(no subject) May 25, 2014

May 25, 2014

This week...It has been another busy one. One with new and different responsibilities. On Wednesday I had the opportunity to teach my first relief society...I mean District Meeting. It was complete with a centerpiece of flowers, tablecloth, and treats. The Sisters all seemed to enjoy it, so that was good. It was definitely a learning experience for me...and I hope they were able to learn a little bit from it as well. The problem I had was that it felt like it was a little too lecture-ish. So I have received some input from a few different people and I am looking to apply it. I guess we will just have to see how it goes in round 2 tomorrow. :) I also am looking forward to a mission wide District Leader training that should be coming up here in the very near future, because I need all the help I can get. It also is cool, because lots of my friends will be there :)

I guess I will share one of my cool experiences with you. Yesterday I was able to give service to someone both Spiritually and Physically. We called a Less Active lady yesterday and she didn't want us to come over because she was upset with the state of her house and she was having a hard time, because she had just recently lost someone close in her family. We immediately offered to come and help her clean up the house. So we did, and the Sisters joined us as well. We did her dishes, made her bed, swept her floors. Just kinda helped her get back on her feet. Then we had one of the most spiritual lessons about the Plan of Salvation. It was so cool. She expressed her gratitude and it was definitely an answer to her prayers :) Then I also found out that the experience was an answer to the Sisters prayers as well. That was pretty cool. We also have been able to find a few new solid Less Active Members and a new investigator. So things are continuing to improve. Thank you for all you guys do :)

Dad- Well mine is short this week too. It sounds to me like you are having a pretty good week too :) I mean, except for the whole thing with Grandma. I will definitely keep her in my prayers. I love and miss ya. Have a good one!

Mom- Thank you for your email! And the pictures as always :) I am glad things are going well for you as well. Love and miss ya Mom! Have a good time in Vegas and a good week :)

Jeri Lin- Well I am glad you are doing well in Texas and starting to get a system down. I hope that you receive answers to your prayers and have a good week. I love and miss ya Sis. :)

Keila- Congrats! Have a fun time and good week! :)

Sydney- Love you and miss you!

Leslie- Love you and miss you!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

Just in Time With 3 Minutes to Spare May 19, 2014

May 19, 2014

"...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." Alma 37:6

My testimony of the truthfulness of that scripture continues to grow each and every week. A majority of the week goes by it feels like I haven't been able to do as much as I would like. Then Sunday comes and we reflect on the week and just see how much good we have actually been able to accomplish. I recognize the miracles that have taken place. I would like to share one of those miracles with you. It is actually where the title of this email comes from.

I believe I have told a majority of you, if not all of you, about Kimberly. Well this past week has been a rough one for her and which made it a little rough on her. She has been dealing with not so good of people just coming into her home and basically taking over. This meant that we needed to stay clear of the home just for our own safety. We were really bummed though, because we wanted to help her, but there was no way we really could. It was frustrating. I honestly began to think we had lost her. Then, on Saturday we got a call from her neighbor saying that Kimberly was not doing too well and all she wanted was for us to come over. We got there as soon as we could. Talked with her a bit and invited her to a BBQ that we were going to have at one of the members homes. There she was able to relax and was able to make new friends and we had a good gospel conversation about faith. So now fast forward to Sunday. We attempt to pick her up for church, but no answer. Darn it. We decided that we would just stop by sometime after church to make sure she was doing alright. So now it is after church, we just finished eating some lunch, and we are out making our way towards Kimberly`s house. We stopped and talked with a few people. Then we knock on the door of Kimberly`s house. She opens the door in total shock and says, I just had a talk with God and he answered! 7 minutes before we arrived, Kimberly took an act of faith like we had discussed the night before and asked if the Book of Mormon was true. She told Heavenly Father, "if this is all true, you will send the missionaries to me in the next 5-10 minutes". Well we were just in time with 3 minutes to spare. It not only strengthened her testimony, but it strengthened mine as well.

Yesterday at church, we attended the priest quorum during the third hour. There was an awesome lesson given. The talk that was shared was, "Lord, I Believe" that was given by Jeffrey R. Holland a few conferences ago. This week I had been feeling like the man who brought his son to Jesus. "...but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us." Mark 9:22 In fact, I feel like that is what my prayers sounded like. We spent hours trying to find and teach new people. I can tell you that he answered my prayers. I know that he can answer yours. No matter what you may be dealing with right now. He wants to help I know that. Dad, I know he wants to help you through your trials right now. Mom, I know he helped you hike through the canyon with Sherra. Jeri Lin, I know that he can help comfort you and help you through your own calling. Even if you just have a desire to believe that. I highly encourage going and listening or reading that talk. I know that everything does happen for a reason and in the end it will all work out. We just got to do our part and the Lord will make up for the rest. He will help our unbelief. Keep your heads up :)

Dad- Well as far as the District Leader thing goes. So far so good. I have some cool sisters to work with, so it should hopefully continue to be that way. I just had to call them all last night to see how they were doing and see if they needed supplies. Then I have to prepare to teach them all on Wednesday during District Meeting. I was thinking I was gonna get out of it, because it is normally held on Tuesdays and Tuesday is Zone Conference, but they just moved it a day back. That really is a bummer about John. I was really looking forward to possibly working with him and you, but it's like you and I will just have to get me ready for football :) Not a bad thing at all. I want you to know that you are always in my prayers and I hope things work out well. I also hope you have a good time in Vegas. This is a lovely state :) My second home for sure. I love and miss ya Dad. Have a great week!

Mom- I have to thank you for sharing that story with me and for the pictures as well. I had my prayers asking that you and Sherra would be protected on you hike and that you would have the guidance and help as needed. So that was even an answer to my prayers. Thank you for all that you do as my Mom. I sure do love and miss you. Have a great week! :)

Jeri Lin- Honestly, when I read your email, it kinda made me think of you as a missionary. The whole homesickness, self pity stuff. The best way to get rid of it is just, get busy! Don't overwhelm yourself, but go about doing good. I think the feelings you have are similar to the ones I receive after a transfer (luckily, that hasn't happened to often). I know you will be alright. Just keep being the awesome Mom and Sister that you are! I love and miss you! Have a good week!

Keila- Graduation! Crazy! Have a good week. Finish Strong. I love and miss you :)

Sydney- Love and miss ya! Have a good week!

Leslie- Love and miss ya! Have a good week! I am happy for your new eye! :)

I love and miss you all!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Relief Society President ;) May 12, 2014

May 12, 2014

Well this one is gonna be on the short side as well because of the opportunity that I did have to talk with you all yesterday. As you are all aware, just a little while after I got done skyping with you, I was still just chillin' on Sister Dailey's couch and I got a text from President. I definitely was not expecting the message that came, because the leadership calls usually come out on Saturday mornings. Not this one. There was a wave of emotions and thoughts that came to my head when I read it. I did accept the call of course. Now within the past few hours, I have learned that I will have a District full of sister missionaries. As far as I know, Elder Reynolds and I will be the only Elders. Hence the title of this email. ;) That is unofficial, but that is the news I have received as of now. So don't hold me to that.

As for Sister who has been in this area for nearly a year. She is now out. She will be heading to Ely on Wednesday. Other than that, not too many drastic changes within my zone from the others I have talked to.

As for Lindi, I will keep her in my prayers for sure. That is no fun...I mean not that I can really remember when I was in her position, but I can imagine. I thank you for all the prayers that you all offer in my behalf. I am gonna need them now more than ever as I am taking on this responsibility. It makes me anxious. I also appreciate all the prayers that you offer for my investigators. They are a huge reason why I am more than happy to stay in this area. I love them to death :)

I think that is all I have for now. If you have any more questions. You can shoot them my way. I should be on for a little while longer, so I will try to answer :)

I love and miss you guys like crazy! I hope you all have an awesome week!

Love
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

So this was like...the after after picture of the wing challenge. Wearing my crown. Looking all happy. I have to get the other pictures from the other missionaries in my zone..so they will come at a later date. Stay tuned!

Opposition May 5, 2014

May 5, 2014

Week 6 of transfer number 12 is here. I seriously cannot believe it. Sunday I will have the chance to be able to talk with you all and then we will be getting transfer calls that night. Chances are there won`t be any significant changes, but I do have a slight feeling that I could be moved. If I do end up being moved, I hope it is close by, because Juan should be getting his mission call in the very near future, which also means he will be going through the temple. We will just have to wait see!

As far as this past week goes, it hasn't been too bad. It was another week full of both ups and downs. One fun story happened with a crazy lady yesterday. She was just outside, sitting on her porch, and she started talking to us. Of course we stopped and started talking to her. As we started talking though, I could tell something was different, so I just asked her if we could say a prayer with her. She agrees and lets us in her front gate, but puts a chain and pad lock on the gate behind us. Weird. Then she tried to invite us inside. No, sorry, can`t do that. We just want to say a prayer with you. As I am saying the prayer, she keeps interrupting. At this point, we are just trying to get out of there. She asks me for a kiss. Not a chance. Then she won`t come unlock the gate and we had to hop the fence to get out. After that experience, I was honestly really irritated. I felt like I had just wasted a ton of time. As we went throughout the rest of the day though, we were able to find a potential family of 3 to begin teaching and another lady that would like us to come back this week. I started to wonder why Heavenly Father would have put that one lady in our path for that crazy experience. There must be opposition in all things. We can`t know the good things if we don`t go through the bad. It allowed for me to recognize that Heavenly Father is aware of what we are thinking and feeling. I was so much more happy when we were able to find those people after that experience. And like I have said before, if we continue to be diligent everything seems to eventually work itself out. If I just decided to go to the apartment and just take a nap after an appointment cancelled and my motivation was in the dumps, I would just continue to feel like garbage. One thing that I have also learned for sure in this area is that motivation follows action. If we just do it (Nike) then it becomes a whole lot easier and there will come a point where we may actually enjoy it. I am enjoying my mission. As tough as it is to get people to come to church, to help them change their lives for the better, and to follow the example of Jesus Christ. I love it.

Kimberly is probably gonna have to have her baptismal date changed once again, but that is alright. One of the hardest things is trying to not rush people, but also being able to set it close enough so that they don't get discouraged. It is a good thing that the dates are not do or die. We have a couple people that we still need to meet with a lot more often if they are gonna want to reach their goals.Things are still moving forward. Just trying to keep it that way. Gotta leave the area better than I found it. Which is tough, but also possible :)

Dad- Well I am glad you did all good in your run. I was praying that you would be able to do well and that you wouldn't be too sore afterwards. Thank you for the pictures :) I am glad you were also able to spend that time with Jeri Lin and her kiddos just before they had to head out. It sounds to me like everyone is doing pretty well. Lots of crazy things going on. I am looking forward to closing off a good week this week and transfer with talking to you all this weekend. Time is a cruisin for sure. I love and miss you Dad. I am praying that you have an awesome week! :)

Mom- It looks like I have missed you this week, but I want you to know that I have been thinking of you and that I am looking forward to talking to you on your day this Sunday. I hope you have a good week! I love and miss ya :)

Jeri Lin- Well I hope your flying all works out. I don't blame Hyrum for getting nervous...haha. Flying is definitely something to get used to. I personally like driving, but maybe because it is something I don't get to do all that often. I feel like I am just gonna want to drive around for days after I am finished here on my mission. Thank you for the pictures you sent me. I am glad you like the pictures that people send all of you and tag me on Instagram. I love and miss you Sis. Are we gonna be talking at all on Sunday? I guess I will see what I can do. I hope you have a good week! I love and miss ya!

Keila- Don't you miss it when it was actually fun to miss school? High School was such a pain, but it is definitely worth it. Just finish strong. You can do it :) I also need to wish you good luck on your competition and on your finals. Just keep saying your prayers. It will help. Tons. Then when you get through it all, you will be so much happier :) Just continue to try and stay happy. That is all we can do. I love and miss ya! Have a good week!

Sydney- I love ya! Have a good week!

Leslie- I love ya! Have a good week :)

I think that is all I have for today. I love and miss all of you! We will see each others faces soon enough :)

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)