Week Two

Who knew I'd sing Soprano??

I LOVE THE MTC--Everyone should live here!

I can't even express how amazing it is to be a missionary!! These past few days here have completely changed my life. I can't imagine doing anything greater than this! 

Sunday was probably the greatest day of my life!! We were told to go to choir, and even though I have no musical background I still joined. We were going to preform that night for a special guest speaker that was coming. We didn't know who it was going to be, but everyone made a huge deal about it so we figured it'd be one of the general authorities!  

P-Day, which means Laundry

So my companion is so amazing and she can sing sooooo good! She wanted to sing in the soprano because she can and I didn't know we could separate at that time. So here I am trying to sing the highest notes ever and pretty much I just mouthed the whole time haha it was baaaad! Then the director told us that we would be performing for representatives of Jesus Christ, that us singing is us baring our testimonies to them. That changed everything for me!!! 

Although I cant sing, I just kept praying that I would be able to bare my testimony to these representatives of Christ, that I KNOW he lives I KNOW that he loves me and I KNOW that the only reason I am able to be here is through his atoning sacrifice. 

Cutest Sisters in the District:  Sister Aspen Schultz, Sister Brown (Aspen's Companion from California) Sister Bull (Arkansas)  Sister Petzinger (Idaho), Sister Thompson (Tennessee)

So as we kept practicing, I really tried hard and to my amazement I would hit most of the notes. It just goes to show that He really can make weaknesses, strengths! Because here I am singing "Jesus once a humble birth" as a soprano!! We had a break before the actual devotional so we went back to our dorm. I was going over the song just hoping I could sing the way I needed to, to show my testimony to these special representatives! Honestly in my mind I thought I'd come to sing and all of a sudden have a perfect sounding voice and it'd truly be a living miracle! Yet God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we think. After my prayer a sister in my district said how she wished she could sing higher because alto was too low for her! Literally said this RIGHT after I prayed!! Heavenly Father is truly looking out for each one of us! If we come to him WILLING to try our hardest, knowing we can become something greater through our Savior, He will make a way for it to happen!

District with Elder Feltner (AZ)Elder Webb(CO) Elder Meredeth (ID) Elder Smith (West Valley UT)Elder Cotton (North Carolina) Elder Barfuss (Utah)

We were singing hymns waiting for everyone to be seated and for the guest speaker. All the new mission presidents were training this past week and it was so amazing to meet them and feel how much love they had for missionaries. When everyone was seated our guest speaker came in. We all stood and watched as THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES CAME INTO THE ROOM WITH US!!!! ALL TWELVE WERE SEATED IN FRONT OF ME!!!!!! 

I was bawling (haha) but does that really surprise anyone!? The spirit testified to me so strongly as I saw those men walk in that, this is Christ Church! They are called to spread the truth and testify of Him. And we as missionaries are able to do the same work. What an honor truly!!!! Baring my testimony through song for the Twelve Apostles was something I could never dream of doing! Yet God knew and he prepared me so in that moment I could testify that Jesus Christ LIVES to the Twelve who travel the world proclaiming it! My testimony for the power and influence of music has grown so much, and thank goodness it has because I'm the music coordinator in my zone!! 

Elder Oaks spoke on the 4 loves you should develop on your mission,

1- For your companions 

2-People of Alabama (area we serve)

3-Our Mission President and Wife 

4- Jesus Christ 

All are so needed, but I'm just going to talk about my experience when he spoke of our need to love Jesus Christ. The spirit testified so strong to be of Christ TRUE AND EVERLASTING SACRIFICE! Christ did everything for me! He lived for me, he died for me and he atoned for me so that one day I could live with my father again! I know he has done the same for you!! He loves you, he gave every second of his life for you knowing that you wouldn't be able to repay him. It was a selfless, humble sacrifice individually for YOU! 

After the devotional I was crying so hard!!! Not because I was sad, I was over come with love, the love my savior has for me!  I thought about how these 18 months are all I have to truly give every second of everyday back completely to my Savior! Then I thought about coming home and I cried even more! I don't ever want to not be a missionary! I can't think of a greater honor or purpose in life than this! This is the lords work, there are people out there who don't know they have a Savior that loves them!! I need to go tell them!! 

If you know this amazing truth, what are you doing right now to utilize it?! How are you coming closer to your Savior Jesus Christ?! You are so blessed to know this, don't take it for granted! Come unto him and know how individual and personal he feels JUST FOR YOU!! He loves you, no matter what you have done or who you think you are his love is endless! Find it!! Use it!! Live it!! 

The MTC is so amazing its literally the happiest place on earth! Everyone still calls me Cinderella and can't believe I'm so enthusiastic all the time! But how can I not be?! I'm a missionary!!! Everyday I learn and grow closer to my Savior and I know that is the way life should be! Let me know if you ever need anything, I'm happy to help! Thanks for all the letters and packages, it makes my day and it's greatly appreciated!! 

God loves you, Christ loves you and I LOVE YOU 

-Sister Schultz 

Eating my moms  homemade cookies and treats

Week One

Friday June 22, 2018--My first P-Day 

 
I LOVE THE MTC!!! I have had complete Joy every minute while being here. So much that my Sisters in my district call me Cinderella! They are so wonderful and the love I have for them, testifies to me that God does love each and everyone of US. That He will give you the same love for all you meet if you just ask for it. This pure constant Joy has been such a blessing to me.

Honestly the morning before I went to the MTC, I was so sad! I couldn't believe that I was actually going to be a missionary. That I was actually going to be leaving my family and loved ones. Every time I thought of leaving I cried. Yet here I am with no home sickness and sorrows! How can  that be?!? ( I ask myself that every day!)

Its through my Savior! I Prayed so hard to have the courage and strength to go. Every second leading up to the MTC I was so sad!! Then the minute I entered the MTC grounds ALL of that fear and sadness left! The power of prayer is so REAL. If you come to your Heavenly Father with your weaknesses He will make them strengths through your savior Jesus Christ. I know that is true!! Then you can use that gift to bless others around you! The minute I walked into the door of my district I knew that the Joy God has given me will help them have Joy! Each one has told me that my Joy has brightened there day or rubbed off on them so they can find happiness too. I'm grateful my Heavenly Father has made my weaknesses strong and that he has put me in a sport to help and support those around me. 

I know he can do this for each one of you!! Just be willing to do the hard things he asks, trusting that you will BECOME who God intends for you to be! I know he has greatness in store for each one of you and you will find it if your are willing to come unto God as who you are and be willing to Change through your Savior into who He wants you to be. 

I love my companion Sister Brown!! The lord knows who is suppose to be in your life and he certainly planned for us to be together! Also my District is wonderful! We played beach volleyball this morning and I was so much fun! We are now going to every day we are here! Which I'm so pumped for!! 

So the MTC is just amazing! We have already taught two lessons in the first two days and have another one coming up! After Sister Brown and I taught, we were so filled with the Spirit we have to go walk around the building to calm down! We were so enthusiastic afterwards we couldn't stop smiling and proclaiming truth!

And  the truth is this is the Restored Gospel of Christ!

The truth is God is GOOD!

The truth is your Savior is carrying you always

The spirit is our ultimate guide in everything we teach. Our first lesson would have been a train wreck without the Spirit! There is no way I could be teaching such Perfect Doctrine without the Holy Ghost. We have learned more fully our purpose as missionaries and it is to Invite others to:

Come unto Christ by 

Helping them Receive the Restored Gospel through 

Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement

Repentance 

Baptism 

Receiving the Holy Ghost and 

Enduring to the End

This is our purpose! All of us!! Us as missionaries have dedicated our lives right now to fulfill this.We have been set apart and we have taken his name upon our hearts. Our name tags our an outward expression of the inward covenant.  And you as members of this church can participate in this amazing work of the Lord. You have taken the lords name upon you through your baptismal covenants. You can be apart of this because his name is placed upon your heart too! Your actions and efforts will be your outward expression of that inward covenant.  He will strengthen you to share the amazing truth we all know! Its so amazing, I invite you all to experience it!!! 

I want to share this because I KNOW my savior has sacrificed everything he could for me. HE gave up everything so I could come Home to my Loving Heavenly Father. I can give up 18 months for Him, I'm so honored to do so. And I know each one of you can give up something to progress the Gathering of Saints, where ever you are and whoever you may be. You have a Purpose! God has something wonderful in store for you!! The minute you come unto your Savior Jesus Christ, willing to be what ever God wants you to be, He will let you know the Greatness you can and will accomplish. 

I KNOW GOD LOVES EACH ONE OF YOU! I'm grateful He lets me feel that love because I truly love you all! If you ever need anything let me know I'm always here for you! Your Savior is there for you every step of every day! He will do Anything for you! Pray to know him, pray to understand His sacrifice he made specifically for you, pray to become like him! 

Anything is Possible through your Savior. That is how I am where I am today. That is how you will do the miraculous things in your life. YOU ARE ALL DESTINED FOR GREATNESS!!!

I love you all so much! I love being a missionary!! 

-Sister Schultz! 

MISSIONARY PHOTO SHOOT

Before leaving for the MTC, Aspen was able to go to the Salt Lake City Temple grounds and have mappinglightphotography@outlook.com take some photos.

Necklace is a map of Alabama and the pendant has Aspen Brooke Schultz, Alabama Birmingham, 6/2018-12/2019