Rollin February 10, 2014

That is what the work is doing here. You know what that means? There is probably a pretty good chance that Elder Anderson or I will be transferred next week. That is what usually tends to happen when the work really starts to get going. I guess we will find out this coming Sunday and I will have news for you all next Monday. The Bishop's wife was telling me yesterday that she doesn't think I will leave...but some others think I will. The Young Men don't want me to leave. But no one really knows after all, so I just have to finish this week strong and see what comes. "Come What May and Love It". :)

This week has gone really well though. As far as numbers go, it has probably been one of the best of my mission. Those numbers are people though. So let me elaborate on those people. :) So as of this week, we have two new families we are now teaching. I think I may have mentioned Carrie last week, but this week we were able to meet with the whole family. We taught The Restoration. It went pretty well after we declined the offer of a beer. It is always a challenge with little kids, but I love it. While I was giving Joseph Smith's account of the First vision, the 15 month year old baby managed to climb up onto the dining room chair...and then fell off. I felt so bad, but there really isn't much you can do in that situation. Anyways, we invited them to read and pray about The Book of Mormon and I left them with a copy of The Book of Mormon that John and Sherra sent to me for Christmas with their family picture and testimony on the inside. Carrie made the comment that she liked Sherra's hair. (Similar Hairstyles). She is awesome. I love her sense of humor and the family is great. I pray that their hearts and minds stay open to the Spirit and the message we share. :)

The Other family we started teaching is the Minter Family. We are meeting again with them on Tuesday. This past week we just left a blessing on their home and invited them to take the lessons to learn more and to see the blessing that it can bring into their families. They accepted. So we will be meeting with them again this week. I am super stoked. :)

Other than that, Brother Urenda is still on track for baptism this Friday. We just made sure that the building is reserved this Morning. So things are Rollin' with that. Kelly is still working on quitting smoking. She is also moving in the right direction. It may take us a little longer than we were expecting, but she has made amazing progress in the past months. We are continuing to work with the less actives of the ward as well as the part member families. We are also working with the Wilkies still. Love them. 

This place of Spring Creek is quite amazing. I will miss it quite a bit if my time is coming to leave. If not, I am sure my love for it will continue to increase. The people here are great. We are teaching. I just love it. I feel I have had the absolute two best wards in Nevada to serve in. I am loving the mission life and I have 10 months left of it. Now that I seem to be figuring it out, I hope to make the most of it. Thank you for all your support and all you guys have done for me. :)

Dad- Well it is kind of a bummer to hear that you haven't been working out as much. It is a hard habit to kind of keep up, so get back into it as soon as ya can. Sister Knudsen showed me the picture of you and your friend that was posted on Facebook. I am glad you had a good time :) Other than that, it sounds like things are going well. I wish I could be there for the cultural celebration and what not, but you are right, I will be able to go when I get back. Maybe with a special girl someday :) Thank you for your prayers Dad. I love and miss you. Have an awesome week!

Mom- Thank you for sharing that experience with the pool with me. Cool thing I just though of. It wouldn't have worked if you didn't have faith though. And obviously faith without works is dead, and that is apparent as you had to work and try just about anything and everything, Kind of reminds me of the story of Nephi going to get the plates. :) The Lord will always provide a way. :) Thank you for being my Mom. And for your support and Love. I love and miss you. Have a great week!

Jeri Lin- Mas amor from you and your little family! Thank you.  Well it is good to hear that you are all still doing so well. As far as the job goes, you are always in my prayers. I think I already answered the question of  when the next transfers are. I am doing well. I love and miss ya sis. Have an awesome week! :)

I love and miss you all. Tons. Thanks again for all you do for this missionary here is Spring Creek. :)

Have an awesome week.

Love,

Your Son

Your Brother

Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle :)

Good is the Enemy of the Great February 3, 2014

February 3, 2014

Well the quote came from our special training that we had this past week on Wednesday. I am happy to report on a great week. We beat good this week. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl and Elder Anderson and I had a winning week.

The special training this week was on applying the fundamentals from Preach My Gospel. It was an amazing help. They gave us a booklet that gave us ideas for application in our everyday work. So fast forward to Thursday morning, study time. I decide to take a quick gander at the pages and what they have to say. Move forward a couple hours...Elder Anderson are doing our weekly planning and we decide to give a call to a less active family and try to set something up for this week. Elder Anderson is talking to him...blah blah...and then he hangs up? What did he say?? "Come over today or don't come at all". Then he hung up. Kinda rude...but I guess we gotta head over there. So we move our plans for the day a little bit. Come to find out, he is not feeling well. That is why he is rude on the phone. We met with her though. Shared a scripture, then scheduled a time to come again. Before we left I asked her if she knew anyone that would be willing to listen to a brief message. She then gave us the names of two of her neighbors. So we stopped by. The first one, Carrie and her family. Pretty cool. We gave a blessing on her home and I bore testimony of families and the gospel. Now we have another appointment set with her and her whole family on Saturday. It was an amazing experience and it really helped me realize something. I applied as many of those fundamentals I could when we met Carrie, and...they worked! That's when the realizations came. This truly is the Lord's work and I know I have been called by him and that President Hermansen is called by him as well and he receives the needed revelation for exactly what we need. That was just the start of Thursday. We then had a lesson with Brother Urenda that night. We were planning on teaching him the Gospel of Jesus Christ and tying in the word of wisdom. As we started our discussion, he told us that he no longer even has the desire to drink. Woah. Talk about miracles. He is still on track for being baptized on the 14th of this month. Which will be the Friday before transfers. I definitely hold this place of Spring Creek in a very special place in my heart. I feel like I have done so much growth here and seen so many miraculous things. There have been slow times, but it always seems to pick itself back up again. I love it. :)

Other news. Well Kelly came to church yesterday. That was great. :) Nancy emailed me today. Also great. We also committed Brother Brown to come to church at least once a month. Definitely an improvement from three times a year. Love that man. :) And then! We walk into gospel principles, just a little late. And then the door opens and we get called out. There is a young man, sitting in the chapel and he just came from the gym and some members of the ward want us to talk to him. So, we go into the chapel and introduce ourselves to Joe. Get to know him a little bit. Come to find out that he prayed and promised Heavenly Father that if he passed his test for nutrition, he would go to church every week, and he felt like that was the church he was supposed to be at. Super cool. Explained what we do as missionaries and briefly taught The Restoration with Tyler Knudsen. Right there in the chapel. One of the most spiritual lessons I have taught. At least it felt that way. Maybe because we were in the church?? I dunno. I do know that it was an awesome experience. Joe will be in the singles ward, so we gave the referral to those missionaries. The opportunities we had to teach though this week were great and we will are looking forward to another great week :)

I also just have to say thank you for the testimony that I received from you two (Mom and Dad) this morning. I got a package from my Hagler family. I just have to say that the power of a sincere, simple testimony is incredible. So thank you for sharing that with me in the form of a letter through my valentines day package :)

I have some pictures to send, so stay tuned :)

Dad- Well I was telling everyone here that Defense wins championships. No one believed me though. What happens? The Seattle defense does work, and wins a championship. Granted, football is a team sport and it takes everyone. But it sure helps a lot when a defense creates four turnovers. I had some bragging rights as well :) I have seen some pictures of the temple and it truly is amazing. I am glad you have been able to have those opportunities. I think that temple is in my top four favorites now :) Good job on your workouts. You are in better shape than me, that is for dang sure. Keep it up :) I am also glad that Grandma is doing better. Thanks for keeping me in the know on how you are doing. I love and miss ya Dad. Have an awesome week :)

Mom- I missed you again this week. I did get your letter last Monday though. So thank you for that. You probably have already got the one from me. I just want you to know that I love and miss you. Let me know if there is anything you need me to help you with. Thank you for your testimony. :)

Jeri Lin- Well first of all, it is exciting to hear of your missionary opportunities. I guess you could call me a professional missionary, but there are days I still feel like a rookie though. My advice for that situation though. One, just remember that no effort is wasted. Don't get frustrated. The only thing we can do as missionaries is invite. Others have to make the choice, and we have to remember that it is all part of the plan. Another thing we do as missionaries is to try and figure out what peoples concerns are. Figure out what is holding him back, if he will open up to Lindsay, that would be good. But like you said, you have to have those prayers, fasting, etc. Just love him. As a missionary, I do my best to build friendships first and foremost. One, because I like friends. Two, because friends trust each other. So...trust and then open up to figure out the concern. Lindsay is probably best for that. That is all I can think of though. Besides the things you already mentioned. Other than that, it seems like you are doing well. You and Tony and your kiddos are always in my prayers. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for ya. I love ya Sis. Have an awesome week! :)

I love and miss you all! Have a great week.

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Mattress Forts

Gotta throw some fun in somewhere! ;)

Dear Familia January 27, 2014

January 27, 2014

Dear Familia,

I have had a pretty good time this week. Lets see...Well after this week we have a total of two baptisms planned for the month of February. If those follow through the Spring Creek 5th ward will have a total of 7 convert baptisms thus far for the year. We must be doing something right! :) Brother Urenda is planning on being baptized on Valentine's Day, February 14th :) And Kelly is planning for exactly two weeks later on February 28th. Hers is a little more tentative, because of her smoking habit, but we wanted to give her a positive goal to give her some more encouragement to quit. Things are going well though. It is great :) Mom made the comment in her email today that it will be good for the Urenda's to have their dad baptized, because it will bring the Priesthood into their home. I think I knew that, but I just didn't really make that connection. I have had many opportunities to exercise the Priesthood I have been given the past few weeks. I am so grateful for it! I was able to give the Bishop in my ward a blessing. I had to anoint Elder Anderson yesterday as he was feeling sick, and then last night a woman in the ward asked me to give her a blessing. I am so grateful to have the trust of the members here in Spring Creek, so that I can be someone they can turn to when they are in need. And I couldn't do it without the help from my Heavenly Father. :) My testimony of the Priesthood has definitely increased dramatically just in the past few weeks. It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't out here on my mission. I love it :)

I say it was a good time, but yesterday I experienced having a sick companion for the first time yesterday. Elder Anderson woke up at 5 yesterday morning puking. I had no idea. I was sleeping. Then he woke back up at 6:30 and I thought he was just in the shower, but I guess he was puking more. He didn't tell me any of this. So we go to church...and all during sacrament meeting, he was looking awful. So I ask him, and he was like lets go home. So we left church after sacrament. And...sat around yesterday. Kinda boring, but it is what it is. He is feeling better today. So that is good.

Other than that, I dunno if there is anything else really new and exciting going on though. Life is good. I love it :)

Dad- I will be sure to keep her in my prayers. And guess what? You are such a baller. I wish I could be there playing there some days, but I am here doing well, so I can't complain :) That is awesome that you were able to have that experience with the Temple. It looks really good. Probably one of my favorites for sure. I can't wait to see it for reals :) And I feel ya on that...I have been cussed out and called lots of things just walking down the street. Doesn't make the church any less true though. No worries on being late though. I appreciate what you did have to say though. Love and Miss ya Dad! Have a good week :)

Mom- Well I am glad you enjoyed the picture of me dunking. Hopefully we can get some more pictures of me dunking people into the water ;) Things are definitely going well for me. I am glad you had a good training. We have a special training on Wednesday. Hopefully I can learn lots there :) Thank you for all those pictures and stories. Hayden cracks me up. I hope you have another good week! I love and miss ya Mom!

Jeri Lin- One question. Were those waffles better than IHOP's New York Cheesecake Pancakes? Because that sounded delicious :) I will definitely keep you guys in my prayers. I already do, but now I have something specific to pray about. After all, specific prayers get specific answers :) And don't worry, I am waiting till I have kids of my own. I am excited for it though. It seems like a lot of fun hard work :) As for exercise...Pushups..sit ups. Lifting. Basketball. Nothing too special. Oh! Riding bikes also ;) I love and miss ya Sis! Have a good week :)

I have a couple pictures I will be sending your way. I love you guys :)

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Three of my five companions thus far...

 Didn't even get sick or pass out.

Elder Prescott before he got transferred out.

Dear Family January 20, 2014

January 20, 2014

Where to start this week....Hmmm. Well some of the most exciting news first I suppose.

I believe that I told you all last Monday about Brother Urenda and his desire to be baptized. So far so good. We confirm the appointment on Thursday and head over there with one of the Members of the ward. When we walk in though, we are informed that Brother Urenda is not feeling well and is sleeping. I was like..."Seriously? Oh well, the least we can do is visit with his family who have been less active for quite some time". So we do...we have lots of good gospel conversation. And then...He comes from the hall and comes and sits down. We continue visiting with the family and he begins to participate as well. Long story short, we invite him to read the Book of Mormon, come to church on Sunday, and be baptized when he comes to know the truth. He commits to all three. Yesterday he was at church with his family. And tonight we have another appointment with them and we are hoping to set him with a baptismal date. Pretty sweet, eh? I am excited. Also...I can honestly say that before and when we got there I was a bit more on the judgmental side of things. When he came out and we started talking, my love just grew immensely for the guy and for his family. It is kinda crazy how it all happens.

Also, we may have another potential baptism in February. Kelly is currently working towards kicking her smoking habit and said her goal is by the end of February. She has also started going to church. She goes with a friend in Elko after her graveyard shifts at wal-mart. She is definitely progressing and making moves in the right direction. We will meet with her and Seth again on Friday. :)

Other than that...things are continuing to go well for me. Elder Anderson and I didn't see a whole lot of results this week from the time we put in. I mean we tried to visit nearly every less active family on our list and talked to and offered service to everyone we saw. Not a whole lot came from it. The lessons we did have were amazing though. Things are continuing to move forward. We have some good things planned for this week as well.

Funny story for the week. So...Elder Stevens was with me on Friday, we were on companion exchanges. We were biking around..feeling out of shape. Having a good time. Looking for people to teach. And he was cruising up ahead of me and decided to endo...I wasn't looking where I was going. Just plugging along and then I look up to see him stopped right in front of me. I slam on my brakes and jump off my peddles but my front tire hits his back tire and the back end of my bike flies up and the bike frame caught my right under my left butt cheek. I didn't fall, but my but was sore for a couple of days. haha We were laughing pretty good. Reminded us of some good times back in Sparks :)

I think that is all I got for now from this past week though.

Dad- Well I am gonna stick by the saying that Defense wins Championships and I will be cheering for your Seahawks in the Super Bowl. I was hoping that my Chargers were gonna pull some upsets and make it in there with the Chickens, but it just wouldn't be right if we weren't able to watch that together. Maybe next year ;) That would be cool if you were able to go up there and do that run. Let me know what you decide. :) I just want to thank you again for all your prayers and support. I love and miss ya Dad. Have a great week and a great day off of work!

Mom- Well Dad just informed me that you are teaching your class at the gym. I want you to know that I love and miss you. Thank you for all you do. I hope you have a good week. You are always in my prayers :)


Jeri Lin- Thank you muchos for the loves. It is so good to hear that you and Tony are still doing well with your kiddos and that you are achieving the goals that you have set. Goals definitely make a huge difference and I want to thank you for your example to me of setting goals. I love and miss ya sis. Have an awesome week! :)

Spring Creek Zoo

Dunkin'

Growing Up January 13, 2014

January 13, 2014

This week has been awesome to say the least. I feel like I have grown up a whole lot this past week. Let me explain.

So...as you know I wasn't looking forward too much to being with Elder Anderson for another 6 weeks. After my email last Monday and reading the emails I received it was like...a humbling experience. As if you guys were saying to me, "Come on Bryton, You are better than this". So I talked with Elder Anderson and we sat down and kinda figured what we were expecting from each other and out of ourselves this transfer. Before my mission, I really don't think I would have done that. So...that is one thing I noticed.

Then I had one of my very best friends ask me for a blessing, just out of the blue. I even asked him if he was serious...that is how surprised I was. I did give him a blessing. It was an emotional experience for sure. It really hit me hard though. Priesthood power is real. I really want to do my very best to be worthy of that power at all times. I want to be able to have that in my home when I have a family of my own. I couldn't help but compare that experience to a possibility in my future with my future kids asking me for a blessing. I guess it just put things into perspective and showed me that I have come a long way since a year ago.

As for miracles this week. We received a call telling us that the husband of a part member family that we have been trying to meet with for forever wants to be baptized in February. The ward is such a huge help here. We are planning on meeting them this Thursday. So that was good news. We also have a few potentials that we will be meeting with that day. Hopefully some good comes from that. Gonna continue working with the Wilkies. Life is good here in the Spring Creek. And those Transfer goals that Elder Anderson and I set, may just be broken. We are working for the best.

I believe I have told you that I really have been trying to focus on becoming more selfless ever since I got here to the creek. My quote I am trying to live by this transfer is as follows, "Good teams become great ones when the members are willing to surrender the 'Me' for the 'We'" --Phil Jackson

My Testimony has grown this week. I know that the Priesthood power is real and that it is a gift that Heavenly Father has given to us and it is something we need to take special care of. I know that Joseph Smith restored the church and that he was a true prophet. I am so grateful for the knowledge I do have. I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Dad- That is cool that you were able to baptize Hayden this week. Looks like he is becoming a real stud muffin. He must get it from his older brother ;) Haha I am glad you had a good stake conference. Keep up the good work with the working out. You are in my prayers as well. I love and miss ya. Have an awesome week!

Mom- Well I am glad you enjoyed my email last week. I enjoy yours every week. And Sister Hagler has been talking to you I suppose? And I am glad that Hayden is doing well. He is a good kid. I can't wait to hang out with him :) I am glad that you guys live in a good ward. I am living in a good ward too. Life is just good. I love you Mom. Miss ya tons! Have a good week!

Jeri Lin- Well I didnt get an email from ya. I want you to know that you guys are in my prayers and that I love and miss you. Have an awesome week!

I love and miss all you guys. :)

Have a great week!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

Come What May and Love It January 6, 2014

January 6, 2014

"Come What May and Love it" --Joseph B. Wirthlin

This comment or quote has been something I have tried to live by since the day it was said in General Conference a few years ago. At times it is easier to live by than others. For some reason. it continued to come back to me time and time again.

On Thursday night, Elder Anderson and I planned to meet with Brenda. Just to make sure everything was still good for Saturday and whatnot. As soon as she opened the door I could tell something was up. She wasn't her happy witty self like normal. She invites us in, we sit down. She starts talking with Travis and just starts to lose it. Oh dear. She is having a rough week...well mostly a rough day. Just one thing after another. We change up our lesson plans up a little bit at that point, while she is still talking with Travis. We decide to watch the Mormon Messages "Come What May, and Love It" and "Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time". Perfect. I then go on to explain to her that you know we are gonna have trials, Satan is gonna try to get to us when we are doing what we are supposed to, but we have the Atonement and someone who understands. While I was explaining this, Brenda stops me and says, "You're Right!". Uhh...what?? Brenda is saying I am right and not giving me some witty remark? Cool. Haha. But she went on to explain that one of the Sisters in the ward had sat next to her in relief society the previous Sunday and told her that she was special and that this week would be very tough as she came closer to her day of baptism. All I have to say is that the baptism probably would not have happened if it weren't for the Spirit and the help from the ward. With God, all things are possible. That brings us to the baptism.

The Wilkie Family was baptized on January 4th. It was a very happy day and I have pictures to prove it. :) I mean it could be seen when Connor and I got up to go into the font. He sprinted his way there and I was honestly surprised he remembered to take off his glasses. Brenda later told us in her testimony the next day that the Baptism was a miracle because Connor woke up at 6:30. Showered. Brushed his teeth (Which Brenda says is a miracle in and of itself). And was all dressed and ready to go get baptized by 7 am. Haha. It really was great to help them all the way through and help them enter into their first covenant. Then on Sunday I was also able to confirm Brittany. That was a first time experience for me. It was very cool. :) I am glad I am part of that memory in their lives. They are lifelong friends for sure.

So at this point, my week could not be going any better. I also get news that my Chargers won their playoff game. Woo! Life is great. The transfer calls were still lingering in the distance though and my nerves were killing me. They came, and to say I was excited them would be a lie. I normally hate change, but I think I was really looking forward and hoping for some this time. It didn't come. I will be here in Spring Creek 5th ward for another six weeks and my companion is still Elder Anderson. I love the kid, don't you get me wrong. I felt like enough was enough though. My patience has been tested. Why?? The first transfer call I have truly questioned. I have been pondering on it from the time it came. And my thoughts keep coming back to, "Come What May, and Love It". So that is exactly what I am gonna do. I am gonna do the very best I can to make the very most of the next six weeks. "It doesn't matter where you serve, but how". Obviously I still have something to do and/or learn. :)

Dad- Well I think I have kinda already touched on a lot of what you said in your email. I want to make the comment that it is so true that it is important for recent converts have a friend. I must say that it is one of the best feelings just to hear how well converts are doing. It is also good to see how well YOU are doing! That is way awesome :) I am looking forward to returning home this year as well. Almost 11 months to go. Keep up the good work. Love ya Dad. Have another good week!

Mom- Thank you for your email and testimony. :) I dunno if you got my letter yet or not but if not, it should be there soon. I hope you have a great week and figure out your new kindle :) I love ya Mom!

Jeri Lin- Don't stress too hard about writing me. I know you are busy. Short little updates are good and in about 11 months, we will be able to get all caught up :) I love an miss ya! Have a good week :)

I love and miss you guys! Have an awesome week!

Love,
Your Son
Your Brother
Elder Bryton Dane Shinkle

 One of my best friends :)

 Cute new p-day outfit.

 The Wilkie Baptism

Christmas Week December 30, 2013

December 30, 2013

Well like you guys mentioned, there isn't a whole lot to report on seeing that I talked to you guys just a few days ago. It was super nice to see you all. :) And as far as the rest of the week goes, it was pretty darn slow. The good news is that the baptism is all set and moving forward for Sunday. We have like a total of six baptisms scheduled for our zone that day. It will be busy busy busy :) What else is happening....OH! Juan is coming to visit Elder Stevens and I out here in Spring Creek today! I am super stoked :)

Transfer calls are also coming this Saturday. It will be interesting to see what happens there. That is all I gots though.

Dad- I was super surprised that the Chargers made it, but I seriously could not be happier. I am not expecting them to necessarily get super far, but it makes the shirt that you got me with the 2013 Schedule on the back worth wearing. In fact, I am wearing it right now :) It's good to hear that you are continuing to progress with losing weight. I hope you have a good week. I love and miss ya :) Have a happy New Year!

Mom- Happy New Year Mom! :) I hope it is a good one and that you can do well with all your goals. I also am glad that you enjoyed skyping, because I sure did. It was a good day and week, even though it was a tad bit slow as far as missionary work goes. And thank you for sharing that story about the Christus. And thank you for all the pictures :) I also hope you have a good week! I love and miss ya Mom! :) 

Jeri Lin- Haha thank you for that picture. It was nice to be able to talk with you. I can't wait till we get to hang out too! It will be fun. A fun time :) Thank you for being my sister! I hope you have a good week and a great New Year! I love and miss ya :)

I love you guys.
And miss you.

It's almost 2014!

Got to visit with the family on Christmas. We laughed until we cried.