Episode 17: Elder Schank Hurts

Dear friends and family,

I have like pretty much no time to write this one so it's going to be reeeeeeeally quick.

Andrea's getting baptized on Saturday and we're super pumped to go to it. Even though she's not our investigator any more, it'll be an amazing experience for Elder Peck and I.

Ashley is solid and wants to be baptized on the 17th.

Virgil is faltering in his decision to be baptized. But we can't be too upset, because his solution (which he came up with by himself) is to read, ponder, and pray. Which is exactly everything we would tell him to do. Do you have the faith that the Lord will answer his prayers? I do. Please pray for him. We love him so much and we know that what he needs more than anything in his life is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving was pretty much just another meal in a member's house. Nothing too exciting. 

Please keep me in your prayers. I am having a really hard time with the pain in my body. I don't know why but it's getting worse and worse, and it's spreading from my knees to almost every other major joint. It's really hard to stay focused and I'm struggling to not get distracted and discouraged. PLEASE pray for me.

I love you all and I hope you're doing well. Please keep in touch! Emails are fine... I just can't email you back unless you are family! :) Hope your Thanksgivings were great and I hope to hear from you soon!

With love,

Elder Schank

me posing with the ECU pirate outside of Walmart

Elder Simmons gave me the Mean Green Fighting Machine tie

Episode 16: Virgil Gets a Testimony

Family and friends!

 

I have been so excited to write this update. We have been witnessing miracle after miracle this week. Unfortunately, I have 13 minutes to tell you about it. Here goes:

 

Remember Virgil, the guy in the wheelchair who can't read that well and has been investigating a ton of other churches? Well on Thursday we taught him again and it was the most amazing and spiritual experience I've had on my mission thus far. We had a plan to teach him the Word of Wisdom. As we met him on his porch, he extinguished his cigarette in a beer can he was drinking from and invited us in. As we talked, he told us how bad of a week he was having and how he was drinking just to try to get his mind off of things. After a prayer, we taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He was discouraged. Everything we were teaching him not to do, he was doing. We explained to him that the Word of Wisdom wasn't our commandment but the Lord's, and we testified over and over again about how God is literally his Father and Jesus Christ, his Savior. We promised him that because of their love for him, they would help him overcome his addictions if he were to ask for their divine assistance. As we testified of how much he was loved by Deity, he began to tear up, then cry, then weep uncontrollably. We allowed the Holy Ghost to teach him and bear witness to him of our words through the medium of silence. After a while, I asked him what he was feeling. He explained a sensation of relief, peace, and comfort. He revealed to us that he had felt that feeling before, and that every time we have taught him, he has felt the atmosphere change. He told us he has never felt that feeling ever before in his life, but with us. We testified that that feeling of peace was the Spirit testifying that our words were true. He wept again, and I couldn't keep tears from falling down my own cheeks. He committed to live the Word of Wisdom. We asked him to set a date to stop smoking by. We were hoping it would be a week and a half later. He told us he wanted to stop smoking by Sunday... three days later than our visit with him. He also told us that he knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true church on the earth today, and that he would be baptized on December 10th! I wish we could take credit for all that happened there, but I know that the Spirit worked right through us. I literally felt like God's mouthpiece. It was so easy, yet so powerful. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here and be an instrument in the hands of God!

 

Another miracle, and I'll wrap this one up. Weeks ago, our good friend Bro. Warren missed a flight out of the Greenville airport. He called us up and asked if we wanted to meet him at the Hardee's (the Eastern equivalent to Carl's Jr.) across the street from the airport for lunch. Heck yes we did. So we met him there about 20 minutes later. By the time we had gotten there, he had already become friends with the cashier. When we arrived, we made our order, and, as we were talking to her, he explained to her that he could see that she was such an amazing spirit and that she could really benefit from our message about Jesus Christ. Later, she circled around our booth several times as if she wanted something. Finally, she stopped and very timidly asked what our message was. We told her about the basics. We particularly felt that we should teach her that the gospel blesses families. As we did so, she began to cry and explain that her family was broken in pieces. We promised her that the message we shared could help her take the pain away. At that moment, she was needed at the cash register. She explained that she had no car, no phone, and that she was living with her sister, and that she would like to learn but didn't think it would work out as she rushed to help the line of new customers. When we left, we gave her our card.

On Friday, we revisited our friend at Hardee's after helping Bro. Warren move some furniture. She came by where we were sitting, pretending to be cleaning tables, to talk to us. We invited her to church. She said she would like to come. We told her we could get her a ride for 8:30, and she gave us her sister's address. Almost immediately, opposition arose. A man sitting at a nearby booth suddenly became very attentive and showed her a picture on his phone of a different church, and told her that he recommended that one. She had to go back to the cash register, but he stayed and talked with us. He was a minister (at a church besides the one he recommended) and started trying to Bible bash with us. He kept telling us that we were going to hell and that the Bible teaches that we were false prophets because we taught that our salvation is dependent upon faith AND works, not faith alone. He was calm and collected, but we could easily see the anger in his eyes and that he just wanted to contend. We bore testimony that we knew our message was true and we left.

On Saturday, we got a message on our phone from our friend, who had called from her sister's boyfriend's phone, that she would still like to go to church and would be waiting for a ride at 8:30.

On Sunday morning, during ward council meeting, we got another phone call from her asking if we could still get her a ride to church. We told her that there would be someone there to pick her up. Apparently they had a hard time finding her house, because she called us AGAIN at 8:45 and told us that no one was there to pick her up! Her ride finally got there, though, and she made it to the church right at the beginning of sacrament meeting. Elder Peck, Virgil, and I waved to her as they all walked in a little late.

She loved the meetings and felt really good while she was there. After church, we taught her about the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and, somewhere along the way, she revealed through many tears that she had been wronged many times by abusive family members. We taught her, again through the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost, that her pain could be relieved through the power of Christ's Atonement. In the end, she smiled as she committed to read from the Book of Mormon, pray to know if it and the rest of our message is true, and be baptized as she gained a testimony of the church. Again, it was nothing we did: it was all the Spirit's work.

 

I have a testimony that God does His work today; that Jesus is the Christ, the Great Atoner, and the Redeemer of our souls; that His church has been restored in these days through living prophets with His authority; and that He is the way to happiness.

 

I hope all of you are doing well! I love you very much and hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Hope to hear from you soon! I often wonder how each of you are doing and I pray for you every day!

 

With love,

 

Elder Schank

Episode 15: Elder Schank Swallows His Pride

Dear Friends & Family,

 

This week has been interesting, for sure.

 

First of all, we had the opportunity to teach Andrea again. It went SO well! We taught her about where we came from and why we're here on earth (the first 2/3 of The Plan of Salvation), and the commandment of the Word of Wisdom. She committed to live the Word of Wisdom, even though she really likes her sweet tea! (Sweet tea is, like, THE thing here in the south. Everybody drinks it.) She is the most prepared, most ready, and most solid of any investigators I have met thus far on my mission. We love her to death.

 

She came to church again and loved it. During the last hour of our ward's church meetings, I was asked by the young single adult branch to play the piano for their sacrament meeting, so I did. It brought back memories of good times in the young single adult ward I was a part of in college: how much I was strengthened by my outstanding peers and how much their love and support had blessed my life.

 

During our study time after church, I was thinking about Andrea and what we can do to help her the most. The answer came, but I wasn't happy about it. I felt strongly that we should turn her over to the sister missionaries to teach. The way that the missions are set up here, we (the Greenville 2nd elders) are supposed to teach everyone in our ward boundaries, the Greenville 1st ward elders are supposed to teach those in their ward boundaries, and the sister missionaries are supposed to teach people living in assigned parts of each of our wards, as well as the young single adults, ages 18-30. Well, Andrea is in our ward boundaries, but she is 20 years old. I knew that she would benefit most from attending the youngs single adult branch so she could meet people of her own age, in her own stage of life, but that would mean we would stop teaching her and turn her over to the sisters. I knew what we had to do, and I knew I didn't want to do it. As I continued to mull this over in my mind, I remembered the words of Brigham Young, who said to one of his prideful friends, "Whose kingdom are you trying to build? the Lord's, or [your own]?" I began to feel foolish and selfish! The work isn't about me, it's about bringing others to Christ and helping them! Peace came as I remembered and inwardly expressed gratitude for the even stronger words of our very own Savior: "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever" (Moses 4:2). As Elder Peck and I came together for companion study, we discussed whether or not we should continue to teach her or let the sisters take over. With a little reluctance, but knowing that we were doing what was right, we agreed to turn her over to the sisters. I am so grateful for the perfect example of Jesus Christ in all things!

 

We have also had the pleasure of working with another investigator, Virgil. We met with him on Tuesday, and he was so close to "dropping" us... he's been investigating other churches for a while (which is fine with us---how is he going to find the true church if he doesn't have an open heart and mind?) and it sounded like he was going to tell us that he didn't want us to meet with him anymore. But, we talked things over and he agreed to let us keep meeting with him. On Friday night, we went to his house to read with him from the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 32. He is learning how to read; it took us about half an hour to read through and explain the 9-verse chapter to him. We talked about the importance of scripture study and prayer; Elder Peck began to also talk about eternal families. I was slightly confused---it kind of had nothing really to do with what we were talking about at all. But as we continued to teach him about how families can be together forever, he began to be emotional. He told us that before we arrived at his house, he was really nervous. We could tell... his hands were shaky and it was difficult for him to maneuver his wheelchair when we arrived. But, he explained, after we finished the prayer and began to read, he felt comforted and peaceful, though he didn't understand why. We testified to him, with smiles on our faces, that he was experiencing a growing testimony, that the Holy Ghost was teaching him that what we were teaching him is true. He asked that we continue to come and help him learn how to read from the Book of Mormon and teach him what it says every Tuesday and Thursday!

 

He came to church on Sunday, as well. It was kind of a miracle getting him there. It just so happens that there is an active non-member in our ward (yeah, I don't get it either) who has a van with a wheelchair lift on it, and he was willing to come with us to pick up Virgil for church. Virgil loved it... he said he felt that peaceful, comforting feeling again. We continually help him to recognize the Spirit when he feels it.

 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I love it so much. I can't think of anything in the entire world, all-inclusive, that has brought me more joy than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

P.S. We also found two new investigators.
P.P.S. Please write me! That would just be awesome!

 

With love,

 

Elder Schank

Episode 14 - Elder Schank Starts Training

Hey everyone!

 

Wow! This week has been pretty crazy, and all (and by all I mean mostly) with good things!

 

First of all, my new companion arrived from the MTC! His name is Elder Peck! (Picture attached.) He's from Highland, UT. He's ready and rarin' to go. He's here for all the right reasons and is so excited to be here. He is very missionary-minded. In fact, I'm trying to teach myself to get used to his constant singing of scripture mastery songs. He wants to baptize everyone. There have been a few times where I've had to hold him back a little so he doesn't hurt himself. It's pretty entertaining. He's DYING to go tracting, and I'm still trying to convince him (a week later) that tracting is the LEAST effective thing we could do, besides doing nothing. We biked the couple miles to the hospital and back to give a blessing in the pouring rain, and he loved it. It's like he wouldn't calm down. After wringing out my slacks and changing, we had to do some weekly planning insided and he just wanted to get back out there and talk to people. He's just so enthusiastic and energetic that it's hilarious. He's got that "new-missionary-fire" in him. I know it's definitely not sugar, because he doesn't eat it, which is good. He's getting me to think about going off of sugar myself.

 

 

 

The training has been going well. There are some times when I feel like HE is training ME. The leadership responsibility has really helped me to grow, though. I feel much more confident as a teacher and my skills have improved drastically. Thank you for your prayers. I know they have helped. I can also feel a difference in my joint pain. Again, thanks for your prayers.

 

We have an awesome new investigator named Andrea! Elder Westley (my previous companion) and Elder Kyle Simmons (friend from high school) found her while we were on a companion exchange (that basically means that Elder Simmons and I switched areas for a day). They found her while she was babysitting at someone else's house. She mentioned that it scared her that there are so many churches and versions of the Bible, and when they told her that they could teach her why that was so and how she could find out which church was true, she agreed to meet with us and learn more. On Saturday, Elder Peck, our good friend Bro. Warren, and I met her at the church to teach her. She was asking all the right questions and giving all the right answers. Before we knew it, we had taught her the first lesson (God is our Loving Heavenly Father, the Gospel Blesses Families, God Reveals His Gospel in Every Dispensation, Christ's Earthly Ministry, the Great Apostasy, the Restoration of Christ's Church through Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and Pray to Know Truths) and the third lesson (Only through Christ can we have a Remission of our Sins, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End), and she committed to read the Book of Mormon, pray to know if it is true and to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet, come to church on Sunday, and BE BAPTIZED on December 3rd, if she comes to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true church. I think she's gonna go all the way!!! We are so excited for her. She loved church yesterday and we'll be teaching her the Plan of Salvation on Saturday.

 

Another interesting thing that happened this week is I got a letter from a family in my home ward in Utah, informing me that they have relatives in North Carolina who are members of the Church but are inactive. The family in my ward was hoping I would be able to serve near their relatives while on my mission. Turns out, they are in my ward boundary! Elder Peck had a similar experience... his sister told him that if he ever served near ECU campus while on his mission, that he could go visit her friend, who attends ECU. Guess what? ECU is in our proselyting area! It just goes to show you that the Lord really does inspire our leaders to bring us to areas we need to be in.

 

I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves ALL of us! I know the Book of Mormon is true, and, that if we live according to the principles taught in it and in the Bible, we will be happy and worthy of eventual eternal life.

 

I hope to hear from you soon! Let me know how you are doing! I love you all! :)

With love,

 

Elder Schank