"Can you PLEASE come over right now?"

3-26-2012
Familia,

Well, I survived transfers! I get to stay here in Cicero with Hermana Veliz for at least another 6 semanas. These next 6 weeks are going to be interesting. I finally have gotten a litle bit of a teaching pool going on, and now there are some people that should be ready for baptism, if I could just teach them consistently. So this tranfer the focus isn't going to be so much on finding new people but on having consistent citas with those that I have already found. It has been pretty regular with the people we're teaching for them to disappear for a few weeks and then reappear. not okay. So we'll see if we can start having more regular citas and if people will start progressing more.

Due to people disappearing, this was another week with not too many investigator lessons. But the ones that we did have were AWESOME. Firstly, we have a less active member in our ward, who is awesome. She is just less active because she has to work Sundays. But we meet with her pretty regularly, and ultimately she wants to be able to go on a mission. Well, the other day she texted us and asked us if we had time to meet her that day. We said sure, of course. And she told us she had a surprise for us! She said that we wouldn't be going to her house, but to her neighbor's, because she had a friend that wanted to learn more about her church! So we go over to her friend's house and we meet Sonia and her 2 year old daughter Alicia. Sonia is "catolica" but told us she doesn't really have a relationship with God, and wants to learn more. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she said it made sense, and that she felt a peace about it. We talked to her about that we wanted to be able to come back, that we had lots to teach her, but that it would take work on her part in order to really learn. That she would have to read and pray and attend church, and she wants to be able to do all that because she really wants to know! She told us she wants to be baptized when she finds out its true! We have another appointment with her tomorrow. Hopefully she doesn't turn into one of the disappearing investigators.

We also had a lesson with Beto and Yeni this week. We called to confirm with Yeni, and she told us she was in the hospital with her dad and she wasn't sure if they would be out in time for our cita. So we called Beto and rescheduled for the next day. Then, as we were on our way to try another person, Yeni called us and told she had just gotten home, and could we come over? We told her it was okay, we had rescheduled and we could come back the next day. And she was like, "No. My dad will be gone tomorrow. Can you PLEASE come over right now?" So, obviously we went. And I can just tell you, I am so glad we did. We taught Beto, Yeni, Beto's mom, and Yeni's dad the restauracion. And Yeni's dad, Pedro, LOVED it. We would ask questions like, why do you think we need a prophet? What did Christ do when he was on the earth? And he KNEW THE ANSWERS! When I asked him why there are so many different religions he told me its because people are trying to follow Christ, but they don't have the right guidance, so they are just making their own churches. He told me that what Christ did when he was on the earth was establish his church. He helped explain the apostasy to Beto and Yeni. And he totes LOVED learning about the Book of Mormon. He knew everything we were saying was true. Immediately. And when we gave him a Book of Mormon, he turned to Yeni and said, "Mija, will you do something for me? Will you read this book? Because I know it will make you better. And if you are better, that will help me to be better." Oh man. GOLDEN. We could have even set him on date to be baptized right then. Except for one thing. He lives in Indiana. DANG IT.  I guess I get to give his information to some other lucky missionaries.  Ah well. . . :)

This week we have also been spending a lot of time visiting Ana Maria in the hospital. She is doing so well. She is eating more and more, we got permission from the hospital so that someone could bring her the sacrament. And she just got another surgery on her hands, and has starting wearing a special mask on her face to help the healing. But just like before, her spirit is strong. She is great. She loves to ask us about our work, and we tell her about whats going on. We brought her the movie The Testaments and watched it with her. Its good. She's amazing.

Well, I think thats about all I've got for you this week. Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying spring!

Les Quiero,

Shaelyn

Fotos:

Eating a fancy lunch on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building

View from the 95th floor

View from the 95th floor

View from the 95th floor

Me and lego Woody

I met the Obamas

The District

I don't know what changed, but now she loves the missionaries!

3-19-2012
Familia,

Well. Its now summer in Chicago. Something interesting I learned this week is that Illinois doesn't believe in spring. It jumps straight from winter to summer. And I HATE summer in Illinois. Seriously. Worst thing ever, and its only going to get worse. Hermana Veliz and I moved our beds into the living room this week so that we could sleep right under the AC. If there is one thing that I miss most about Utah right now, it is the dry heat. Humidity kills me. Why can't Illinois just have mild weather? Is that too much to ask?

I guess there is something good about the weather right now though. Because its not yet as hot as it will be this July, a lot of people are out and about, sitting on their porches, going for walks, etc- which makes it a lot easier for us to talk to people. Its kind of hard for them to pretend they aren't home when we can see them. :P But we have had some good contacts, and even found some people that might have real potential. . . we'll see if they are home for our return appointments. These last two weeks I have been teaching a lot of one hit wonders it feels like. We teach one lesson and it is awesome, and the people seem really interested, and we make a return appointment and they cancel. Even the members are all cancelling on us. I don't know whats going on, but I went from teaching 25 lessons a week to 10. And its really bumming me out. . . 

We did have success with one investigator though, who surprisingly did not cancel on us! I've been feeling like we needed to try to find Nancy, who I found once when I was on exchanges here. She lives above some of our members, and after Hermana Haws and I found her, they put her on date, but then she got busy and they lost contact with her. So I decided to go back, and see if we could find her. We were successful, set an appointment, came back- AND SHE WAS THERE! I know, I was shocked. We had a really simple but good lesson about prayer with her. And she said that she does still want to be baptized, she asked all sorts of good questions, like what she needs to do to be prepared. And now her work schedule is a little more set, so hopefully everything will work out. She is on date to be baptized the 21st of April.

We also found some old investigators, Berto y Yeni, who we have been trying to find for a while. We taught them the Plan of Salvation, and it went really well. They seemed to really like it, but said they would definitely need to pray about it to know if it was true. WHICH IS AWESOME! because thats exactly what we want them to do. Berto's mom was also there, and apparently she hated the missionaries before, because we don't believe in la virgen, but this time she sat in on the whole lesson, giving good input, holding Hna Veliz's hand the whole time and gave us big kisses when we left. .  I don't know what changed, but now she loves the missionaries!

So thats about been my week. Nothing super exciting. Except that now that the heat is up, the ice cream trucks are out and about again. :)

Next week is transfers. We will know Saturday night whats happening. Since I just got here I am most likely not leaving, but you never know. and I have no idea whats going to happen with Hermana Veliz.  

I'm glad Dad made it home safely from Mexico! And that he survived Guerrero! Sounds like everyone else is doing well. Keep it up.

Les Quiero Mucho,

Shaelyn

PS: Yesterday I had an experience that was really interesting. Saturday night I received a call from an Hermano in Indiana. He told me that their was an Hermana in the Loyola University Hospital, which is in our area, that he'd like us to visit. He said she was in the Burn Intensive Care Unit, and she had just woken up and could receive visitors. So yesterday after church we went over to visit her. Her name is Ana Maria, and she is from Venezuela. Before we went into her room we had to put on gowns, and gloves, and masks. I'm not sure exactly what happened to her, but I think the Hermano that called me said she was burned in an accident at work. She has third degree burns all over her body. She has no hair, and everything is burned. It was really really sad, and hard to see. She is 35 and has 3 little kids, and they are all in Indiana. She has been in the hospital since February or January, she says she can't remember, but she was in a coma or something- probably induced because of the pain, and she just woke up. We visited with her for a little bit, sang her a hymn, and shared something from the Liahona. Even though she is in such a terrible situation, her spirit is so strong! The spirit in that room was very very strong. She has so much faith, and hope. I really admire her. She's incredible. We're going to try to visit her has much as we can, and get the ward here involved, since she is usually alone because everyone she knows lives so far away. Please pray for her.


fotos:

I heart Jesus hat I found in Chinatown

 

                                                                        Waiting for the L

 

CHICAGO!

                                                   T- REX? Yes, please. At The Field Museum

 

dead Egyptian

                                                                      I am a pro fisherman

Gordo and I

This child has the CUTEST smile in the whole world. and he is always smiling

Mormonism 101: FAQ

3-12-2012


President Doll sent this link for us to share with our family and friends.

 

Mormonism 101: FAQ

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101

Les quiero!!

Shaelyn

We taught them the Plan of Salvation, and they loved it.

3-12-2012
Familia,

Bad news and good news. Good news: its starting to get warmer. Bad news: HUMIDITY. I fetchin hate humidity. I had forgotten how terrible it is, until last night when I couldn't sleep to save my life because I felt like I was in a sauna. I ended up in the living room on the couch, with the windows open and the AC going and still didn't sleep. Its only March. This summer is going to be rough.

This week has been kind of one of those blah weeks. Basically every appointment decided to cancel, including our appointments with Leo and Erasmo. . .  Booo. . .  But we had a really good cita with Rita and her fam, it had been 2 weeks since we'd seen them, because her esposo, Tony was sick. But they had ALL read! YAY! We taught them the Plan of Salvation, and they loved it. Even Tony, who was the big obstacle when Rita was taught before. They even said they'd all go to church yesterday. . . but they didn't show up. :( But they are still considered awesome and WILL be baptized.

We also found quite a few new investigators this week. Four of them came from a family where just the Mom is a member, she is a recent convert, but less active because she has to work on Sundays. But we are now teaching her husband and 3 of her kids! We are also teaching a family that we found this week, Xochitl and her kids, and they seem pretty cool. Xochitl's dad is a member, and she really wants to learn more and get religion in the life of her kids. And we are now teaching the mom of one of our investigators. Her name is Carmen, and she is 84 years old. :) She was taught before but then was in the hospital for a long time and the missionaries lost contact with her. She says she wants to be baptized. .  the only problem is that she is so sick she can't come to church. .  . But she has been getting a lot better apparently, and hopefully will continue to improve. If not, at least we are teaching a way sweet lady.

Umm. I think thats about all the news I have this week! I'm sorry! Hopefully something AWESOME will happen this week. I'm planning on it at least.

Well, sorry this email is a little shorter than usual, but I don't have much time today. We're going to the city to watch the elders eat a giant hamburger and make themselves sick, and then going to the field museum! I'm stoked for the museum, it'll be legit.

I hope you all have a great week, and survive with Dad in Mexico!

Les quiero!!

Shaelyn

He just has so many questions, but luckily is willing to pray super sincerely to know the truth.

3-5-2012
Familia,

Oh man, I never know what to write in these emails. . .  I don't know if I have any exciting stories for you this week. But it was still a good week.

I went on exchanges on Friday over to Aurora, and it was so fun. I got to say goodbye to some more people who I hadn't been able to see before I left. They were all super stoked to see me when I showed up, it was really nice to feel loved.  Also while I was there Hermana Maughan and I picked up a family of new investigators for the Aurora Hermanas, so that was awesome. While I was in Aurora, Hermana Alvarez came here and worked some magic in Cicero. She found someone we've been looking for ever since I got here, his name is Leo and his Mom is a member, but less active, but he has expressed interest in getting baptized. So Hermana Alvarez came, found him, and set him on date to be baptized on the 17th! YAY!

Man, what else happened this week . . . Umm, yesterday we had stake conference. And it was actually really cool, because they split it into two sections, one in the morning in English, and one in the afternoon in Spanish. Its the first time they've done it, and I think it was a hit. We had a member of the seventy here, Elder Melchor or something, and his talk was excellent. Erasmo also made it to church! It was the first time he's come, and I think it was a little weird for him, especially with it being stake conference. But he has some friends that are members and we were able to have him sit with them, and there were some talks that I think were perfect for him. He also got to meet President Doll. I think it was good, but when I asked him how he like it afterward, he told me mas o menos. . .  uh oh! I can tell he has lots of questions, he always does- but we'll clear those up next time we meet with him. We also had a really super awesome lesson with him this week. He just has so many questions, but luckily is willing to pray super sincerely to know the truth. We talked more about baptism and read 3 Nephi 11 with him. He said he's never really believed that baptism was necessary, but he would like to be baptized if thats what he is supposed to do. He thinks it would be good. :) He just has such a sincere desire to know whats right. Definitely a contrite spirit, broken heart, and real intent. He is amazing.

Other than that, the work around here still consists of a lot of finding. Its different then the pace we had in Aurora which was running from appointment to appointment. But its good. We've got a good number of appointments set up this week with potential investigators, and hopefully those will turn into progressing investigators. Also, the English elders here are AWESOME and basically go tracting for us. We get referrals from them all the time. They are the best.

Anyway I think thats about all thats new this week. I hope everything is going well for you all. Spring is almost here! We can make it!

Here are some pictures from the Brookfield Zoo from last preparation day, and other miscellaneous photos.

Les quiero muchisimo!
Shaelyn

 

 

 

 

Will you ask God what the truth is right now?

2-27-2012
Familia,

Looks like its that time to write another weekly email. Man, I never know what to write in these things.

Well, I've successfully survived two weeks in Cicero, I'm finally starting to figure out the area well enough to not always use the GPS. :) This past week has been good. We've been working hard, trying to build up our teaching pool, but playing pretty hard too. We had to celebrate Hermana Veliz's one year mark, and Elder O'Dell's two year mark. :)

We've had some really awesome lessons with new investigators. I am really excited about whats going to happen in this area over the next couple of months, I think it has a lot of potential. First of all, we found two awesome new families. One family from Puerto Rico (man, are they hard to understand) and their across the street neighbors. Both have been taught before, but not for a very long time, so I decided to go over and see if they have any interest. And yes. Yes they do. The Puerto Rican family consists of an Abuelita, her daughter, and a son in law of the daughter. They are Carmen, Nereida, and Pedro. Carmen is super old and sick, but wants to be baptized- just can't come to church because she's so sick. And Nereida and Pedro are both really open to the gospel. And then their neighbors, are the familia Guzman. They consist of Rita, Tony, and their ex gangbanger son Chris.   Rita WANTS to be baptized. She really really does. And she wants to come to church, but she hasn't felt any support from her family and she's afraid if she gets baptized they will reject her.  I straight up asked her husband why he doesn't come to church with her and he said its because its boring. Haha, but he's cool, he wants to learn, he's just intimidated because he feels like we know so much, like we've been studying all our lives. But I straight up told him- if you want to learn, you will. "Si quiere aprender, va a aprender." I was pretty bold with him, and Chris loved it. He thought it was funny. I don't know much about Chris, but from the looks of him he lived the thug life. But now he's trying to change, and he's going to a Christian church. We gave them a quick run down of the Book of Mormon and they all said they'd read, and pray. I'm really excited to teach this family, they are awesomeeee.

Also, we got a super legit referral from church headquarters the other day. We got a referral for a man named Agustin, and the text message just told us that he had been to church before and had a Book of Mormon. So we stopped by his house, but he told us he was just heading out the door, so I gave him our number and the address to the chapel, and set up a return appointment with him. Within 15 minutes he called us asking for more detailed directions to the capilla, and came to church the next day! We had some other investigators there and the elders took care of him for us during church, because they got to know him during priesthood, which is first in our ward. But I finally snagged him after the meetings and set up an appointment earlier during the week than the one we had before, and he seemed really excited. Elder Findlay who had been sitting with him told me he is awesome, so I'm really excited to see what happens with him.

This week to come should be good. We have zone meeting tomorrow, and I think on Friday we have exchanges, and I get to go to Aurora with Hermana Maughan!! Yayyyy! :)

I'm glad to hear everyone there is doing well. Keep it up.

Les quiero muchisimo,

Shaelyn

PS!     I forgot the most important part of this week! We are teaching a man named Erasmo, and he is a super super deep thinker. His religious views are kind of all over the board, from Christian to Eastern Religions. But he is searching for what is right. His wife and all of his kids are actually Jehovah's Witnesses, but he says he knows that that religion isn't true. So we are teaching him. And it has been a little frustrating, I'll tell you the truth, because he asks SO many big questions and has some really interesting ideas. But in our last lesson he had read from the Book of Mormon, and we basically really just taught to his needs and ended up covering a lot of different principles, from the fact that God is our loving Heavenly Father, to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the Priesthood. He said that he really likes what we teach, but it doesn't exactly line up with his thoughts. We kept telling him that the only way he is ever going to know the truth is by asking God. And finally I just said, Hermano, can we pray right now? Will you ask God what the truth is right now? And we knelt down and he said the most sincere, heartfelt prayer to know the truth that I have ever heard. He just asked to be given wisdom and to be guided, and the spirit was soooo strong. When he was done praying he had tears in his eyes, and I asked him, "Hermano, how do you feel?" And he told me he felt a heat in his chest, and a peace. I testified those feelings are God's way of telling him that our message is true. He accepted a date to be baptized on the 31 of March! We still have a long way to go with him, but if he's willing to keep praying that way and keep reading, he will definitely be baptized on that day.

Cicero is definitely much different than Aurora!

2-21-2012
Familia,

Well, first week in Cicero has been fairly uneventful. I've been sick, so a lot of this week has been spent moving in, and recuperating. Cicero is definitely much different than Aurora! Basically we are in the city. And I am now for the very first time in my life, a minority. The population is about 80% hispanic. Its pretty sweet. And driving is something else too, luckily I'm a boss, so there was no problem adjusting. Speaking of driving though, when I got transferred here the area also got a new car! And Hermana Veliz can't drive, so I am now driving a brand new 2012 Subaru Legacy. Yeahhhh buddy. Its awesome. I'm in love.  It makes up for the super ghetto apartment we're living in. Yikes.

As for teaching. . . , coming into the area they didn't have a big teaching pool, they are only teaching like one person. . .  So I've been trying to build that up. Its definitely a different experience being transferred here than it was being transferred to Aurora. My new companion doesn't really know whats going on in the area either, so its almost like whitewashing it. Pretty stressful. . . But I've been going through the area book, and found some old investigators that have interest in being taught again. We did have a pretty cool experience with that though. To tell the story I need to back up a few months. . .  Back in like November we went on exchanges with the Westchester Hermanas, and I came over to Cicero with Hermana Haws. While I was here we had an appointment with a girl named Jenny, who had had cancer in her knees when she was younger and the missionaries had come by and gave her a blessing and taught her a little bit, but she hadn't been taught in a long time since then. So we went by and met with Jenny, and Jenny is now completely healed from her cancer, and is looking for something for her and her little boy. She went to a Christian church for a while but they offended her and told her the reason she had cancer was because God was punishing her and if she ever fell away he would punish her son too. . .  So she left. We had a really really good lesson with her. And then I went back to Aurora, right? Well after that the hermanas here started teaching her more and set a date for her to be baptized, but then they lost contact with her. So my first day in the area I wanted to go and see if we could find her. We just stopped by the house, and her mom, Maria let us in. Turns out that Maria's brother and sister in law had just gotten here from Mexico, and they are members! They are Hermano y Hermana Ortiz. So they let us in and we start chatting. Turns out that that morning Hermana Ortiz had prayed that they could somehow find a way to make it to the church this Sunday, and find a way to help them get work. And then we knocked on their door, knowing where the chapel is and knowing lots of people that can hopefully help them find work! While we are there Jenny shows up. It turns out that she doesn't actually live there anymore, but we got her phone number and said we'd be in contact. Since then we have started teaching Maria, and we picked Jenny back up last night, and they are all going to come to church this Sunday! Jenny says the reason she didn't end up getting baptized before is because things got hectic with her moving out, but now that things are settled she definitely wants to pick back up. And now they have the support of Hermano y Hermana Ortiz living with them, and I honestly feel like the timing is perfect for this family right now.

I have a lot of hope for this area. I'm planning on working my freaking butt off to get it up and going, I want to get a big teaching pool, get more progressing investigators, and get them baptized! When I met the bishop and his wife, he told me that this area hasn't seen a lot of success for a while, but he can tell when a missionary is a missionary that wants to work hard, and he thinks we'll see some baptisms soon with me here. I hope he's right, and that I can actually see success without Hermana Maughan.

Yeah, a Mexico vacations sounds SWEET for as soon as I get home. Hope you plan some time in there that I can visit some people. . .  :P Guanajuato? Puebla? But whatever you've got planned I'm sure will be awesome. I can't believe that we are already planning a trip for when I come home. I can't believe that I'm at half way. . . that is sososososo bizarre. yuck.

Good news for Aurora though!! Irma got Sundays off to come to church! She came last week! And Luis has two little brothers, and he told says they want to be baptized! YAY!!! You don't understand how big of miracles both of those are. Just trust me. Legit miracles. Like parting the red sea caliber.

Anyway, here are some more pictures from saying good bye, and arriving in Cicero.

Victor

Irma y Monico

Maria Guzman y sus nietos, Ryan, Angela, y Caitlin. They are Cruz's kids!

Junior

Nury

Nury y la familia Solana

CRUZ!

Jenny, Hermana Ortiz, Hermana Veliz, y yo

Hermano y Hermana Ortiz, Hermana Veliz y yo

I love you all! Hope everything is going well, and you start seeing spring soon!

Les quiero,

Shaelyn