It was so nice to talk to you guys the other day!!! Man, I swear it felt like that call only lasted like 5 minutes though, it was way too short! I loved it though!
Well, things here have been pretty slow recently with the Holiday season and all. No worries though, this week should be better. But not a whole lot has changed since my phone call home. We did have the chance to meet with several investigators again, they are doing really well, unfortunately though they aren't progressing as fast as we had hoped, but we are trying to find different ways to help them out as best we can. Elder Krugman and I haven't really had a whole lot of teaching opportunities this week, so the only other thing we can really do is tract, and instead of saying "ahhh tracting again?" we just go out and do it, and are making jokes to each other and having a good time while doing it, which makes the day go by a whole lot quicker!
Our parking assignment on Christmas Day went pretty well, surprisingly there was quite a few people there, which I didn't think there would be, but it wasn't too bad, and honestly I probably wouldn't have been doing much otherwise, so it wasn't a big deal. Yes I did get the present from the Primary, I was meaning to talk to you about that on the phone call, but please tell them Thanks for me!! I loved it! Well that's about all I have for you today, but I hope everything is going well for you guys, and I love you tons!!!! Talk to you next week!
- Elder Schaap
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas Phone Call from Elder Schaap!
We got a fun phone call yesterday afternoon from Robbie. We were able to talk to him for about an hour before he had to go to his assignment to help with parking at the temple visitors' center for people who were coming to see the Festival of Lights. He sounded really great - just like we all remember! He said it was a little weird responding to his first name, because he hadn't done that in 5 months! He loves the new ward he's in, the area he's in, the people he's working with, and his new companion, Elder Krugman. He's having to rely on his own cooking a little more in this area than in his last area, but so far, he's surviving! He said it's very cold because of both the wind and the humidity, which make the wind chill factor colder than what the temperature gauge we see on the internet tells you. He's enjoying being on his bike, and as you can tell from the photos he sent home, he loves his new hat! It keeps him very warm! He loves that his new area is so close to the temple (about 5 miles away). We just had a really great time talking to him, catching him up on things at home, and it was so great to hear his voice!
Marcie
Marcie
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Merry Christmas!!!!
Wow, this last week has just flown by, in fact, this transfer is going by way too quick, but that is a good thing right? Anyways, so good to hear from you guys! Things are going pretty good here, busy as usual, Elder Krugman and I were able to go to the Visitor's Center 3 times this week!! And we saw Jenny Oaks Baker (violin player) and Sandra Turley (broadway singer) perform, which were both really good performances, and both times the theater was filled to capacity.
We had an interesting day on Sunday haha, so to start off, the missionaries covering the South/East area have been teaching this lady who kept claiming that she had been baptized into our church before, but her records couldn't be found, so she just decided that she was ok with that, and she would just get baptized again. So Elder Krugman and I go to her house on Friday for the baptismal interview and he finds out that there is an issue that has to be taken to Pres. M in order for her to be cleared to be baptized, so we call President, and he says that he will just be there at our church on Sunday and talk to her before the meetings start. Well church here starts at 1:00, and 1:10 rolls around, finally she shows up after President had been there for almost a half hour. So they talk, and she is cleared to be baptized, so Elder Krugman and I start filling up the font so that it will be ready, we called the missionary that was in the area previously so that he could come and perform the ordinance. Needless to say it was a very stressful day at church because me and my companion were in charge of most of the logistics of the whole thing.
And then.... about 30 minutes before the baptism is supposed to happen, this guy in the ward comes up to us and hands us a paper that says they found her records, and that she no longer needs to be baptized hahaha man it was frustrating. After all that work to make sure that the baptism happened on time and that everything was going to go perfectly, we find out that none of it was needed. I liked the way a member of the ward put it, they said it was just a "really intense reactivation" haha that pretty much sums it up perfectly.
Well I hate to throw a wrench in your guys' plans, but we have been lucky enough to receive the opportunity to do parking for the Visitor's Center on Christmas day!! So I really can't give you a better time frame of when I will be calling than 2:00-6:00 my time, 12:00 - 4:00 your time, and even that is not set in stone.... Sorry, but we really haven't been very informed of what we need to do for parking that day, but not to worry, I will get to call sometime! Even if I have to fight for it! haha hopefully I won't though.
I love you guys so much though!! And I can't wait to talk to you on Saturday!!! I will answer your questions that you asked then!!! LOVE YOU TONS!!!
- Elder Schaap
P.S.
Pic #1 - SNOW!
Pic #2 - Me (and my sweet hat!!!) and Elder Krugman all geared up to go out in the cold!
Pic #3 - At the Visitor's Center with our investigators (funniest little old lady ever!!!)
We had an interesting day on Sunday haha, so to start off, the missionaries covering the South/East area have been teaching this lady who kept claiming that she had been baptized into our church before, but her records couldn't be found, so she just decided that she was ok with that, and she would just get baptized again. So Elder Krugman and I go to her house on Friday for the baptismal interview and he finds out that there is an issue that has to be taken to Pres. M in order for her to be cleared to be baptized, so we call President, and he says that he will just be there at our church on Sunday and talk to her before the meetings start. Well church here starts at 1:00, and 1:10 rolls around, finally she shows up after President had been there for almost a half hour. So they talk, and she is cleared to be baptized, so Elder Krugman and I start filling up the font so that it will be ready, we called the missionary that was in the area previously so that he could come and perform the ordinance. Needless to say it was a very stressful day at church because me and my companion were in charge of most of the logistics of the whole thing.
And then.... about 30 minutes before the baptism is supposed to happen, this guy in the ward comes up to us and hands us a paper that says they found her records, and that she no longer needs to be baptized hahaha man it was frustrating. After all that work to make sure that the baptism happened on time and that everything was going to go perfectly, we find out that none of it was needed. I liked the way a member of the ward put it, they said it was just a "really intense reactivation" haha that pretty much sums it up perfectly.
Well I hate to throw a wrench in your guys' plans, but we have been lucky enough to receive the opportunity to do parking for the Visitor's Center on Christmas day!! So I really can't give you a better time frame of when I will be calling than 2:00-6:00 my time, 12:00 - 4:00 your time, and even that is not set in stone.... Sorry, but we really haven't been very informed of what we need to do for parking that day, but not to worry, I will get to call sometime! Even if I have to fight for it! haha hopefully I won't though.
I love you guys so much though!! And I can't wait to talk to you on Saturday!!! I will answer your questions that you asked then!!! LOVE YOU TONS!!!
- Elder Schaap
P.S.
Pic #1 - SNOW!
Pic #2 - Me (and my sweet hat!!!) and Elder Krugman all geared up to go out in the cold!
Pic #3 - At the Visitor's Center with our investigators (funniest little old lady ever!!!)
Pics #4-6 -We went to the National Air and Space Museum today, along with the Capitol Building, and we walked across that frozen pond haha it was sweet!!!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Pics from DC
New convert in DC 3rd Ward
Elders Krugman and Schaap with DC 3rd Ward
member and Elder and Sister Postma
Elders Johnson and Schaap with Patuxent Ward member
Elder Schaap and Lexington Park Ward member
News from DC 3rd Ward
Hey everyone!
Glad to hear things are crazy as usual haha. Things here are really good, the city is sweet! People here are surprisingly very nice, and humble and willing to listen to us a give us a chance, so that is nice. It is definitely a lot different than down in Southern Maryland, but I love it here. Being on a bike is fun, except it kind of stinks because Elder Krugman has been on a bike now for 3 months, and he dominates me when we go up hills, and because it is so freakin cold here! No worries though, I have a lot of cold weather clothing, and I will be buying some more later today actually, I don't want you guys to have to worry about buying me any, because that way you won't have to spend more money by sending it to me, and this way I can get exactly what I want.
Anyways though, the city is sweet, there are 8 missionaries in the ward that I go to now, along with 2 senior couples! So I am definitely not banished down south any more. The ward is sweet, it is mostly black people, and they are hilarious, and because most of them come from different religious backgrounds, there are some things that they do at church that I wasn't used to, but it is completely normal to them, I can't really think of any specific examples at the moment, but I will get back to you about that next week, it is sweet though. Also, this last Sunday, there was a baptism in our ward, and she is an awesome lady that has a sweet story. Apparently missionaries knocked on her door about a year ago, but she was not interested at the time and just sent them on their way, well about a month or so ago, she saw missionaries riding on their bikes and actually stopped them and told them that she thought that she needed to join the church. She has a distant relative in our ward that she talks to quite a bit, and she just decided one day that this was the next step in her life. Pretty crazy how the Lord prepares people, and just like that they are baptized after 1 month of meeting with the missionaries.
Well thank you guys for the CD player and CD's that you sent me, and Grandpa for the Gift Card!!! Do you guys want me to make copies of the CD's that you sent so that if something happens to them, there will be a back up? Let me know. Dad - my camera is a Nikon CoolPix S3000, my companions name is Elder Krugman, and you are a jerk for bringing up steak and strats!!! Mom - no I am pretty sure that isn't in my area, Silver Spring is east of my area, but I will definitely keep that in mind! Thanks for the update on all the other missionaries, anything on Jake? I got a christmas card from his family this week! Tell them that I hope they are doing well, and Jake as well, also see if I can have his address so that I can write to him!
As for the Christmas phone call, I am not exactly sure what time I will be calling, but it will be after 2 o'clock here, so after Noon there, more likely it will be somewhere around 1 or 2 your time would be my guess, and President has told us to try and keep it to about an hour. I am really excited to talk to you guys! And Have a great week!! Love you TONS!!!!
- Elder Schaap
P.S. I might get on later and send you some pics! I forgot the connector again.... SORRY!
Glad to hear things are crazy as usual haha. Things here are really good, the city is sweet! People here are surprisingly very nice, and humble and willing to listen to us a give us a chance, so that is nice. It is definitely a lot different than down in Southern Maryland, but I love it here. Being on a bike is fun, except it kind of stinks because Elder Krugman has been on a bike now for 3 months, and he dominates me when we go up hills, and because it is so freakin cold here! No worries though, I have a lot of cold weather clothing, and I will be buying some more later today actually, I don't want you guys to have to worry about buying me any, because that way you won't have to spend more money by sending it to me, and this way I can get exactly what I want.
Anyways though, the city is sweet, there are 8 missionaries in the ward that I go to now, along with 2 senior couples! So I am definitely not banished down south any more. The ward is sweet, it is mostly black people, and they are hilarious, and because most of them come from different religious backgrounds, there are some things that they do at church that I wasn't used to, but it is completely normal to them, I can't really think of any specific examples at the moment, but I will get back to you about that next week, it is sweet though. Also, this last Sunday, there was a baptism in our ward, and she is an awesome lady that has a sweet story. Apparently missionaries knocked on her door about a year ago, but she was not interested at the time and just sent them on their way, well about a month or so ago, she saw missionaries riding on their bikes and actually stopped them and told them that she thought that she needed to join the church. She has a distant relative in our ward that she talks to quite a bit, and she just decided one day that this was the next step in her life. Pretty crazy how the Lord prepares people, and just like that they are baptized after 1 month of meeting with the missionaries.
Well thank you guys for the CD player and CD's that you sent me, and Grandpa for the Gift Card!!! Do you guys want me to make copies of the CD's that you sent so that if something happens to them, there will be a back up? Let me know. Dad - my camera is a Nikon CoolPix S3000, my companions name is Elder Krugman, and you are a jerk for bringing up steak and strats!!! Mom - no I am pretty sure that isn't in my area, Silver Spring is east of my area, but I will definitely keep that in mind! Thanks for the update on all the other missionaries, anything on Jake? I got a christmas card from his family this week! Tell them that I hope they are doing well, and Jake as well, also see if I can have his address so that I can write to him!
As for the Christmas phone call, I am not exactly sure what time I will be calling, but it will be after 2 o'clock here, so after Noon there, more likely it will be somewhere around 1 or 2 your time would be my guess, and President has told us to try and keep it to about an hour. I am really excited to talk to you guys! And Have a great week!! Love you TONS!!!!
- Elder Schaap
P.S. I might get on later and send you some pics! I forgot the connector again.... SORRY!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Transferred to DC 3rd Ward!
Hey Everyone!!
Man this week has been really crazy, but I guess I will start off with the Festival of Lights. Elder Johnson and I were able to go up 2 times this past week (Fri and Sat) and it was really cool! They have different musical events going on at the visitors center every night until New Years! We saw the Chapel Ringers and a Flute Ensemble, really cool to see. We went the first night with a recent convert in our ward who is an awesome guy, very solid in the gospel. Saturday night we actually went with two different less active families in the ward, and we had a good time with them. Then on Sunday, we went over to a member's house for dinner and to teach his kind of daughter in law (long story) anyways, it went really well, she has been going through some hard times in her life and is now looking for something new to give her hope, so hopefully she will be able to find it with the church!
Well, as it sounds like you already heard from a couple of different sources, I did get transferred :( it was sad to leave, but it is good at the same time. I am going to miss that ward down in Patuxent, but I am looking forward to meeting this new one. So the area I am in now is the D.C. 3rd North area, and my companion is Elder Krugman. I am really excited for this transfer, Elder Krugman is a really cool guy, and I am looking forward to working with him! Should be pretty fun!
Everything is very different here though, I will no longer be getting fed every single night (DANGIT!) probably only about two times a week or so, and the work is much different here, the area is a lot smaller than what I came from, but it will be good and will hopefully help me become a better missionary!
Well I have to go now, but Dani, I got your letter, I don't have time to reply to it today, but I promise I will next P-day! And THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!!!!!! I am way pumped to have a bunch of music now!!!!!! I love you guys sooooo much, and I hope you have a wonderful week!
- Elder Schaap
P.S. Some pics for ya! Most of them of the Temple and Lights and such...
Man this week has been really crazy, but I guess I will start off with the Festival of Lights. Elder Johnson and I were able to go up 2 times this past week (Fri and Sat) and it was really cool! They have different musical events going on at the visitors center every night until New Years! We saw the Chapel Ringers and a Flute Ensemble, really cool to see. We went the first night with a recent convert in our ward who is an awesome guy, very solid in the gospel. Saturday night we actually went with two different less active families in the ward, and we had a good time with them. Then on Sunday, we went over to a member's house for dinner and to teach his kind of daughter in law (long story) anyways, it went really well, she has been going through some hard times in her life and is now looking for something new to give her hope, so hopefully she will be able to find it with the church!
Well, as it sounds like you already heard from a couple of different sources, I did get transferred :( it was sad to leave, but it is good at the same time. I am going to miss that ward down in Patuxent, but I am looking forward to meeting this new one. So the area I am in now is the D.C. 3rd North area, and my companion is Elder Krugman. I am really excited for this transfer, Elder Krugman is a really cool guy, and I am looking forward to working with him! Should be pretty fun!
Everything is very different here though, I will no longer be getting fed every single night (DANGIT!) probably only about two times a week or so, and the work is much different here, the area is a lot smaller than what I came from, but it will be good and will hopefully help me become a better missionary!
Well I have to go now, but Dani, I got your letter, I don't have time to reply to it today, but I promise I will next P-day! And THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!!!!!! I am way pumped to have a bunch of music now!!!!!! I love you guys sooooo much, and I hope you have a wonderful week!
- Elder Schaap
P.S. Some pics for ya! Most of them of the Temple and Lights and such...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
What a week!
Holy Mackrell!!!
This is pretty weird, I am not going to lie... I always knew that the day would come that I would hear that Dani was "officially" engaged, but I guess I didn't realize how it would really feel. I am really happy for you guys! And from the looks of things, you guys are happy too, it's just way weird that I am not going to be around for any of it!!! No worries though, somehow I am sure you will make do without me haha but you have to do the cardboard cut-out!! It has to happen!!
Anyways haha looks like you guys had a REALLY good Thanksgiving, that's good to see, not gonna lie though, I have yet to have food as good as the stuff that we have at home. That being said, I wasn't too bad off for Thanksgiving over here, we ate with a family (my favorite family in the ward!) and they fed us pretty dang well. I had so much food that I didn't think that I would want to eat ever again, of course that feeling went away relatively shortly haha but after that, we went over to another family in the ward's home, and they gave us pie!! Wow I was full!!!!
Other than that, this week was pretty good, I was actually able to go to the Temple today!! And we have 2 times planned for this week to go up to the Festival of Lights which starts on Friday (we are going Friday and Saturday), so I am pretty excited about that.
About the $149 that I spent at Best Buy.... ummmm I might have broken down and bought a new camera... yeah, my camera was just not cutting it, but look on the bright side, hopefully that means I will have more pictures right? Hopefully... But that is the reason why I am emailing you so late today is because going to the temple is an all day event in this area because it is about 5 hours round trip. I did take pictures though! I just forgot the cord to hook up my camera to the computer.... sorry!! I promise I will send pictures next week though, oh and you guys might be getting a little early Christmas present from me soon!! Well that is about all I have for you this week, sorry for being so short, but that is sweet that Dani and Brad are finally engaged!!! It feels like you guys have been talking about it for like 2 months now!! Congrats!!! Talk (literally!!!!) to you guys soon!!!
- Elder Schaap
This is pretty weird, I am not going to lie... I always knew that the day would come that I would hear that Dani was "officially" engaged, but I guess I didn't realize how it would really feel. I am really happy for you guys! And from the looks of things, you guys are happy too, it's just way weird that I am not going to be around for any of it!!! No worries though, somehow I am sure you will make do without me haha but you have to do the cardboard cut-out!! It has to happen!!
Anyways haha looks like you guys had a REALLY good Thanksgiving, that's good to see, not gonna lie though, I have yet to have food as good as the stuff that we have at home. That being said, I wasn't too bad off for Thanksgiving over here, we ate with a family (my favorite family in the ward!) and they fed us pretty dang well. I had so much food that I didn't think that I would want to eat ever again, of course that feeling went away relatively shortly haha but after that, we went over to another family in the ward's home, and they gave us pie!! Wow I was full!!!!
Other than that, this week was pretty good, I was actually able to go to the Temple today!! And we have 2 times planned for this week to go up to the Festival of Lights which starts on Friday (we are going Friday and Saturday), so I am pretty excited about that.
About the $149 that I spent at Best Buy.... ummmm I might have broken down and bought a new camera... yeah, my camera was just not cutting it, but look on the bright side, hopefully that means I will have more pictures right? Hopefully... But that is the reason why I am emailing you so late today is because going to the temple is an all day event in this area because it is about 5 hours round trip. I did take pictures though! I just forgot the cord to hook up my camera to the computer.... sorry!! I promise I will send pictures next week though, oh and you guys might be getting a little early Christmas present from me soon!! Well that is about all I have for you this week, sorry for being so short, but that is sweet that Dani and Brad are finally engaged!!! It feels like you guys have been talking about it for like 2 months now!! Congrats!!! Talk (literally!!!!) to you guys soon!!!
- Elder Schaap
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