Past few letters

December 10.  2012

Dear Family,

The winter cold has arrived. I woke up this morning and it was 14 degrees. The one thing out here that gets you is the wind. With the wind chill it is often down in the negatives! We walked home half a mile last night, and when we got in my face was super frozen! Luckily we have a nice warm house to go home to, and a grumpy love able old man to go home to.

This week has been great. We set one of our investigators with a baptismal date for the end of this month. He has problems with the Word of Wisdom. We taught him about it on Wednesday, and were able to come back on Friday. He is trying really hard to give up his addiction. It is so amazing to see the progress he has made. His name is Jerry. He is always happy, and is always giving us funny answers to questions. We asked him "Where do you believe we go after we die?" He said "Well i always pictured it as this super huge long line in front of some gates. They have this book at the front the book of life. If your name isn't on the book they hit a button, and down you fall. He made actions like he was falling and it was super funny!"

Caleb is doing great, we should be setting him with a new baptismal this coming week. We have to talk to his mom about when though. We are thinking the first week in January. He is ready, we just need to set him with a new date!

We went on a church tour this week which didn't go stellar in any way. We brought two members with us who they thought it would be nice to show her every room in the church. They showed them the women's bathroom by the font, the kitchen, and the stage. One thing i learned is that there are so many variables in missionary work, and we just need to do our best, and let the Lord take care of the rest! I love you all back home, and wish you the best as we commemorate the Birth, and life of our Savior Jesus Christ!!

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz

December 4, 2012
 Dear Family,

Once again it is Monday... December also... It doesn't feel like December out here at all. It has been 60 degrees, no snow, or rain or anything. It is warm to walk around in a suit coat. The only thing that makes it look like Christmas is that we get to listen to Christmas music. It brings back all the good memories of Christmas. Are you going to keep all our traditions going without me there? Ice skating, 12 days of Christmas, running across the yard in the snow? I told the old man that i live with that we are going to have a hot chocolate cook off. He has some nestle, and i got Stephens. I told him that mine is better. We decided that the first day that it snows we'll have it. Well i hope it snows before this next transfer. Transfer day is on December 20th. He put up a tree and i like to sit and drink hot chocolate while in from of the tree. Sometimes I'll drink some hot chocolate while doing morning studies.

This week we talked to Caleb and his mother and they said they want to wait until he goes a little longer before his baptism. This was sad, but it makes since. She doesn't want him to jump into something without him being sure it is what he wants. He is super ready, and will just need to wait for her approval. He got up this fast Sunday and bore his testimony about the Book of Mormon. He said that his favorite part was Lehi's dream. He talked about how he felt so bad for the people that were in the great and spacious building, because they didn't get the fruit on the tree. It was so amazing to see him get up there and speak. There is a new family that moved in to our ward that he has gotten really close to. They have a son his age, and they are attending choir practice for the ward! He is such a boss! He has been prepared by the Lord!

We did have one part of the week that was really rough. We had an investigator get really mad at us, and told us to get out of his home, and gave us back the Book of Mormon. He was asking lots of questions about polygamy, and why the church hasn't done anything to those still practicing it. We told him all about it, but he just wasn't listening. I asked him if it mattered to his salvation, this made him flip. He accused us of not caring about anyones salvation but ours. While walking out i said "If i didn't care about your salvation, i wouldn't be here." It was super sad to see him get caught up on something, and look beyond the mark. I hope that he will someday accept the gospel. I came to realize that night that the Lord is preparing people all over the world. There are some that are not yet ready to recieve the gospel, and i have to do my part to find those that will accept this glourious message.

All in all it has been a super great week. I love being here, and love those that i have met! I miss you all back home, and wish you the very best! Be safe, and put your whole trust in the Lord and he will provide!

Love, Elder Shurtz

November 26, 2012

Dear Family,

Well it was my first thanksgiving away from home. As i was asking around what we do here on Thanksgiving Day the Old Elders told me in past areas they got to play in the turkey bowl for their ward. Well i was pretty pumped about that. I asked around in the ward to find out when we were holding our turkey bowl. Well they said they don't have one. So... I put one together. It ended up being for the whole stake. It was super fun. We got some members from our ward, and a few from others, plus the missionaries around the area. We had two thanksgiving dinners, well a lunch and dinner. Even though i wasn't with our family it was nice to be in a family setting, laughing, and feeling the love that was there. I have found out I really like pie. I never have been a huge thanksgiving food kind of person, but the pie sure is great. It was a great day going around to different members, and less active members homes to visit.

Yesterday i gave my second talk out here. It was on "grateful for the Gospel". I spoke about four truths that we teach in the Church, and my testimony on them. 1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ. 2. That we can repent. 3. That families can be sealed for time, and eternity. 4. We have a living Prophet to Guide the Church through continued Revelation from God. It was really neat to talk about because it helped me see how my testimony of the Church has grown since I've been out these short 4 months. A funny thing that happened is that while greeting at the start of Church we had a member come grab us and told us they needed men in the Ward Choir. We went over the song twice before Sacrament meeting and then performed it. The best part was that Caleb our investigator came and performed with us.

Caleb has a baptismal date set for the 8th of December. Some things have come up, and we need to go speak with his mom. He says she is wanting to postpone the Baptism, for she feels he isn't fully prepared. He so is, and is comprehending, and progressing so fast, and well. We were able to teach him about the Word of Wisdom this week which he committed to live. It is so awesome to see him progress. I hope we can help her see that he is ready to be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost.

I love serving the Lord, and serving the people out here. I know that I am supposed to be here in Topeka, and there are certain things, and people that i will find if I work hard. I love you all back home, and wish you the very best!

Love, Elder Shurtz

PS. If you could send pictures i would love it. That is always one of the best parts. I love seeing things going on back home, to keep me kinda in the loop! oh and I would love a wrayving review to see how everyone in the family is doing also.

Daniel Updates

Dear Family,

Yet another week has past. With the Lord watching over each of us we need not worry where it is that we will be. As we do all we can the Lord will place those things in our  life that need to happen to become who he would have us become. As we make the most out of what we have been given we show the Lord we have faith that we can overcome the trials we are given. What an amazing opportunity that i have to be out here serving my Savior. It is kind of scaring me, i have only been out three months, but they have flown. It is scary... I have no time to waste while i am out here serving. Everyday is the Lord's day, every minute the Lord's time out here. As we continue to work, and continue to pray we see the Lord performing miracles in our lives.

      This week has come and past. We have been stuck down in Montara for most of it, and are sure excited to get the car this coming week. My highlight of the week was that we had a member Sister Hitt bring a friend to church with her. Her name is Cheyenne. We were able to teach her gospel principles class. I was glad that we were able to have members there for support because she had lots of different views from lots of faiths that she believes. It was pretty tough trying to teach her, but i believe that she really felt the spirit, and said she'd love to come back to church next week. My downer of the week was that one of our pretty solid investigators, who was reading the Book of Mormon, her boyfriend found it and told her she couldn't read it. He told her family who are catholic and they all got really mad at her. This was hard to hear because she honestly was wanting to learn more. One of those times agency comes into play and she can choose for herself. This week we ran into a couple people that wanted to bash with us. We would say "we don't want to argue" and they would say "well then leave." It was sad to see that people have come to that.

Oh so something funny that happened this week was that the old man that we live with Brother Homewood sometimes points his hand in the form of a gun and will shoot me. Well he was in the kitchen cooking some dinner and i snuck up behind him and had my hand in a gun and right when he turned around and i want "bang" and he jumped so high, and flung his arms around, and i thought he was going to chop my head off! It was so funny!! I really love to live at his house. There are lots of times I'll walk into his house and it will smell like grandma and grandpa's house. He has a loud bark, but a soft bite.

Everyday is an adventure not knowing what will happen. Whether we'll have people talking to us, or if we'll have door after door slammed in our face. I know that this is the Lord's work. It may take talking to 100 people to find the 1 that the lord has prepared for our message. I know i was called to a Kansas for a reason. I love becoming closer to my savior every day that i am here. I love studying his gospel, and understanding greater the reasons why i am here. This is truly his work, this is truly his gospel, this is truly his kingdom on the earth today. I love you all back home and wish the best. Keep the Faith and remember Elder Shurtz loves you!

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz

Missionary news

Dear Family,

         I got the call Tuesday night that i was officially training... It has been an adventure to say the least. Going from a companion on his last transfer, to a companion straight out of the MTC. It is kinda funny having to change up how you do things based on how you and your companion interact. I have found you work differently with each companion and some things work better with one, and something else with another. I sent home Elder Frost on Thursday morning and was able to wish him well. This past transfer has flown i can't believe i spent 6 weeks with him. He taught me a lot by example, and i am starting to see the importance of training. Well my son (person I'm training) is Elder Bentley. I can no longer ride the coat tails of my trainer. I had to put on my big boy panties and be the leader. I kind of have seen how the lord is qualifying me though. It has become a lot easier for me to talk to people. It just sort of happened, and the Lord is making it possible. I have come to find that i love talking to people about their lives. I love hearing stories of where they have been, or things they have done, or mission experiences they had. I love that every single person has their own story. Like for example we visited this less active family and they were moving into their RV and they in spring their going to move up to Alaska, and build this underground house thing and live off the land. I was so intrigued.

          One thing i love about the ward out here is that every family is so different. They all have such unique qualities and i love getting to find out what they are. We have some old people who are so funny, young couples that are just starting out, or the middle aged people who are just starting out. It was kinda funny last week i was talking to a member at church and was like "I don't know enough to be a trainer, I don't know what I'm doing." Right then this lady walked in and he said to her "after you had your first kid did you know what you were doing?" she replied "haha no, and i still don't know what I'm doing" This helped calm my fears that we learn as we go. We got two new investigators this week and will teach them again on Thursday. They are sisters and i hope that all goes well.

          A miracle that happened this week was that we were out tracting and we ran into this lady sitting on the side of the road. She asked us how we were doing, and said she respected us for what we do. She goes door to door as kinda a sales person. She told us that she was actually  thinking about missionaries because she was having a rough day and we do it every day. Then we showed up. We found out she had recently lost two of her babies, twins i believe. We talked to her about the Plan of Salvation and i said to her "what would it mean to you to know you could live with your children again?" She sat up, and her eyes popped in surprise, and she said "That would be so amazing." We were able to get here information because she lives in Kansas City. We will send it in for a referral. I know that this didn't happen by accident. I know that we were right there, right then for a reason. It was a humbling experience to be shown once again that the Lord is preparing the people. He is truly leading this work. I know that now more than ever. I love being here and serving my Heavenly Father, and Savior Jesus Christ. I know this is his work. I know it. I love you all back home. Continue to be safe. 

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz 

New Update

Dear Family,

Well this has been a roller coaster week to say the least. Many ups, and many downs. We had a lesson planned for Marvella on Monday, she called and had to change it to Tuesday night, then again to Wednesday night. Well Wednesday morning we got a call from her saying her husband heard anti-Mormon things from his friends, and would no longer allow her to be baptized, or to meet with us. This was really hard on us. Marvella said she still wanted to be baptized, and still believed. She had progressed so much from the first time we met with her. She had been praying, reading, and building her faith in Jesus Christ. Luckily the Lord blessed us with an amazing lesson that day with Tiffany, and meeting with some less actives. They really opened up to us, and told us why they hadn't come to church for so long. We were able to talk to them, and hopefully plant that seed and let them see how important church is. Karen our other investigator wasn't able to meet with us this week so we scheduled another appointed for tomorrow.

Well then Friday rolls around. We were out doing service and Elder Frost says "Elder Shurtz the phone is for you it is the assistants." I thought they would want to talk to me about how many lessons i had passed off, or how being trained for the first 6 weeks was going. Well instead they say "Elder Shurtz you have been considered as a potential trainer, and need to come to the trainer meeting tomorrow in Independence." Well this through me for a loop. I was out of it that whole day wondering why i was being called to possibly train. I was only half way through being trained and didn't feel i would be ready to train someone else. Well i went to the meeting on Saturday up in Independence which calmed a lot of my fears. The whole time the quote "the lord doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called" was running through my head. I am not qualified to train, i have only been out one transfer. I find out tomorrow for sure if i am training or not so we'll see what happens. I came to a conclusion while pondering this though. That i may not be the best teacher, or the best missionary out there, but there is one thing i know i can do... That is be obedient. Well anyways that is my up and down week. I have been safe and protected by the Lord once again this week. I have loved this first transfer as a missionary, to be serving the Lord. It is a very humbling thing to see people make changes in their lives for our savior. I am so grateful for this chance to be here, and know that this is where i am supposed to be.

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz

Pictures finally!!

Dear Family,

        This week has been really great! We have two new investigators. There names are Karen, and Tiffany. With have met with both of them once, and have a return appointment with them this week. I hope they keep their commitments. Karen has committed to pray this week, and Tiffany is going to pray about being baptised, and a baptismal date! Neither of them attended church this week though, so we will have to talk to them about that. Even though this has been the week without the car it has been a surprisingly short week. We kept ourselves busy, and were able to get member rides out of the compound (Montara). We were able to meet our new investigators because of this. We have had a week with lots of referrals. We usually struggle to get referrals,but this week we received 7 of them. The members out here are really great at helping out. Marvella continues to progress. We were able to bring her to the baptism of an 8 year old in the ward so she could see a baptism. This really helped her see how it's done, and we were able to answer the questions she had about it. Her baptism is set for this Saturday at 11. It has all moved so fast. I feel my teaching is really improving as I've gotten out here. I have been working on asking inspired questions which has greatly increased my effectiveness.

            One of the things the members love to do is bring us out to eat. Many of them love taking us to buffets. I have already been to buffets like 6 times, and out to eat many other. I think if i am going to gain weight in this area it is due to the buffets. Yay for food! I keep learning, and don't mind watching my companion to see how things are done. He has done a lot of teaching by example, but is great at asking me of i need extra help in something, or how i am feeling about a certain topic. We teach gospel principles class every Sunday which i love. It takes the principles of the gospel and expounds them in a way that it is simple, and easy to understand, but you get what you need to. It is amazing how every week i can tell how the Lord is blessing me out here. Lots of blessings that are so prevalent here. The Lord truly loves me, and wants to help me do my best for him. I love being here, and being his servant. I know this is where i need to be right now. I love you all. Bryan good luck up at school, Natalie good luck with... Life, and Lila, Kristy good luck with senior year, Tyler good luck with soccer and school. Mom and Dad i love you. You are the best parents i could ask for. Thank you for raising me in the gospel. This is truly the Lord's Church on the Earth today.

Love, Elder Shurtz

Mission

Dear Family,

This week has gone by really fast. It is kinda funny how much faster the weeks with the car go. It is a lot easier to do the things we need to when we have the car. We were able to go around our area and get in contact with many of the less actives in the area, we are writing down all we can learn about them. Whether they don't come because they work on Sunday, they don't believe anymore, or other things going on in their life. We will then give this information to the bishop which will help him in knowing how he can help them.
We are still trying to find new investigators but aren't having a lot of success. We are meeting with Marvella tomorrow. She attended church again this week and really seems to enjoy it. She stayed for all three hours again. We have set a baptismal date for the 22nd of this month which is the last Saturday of the transfer. This will be my companions last Saturday out in the field so i hope it doesn't fall through. Our area is kinda set up funny. We have are in the middle of it all, but it is like 7-10 miles north is a main population of our area, and 7-10 miles south is the rest of the small cities that we cover. So we saved up our miles this past week and were able to go down into the smaller cities such as Scranton, Carbondale, and Burlingame. It felt like i was going through Walsburg. Just lots of little humble houses, and fields that people could farm on. The best was that we passed the Scranton cemetery and there was a sign under it that said "no horses allowed." This made us laugh, and i thought "only in Kansas." One of the things i do really love out here is the sunrise and sunset. I have gotten so used to watching the sun peak over the mountains (which is amazing), but there is something cool about watching it drop on the flat land. The colors that come because of it i feel are more vibrant. I really enjoy while we are out just watching the sunset, and seeing all the purple, and pink that appear in the clouds, and then how the opposite side of the sky turns a dark blue, and purple.

The work is moving forward here, it may be slow, but it is moving. We work and pray for success. Something that i have come to find out here is that even if i go the whole day and no one wants to talk to me... it isn't a failure of a day. I have strengthend my testimony. I have deepened my conversion in trying to align my will with the Lord's. I am becoming who the Lord wants me to be. It is amazing how the time flies out here. Again the days feel like weeks, but the weeks like days. It scares me sometimes thinking I've already been out for a month. I have always thought "two years is a long time for me to do what the lord wants" but now I've learned "start now because it is going to be over before you know it, i have to work as hard as i can now!" I love you all! Good luck with work and school. Keep pressing forward!

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz 

The Lords Work

Dear Family,

Well this has been one amazing week. Sorry I'm writing today instead of Monday, due to the holiday on Monday the library was closed. This past week has been the week without a car. It has been rough sometimes because we're stuck out in Montara. Well anyways we had zone conference this week. We thought it was Friday, but it really was Thursday... We found out Thursday morning and had to book it over to the church and made it there thanks to a ride from a member. We made it there only about 5 minutes late. It was a pretty hectic morning but zone conference was amazing. We learned a lot about the "golden nuggets" we can find in Preach My Gospel. Many of the speakers emphasized being obedient even to the little things. This was a real reinforcement to following the rules. So we have been struggling trying to get investigators to come to church, and Jeanie is moving soon. So this week we have been praying to find new investigators, and to get them to come to church. That is even what i fasted for on Sunday. Well Sunday rolls around and no new investigators... we got to church everything was the same, no investigators. We sat down and sacrament started and about 5 minutes later a man from another ward that meets after us comes and calls us out to the foyer. We go out to the foyer and there is a woman there we have never met. She says "hi, my name is Marvella, and i want to join your church...!" i was shocked. I knew the Lord answers prayers, but this was huge. She had a relative marry a member of the Church 12 years ago, and met their family. They were so nice to her, and great people. She told herself if she ever joined a church it would be ours. Marvella then proceeded to come to sacrament meeting with us, came to our gospel principles class, and went to Relief Society. During our gospel principles class we talked about Faith in Jesus Christ. She loved it. We talked to her after all the meetings and set up to meet with her that Tuesday(yesterday). We even committed her to a baptismal date. I was the one who committed her, and was relieved when she accepted. My heart was racing after it happened. The Lord truly answered our prayers.

So yesterday (Tuesday) we had the real first lesson with her. She had taken home the gospel principles book, and the Book of Mormon from church on Sunday. We started talking to her about what she had read. She said she had read about 15 pages of the Book of Mormon. That was pretty good, but then she picked up the Gospel Principles Manual and said "i was able to read all of this..." The Gospel Principles manual basically covers everything we believe as a Church. She said it all made sense to her and she really liked it. The doctrine felt right. She is going to read more out of the Book of Mormon now and pray about it. We taught the first lesson, and i recited the first vision from memory, and started to get a little teary eyed. The spirit hit me so strong of the truthfulness of the First Vision. We wanted to talk to her a little about the Word of Wisdom to end with because investigators have to live it for 2 weeks before their baptism. We brought it up and she said "oh you don't need to worry about me, I don't do any of that nicotine, cigarettes, coffee, tea, i don't even drink caffeine." Once again i was amazed. She was so ready to receive the gospel, and the Lord had prepared her to. The spirit was leading the whole time. It has been a testimony builder that Heavenly Father prepares people to receive the gospel. He leads His work. This truly is his Church here on the earth today. I know that the words may be coming out of my mouth, but i am not the true teacher. That the spirit teaches what they need to know. There are ups and downs out here, but that is life. We push through and try to spend every day working harder, and being better through our Savior Jesus Christ. I love you all, and hope the best for you.

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz