Week 46 - Birthday, Baptism and Tough Goodbyes

  This is what Elder Schaff wrote about all that was happening the final week in June. He celebrated his birthday, they had a baptism and they said goodbye to President and Sister Clark and welcomed a new mission president and wife to the California Fresno Mission.

  "Birthday Lunch at Denny's with the Elders, as well as the senior missionary couple. They wanted to have a birthday dinner and it was nice to unify our little district a bit more."

  "The end of the Clarks was a good day, but all was fulfilled. There were many tears, laughs, and uplifting spiritual counsel in those moments. President and Sister Clark each gave their deepest, and most powerful training yet.

President Clark trained on the Eternal Learning process. Knowledge==>Understanding==>Intelligence.

Sister Clark taught "The Ladder of Motivation," basically, what is the reason for why we do things? The greatest reason is to be out of Christ-like love and Charity, and the reasons in order of decreasing value are: faith, duty, reward/punishment, fear, force. Stay with the first 3!

President Clark, Elder Schaff and Sister Clark

  "So that takes us up to Zone Conference. We said good-bye to president Clark, and that was that. He presided over the mission until June 29th, and then left. Quite the birthday present, my Mission President left me! Nonetheless he said he would always be one of my Mission Presidents and my friend, and I believe him! That is so valuable to me!  (I've still got that medallion with me as well, not going to lose it!)

Medallion that was given to Elder Schaff by President Clark previously

  This week was full of crazy events. The main people of focus have been: "M", "E", and by surprise, "L"! "M" did get baptized on Friday. There really wasn't any worry with that. He has been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon and feels that everything is true. He even bore his testimony in sacrament meeting on Sunday! Way to hit the ground running! Moments after receiving the Holy Ghost in confirmation he was acting upon it to bear his testimony.

  "M" did give a little resistance getting baptized though, (haha) he didn't bend his knees and the first time let go of my arm with both hands to plug his nose with both hands, so it was a baptism to be remembered for sure. Needless to say we got it the 2nd time and all was well.

    "E" has been a tough cookie recently. He has had a lot of doubts about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, but it all came back together yesterday. We have reached the conclusion that he is literally on the battlefield of faith, like a tug-of-war between the Spirit and Satan's influences."

  "E" had a strange experience that he related to us about Wednesday I think, where he said that his son came to him at 2 in the morning crying and he felt that something was wrong. He attributed it to the Book of Mormon, and removed it from his room and stopped reading it. We happened to have a member at that lesson, who challenged him that it was Satan trying to stop him from receiving the blessings of the Book. "E" actually decided to begin reading again, which was a surprise. I thought that was going to be the horrible ending.

  We had some lessons, but on Sunday a noticeable change occurred. he had read 2 Nephi chapters 2-8, and suddenly he felt like the Book of Mormon could be true, that Joseph Smith was possibly a prophet, and he also noted he felt he needed to be baptized. So if he turns to worldly knowledge he turns away. If he reads the Book of Mormon he feels at peace and feels like he is receiving answers. We'll see where it goes. At least for now we don't have that sinking feeling!

  AND "L"! To be honest, my birthday was a pretty tough day. Everything was normal, except every missionary had on his mind or in the back of it the fact that President Clark was indeed going home. The end had come. We visited "M" and a less-active member at the hours of 12 and 1pm, and for the rest of the day we were out on our bikes trying to talk to people. It wore me out. In the midst of all of this, we went to a appointment with a man named "F", who is really awesome. But apparently he forgot the appointment so we went back empty-handed. (We visited him on Sunday though, don't worry.) I saw "L"'s parents coming home, and I thought we might as well say hi and see how they and "L" are doing. Much to my surprise, "L" had returned from Washington! I'll take that as a birthday gift! We caught up with him and set a time to return. He came to church this week and wants to be baptized this Sunday. We'll see what happens! He does meet the requirements, so it may happen. It's exciting to see him again. 

  We did get a lot of potential investigators and had a lot of things to prepare for the baptism and records to update as well, so by the time I finished all those chores it was about 10:30pm onThursday. I opened up "The Birthday Box," and I broke a smile with a gleaming eye as I did so. I really felt your love family!!! Unfortunately I was so very drained I got to the card and saw what I had received, and all I could do was cry. For the love of my family, and also the realization that my Mission President had probably changed. I was moved with gratitude. It was not an easy birthday, but as I sat there that night, I decided the greatest gift of all was the man I had and have become thanks to the influence of all these great people. The gift of knowledge and understanding (and perhaps love) is as good as it gets in reality. It's all you can bring to the eternities!

  I did enjoy the birthday box much more through out the week, and finally got around to making cake in a mug on Sunday night. I intended to do it Saturday, but I realized I had started a fast, so I waited. The cake was pretty good Sydney, thanks for asking. Maybe I'll throw some fruit or chocolate into the next attempts.

"Birthday in a Box" package that was sent from home

  Also! My testimony of fasting increased a ton, we had many blessings Sunday, but I'm out of time, so that's a story for another day!

Love you all, bye!"

--Elder Schaff

Baptism!

  It was an incredible feeling to see a picture of Elder Schaff dressed in all white clothing standing next to the man he had the privilege to baptize. This is what missions are all about, finding and teaching individuals about Jesus Christ and giving them the opportunity to be baptized. Both companionship's had a baptism on June 30th. It was great day for all involved.

Week 45- Elder Schaff's Daily Summary of the Past Week

  I was writing to Elder Schaff in a hotel room in Ohio this week, we were taking his younger sister to an Especially For Youth session in Tiffin, Ohio. This week he will be celebrating his 19th birthday, and last year he came with us to Ohio to take his sister to EFY, and we celebrated his birthday at Put in Bay, which is an island in Lake Erie. So, I have been thinking of him a lot. 

  It was good to hear from him and he broke down his week by summarizing each day.

  "At long last I have more than 5 minutes to write an email!!!

  Alright, so this week was full of action, success, immense joy and a bit of Godly sorrow put the finishing touch for a character building experience. The easiest way for me to map the week is to give the day by day:

Monday: Chaotic. Had a district meeting in Hanford. Preparation day was thus very short. We had a training on the Book of Mormon and when role-playing, the Zone Leaders said that we have to stand for it and proclaim it as our favorite book--if people ask us if we like it better than the Bible, tell it straight to their face: yes, because it provides more clearly the way to salvation. (Then love them and back up your claim with evidence, but be bold!.)

Tuesday: 110º. Wonderful for biking. We set an appointment with this man that didn't appear very interested, but when we went, it so happened that we had a member with us, and it ended up being a great lesson. The member made this man, "F", feel very comfortable, which resulted in him actually taking action to investigate this beautiful gospel. Later in the week we would visit him to find he had read 13 chapters. His wife is also super Catholic and tried to bash with us--and the unthinkable happened--he defended the Book of Mormon to his wife and said that she was falsely accusing it and didn't know how clear it was. Dang!

Wednesday: We had an exchange with the Zone Leaders. Highlights include Elder K felt inspired to visit a distant former investigator and we were on bikes for whatever reason (their truck was having trouble.) we ended up biking 20 miles and getting rejected and rode 20 back, knocking doors to no avail. I didn't think things like that could happen to Zone Leaders, but I guess it does! 

Thursday: We went to the Temple! we were informed we would be doing that Wednesday night. Big surprise. It was a bigger surprise to the members that needed to give us 45 minute rides to the Temple, but it worked out. Along with personal revelation that I received, our district decided that we would seek out investigators that could become worthy priesthood holders. we are going to show the branch we mean business and make it a ward!

Weekend events: The craziness breaks loose. Our investigator Miguel is set to be baptized Friday, June 30th. Elder D wanted to put it on my birthday, but the other Elders have a baptism for Friday as well, so we decided it would be much better to put them together!  That's exciting! Miguel is excited for it as well!

"E" took a turn for the worse. He lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon, doesn't know if Joseph Smith could be a prophet, and reverted to his old, interrupting self. He also didn't attend church, which was a surprise since he brought the family last time. He is however willing to visit with us to figure it all out, so hopefully it goes well! That was a shocker because we thought he was going to be baptized this week or the next.

True fear. I haven't felt that for a long time. Probably not the whole mission. But I did Saturday night. We got a text from a former potential named "H", saying that he didn't know where to go in his life and nobody could help him but us. We went to see and tried to help him, but he was inconsolable. He is a very rude person to say the least. Since our last visit he has been forcibly separated from his family... (Elder E and I visited him way back.) He gave us an ultimatum: We either show him the way to become a missionary or he becomes a drug dealer. He was totally drunk so we just got out of there. Hopefully he forgets the whole thing because we really can't help him go either way. He absolutely rejected the Book of Mormon and also said a swear word every 3rd word....

We're focusing on the awesome moments with President Clark though, and that baptism coming up. So the bad times did not last. The final Zone Conference with the Clark's is tomorrow, and I'm excited!

Gotta go, bye

--Elder Schaff

Week 44 - Everything is Fantastic

  I was in a rush this morning and went to get my haircut. I had Hayden's sister in tow and asked her to email her brother while I was getting my haircut. My plan was to drive home, eat lunch and then write to him, but when I opened my email to write, he had already written and was gone! I can't believe I missed him this week. Good thing his sister wrote to him. He generally emails around 5:00 pm in California, which is 8:00 pm here, so I thought I had plenty of time this afternoon. So, I guess I better do what I used to do, and make sure I write before I go to bed on Sunday nights. Sometimes it is frustrating when we miss each other because he needs a new pair of pants and I need his pant size! That will have to just wait another week.

  President and Sister Clark are almost done with their 3 years of service and will be leaving around June 30th, then he will have a new mission president and wife until the end of his mission next summer. That is why he is referring to their last interview and mentions the Jeopardy game being an "end to it all." Here is his email-

  "Okay, everything is fantastic. It really is, but we are losing 40 minutes of our email time, because we can't pause it, and we have an appointment at 11:00am. It would have been fine, but the Selma Elders don't have a car and we have to chauffeur them across town and they apparently need us right now, so we have to leave soon and lose that email time. Oh well! That's how it goes....

  Elder D and I are doing great. He wakes me up at 6:00 on preparation day and I prefer sleeping until 6:15 on preparation day, but it's ok, I'll get over it. That's not so bad. But when we email, he types like 140 words per minute,  so he finishes in 30 minutes and wants to go do other things and I'm sitting here like: please let me use my whole hour and 30 minutes! But nay. Can't win everything.

  Our teaching is superb. Everyone in the area is progressing along very nicely. "E" came to church for the 4th time in a row this Sunday and, to our surprise, brought his family along with him! "M" also came. Elder Ennis and I met "M" in a park one day and he said we could come over the next day. Ever since then he has been preparing for baptism. "M" and "E" have set baptism dates for the end of the month. It should be exciting!

  Last week I couldn't write because there was not much time and we had to send an email to President Clark for our concluding interviews. I had that interview on Friday. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. President gave me some wonderful, personal counsel and an amazing promise. He told me he was "well pleased" with my efforts, which filled my heart with joy, because sometimes I've wondered how well I'm doing! I knew then that the Lord knew of my sacrifices and what I am seeking to accomplish.

  Sorry I couldn't send anything for Father's Day. I began writing a letter, but was informed that it is against the rules to write letters on any day other than preparation day. I love following all the rules, and now I don't have a choice because Elder D likes them too, and enforces them. So I wrote no letter. I didn't know that rule! Love you Dad! Obedience isn't always easy! Hopefully the card I was able to send for his birthday was enough!

  I'm placing a request for a scaled map of North and South America. I want to see if I can work a bit of relative geography as I read the Book of Mormon and get an idea of where all these places are.

  Other than that, I got some pictures of what we did at interviews this week. I'll try to send them.... normally we do a training with Sister Clark, but since it's our last one, we played Jeopardy with Missionary style questions. (Preach My Gospel, Scriptures, Missionary Handbook, etc.) It was fun! A good experience to "end" it all. (The official end is Zone conference.)

  I hope I can write a better letter next week!!!! But sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven..."

​Love,

--Elder Schaff

Week 43 - Not Much to Report

  Unfortunately, Hayden didn't write much this week. This is all that we got, plus some ACT testing advice for his sister, which we which she had before she took the exam-

"Well, we had a special assignment to write President about some things we have learned from the mission. Unfortunately, we started email late and I have to go. Next week!

I thought of one last thing I may need- one more pair of dress pants that aren't attached to a suit!"

Love the family, bye

The ACT test isn't hard, it's all about time management.

English was the only one that I felt required significant skill.

Math you have to move fast because the last 10 questions take way longer than the rest. Can't second-guess the easy ones.

Reading there is always a passage you have to read and always one you need to skim. You have to look at the questions you have to answer in that section to know what you are trying to read for. All the times I did it there was a poem or a short story that just asked for literary techniques in the passage--you didn't even have to read it. Interesting tip.

Science you just have to know how to use a graph and a few formulas. Practice makes perfect.

Week 42 - Transfers and a New Companion

  Elder Schaff has only been in his new area for 6 weeks, so I didn't expect him to be transferred this week, and he wasn't, but almost everyone else in their area was. Unfortunately, his fun loving, yet hard working companion, Elder Ennis, was transferred to a new area. Hayden says that his new companion will be Elder Derbidge. They know of each other, as they were in the MTC at the same time and flew to California on the same day, but they have been in different areas the entire time, so now they will have the opportunity to catch up and serve together in Selma. It was getting late in the day, and an email had not come through, so I finally typed, 'are you there, doesn't your preparation day end soon?' This is how he answered-

  "We have had a lot of goodbyes to say. Normally preparation days end at 5:00 in this mission, but with transfers we get until 6:00."


  "Elder Ennis is being transferred. Elder Del Carmen is being transferred. Both the sisters serving here are also affected. Both the Elders that serve in both the English ward and the Spanish branch are affected. There are no survivors except for me and Elder Del Carmen's companion, Elder Nielsen.

Our Selma Gang

  So I haven't written about it, but in our district we have the faithful Elders S and J covering Reedly/Dinuba. They serve in both English and Spanish. Last week Elder S mysteriously had a "heart infection" that began Thursday. The entire mission prayed for him and he recovered on Monday, but was told to take it slowly. President Clark advised him to return home and rest and return to the mission when he knows there will be no risks. (Talk about serving with all your heart!)

  Why is this important? Their area is actually getting closed down because of a lack of Elders. So none other than the Parlier Elders and the Selma Spanish Elders will rise to the call!!!!  Elder Nielsen and I will get it done!

  Elder Nielsen's new companion will be Elder Lopez, but there are 4 Elder Lopez's in the mission currently. (My previous companion will return home now, so 3.) My new companion is Elder Derbidge. I was in the MTC with him and haven't heard much of him since! I imagine he is doing good and we will have a good transfer ahead of us!

  It's going to be crazy and we will have a lot ahead of us! "L" is looking like he will be baptized at the end of June. He came to all 3 hours of church and loved it. "E" also came to all 3 hours of church. He went to gospel doctrine this time and had a better experience. We invited him to also be baptized at the end of June. He said he would pray for an answer or a vision to make sure. That may seem a little out there, but the man prayed for a vision to know if the Book of Mormon is true or not. He proceeded to get one, and has read a good chunk of it. I doubt nothing now!

  Reedly/Dinuba had 14 people with baptismal dates in June. So that may involve even more work to do! I'm excited, but the pressure is on.

  Additional notes: I'm sad Elder Ennis is leaving because I felt like I had more to learn from him about finding/street contacting and I felt like we were doing good together. Also, we won't be able to sing any more songs..... Filming in progress today.

  The rendition of the hymn, "Have I Done Any Good?" on Mormon Channel gets me pumped up every preparation day! Check it out!

  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! We're going to light Selma/Kingsburg/Parlier on fire! Let the Spirit burn in the hearts of men!

  I wish I could share some more spiritual insights, but there is lots to tend to, not much time to scan through notes. Hopefully this will suffice!

  Shout out to the young men of Orchard Park, New York: tell me how you're doing my friends! I want to hear from ya before you go all your different directions!!!

--Elder Schaff

"Old Time Religion" Video Clip

  This is the first video that Elder Schaff has sent us while he has been serving. I think it is so hilarious. His companion, Elder Ennis, obviously knows this Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version of "Old Time Religion" well. His facial expressions at the end are very funny. I am so happy to see these two hard working missionaries having fun together.