Week 79

Hello Friends and Family!

This has been such a great week and it has been incredibly busy. On Wednesday we had to drive up to Portsmouth VA for a Mission Leadership Council. There we planned for a zone meeting, a zone conference and discussed ways to improve the mission. Needless to say, my brain was fried especially because of how early we had to wake up to get there. It was fun though. I enjoy seeing all the other missionaries and working with President and Sister Weed. 

On Friday we had interviews with President and Sister Weed, which went well. They are both fantastic and I feel like a sponge soaking up all of their wisdom. Afterwards, the joined us for our last zone meeting. If you hadn't heard yet the church has discontinued zone meetings because of how frequent zone conferences are. The first zone conference we helped plan is going to be tomorrow. I am pretty excited for some of the training we will be receiving. 

We were able to find a couple new investigators despite all of the meetings. We almost had a couple more but we were unable to set up return appointment so they don't officially count yet. Elder Hansen and I are still working to find more people to teach. He is such a good missionary and I absolutely love serving with him. I'm pretty amazed by how many stories he has. 

I am grateful for this church. I know that it is true and that Jesus Christ is the Savior.

Love y'alll,

-Elder Shill

Week 78

Hello Friends and Family!

This has been an incredible week. I absolutely love serving with Elder Hansen! He is so enthusiastic about the gospel. 

We had a pretty cool experience yesterday. Since yesterday was Mothers Day we decided to visit an investigator on Mom's Ln. She wasn't home so we did a little trackting near by. After a couple doors, people seemed to not be interested. Nevertheless, we continued trackting. On the last door we decided to knock Elder Hansen's said this was going to be a "4th floor last door" house. The young couple who answered happened to go to a book club with about half of the relief society. She said she would be interested in hearing our message latter when school gets out. Later, as we were walking back to our bikes a man ran out side with a nice cold glass of water and offered it to us. We were so thankful because of how hot it had been and we had biked for a solid 30 min to get to that neighborhood. 

I know that this church is true. I am grateful I can be apart of this marvelous work. I love sharing the gospel.

Love y'all,

-Elder Shill

Virginia Chesapeake Bay Missionaries with Elder and Sister Cook

Week 77

Hello Friends and Family!

This has been a pretty great week! All of a sudden the work is picking up steam. We were able to see quite a few people this week which was a huge blessing. I have also observed that since Miracle May has started, the ward seems to have become more missionary minded. We are hearing about more member missionary experiences than before. I also love reading the document the mission has put together. Its like Miracle Facebook!

About a month ago we were thumbing through our areabook and we noticed an investigator that the missionaries lost contact with. We decided to stop by and see if he would be interested in meeting with us again. When we met him we couldn’t tell if he was actually interested but he agreed to meet with us after his vacation. Many weeks later he finally finished his vacation and we set up a visit. Last week we finally got in his home to meet with him. No more than 30 seconds in he started expressing how much he loved the Book of Mormon and started bearing his testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He had no idea why the missionaries stopped coming by because he was eager to learn more. At the end of our visit he assigned himself the 1st book of Nephi. Yesterday when we called to confirm our appointment for tonight he also gave us 17 questions he came up with as he read.  

On Saturday we received our transfer calls. I will be staying in New Bern and Elder Hansen (a different Elder Hansen) will be coming down to be my companion. Elder Collier is going back up to Virginia to work in a newly created ward. I have absolutely loved serving with Elder Collier. He is one of the hardest working missionaries I know. 

To top the week off, the North America North East area had a broadcast from Salt Lake City. Presiding at the Meeting was Elder Oaks. There were some absolutely fantastic talks about living, loving and sharing the gospel. It was amazing to hear an Apostle guide this specific area. Elder Oaks gave a great talk about missionary work and how the members need to be doing their part in it. He quoted himself quite a bit and re invited all the members to pray for missionary opportunities. 

I am so grateful to be serving here and to be apart of the wonderful work! I absolutely love being a missionary. I know that this church is the Lord's Kingdom on the earth today. 

Love y'all,

-Elder Shill

 

Week 76 "Miracle May"

Hello Friends and Family!

This has been a great week this week! We were able to find a new investigator, who I feel has been well prepared by the Lord. Elder Collier and I were looking at the map of our area and concluded we needed to venture out into the country a little bit. After some quite harsh rejection, we ran into our investigator and he warmly listened to our message. He loved talking to us and said we would love to come to church one Sunday. The Lord is preparing people all over the world. I am so excited to have this opportunity to share His gospel. 

 

Our mission also started "Miracle May" which I am so excited about! Everyone's favorite Bible/Book of Mormon story usually revolves around a miracle. In 2 Nephi 27:23 "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of a miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." I know that the great miracle of this dispensation is the gathering of Israel, both living and dead. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be apart of so great a work. This month we are going to pay special attention to all of the tender mercies God gives us. I expect miracles to happen and when they do our mission has a Google Document for us to record them. 

I invite y'all to participate I'm Miracle May by praying with real intent for missionary opportunities. When the miracles come, PLEASE let me know and I can include them in the mission document. 

I love y'all!

-Elder Shill