gave me all of his info and told me that he wants to be life long friends and that he wants to spend time with me after I have served my mission! I have never been so touch in my entire life. I will never be the same again.  The area here has not been doing well at all, but I will be able to look back at this day and just feel that same spirit. Nothing will be able to make me forget this amazing day when Marlin Jefferson began his new life!!!

     I have really been working with Elder Makaya a lot lately. We are trying to get his English better and to get him to work a little bit more affective. President has asked me to really work hard with him and to basically re train him on a few aspects of the missionary work. It is so hard to be put in a leadership position and not have the support of your companion.  I have been trying to work with our ward mission leader and get him to support me in a few things that I am trying to do to help out also and he has told me that I don't have the right to change anything that he has done. I tried to tell him that I am not trying to change anything that I am just trying to try some of the things that we have done in the past and in past areas to help this area get more successful. He chewed me our in front of the entire ward mission and I felt so belittled that I don't even know what to do. Basically every member came up to me and told me to just blow it off that they support me and are so thankful that we are trying to get the work to move forward. I have made myself sick the last day or so with stress and with trying to start to help my companion and this area so that it doesn't completely die out.. I have seen the hand of the Lord more in my mission than I have ever seen it before. I know that the Lord expects a lot out of me and that he knows that I can do it so it is going to be something that I am really going to have to just keep working hard and do my best!  I don't want to let the Lord or president down and so I am really going to work hard and never give up! I know who I am and I know who I represent. That is all that matters. I answer to the Lord and then to the mission president and through both of them I know that I will be supported and be lifted up to reach the potential that both of them see in me. Please keep me in your prayers because they help sooo much! Please continue to learn and to grow in this amazing gospel! I can't tell you how amazing it is to have the spirit directing every aspect of your life and guiding you through things that you could never do without him there. I am so blessed to be a missionary. I strive not to think about the future. I realized that the beginning of this next transfer I would have been out a year if I had never gotten sent home and when I thought about that it was pretty hard to think that I lost an extra three months with everyone and an extra Christmas too. But as I have asked the Lord for support I have felt his hand pick me up and guide me through the hard times! It will all work out in the end and I will be able to over come yet another trial in my mission. I was laughing the other day thinking one of these days I am going to have an easy transfer! I am going to have a transfer where I don't have to struggle where I can just enjoy it! But then I realized all the things I have learned because of those trials and I know that it will all be ok! Thanks again and I love you so much!!!!

 

Love,

Elder Shelley

pictures: 1.Marlin Jefferson's Baptism-Hayward, California (with step-daughter)

              2.Marlin's baptism with Elder Roberts

              3. Marlin's family