The Sorensens in DC? Cool!

Hello!

So I was sitting at church on Sunday, anxiously awaiting the family that we have been teaching to show up, and I was looking out to the doors to the chapel every few seconds, and out of no where I see these two very familiar faces, and what do you know it is the Sorensens! They had no idea that I was going to be there, and I definitely had no idea that they were going to be there, it was a pretty cool coincedence, but kind of weird at the same time, that is the first time that I have seen someone from home since I have been out here... but it was great, it was like we hadn't missed a beat, they caught me up on all the things that are going on back in Utah, and I was able to tell them about what had been going on with me for the last 2 years.

Anyways, the family that we have been working with was able to come to church! Unfortunately, they didn't have the best experience... the Sunday School lesson was on Exaltation, which is the last lesson in the manual, and it was a bit heavy for their first time at church, so they left right after that, and they told us they would call us to let us know when we could come over again... kind of a bummer, but I suppose that it is better that they know all those things now, than having them come to the surface a few years later. Keep them in your prayers, hopefully we will be able to see them again and help resolve some of their concerns.

Yesterday we had a pretty cool experience, we were out knocking on doors, and this guy answers the door with a guitar hanging on his shoulder, which I always love because I automatically have something to talk about with them, but we were able to talk with him for a while, and he really started to open up to us about some of the things he was going through in his life, and we told him how the gospel could help him. He told us that he wouldn't be able to meet with us for a while, but that he had to get some things straightened out in his life, and then he would give us a call. I love it when I am able to relate some of my past experiences to others, and tie in the gospel as well.

Well thank you guys so much for everything! I Love hearing from you every week! You guys are the best family I could ever ask for! I love you! And hope you have a wonderful week!


- Elder Schaap

Teaching Families and Pics of The Cherry Blossom Festival

Hello again!

Man these weeks keep going by faster and faster.... it is crazy, anyways. We had a good week! It kind of took a little bit for things to kick off right after transfers, but we were able to have a really good meetings with the family we're teaching, they are so awesome... seriously, they are great! We went and saw them Sunday after church, because they weren't there unfortunately... but we had a really good visit with them, they are still reading the Book of Mormon, and we are going over there again tomorrow, hopefully taking a member with us. They have just a few hang ups on a few things, but the cool part about it is they are not just giving up on it, the father was telling us that he had a few hesitations, but that he needed to do some more praying about it, and that he was sure it would be cleared up after that. They are awesome.

We also were able to meet with a family that I am not sure I told you about, we met them a while ago, but most of our contact with them since has been on the phone, but we helped them with some service this week, and we were also able to go to the VC with them as well! They got a ride with one of the members in our ward, and really enjoyed it, and said that they wanted to come back, and bring the rest of their family! So hopefully we will get to do that soon!

Anyways, that is about all for the updates on investigators this week. Today we went to the Cherry Blossom Festival! It was pretty sweet too! I took some pics for you guys, hope you like them! Love you and have a good week!

- Elder Schaap

Transfers - Baptism Date - New Member Going Through the Temple - and Cherry Blossoms!

Hello!!!

Well I have some super exciting news! So we were doing service for a member the other day, and she is actually an implant in the DC 3rd ward, and one of the members of the bishopric is her home teacher, and he was there, so I got to talk to him for a bit which was nice! I asked him how our great new member that we baptized while I was in DC 3rd Ward was doing, and he told me that she is going through the temple soon! Well that happens to be today!

And another cool part about it is that Elder Krugman is finished with his mission officially today, but he and his parents are going to go as well! So I got to talk to her a bit today, and I am really excited for her, she is doing so well!

This week was a super good week though, the family that I was telling you about is amazing! We met with them 4 times last week! And we went to the Visitor's Center with them, it was awesome. They are going to be baptized on April 8th! They are so great! They have been reading the Book of Mormon, and he decided himself that he was going to live the Word of Wisdom.

As for Transfers.... Elder Lott will be heading out of here, and I am getting Elder Stoor, he is from Idaho, and he has been out now for about 3 months, he came out with Elder Lott actually. So I am excited, I have only heard good things about him, so we should have a lot of fun.

That's all for this week though. Thanks for everything, I haven't got the package yet, but I am sure it will be here soon. Love you guys!!!


- Elder Schaap


Pic #1 - District Picture


Pic #2 - Guess what are starting to come out already?!?!

New Investigators!

Hello!

Well this week was pretty sweet. I told you about how we have been struggling to find new people, well this week, all of our prayers were answered! We got a call on Saturday from the Visitor's Center telling us that a mother and her 5 children had come to them about 30 minutes before, and the mother said that she and her husband had been talking, and they wanted to join our church! So we pretty much called them right away, and then we were able to meet them in person yesterday! They are pretty much awesome, when we left, he was telling his wife that he wanted to read from the Book of Mormon, and they want us to come over again tonight! So we are really excited about getting to work with them.

We also had another cool experience, we were going to lunch at a member's house, and as we were getting out of our car, this guy out on his balcony told us to come and talk with him for a few minutes so we did, and we are going to start teaching him as well!

So we are very excited about all of these new people, and hopefully we will be able to meet even more cool people!

Anyways, sorry but that is about all I have for you this week, but I am going to make up for it with some long awaited pictures! Love you guys! Thanks for everything!

- Elder Schaap


Elders Schaap and Krugman -
comps in DC 3rd Ward over a yr ago


A hairy dude of unknown origin...


Bad tie times 5?


That one eyebrow thing...
in front of Jaws and a giraffe!

Working With Less Active Members

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for your emails! It is always nice to hear that things are going well back at home! I can't believe that Dani is almost a Master of Business Administration... I am still not convinced, that is super convenient that she started school right after I left, and finishes just before I get home! I have to see it on paper! Haha just kidding, that is exciting though, and I bet she is going to be the most excited!

As for us here, things have been going... well I guess! Like I said we are working with the Less-Active members of the ward a lot, and we are trying to get them coming back. We weren't able to meet with the one family that I was telling you about, we just talked with them on the phone a few times, and they are in a tight spot right now, and want to get things at least somewhat figured out before they have us over again.

And then we were able to help one of our investigators move out of his appartment, and I had mentioned that I could do a backflip in a previous lesson with him, and he didn't believe me, he said "No way a guy as tall as you can do that!" haha so he was pretty surprised when I actually could do it! haha

Other than that, things are going pretty well. Elder Lott and I are still having a lot of fun! And we are doing our best, so hopefully we will be able find some more people this week!

That's about all I have for you this week, Love you guys and can't wait to hear from you next week!

- Elder Schaap

Teaching and the National Zoo

Hey guys! Good to hear from you all!

Things are going pretty good for us here, we still have had a little bit of a tough time finding people that are interested in the gospel, but there is one family that we met the other day that was a referral from the Festival of Lights at the temple, and they were very nice and interested in meeting with us more, we didn't get to do much teaching while we were there, but hopefully they will all be coming to church this Sunday!

We are still working with our other two investigators, but it has been a while since we have been able to meet with them, they really only have one day of the week available, and the past few weeks that day has been busy as well, but we are helping them move tomorrow, so that should be good!

There are a lot of reactivation efforts in this ward, and the leaders of the ward are trying to get us more involved with that, so far we have been able to help teach a few people, and it has gone really well, but there is a lot more to do!

Anyways that is about all I have for you this week! Sorry for being so short, but thanks for your emails, and I hope that you all have a great week!

- Elder Schaap


Pics - for Zone Activity today we went to the National Zoo and did a scavenger hunt! And there is a planking pic in there too!

College Park East - Doing Fine!

Rob wrote us a cute email today that he said was just for the family this week. He didn't want me to post it to the blog. All is well, and things are moving along just fine in College Park East. He just had a few things to say that were just for his family. Watch for his email next week!

Marcie