Last Two Weeks

OK so there has been a lot that has happened and I chose to write everyone instead of my family first
When i was in my last week with Evans we had some really great lessons and we did a ton of service it seems as though thats what his last week was meant to be full of here. We also had a lot of great meals cause everyone wanted to feed him before he left.

I got a new companion named Elder Burton, he was really a good missionary. As you get a new companion you definetly have to show right away that you are a missionary that wants to work so you can set the bar where it needs to be. So We headed out in the morning to go tracting and were biking along, believe me i dont want ot tell this story but I think that you will have a lot of enjoyement out of it. We started biking and my chain was acting all funny and it wasn't turning right so i was looking down at the chain to find out what the problem was and WHAM hit a parked car.... yes i hit a parked car, it flipped me over the front but i was on my feet so quick that i dont even remember bei ng on the ground. What a great first impression. So I felt so dumb but i scuffed the back of the bumber so i left my info on a "finding faith in Christ Card", i still havent received a call yet, so now everytime we get a call that we dont know who it is I'm like o crap its the car I hit haha. But we saw a guy on the corner of the street right after that and talked to him and we had been looking for him for a week or so but didnt know who he was so that was a huge blessing. They say the biggest blessings come after the biggest trials, so i had to pay the price to get somebody who we wanted to teach haha but no it wasnt that big of a deal. He saw the whole thing he said and had already told a couple of his friends by the time we got to his house.

But I learned a lot the first day with being with Elder Burton about talking to EVERYONE. I had no idead how many people I had passed up before. We were talking and teaching so many people.

But later in the day we were in a lesson and it was going well and I got a call from one of the AP's which usually means bad news, so i answered and they wanted to talk to Elder Burton so i figured someone in his family died and come to find out he got Emergency transfered so I only had him as a comp for a day! haha so now im with Elder Scott. He's from Delta, UT and played football against Dalton in State and likes wakeboarding so we get a long great.

We are doing work. Talking about the blessings earlier we have ahad a lot of blessings tracting this past week. One lady we were talking to was telling us everything we liked to hear. She said that she was lookin at tons of churches but had never found one that felt right and we talked and gave her a lesson on her doorstep and she basically wouldnt believe anything we said and said she wants to read for herself to know for herself which is what we as missionaries want because we dont want people to believe us, we want them to pray for themselves and get their own confirmation through the spirit that its true.

We also picked up two other new investigators but yesterday we were knocking doors and an old lady opened the door and she siad hey ive been wanting to talk to you boys i want a Book of Mormorn, I've been studying with the jehovah's Witnesess and don't agree with their teachings, i was gonna go to church but i didnt know what time so we told her the time and she asked what to wear so shes coming on sunday and we're going back this week which is exciting. We have such a great ward that is focused on missionary work and we're getting our ward 20 going better. I love it out here. We lost today in softball but i wasn't feeling the best anyways so its all good.

In 1st Cor 9:24 it basically talks about the man running the "race" and when we were reading that the other day it made me think of sort of a sprint where there is only so many people who place, but it reminded me of King Benjamins addres in Mosiah chapter 4 i think verse 27 where it says something to the effect of it is not requisite that a man should run faster then he has strength and the way king benjamin talks about it he reminds of more of a marathon. We're in that marathon of life, and as justine knows everyone that runs in a marathon gets a medal (i hope she got one) which makes more since in the race of life, everybody that coninues to repent and endure to the end with patience will get the prize and that brings me to the last scripture of the day, i was reading in Hebrews 12 verses 1 and two it talks about christ how he is the author and finisher of the race, he's the guy handing out the waters, cheering us on, helping us train, helping us be prepared, so on and so forth, he was the author AND the finisher, when we die he'll be there and say "Elder Schallenberger I got you covered, you had some times where you got off the course, where you slowed down where you sped up where you helped other run and kicked others down, but you always came to me and asked me for forgiveness and guidance and because of that faith and diligence I got you covered for the times you messed up cause I am the savior and redeemer of all mankind" or maybe he'll say something to that effect haha but it puts it in perspective i think and we want to put ourself in a situation that when we get to that day that we will be able to stand blameless. The work is great, I love Hemet, I love being a missionary and am greatful for all your support. Look for opportunities to help others.

Love ya,

Elder SChallenberger

One Week Till Transfers

We had a baptism this week for Robert White, it went really well and was really spirtual. Sis Miller was so hapy to see him baptised and was grinning from ear to ear. Also We had a productive week doin work in Hemet CA. I love it here the weather has been so amazing lately. I enjoy all the support i get from everyone. I love getting pictures in the mail just throwing that out there. Like love it! The ward has been so great and is continuing to just be so nice to us. Sis Greaves wore her montana outfit in honor of me it was sweet and funny and thoughtful. Made me feel at home. O man where do I begin. We saw that motorcycle tbone a van this week when Elder Jensen and I were running and we were the first ones on the scen When we got to it he was unconscience i thought he was dead making all those girgling sounds but he snapped back into it and we were able to get him to stay still till the medics etc. were ablwe to show up. It shows us how precious life is really! Also a bishop down here died which is a testimony of that same fact. We are so lucky for the blessings in our life. We were able to contact a lot of new people and teach a lot of lessons and give a couple blessongs. We have a week before transfers and I'll be getting a new comp for sure. Hopefully i stay here in Hemet for 2 more transfers so that I can make it past christmas here! NOt trying to be selfish i just love it here. I hav ebeen very spirtually uplifted with people I have got to talk to and through my personal studies. I have been waking up earlier to get more time to study.

Hmmm Ill send some pics that i got of here in Hemet, the baptism, and any other ones we have. I think we have one or two funny ones to send but i try not to take many funny ones cause my call is so sacred ya know? THe priesthood is so sacred and that stuff isn't necesarilly (spelling) stuff i need to do as a missionary, but you'll enjoy this hopefully. I have made an added effort to make these ones to everyone better but im falling short again i think. My piano skills are improving i played prelude at the baptism and was a witness. A member here baptised him which was good. Our church has been infested haha we have an old building and the other elders caught a scorpion in the primary room, their were mice in the chapel and the baptismal font was full of cockroaches and black widows. We need to find a better pest control haha. The mouse was the funniest though. Anyways Thats about all i got. I love ya'll.

Elder Schallenberger

Alrighty Then

Hey everyone this week went well mainly because we had general conference this week! Its always so good to hear what the prophet and the apostles and everyone have to tell us and teach us. I am very greatful for the opportunity I had to see all the sessions. Brian came to two of them which was really cool too. One of the families the Herterichs brought us a big meal and we ate it at the church between sessions and it was really fun. Elder Jensen says hi. Ok Elder Holland layed the smack down in his talk it was so good! all of the talks were good! I think its true how we really need to make our lives more open to receiving promptings of the spirit and to work on those christ like attributes (dwain has heared this twice) There are two fruits of the spirtit it is here to inspire and give us power. I know that there are decisions that we aren't able to make by ourselves and we need to strive to go to god and rely on the spirit to help us thorough whatever there is. There were a lot of great stories at conference, what i noticed or i just have always known is every person tells a story and then realates it to a principle. We can look at our lives and really see how much each experience can be a growth experience. Every time Elder Bednar speaks he really lets me feel the spirit. His talk on being more diligent and concerned at home hit me pretty good. Expressing love and showing it is something i can always work on but i am so grateful to have grown up in a home that i knew my parents loved each other and more importantly loved me. Im grateful that they showed by example and let me know that they have testimonies of what they have. He talked about how we bear testimonies but dont always live it and thats another powerful thought for me to think about. And last about being consistent. Thats what im striving to do now. Always be consistent! He told the story of his family having family home evening and how it was chaos a lot of the time and how his kids probably wont remeber what they taught at all but they will always remember that they as a family were consistent! Boom thats big time and so true how consistent are we with the decisions we make. how consistent are we when coming to treating others the right way. And how consistent are we with our beliefs and values? It was an eye opener for me. Im just so greatful for conference twice a year and the opportunity we have to hear these inspired men. On the way home from conference i saw a sweet yard sale. (saturday conference) and they had keyboards for sale 2 for twenty, i bought both for 13 ha so now i have two keyboards but it has helped a lot to play at home and the hymns are coming really easy now. Also it has a mode that lights up the keys and teaches you how to play. So ill have quite the repritor (spelling?) to play for you when i get home. The harmonica isnt really progressing and guitar is the same as when i left. The weather has been fifty in the mornings which i love but is a little chily! haha make sure to put your coats on in rexburg and mt! We sell cows this week correct? or wait know the 22nd? When? Im greatful to be here in Hemet and for the ward that we have. THey are the best for fellowshipping the new people and for feeding us! Anyways so good to be out here. Thanks for the support!

Elder schallenberger

ps the pics are me in softball today and also me 5 min after i woke up this morning to go get groceries. I took it by our beautiful landscaping iin front of our house ha and im wearing the tie justine and d got me. thats why i took the pic :)