Week 11

Hello Friends and Family!

This week has been very busy! Though our lesson numbers aren't high, we've had the amazing opportunity to contact many names that were given to us by our stakes! There is one referral that we recieved and had contacted that has touched my heart so much! This family's name is called the Hampton Family. We actually weren't going to contact this house this day. It was the end of the day and we had been contacting all day but something told us to conact one more house. We picked a name of a referral that we had received from the mission office, we read a little about this referral, and then we were on our way to that part of American Fork. We arrived at the house and saw that the woman who lived there at the door talking to two little girls. Whenever we see someone we are trying to contact outside, we usually just say we'll come back (mostly because we get nervous) but as I pulled up we parked and decided we were going to knock that door. So we did and we are so grateful that we did. We met Sister Hampton and her family. The first thing she said when she answered the door was "Wow, that was fast!", and she invited us in very quickly. Sister Hampton has 6 biological children and 7 adopted children, all who are grown. She currently has adopted her two grandchildren. Their mother, when these children were 9 months old and the other when he was 4 years old, murdered their 3 year old sister right in front of them. These children have been taken into custody, have been fostered, have been taken to thereapists, and so many other things! Their childhood has been ripped from them. Tyler, who is now 8, and Cammy, who is now 5, live a traumatized life. They live with their grandmother who has had so much anxiety and so much responsibility placed upon her all at once. She has never taken for granted a moment that she has had these children. She has always loved them and supported them through everything. She wants so badly for them to meet with the sister missionaries to know more about their Father in Heaven. Tyler is afraid of the picture of Christ because he is so unsure about what has happened to his sister, who was his best friend. Their story broke our hearts when we listened. We are so absolutely grateful that the Spirit brought us to this house. We have a return appointment with them for dinner and a lesson! How blessed are we to have the gift of the Holy Ghost? To direct us where we need to go, to give us the words to speak, and to give us the comfort we need! I am amazed at what I learn everyday here on the mission!

       I am absolutely exhausted! but in a very good way! At the beginning of this transfer, we were very frustrated at how little work we had in the area. I was discouraged for my trainee, Sister Rees, because she came out with a huge desire to serve but yet, there was little to do. Now that we have prayed and remained faithful in the past weeks, we have received more to do. I am so grateful for what my Heavenly Father gives me and for the opportunity to be serving here! I know, more and more each day, that the atonement is for every one! If there's any indicator of Heavenly Father's love for us, it's the atonement!

      This weekend, we posted pineapples on the Elders car (pineapples symbolize trouble in our mission) and we thought it would be really fun! Little did we know that our pineapples will be returned on our car the following day... nice job Elders, but next time be a little more creative! Today, we are playing paintball again! I am very excited because there will be more people there this week.. and I'm not going to lie.. I'm pretty good at slingshot paintball ;) This week we have much to look forward to! We are walking in a parade on Saturday in Pleasant Grove and Sunday we get to attend the leadership training which will be broadcasted all over the world! We get to sit in the same room as the Prophet!! Eeeeek... a lot of people get excited to see their favorite band in concert, I get excited to see the Prophet in person!!!! :)

     Anyways, transfers are next Monday so I shall let you all know where I am going and if I am staying! I hope I hear from all of you soon!! Enjoy the pictures!!!

Love,

Sister Maren Schultz