Week 57 - Happy New Year1

Dear Family and Friends - Happy New Year!  Tell me all about your Christmas! I'm attaching pictures of some of what we did. Christmas Eve we went to Sis Walsh's house . It was Sis mMcmanama's (companion) and Elder Guzik's (serving in my ward) birthday, so they picked lasagna for dinner and we had yummy chocolate cake. We got up on Christmas and opened presents, and then went to the Blatto's home. Sister Blatto is a member, her husband is not and her kids aren't baptized (age 9, 7, 5), but we have a great relationship with their family. We watched the kids open presents and found a few there to open ourselves, and had bacon and french toast, and that's where I skyped my family from. We were allowed to watch one movie, so we went to Sandy's house and watched Elf :) and had MORE cake. Then dinner at the Kleinleins', ham and potatoes and roasted brussels sprouts, yum. We visited some older members, Eugene and Bill, who were home alone, then back to the Kleinleins for an hour or so of games. It was an excellent holiday :) I love Christmas because everyone is so receptive to the Spirit. A couple of weeks ago, a member in the ward was sad because there had been some tragedies in his neighborhood. He asked us to go around and give copies of the Book of Mormon to all of his neighbors on his street. No big deal, right? It just so happens that he lives in a mansion, and those neighborhoods are not known for being horribly accepting of the gospel. But the elders in our district came with us to carol, and we passed out almost 20 BoMs in one night! We started going back to follow up last night, and ran into one girl (Claire) who actually wasn't home when we caroled, but who is best friends with the Kleinlein's oldest daughter and is searching for religious truth. We told her we were actually going back to their home for dinner and games tonight, and she has since been invited to join us! What a tender mercy.

Best part of the week: Got to go through the temple with Tina Klein (she got baptized in Irondequoit 2 days before I flew out here last year) and see her sealed to her deceased husband. Then that afternoon went through again with a couple in our ward here, and saw them sealed. The temple is such a blessing! I can think of no greater blessing than my covenants and my family. I love you guys!

Also, I got to give a talk at a missionary farewell yesterday. It was on how I will be a better member missionary because of what I learned on my mission. I was surprised at how much easier it is getting to speak in front of crowds, since I usually just teach small groups of people.

Please pray for the Perry family. The baptism is off and Sister Perry is back to attending the Catholic church with her boys. She is feeling really conflicted and could use your prayers. Thanks for your prayers for Scott and Kathryn; we have grown really close with them this week. It's been a rough one for both of them and for their relationship, but they are both pulling through. She got a priesthood blessing yesterday and I think it was a big testimony booster for her.

Gotta run, I love you all and hope you enjoy the new year!

With love,  Sister Schank

My Christmas tree and presents

A Merry Christmas with Sister Walsh

Week 56

Dear friends and family,

What a remarkable week! I never cease to be amazed at the blessings of the Lord. Thank you for your prayers, especially for Sue. We attended a relief society Christmas dinner this week, and afterward she told me the she has received confirmation to move forward and work toward the temple with her family! Two days later we taught them again, and the boys are preparing to be baptized Jan 5. Scott is still off cigarettes, and the boys (especially Joshua) have made remarkable spiritual progress. It's evident in their desire and understanding. They went to Primary on Sunday even though they were a little nervous, and have been reading the scriptures on their own. They are holding their first family home evening this week and are so excited.

I also got invited to two endowment sessions and sealings for two different converts, Tina Klein and Tracy Grampp. (Tina is from Irondequoit and Tracy from Amherst). So excited!

We also got to meet with both Scott and Kathryn this week. I like Kathryn more and more. She came to all three hours of church this week and we got to go to a Christmas concert of Scott's (he's part of a Lutheran choir... beautiful! and reminded me of going to concerts with dad) and sat next to her. Please pray for Scott this week that he will have a desire to keep commandments, and Kathryn that she will recognize the truth.

We also got to bring Chris to a baptism this week, and he is praying to know if that is what God wants for him. Chris is a little slower, but loves God so much and will do anything he asks. He's been to church for a few weeks now. :) We also had an 18-year-old Mohamed come to church this week; his family is Muslim so we'll need to get him interviewed by a member of the mission presidency and he's YSA age so we probably won't teach him much anyway, but he's a very nice kid, and happy to share the gospel. We met him and his friends at a convenience store this week, and all held hands and I said a prayer RIGHT in front of this guy fixing his engine. Haha, it was a different kind of experience, but anytime a new investigator says they want to pray, we'll do it!

Nancy & Elaina also came to the Relief Society dinner, and it was awesome. They met a ton of their LDS neighbors, and want to come to church once Elaina gets a Sunday off work. We are bringing the elders with us this week because they say their house is haunted, so that will be interesting... I'm excited to start teaching them more and help them to learn and keep the commandments. :)

Oh, we contacted Jim this week and he and his wife were very nice. He wants to just watch the DVD and read some of the Book of Mormon this week and see what he thinks, so I'll get back to you on him in a week or two once we contact him again.

Just lots of little miracles this week with timing and getting appointments, little stuff like that. I know that the Lord is so aware of us, and so much a part of this work! I love you all, and hope you are enjoying the Christmas season. Remember, it is all about Jesus Christ!  

With love,

Sister Schank

XOXO

Week 55

Dear family,

What a remarkable week! I never cease to be amazed at the blessings of the Lord. Thank you for your prayers, especially for Sue. We attended a relief society Christmas dinner this week, and afterward she told me the she has received confirmation to move forward and work toward the temple with her family! Two days later we taught them again, and the boys are preparing to be baptized Jan 5. Scott is still off cigarettes, and the boys (especially Joshua) have made remarkable spiritual progress. It's evident in their desire and understanding. They went to Primary on Sunday even though they were a little nervous, and have been reading the scriptures on their own. They are holding their first family home evening this week and are so excited.

I also got invited to two endowment sessions and sealings for two different converts, Tina Klein and Tracy Grampp. (Tina is from Irondequoit and Tracy from Amherst). So excited!

We also got to meet with both Scott and Kathryn this week. I like Kathryn more and more. She came to all three hours of church this week and we got to go to a Christmas concert of Scott's (he's part of a Lutheran choir... beautiful! and reminded me of going to concerts with dad) and sat next to her. Please pray for Scott this week that he will have a desire to keep commandments, and Kathryn that she will recognize the truth.

We also got to bring Chris to a baptism this week, and he is praying to know if that is what God wants for him. Chris is a little slower, but loves God so much and will do anything he asks. He's been to church for a few weeks now. :) We also had an 18-year-old Mohamed come to church this week; his family is Muslim so we'll need to get him interviewed by a member of the mission presidency and he's YSA age so we probably won't teach him much anyway, but he's a very nice kid, and happy to share the gospel. We met him and his friends at a convenience store this week, and all held hands and I said a prayer RIGHT in front of this guy fixing his engine. Haha, it was a different kind of experience, but anytime a new investigator says they want to pray, we'll do it!

Nancy & Elaina also came to the Relief Society dinner, and it was awesome. They met a ton of their LDS neighbors, and want to come to church once Elaina gets a Sunday off work. We are bringing the elders with us this week because they say their house is haunted, so that will be interesting... I'm excited to start teaching them more and help them to learn and keep the commandments. :)

Oh, we contacted Jim this week and he and his wife were very nice. He wants to just watch the DVD and read some of the BoM this week and see what he thinks, so I'll get back to you on him in a week or two once we contact him again.

Just lots of little miracles this week with timing and getting appointments, little stuff like that. I know that the Lord is so aware of us, and so much a part of this work! I love you all, and hope you are enjoying the Christmas season. Remember, it is all about Jesus Christ!  

With love,

Sister Schank

XOXO

Week 54

It has been incredible how everything has worked out in the last couple of days! We have felt very led by the Spirit, and can see Him softening hearts that we haven't been able to reach. Our days are being filled with appointments, and our appointments filled with the Spirit. We are finding the root of people's concerns and helping the to come to Christ from healing. People are progressing immensely in between appointments, and others are being prepared and placed in our path. Scott P. quit smoking this week, and has desires to baptize his children! Sandy is taking steps and setting goals to come back to church, and Scott M. has brought his girlfriend to church a few times now. We were able to teach her Saturday for the first time (separately from Scott) and she is so prepared. We taught Scott the ten commandments  and it has been amazing to see his faith grow. The Blatto family invited us over to decorate their tree this week, and also for Christmas morning. We are developing a good relationship with their family. Sam has been hearing a lot of things about the church and is realizing it will take significant life changes, but is still willing to investigate and find out for herself if this is true.  We took Marriah and her dad (who's not a member) to YW in Excellence last week, and he met the bishop while she met her peers. It has been amazing! I love being a missionary. :) We still face rejection, and cancellations, and bad weather (it's beautiful and warm today though!), but those things seem to melt away in comparison. 

I'm so excited for the Christmas season! There is a big christmas campaign the church is putting on (although I think that article is talking about NYC). Take a look at mormon.org/christmas and decide how you can best utilize the website and the Christmas season at large to spread the gospel and help those who need it to feel the Spirit. 

I have taught the plan of salvation a lot recently and also taught gospel principles on final judgement/kingdoms of glory this week, and I am so grateful for a family who makes and keeps covenants. There is NOTHING more important to me than my covenants, and I KNOW that covenants kept strengthen not only individuals, but families. I love you all and hope you are happy. Thanks so much for writing, you brightened my week!

Love you,

Sister Schank