Welcome Home!

Hello!

I can hardly believe it, but the day has finally come! I am home!!! My mission has ended, and once again I am with my family and friends here in Mesa Arizona. It has been an unforgettable two years, a path that has led me to greater understanding, love, and testimony! I would not change that for anything!

The flights themselves were the last challenge of the mission. We were scheduled to leave tuesday afternoon 4:00 chilean time. However, when we got there, the itinerary, the flights, everything had been changed. And, nobody had told us! We were stuck with nothing! Luckily, they realized how they messed up, and tried to make up for it by redoing our flights. However, the best they could do was get us to Santiago in the middle of the night and stay at a hotel and in the morning pick us up. They told us that as soon as we landed in Santiago, they would be ready for us, and would take us to the hotel and give us the rest of our itinerary. So they sent us off, and we arrived at midnight there. And nobody knew who we were, or what we needed. The airports never got in contact, and we were almost stranded in Santiago! It took two more hours of running around talking to everyone from LatAM for us to get ourselves some flights home, the whole time my head pounding from stress induced migraines haha! But, it all got settled, and we were scheduled to return home late Wednesday night. They did get us a hotel, and we stayed there the night. Seeing as we had no alarm clocks, and we needed to be somewhere in the morning (they were going to pick us up again to take us to the airport), we asked the front desk to give us a wake up call at 5:30 to eat a little something and leave. Next thing I know, 6:00 Elder Hirschi is calling me saying the people are there! What?!? So we all scramble around and luckily get down in time to leave with the man. The front desk never called. The flight itself was normal, long maybe, but it was ok. I sat next to Elder Hirschi, and the flight first took us to Lima Peru. We had no idea why we were there, but then we left for LA arriving late night, then catching a connecting flight home. In this flight there was an awesome stewardess who recognized us as missionaries (she was a member herself) and treated us with some food from the plane (we hadn't eaten in a while). Her name was Kelly. She was awesome.

Arriving in the airport of Phoenix was such a crazy experience! As the flight landed I was close to hyperventilating! I almost ran down the halls looking for where I can get out, and then, going down the last hall, I can see the balloons and giant cardboard faces I knew only my family could have! I turn the little corner and there they are! And there I was! And I was in the moment I had been dreaming about for so long! And there was my mom, waiting, and after two long years I was able to give her the biggest hug I had given in all my life! Pure happiness, joy, I can't describe how exactly I felt, but I only know it felt good. I was finally reunited with my family and friends. 

My mission has been the hardest thing I have done in my life. The constant rejection, hard work, dog attacks and everything else that stood as an obstacle to me reaching my happiness was working its hardest to make me miserable. However, through the mercy and love of Him who I served, I was able to see the light and receive the help I needed to overcome those very same obstacles. Everything, as the scriptures say, ''...was for my good!'' The mission taught me how to work hard and give my all, but also recognize when my all was not enough, and to then trust in God to make up what I missed. It taught me how to love, not just get along with a person, but really love them and desire their happiness! It taught me how to look at others as children of God, and helped me want to serve them! It helped me appreciate the love the God has for me, and the plan he also has sketched out for me to follow. I know that that plan is the one that will bring me the most happiness in this life, I know this. So I will act with all I can to follow it and 'go where he wants me to go.' I am so grateful for my mission, my mission president, his wife, those I met in Chile, and all that I was able to do! The greatest feeling on the mission is finishing and hearing and feeling in your heart those blessed words, ''Well done, good and faithful servant!'' To know that all of your struggles, your pains, your efforts were not in vain, but were accepted and appreciated, that is the greatest feeling. And I now go into the rest of my life, and as I go through, I will have in my mind this goal: that when it all ends, when all this is over, I will once again hear and feel those words said by my Father, though this time I will be in His presence, and in His embrace. I testify to everyone that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the one and only true church of God on the earth today. Jesus lives, and He loves us, and He helps us to achieve what alone we could not. All those who have faith in him, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end will return to live in His presence and will receive a complete joy. All of us can achieve this, God loves all his children equally. However, we must act. We must choose His life, and live as He lives if we want to live where He lives. I love you all, and am so grateful for all the support everyone back home, and everywhere else, has given me! God bless

Les amo a todos! Que vayan con Dios
Elder Schmid

Elder Schmid is coming home!!!

We did not get an email from Elder Schmid this past Monday, but thats ok because we are expecting him home tonight. We actually were supposed to have him here this morning, but his flight to Santiago arrived after the flight left for Dallas. He, and two other Elders, spent the night in Santiago and he is scheduled to be home tonight by 10:42 pm.

We have prepared our home for the last month, cleaning, organizing and purchasing a new bed, to welcome Elder Schmid home. We are all beyond excited to reunite with him and give him a big hug. For this mom, the last two years have gone by somewhat slow without him. However, it has been a rewarding two years of spiritual growth for our family, as well as Elder Schmid. Blessings have come to all of us because of his service. He is coming home with a stronger testimony, with a love for a people he never knew existed, with a greater love and appreciation for family and God. We are looking forward to meeting this new and improved Dallin Schmid :)

He gave it his all and endured to the end, and is now returning with honor. We love our Dallin so much! He is a great example to us, and we are grateful for the choice he made in going on this mission. Well done Elder Schmid! We love you!




p.s.  His dad is so anxious that he has been following his flights throughout the whole trip. He even celebrated as Dallin crossed the equator, and left spring to enter autumn. The family is being updated every hour :)

Week 101

Hola!

So, I was talking with dad, and thinking, I'm just going to do a normal email this week, like any other, and then close my mission in the next coming weeks! ;) I'm glad your week was so normal! This storm you're having, hopefully it lasts, say, another week and a half! ;)

So this week was a very good week! There really is one big reason it was so good a week. Danny and Luz were both baptized this Saturday and confirmed Sunday! It was a very big happy surprise! And a very big miracle. As we were talking with Danny one day, we were testifying of everything, and he looks at me and says he has a question. ''If I get baptized, can I do it facing the people instead of of facing the side?'' I said yes, and so he agreed to be baptized. I think I've already told you this. What happened that was completely surprising, is the day before the baptism. We were talking with Luz, and waiting for Danny to get back to redo his baptism interview. So there were us four elders there, my comp and I and the two zone leaders. We spoke with Luz about several things, but testified a lot about baptism, and at the end, she commited to being baptized! And the next day she was baptized together with her son! It was so amazing to see! I am so grateful I was here to see it! I thought that perhaps I would not get that chance, but it happened, and God saw fit that I was here to see it. It was very definitely a tender mercy from Him to me, and a great miracle from Him in the lives of them two! 

This last Sunday was my last normal Sunday here, since next week is general conference. I was able to bear my 'last testimony'. It was surreal speaking like that to the ward. I love this ward! I am sooooo grateful that I was able to come here! I love the members here! They have been so good to me. It was weird on Sunday, because it was the first time I could tell myself 'this is the last time doing this'. I'm sure all this week I'm going to feel like that.

So I don't know who's praying that I get new shoes, but whoever it is, you can stop! Hahaha this past week I've had three different people come to me to give me shoes because they saw mine all broken and destroyed and wanted to give me new ones! I was so surprised, and very moved by their love! I love these people! Unfortunately... none of them have gotten the size right, and I have two awesome looking blisters on my achiles tendons... they hurt. But at church I had to wear them to show I was grateful jaja! I'm so happy for these people who are willing to give to me! The love of the people here is real. I am so blessed to be here!

So... that's pretty much all that's happeneing this side of the world! Today we played fútbol with president and the two zones! I played dang good, if I do say so myself. Danny wanted to come, and he played with us, but he said he was scared seeing so many gringos speaking english! I said get used to it, you're going on your mission to the US! ;) But yeah, I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Les amo a todos! Vamos por esta última semana! (We are in the last full week!)

Elder Schmid

Week 100

Hola!

ohhhhhh boy, we're getting pretty close, aren't we?! Not too much time left for me out here. My last week was pretty normal, except for the weekend, which was awesome and filled with spiritual experiences. Sounded like yours too was pretty great! Nico got his eagle project done! Nice!! Why has Aiden not done it yet? And Darian had a solo?! And I missed it?! Gaaaahghghhaghahgh that's so cool! And lame... cause I missed it! But I'm proud of her, based on how good you tell me she did! 

Anyways, this week was fun. Independence day came and went... it was pretty uneventful. We had a very good lunch with our mamíta, she made us asado. It was pretty delicious, ribs steak and chicken! We had a ton of Mote con Huesillo as well, and I think I've kinda gotten used to it! It was pretty good. In the day and night, we had planned a little family home afternoon with La Familia Vilca, and that ended up going on the whole day... but we kinda let it go on the whole day, because nobody else would let us in their house. So it was a good day, we had some more Mote con Huesillo in their house, and it was delicious. In the family home evening, they invited friends and another family from the ward, and every singly one of them was peruvian! I was the only one their who wasn't peruvian! Out of 18 people... so it was fun, we didn't really celebrate the independence day too much because... none of us were Chilean. In Chile they don't celebrate it as much as we do back home. Or at least, not in Antofagasta. Just a ton of asados, family time. It's chill. 

The next big thing to happen was Saturday. It was a big day of course because Elder D Todd Christofferson came to Antofagasta Chile and had a special conference with all the missionaries of the mission. For the first time since I've been here, the entire mission came together, all 200 missionaries and senior couples! It was so amazing! The rules were strict, and the office was super stressed out, but I enjoyed it a ton. We weren't allowed to take too much time to visit with all the missionaries, but.... I went an hour early and did that. It was so awesome to see everyone there! I had 7 companions there! Elder Blanco, Aparicio, Bravo, Carrasco, Flores, Vicente, and Gonzales! So I got a picture of me with all of them, of course. 

The conference itself was absolutely amazing. We were all outside waiting in formation when Elder Christofferson showed up. He came with his wife, and with Elder Bragg and Sister Bragg. We took a picture with him as a mission, then we all shook his hand and the conference started. Everyone else had a short time to talk and give their testimony until we got to Elder Christofferson. All the testimonies were super great, and very powerful. The spirit was just thick in the room, everyone could feel it. Christofferson ended  up speaking on several topics. (GAGAGHHGHAGGAHGAGHAGHGHAHGAG crap, my computer just erased everything I wrote after this point, and I have to redo it... freaking internet) Anyways, He spoke on the name of church, and pointed out the different parts of it and explained it. For example, he picked out ''Saints'' and shared many scriptures on what it means to be saints. It was very interesting. He also shared a lot on his calling and how it relates to our calling, and he talked about how we can do the work with the Book of Mormon. At the end, he opened it up to a big questions and answers session. It was at this point that I felt the spirit most, and gained my testimony of his apostleship. I realized, he's just a man! He's like any one of us! The only difference is, God speaks through him. There were some questions that were very difficult, that I was thinking to myself, dang I would have no idea how to asnwer that. Then I look at him, and realize he's thinking the same thing! Then, it was interesting to see, he put his trust in God. He paused for a few moments, and let the revelation come. I saw how God spoke through him. That's what makes his callimng so special. It's not that he himself has all the asnwers, but he's connected to the one who does, and has learned how to trust in that person. I have a testimony that God has called prophets today, and speaks through them. Elder Christofferson is one of them. 

We've been moving forward with Luz and Danny, and I honestly feel like they are on the verge of being baptized. They are so close! I feel like one more little bit and they'll be in the water. They come to everything, including a fireside chat that Christofferson had with the jovenes adultos solteros on Saturday after the missionaries. They are already members, they just need baptism. Victor and Elsa and co. are kinda falling off, though they did come to the same fireside. They did not come to church, however, and work now is taking over their lives, and we aren't able to teach them. 

All the questions that you asked feel more like a last email kind of topic, so I'll address them next week! ;) Until then

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 99

This week has been pretty good! Nothing too big went on. Well, actually yeah a few things happened! It was a good week! We kicked it off with a zone conference with President Ferreira. My last zone conference, actually. I was actually late to it, as well. Hermana Ferreira had me wandering around the city a bit haha. I was supposed to take a blood test to make sure that the tb was negative. I lived at least an hour away by bus from the clinic. It would be difficult enough getting there, but the people who were already there did not know how to get me there. I asked the bus to let me off close to the building because he said he knew it. He let me off 2 miles away. -_- So I was on the phone with Hermana Ferreira and the missionaries who were there, and none of them knew where I was, nor how to get me to where I needed to go. So that was a fun hour. At the end, I found it, and got my blood drawn. The conference was a very good conference, though I felt like I've had it before. It started out with how we can work with members, and ended talking about working with less active members. It was a very good conference, I enjoyed it. And we had pizza for lunch! Which was so great, because President had stopped buying pizza for lunch a while ago. So this was a nice surprise. I saw several friends there, Elder Vicente, Elder Smith, Elder Cook. It was a good time. 

We are getting very close to the celebration of Chile's independence, the 18 de Septiembre. Everyone is decorating (because it's the law and they have to) but I love it! The ward had an activity on Saturday, in the morning. They gathered everyone and basically had a big barbecue. There were games, food, and La Cueca. La Cueca is the national dance of Chile. I don't remember if I did anything for the 18th last year, but this year I went all out. I played soccer with the ward, I helped cook, and sang karaoke with them, and... I danced the cueca! Jajajaja it was so fun! I and two other elders danced. It was fun to learn it and try it out. It was definitely something new and different, but I got good at it! ;) Someone took a video, but it was of my first try, so it was kinda... awkward. But it was so fun! I'm hoping the 18th we can actually get in to some asados or something, enjoy the day. 

So, I don't know if you remember, but in Caliche I talked about two dogs who would follow me everywhere and use us as shields from other dogs. Well, they've migrated. Now they follow Centenario. I'm stuck with them again. However, if I plan right, and do some running strategic, I can dodge them and they go with the other companionship. So I was trying to do that on Friday, aaaaaaaaaand as I was running I was attacked by a dog jaja! Rule 1 in the North of Chile: Don't Run!!! The dogs will chase and attack you. Luckily he only scratched me, but now there's holes in the shape of a dog's mouth in my favorite pants. -_-

We are getting further along with Victor and Elsa and Emily y Mary. We were with them almost every day of the week! They are progressing well, and are reading from the Book of Mormon. Victor is progressing the best. He reads daily, and is understanding everything! We ask him what he remembers, and he gives us the detailed story as if he were reading it to us! I'm stoked for him, buuuuuttt... they didn't come to church on Sunday! AAAAagagghghghg I was so frustrated. We still don't know why, but today we're heading over to see what's up. I want them to keep progressing. Victor has been searching since 11 for the true church, and he says that with us he feels something that he's never felt in any other church! Dude!!! That's the spirit! I want him to recognize that. Once he does, he will commit to baptism. With Elder Gonzales we're doing ok. Just... chugging along haha! I'm so grateful that in my last cambio I was placed with somebody who likes to work!

And that's my week! I hope yours was fantastic! And... 3 weeks left! ;)

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 98

Hey!

Is it not weird to think that I'll be doing this only a few more times? I think that's kinda weird... so many good things are going on back home! I'm stoked that Ashlyn gave such a good talk! She's gonna have to give it again to me when I get back! ;) And Bronson, that kids a crack. Jajaja that story made me laugh pretty hard! I can imagine his face as he told Dad to clean up the jenga! At first I was bummed that I won't be coming back to my double bed, but you're so right... it's better than the cot that Christiaan slept on! 

So this week has been pretty busy. Más que nada it's because we had so many activities in the ward. It was their ward conference yesterday, so Bishop wanted to do something special during the week. They had a night of ''Who knows the Book of Mormon best?'', and a pass the Book of Mormon to a friend challenge, and a movie night of The Testaments, but the big activity was on Saturday, when we had the open house. Instead of having the normal tour, bishop decided to have different ''theater interpretations" of the Book of Mormon. The young women did the tree of life, the elders did Captain Moroni, the primary did the visitation of Jesus Christ, and last but least, us the Elders (missionaries) did when Joseph saw Moroni in his room, when he received the plates, and the translation. Joseph Smith was played by yours truly. I think we did pretty well. We had to fit a ton of people in a tiny room, and so my space was limited, but I'm still one dang good smokin actor, so it was ok. All the preperation and whatnot took up a ton of our week, so we didn't really work in the mornings.

Ok, so about TB. Doc says my XRay looks good, no sign of TB. To be sure, tomorrow Hermana Ferreira has me and five others going in to get our blood tested. So... I'm so sorry, but official results will be coming next week. 

My investigators are coming along alright. Luz and Danny are progressing, but slowly. They did come to church again, and to the breakfast that the ward put on before church. They were with their parents from Peru for the whole week, so we couldn't visit too much with them, but they're still ok. There is another family who got here a few weeks ago from Bolivia, Victor, Elsa, Emilyn, and Mary. We have had some awesome citas with them, and they are progressing very well! They promised to come to church, and I was worried when sacrament was finished and they weren't there, but after the meeting, I walked out and they were standing right there! Jaja apparently they were walking around the city for a bit because they got lost and that's why they were late, but they stayed for the classes! They're so great!

Something a little funny happened yesterday during gospel principles. I was there with Victor, Elsa, Emilyn, Luz, Danny, and everyone else and we were talking about talents, and how we need to develop them. In this moment, we were talking about how some people have certain dificulties to overcome for their talents. The teacher asked if anyone knew about Beethoven's difficulty in developing his musical talents. I was the only one who rose their hand, so I was called on. Now, so you know, in spanish ''sordo'' means deaf, and ''surdo'' means left handed... I was explaining how Beethoven is a world famous classical composer who lived a couple hundred years ago. He was a musical genious and wrote music that lasts until today, but it was very difficult to do for him because he was ''left handed''. Jaja I was explaining that nobody thought he could write or play or anything due to the fact that he was 'left handed'! Everybody was super confused, and the teacher recovered from her laughter enough to correct me. It was kinda embarassing haha!

It's been confirmed that on September 22 we will have a conference with D Todd Christofferson! We are starting to prepare for that. I'm really excited because I'll finally meet an apostle! 

So that's my week! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 97

Mamá!

Wow, this letter was huge! I guess you felt like you had to make up for past weeks or something! ;) Anyways, it sounds, like always, that you guys had an amazing week. Some questions: Darian travels for work? What does she work in? What's she studying in MCC? If I share a room with Aiden, does that mean I don't get the double bed? 

Anyways, I'm sorry for writing a little late, I had a long day. I was finally sent today to the doctors to take the test for TB. And so I was basically in the urgent care and consultorios and everything until 5:00 pm, and just recently was able to get on the computer. They took an X-ray of my chest, and nothing else. The whole flipping day, and the only thing they did was take an X-ray. They didn't even look at it, I have to go back tomorrow so a doctor can actually analyze it. But oh well... we'll see what happens tomorrow. I guess you'll have to wait another week to know if I have TB or no! ;) 

Things are going excellent here in Centenario. I was a little worried at first, because I thought I was going to feel bored here on account of me having been here basically already. But I am doing well! Haha Elder Gonzales and I work well together. He is an interesting missionary. He is the epitome of what it means to be a missionary. Strictly obedient, never says anything bad about anything, talks in any conversation like he's giving a testimony, always talking about something about the work. Sometimes it frustrates me, but it's normally ok! He is from Perú. He was born in Piura but grew up in Lima. He's a good missionary, he'll help me with my goal of not dying before I leave. We teach well together.

We live in an interesting pensión. It's the upper two floors basically of a 3 floor house. It's very... spacios. I say that because the only part that is seperated is the bathroom. There aren't rooms, everything is just super open. I actually really like it, it makes it seem bigger, but also weird because we have no furniture. We sleep on the 3rd floor, and study there two. Elder Gonzales and I live with the two other elders in the other part of Centenario. The pensión is actually around 30 minutes walking from our sector, which I kind of like, honestly. There are a few interesting things about the pension that I think are funny... for example, my first night, while walking home, Elder Gonzales told me ''Oh that's right, I forgot to mention, we have a small cockroach problem.'' And I thought, ok, normal, just a few bugs crawling around. But then we get there, and I turn on the lights, and everything is covered in cockroaches. Dishes, fridge, counter, floor, everything. It was... kinda disgusting. As the light turned on, they all scurried around and found some hiding place. So that's awesome. Also, we have no hot water. Welcome to Antofagasta again! XD

We are working with several awesome people here. The first of which is a family, the Vilca family. They are Peruvian, and don't have too much time here in Chile, except for one who has several years here. Viviana, the one who's been here a while, is a member, and is recently reactivating. She lives with her two sisters, Rosa and Luz. Rosa is not a member, but her daughter just got baptized. Luz isn't a member either, but her daughter got baptized at the same time as Rosa's daughter. Luz also has a son who isn't member. Basically.... we're working with Luz and Danny, her son! :) They all are amazing people, and they love the missionaries! We had a family home evening the first night right after writing, and it went very well! They love listening, and Luz and Danny are sure they want to be baptized. The only problem is, they want to wait. They don't even know what they want to wait for, they just want to wait! So that's a little frustrating, but they still listen and come to church, and so I will still teach and testify. Luz came to church on Sunday, but Danny didn't, however they both have around 8 assistances to church. For now, they are the main people we are working with.

The ward is doing a ton of activities, and this week we will have one every day. I love it! This ward is just so established! This week, we will be giving a Book of Mormon to every family in the ward with the challenge that they give it to a friend. I'm curious to see how it goes. Of course we will have a little time with the members teaching them some ways of how to do it, and will be doing some practices so that they feel confident doing it. Also, we will be having an open house this week, but instead of a tour of the chapel, we are going to do some ''theatre interpretations'' of the restoration. Basically, every group in the ward is going to act out a certain part of the Book of Mormon or restoration. The missionaries, we are acting Joseph's meeting with Moroni and him receiving and translating the plates. So I'm excited for how this all turns out!

So, I think that answers all your questions! I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid