Sunday, August 31, 2014

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK

Howdy folks! I just wanted everyone to know that I made it home and most definitely didn't die on the plane ride home. Im home and its SO weird! First I get mobbed by my family (being as awesome as i imagined it) then they take me home to talk and catch up, the next day I woke up super early to go to SUU with Robbie to get him to freshman orientation and so that I could see my apartment (Brotherly road trip!).

So ya Im back at SUU. I missed Cedar so much and its awesome to see all of my friends from freshman year that are all seniors now. Lots of people are getting married which is kindof weird. My friend Landon and his Kanab Spanish speaking RM friends live in my apartment complex which is pretty sweet. Im living with complete strangers which is cool because I just got 4 new investigators and less actives haha. Being back feels weird and I'm trying to adjust haha. Last week was a RM seminar at Institute and I was the only one that went with a suit. Haha I'm a greeny again!

As for my farewell. It was sooooo hard for me to speak English and everyone told me that I had a mexican accent. I wrote my talk so that I wouldn't slip into Spanish spontaneously. I tried not to just look down the whole time, but every time I would look up I would lose my place and it was kinda awkward haha. I thought it went pretty well, but the best part was bearing my testimony in half English half Spanish. 100 percent by the Spirit! Robbie talked before me and he did really good. My mom made a huge mexican feast which was like Mexican Thanksgiving. Ha there was so much food, but it was soooo good! Everyone was like, "this is better than Cafe Rio!" haha. Oh and I got to meet my niece! Shes not very trusting with strangers because she wouldn't respond when I tried to play with her ha Ill win her over one day!

Life is good and I'm really enjoying school and starting out my future. Being with my two oldest friends makes me feel like I never left. It was weird because we hung out just like the old days just talking, but I feel completely changed. I seriously think that every conversation I have my purpose is still to help them have more faith in Christ. It truly has become a part of me! I invite everyone who reads this to truly be converted to Christ and to follow Him in thought, word, and action. Doing this will inevitably make us instruments in the Lord's hands.

Before the mission I thought to myself that I don't want to change who I am, but I have learned that the Lord changes us to become better than before and without it we wouldn't go anywhere. I feel like the same goofy guy, but with an eternal perspective on everything. I feel so blessed and loved by my Heavenly Father for the opportunity to serve Him and His children for the last two years of my life. Now it's like everyone says. "Now it's time for your second mission!"

Love,
          Elder Shurtliff

Monday, August 18, 2014

OH HERMANOS ADIOS PUES ADIOS

El tiempo de ir vino ya!
I have no idea what that hymn is in English but it goes perfect with this email.
It's my time! I'm so excited to get back but I feel way weird; I'm going to go into shock! 

 SHOUT OUTS! I want to thank all of the family and friends that have written and supported me over these two best years of my life. I can't even begin giving enough thanks to everyone that helped me even get on my mission both financially and spiritually. LES AMO!!!

Love,
       Elder Shurtliff
PS. Homecoming Sacrament Meeting is Sunday, August 24 @ 11am. Te veré allí pronto!

Monday, August 11, 2014

ITS YOUR FAVORITE ELDER FROM MEXICO!

Ha I know I'm going to say it over and over again like every other missionary, but I felt like I was in the MTC just yesterday. Ha especially because my MTC companion is my district leader now and it reminds me of when we were comps. I'm trying not to count days but everyone keeps reminding me ha. I'm not going to lie, its hard to keep focused sometimes but it helps to see how awesome things are going here.

Elder Ramirez and I are doing really good. We have a golden family of four (minus the dad) who get to church by themselves on time, participate, and ask lots of questions. On Saturday I also got to cross off one of the biggest things on my mission Bucket List. Baptism on the Beach!!! Ha we were able to have a baptism for David on the beach because he's a Marine Biologist and is in charge of cleaning the beaches and stuff. It was so awesome and so special. We left the church with about 50 people in a bus to take us all there together. We passed some people on the way to our spot and I can only imagine what they were thinking when they say so many men with ties on the beach ha. My comp got to baptize him and I shared a message and was one of the witnesses so I got to get in the ocean too! First and only time on the mission!
 
I'll try to send pics today.
 
SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE!!! 2 Nephi 26:24
HASTA LO PRONTO!
Love,
       Elder Shurtliff

Monday, August 4, 2014

I Love My Little Island!


La Isla!
This week the same thing happened here in Cozumel as it did in Maya. We dropped a ton of investigators that weren't progressing and found some new committed and excited ones. We met with a ton of the ward members, because they really weren't too united. I fasted for the ward and the same day I saw the amazing results. The members were coming together bringing people to church and teaching with us. Yesterday's Sacrament Meeting was so spiritual and just like in Maya our Gospel Principles class doubled its size. Amazing things are happening here! We are working so that there's a stake here when I come back to visit.
PIZZA! to celebrate Elder Salinas. He's going home on Wednesday!
I made breakfast omelettes for the district
In Sacrament meeting one of our new investigators that's 17 years old got up and bore his testimony! It was so awesome! His family is golden!

That's all the time I got. Sorry for my tiny update, but I love you all!
Read the scriptures and live them!

Love,
Elder Shurtliff