Week Eight

Querido familia!

So good reading your email, as always! Especially now. This week has been the hardest so far in regards to homesickness. I think it's because it's getting so close to Christmas and I am in another hemisphere. But you are good at putting a ton in your email that catches me up on things! 

But yeah, things are going well here! Just getting done with another regular week, I guess. I'm not exactly sure what a 'regular' week is here, but it was similar to the last one, so yeah... I dunno. Not much happened, just a lot of walking, talking, eating, and a ton of español! I feel so stupid during the meetings because I just sit there trying desperately to follow the conversation! It's super awkward many times though, because while i'm attempting to translate, the person who is talking will look at me as if expecting an answer, and I think, Oh crap, they were talking to me... And it's never a yes or no question! I tried just laughing and saying "Si", and seeing if it would go away, and it never does!!! Ugh. But that's ok, everybody knows how super bad at Spanish I am, so they aren't ever offended or anything. Or at least, I hope not.

Last week was special though because we had a special Conferencia De Navidad with all the missionaries from Iquique, Alto Hospicio, and Arica in attendence with President Ferreira and his wife and daughter! It was so awesome! I didn't understand a word! Which sucked, but that's ok! But it was super cool to see all the other missionaries, especially Elder Butcher who was one of the three of us that came from my distríto in the CCM at the same time. It was nice to talk to someone who spoke just as much Spanish as me! He'll be speaking more, though, pretty soon because his papíto is Latino and he has no choice but to learn or suffer. At least my papíto is American. But anyways, the conference was an all day thing. There was a devotional sort of part where we listened to President speak Spanish for a while, and the only thing I really learned was the my mission president knows how to speak Spanish. But afterwards we had a very good lunch, and they had some chocolate fountains running! After the main meal they brought out a bunch of fruit and shish-kebab sticks, and we went to town with them! It was soooooooooooooooooooooo fetching good! (Fun-fact, 'fetch' is apparently a word here too, and Chileans use it just like we do! Haha, what?!) But after this we took a big picture with everyone, and I thought it was over and everything, but then Presidente said something along the lines of "tiempo para la película"(time for the movie)! I was like, no way, but we all set up chairs, turned off the lights, and began to watch a movie! And it was a legit movie! Madagascar 2! Whaaaaaaat?! I almost started crying, it was so awesome! But I've never had more fun watching a movie than with a bunch of deprived missionaries! Every tiny joke in the movie made us crack up! There were times when I was almost crying, and I could barely even understand the joke! (the movie was in Spanish -_-) But it was one of the funniest things to see! Then we took some more pictures and whatnot and it was amazing and I loved it. 

So other than that, yeah, just another week! Walking around and chatting with people and sharing the good word! Very awesome, very consuming, very spanish. But now, some question answering. Listen closely, because I will not write this again ;)

You asked about my meals and what it's like. Basically, we're on our own for breakfast every day and for PDay. Often, I don't eat breakfast. After a couple hours of working on the streets, like from 11:30 to 1:30, comes lunch. Lunch here is big, like our dinner in the states. Tuesday and Wednesday we eat with our mamíta, and Thursday through Sunday we eat with various members. The meals are really good, so I'm never really hungry afterwards. But they don't have dinner here. So, study language right after lunch, and after we work from 4 until 10:30 when we need to go home. It's like regular food, but more bland. Usually. But sometimes we get lucky with a family that makes something particularly amazing. Like last night, we had pizza. Here they eat pizza differently. It's like an ice cream cone, but pizza!!! I almost cried (again) when I saw it, it was so beautiful. I ate 5.

 The weather is average. It feels probably very similar to what you're feeling now in AZ, highs in the 80s, but the lows aren't as cold. And it's dry.

                                        

After baptism, retention is 'So-so', according to my comp.

But now the important part. Skype. I'm setting up an account today for skype, and will be able to Sunday. I will be skyping at around 6:00 pm here, which should be around 2:00 pm there. I know you have church, but it's the only time we could get. :/ I'm sorry. But it might be a little later than 6, just getting there and getting set and everything, but around that time.

Anyways, I love you all! And miss you so much! Have an amazing Christmas! And Happy Birthday, Bronson!

Elder Schmid

                                        

Week Seven

Querido familia,

Whoa... this was a crazy week, and an even crazier day! I don't really know where to begin, even...

Well, I'll start by saying, this is hard work haha! But at the same time, it is a very enjoyable work! Mi papíto and I live outside of our sector, so just to get to the first houses is a twenty minute walk away! Which kinda blows, but oh well! We didn't hesitate at all to dive right into regular missionary work! Every morning is several hours of various studying (personal, comp, language, all of it). For the first couple of days, I had meetings in the morning, one for weekly planning, and the next was a zone training meeting. These were nice, though I didn't realize at the time, because it was a slight rest from the day to day work that usually goes on. After these, we have lunch. So one thing you gotta know about Chile is that their meals are all jacked up, muy extraño. They don't have dinner!!! Like, what?! Instead, they have a very large lunch, like your dinners, and then no more meals the rest of the day... I'm not sure if I can go 2 years with no dinner haha! It's alright though, because their lunches are super good. Just yesterday, we were eating with an older couple in our ward, and I couldn't finish! There was so much food! They were a lot richer than most of the people here, and so they could afford it. It was just plate after plate! And just when I thought I could eat no more, she handed each of us a quarter of a watermelon, and a spoon... I think I felt my stomach explode inside of me. Haha, but it was good food. 

Elder Crabtree is taking over making citas (appointments) and contacting people. He has been here for a month and a half, and so he knows his way around (sort of. Haha he gets lost sometimes). But I really just follow him around and do what he does. He's been introducing me to various people in the ward, and letting me meet them. We start walking around and doing stuff at around 4:00 and finish at 10:30. We need to be home by 10:30, though, and the Hermanas need to be home by 9:30. Apparently it gets a little dangerous at night o.o... When we get to one of our appointments, I have to mentally prepare myself everytime for the massive amount of spanish that's headed my way... my spanish sucks. I thought I was doing alright coming out of the CCM. I was wrong. These people, they don't speak Spanish. They speak Chilean. There is such a big difference, I'm coming to realize. Everything is so much faster than in Mexico! And then they have their own words and slang, and a different accent! Chileans speak spanish in a slurred sort of way. Everything is melded together, and they cut ends off words, but the biggest thing is, they don't pronounce their s's!!! It's SO confusing to listen to! I don't even have a vague idea of what everyone is talking about during lessons... Crabtree is going ham with his Spanish, because he's been here for 22 months, and I'm just sitting there like Elder Calhoun. "That ain't the language they taught me in the MTC..." Haha it's actually awful, and I hate it entirely, but oh well. It'll come eventually... Maybe... Hopefully...

Another thing you need to know about this mission is that it's a baptising mission. It is reccomended and taught that we should invite to baptism in the first lesson, or even the first conversation on the street! It's insane! So our first new investigators, since I got here, are the Carvajals, Mery and her niños. Our first lesson with them was on Friday or something, and by the end of the lesson they had a baptismal date! El 17 de Diciembre! Whaaaaaaaaat?! Haha I would like to say it's because of my insane skills as a missionary, but it's actually because people are just so receptive here! Mi papíto was telling me of times where he'd walk up to people on the street, and by the end of the conversation, they were a new investigator with a baptismal date! It's so crazy! But I was super excited for them. The carvajals are super awesome! We brought them to church with us yesterday, and they seemed to enjoy it! And come to find out, it was one of the niño's birthday! And what more, he was turning 8! Haha I feel another baptism coming! ;) 

Things are going solid with mi compañero. We are actually super similar, same personalities and whatnot, which is cool. "Bacan", I guess, is what the Chilenos say for "cool" or "awesome" or "dope". I may say it alot in the coming emails haha! But we talk a lot between citas and walking around, and he's super funny. 

The area I am serving in is sweet! It's really poor, but not like in Christiaan's mission. I'll just have to show you pictures. All the houses are super close together, with the walls on each side of the house being the wall for the next house too. Every house has a gate maybe ten feet in front of their door and all the gates connect to eachother. So when we get to house, we knock on the gate, and we shout until they come out. That's how we get their attention haha! It's kinda fun, but also kinda strange! They are also all different colors. There are orange casas, blue casas, green casas... every color! Our area is made up of what here the call "La Tortuga", which is a big hill with tons of houses on it, between a half and a full square mile in diameter, and a little of the city below. It really sucks to climb La Tortuga to get to houses haha, especially when we've walked so far already to get there! I better have super thighs by the end of these six months! Oh, and by the way, it sounds like we are in each sector for around 6 months. So at least these people will know the sound of my voice eventually! 

To answer your question, we don't have a place set in stone where I'm gonna skype you from, but we have a few possibilities, so I'm sure when the time comes we'll have one. We just use a members computer, so we're scoping out the rich families with the best internet haha! 

So the packages and letters work like this. If you want to send something, you send it to this address:

Casilla de Correo 70

Antofagasta, Chile

Chile

Once it gets there, they distribute it to the zone leaders once a month, who then bring it back to you. I'm lucky, because I live with the zone leaders haha! So basically, if you sent something today, I would have it in my hands the second week of January.

But it sounds like you all had a nice week! And what?! A new TV?! I can't believe it. The second I leave... ugh. But I'm curious to see what the whole setup looks like. I know the entertainment system we had when I left would definitely not fit a TV that big! But I'm glad you're all enjoying life! I loved seeing all the pictures! I love you all, and miss you!

Los amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week Six

Hola familia!

Well, I made it! I'm here in my first area! I wasn't able to email before, this is my first chance, and there is so much to say! 

So first off, the travel. We left Monday afternoon at around 3 o'clock from the CCM to reach our flight at 6:55. It was me and two Elders from my district and 20 other missionaries from the CCM. Half of us were going to various missions in Chile, and the other half to Uruguay. We got there super early, and so we had to wait a while for our flight! We were all so anxious and excited and everything that a brand new missionary is! So it was all 23 of us sitting relatively close together, and as we were sitting, a man decided to sit down next to us. He sat down right smack dab in the middle of all of us missionaries! Haha he didn't stand a chance! We were like a tank full of pihrannas, and he was a chunk of meat dropped in the midst of us! The missionary closest to him began talking to him and managed, with his broken Spanish, to spin the conversation to our purpose, and why we were all there. He was a little curious to see all these young white people in good clothes gathered together, and so we explained how we were missionaries and everything. We were all trying to get our own words in, so I kinda felt like we were dumping a ton on him, but he seemed alright. And he did decide to sit there, so hey, es su culpa (it's his fault)! We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon, and he started to read it. But then we had to board, so we just left him with the book.

So the plane ride was exactly as you'd expect it. Our flight was literally from sunset to sunrise, and I didn't sleep one dang bit. I was stuck in the middle seat in between two older women, and one of them smelt really bad... pero, está bien (but, it's okay)! I tried to talk to them, but they just wanted to sleep. At least, that's what I think. I couldn't understand them whatsoever and they ended up turning around and stopped talking to me. Luckily, though, our plane was nice, and had this touch screen display in front of us with all kinds of games and music and movies and tv shows. It kind of bummed me out, because I couldn't watch anything, but they had good music! I listened to a bit of Andrea Bochelli (I think that's how you spell it), and played a couple games of chess with one of the elders, who I found out was also playing because he couldn't do anything else haha! He was in another part of the plane, and both of our player names was 'Elder'. But after the ridiculously long flight, we landed in Santiago. We got there a little late, I guess, because we had to quickly rush to our next flight! This was a problem, though, because none of us had ANY idea where to go. We legit ran across the airport and back looking for where we were supposed to go. Even when we found a line that we thought we were supposed to be in, we were wrong. We went through security only to find out that it was the wrong place, and had to go somewhere else! We finally found the line we were supposed to be in, checked in our luggage, and ran to the gate. We got there as they were boarding! Talk about close! 

The second flight wasn't nearly as long, but it was also less fun. It was just an average plane without anything special. So I tried to sleep the whole time. But when we finally got to Antofagasta, I looked out the window, and realized the full magnitude of how crazy dry this place is. It really looked like Mars! It was just dirt! For miles and miles and miles! There are NO plants here! If it's not fed water by the city, it's not growing! And even then, the plants in the city are almost as brown as the dirt they're living in! It's crazy! Our mission pres picked us up, and we took a ride to to a point where we could get a good picture of the arch. We took some pictures, then he took us further into the city where we saw some cool ancient ruins! We took some more pictures, and then headed on to his house. It is actually a very nice house! It's on a street very similar to ones in San Diego. The only difference is the lack of green. It is very close to the ocean, as well. While there, we had our interviews and everything and then had a nice lunch with emenadas and some sort of hot dog thing. After this we FINALLY had a few moments to rest and nap, but were woken up again for dinner. All the missionaries from the mission office came as well, and it was fun. We eventually were able to settle in for the night and sleep.

The next day was the big day when we learned what would be our first area, and who would be our first compañero! We had a couple meetings to introduce us to the mission, had a lunch, and then we found out. They did it kind of interestingly... all the future trainers were on one side of the room, the nuevos on the other. Each nuevo had a letter with their name on it, and were sent to the middle of the room to read it aloud. It basically just said welcome, this is your zone, this is your sector, and this is your trainer. So I got mine, and I was sent to Alto Hospicio zone, the Los Cóndores zone, and mi papíto (daddy) was Elder Crabtree! This was awesome, because as we were talking to all the new trainers, I was thinking to myself, I really hope this guy ends up being my comp. And he did! So we had a few hours to chill while we waited for our buses, and we used this time to kind of introduce ourselves. Elder Crabtree is from Ogden Utah, and this is actually his last transfer, his last cambio. He leaves on January 15, which means I will be his last compañero. He is super awesome, and super funny! I can tell I am gonna have fun!

So the bus ride from Antofagasta to Alto Hospicio was another 8 hours. It was ok though, because the bus wasn't too bad. There was actually a movie playing for the first couple hours, McFarland USA. It was in Spanish, though, so I was basically almost watching it from memory. It was unavoidable, too. The TV was directly in front of us! So we just decided to enjoy it haha! But after that, it was another overnight trip, so they turned the tv's off, and we tried to sleep. Halfway through, though, I really had to use the bathroom. So I went to the back to use it and everything, and when I got in, I couldn't find the lock to the door! Or the light switch! So I was in a tiny bus bathroom in the pitch black with the door open, trying to use it! If that wasn't difficult enough, the road we were on was kinda bad, and so I was being thrown all over the place! And the toilet, which was already small, was even smaller because it's flipping Chilean! So... I had a bad time. The rest of the ride went without incident, though. 

So we get here at 3 AM, and we needed a ride to our casa, So mi papíto called our mamíta and she came and got us. I then saw just how poor our area was. Mi papíto told me it was one of the poorest sectors in the mission, but I didn't realize how much. It's just so crowded, and so dirty, and everything you'd think of when you think 'developing country'. There are also a ton of stray dogs just wandering around, and they like to bark at the tires of passing cars. It was super weird to see! But we got to our tiny apartamento, and went inside, it's even smaller on the inside than it looks from the outside! Elder Crabtree told me the lights don't work, so he took out a flashlight, and we just went upstairs and went straight to bed. It was so nice to finally go to sleep! I thought, though, that we would have a bit of extra time to sleep since I got there so late, but nope. We got up with the rest of the missionaries. I woke up to two tiny Latino missionaries standing right next to my face trying to wake me up! It was a little surprising! They introduced themselves as the zone leaders, Elder Jamarillo and Elder Cordova. They're our housemates. 

So we get ready and everything in the normal missionary routine, studied for two hours, and then went to a weekly planning meeting at the church building. (Apparently Elder Crabtree is District Leader.) We planned for a while, got lunch, and then we struck out to do everything we need to today. And that's where I'm at now. The first thing we did was come here for emailing. So, let me say now what I was 'supposed' to say. I'm safe, I made it here to Chile, and I am doing alright! Everything is going great! I'm crazy excited to start!  

After this, we have appointments with some investigators, and I'm super nervous because my Spanish straight sucks, pero, está bien. I'll just cry myself to sleep tonight. ;) 

Anyways, I love you all! Los amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

(P.S. legit nobody knows how to pronounce Schmid. I've tried to explain, but they're not catching on. It must be a Latino thing. I'll just try to get them to call me Elder Guapo! (Elder Handsome))

Week Five

Querido familia,

Right off the bat, yes, I did get the packages from you and Natascha and Grandma! Thank you so much!!! I really do appreciate them! It's like opening a Christmas present, but better! And you all know me so well! I'll be chowing down on my favorite food the rest of my time here at the CCM. I can't tell you how much of a relief that is! But thank you again for those packages. I haven't gotten the letter yet, but that might be just because she hasn't sorted it all out yet. I'm sure I will get it by the end of today.

So yes, this is my final P day at the CCM! It's so weird to think that. I've been here so long I was beginning to think it was my mission! So my PDay got changed to Wednesday, and I don't know why, and I forgot to mention that in my last email (sorry), but I'm glad Christiaan got the message to you. It's hard though, because only five days have passed since I last emailed you, so I honestly have no idea what to write about! Literally nothing happens here unless it's been completely mapped out in the schedule. But I will try haha, can't have a boring email!

So this coming Monday is my final day here at the CCM. I leave at 6:50 from Mexico city on an 8 hour flight to Santiago Chile, and then hop on another 2 hour flight headed for Antofagasta... I'm not excited for the flight! 10 hours on a plane! The biggest excitement for me will be that I'm finally out and on my way to my mission! I can't wait! It's one thing to practice with the teachers here, and another thing completely to talk to real people with real problems that the Gospel can remedy! I'm beyond excited! Yesterday we had a meeting where all of our flight info was given to us along with our passports, green cards, and our new debit cards for our mission. It felt kind of surreal, but exciting at the same time! We also got a water bottle that has a filter built into it. It goes to all the missionaries who "are going south of the border", so in Mexico or Central/South America. I walked up to get mine, and the lady asks, "Adonde va, Elder?" And so I tell her, Antofagasta Chile. She then laughs and begins to hand me two bottles! She says, "Oh yes, you're definitely gonna need this!" It kinda freaked me out a little... where am I going?!

So other than that, nothing too big has happened here... yesterday another seventy came and spoke to us. He was very young! 40 years old! Elder Pedro X. Larrael was his name, and he gave a fantastic discourse on personal worthiness and revelation. He was very fun to listen to, and he got so animated with it! It was awesome! An elder gave another musical number right before on the piano of a hymn that I barely recognized but couldn't name... but it was so good! He needed no music, just walked up and started playing! But it was a great song and I enjoyed it a lot. 

Well, I can't think of much more to say... perdón. But thank you for your email! Life seems to be running it's same old chaotic course over there in AZ!  Mom, you always have too much on your plate haha, but you are such an amazing person for it! Sometimes I think you are too helpful for everyone! Congrats Kiwi! How slimy do your teeth feel haha?! I remember getting mine off, it felt so weird! Haha same old Dad with that phone thing, but that really made me laugh! I'm sure he had his girlish giggle going on the whole time he was messing with you all! That was a cute story with Ashlyn and Bronson, and it just made me miss you all so much more! (The other day, we were driving and Bronson was in the backseat with Ashlyn having a conversation.  He asked her if Christiaan has ever killed an animal.  Ashlyn told him, “Yes”, and so he asked what kind of animal.  Ash told him that Christiaan had killed a deer.  Bronson was quiet for a while and then asked when he killed the deer.  Ash, by this time, started tuning him out and didn’t respond.  He asked a few more times and then said, “Was it when I was still in Heaven?”  I thought that was pretty cute.)

Los amo y extraño a todos (I love you and I miss you all)!!! 

Elder Schmid

This is a picture of what basically went on for an hour in our room one night.
 It's a chart from a youtube video :)

Elder Scoresby.  He takes everyone's ruined clothes and sews them...
except me, because I know how to.

Our breakfast one morning.  We didn't want the soggy tortilla chips they were serving,
so we grabbed some stuff from our packages and made toast...it was actually pretty good!