This week was just full of ups and downs. Where do I even start? I'll just go day by day I suppose.
Tuesday was ROUGH because we had three sweet appointments planned and they all fell through. We got shined hard and cancelled on which was a total bummer. It turned out okay because we had a bunch of back-up finding activities and knocked into some sweet people, including the lady that we found this week. You'll hear about her in the "Saturday" section.
Wednesday was district meeting which is always great. We had Panera Bread for lunch. That's about all I remember for Wednesday.
On Thursday I was in Midland 1 with Elder Derricott. We found all day long and had a great time doing so. We found a lot of sweet potentials and set a return appointment with an older Pentecostal lady that's been to Utah before and loves the Mormons. It was a really sweet finding day. As much as I love training a new missionary, it was super refreshing to get some new ideas from someone who's been finding longer than I have. Elder Derricott and I just gel together in testifying and teaching. It would be sweet if I get to serve with him or around him another time in the mission. OH MAN, we also had the best dinner ever with a family in the 1st ward - the Joneses. Tender pork loin over a bed of coconut rice topped with a home-made mango pico de gaillo. There was also a delicious fruit salad involving mint, ginger, and honey. MAN. Seriously best meal I've had in Michigan to date.
Friday - don't remember what even happened. We DK'ed and contacted some less-active/part members that we're hopefully going to start teaching.
Saturday needs a quick back-story. A few weeks ago we had zone conference where one of the assistants, Elder Patterson, taught us how to make "Gold-mine maps" for our area. It sounds so obvious but it is brilliant - we got a map of Midland and tacked where our investigators, potentials, less-actives, and part-members are. We take it to members and they can just place a pin on where their friends are that we can contact. Referrals all day long! It helps us plan our day also by where everyone is so we can use miles and have our line in the water longer. Totally sweet, I know. Well, on Saturday, the assistants came to Midland to work with us and see how we use our gold mine maps and how we can improve them. WELL. My great-grandfather Elder Patterson worked with us in our area and E. Bertilson worked with the M1 elders. It worked out perfectly - we got to display how to contact referrals, less-actives and potentials all in the three hours we were with him. We stopped by Mary, the potential we found Tuesday. We ended up teaching her an awesome lesson and she accepted a return appointment. She was actually taught by the missionaries years ago but loves us and loves her Mormon friends. She calls herself a dry Mormon - how golden. She swears she'll never join the church because she loves Midland Nazarene so much but I am confident in the converting power of the Gospel.
Sunday - Midland 2 got a new bishopric. Bishop Place was released after serving for just under 5 years as Bishop and was replaced by his first councilor, Bishop Sasha Savage. Man, two amazing Bishops in a row. Bishop Savage is a well-known doctor in Midland and is a spiritual powerhouse. Super into mission work, too. His councilors are super young- Brother Smith and Brother Gilbert, both great priesthood holders with very young families. As these good men made their way to the stand, I watched as Bro. Gilbert gave Sis. Gilbert a sweet kiss and Bro. Smith embraced his wife. When they took their place on the stand, I locked eyes with Lyndi Smith for just a second, and in her eyes I saw great support and quite a bit of sadness. I cried quietly for the rest of the meeting while the old and new bishopric bore testimony. In that meeting the Spirit taught me very strongly that the Lord is aware of His work and his children, and he has called these men to hasten that great work.
I've been thinking a lot about the Stake theme for this year, which is Omni 1:26.
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should acomeunto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and boffer your whole souls as an coffering unto him, and continue in dfasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.
Love you all! Have a good week.
-Elder K. Schmutz
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