Pictures from the last month

Week 18

Hola familia!!

Well... I have a lot to write about this week. Which kinda scares me, because whenever I have that, I never write everything I want to, including your questions, sooooo... I dunno, we'll see! Aaaaaaanyways, we had our cambios come in this past Viernes. I am staying here in Pozo Almonte with Elder McKinlay. Nothing is changing, pretty much, and he is still District Leader, so I am, yet again, the companion of the district leader. I kinda feel like a permanent first counselor, or something like that jaja (thought he misspelled haha, but evidently this is how to write it in espanol)! But we have a lot of solid investigators lining up for us, so I am excited for what Heavenly Father has in store for us two. I was a little sad at first, because I wanted to go back to a more city setting, but I suppose there is just more for me to do here. More people to bless with my beautiful face (and the gospel, I guess) ;). 

I was really grateful to read your email this week! Mom your testimony is so awesome!!! We just need to switch places, you be the missionary, and I'll be in the YW presidency! Jajaja no, but really, thank you so much! That was an awesome dream you had, and a good example of the role of Jesucristo in our lives. It was definitely a good pick-me-up! And you are so right, in regards to our family! We are one awesome family jaja! (Not to mention dang-good-looking jaja!) But it's a bittersweet thing for me right now, because I am grateful, extremely grateful, for the love and examples of everyone in my family, but that just makes me miss being around them all the much more! But I always remind myself, I am here to give all the people in Chile the opportunity to have a family like we do! I want them to have that blessing, that strength in their lives, like I did! It is the best way to have strength through the hardest decisions in your life! Thank you mom!!!

Things in Pozo are moving forward, as always. Actually, this week seemed a bit more slow, almost like a bust. We had so many citas fall through! It was so frustrating! So many people who said to pass by (I'm assuming it is to visit), and when we did, were not there! A ratez-vous (you miss), I guess, in Christiaan's terms jaja! On the other side, the investigators that we do have are very solid! For example, we have our Colombianos. A family, or rather, two families who live together, of very awesome people. Elder McKinlay knew them before, and we finally got to teach them. The father, Anderson, loves us, and while we were talking to him in the street, he told us to pass for his son and his son's friend, Carlos Javier and Jeremi. So we did! And it was just a normal lesson, until Jeremi's dad, Anderson's cuñado (brother-in-law), walked in. We thought he was gonna kick us out, because he looked like he wanted to kill us, but he actually wanted to listen in! I suppose it was just his 'tired face'. But he listened in on the lesson, and it was super awesome! He was genuinely interested in what we were saying, and asked all the right questions, and made all the right commitments! He was so solid! When we left, he had commited to try to go to church, if his work permitted, and to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Which is basically all our major committments at first. And when we came back the next time, he was doing it! He is reading and praying! Which is so fantastic, you have no idea! But here's something awesome. While we were talking to Carlos Javier, I happened to look down and saw he had an ankle bracelet on. As I looked at it, I found out it was one of those rubber wrist bands, black with white letters, that says 'Future Missionary'!!! Like, what?!?! Jajaja if that isn't a sign from God, I don't know what is! Apparently, when I asked him about it, he said he found it on the street and liked it, so put it on! Jaja que bakan!! Another super solid investigator is Merysol. She is progressing rapidly, to say the least. Our first time talking to her was a little over a week ago, and in that time since, she has read basically half of the Book of Mormon, all of our folletos (brochures), and prayed every night and morning. She has a testimony so strong, sometimes I wonder if it's stronger than mine jaja! But we finally introduced the Word of Wisdom to her, and found out she smokes. She was kind of hesitant to quit, but we got her to pray right then if this was something from God that she needed to follow. Needless to say, the spirit was felt. She told us she just wanted to cry the entire time while she was praying, but didn't want to embarass herself! I have to admit, some sort of liquid-like stuff was also leeking from my eyes, but I'm not sure exactly what it was. But she ended up comitting to quit smoking! And we gave her a special blessing of strength and comfort to resist temptations, so I have faith that she can get through it. :D Deborah, the wife of Miguel (well, soon to be wife), is also progressing super well! And Miguel too! We had a lesson with them yesterday and it was the most powerful lesson we've had ever! The spirit was so strong, and I saw that they felt it strong! We taught them specifically about the Expiación de Jesucristo (Atonement of Jesus Christ), and the role it has in their lives, leading in to how they can have happiness in life. They told us that they felt like they were just searching for peace, and couldn't find it. So... we offered it! That's what I love about being a missionary! We have everything that anyone needs and wants in life! It's what we give! It's why we're here! Then there's Jayson, who I think I've talked about before. So I just found out, that along with his Book of Mormon, he is reading the book Llenas de Fe (Full of Faith). I am not sure exactly what book it is in English, but it is a book that just goes deep into a ton of stuff about the church, and explains doctrine.  So I was like, bakan, I'm not even reading that right now!! Great things are in store for that kid! If only his mom wouldn't hold him back and basically take away all of his blessings...

Tonight we have a Noche de Hogar (FHE) with a ton of people in the branch. We also invited our investigators, and they accepted to go to!! So basically, everyone that has a baptismal date is going to this Noche de Hogar with all the members... it's gonna be huge, lemme tell ya! I'm stoked! Yesterday in church was cool. Whenever we have investigators in church, we sit with them. And I usually chill with the kids, because they're easier to talk to jaja! But I am getting to be real good friends with all the primary kids in the branch jaja! It helps when I hand out gum and chocolate, but I like to think it's my awesome personality ;). But it's really fun when they gather around and make fun of me and my lack of spanish... which they do often jaja! But I must say, I really enjoy this ward. 

OH! One more thing, I gave my first blessing in spanish!!! Yesterday! Actually, yesterday was just a day of blessings. We gave a blessing of strength and comfort to Merysol, and to Miguel and Deborah. Elder McKinlay gave one of his converts the preisthood in church. And at the end of the night, we went to a woman named Carmen to give her a blessing of health for her back. So Elder McKinlay was basically handling all of the blessings, because he actually can, but when we got to Carmen, that changed. We were talking and he asked who she wanted to give the blessing, and she said Elder McKinlay, because he can speak spanish. So I was like, whooh, bullet dodged. Elder McKinlay had other plans. He tells her, 'no, Elder Schmid understands everything you're saying (wrong), he can speak really well too (also wrong)! He can give it (wrong wrong wrong)!'. So of course, she says, 'yeah!', and I end up having to give the blessing. It was really shaky, and honestly very bad, but hey! I gave a blessing! In spanish! That's pretty cool! And I was able to help give strength to someone who needed it! I am so grateful for the priesthood, and the spirit which can give this strength! I am so grateful to be able to be a tool in the Lord's hands for Him to bless His children!

So yeah, busy week, and I didn't really write everything, but oh well. Thank you again for your email! I love you all so much! I am grateful to be in Chile, and grateful to be a messenger of this gospel, this joy, and this spirit! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 17

Familia!!

Oh man, I've been so excited for this PDay, you have no idea! So much I wanted to read and write, and a ton of stuff I wanted to do! And I was so excited to see the pictures of baby Mae again!!! But it sounds like you guys are having a great holiday! I'm sure that was an awesome surprise of Caelan just showing up! Who knows, maybe I can surprise you like that! ;) Haha no, but I'm super happy that you spent it together! I'm super jealous that you all got to hold little Mae, but oh well. I guess I just have dibs for when I get back! But you are so right, Mothers Day needs to comes really quickly. 

Yeah, everything is going well in Pozo! The work is really different, like you thought, because it is so much smaller than Alto Hospicio, which was already small compared to other cities! But there is a lot of service. We are working hard to fix what the past Elders in Pozo have done. Apparently, this sector used to be the ''sector de castigo'' (punishment sector). Terrible missionaries were sent here, and they ruined everything. They were super slacked off, and basically destroyed the relationship with the members here. So we are rebuilding those, and trying to become good friends with them. Elder McKinlay has been working on that the whole six months that he's been here, too, so he's made some headway. But we're also just trying to give the name of Elders a good connotation with all the people here. And I feel like it's working. When we contact people, they have already heard of us, and our service, and are a little more inviting to us. And, we've had an inactive come up to us and tell us that he wants to return to the church! We were like, uhhh Yeah!!! His name is Miguel, and he's been inactive for a long time. So we are teaching him and his wife. But as I'm writing this, I'm getting the feeling that I've written it all before. So, what's new with them, is that they have invited us by more and more, and are getting more interested. Hay bautismo!!! (There is a baptism) We are also continuing teaching Fani and Cristina. Fani works 24/7, so it was kinda hard because she was gone this week, but if we can get back in touch, she is so ready to be baptized. Especially, because she has a ton of friends in the branch! Which is always so helpful. We're also trying hard with the members here and having them accompany us in our lessons. They are way more helpful than they think they are, especially if they are conversos (converts), and can relate their own experiences that were similar to the investigator's! So, we're carrying them with us more and more. 

One of our investigators is called Lily. She is really... interesting. Usually when we invite to be baptized, and the people aren't into that idea yet, they're kinda tentative. We invited her, she just flat out was like 'No.' Which was kind of surprising, but then she explained that she believes what we are sharing is true, but she wants to ''conocer mas la iglesia" (to know more of the church). Then she tells us that she has this dream that has been in her head for a while that she had a long time ago. She was with her newborn baby, and she was running in Pozo. All the people were after her, or rather, her baby. She felt like they wanted to kill her baby. So she runs away from them, trying to find somewhere to hide, a safe place. She ends up running to Iquique, which is almost 2 hours away by car. But she finds there, as well, the people want to murder her baby! So she runs back! All the way back to either Alto Hospicio, or to Pozo, I couldn't tell, and everything is pitch dark, and she can't see where she is going, but is still running from the people. She then sees a man up ahead, and he holds out his hand to her, saying "Tranquila! Tranquila. Camina con fe, nada mal va a pasar. Camina con fe"  (Calm, calm. Walk with faith, nothing bad is going to happen. Walk with faith.) So then she walks toward him, still wary, and when she reaches his side, she disappears. Then she wakes up. So then she started asking us what we thought her dream meant! Haha it's like, lady, I didn't even know you were talking about a dream, I certainly can't explain it! But we told her we'd think and pray about it. And so we did! And when we returned, we had an answer. She was with her baby, which represented her family. And all the people, the world, wanted to kill it, wanted to 'destroy her family'. And we know this is happening in the real world today. The family is under attack. So she ran, and searched for a way to save her family. And she was willing to go crazy distances, even to Iquique and back, to save it! But when she returns, everything is black. She doesn't know where she's going. So this, of course, represents that, in her life, she might be lost for a bit. But then she'll find this man, who of course, we know to be Jesus Christ. And He beckons her, and asks her to walk with faith, and not to worry! And she still has some work to do, she is still in a place where she can lose her family. And it is not until she comes side to side with Christ that she disappears from those trials. So we told her this interpretation that we had, and she was just quiet. And she just looks at us, and says, "I want to know your church more. I know this is true." So yeah, I was basically Joseph for a couple minutes haha! ;)

The work is going forward, though. It's super hard for me because I kind of just got yanked out of my other sector without warning. I also have no idea what's going to happen to me in a week. It's possible that I stay, that I leave to Los Condores again, or go to another city completely! It is also possible that I become a trainer, because I am finishing my training. (With three different trainers haha!) So I am kind of apprehensive. Especially because Elder McKinlay has been in Pozo for 6 months. So it's almost certain that he will leave. And if that's true, I'm again leading a sector that I do not know... but oh well, it's all part of God's plan, I guess. What can you do but push forward! I always have the song 'Put your shoulder to the wheel' in my head, especially when it says, 'We all have work, let no one shirk'. That part is stuck with me, and helps me keep going, because I know that I am certainly not the only missionary working, and we all have our work to do. We cannot shirk away from it. The Lord needs me, specifically right now in the things I am doing here in Pozo. I can't let him down and not work, especially out of laziness, or not trying. And so we keep going. We are doing a lot of contacting, and that's helping us get new people, but it still feels like not enough. I don't know what we need to do more, but I feel like there is more to do. We must simply keep at it! 

Life is kind of different living with only one other person in the pensión. It's a little more lonely. It's also having an impact on my spanish. He's a gringo. And he doesn't really have much more time than me in the field. His Spanish is... mas o menos. He can understand everything perfectly fine, but he really can't speak. His accent is way gringo, and his grammar is off. So when he teaches, the people don't understand him. I guess it's lucky for me, though, that I had Elder Crabtree. He taught me basically how to have a Latino accent, and when we talk to people here, they honestly think I've been here for almost two years. It's kinda wierd to have them look to me for a translation, but they do! I guess I've learned a lot more than I feel I have, when it comes to language. I tell people here that I carry about 11 weeks in Chile, and they are really surprised! They compliment my Spanish, which feels super good to me, because I was with Latinos before, or somebody who was about to go home after two years of Spanish, and so I always thought my Spanish straight sucked. But apparently, I have very definitely been blessed with the gift of toungues. Which is a relief, because I have been asking and searching for it so much! I am so grateful that the Lord is helping me out in this! It is honestly one of the biggest struggles of Chile. Next step, just straight memorizing vocabulary. 

Now, question answering. Nah, I haven't gotten my camera yet, becuase we haven't had the oppurtunity to. We are so far outside anywhere where I can buy one, and every PDay that I want to, everyone in the Zone wanted to do something together. And I can't really drag my companion away from that, that wouldn't be fair, just so I can buy myself something. But next week for sure, I'm going to. My camera is out of battery, and the cord input on it doesn't work. So now, for the moment, I am camera-less. So I'll be hopping on that real soon. Haha, yeah, the other elders are now on their own with their bills! Hehe, it will be fun to watch them flail for a little. But yeah, the language is coming along well, and I'm getting more used to everything. I still have my bad days, where working in general is a lot more hard, but then I have the really good days too. Now it's just a matter of making every day good. Anyways, I love you all so much! I am trying hard not to count down the days of my return, but it's kinda hard when you have it pasted on my blog! ;) But take care! Este Evangelio es verdad! Yo amo cada dia en lo que yo puedo servir, y trabajar en el nombre de mi redentor. Espero que todos ustedes tienen una buena semana! Cuídense! (This Gospel is true! I love each day where I can serve, and work in the name of my Redeemer. I hope you all have a good week! Take care!)

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 16

Familia!!!

ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh I'm an Uncle!!!! WHAAAAATTTTT that's so awesome!!! Mae Schmid, welcome to the family! I was praying hard that the labor and everything would go smoothly, and based on what you and Christiaan said, it sounds like it did! That makes me so happy! And such a beautiful baby girl, with a crap ton of hair haha! But really, that's a lot of hair. But yeah, mom, dad, how does it feel to be grandparents?!? Hahahahaha you old farts! ;) Nah, but congratulations to you guys too! The first grandbaby is born! I'm so happy!!!! 

This week was super crazy. I'm no longer in Alto Hospicio. But I'll get to that. The week started off pretty normal. We had some good lessons and everything. We finally were able to contact Victor and Brenda again!! That was awesome, because they were our most promising investigators, but their schedules are super crazy, so it was super hard to find them. But we did!! And we had another really awesome lesson with them! We taught about the importance of church (because they skipped out on attending) and it was super spiritual. It was especially so because we were not teaching an exact lesson, but more like listening to their problems and explaining how church fixes them! So it was super spiritual, and great because I'm understanding now what they are saying and am able to respond in a way that makes sense haha! But we got them to commit to go to church. I don't know if they followed through, though, because like I said, I'm not there anymore. 

So the rest of the week was a lot of contacting as usual, with various lessons spaced out in between. But Thursday, things got wild. Elder Reveco and I left in the afternoon to start working again, and as soon as we got to our sector, we got a call from our zone leaders to come back. That was a little annoying because we live so far, but also kind of interesting, because it was something not usual. So we go back to our house, and the leaders explain to us that a special inter-cambio is happening. Or a special division for a couple days. President called, and told them that he wanted another Elder to come to my zone, and me to head on up to another city, more like little town, called Pozo Almonte. I was expected to stay here for maybe a week. But then once I got here, the Elder who was leaving (I'll omit his name) had all of his stuff packed up in his bags. Apparently, he had his mind set completely on going home. I was like... what?... and then they were gone. So my new compañero, Elder McKinlay, calls presidente, and tells him what went down. And now, I guess, I'm staying here in Pozo for the rest of this cambio, and maybe even for another. So yeah, no time to say goodbye to the people in Alto Hospicio. I barely had enough time to go grab my bags and all my stuff, and now I'm here. Pozo is about an hours drive east of Alto Hospicio. I've been here since Thursday. Pozo itself is actually a very lovely town, very green. Or at least, green for this place. It is very small, and very quiet. It actually looks and feels a lot like Apache Junction, in my opinion. At least, that's what I'm reminded of wherever I go here. Apache Junction, but not as rich. We started working immediately. It's kinda different here in Pozo. For one thing, we have two towns basically that we work in. One is here, Pozo, the other is called Pica, another hours drive east. So the schedule is a little different, but that's awesome, because I like different haha! But we found a couple of new investigators, Fani and her aunt, Cristina! They are super great! Lessons with them are kinda strange, because we can't ever enter their house because there isn't ever a dude there. But they love the message! And they went to church this Sunday!! WUT WUT!!! Haha that's kinda a new feeling for me, as you know. But they've accepted a baptismal date, and we're gonna keep passing by. The members here are super super awesome! Apparently, they weren't too friendly with the missionaries before, but that's changed and now they love us! Which is awesome, because that means food. But also great for a good relation with the members , I guess. ;) But really, they are all so friendly, so happy, and just awesome. There aren't very many, though... our assistance to church is only usually 40 members, but that's ok. That's why I'm here! ;)

So yeah, that's what's going on here! Just like Aaron told the father of Limhi about Ammon, the spirit has called me to another place! And the work keeps moving forward! My testimony grows stronger every passing day. Especially my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I am very blessed to be able to share this book with the people here. I have found a love for it, and for reading it, here in Chile that I didn't have before. The Book of Mormon is the most true book of any in History. It is powerful, and it blesses lives, in so many various ways that I can't hope to explain them all. I love it, and I love the gospel it contains! I love serving! I love teaching! And I love learning!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 15

Hola buenas!

Yeah, I'm so sorry! As I was walking away from the cyber, I realized that you had a bunch of questions that you wanted answers to, but especially the address one, and I didn't even answer them... so here it is. The address, according to my comp, is this. 

Casilla de Correo 70
1240000 Antofagasta
Antofagasta
Chile

You send stuff there, and then whenever the zone leaders go to Antofa, they'll grab it.

Anyways, this week was pretty same old. Nothing spectacular. But it was a good week, nonetheless. I'm just having trouble finding something to write about! I guess first off, I've gotten advice about big earthquakes. There was supposed to be one before the 15th, and so a ton of people were telling me about earthquakes and what to do in the middle of one. It kind of spooked me out a bit, not gonna lie haha! But now I'm prepared! ;) But no, the ones I've felt definitely aren't rollers. They're more like shakers. Everything shakes... or quakes. But they're fun! I like feeling them! But then again, I haven't felt anything big.

Our investigators are alright. I'm actually pretty bummed, because two of our investigators, who were progressing the most, just quit on us. Noelia and her daughter, Ingri. Ingri especially, she was super excited about the church, and especially the thought of baptism. She jumped on the idea when we challenged her! And she accepted the date and everything. But now, both of them aren't answering their phones. And when we pass by their house, they don't answer, even though we can hear them and their kids inside. It's really depressing. But then we have the opposite. We contacted un antiguo que se llama (an old one called) Jose Miguel, and his polola Valeska. She is a member, but him no. But we've worked a little with him, and he's awesome! He asks all of the best questions, he's super involved with the lessons, and he's accepting all of our challenges! It's hard though, because they aren't married. They've been together for a long time, and have two kids, but still aren't married. That's the problem with Chile. They don't see the need for marriage. It's hard to get them to wrap their minds around it. And if they aren't married, we can't baptize him. So that's our goal right now. And I have faith! They'll be married soon, and he'll be baptized! It's going to be fantastic!

Today was pretty great! We gathered as a zone to play volleyball. That was awesome especially because it wasn't soccer haha! I am truly the worst at soccer. But volleyball I can do! It was super fun. Afterwards, we bought a ton of ice cream and soda (WUT WUT) and watched The Croods... in spanish. But I understood it all, for the most part, so that was cool! I'm in Iquique ahora (right now), writing in a cyber that Elder Reveco knew about. I'm excited because there's a Lider (store owned by Walmart) here, with a bunch of American stuff I can get! Like Ranch!!! Oh my goodness, I miss ranch. The salads here are awful. The only stuff they use to dress their salad is straight salt. And lemon juice. I can't. But I'm gonna buy myself some ranch, and probably carry some around with me to show people what they don't even know they're missing out on! Oooooooohhhhhhh so excited haha! I'm also gonna get all the stuff I need to do a recipe from the Konuiszy's cookbook! It's gonna be brownies, and I'm making them for tonight for una noche de hogar (Family Home Evening) with a member. Haven't had brownies in way too long haha!

But the work is moving forward. It's hard, but worth it. The schedule is super boring and all, but for some reason, I don't get too bored! In fact, I have the hardest, most boring, most arduous schedule that I've ever had, but I can feel the blessings from doing the work, and serving! I love serving! Even though I'm in Chile, in the driest place on earth, surrounded by stray dogs and dirt and people speaking a foreign language, I'm happy. I know now that happiness doesn't come from your circumstances. Everything is a choice, and I can choose to let the blessings and happiness come from God, or I can choose to block them out. Like that talk by Elder Uchtdorf. We can choose the blessings, if we're willing to put in some work.

Les amo a todos!
Elder Schmid

Week 14

Hola familia!

Yeah, well, crazy week. A ton of working, and a lot of new stories! But all in all, a very good week!

So first off, I got a story for you, should make you super proud, mom! So we are given 180,000 pesos every month as our payment. We use this to pay for our food, our transportation, our mamìtas, our weekly necesities, our bills for electricity and water, and the rest on whatever we want. So we get to the end of the month, the beginning of the last week, right? Then Elder Jaramillo, one of the others who lives with me, one of the zone leaders, asks who's gonna pay the bills (water and electricity). I thought we were just gonna split it between us all, and so I told him that. But he replies saying that he's basicaly broke. He has only 2000 pesos left, which is not very much. And he needed it to travel. Then we go around, and Elder Reveco it turns out is flat broke, and the other Elder, Elder Cordova, only has a 1000. Then they look at me. I was smart! I saved my money! When they were buying personal stuff and food, I kept my money, because I knew I'd need it! I still had 50,000 left! So basically, even though I also paid the water bill last month, I ended up saving our butts and paid for both the bills, amounting to basically 30,000 lucas. -_-  But that's not all! Turns out, the same thing happened with all the elders in Alto Hospicio! They were broke, and couldn't pay the electricity bill! So we get a call, and their lights are out. Straight up, their electricity got turned off! Like, nobody saved their money! I think they ended up getting help from a member or something. But yeah, lesson learned, save your money!

So this week, we were also doing a lot of contacting, and we had a few interesting ones. The most strange, though, is when we were at the church getting interviews. Elder Reveco and I were leaving when a guy, completely drunk, comes in to the church. He has blood all over his face and clothes, his face is badly beat up, and he just walks in and says, "Yo tengo problemas. Necesito confesar." (I have problems. I need to confess)... uhhhhhhh, what?! Haha, that's kinda scary to hear from a guy drunk out of his mind covered in blood! But we talked to him, and he took us to his workplace just a few doors down from the church. He wanted us to talk to his friend, and when he get there, his friend is smoking something, and is crazy high! So we start to talk to him, and he just cuts us off, and starts singing to us. Hotel California was playing, by the Eagles, and he changed all the words and was singning something in spanish along with the tune! I didn't understand any of it, but he was super animated! With hand signals, dancing, crazy faces and everything! We eventually just left leaving our number with the first guy, told him to rest and recuperate and whatnot, and to call us. We'll see what happens with that! 

We had a baptism this Saturday! We finally baptized Valentina!! It was definitely a crazy day! She asked for 'agua helada' (frozen water), and we had to go super early to start filling up the tank. So then I was talking with Elder Reveco, he's done this a few times, and asked him what was going to happen that night. He just looks at me, and shrugs. What?! We had no plans! No message, not many people coming, nothing! I was super nervous, because usually a baptism is a huge thing, with a whole program! I had no idea how to plan it, what we needed to do, or who we needed to talk to! I thought Elder Reveco would do that, or at least show me how. Nope! WE were super lucky, though. Another sector saved us! They had a baptism that turned out to be at the same time. And they had a full program planned out. So we just kinda snuck ourselves in with theirs, and everything worked out great! Valentina asked me to be the one to baptize her, which was awesome! Technically, she's my first baptism of someone I actually taught! But I was super nervous, and completely forgot to ask her for her full name until we were walking to the font! But it all turned out great, and it was real spiritual, and really awesome. You could really see her face light up, and I knew she loved the experience. There was a definite change with her before and after. Something really awesome was her mom was leaving for her home in Spain, and was scared that she would miss the baptism. But things worked out, and she got a flight for the next day, and she was able to be there! We were super anxious that her mom wouldn't be able to watch the baptism, but God came through, and worked his miracles, and everything worked out great! :)

Not much else has been going on. We have actually been feeling more temblores (tremors)! Which is super fun, not gonna lie. Temblores are little earthquakes, definitely feelable, but not bad. They are super fun and loud, but don't really last too long. Maybe a few seconds. But I guess, because I am not accustomed to the flipping earth moving beneath my feet, because I feel some that the others don't. I definitely feel one every week haha, it's great! But yeah, the work is moving forward. We have a ton of citas lined up for us, and so I'm excited to see what comes of them! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid