Week 60: See you soon...

Hello friends and family!

It's been a great week. Steve, Karen, and Carlie were all baptized! It was awesome. So many people came that it almost filled the chapel! Elder Simmons and I were asked to give the talk on baptism, which was pretty interesting because 1) I'm not used to team teaching behind a pulpit into a microphone and 2) it's weird giving a talk, not teaching a lesson. WAY different. They are going to be such strong members, I can really tell.

Left to Right: Me, Elder Simmons, Carlie, Karen, Steve, Bob Hales, Chris Fuhriman, Sister Brown, Elder Brown

Things are going well with many of the investigators. We lost 3 this week (due to the baptism) but the Lord brought us 7 more people to teach this week.

A family of 4 former investigators called us out of the blue and asked if we could come over and talk to them because they've been going through a really tough time. When we went to teach them, they were all there, plus a fifth person. They live in really humble circumstances in a dangerous pocket of town. They have been humbled a lot because of recent trials and they are much more prepared to receive the word. In fact, they all have accepted to work towards November 10th to be baptized. The biggest problem was they were going to get evicted. We shared some comforting scriptures with them from 3 Nephi 13 and promised them that the Lord would take care of them if they were to make Him their priority. After we returned to our apartment, we prayed long and hard for a miracle to be provided for this family. Turns out that a few days later they were evicted. For a few days, they had to live in a broken car. But when we called them again to check on them a few days later, they were back in their trailer again and things worked out to where they can still live there! I know that the Lord was behind it.

Another man we taught, Kevin, was the husband of an inactive woman. When we first met him last week, he asked us "Who is Jesus?" That's always a bad sign; everyone in the South knows who Jesus is, so we knew he wasn't asking us out of curiosity but to test us. I guess our first answer was good enough for him so we were able to set up an appointment to meet with him again. As we met at the appointed time, he pulled out a really nice pamphlet out of his Bible that was called "Christianity: Cults & Religions". Here we go! He started reading what the pamphlet said "Mormons" believe and---I'm not gonna lie---there was some pretty ridiculous, border-line blasphemous stuff in there. We were able to set him straight and he was willing to accept the truth. He's a really staunch Baptist with an impressive knowledge of the Bible, and he says he will know if the Book of Mormon is true if it doesn't contradict the Bible, so I'm not worried. It will be interesting and probably pretty difficult to help him understand the truth, but once he joins the Church he will be a super solid member. We have high hopes for him, especially because there were several times were he said, "My church teaches this, but I believe it's more like this..." and those things that he believes that digress from his church's teachings are actually more in line with the truth.

The final person we found this week was Lynette's daughter, Victoria. Lynette had a great time at church and got emotional during Sunday school and Relief Society. She is just eating it all up! She loves the new knowledge she is gaining from the restored gospel. Victoria seemed a little overwhelmed during our lesson because her mom had a lot of questions that wouldn't make sense to anyone without a little bit of a background, but she said she'd read from the Book of Mormon and meet with us again. I think she also has really high potential.

David is doing really well. He had to go to the hospital again this week because his "stump" is acting up again. But ever since that spiritual experience he had he's known that the Church is true and that he needs to be baptized, so that's given him a greater reason to live the Word of Wisdom. He's been tobacco free for over a week now! We usually don't baptize people unless they've been living the law of chastity and the Word of Wisdom for the last three weeks or more, so he should still be ok to be baptized 13 October.

Trevaughn, our nine-year old investigator, is excited to get baptized this weekend. I think his step-sister Angie is jealous because she has to wait till October since we haven't taught her as much as we have him. He asked me to perform the ordinance on Saturday and I look forward to it. It's going to be a stressful evening---there's a baptism in the other ward right before Trevaughn's, then right after the baptism we're teaching Lynette and Victoria, and we have to make sure to end at 7:30 so that they can make it to the ice cream social the sisters in the ward are having before the Relief Society General Conference broadcast at 8---but I'm excited!

Yep, things are going great here in Hope Mills. I love this place. The work is just so amazing!

So... if you're observant like my Dad, you would have noticed that the subject for last week's email said "The Best and Worst Week". I told you why it was the best, but I forgot to tell you what I meant by "the worst." Last week was the worst week as far as pain goes. When we weren't teaching a lesson, or planning or making phone calls, I was pretty much laying on the floor trying to find some relief. That made me think a lot about what the Lord wants me to do about it. Over the last two weeks, through inspiration I received in the House of the Lord, while at stake conference, and through personal prayer, I feel that I received an answer from Him. My thoughts and feelings began to be inclined towards the idea of going home to seek out physical therapy and return to the mission field once the problem is resolved. This wasn't in accordance with my will, but as I thought about all the reasons in the past that I didn't want to leave, a quiet and peaceful reassurance came into my heart as if Someone was saying "Don't worry about it; it's going to work out." I have a testimony that God answers the prayers of His children. It doesn't come all at once, and it never comes without work. But through diligent prayer, fasting, and real intent---including submitting my will to God---I was able to gain the answer I was looking for. I know that it is an answer from God, and because of that I am not afraid or even upset to do what He wants me to do. Why would I rather yield to my own desires than to the will of God? I would be a fool to think that I have a greater idea of what lies ahead than does my Heavenly Father. And so I will be returning to Utah on October 3rd (9 days). While I'm not afraid or upset, it still is a very hard decision and I am going to miss working here and being a missionary a lot. I am looking forward to returning soon to the mission field to complete my mission. I hope it's soon, "but if not" (Daniel 3:18)... not my will, but the Lord's be done (see Luke 22:42)!

So... yeah! I know it's probably pretty surprising and all-of-a-sudden. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.

I love you all and hope to hear from you soon! (If you send a letter after Wednesday it would probably be best to send it to:

726 Mill Shadow Dr.
Kaysville, UT 84037.

With love,

Elder Schank

Week 59: The Best and Worst Week

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was totally awesome! It was absolutely amazing. We had a lot of great lessons and we are working with so many great people who are doing such a wonderful job! For example, David, who in the past has not been progressing due to Word of Wisdom issues, had a revelatory experience the other day while reading the scriptures. He had a specific question, and he prayed in faith for an answer to his questions. As he read, he felt the spirit answer his question and confirm to him that the Lord desires him to live the doctrine of Christ and be baptized by authority. What an amazing miracle! At the end of the lesson, he took us into his home and showed us a sealed carton of cigarettes. He gave us a permanent marker and asked us to sign the box, signifying that he would live the Word of Wisdom for the rest of his life.

We taught Trevaughn and his family several times this week. It's always hard to teach with 12+ people in the room, but it turned out pretty good each time. Yesterday, we taught Trevaughn the law of tithing, and while it made sense to him and all of his siblings, Yvonne told us that she doesn't believe in paying tithing. Yvonne's children, those who benefit from her income the most, practically rebuked her and told her that she should pay her tithing. It was interesting to see as her several children, with their firm and steadfast testimonies, had the faith in God's commandments to do that.

Everyone else is doing really well. Angie can't wait to be baptized; Steve, Karen, and Carlie are getting baptized on Saturday; and Lynette is already telling everyone that she's a Mormon even though she won't be getting baptized till mid-October.

This weekend we also had a great stake conference. Our stake was reorganized because our stake president is moving, so it will be interesting for us to work with a new stake president to coordinate the missionary work in the Fayetteville stake. In each session, we were addressed by Raleigh temple Pres. & Sis. Scott (Richard G. Scott's brother and sister-in-law); Elder Keith Giddens, our area seventy; and Elder Corbridge of the 1st quorum of the seventy. Both meetings were excellent. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn from such great leaders, and to the Lord for providing us with leaders who hold His authority to teach and minister.

I made an important realization during the tail-end of the final session of the conference. I realized how important it is for us to receive trials in our lives, and how much of a blessing they really can be. As many of you know, my year of college was a very difficult time for me. Physically, it was very painful and it was emotionally difficult to cope with the fact that I may or may not be able to serve a mission as I would like to. During that experience, I learned how to humble myself enough to accept the Lord's will and have faith that His plan is more perfect than mine. It was a really hard time... the hardest time I had in my life up to that point. However, I'm grateful for that experience because without it, I may not have been able to cope with these harder trials I am now facing with as much faith or trust in the Lord. It seems to me that the trials I faced before my mission were preparatory tribulations that in the end gave me the added strength I would need to face the trials I'm wading through now. I am grateful that the Lord loved me enough to prepare me then for now.

I know that Christ is our Savior and He feels the pains of all of us. I love His gospel and I know it is true. His church has been restored... what a wonderful truth! I love the Book of Mormon and know it to be true. It provides me with so much peace to endure the difficult trials of life:

2 Nephi 2:1-2

2 Nephi 4:20

Jacob 3:1

Alma 26:27

Ether 12:27.

Love you all so much!

With love,

Elder Schank

Week 58: More Blood Tests

Dear Friends and Family,

Hope you're doing great! Things are just awesome here. First a quick update on my health.

To be honest, it's been pretty rough this week. I'm not really sure why, either. I talked with Dr./Elder Smalley again and he sent me to get my blood checked for the 4th? time to see if I have mononucleosis (mono), Lyme disease, or a vitamin D deficiency. He should probably get the results either today or tomorrow and he will let me know what they are as soon as he gets them.

Aside from how I've been feeling physically, though, this week has been awesome. We were able to teach a lot and we had 7 investigators come to church... more than I've ever had come on my mission! The best part is they all really enjoyed it.

We had another lesson with Nitza, Katrina, Jerome, and Trevaughn (he's the 10 year old investigator), this time with their step-sister (Angie), their mom (Yvonne), and Angie's boyfriend Tristen.  To be honest, it really wasn't that great of a lesson because we were trying to cater to the needs of 7 people, 5 of whom all wanted to share their thoughts and experiences, and all that in about 40 minutes. The good news is Angie expressed a desire to join the church and be baptized!  One of the funny parts of the lesson was when we found out that Tristen apparently was forced by Yvonne to attend because even though she doesn't want him dating her daughter she said that if he's going to have a relationship with Angie then he needs to listen to us! First of all, that's awesome because it shows that Yvonne is opening up and showing support now, and it also gets us another person we can share the restored gospel with! Double plus. Further into the lesson, Yvonne (kind of) bore her testimony to Tristen about how accepting the gospel and being baptized would be a blessing to him, because then he could get sealed to Angie in the temple. He looked pretty embarrassed. We thought it kind of turned him off a little bit, but lo and behold, there he was at church on Sunday with Angie, Katrina, Jerome, and Trevaughn!

Church was awesome. Jerome passed the sacrament for the first time and loved it, and Britt, a less-active sister we've been working with came to church for the first time in a long time with her two daughters. She was happy to be back! Our investigator named Charlie came to church with two member friends, and one of them brought her non-member mother and brother. David was back in church for the first time since he left the hospital. Steve and Karen were making all kinds of awesome and impressive comments in Sunday School and Relief Society/Priesthood... Steve was sharing with us how Moroni was such a great example of faith and Karen was talking about the importance of watching General Conference (which, by the way, I can't wait for!)!!! After church, another returning less-active man we've been working with went to have a bishop's interview to get things straightened out, which was super exciting to me. Trevaughn wanted to know where he was going to get baptized so we showed him the font. Angie ran up when we opened the font doors and pushed Trevaughn to the side so she could peer over the glass and she said "Is this where I'm getting baptized?" She is SUPER excited to be baptized... so I think she'll accept our invitation when we extend it tonight. :)

The A/C is almost fixed. Supposedly it's getting taken care of today.

I know the Book of Mormon is true! I love it and I know that it represents a full restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hope you're all doing well! I love you and hope to hear from you soon!

With love,

Elder Schank

Week 57: More Miracles, More Heat

Hello friends and family!

Sorry to get this email in a day late... the library was closed yesterday due to the Labor day holiday. On the plus side, that gave us time to golf. One of the priests in our ward was willing to pay for me and Elder Simmons to go golfing with him. It was my first time ever. Apparently my first hit was really good for never having even held a driver before... but it went downhill from there. I stopped after the 4th hole because I didn't have any golf balls left! Whoops. We walked all 9 holes and it was super hot and really humid out, so I got a half-decent sunburn, a few more mosquito/gnat/ant bites, and after 27 days of constantly sweating (yep... our A/C is still out) I finally stopped sweating at about 3:00 because I had no more water to sweat! When we got back to the little place where you pay to golf, I got a drink of water from the water fountain and all of a sudden I started sweating again. It was the weirdest feeling. I think I may have got a little bit of heat exhaustion because I was down and out for the count last night... especially cause it was still 92 degrees in our apartment at 10:30, our bedtime. All in all, it was a great day.

Physically, besides the sunburn and bug bites, nothing has improved nor worsened. Thanks to everyone who has been continuing to keep me in their prayers. I testify that the Lord hears you.

I got to go over to Raeford on an exchange with one of our district leaders. It was a Spanish-speaking area, so that was interesting. I tried really hard to help out but I really didn't do too much. I was able to understand most of what was said in the lesson we had that day, but all I knew how to say was "hola" and "buenos tardes". I actually tried to pray in Spanish at the request of the investigator, so I went gringo-style and opened in Spanish ("Padre Celestial..."), spoke the body of the prayer in English, and closed en el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen! It was rough and I think I embarrassed the missionary, but the investigator smiled so I guess it was ok. We also got to teach English to a woman at the literary center to help her prepare to become a citizen, and that was pretty interesting.

We have had an incredible week. Let me tell you about some more miracles:

Remember Lynette, the lady who didn't want to get baptized but changed her mind when the Spirit prompted her that we were teaching the truth? Well, she came to Church on Sunday and loved it! That night, we taught her in a member-family's home again and had an experience really similar to last time. She told us that she knew that the Book of Mormon was the word of God and that she believed that God called Joseph Smith as a Prophet to restore His church, but she admitted that she felt torn between our church and her previous one. We read 3 Nephi 11:1-11 with her, which has nothing to do with that concern. The Spirit was so strong that by herself, before even asking her about it, she said that she knew she needed to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because it offered more and could bring her closer to God than any other church she had been affiliated with. She also invited her daughter to attend church, a great example that when we feel ourselves being converted we have desires to help others find the truth as well. She is excited to be baptized in mid-October.

Another great miracle. We've been working with a part-member family and it's been going great. Nitza (19), Katrina (14), and Jerome (12) are less-active members who have started to read the Book of Mormon and pray daily and both we and they have seen drastic changes in them already. Their little brother, Trevaughn (10) is not a member and he is progressing really well. He reads better than any 10-year old I have ever seen and he comprehends it all, too. We've kind of been focusing on all 4 of them, because even though most of them are members they don't really know that much about the doctrine because their fathers are out of the picture and their mom, despite her membership in the Church, is almost not supportive at all. On Sunday, Jerome received the Aaronic priesthood and was ordained a deacon. We weren't able to make it to the ordination, which we were really sad about, so we called them later that night to congratulate Jerome. Angie, their 14-year old Jehovah's Witness half-sister, answered the phone and told us that she wants to join the church! We were speechless because we thought that it would be nearly impossible to convince her to even sit in on a lesson. But apparently, she has been listening in another room and has felt the Spirit as we've taught her siblings, and she wants to learn more and get baptized! If that's not a miracle, I don't know what is!

Right now, every single one of our investigators is progressing towards a date to be baptized and I feel SO so blessed to be a part of this great work. We need to keep working hard so we can find more, but I am grateful to be working with these seven individuals. What an amazing blessing it is to watch each of these great people embrace the restored gospel of the Savior and metamorphose as they allow the Atonement of Jesus Christ to fill them. I feel such great happiness to be able to help my brothers and sisters do this and I am so, so proud of the decisions they are making and the battles they are fighting.

It is amazing to me that all of these 7 people have Christian backgrounds. While they are all unique, they do have that in common: they all have gained at some point in their lives a testimony that Christ is their Savior previous to the time that we first came in contact with them. Something else they all have in common is that, despite their various Christian backgrounds, each one of them has found more through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. To me, that is a testimony that there was in the past a great falling away from truth and that the authority of Christ was gone. But I testify that it is back, and the fulness of the gospel is here today to help transform all people, Christian and non-, to grow closer to God and become who He wants them to be.

I also testify of the reality of miracles today. I've shared this scripture once, and I'll share it again:

"And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.
Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?
Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought?
And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.
Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth."(Mormon 9:15-21, 25.)

I know that God is a God of miracles, and He works those miracles every day. I KNOW that God has restored His church, and that it is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Why would so many miracles occur if it weren't? Some people I talk with might think that all these great things are just coincidences or that I just call them miracles because it's fun to think that; but I testify that these truly are miracles and that only God could work such incredible works.

I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Christ is the Savior. God loves us! :)

I hope you are all doing fantastic! It would be great to hear from you!

With love,

Elder Schank