Jordan: 12/31/2012

From: Jordan Schouten

Sent: Monday, December 31, 2012 8:23 AM
To: Mike Schouten; schouten.julie; John Schouten
Subject: my letter 12/31/2012

 

Well, this week was super good and kind of rough at the same time. I know that doesn´t really make sense, but it´s true. We had some AMAZING things happen, and then, we also had a few problems/challenges.But it was really good, all in all.

So, the best part of the week was on tuesday, a lady that we´re teaching called us. Missionaries have been teaching her for 2 years now and she comes to church every week. But, she can´t get baptized because she´s not married to the guy she lives with. They´ve lived together for about 20 years now and they have 7 kids, so she didn´t want to leave him, but he refused to marry her. But on tuesday, she called us and said "Elders, i have good news!" so, we said, "what?" but she didn´t want to tell us over the phone. she told us to come to her house the next day. So, wednesday we went to her house and asked her what had happened. She said that her husband changed and now, he wants to get married. So, she went the next day to get the marriage planned and everything. They´re going to get married next week and she´s going to get baptized Jan 15th. So, that was just a miracle. I really was amazing. So, we´re really excited for her.

Also, on Dec 24, in the night, we went to visit a member that hasn´t been to church in a while to see if we could help. His family is having a lot of health problems so he hasn´t been to church because he´s been with them. So, we were talking and his little kid came out and talked with us. We asked him how old he was and he said "i´m turing 9 on friday." so, we asked if he had been baptized. He said Nope. So, we taught him a little bit and he has a baptism date for this saturday, the 5th. So, that was just a miracle. We just randomly found him. It was amazing. The only challenge is that his mom doesn´t like the church at all. She pretty much hates us so, getting permission for his baptism is the only challenge. His dad gave permission, which technically, is enough, but the mom hasn´t but we have some plans to get permission from her. So, pray for us so he can get baptized this saturday.
Christmas day was actually really good. last christmas, i taught 1 lesson the whole day. This christmas, we taught 7 lessons, including less active members. We found 3 new invest. it was actually a really good day, but we worked like normal. There´s no time to take vacations in the Lord´s work.
Our problems during the week was that other than these 2 people, we really don´t have any other investigators. we´ve been finding "new" invest. that listen to us once, then, they disappear. So, we´re trying to get over that. Also, another challenge that we had is that we have a family that we´re teaching that the missionaries have been teaching for 7 months, but the dad had to have an operation and other things and problems so they never got baptized, but now, the dad is okay, and the mom wants to get baptized. they just have to get married and the dad finally has agreed to getting married. But, saturday night, we went by and they told us that the owner of their apartment that they live in is going to kick them out Jan 5th. The have to leave by Jan 5th, no matter what. So, they´re looking for a new place to live but the problem is that they´re SUPER poor because the husband hasn´t been working because of his operation and medical problems. So, we´re looking for a place to live inside our area, but if they don´t find anything, they´re going to have to move out of our area and we won´t be able to teach them. So, we´re working on finding a new apartment
Other than that, this week was really good. Up and down, but all in all, really pretty good.

Also, random question, how did BYU football end up doing? i haven´t heard anything since we blew the Utah game. Did they make it to a bowl game?

Also, BYU basketball should have started by now? How`re they looking? is Tyler Haws back?

Mom- i´m glad Christmas was good. I´m glad you could relax and not worry about anything, because i imagine that that´s not going to happen again until summer break. So, i hope you enjoyed it a lot.

Dad- How was Christmas? you didn´t really say anything in your letter?

John- i´m glad that christmas was good and thanks for reminding me that in the states you celebrate christmas the 25th. I had forgotten. I´m glad you like your sweater. (ugh, just thinking about a sweater in the heat of paraguay right now makes me want to throw up. it´s WAY too hot here)

Austin- you gave up your christmas? that´s impressive. That´s a pretty awesome move. I respect you a lot for that, even if you don´t write me. That´s one thing i´ve learned from Christmas in Paraguay... presents aren´t necessary. In paraguay, nobody gives presents on christmas. It´s just a time to be with the family, which really is the most important part.

Tasha and Shaylee- wow... i pod´s. that´s cool. have fun with them, but be careful. Don´t waste your lives away playing computer games.

Gotta run, but the church is true. i have no doubt. i love the gospel and i love sharing it. I know the BoM is true. It´s changing my live everyday. i love reading it and trying to apply it to my life. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. He saw god and Jesus Christ. I love testifying of him every day.

Love you all,
Elder Jordan Schouten.

By the way... 2 weeks ago, we had a christmas zone conference and we watched "17 Miracles" I loved it. it´s probably the greatest movie about the church ever. It was incredible. It made me greatful for a lot of things that i have. it made me greatful that the only thing i have to suffer the the heat of paragauy. It could be a lot worse. Our lives are easy compared to the Pioneers. I´m really greatful for them and all the did.