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