10 months DOWN, and enough transfers left to count on one hand...

Hi loverlies, 

Well, another great week has come and gone. It went by quickly, but for some reason I feel like last Monday was a year ago. Also, today marks 10 months. TEN WHOLE MONTHS. I got my "Dont worry, you still have plenty of time left, but we need to know your travel plans" email from my president today...That´s all there is to say about that. 

Moving on. 

Let me share a few things: 

1) First and foremost, I am wearing pants today. I can´t even begin to describe how wonderful a pair of good jeans can be. I feel like a new woman. It´s been wayyyy too long.

2)  We had a beautiful, yet simple baptism Tuesday night. Olga´s husband (Ridel) got baptized and I have never seen so much light coming from a couple of love birds. SO TENDER. They are both incredibly happy and so excited to go to the temple next year. We had a lesson with them Saturday and taught Ridel about the priesthood to prepare him to recieve it this week. As we ended, he said the sweetest prayer about how thankful he was to be able to bless his home with the priesthood.  It was the first time he prayed in front of us and as he studdered through his words the sweetest spirit came into the room. Hermana Heims and I were nearly in tears by the end. 

3) My family away from home! WE LOVE THEM. This is the Columbian family I wrote about last week. They really are gems. Those two little ones in the front? Perfect children. They love everything about church and primary and beggg their parents to take them to church every Sunday. Makes our job easy :)

4) This week has been full of so many tender mercies, including Javier accepting a baptismal date for the begining of next month!! I´ll have to tell you more about that next week. Talk about awesome story.

We traveled to the temple on Wednesday to pick up a few things from the distribution center for a couple of our investigators and we ran into an older missionary couple in the metro. We rode with them across the city and listened to Sister Shellinberg tell us all about her family of 14. Yes, they have 12 kids and I am in love with this sweet couple! They are from a small town in Idaho, so obviously I instantly loved them, but they have the neatest stories. 

One of Sister Shellinberg´s stories that really stuck with me was about her dad who had passed aways about 8 months ago (while she and her husband were serving here in the Madrid Temple mission)  Right before he passed away, he shared with his 8 kids his personal conversion story and testimony of the Book of Mormon. He told them, a little sheepishly, about a time in his life when he became inactive and fell away from the church.

Sister Shellinberg´s parents had stopped attending for a few years when they were in their early 30s.She told us his conversion story and how one week changed the history of her entire family. 

 He and his wife were living in small town Arco, Idaho when one day her father recieved a phone call from their local bishop desperately asking him if he would serve as the ward´s Gospel Principle teacher. Not having read the Book of Mormon or even owning a copy of his own, he was a little reluctant but for some reason agreed. Later that night, after getting his hands on a fresh new copy Sister Shellinberg´s father sat down and turned the first page of the Book of Mormon. He began to read and read and read. By the end of the following Saturday he had finished the book cover to cover and prepared to teach the next morning. During those 6 days that followed that simple phone call, something had transpired within him that had changed the course of his entire life and over 300 members of his family that followed his example. 

Sister Shellinberg told us of the testimony her father had for the Book of Mormon. She then told us how incredibly faithful her father was and what an example he was to all in her family. Soon after this experience her parents were sealed in the temple and he went on to serve in many different callings in the church including temple president and stake patriarch. What amazed me most about this story was all of the lives that were affected by Sister Shellinberg´s father´s decision to read and gain his own personal testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

Sister Shellinberg comes from a family of 8 kids. All 7 of her brothers and sisters are married with children all active in the church. She herself has 12 kids. All of the boys and some of the girls served full time missions. ALL are married in the temple and have growing families. Her and Brother Shellinberg have 71 grandchildren and 5 more on the way! 

This tender story may seem simple, but it really touched my heart and reminded me of the opportunity that I have to share this gospel with so many of the people around me. It also reminded me of the power of the Book of Mormon and how thankful I am to have a firm testimony of my own. I love that book. I love it with all my heart and I know it to be a gift from our loving Heavenly Father. 

To Know is to Know Love

"I  am a new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to me the Book 

of Mormon is not just a book. It is solid proof that Heavenly Father loves us. It is proof 

that earlier Saints loved us and wanted us to come home. It is proof that God’s plan of 

happiness exists and is perfect.

To know that this book is true is to know that Heavenly Father and His Son live. It is to 

know that life is beautiful and eternal. It is to know that as long as you keep trying to be 

your best and repent when you fall, then you will always be forgiven. It is to know the true 

meaning of family. It is to know that you will never lose a loved one, as he or she waits for 

you. It is to know the blessings of Heavenly Father. It is to know the comfort that whatever 

storms come your way, you can face them, as they are for your benefit. It is to know the 

Holy Ghost is your constant companion. In essence, it is to know love in all its expressions."

Emma Adesayna

I love being here and I love all of you! Thank you so much for your wonderful love and support. I have the most amazing family and the best friends in the world! The church is true. I wish I had more time to share my stories more in detail, but hey, see you soon. 

Oh, and I didn´t get a chance to write back everyone today *ehem alisonmammakaleamybrianbriannegrammy*, but know that I love you and I´ll be back in a week! 

Love, 

Hermana Scheu 

The three little pigs

Happy Monday, Presidente! 

What a good week! I feel like this past week was just what Hermana Heims and I needed. I am really liking 2014. 

Let´s start with Sunday. We had 5 investigators come to church including our Columbian family!!! Hermana Heims and I found them our very first night together and they truly are a miracle family. Our lessons with them slowed down a bit over the holidays, but we´ve been able to meet with them a couple times these last two weeks and we just love them. We´ve also been bringing more members to lessons with them and our ward is really excited about them too! They have sincere desires to find the truth. I love meeting with them because the lessons are always a bit challenging, but so powerful when we allow to Spirit to guide. I´ve definitely been learning how to put morning studies to good use! 

Javier also came to church! His 4 time in a row. He´s a young, quiet peruvian student studying art. He has a huge heart and pure desires. We´ve brought a lot of JAS with us to our lessons with him and he´s been progressing so much. We brought our recent convert Danny with us and it was AMAZING to see his testimony in action. Recent converts in lessons are thee best. 

We are also super excited about Ridel´s baptism tomorrow! He has his interview yesterday and came out smiling from ear to ear. He then preceded to tell us that he offered the closing prayer in the interview with Elder Bronwell! This was a miracle because it was his first time praying in front of someone. Le cuesta mucho because he has a speech impediment and a studder. However, we learned that the more the spirit is present in the lesson, the more he is able to communicate and the more comfortable he feels.  

Hermana Heims and I also had a few growing experiences that taught us alot about humilty and learning to work together. And epecially about OBEDIENCE. We saw miracles this week and I know it has almost everything to do with our efforts to be as obedient as possible. I know that the Lord works with us when it comes to our weaknesses and I am so grateful! 

I´ve been able to work with Hermana Frost a few times this week as well! Hermana Crandell was on bed rest and I thought Hermana Heims´neck could use the extra rest. I really love working with Hermana Frost. We had some pretty great lessons and I know it helped her SO much to be able to get out of that piso. 

All is well here in Barrio 5. Have a great week and thank you for everything you do! 

Love, 

Hermana Scheu  

Happy Monday! 

Hi family and loved ones.  What a great week it has been! 2014 really just picked right up and we´re doing our best to keep up! 

I included my weekly letter to the president, because it really does sum up the week. Miracles and lots of growth these past 7 says. Again, I love being a missionary. Life is good and Heavenly Father really does love His missionaries. 

Also, one of my favorite movies from the mission is called "On the Lord´s Errand". It´s the life of President Monson and I just love it. We watched it last night with a recent investigator and every time I see it my testimony grows stronger and stronger of our beloved prophet. We can learn so much from him. The thought/invitation of the week is to watch it and love it as much as I do. 

On the Lord´s Errand

Oh, and just one more thought that really got me this week- Temples. I love the temple so much! We get to attend every 6  weeks and I always count down the days! (8 more)  We had a lesson on temples with another recent convert Tuesday night and we watched a couple sweet videos that have stuck with me all week. El Salvador Temple Dedication Celebration and Temples are a Beacon. Yes, I do realize that the first one is in Spanish, but I´m absolutely convinced that you wont be able to fight back the tears. So sweet. 

And now, I will leave you with a few awkward but awesome missionary moments: 

1) The other night we saw two pigs walking down the street. Just following along with the crowd. We had to do a triple take. Definitely not something you see every day in downtown Madrid. But believe it or not, I´ve seen worse. 

2) I caught someone staring me down the other day while we were at an Internet Cafe. Usually it´s the chapa (missionary tag) that draws all the attention, but the lady was pretty insistent. I finally looked up and smiled. She told me that she knew me from somewhere and then boldly stated, "You´re from Nicaragua, right?" I laughed and then realized that she was completely serious. Flattered. 

3) So I have this hat. Some would say it´s magic and turns me instantly into a French babe. Okay, maybe "babe" is not missionary appropriate, but "French" is pretty accurate. Every time I wear it people speak to me in French. I´m talking random strangers from the street. Lovin´ it. 

4) Lost my missionary agenda (aka missionary´s best friend) 3 times in the past 7 weeks. THREE TIMES. More unfortunate than it is awesome, but maybe keep my poor agendas in your prayers. 

I love you all! Now I should probably go answer all of mom´s pressing questions :) 

Have a great week! The church is true. 

Love your happy missionary, 

Hermana Scheu 

Transfer Calls!

7th Transfer People...time flies.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

You are all wonderful!  I hope you can feel my love and prayers.

 

Thought for the week: (I couldn´t chose just one)

 

President Monson

 

Elder Dykes

 

Elder Holland

 

I loved re-reading these talks this past week. Conference is the best! I am so grateful for the leaders of the Church. They truly are amazing instruments in the Lord´s hands. I hope you listen and love them as much as I do.

 

Have an amazing week! I´m loving 2014 already.

 

Besitos!

 

Hermana Scheu