From: Kaitlyn Alysia Schumacher
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2018 1:34 PM
Subject: It's Snape
Dear family and friends,
Hello! My trainee's name is Sister Schouten! She's from Utah! I am doing well! I am trying my very best each day. I really want to help my companion to feel like a successful missionary! She's better than she knows! I'm excited to have the opportunity to watch first hand as her confidence in herself and in the Lord increases. She's really quiet so sometimes I just double check that she's doing okay, but when she bears testimony it's so pure. Our area is Massaponax!! I am back in Fredericksburg! We are teaching so many people! Waaahooooo! & more to come too!
On Saturday I got the chance to attend a baptism of someone who I taught in my first area! In fact, she was the very first lesson in my mission! She wasn't given permission at the time by her father, but one year later and a wondrous miracle happened! Oh how great the goodness of our God! I love these people. I can't help but feel an overwhelming gratitude that I got to witness the beginning of Anna's journey and then be placed in an area to see her be baptized. She bore her testimony at the end of the service where she said, "I know God loves us. He loves all of us." My heart was touched as the Spirit bore witness to me that her words were true.
At the end of one of the nights this week we had nine minutes to miracle find before we had to head home. We arrived at our predetermined street and asked Heavenly Father in a prayer to lead us to the homes of those who would receive us. I had the opportunity to say the prayer and I felt my faith really invested in it (I've really been focusing on my faith to find) and when we got out of the car I felt like we should go to a certain home. At that home we met John who accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and accepted a return appointment for the next week. Praying in faith really does make such a big difference.
Back in Powhatan! Are you ready for this? I don't think you are, but I'm going to tell you any way! We had a lesson with Channah Tuesday night and I shared my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and of the Book of Mormon. Walking away from her home I felt like I had given the Lord and Channah my all. I left it all out on the field you might say. The next morning we woke up to this text!! "So after you both left last night I sat down with my mom and talked about everything. (Sister Schumacher here! I'm going to leave some parts about because they're sensitive, but I promise it was the greatest text ever!) I found myself beginning to see that Joseph Smith saw a vision. So I can trust what he has to say. Furthermore God gives some people the gift of prophecy just as he gives some to be prophets and teachers and evangelists. I found that the light of the world did speak to Joseph Smith. So I can believe Joseph Smith was a prophet and I can believe there are modern prophets today. I'd like to ask you, Sister Lewis, if perhaps we could still pursue baptism for me this month. And I wish it could be with Sister Schumacher too, but not at this point." Ok, that last part may have seemed really sad, but I was so happy to read that!! Good job, Spirit! I knew it would happen for her! The Book of Mormon is true and any earnest seeker of truth will soon come to find that.
I am so sorry to spoil the new missionary rules for the other missionaries! I honestly thought we would have all been told the new rules in the same week. But alas, I am one of "those people." So yes, there are new missionary rules and yes, the half blood prince is Snape.
Well, I love you all! If you would like to email me, I would really love to hear from you. I have really missed hearing from some of you. Don't feel guilty, just know that I love hearing from my family a lot!