Blackmon Kids Baptism!!!

Car selfie to remember my first ZC

Wow what a special week it was!!!!

We had Zone Conference which was so amazing! It was from 9 to 4!! I could not believe all that I learned in that amount of time! It would take forever to tell you all my thoughts and impressions so I'm just choosing one I hope Y'all can apply to yourselves!

President Sainsbury said that "YOU CHOSE to come on a mission" He then asked us "do you know WHY?" We all took a few minutes to reflect on the answer. It was such a cool experience, sincerely asking myself why I am serving. He promised us at the end that if we always remember the WHY and keep that always in mind, we will never waver!

Thankful for the Bate's family today & everyday

We had a crazy week of teaching! We have 5 people on date to be baptized and 4 who will be baptized on Saturday!! It is a miraculous sight to see people truly coming unto their Savior! The advisory works just as hard in these moments though!! All the people on date have born testimony to us that they know the Book of Mormon is true! That the Plan of Salvation makes perfect sense! That Joseph Smith was called of God! Yet they all have something that is holding them back. Fear, addictions even family members! They begin to forget their WHY! Why they believed its true or why they had a desire to be baptized in the first place!

The baptism was such a special day! Mikayla, Haley, Wyatt and Claire entered the waters of baptism after waiting 2 years for their parents permission and having multiple missionaries teach them! During this time they never forgot the reason WHY they wanted to be baptized! They sat across from us before they were, while we listened to the speakers. It was like looking at Heaven on earth! They were so happy you could feel the excitement! It was so special to witness these special children of God enter the waters of baptism!

We sat by them on Sunday during sacrament meeting. They were all confirmed members of the church and received the Holy Ghost! Their blessings were so specific and unique to each one of them. You could feel the individual love Heavenly Father had for them! They hugged us right after and I was brought to tears! Heavenly Father just received four of his children into his kingdom and gave them his most wonderful gift! I was one of the first people to hug them after, how am I so lucky?! I will never be able to answer that! They are very special kids, they are setting the example for the rest of their futures! I'm so honored to know them!

I asked them after their WHY. Why did you want to be Baptized and why did you never give up on your desire to be Baptized? They all told me it was because of their Savior! They wanted to follow Him, or be more like Him or become closer to Him!

So I ask all of you, what is your WHY?

Why are you a member of the church? Why did you/are you serving a mission? Why are you living the life you are?

I hope you can answer honestly...BECAUSE OF HIM!

Sister Clifford shared with me a quote from Elder Andersen when he came and spoke to our mission a few months ago

"Ask your self, do I believe in Christ? Then do ALL you can to receive an answer to know that He is your Savior.  When you get that answer, NEVER desert Him and NEVER question it again!"

If y'all don't know who your savior is, find him! Take the counsel from an Apostle of the Lord by gaining a sure testimony of Him. Then never lose sight of your WHY!

I can promise you that the minute you start living for Him, you will find the true purpose of life! Live for Him, because I can promise you that He not only lived for YOU, He suffered all of YOUR pains, He was willing to die for YOU and He rose again on the third day so that YOU can one day do the same! In relief society they gave us a hand out that said "Is what you're living worth Christ dying?" I hope to always be able to answer yes to this!

I just want to invite y'all to figure out your WHY. Truly ask yourself, study it out and pray to know! Then write it down when its centered on your Savior and never lose sight of it! I promise y'all that your life will improve when it is centered on Him. I testify with all my heart that He is the only way to live and He is WHY I am here today!

I love my Savior and I know that he loves you!

Have a great week!!

-Sister Schultz

A sister who used to serve here came to visit and took us to lunch!

On our way to Zone Conference we past NASA in Huntsville!

AP Swainstin and us after Zone Conference!

Levi who we are teaching, at the ward party playing volleyball with us!

We went to a legit farm!! It was beautiful!

Me braiding everyone's hair before the baptism!

Week 4

ONE MONTH

Hey Y'all!!

How weekly planning looks after

This week has been crazy!! I hit my one month mark on Friday!! Sister Clifford hit her one year mark on Thursday!

Sister Clifford and I have been planning like crazy here is Alabama! Things I never thought I'd be doing!! Saturday was one of those days that just threw us for a loop!!

One of our investigators is so ready for baptism and is literally giving everything up to the Lord!! It has been so amazing to watch her dedication! Our last lesson she prayed at the end for God to take away all her addictions. It was so powerful and sincere totally depending on her Father and Savior!! I was brought to tears by the end! The only thing that is kinda funny is she lives with her Baptist fiancé...he doesn't really like us!

We've taught her the law of chastity and she isn't fully loving it. We told her that if she wants to be baptized she would have to be married. That was a rough conversation. She says that they would be if they had the means.

We talked it out and she said that she would consider marriage if we could provide a way! So now Sister Clifford and I are planning a WEDDING! haha never thought I would be doing that while on my mission! We even found a church you can rent for free!! We've fasted and prayed so hard and you can just see how much God is directing us. I know that she will come to the waters of baptism one day!

Us Fishing with Vicki

Off-roading to go fishing!

We went fishing this week with one of our investigators Vicki! She loves to fish and we teach lessons while we fish! She is so solid!! She loves the gospel so much and shares it with everyone! She is trying so hard to quit smoking, it's been the coolest thing to watch her give all she has to God and trust him to take it all away! The faith people show down here in Alabama is such a testimony builder to me!! While fishing I stopped, looked around and could not believe my life! If you told me a month ago that I'd be off roading to a pond in the middle of no where, trying to help Vicki put a hot dog on a rusty old fish hook praying it doesn't poke my finger, while she's smoking and hearing the 10 commandments from my companion....I would NEVER believe you! Yet here I was living this crazy life!  Serving in the south is the greatest thing I've ever done! She wont accept a baptism date until her old Preacher passes away!! He is apparently super sick and still preaches every Sunday but the congregation is getting smaller and smaller as he gets sicker. Vicki feels to guilty leaving him now because he's helped her for 30 years! She says " as soon as he kicks the can, I'm coming to your church!" I never thought I would hear someone say that, yet here I am in good ol' Alabama!!

Later that day we had a lesson over the phone with Tyler. He called us and said that God told him to go to the LDS church!!!!!! We were blown away!! I still cant believe it really happened! But it just keeps getting crazier! During the lesson we asked him questions to get to know him better and how we can help him come closer to Christ. He tells us that he has all these questions and the church he goes to now just can't answer them. We asked what he was wondering and he goes "Well first of all, where were we before this life?"

Sister Clifford and I could not believe it!! They always tell you that people wonder that, but I never thought I'd be asked directly! We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he just kept saying how it's so incredible and it all makes sense!!

God truly does prepare his people to find the truth! I'm blown away every single day by the miracles I see here in Cullman! God is so GOOD!!! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the fullness of the Gospel once again restored upon the earth! I'm so honored to serve here and help others learn of the truth that I have learned. I ask Heavenly Father everyday, why am I so lucky to know the truth when so many people don't have it??? Every time I get the answer " You are willing to share it!"

The gospel is meant for everyone! There isn't a single person on earth who isn't deserving of the truth or of Christ's eternal sacrifice! I know he died for YOU!! I know he loves YOU! I know he will walk by YOU, stand with YOU and even carry YOU every day of your life! My Savior means everything to me because I've depended everything on Him! I know that when you turn to Him you will be strengthened. You won't be alone or scared or sad. He takes it all away!!! I always wondered why, why would HE do that for ME? Since being on my mission I have come to know its because HE LOVES YOU!!! More than you will ever know or feel or comprehend! He's never going to leave you, so turn to Him, lean on Him, go find Him because HE IS YOUR SAVIOR!!

I love being a missionary! I love Alabama and all the crazy adventures I see daily! I love y'all so much!

Have a wonderful week, I'll talk to y'all soon!!

-Sister Schultz

Bates kids being baptized on Saturday! We made calendars with tasks to help them prepare! 

Sister Clifford and I Celebrating One month and One Year with Pizza and ice cream

BE ATTITUDES--10 Week Challenge

WEEK 1 ~ BE GRATEFUL 

Sister Clifford and I are starting a 10 week challenge and we want to invite all to participate!!

We are studying the BE ATTITUDES and how by applying them, we can become more like our Savior Jesus Christ!

This week we are focusing on BE GRATEFUL! We invite you to join us in studying this week on how to be more grateful and why we should have an attitude of gratitude!

We will be posting our results at the end of the week and we can't wait to hear how it goes for all of you! ❣❣

Facebook Post July 17

Alma 32:30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

Sister Clifford and I know that the potential God sees in you is as beautiful as these flower!! He loves you!! The more you exercise faith, obey his will and come unto Christ you will grow into the person God intends for you to be💛

Week Four-- Cullman Alabama

A watermelon a nice man gave to us at the Farmers Markets

Hello mom and dad!!! 

Yes I am alive!!! Today is my P-Day so I can email! Not very long, because President doesn't want us spending all day on email.  

So I'm in Cullman, Alabama and let me just say it's a MIRACLE place! I've seen so many in the past few days I can't even believe it!  My prayers at night are at least 30 minutes long! 

Sister Clifford and I trying to ride bikes....did not work!!

I love my companion, she is the greatest human I could ever ask for!! She is just like me and it blows my mind!! She teaches me so much and pushes me to be the best missionary I can be!! I love her!!

We have 8!!!!!! People on date for baptism and we have a family of four kids we are teaching and 4 new Potential investigators we found Saturday and it's just such a blessing! 

I got my bike! Its sooo nice holy cow! We don't use them because we have a car! BLESSED! We rode yesterday to save miles and let's just say its kinda hard. (Haha) I have tons of battle wounds (Haha). 

I miss you guys, but I'm so happy I'm here!! I couldn't imagine my life not serving! Its forever changed me and I can't wait to keep going! 

Our cute apartment!! 

The sweetest kids we met tracting
 who wanted to be our BFF's

We use Facebook only for our missionary purpose! So I don't follow any of you but you can still follow me! I can get messages but I won't respond! 

The weather is definitely hot and humid but it is what it is so I try not to stress about it! 

The people here are so amazing! Everyone talks to us and is so kind.   Even if they don't care what we say,  they still are nice so don't worry about me!   They also love to give us stuff and discount things for  us!! 

It's crazy the poverty that some people are in here though! Wow they are so dependent on the government and it's so sad! There are some that are a little slower,  yet when it comes to the gospel everyone can make sense of it and we are all on the same level! 

I love it here!! The ward is great! They all ask me how long I've been out here and think for sure it's been a year or more hahaha I was just born to be a missionary! 

-Sister Schultz

Sister Aspen Brooke Schultz has safely arrived in the

Alabama Birmingham Mission!

Week Three Sweet Home Alabama--My last P-Day in the MTC

Sweet Home Alabama--My last P-Day in the MTC

Hello everyone!!!

This is the last p-day I will have at the MTC! Its so crazy how fast it has gone by!! I can't believe in FOUR days I'll be in Sweet Home Alabama!!

I LOVE THE MTC!!!! It seriously makes me so sad to think about leaving this place! The MTC has changed my life forever, if  I went home right now I would never be the same person and I'm so grateful for that! Luckily I get 17 more months to keep growing and changing to be who God want me to be! 

It would take way to long share all the amazing and special experiences I've had this week, so I've decided to just share one story that taught me a deeper meaning of the atonement!

Last P-day we as a district had a hard time focusing on our purpose in class later that night. Our teacher was very frustrated and we weren't giving him respect that he deserves! 

So the next day as sisters we were talking on how we can improve and really use all the time we have left in the MTC to become better missionaries. We came up with goals and ideas then thought we should share it with the Elders. They wanted me to conduct because they said I can make any situation happy haha. So I tried my best!

We came to class early which cut into our lunch time and I could tell the Elders we a little upset about it. As soon as we started the discussion the spirit was instantly gone and I felt SOOO SICK! It was so weird, I'd never felt that way before. We tried to make goals to help us be more respectful and better missionaries, yet no one would speak. It was pointless to try and this overwhelming feeling of sickness/sadness kept getting stronger. 

So we ended and prepared for class and I was soooo sad! I had no idea why! Everyone kept asking what was wrong and where my enthusiasm went and I honestly could not answer! 

We went to our teaching appointments and diner and still I could not get happy! 

We came back to our night class and still I couldn't be happy!! I was just consumedAfter class one of the Elders said he had to talk to me about something and that awful feeling came back so strong! He started to CRY!!!! and with tears in his eyes he just apologized to me! He was upset that I called a meeting because he is the district leader and it was his place to call those not mine. So he told all the Elders and then they were all mad they couldn't have longer lunch or time to get ready. Yet after he felt soooo bad and upset that he was the cause of the anger. He realized what he did was wrong and was so sincere about asking for my forgiveness! I was bawling at this point because when he apologized to me the spirit instantly came back! The reason I was so sad was because I didn't have the spirit with me anymore. I let there anger consume my thoughts and thinking I was wrong or not good enough.  
and  felt so much sadness. I was so confused because nothing changed and I was trying to do everything to have the spirit with me again!

Yet when he was asking for forgiveness, with this most guilty look and sincere desire to make things right, I wasn't mad because of what he did, I wasn't upset that the spirit was gone because of this experience, all I could feel was this overwhelming feeling of love. I knew he was sorry, I knew he wanted to be better and I knew he would never do this again. 

I didn't want him to be sad, I didn't want him to feel guilty for what he had said or done, all I wanted was for him to know I forgave him and that I still loved him like my brother! Nothing else mattered to be then having him know thats how I truly felt so that he wouldn't beat himself up about it anymore, to know that he can move on from this guilt. 

I want to testify that this is exactly how our savior feels for us!! He doesn't hold your guilt against you. He will never look at you like you aren't deserving enough for forgiveness. He won't feel betrayed or hurt when you sincerely Come to Him seeking for forgiveness. All He will feel is LOVE. And nothing else will matter to Him except you knowing that he will FORGIVE you and that He will ALWAYS LOVE YOU!! Your Savior lived for You, died for You, and most important He suffered all that You will suffer so He can comfort You and let You know that you will always be worthy of  Love and Forgiveness! 

I was so grateful for this experience to feel a glimpse of what our savior feels for us! All the elders are wonderful and we are all learning together! The all wrote me notes and apologized and said that they never want to take away happy Sister Schultz again haha! They are great! Truly like my brothers! 

We watched fireworks and all color coordinated on the 4th it was awesome!

Also I started to read the Book of Mormon again but this time with a question I want answered! It has been such an amazing experience to see how every chapter has an answer specific for me!! I would invite all of you to get a new Book of Mormon, write you question on the inside cover and then as for the Holy Ghost to teach you what God wants you to hear. I promise if you do this sincerely seeking to find truth, you'll get it. You love for this precious Book will grow show much and you will have this craving to always read it! 

I know that Jesus Christ is YOUR savior! He loves you so much!! God wants to guide you and will as soon as you ask him too! He loves you, you are HIS! I hope you all know how much I love you!!! 

Have a great week!

Sister Schultz

Laundry Day--last one in the MTC