Transferred to Glenn Dale YSA Ward

Hello Everyone!

Yes, this week was transfers, I will be leaving the College Park Ward, and going to the Glenn Dale YSA Ward... not really sure what to think about that yet, President must have a sense of humor I guess haha. It should be good though, from what I have heard there are a lot of good things going on with the ward, and we are teaching some cool people.

This last week was a good week for us though. It is funny sometimes how things work, we have been doing our best to get in with the ward members and leadership, because we feel like there is a separation with our efforts and theirs, so we were trying combine our efforts. We have been trying to do that for this whole transfer, and then out of no where this week, they reorganized our bishopric, and that decision wasn't even final until the Saturday afternoon before church. So it will be a good opportunity for the elders that are there now to have a fresh start and hopefully build good relationships with the newly called leadership of the ward.

Other than that, we had a cool experience this last Wednesday with a lady that I think I told you about her before, but she has 5 kids, and she is on the go all the time, so it is really hard to find a time to meet with her. While we were there on Wednesday though, we were able to talk with her, and show her how the gospel is not something that is going to further complicate her life, but it is going to help with all the stresses and troubles that she is currently facing. Hopefully they will be able to continue teaching her! But that is about all for me this week! I can't believe that Jordan is home... crazy! Love you guys! Have a great week!

- Elder Schaap

Working with Members

College Park Zone

Hello!

How is everyone? Well things here are going well! This week was pretty sweet! There has been a huge push in our mission lately to work with our members, the only problem with that is they don't really give a whole lot of direction to us as to how to go about doing that, but this week Elder Stoor and I realized that one of the main set backs that we have with trying to work with members is infrequent contact with them.

Really the only time that we see them is usually at church, and then if they have us over for dinner, that's about it. So we started trying this week to try and make appointments with them, to come and teach them and their families on a regular basis, and we had some really good experiences!

In fact one of the families that we talked with on Sunday told us to come back the next day, and that once school was over we could come over to their home and teach them a couple of times a week! So we are trying to get things off the ground there, but we are pretty excited about it!

We also met a cool lady this week who has a nephew that converted to the church and is now on a mission, and she wanted to learn more about the church. We were over there the other night, and she had a bunch of questions for us, and wants us to come back. And we have a few other people that we haven't had the chance to really teach much to yet, but we are hoping to meet with them this week!

Other than that, I don't really have a whole lot for you. Thanks for figuring everything out with school for me! You guys are the best!!! I can't even tell you! Love you guys! And have a good week! By the way, I might be sending some stuff home soon! just fyi... Love you!

- Elder Schaap

P.S. That is crazy that Jordan is coming home tonight!

Pics from Mission Blog

Sister Matsumori is so good at keeping the Washington DC North Mission Blog up to date. There are some great pictures on the blog from the semi-annual trip to Arlington National Cemetery that Pres and Sister Matsumori take for all the missionaries who will be coming home in the next 6 months. The link to the mission blog is in the right-hand column of Robbie's blog. Check it out!

Marcie

P.S. We received Robbie's flight itinerary last week. He comes home the night of July 18. Wow!

Teaching New Families

Hey everyone!

It is always nice to hear from all of you! It is fun to hear about all the things that you guys are up to! As for us this week, Elder Stoor and I have been working hard, we have been doing our very best to just find some new people to teach, and we had some pretty cool things happen this week! We have been pretty bummed about the family that we've been teaching for a while, because they were so great, and everything was going smoothly until they came to church, and then things kind of have slowed down.

We were visiting one of the Less-active members in our area, and she told us that she has wanted to come back to church for a while, but the only thing that has been holding her back is the fact that her husband doesn't like the church, apparently not for any particular reason, just that he doesn't know what it is about. So she said that they had been talking, and they think it would be best if they were able to meet with us, so that we can hopefully answer some of their questions!

And also, we met a new family this last week as well, and wouldn't you know it, they have 5 kids. Crazy how that happens, we haven't really started teaching them yet, but hopefully this week we will!

And on Sunday, one of the guys that we received as a referral and have been talking with on the phone, just randomly showed up to church! It was sweet, so we are meeting with him on Friday! So a lot of good things that are starting to happen!

Anyways, that is about it for this week! Thank you guys for all that you are doing for me!! You are seriously the best family that I could ask for! I Love you, and hope that you have an amazing week!

- Elder Schaap



Pic 1 - The temple with the tulips out front



Pic 2 - My group from the MTC, I am rooming with the 2 guys on the ends



Pic 3 - All the missionaries that go home with me in July



Pic 4 - We have been trying to catch this guy for weeks! I found him eating my bread that I accidentally left on the counter...

General Conference!

Wow, where to start?

I guess with Conference - So Good! Man I think you guys would be surprised at how much I actually love General Conference now, for some reason I am just able to soak all of it in like a sponge, and I love reading the talks after the fact and getting even more out of them, so I am excited for the May Ensign to come out!

As for my favorite talks, of course President Uchtdorf, talking about judging others and "don't judge me because I sin differently than you" haha he is great, his talks are always good. Some of my other favorites were Elder Hallstrom, who talked about the difference between the gospel and the church, and how someone "can be fully active in the church, but inactive in the gospel." Elder Oaks about Sacrifice. And I think it was Larry Y. Wilson who talked about when we teach children, we need to make sure that we are teaching eternal principles, and not just because we are angry with them or things like that. But they were all very good, like I said, I can't wait to get the new Ensign!

Well unfortunately, the family we are teaching did not make it to GC, in fact we are still not exactly sure what their feelings are about the church anymore, we have had a little contact with them, mostly on the phone, but once on their doorstep. We just don't know, their lives are very stressful right now, so it is a possiblity that they are just overwhelmed, we are not sure, but we are hoping to find that out this week.

Other than that, unfortunately most of our investigators have kind of dropped off, so we are doing our best this week to find more people, and work with the members of our ward.

I don't think I told you, but today I had the chance to go to the Arlington National Cemetery, it was pretty cool, there is a lot of history there, they have a trip for all the missionaries go who are going home in the next 6 months, and we saw some cool things like the eternal flame on President Kennedy's grave, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is pretty intense. And it was fun to be able to see all the people who I have been out here with for so long.

I got the card, and the planner covers from you guys! Thanks, they are great! Anyways, thats it for this week! Love you guys!

Elder Schaap