He finally sent pictures!

Elder Shapcott left and Elder Riley right (Elder Shapcott's companion in MTC) ,

We're goin here!

Elder Robinson (Elder Shapcott's second companion) and Elder Shapcott

(it must be Elder Robinson's birthday cause Elder Shapcott's

was when he was still in the MTC.)

Sisters Missionaries and Elders in Ithaca/Alma
(Elder Brown is Elder Shapcott's first companion in
Michigan is standing next to Elder Shapcott.

Third Transfer

It was great to talk to Elder Shapcott on Christmas Day. He had so much to say. He is being transferred on Tuesday, December 29 to the Michigan State University campus in Lansing as a campus missionary. He is very excited for this transfer. He said that the missionaries in the Lansing mission all want to go to MSU campus as their area. He was hoping to get there near the end of his mission and didn't think it would be this soon into his mission. This will be Elder Shapcott's third area but this time it is to a city. The other areas were small towns. We will look forward to his next letter when he is settled.

Elder Shapcott's new companion

He has a new companion as of last Wednesday. His name is Elder Schwartz from a small town in Nevada between Las Vegas and St. George. Elder Shapcott said he is finally going to send some pictures! We are looking forward to seeing them and will post some on this blog.

His testimony of Missionary work grows

Most of Elder Shapcott's letters are short and sweet. He still has not sent his memory card or emailed any pictures home. I guess he wants to keep us in suspense. We can see how much his testimony has grown and how much he loves preaching and teaching the gospel. He also encourages us at home to be member missionaries. As an example of this Elder Shapcott included the following talk by Elder Russell M. Ballard given to the Graduates of BYU on August 13, 2009 of which Elder Shapcott's cousin, Megan Balli, was a Graduate of which I have included in part.


Elder Ballard states,
..."I also want you to know that you have an exciting and meaningful service to the Lord ahead of you. I recognize that years of sacrifice by your parents, as well as by each of you have helped you become who you are. Today, I look at you and recognize your own years of commitment to the Church and to nourishing of your own testimonies through study and application of gospel principles. I look at you and see the future of the Church - not just the future bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents and auxiliary leaders, but the great ranks of future mothers and fathers, Primary and Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, home teachers and visiting teachers, scout leaders, choir directors and countless others who will serve the Lord in the 21st century.

..."If we want to be respected today for who we are, then we need to act confidently - secure in the knowledge of who we are and what we stand for, and not as if we have to apologize for our beliefs. That doesn't mean we should be arrogant or overbearing. Respect for other's views should always be a basic principle for us - it's built right into the Articles of Faith. But when we act as if we are a persecuted minority, or as if we expect to be misunderstood or criticized, people will sense it and respond accordingly."

He goes on to suggest how to engage in conversations with people who are not members of the Church non-defensively.

"First suggestion: Don't let irrelevant issues drown out the more important subjects. An example is polygamy. This ended in the Church as an official practice in 1890. It's now 2009. Why are we still talking about it? It was a practice. It ended. We move on...don't waste time trying to justify the practice of polygamy during the Old Testament times.

"Second suggestion to you is to emphasize that Latter-day Saints follow Jesus Christ and what Jesus Christ teaches. We try to follow Him in all that we do.

..."Whenever you are having a conversation about the Church, you should try to make this a point. We follow Jesus Christ. We try to live as He taught. That's the basis of our faith and our lives. This is the strongest non-defensive position you can take.

..."Now here are just a few examples. We follow Jesus Christ's doctrine of service to our fellow man.

...We follow Jesus Christ and teach the first principles of the gospel and all of the other wonderful doctrines of the restoration that when embraced and lived bring peace, joy and happiness to the sons and daughters of God.

...I invoke a blessing on you that our Heavenly Father will enlighten you and bless you in every way when you have the opportunity to explain to the Church the marvelous message of the Restoration and to explain to those who are not members of the Church, that you might be blessed and you may have heavenly direction and that you may stand positive in your own feelings, and never feel that you need to be on the defensive being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Elder Shapcott's 1st Transfer

Elder Shapcott was transferred October 5 to the small community of Fremont which is North of Grand Rapids which is the largest community that is close to him. He is in the Grand Rapids District. His new companion is Elder Cope from Spokane, Washington; who has been about a year. Elder Shapcott has not sent any pictures although he said he has taken some of his companions. He continues to write that he is enjoying his mission and can't believe how fast the time is going.

He Gets to Drive!

August 13, 2009

Elder Shapcott has had driving priviledges since July 14th when Elder Richardson became his new companion. He said their mission is getting some 4 wheel and all wheel drive vehicles. They need them in the northern regions as it gets much colder in the winter. Elder Shapcott is used to driving in the winter so he is not nervous about driving there. He says that the people in his area think that this has been a cooler than normal summer. He thinks it is hot. The average temperaturs range from 60 to 80 degrees but has gotten up to high 90s and even 100 degrees then factor in the humidity. He is looking forward to cooler temperatures.
Elder Shapcott attended his first Zone Conference on July 27th.
Elder Shapcott's missionary plaque is now hanging outside the Ward Clerk's office. His two cousins will enter the MTC 0n October 14th and 28th where one will be studying to speak Spanish and one Slovenian.

July 6, 2009

Elder Shapcott has got the true missionary spirit. He is working hard and enjoying it. He continues to encourage his two younger brothers who are mission age and approaching mission age to go on a mission. The only thing he doesn't like is the heat but he is happy to have AC in his room and in the car. He writes the following: "I have been fed about 98 percent of the time for dinners. Don't worry about me getting enough food because I am. Probably too much. Yes there have been some potatoes. I just take a little bit so I don't get sick or gag. They have been more tolerable out here than in the past though. We visit less active members lots of times. There are quite a bit of less actives, even more than active members. We have done some service and we do service at a senior home every Friday. I got to go see fireworks on July 4 the mission president let us. There just the same as Canada Day ones."

Elder Shapcott is happy to have received the news about the NHL trades and continues to be interest in the changes in the NHL. We think that is the thing he misses most about home besides his family and friends.

Letter from Elder Shapcott's Mission President

Elder Shapcott and fellow missionaries and Mission President and wife at Detroit airport

Elder Shapcott with Mission President and wife

Elder Shapcott and Elder Brown

We received a letter from Elder Shapcott's Mission President Elder Marc D. Jones and his wife. It included a new address for him.

Elder Devin Michael Shapcott

148 Allen Avenue

Alma, Michigan 48801

Elder Shapcott's First Area

After a long day with little sleep, Elder Shapcott arrived in Detroit Michigan where the Assistant to the President and the Mission President and his wife were there to greet them. They drove to Lansing from there they got their assignments. Elder Shapcott's first area is Ithaca but he lives in Alma. These towns are in the center of Michigan just north of Lansing. In Ithaca there is a small branch which he says has lots of children. (Elder Shapcott is a kid magnet, all kids love him). The branch is small but has great members. His first companion in Michigan is Elder Brown from Lehi, Utah. All of Elder Shapcott's companions have been from Utah so far. He says, "I am having fun out here and have already door knocked (tracting) and taught people." He has not lost his sense of humor and in his letters there is always a bit of humor. For instance he says, "I went to the bathroom on the plane that was probably the funnest place to go to the bathroom I've ever gone."

Michigan Bound

Elder Shapcott left for Michigan on Tuesday June 16th at 7:00 am. He called home and said he was happy to leave the MTC and get to Michigan. He sounded very cheerful. In his letter a week ago he said he had the priviledge of listening to Elder David A. Bednar in his Tuesday Devotional. He said Tuesday devotionals were frequently visited by members of the quorum of Seventy but it was a treat to have Elder Bednar speak.
For those of you who would like to write Elder Shapcott his is address in Michigan is:
Elder Devin Michael Shapcott
Michigan Lansing Mission
1500 Abbott Road, Suite, 110
East Lansing, MI 48823-1956

May 27.09 letter

It is Elder Shapcott's 25th Birthday today!!

Elder Shapcott is in a three-some companionship as one of his roommates Elder Taylor, was sent home due to recent surgery reprocussions. His companions are Elder Harmon (who is his companion) and Elder Riley (who was Elder Taylor's companion). Elder Riley's father served his mission in Calgary Canada and served some time in Lethbridge (small world). He said some of his great aunts/uncles are still in Lethbridge.

Elder Shapcott's spirit is growing in each letter. He says the spirit in the MTC is strong. He enjoys the visits from the Seventy and relates a story that Elder Douglas L. Callister of the Seventy spoke about Latter Day Saints being Christians. His talk was on Jesus Christ and how we are in His Church. Elder Shapcott also says they have had some of the Seventy visit their classroom which he enjoys.

Letter May 20.09

Elder Shapcott is loving life in the MTC. He is busily learning the gospel and doesn't have time to be homesick. He says, "I am excited to learn the gospel every day and can study all day and not get bored. I am so wrapped up with what I am doing and learning at the MTC that, I don't have much thought for anything else. Just like "forget yourself and get to work"."

He has two companions, Elder Harmon and Elder Riley. Elder Shapcott's mother's maiden name is Riley. He said both are really cool.

There has been some cases of H1N1 flue in the MTC so he did not leave for Michigan yesterday as originally thought he would. He said they are going to be at the MTC for another week or two. He is looking forward to going to Michigan.

Elder Shapcott's first letter home

Elder Shapcott wrote home the day he entered the MTC and we received it 6 days after he posted it. The first thing they did after the devotional with families is check for their shots which he passed without any problems. After they collected their luggage and ate they met as a branch and went over rules, schedule and had a testimony meeting which everyone bore their testimonies. He said the Spirit was strong. In his branch there is another Elder from Canada going to Sweden (he thinks). Most missionaries in his branch are from Utah. He has a good companion (didn't mention his name) that he said will help he to be punctual (that is Elder Shapcott's weakness). He said that he wasn't nervous until he was in his branch meeting and they were learning their rules and schedules. He hopes he will be able to remember all he has to do. He shared a scripture D & C 1:17-39.

Entering the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah

Elder Shapcott entered the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday May 13, 2009. He was very calm and happy to begin his mission. The MTC was busy with families of missionaries. Elder Shapcott had his mother, father, his brother Corbin and his sister Kallie with him. He also had his Aunt Renee and a friend of his mother Terri. The devotional was short but powerful. As we said our farewells Elder Shapcott was confident, happy and anxious to begin his service. We are proud to have our son on a mission. He will be in the MTC for three weeks and will leave for Michigan on June 3.



Elder Shapcott with his youngest brother Corbin and younger sister Kallie
Entering the MTC

Elder Shapcott with his Name Tag