9-24-13

Well I know a few of you may have thought that I forgot about ya yesterday, but we were blessed to be given the opportunity to go to the temple this morning, and so today was our P-day. I had such a great session in the temple today! We were all told to go with a few questions that we needed answered and I can honestly say that all five of my questions/concerns were answered! Sitting in the Celestial Room with Elder Fajardo after was a really cool experience also. We really do get a long really well, and have so much in common that we were able to talk quietly and enjoy the spirit that was in the room. One of the things that I had asked was to be able to feel Grandpa's spirit there because it has been hard for me that I hadn't ever been able to do a session with him because of his health. Well it was really really neat because I felt him right there next to me the entire time, and it was just a huge blessing to know that he is still here with me. I have always known that, but man was it special to be able to feel him right there with me!

 

Well our sad news from this week was that Deniella was not baptized... She called us a few days into the week and told us that her mom had called one of her pastors from one of her old churches, and had set up a meeting for her with him. She told us that she didn't know what it was going to be like, but that she had to go. We had a really bad feeling about it, and just told her to pray before she went and to keep an open mind about it. She called us about four hours later, and told us that she didn't want to be baptized any more, that she found out all about who we really are, and that she was very upset that we didn't tell her all about Joseph Smith. We were super confused and just really wanted to meet with her. She said that she would meet with us the next day, but that she wasn't going to be getting baptized. She had been hit SUPER hard with Anti Mormon Doctrine and was really upset about how we hadn't told her about it. She was told some things that I hadn't even ever heard of. We thankfully have a member who had read up on a lot of anti stuff before he was baptized, and he had gotten answers to it all, and he was really able to help her out. She still is up in the air, and doing her own studies, but we have faith that she will be baptized sooner or later, but it will be a really tough ride to get her there.

Well I have got to sign off. There are a few things that I still need to do email wise. Real quick though. Harry was confirmed this Sunday and he is on fire! He is working to get the priesthood so that he can go to the temple as soon as possible and do baptisms. He is so happy and has told all his family that he is going to come back to China in February and teach them all about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He is just doing so well and we are so happy to be able to be apart of his life. Peter is kinda off the radar right now. He is just going through a hard time right now, but he will still text us back, and read what we ask him to. He is going to do fine, he just needs to figure out how he fits in in the world, and just keep enjoying the journey. He had a good time with us the other day when we took him out to dinner, so we just need to keep getting him involved in the activities! 

Guys I love this work so much! I love just working like dogs and coming home so tired that we think we might as well die,and then have about 2 hours more work to do as zone leaders! I have never felt so tired and worn out my entire life, but it is such a miracle tired that it just makes it all worth it! I know that I am tired, but I love it and never want it to end! I would have no problem with just being a missionary for ever! I have had such a revelatory experience of making plans on how I am going to stay a missionary even once I am back home! I just want to always share the Gospel and be a missionary. I know that one day the tag will come off the front, but it will never be taken off of my heart! I love you all so much. May we all remember that we are ALL member missionaries and there are people out there who need the Gospel and who would be much better off with it in their lives! Thanks for all the emails today it was great to heard from you! I love you so much I know that the work is the Lord's work, and that it is all true. I would not preach something that I didn't know for sure was 100% true! I hope you all know that I have a very strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and Temple work! It is the thing that is going to keep us all together no matter what happens! Remember who you are and what you represent, right Grandma?!?! Love you guys!

Much Love!

Elder Shelley