Week 99 - "Trials, a Birthday, and Yosemite Take 2"

  I kept looking at my email late in the day on Monday, and began to wonder why Elder Schaff had not written yet. Then suddenly several emails hit my inbox and that was that. Turns out that Hayden and his entire district were able to go to Yosemite and hike, so he returned late and had limited email time, but it sounds like they had a fun adventure outdoors. For the first time, he is also sounding tired, a little burned out, and ready to come home. He has been packing up, and last week a box arrived at our home, he sent home sweaters and extra ties, so I can tell he is starting to purge his belongings. He is giving us "closing perspectives," so, he is definitely feeling like it's the end of his mission and he is pondering the experience as a whole. Two more weeks and we can all be together again!! I am very excited, I miss him, it will be nice to get that hug!

  "Hey family!

   (And anyone who may read this!)

  This week posed some challenges. The heat really worked us over. Some of the people we teach slowed their spiritual progress; many were unable to meet with us, save it be one time this week.

  Stress got the better of us a bit as well. We've been asked to do a lot of ministering to our zone, and Elder Fuller and I were asked to give a training during Zone Conference on Wednesday. (My last official training!) There's a lot to do every day, and it is tiring! Yet we survived this week, so we can go one more!

  I feel like the Lord made sure to set the missions as a two-year commitment, because I know I can give my all for the remaining time for sure. If it was any longer, it would be difficult to maintain the willpower!

  You're probably wondering about round two of Yosemite! Well, our district leader and his companion managed to organize a way for all 11 members of the district to go up to Yosemite. We had another great time. This trip we saw Wawona point, Glacier point, and Yosemite falls. You drive up to the points, but there is a short hike at Glacier point for a different view. 

  The points view the Yosemite "valley," (because is it really a valley at 5,000 feet?) and one begins to comprehend the vast expanses of nature while looking there. The view also features Vernal falls off in the distance, the one we hiked last trip. Above Vernal falls to the right is Nevada falls. Maybe we missed the opportunity to see that the previous trip!

  Yosemite falls apparently flows with white water in the spring, but its run-off was very calm for the July heat. There's a bridge you can stand on and admire it from, which is the extent of a spring trip, but because the rocks were dry, we went further! We actually hiked through the (mostly) dry river bed (there were some pools of water and small streams) and even up on some steep rocks past the waterfall. There was a little crevice we climbed up into and took pictures from behind the first view; these turned out wonderfully. This trip allowed me to take in a lot more of Yosemite, so I was grateful for the chance to go a second time!

  Elder F's birthday was Friday, July 6th. As the first birthday tends to go in the mission, it wasn't the most glamorous day, but I think he still had a good day. We had Mission Leadership Council that day, and definitely started with a joyful morning being able to do that. President got everyone to sing happy birthday for him too! I got to lead the "Called to Serve, California Fresno Mission style!" song at the end of lunch, to thank the cooks. We do this a lot in our meetings, hopefully this is an understandable reference. It was a good moment!

    

  The Modesto missionaries were merged into our mission on July 1st, so their leaders were at MLC too. Those were the only ones I will get to meet before I go home!

  I finished 1, 2, and 3rd John this week, plus Jude. I continued marking the differences between the new updated Preach My Gospel, and the old one. (It was updated 2 weeks ago, only on Gospel Library in English.) The changes are very inspiring!

  I'm reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish, whenever I study it right now. I'm at 2 Nefí 16. I might not finish the Spanish read through on my mission, but I will most definitely get it done! I understand a lot more of the archaic Spanish now. I've learned a lot as well from those read throughs. Keep reading the Book of Mormon, there are so many promised blessings for doing so!

  I read Revelation 1-3 this morning during the car ride to Yosemite. Using the institute study guide, and Joseph Smith Translations, I had a miracle occur: I actually understood everything I read. I guess I have spiritually matured! 

  I have a deep and abiding love for the scriptures. That is a great blessing the mission gave me.

  There's been a theme I've pondered a lot recently: life's priorities. I had a nice spiritual moment Sunday morning where I came to the conclusion that if you have set your number one life priority as being good with God, you will be successful. You will feel accomplished, and look back on life with few regrets; because God will make all other aspects of life worth their while to you. I pondered my mission and my experiences, and decided that that was true of me, even though I have faced many long days, many trials, and even moments where I doubted I could succeed in what the Lord has asked me to do. Looking back, I see that I accomplished much. So if you want a missionary's closing perspective, that's it!

  That's all I can think to say! I'll send the pictures in a moment here."

- Elder Schaff