Anxiously Engaged October 21, 2013

October 21, 2013

I would first like to apologize. I have pictures, but I forgot my camera back at the house. I will send them probably next week. I am really bummed, because I had some good pictures to send from this past week. Just to show you how cool of a week I had. For example, I got to shear an Angora Goat. Actually a couple of them. It was a fun experience. It wasn't nearly as stinky or anything like I was thinking it would be. :) Transfers were also this week. I got to see one of my favorite companions again, Elder Stevens. It was a nice reunion. :) My favorite missionary, Elder Shamanis, is now home. He has a tie and a couple other "treats" on the way for me. Probably get them today from another one of my favorite missionaries. :) Then I was also to have an interview with President Hermansen this week. Just the ones that he does every other transfer throughout the mission. It was probably the best one I have had yet. The best part is that I learned more fully about what it means to be anxiously engaged. He talked about how our areas or the people in our areas need to become like our family. We need to be constantly thinking of them and how we can help them. I feel like I have done a decent job of this. When I left Sparks I felt as if I was leaving my family. It was like starting my mission all over again. I am working on making it that way here now :)

As for my investigators this week. The best news is that Nancy now has a baptismal date for November 16th. :) We are super stoked for that. The others are all continuing to progress wonderfully. This past week we were able to have FHE with Brenda and her kids and we had another lesson with them about temples last night. Things are really progressing. Thank you for all your prayers. They have got to be playing such a major part in their development :)

Dad- Well President Hermansen says that many are called, but few are frozen ;) It actually hasn't been too bad. Especially when you are biking and your blood is pumping. I am sure when the snow hits though, I will not be happy. I gotta do what I gotta do though. At the end of my interview President asked me if I needed anything, and I told him that I would like to have a car eventually ;) He said my time will come :) That is the same with coming and working out with you too. It is good to hear that you are continuing to do well. Keep striving for that goal. My goal is to be up to 190. My weight fluctuates through the 180s. It is all muscle too...at least a majority. I dropped all the fat I got in Sparks I think :) I was glad the Broncos lost. I wear my Chargers tie every Pday :) I hope you have a great week. I love and miss ya Dad :)

Mom- Well thank you for all the pictures :) I am not frozen yet...but I am sure the time will come. It is good to hear about Hayden. I am very much proud of that kid. Even if he is humble about it. :) I am glad things are going well for you and I hope they go well this week. I love you and miss you Mom.

Jeri Lin- Well...That was quite the breakdown. I am sorry that life gets tough sometimes. You are doing your best though. That is all that matters. It is also good to hear that work is going well for you. I hope that the house thing works out too. Your kids are awesome. I love and Miss ya Sis. :)

I love you guys mucho. Thank you again for all your prayers.

Love
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

P.S.
Stamps and Khaki pants would be nice for birthday and or Christmas :)

More Work in the Creek October 14, 2013

You have been all awaiting my transfer call, and if you could not tell by the title, I will be staying here for at least another six weeks. With? Elder Anderson. Haha, we were both pretty shocked to say the least. After this Transfer we will have been together about 4 and a half months. That does not include the MTC. So he will be the companion that I have had the longest so far. It isn't a bad thing though. This past week has been pretty great. We had some good lessons. We also were able to start teaching a new investigator. He is 14 years old and his name is Tyler. Mom wanted a list of all my investigators we have thus far. So we have Brenda, Nancy, Connor, Brittany, Kelly...I think that is all. However, that list may grow after this week. We will be meeting with some potentials and trying to contact some referrals as well. Things are really looking up :)

I also had some thoughts this week that I would like to share.  What makes a STUD missionary? S. Study. Jeffrey R. Holland has said that we will "make or break your missions between the hours of 6:30 am and11:00 am". What are we doing at those times? Studying. T. Teach. As missionaries, we won't do any good if we aren't teaching anybody. So we teach when we find and find when we teach. U. Unity. If we want to have the Spirit, We need to be unified with our companion. D. Desire. If we have the desire to be obedient and all those other things that I have previously mentioned, it will all begin to fall into place. Then we will become that STUD missionary. 

What else have I been up to this week? Well I went on splits with Elder Munns on his birthday. Nothing too exciting happened though. Just did some missionary work like normal. Yesterday we taught Sharing time  and the Priests and Teachers. I always enjoy doing that. Those are the biggest things I can think of though.

Dad- That is awesome that you were able to pull off the win for the biggest loser. Yeah, like you said. Keep up the good work. I have some bragging rights too now haha. As for things that I am in need of...I don't really know. Not much. If I think of anything. I will be sure to let you know if anything comes to mind though. And yeah...the time is going by quickly for sure. My favorite missionary is actually going home in a couple days, Elder Shamanis. It is crazy, because I remember when he was my Zone leader when I first got out here and he was just barely over a year. Time flies. As far as football goes, I hope the Chargers can FINISH tonight. I think it would be cool if you go to that game. I wish I could join you. As for the weather...not looking forward to be frozen to my bike, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I love ya and miss ya Dad. Have a good week!

Mom- Thank you so much for your email. I am so glad to hear that Hayden is doing so well. In his letter to me, he told me that he scored a touchdown. I am so happy for him. He is a better athlete than me. He has the skill, I just had to work hard for that skill to come. Haha. I am looking forward to when me and him can play together. Maybe one day you will be able to watch me again. Last week we were playing and I got decleated. The air was pushed right out of my lungs. My head was not on a swivel and my world got rocked. It hurt so good. I hadn't been hit like that in a very long time. I have more football to look forward to today. I love it. I hope you have a good week Mom. I love you!

Jeri Lin- So you got my transfer news. And all your news was good news. It is definitely good to hear that you are still continuing to do so well with the family history, work, and everything. I am glad Tony and the kiddos are continuing to do well. I am glad Taylor Swift reminds you of me. You have no idea how many people have told me that. But I am glad that it does. You are the best older Sister I could ever ask for. I love you and miss ya!

That is all I have for this week. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Conference and Obedience October 7, 2013

October 7, 2013

I must say that this week has been a lot better than the previous week. Probably partially due to conference. As missionaries, we are treated well by the members on conference weekend. I had basically almost all six meals provided for me the past couple days. Even a steak lunch on Saturday. Besides the food, conference itself was perty awesome. One of the biggest things that stuck out to me was the talk by Edward Dube. It isn't about where you serve, it is how. TO be honest, I wasn't too sure or super happy about coming all the way out to Spring Creek at first. I have come to love it though, because it really doesn't matter where I am. I just have to do my best, and I have come to find that when I do work and do serve that I come to love the people I am around and helping. Now, as I strive every day to be exactly obedient, I believe that it will be just increased by a crazy amount.

As for out investigators, Nancy is back in town this week, so we will be meeting with her again. We were able to watch the second session with Brenda and her kids yesterday. We also had a lesson with them earlier this week. It was good. Again...just trying to work some things out with them for baptism. They all want it. Probably looking towards second week in November. I am hoping I am still here as transfer calls will be coming out this weekend. So we will see if any crazy happenings come. We were also able to meet with a few potential investigators this week. And set up some appointments up with some less active members that we haven't been able to contact till now. So this coming week is really looking up. I can't help to think that it is because of our increased desire to strive to be exactly obedient.

Dad- I forgive you about not sending me a note last week. I understand that you were busy :) I am glad that you have enjoyed conference. Haha and that you were able to stay home to watch priesthood from home...I won't be able to enjoy that blessing until after my mission. we are asked to go to the stake center to watch the priesthood session. All the other sessions though, we watched with members and our investigators. It is good to hear that you are still continuing to strive to lose weight. It is an inspiration to me. I am striving to stay in shape as well as in spiritual shape. You have shown me that you are willing to do whatever it takes and I am trying to do so in my workouts as well as in my missionary work. Thank you for that. I love you and miss you day. Have a good week!

Mom- Well thank you for that good news about Snickers. I am so glad he is doing better. I tried no to worry, but I did keep him in my prayers. Thank you for your example of being exactly obedient. It is definitely tough. I am willing to try it out though. I have already begun to see the blessings as well. Thank you for that quote from that lady as well. We gotta do everything we can and then push a little further. I love you and miss you mom. Have a good week :)

Jeri Lin- I think I answered all you questions in the paragraphs. I am so glad to hear that you are doing well with your job, Tony got a better job, and that you guys now are looking to get that house. I hope for lots more good news this coming week. I love and miss you, Tony, Hyrum, and Lindi. Have another good week!

LOVE YOU GUYS! (exclamation point!)
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Humbled in the Creek September 30, 2013

September 30, 2013

Dear Famila,

Well let me see...this week has been good in some ways and not too great in some others. Like the title implies, this week has been a humbling one. First of all, it was full of service and other good things, but as far as teaching goes, it wasn't where our goals were set. It was a little below. I learned some important things that I probably should have gotten through my head a while ago. You see, we had zone conference this week, and what was it about? Well lots of things really, but the biggest focus I saw was obedience. Ok so, Obedience brings blessings and perfect obedience brings miracles, right? Right. Now...news flash. I am not perfect. I haven't done anything terrible, but I feel like there are just those little things here and there that have been holding me back from seeing and experiencing all the miracles the Lord has had in store. So, as of zone conference, I have recommitted myself to being EXACTLY obedient.

I don't have much news other than that. Like I said...the teaching was a bit slow this week. Nancy has been out of town as well with others. Brenda and her kids have been sick.Others we have just been trying to work around the mining schedule. This week is looking to be a lot better though.

I am not looking forward to the weather cooling down. It snowed a little this week. Didn't stay, but it is up on the Ruby Mountains. I hope I get put into a car area at some point this winter. Transfers in 2 weeks...so...who knows? We shall see.

Dad- I still havent gotten one from you, but I hope you have had an awesome week. I heard that the Chargers won and that the Seahawks won in overtime. Good stuff :) Oh and ASU kicked USC's butt. Man.. I wish I could watch it :) I hope your workouts have been going well. I love and miss ya. Hopefully I hear back from ya next week.

Mom- Well...it isn't good news to hear about Snickers. I really hope he gets to feeling a little better. I love that dog. I will be alright though. Thank you for taking care of him. I hope to see him when I get back home, but I don't want him to suffer. So...whatever happens, happens for a reason. It is crazy to think that I have been out for about a year. The time is flying...I can't imagine what it will be like when I am actually gonna be thinking in terms of how many months I have left instead of how many I have been out. Weird. I love to hear that Hayden is loving football. It is pretty much the greatest sport around. Sorry Dad and Tony. Haha. Is there a specific position he will be playing or do they rotate them around quite a bit? I would love to see him be a quarterback or something on Defense, but who knows. He could be something totally different...like a lineman. :) haha I am also glad to hear that Sydney is doing so well with swim. I am glad you are doing well with work too. I like that comment about listening. That is really what I have trying to be better at while teaching. Missionaries can't be afraid of silence, cuz sometimes that is when the spirit teaches and touches their hearts. So thank you for that reminder. I love and miss you Mom. Have another good week!

Jeri Lin- Well...I also didn't hear from you this week. I can probably guess that it was a busy week ;) I hope it was good none the less. I hope to hear from you next week. I love ya and miss ya! Hope the kiddos are awesome and healthy still and that work is going well for you and Tony. Have a good week!

I love you all!

Love,
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Say Hello to Elder Finkel September 23, 2013

September 23, 2013

So for those of you who don't know me, I am Elder Fink....I mean Shinkle. I am from Mesa Arizona...and I am a missionary.

That is how my talk started out yesterday. Thanks to some type-o's on the program. Haha. I got some good laughs out of that introduction, so it ended up being pretty good. I will now be known as Elder Finkel in the Spring Creek 5th ward for...the rest of time. Haha. Anyways, It was good. I was able to speak on my very favorite Book of Mormon Missionary. Ammon. As I was preparing my talk, I asked myself why he is my favorite. First thing that came to mind. He is patient. I dunno about you, but if my mission started out by me getting tied up and taken before a king, I think I would probably would have gotten a little frustrated. The second thing, he is willing to serve. In Alma 17: 22-25, Lamoni asks Ammon if he would like to marry one of his daughters. Now...I don't know for sure, but I believe that Lamoni's daughters were on the cute side of the spectrum. Ammon says no, but he wants to serve. Stud. Then the last thing I chose to focus on was his selflessness. He loved the people he was serving. So much that he said that he would be willing to serve till the day he died if needed. Woah. So...Are we willing to go where he wants us to go? If we have that Charity. That pure love of Christ, we will have that desire. Not only that, but we will be also fulfilling one of the covenants we made at Baptism. That we will always remember him. When we love something, we focus on those things. Such as me with football. I love watching, studying, and playing it. So, If we have that love for our Saviour, we will do everything we can to do those things that he did and the things that have been asked of us. One of which is missionary work. Share the message with your friends!

That was my talk in a nutshell. Now for other news. I have been getting pretty frustrated at times with Nancy. We have been trying so hard to get her to come to church. The best we can get from her is that she will think about it. I know if she does come that she will be able to receive that answer she has been looking for. So...we told her to call us when she decided whether or not she wanted to come this past week. The call came Saturday evening. She said no. What the heck? Our lessons have been going so well. What are we doing wrong? I started reading my patriarchal blessing. In the section about my mission it states that as I seek to overcome obstacles, the Lord will bless me and help me be a powerful missionary basically. That hit me pretty good. So...we will have to reschedule a baptismal date for her, but we are gonna keep doing what we are doing to help her get to the point where she feels comfortable to come to church. Keep praying.

Then we have Brenda and the Kids. They are doing well. Continuing to progress. They were all planning on being at church yesterday, but caught some nasty bug and weren't able to make it. We are still trying to work out a date for them, but it will come when they are ready. They all want to be baptized. Just working some things out.

OH! So we have been working with a guy named Jerry. He started coming back to church the transfer before I got here. He is one of the coolest old guys you will ever meet. He gives us ice cream and powerade every time we stop by. Anyways, he has been working on preparing to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood as well as receive a temple recommend so that he can be sealed to his wife who has passed away. So yesterday, he was able to be ordained to the office of an Elder. He asked all four of us missionaries to participate. It was awesome. I respect that man.

I did receive the package. Thank you mucho! I also wore the tie yesterday. Good choice. I have yet to drink my priesthood or scripture power. You guys are all awesome and I think I look perty good in the sunglasses. B)

Dad- The football season is crazy. The youth in my ward were giving me updates yesterday...the Chargers are so frustrating. Still love them though. That is awesome that the Seahawks are doing so well. I just hope the Broncos lose and the Chiefs...they are doing surprisingly well. Anyways...I was hoping ASU would do better as well. I honestly wasn't expecting them to win, but of course I was hoping for the upset. It seems like they don't have a half bad team this year though. I am excited to see how the rest of the season turns out for them. No fun with the blow out, but good to hear that you are doing fine. Tires are expensive. We had to get the tires replaced on the truck the other Elders have a few weeks back. The church spends alot of monies on us. It is good to hear that the weight loss is going well. Keep it up. :) I love and miss ya Dad. Have another good week!

Mom- I am glad you have had yet again, another good busy week. I was reading my scriptures this week and I read 1 Nephi 2:3. Nephi is talking about his dad and then it made me think of 1 Nephi 3:7. Nephi was born of goodly parents and he followed their examples. I want to just take the time to thank you and Dad for the examples you have set for me. You always are telling me what an amazing son and missionary I am, but I couldn't have done it without you two there supporting me. I am truly blessed. Also thank you for those quotes. I believe those. Vince Lombardi is awesome. Some of the most important lessons I have learned have been through football. Thank you for allowing me to participate in that. I love you Mom. Have an awesome week!

Jeri Lin- I am sure the paychecks make all that work and whatnot at least a little bit more worth it. I know that was the case for me while working at Home Depot and I wasn't making nearly as much as you are. I am glad Tony is working with BYU-I do. He will get better at it, I am sure. Just like anything else :) My talk went pretty well in my opinion. I am glad yours went pretty well too. Life is good for me. I love ya Sis! Stay happy. Have a good, busy week! Love ya :)

Let everyone know I love and miss 'em!

Love,
Elder Bryton Dane Fink.....I mean Shinkle ;)