Letters to the family

Dear Dad,

Sure sounds like there is a lot going on back home. I can't believe you got rid of Casper.... I'm glad you got some pictures with him though. It was so great getting to talk to you on the phone. Before you know it Tyler is going to be out here, and you won't know where the time has gone. I honestly am loving it out here. The members are such amazing people, who all are willing to help with the missionary work. They love to feed us, but we have a harder time getting referrals out of them. We try our best to move the work along. The woman who you spoke to on the phone is kinda the mission mom for this area. She is so great to take us where we need, and to feed us if one of the meals falls through. She has helped me get into the hang of things if i ever need someone to talk to. The mission is an amazing thing. I can't believe it's already been a month. It is kind of scary to me. Thank you for all the love, and support you have always lent me. I love you all, and wish the best for you. I pray for you every day

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz

Dear Tyler,

What is wrong with Kristy!! ;) why doesn't she ever play with you? At least you have got Josh right? Maybe she'll figure out later on this year how great spending time with family is. You'll get into this teenager phase when you think that spending time with friends is more fun than with family, but you eventually realize how amazing spending time with family really is, and that you're going to be with them forever. That is kinda funny that Bentley will play some soccer with you. Do you ever get to play with Bryan when he gets home from work? I'm sure he is super tired and wants to take a nap after, but then he probably plays some sports with you! Good luck in school this year, with Josh in your class. I can't believe you are going to be a 6th grader. I remember when i was in 6th grade. That was my favorite year of elementary school. You felt so old compared to all the little kindergartners.  Just remember to live up being a kid, and run around all you can before you are to old to do those things. I love you Buddy.

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz

Dear Family,

        The mission has been amazing! I mean I've only been out for a couple of weeks but i really love it here. The members are such amazing people, and are all so nice to us. We get fed every night. This past week was my first actual full week out here in Kansas. I was expecting it to be a lot greener, but due to the lack of rain that has occurred all their crops have been dying. We see lots and lots of dead corn crops off to the side of the road in the big fields. We finally got a rain storm this past Friday which gave us about 3 in. of rain. It was a pretty good storm, and had some pretty sweet lightning. We have been trying to teach less active members out in the farther reaches of our area. We have to get a member to drive us out there because we are limited on our miles we can drive with the car. I guess this is good because it gives us a chance to get to know members better, and to gain their trust. 

         We have kinda been trying to work with less active members up in the Oakland area and seem to be getting through with some of them. We are teaching new member lessons to a girl named Brenna who is 10 and is so nice to us. We are just starting teaching a single mother of 3 children named Jeanie and have had a hard time getting a hold of her, and she hasn't been there when we have tried to go back for continuing lessons. We are hoping to meet with her this Wednesday afternoon. We have 3 other investigators who have stopped responding to texts, or calls which has been rough. It is one of those hard things we deal with because everyone has their agency, and gets to choose whether or not to accept Christ. As i have been out here i think about how i have been prepared and what things in my life have helped me get here. And i am so grateful for the love and support that all of you have given me. Every small act, every encouraging thing has helped me get here to serve the lord. This is the true Gospel. We must do all we can to endure faithfully to the end. As we do this i know we will be blessed, and we will be saved, and live as an eternal family. I love you all and pray for you daily, you are the most amazing family in the world. You all deserve gold stars!! Good luck with all that you're doing with school, and other events.

Love, Daniel Park Shurtz