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.