November 24, 2014
First Letter from Arizona!

Apparently I have just a little bit more time than I thought. The video takes forever to load, so it will probably be like another half hour or hour I think.. Let me know if you can login though. My first area is Glendale! Apparently it is one of the busiest areas! My companions name is Elder Nicholson and he loves to work, so we get lots done! The standard of excellence for the mission for total lessons per week is 20 and we get average 25, which is awesome! Most areas have a hard time reaching the standard of excellence. We are very blessed in our area. We have lots of wonderful ward members who not only love to feed us, but who help with the work. Our ward is the Glen Lakes Ward and the Bishops last name is Simon. 

When it comes to wonderful ward members, the first that comes to mind is the Brewster family. They treat us like family. They remind me of moms house and how often we like to have the missionaries over there. Mom would always say "make yourselves at home" and really meant it too. The Brewster family is the same way. They do a lot for us to help us with our work too. Our investigator Aldo who is getting baptized this Saturday lives with them. He doesn't live with his family because they have had some issues. The Brewsters treat him like family. They have a son named Riley who is about the same age who will probably baptize him as long as the Bishop finds him worthy. That would be so cool! Riley wants to go on a mission but has to get his act together a bit, so this should be good for him. I can't wait to see Also be baptized! It has been such a privelage to be able to help teach hi, the last few principles he needs to know and practice the baptismal interview questions. He passed his real interview Saturday. I love serving a mission. I love "inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." I know it is a blessing to be able to serve. 

I'll just share one more experience. Nikki is another investigator who will be baptized soon. She is black and in her mid 40s and has like 10 kids. She is possibly the coolest person I have ever met. She is so integritable and courageous. Her oldest son is named Azmar and he was baptized recently. He was trying to find a "loophole" in the law of chastity, so we made sure he knew how detrimental that would be, especially now that he has been baptized. He didn't receive it all completely, but at the end of the lesson he was saying he liked my tie, so I pulled it off my neck and gave it to him saying "let it be a reminder of your covenants." It was the blue and black one that sister Nielsen bought for me before the MTC. I hope it helps him. He is a really friendly guy.

Please pray for our all the people we invite to come unto Christ. Not only the investigators, but also the members (and those who we have not met yet). We meet lots of members who have trouble with the word of wisdom and whatnot. Pray for the people in the Glen Lakes area. I love you so much, and I pray for you every day! 

Elder Shaffer


(Side note:  Emily and I (mom) sent him a package that included some silly dino hats from the dollar store.  Austin was under orders to send back pictures with them on.)   :)

November 15, 2014

Mom, did I include everyone that you asked me to?
Hello all! It's absolutely crazy trying to write everyone in the hour
time I have once a week to do it. I hope you all know that I love you
and appreciate all of your letters and emails even if I don't reply. I
can read hand written letters the night I get them but not respond
till Saturday. I can only read emails and respond to them on Saturday.
The MTC has been great, but I am so so very excited to arrive in
Arizona in 3 days! I love to serve the Lord, and I know that every
second of the next two years is His time. I love my Savior Jesus
Christ and I have loved learning how to better invite others to come
unto Him. If I had to choose one thing to share, it would be that one
of our actor investigators here at the MTC who we teach every day has
committed to be baptized and start coming to church! He prayed to know
that Book of Mormon is true during the lesson with us and felt the
Holy Ghost testify of its truth. It was so wonderful to learn to love
him as a child of God and know that he is starting his journey of
following Christ starting with baptism. I was the one to ask him if he
would be baptized, and when he said yes, joy rushed through my body.
He - Lome- has had to grow up on his own so he didn't see the need for
God or Jesus Christ. We helped him learn why we all need the gospel of
Jesus Christ by focusing on the atonement, the gift of the Holy Ghost,
and the plan of salvation. I wish I could write more detailed, but
just know that it has been so wonderful. After the lesson, elder
Bradley and I were so ecstatic all day. There is no joy like bringing
others unto Christ. Always remember that we are should be focusing on
helping people come unto *Christ* -not the church, not the programs of
the church, not a friend, not the missionaries, not mutual, not
anything other than Christ. That will be a true and lasting
conversion.
I love you all!
Elder Shaffer

PS-mom will you please thank Oma for the apples?

November 8, 2014

First P-day letter!

Hello all!!

First of all, I am so grateful to have this opportunity to serve a mission. I know that it is where i am meant to be, so I am going to choose to be here. I will give all my heart, might, mind, and strength as I prepare to serve and then serve in the field. 

The days are long and tiring here, but I have always been good at "keep on truckin'" :p (For example, yesterday, we spent about 10 hours in the classroom total). The food is pretty good, and other than in between meals sometimes, I never go hungry! I look forward to each meal time so much! I am so excited to get into the field- we leave early Tuesday morning for Phoenix!! 

Just so you all know, I don't have to much time to write when I do get the chance. Also, p-day is Saturday for me while I am here. I can receive mail all week but cannot open it till then, and I can receive emails all week but cannot open them until then. 

Also, my companion's name is elder Bradley and we have been assigned as Zone leaders. He will also be the travel leader when we go to Arizona. 

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and I know that the Lord is helping me to prepare to teach those who need it. In fact, we are already teaching some real investigators here at the MTC.

Love you all,

Elder Shaffer

PS- that picture is my companion x)