Pheonix, Durban

So my new area is called Pheonix and the climate is alot like Pheonix, Arizona.  I went from living in a mountainous (think Big Bear in November) to hot and humid!  There is a branch here for church so that is nice!

People love to feed them!

Trevor is Surfing???? thats pretty sweet. tell him to hang ten for me. If he gets good he'll have to hit up this beach near me called Balito. its pretty sweet brah.

This new area is cool. 100% different experience then my entire mission. its regular town. its majority english speaking. and christianity is not the majority. Its like starting mission all over again. Im teaching a lady that doesn't even know who heavenly father is and who Jesus Christ is. Didn't realize that people didnt know these things. hahaha we get fed like nuts. litterally the people could care less if your selling salvation or cars, if you knock on the door you'll get in and get juice if not a meal. then they just talk and ask you to go. haha ok, thanks for lunch.

The work is great tho. I really have to be bold. i think i've said things in these past two weeks with people i met the first time in my life. then things that i would have said to people i've known my entire times in areas. just what you have to do. like no this is right and this is how we know. try it if you want to make it to heaven. now you can kick me out your door. haha

My companion is Elder Armstrong and he is pretty cool.  This past week  I gave a talk that lasted like 25 min and i didn't prepare and it was 100 percent by the spirit. i prayed for inspiration and it came. God's real and here to help us.

love you,

Scooter

The building is still standing

Ok, how are you doing?

im doing great. sounds like you are too.

Is church attendence still going up? 

hahaha well last week was an exception but otherwise yes.

You have said that you get along with your companion, but I don't believe that I have heard what his name is or where he's from, so??? 

His name is Elder Gideme from Tanzania. and we are doing good.

 Do you think you will be transferred?

 yea probably. but i dont want to.

Any inspirational thoughts or experiences? 

weeeelllllllll i had to give a talk on sunday at the last second. and i opened my scriptures and read 2 nephi ch: 13-23. and i really enjoyed that scripture. it turned into a lovely talk.

Ice Cold Water

I know how you like bathing in cold water sooo......

..... yesterday I baptized one of our investigators.

hahaha it was cold. The portable font we set up the day before was iced on the top. So I got in the water and broke the thin layer of ice then invited her in and performed the ordinence. Probably my favorite and best baptism on mission.

"onward and upward." The more we look back the less we notice the progress.

Hope it makes you jealous. Love you. The big shipp in cold water.(Like that picture of washington on the delta.)


P.s.- Only 5 months left!

Stop and see the results of priesthood blessings

Many members at Church this week? 37 i think.

The elections are over right? yea, the reigning goverment lost which is what the poeple wanted so thats good.  How did that go? only minimal commotion. so far but people should be happy.  

Did you have to worry about people being so upset they rioted? no cause the bad guys lost. so should be fine.
How is your companion doing? "Ayoba" he says.

Do you have any Scooterisms for us this week? The lord is working miricles for us, but unless we stop and truely look for them we may never see them. Focus on those little blessing and remember that he loves you.

How about any experiences you would like to share? There was this Lady that went to the hospital so we went and helped out and before we left we offered a blessing and we left. The next day at church a member was referring to authority and priesthood and brought up the blessing and said that moments after the blessing the lady was joking around and alot more receptive. She left the hospital today. Was a real eye opener. I didnt even think that I should sit and see the results of the blessing. I just wanted to go eat.(mind you it was 11 and we still had to go home to prepare dinner and eat.) but those results meant soo much to those around us.

 

Love,

The Big Shipp

Alma 36

Any words of wisdom for us? ALMA 36. powerfull scripture. read ponder and apply.
Do you think you will stay in the same area at the next transfers? yup.
How long has your companion been out? ummmmm just like 4 months.

Jedi Power

So, can you telll me how you are and use more than one word? im doing good. nothing big with my health. still having a hot bath once a week and pampering myself, exersisine 4 times a week. and eating food. nothing big. ha

How is your weather now:? getting colder. it should start snowing in the mountains next week. or this week. maybe today its freaking cold this morning. haha

Are you still liking your new companion? for sure. we cook together, we do everything together. probably my most unified companion ive had 

Is your truck running better now that is has been fixed? hahahaha funny thing is we waited till wensday to fix the starter last week and then 3 starts later its broken again sooooooo were back here today fixing it. YAY!!! weve been push starting it all week. im like a pro at starting it now and i should be a lineman. cause pushing a 2.5 deisil truck 5 times a day to a slow jog by myself with my comp in the car is hard work haha 

Cameron wants to know if you are having fun and do you like Star Wars? i always have fun. funs my middle name... Clinton le"fun"e Shipp. notice it says Fun-e. hahahaha and of course, as a missionary i have to use the "force" on a daily baisis. see what they dont tell you in the movie is that the jedis get there power from keeping the commandments and reading there scriptures. 

Do you have any Scooter words for us? The plan of salvation is a power message of hope and a strong sign that our father in heaven loves us. It is outlined in the book of mormon soooo clearly for us to learn and grow from this divine message. It leads us as a lighthouse would a shipp thru our stormy times and our tidalwave trials. There is a quote that our dear presidency says that i use soo often in the lessons im in, "the things that matter most are the things that last the longest". we should remeber these things during times of weakness and travail. we should remember that our heavenly father loves us, and that these "faith trying" events in our lives are just minor bounds that will make us sooo much happier and stronger the next day. We should remeber that family is forever and that we will see those we loose again. soon. and we will be happy as will they as we live the gospel of christ.

 

my condolences to uncle scott and the family.

Love,

Elder shipp