11/23/2009 Letter from Elder Joshua Shelhamer

The work here in Cape Verde is going well. Many people have been sick lately from a disease called "Dengue," but everything is going well. The winter season is not cold and snowy here like it would be at home, but it is bright and warm.

Time is going quickly in the mission, and I find the weeks and days going by quickly.

The assistants delivered the mail this past week and I recieved my letters and packages from all of my friends and family. Thank you very much for everyone that sent me mail!

One thing that is important in our lives, but something that a lot of us don't have is a lot of Patience. As I taught 1 of our members this week about Patience, I recognized how important it is for us to also have patience with one another, as well as with our Heavenly Father. Most times, as we are patient and wait for the blessings to come, they do, and they are great. Patience is an attribute of Christ that we can always work on.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and Heavenly Father loves us very much.
I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers as I serve here in Cape Verde.

11/16/2009 Letter from Elder Joshua Shelhamer

This week on Sunday, as I was eating my lunch, my companion and I were listening to a CD of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. As one of the hymns played, "I'm trying to be like Jesus," I paid special attention to the words that were sung. I had never really listened and pondered the lyrics of this hymn before. They are beautiful.

This hymn reads: I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways. I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers, “Love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, For these are the things Jesus taught.

How beautiful are the words and the message of this hymn. As we learn more about, and keep the commandments of Christ, we are indeed following him, but we must also do the things that he would do as well. As a Missionary, and as a Representative of Jesus Christ here in Cape Verde, I work full-time to always teach and do as Jesus would do, but the great thing about this hymn is that everyone can follow the message of this song and "love one another," try to show kindness," and always do the things that our Savior would do.

The work is pressing forward in full force here in Cape Verde. Please continue to pray for missionary work to continue to press forward in full-force.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ which Christ once established on the earth during His earthly ministry has been restored. I have a strong testimony that the Priesthood or Authority of Christ has been restored. Jesus Christ is our Savior. He Lives.

11/9/2009 Letter from Elder Shelhamer

This past week has been another great week here in Cape Verde.
One thing that I have really pondered about this week is the importance and love of Families. When we (Missionaries) teach people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one of the things that we are sure to teach about is the importance and significance of families in our lives. I love this principle. I have found this week, that as I taught about Families, and how important families are to us, I felt the Holy Spirit testify to me with great influence that this is indeed true. When I teach about Families, I love to tell people how important my family is to me, and share with them, how much I love my family. I have a strong testimony that Families are ordained of our Loving Heavenly Father. ( See www.lds.org/family )
I love the food of Cape Verde. Basically our Food here consists of Fish, Rice, Beans, and Vegetables. There is also a special Cape Verdean dish called "CaChupa" that I really love to eat.
This past week I had the great privilege to baptize two wonderful people. A girl that the Sister Missionaries were teaching, as well as someone that I taught, Jorge. Jorge was a referral that we received about a month ago from a family member. We met Jorge, and started teaching him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we taught Jorge, he continued to learn more about the teachings of Jesus Christ, and agreed to live his life in harmony with gospel principles. It was an incredible experience to meet, teach, and baptize one of Heavenly Fathers children, and help them come closer to their Savior Jesus Christ.
I would like to give one quick piece of advice to all of my family and friends about Missionaries. Most people know that Missionaries travel around and teach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would like to extend a personal invitation to all of my friends and family, to accept the invitation to listen to what the Missionaries have to say. When an Elder or a Sister Missionary knocks on your door, or invites you to listen to their message, listen and do so. The choice to accept our message or not is yours, but I can say with all of my heart, that me listening to the messages that the Missionaries taught me, changed my life.
I know that Jesus Christ took upon himself the sins of the world, and that we can return to our Heavenly Home and live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again after this life.
I thank everyone for all of your prayers and thoughts. Heavenly Father surely watches over and protects his fellow servants, the Missionaries.

11/02/2009 Letter from Elder Shelhamer

This past week has been great. One of the things I can notice we are really doing in our area right now is completing families, and sharing the gospel with family members that haven't received it, and close friends. This is great. It is wonderful to see and feel the joy of someone when another family member accepts and lives the principles of the gospel.
I really love the branch I am serving in. Everyday I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve the people in this area.
This past week Elder Chun and I made some homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies for an activity at the chapel, and everyone loved them. It was a lot of fun to make them. Also, we have a blender in the house, so my companion and I have been making slushies everyday with juice mix and stuff. They are sooooo good. haha. We work hard, but when we return to the house, we know how to relax and prepare for the next day well.
I have no doubt in my mind or heart that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on the earth. I witness things everyday that continue to strengthen my testimony of this. I know that Heavenly Father loves us more than we can imagine. His love is expressed in the work and lives of Missionaries everyday.
If anyone is reading this blog, that is not a member of the LDS Church, and wants to read a little bit more about our message, visit http://www.mormon.org/ . This site contains the basic doctrines and principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts. The Lords' work shall press forward.