Week 22

Mamá,

This certainly is not the Grand Canyon. Anyways, yeah, this week was pretty great! Unfortunately, I have very little time to write. And bad internet connection. So this will have to be quick. 

We had a lot of inter-cambios this week, where we switch for the day with another companion, usually for interviews. We had two. The first time I was here with another Elder from Argentina, Elder Parpal. It's always interesting to get a different view-point of the mission, and another way of teaching. It is very difficult to teach with someone you're not used to, especially someone like Elder Parpal. It's not because he's a bad teacher, the opposite actually, he's very good. But the thing is, he's almost done with his mission, and he speaks much better than I do, so he took complete control over the lessons. It was like I was being trained again. He gave me around two minutes to talk, and the rest was just him chattering away. It was a little annoying at first, but I just took it as an oppurtunity to learn how other Elders work, what I like about it and want to use, and what I don't. There were several things that I learned, different ways to explain topics in a much better way than I had been explaining before. The other inter-cambio was with one of our zone leaders, Elder Newkirk. It was basically the same boat as with Elder Parpal, but over in Alto Hospicio. It was very interesting, because again, it was completely different. Elder Newkirk is pretty chill though, and speaks english, so that was cool jaja. Actually, the night I was with him, we went to the church building, and there happened to be a funeral going on. So we go in and give our respects and everything. As we were up front around the coffin, I was walking around by the pulpit, and right then my bag decides to break. It falls down... loudly. Jaja talk about timing! And not only did it fall, but it took several other things with it, like a vase of flowers, and the picture of the dead man... things were very awkward for a couple seconds. 

Sunday came and we had several people lined up to come to church with us! 14, actually! Which was great! But then the morning of Sunday, we called everyone to verify, and nobody answered. It was... discouraging. But we sent a member to look for one, and she was completely ready! Her phone was just dead. So she came to church, and we were happy. We actually had the biggest attendence in church that I've seen here! After church we called Pica to find out how many people went there, and they also had a massive amount! Eventually, we had 72 people in the church! More than that, one of our investigators, Erica, ended up bringing some friends to church! We had 8 investigators in church! Which, in Pozo, is almost unheard of. Needless to say, we were happy.

Today was cool. We decided to stay in Pozo, and ended up going with the familia Rojas Rojas to a salitrera (nitrate?, I think it is a mining cave) called Humberstone. It was basically like the Tombstone mine back home. But we walked around for a couple hours, and were actually allowed to touch stuff. Elder McKinlay and I went wild. It was fantastic! I want to send you the pictures... but can't. So sorry. Next week. But it was super fun, especially because it was with this family, one of our favorites in Pozo! It was a very fun day. but yeah, no time. That was my week! Some question answering time. Yes, I have a mamíta here. She cooks for us Tuesday's and Thursday's. She's pretty great! I like her a lot! Mom, I am definitely gaining weight. Jaja it's so bad! All the walking is keeping it back, but not enough, I am gaining weight. But that's ok, I guess, I'm on my mission! It don't matter! But yeah, that's my week. Or, some of it. I miss you all!

Les amo a todos,

Elder Schmid

Week 21

Querido familia!

Wow, this was an awesome week! Basically spent all of it with the mission president, so that's awesome! But I'll get to that. But yeah, thank you for the email! It was interesting getting a different viewpoint, seeing the world through dad's perspective. You both write very differently jaja! I can hear your voice when I read, dad. Especially with your jokes jaja, I know for sure you were chuckling to yourself when you were writing them! It sounds, like always, like you are all doing great! I'm glad you all enjoy my emails! I guess that's why I write them, right?

So, as you know, Presidente Ferreira was here last PDay, and we played soccer with him. I got schooled. Yeah, you remember. But he ended up staying the entire week! We had a conference with him the next day, which was super fun, but super far. He always holds them in Iquique, for some reason, I don't know why. It's so dang hot there! But that means that we the missionaries in good ol' Pozo Almonte need to take another long bus ride, among our numerous bus rides throughout the week. It's around 2 hours away, longer if your driver is garbage. Our driver was garbage. Jaja we were nearly late! But the conference was really good, and I understood pretty much all of it, in comparison to the first, where I didn't understand a thing. So that was cool for me, just to see that difference. The main subject that I got out of it was basically how to invite effectively. It's actually pretty hard. You have it clearly in your mind what you want to do and say, but once you start talking, those things disappear from your head. So then you start talking, and you have no idea where you're going, and things get awkward... it's hard. But, we had a lot of practices during this conference, and I think I got a lot better at inviting, and doing so with the spirit. So then after, that was a fairly regular time in Pozo, going around with all of our investigators. We haven't really found anyone new, but we also haven't lost anyone, so that's still good! We got Marisol to commit to church completely. She was super excited to go, which made us even more excited! After a few days we had to head back to Alto Hospicio for our interviews with the Pres, which I guess he's gonna start doing once every cambio. It was great. I love talking with Presidente Ferreira. He really is a great man, and very easy to talk to. The more I talk to him, the more I learn how much of what he says is just straight revelation. He says what I need to hear, stuff that just pricks my heart every time. It's pretty cool, not gonna lie. But then the next day we were getting ready to go to Pica, and I get a call from Pres. He tells me that him and his wife are gonna be in Pica that day, and wanted to do stuff with us! Whaaaaaaat? So we met up with him in Pica. We almost had lunch with him, but our hostess for lunch that day, Oriana, didn't have enough food. We didn't know that, or think that, because we just go eat at her restaraunt, so we assumed that she would have enough. So we walked in with Pres, introduced everyone, and then Oriana says she can't feed them. It was... awkward. So they left, and she just turns slowly to look at us... she was mad! We definitely got yelled at. And by a Latina. It was scary. I was scared. For my life. But we still got food! So that was good jaja! But after lunch we met up with Presidente and Hermana Ferreira again, and they came with us to some investigators there in Pica! And gave a lesson! He is a powerful teacher. We brought him to two people who we didn't know what to do with, and now, one has a baptismal date, and the other is dead set on reading the Book of Mormon and getting one herself. Oriana was one (yes we eat lunch with our investigators) and Erica was the other. It was awesome. Then they took us back home, which is basically an hour drive back to Pozo. So we had that much time to just talk with President and Hermana Ferreira. That is not common. At all. But it was super great to get to know them more personally! 

Sunday we had a conference instead of regular church. It was basically a steak conference, but we're not a stake (I used both because I don't know which one is the meat, and which one is the group of mormons), so for us it was a district conference. All the members in Alto Hospicio and Pozo and Pica went. It was super full! It was so cool to see the chapel actually filled! All the missionaries got kicked out by president to make room for the people, so we watched it on a tv in the other room. It was centered on how the members there were miracles in god's eyes, and their duty to work with the missionaries. After the talks of President and his wife, I think the mentality of the members has changed. We'll be working a lot more with them, I hope. After church, Elder McKinlay and I were walking to the bus stop to catch something back to Pozo, when President and Hermana Ferreira show up with their mini-van and offer to take us! Whaaaaat? So we got another hour with them back to Pozo! Basically, we were with President all this week! But it was cool, because he was teling us that he was going to take another route to Antofagasta, but something told him to go this way, and he found us in need of a ride! #Revelation! But it was good. I love those people. 

Anyways, that's my week. How is everyone going? I wouldn't know, because nobody is writing me!!! But that's ok, it's not like I'm dying to hear from people or anything, especially my family! ;) Haha but thanks for the letter, and talk to you next week! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 20

Familia!

A veces, yo pienso que yo quiero escribir todo mi correo en español, solo para ver si yo puedo, o si ustedes pueden entender. (Sometimes, I think I want to write all my mail in Spanish, just to see if I can, or if you can understand.) But nah, too much work haha! ;) But anyways, once again, super jealous of all the fun things y'all are doing stateside! I'm sure Ashlyn's birthday will be super fun! And, since I won't be able to say it on the actual day, Happy Birthday Ashlyn!!! I love you! And miss you! Email me!!! But yeah, that sounds real fun to be able to go up to Caelan's graduation! Kinda sad I'm gonna miss it, but oh well, así es la vida (this is life). 

I'm actually having trouble thinking about what to write! I know there are several things, but my mind is chanta, and I'm having trouble remembering. I guess I'll start with my investigators. They are all going steadily onward. We still haven't had any baptisms, and here in this mission, that is really a big bummer. Especially when everyone else is having several, and they are looking at us like, what the heck are you guys doing? Why aren't you baptizing? There have legit been people asking that, as if we're not working our rears off all day, every day. But oh well, I am convinced that when we baptize, which we will, these people will remain active aferwards. That is the biggest problem I find here, and it really bothers me a lot. The mood of this mission is so much 'baptism baptism baptism', that everyone is striving for that, and almost abandoning their investigators afterwards. I learned that the average amount of members in every branch here is around 600 to 800. Do you know the average asistencia (attendance)? 60 to 70. I think that's a problem. It really bothers me. The leaders tell me that it is not our responsibility to keep them active. We of course can't abandon them, but it's hard. Every single training we have here is centered on baptism. Our investigators only need to assist (attend) one time,  and receive most of the lessons. Then they need an entrevista (interview), and after that, they're 'ready for baptism'. There has never been a training on retention, or anything like that. We are trained to set a date with the people here in the very first contact.  Elder McKinlay told me that in his other cambios, he did that a lot. And not a single person who accepted a date during a contact was ever baptized. We had an ataque de zona (zone attack) in our zone, and all the missionaries in Alto Hospicio came to Pozo. They straight contacted for three hours. By the end, we had 18 dates for baptism, and half were for 8 days from then. We tried to contact them, but couldn't get a hold of a single one. Which was depressing. There was even people who we called, and right when we told them who we were on the phone, they hung up. I don't know, I'm just super confused about the way we do the work here when I don't feel it's very succesful. But yeah, it doesn't matter what I feel, I know that. It is not my mission, it is the Lord's. Presidente recieves revelation for the mission, and this is how he's telling us to work, so oh well. 

Other than that, things are going very smoothly! We have two new families investigators, one in Pozo, one in Pica. They are both super great! I love them! We were actually in Pica with this family, but the wife wasn't home. We were talking with the husband, Daniel, and ended up taking a tour of his yard. Their house is right in the middle of an orchard, which is his work. He cares for the grounds and the trees. There are several different types: mango, pomegranite, orange, lime, whatever! They even have grape vines! And he jumped on the idea of a tour. I think he's proud of what he's done there. And he should be! It was so great, and so well-kept! And while we were walking around, he handed us whatever fruit he found that was read for eating! We had a bunch of grapes, some pomegranites, and a ton of mangos... I was so happy haha! And then he gave us some bags with other fruit to take home! It was so awesome! 

We didn't end up teaching, because we wanted to teach with the family, and it's hard for him without his wife, Feliza, there with him, it's hard for him to understand. Especially us gringos. But they are progressing well. The other family we met last night. They are here in Pozo, and are super humble. They are fighting to find work, and struggling to pay for food to be on the table. But they were super receptive to us, and willing to listen! Which is all we need! We gave the lesson on the Restoration, and the husband, Roman, had a little bit of trouble with the idea of Prophets. He has been warned his whole life of false prophets, and so he was wary. But we explained to him everything, and worked with it, and he accepted! They have a date, but this time it feels different. I feel good about this family.

We also had some service this week. We went to a little town, more like a collection of less than 20 houses, and helped build. The members told us we'd be building a roof.... The members lied... haha we ended up tearing down an entire house, and rebuilt it from the scraps. As if I didn't have enough trouble with spanish before! Haha this was a nightmare! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Everyone was yelling, and telling me to do something different... I'm pretty sure I was completely useless, but hey, I was there, right?! 

Haha today we played soccer, ecause presidente is in town. It was all of the missionaries in Iquique and Alto Hospicio. It was so fun, because we got to use a real court with almost-real grass! Turns out, Presidente Ferreira is one boss fútbol player! He was moving the ball around like noone's business! I went up against him once... I got schooled. Completely. Haha I'm so gringo...

But yeah, that's my week. I'm adjusting to the Chilean life, I think. My spanish is coming along, getting better every day! There are very little pauses now of me thinking what I need to say, but I'm sure I still sound way stupid when I talk haha! The camera I love, simply because it actually works haha! It's another Nikon, cool-pix, 24 megapixel, or something around there. Haha I don't know what my comp had, but I hope I don't get it. Our baño was sufficiently destroyed. 

But anyways, thanks for the email! I miss you all! 

Les amo a todos, 

Elder Schmid

Week 19

Querido familia,

So, first off, yeah... I definitely did have a crazy busy week. But that is a blessing here on the mish, because if you're not busy, then you're straight contacting, which is super boring jaja! The noche de hogar went very well! There were several families there from the branch, and we brought 3 of our investigators, Carlos Javier, Jeremi, and Merysol. The lesson was on family, which I suppose we were supposed to prepare, but I had no idea. We just shared the family proclamation to the world. It's so much easier to teach now, especially when we have nothing prepared. We ended up talking for an hour or so! And then, of course, there was food afterwards. We are Mormon, after all! So that book that he has, you say I was supposed to have it? (I found out, from my son who served in the Congo, that the book referred to in the last letter was "True to the Faith") I was never 'handed a book when I turned 12', and so no, it doesn't ring any bells! But oh well. And the pictures... you added a ton, so I'm gonna give a tiny description for each. Starting from the bottom up: 1) Me and Julietta, la reina del Alto Hospicio 2) Two peruvians who made Elder Crabtree and I some of the best food ever. Not in our branch (shhh) 3) Some sort of tower in the middle of Iquique. Looked cool, so I took a pic 4) Elder Reveco y Yo, estudiando 5) Elder Reveco and I, looking awesome 6) Some guy who got baptized in another branch. I was supposed to send them that picture... oops 7) Mi bautismo!!! Valentina y su madre 8) Sushi night WUT WUT 9) I climbed some apartment buildings to the roof. Super dope jaja! 10) Elder Reveco and I with Jersies (I have 7 new jersies) 11) La familia Bonofacio in Pozo. They're cool 12) Oro. This drink is super good, but it looks like battery acid. 13) There's this giant statue of a lizard in Pozo. That's it. 

Sounds like your week was great! Was it weird with the missionaries, thinking 'This is what my boy's doing over in Chile right now!'? But two hours, how chueco (crooked)! ;) Jaja just kidding, I am guilty of doing that. You should feel good! If they stay that long, it means they really love you guys! You just gotta be careful now, because they're gonna want to return again and again! But that's ok. One thing that I've been taught here, is one of the great joys of your mission is the relationships you gain with the member families here! They are the best part of the mission, most of the time. That's awesome for Darian on Junior Staff! I'm excited to hear what she plans and does with it! She's super creative with this stuff, so I hope the other junior staff is listening to her! I did get the sound clip from grandma, but I don't have headphones! I can't listen to it! :( But I'll try to find out a way.

This week was pretty busy, like I said. We had so many citas, although a lot of them fell through. Our investigators are progressing rapidly. Carlos Javier and Jeremi are reading the Book of Mormon, almost an hour each night!! That was so awesome to hear! And they continue to pray and do stuff with us. We had a youth activity for la rama (the branch), and we invited them and another investigator, Felipe, who I've never met. But it was super fun, and we played volleyball. Elder McKinlay and I were captains, and basically the whole game was us taunting each other and doing stupid victory dances! But it was so fun! The kids think we're crazy, but hey, vale la pena (it's worth it)! 

Merysol is progressing, as well. She's been taught everything, but I was a little frustrated. This week, the entire week, we were emphasizing church. She told us she was definitely going to assist the church this Sunday, but when the time came, we called and she had just woken up, and was sick. She ended up not coming. Which is a shame because it was one of the best services of my mission. It was fast and testimony meeting, of course, but the thing is, everyone drove down from Pica to assist with us! So we had a lot more people there than usual, and also 6 investigators! Lily, her daughter, Carlos Javier, Jeremi, Felipe, and Jayson. Jayson... that kid is so awesome! He actually bore his testimony!!! An investigator! Isn't that awesome? And not only that, but it was crazy good! He told of his experience of being at first embarrassed to go to church, but then realizing that there was nothing to be embarrassed about because you were going to learn about God and Jesus and increase your faith in them! Oh man, I almost cried jaja, I felt like a proud parent! Unfortunately, our strongest investigator right now besides Merysol, Erica de Pica, couldn't make it. We had two lessons with Erica this week. One on Wednesday, and one on Friday. The first lesson was definitely the most spiritual experience of my mission. We were talking about the great Apostosy, and how lots of churches have a bit of truth, of which the Spirit will testify, but our Iglesia es la única (church is the only) that has all of it, and also the authority to gain more. We emphasized baptism again, but this time, I felt like we needed to ask her to pray. So we did, and she said a prayer right there. We also told her that, afterward, to just wait quietly, faithfully, and let the spirit work with her. And work it did!! After a while, I was wondering what was going on, but then, just a big wave hit me, the spirt, that started from the top of my head and just worked downward, until it filled me. I can't really explain exactly what it felt like, but it was certainly powerful, and I couldn't help but cry. I looked over, and Erica was crying too, and I knew I wasn't the only one feeling it. She looks up, and tells us that she was praying personally for forgiveness, and for recognition. Then she told us that she knows, without a doubt, that she is a daughter of God, and that this is his church, and the path for her. It was so amazing! Then she says that she wanted to go to her Pastor, to her other church, to sever all of her connections and commitments there. Which was super great to hear, because that was her biggest setback. She believed our church was true, but hers as well. So no, she has a solid testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ, and is putting all her heart with it. Friday was another great lesson, in which we just confirmed everything, and gave her strength and help to do what she needs to do. 

But yeah, this week was great and busy! Excpet for yesterday, which was super laid back. Elder McKinlay was feeling a little sick, so we had lunch at a members house, and ended up staying a lot longer than usual. Time enough for Elder McKinlay to use their bathroom 5 times. Yes... five times... and it wasn't just using... it was destroying. But they were a super great family! La familia Castillo. They have four kids, girls, and all are moved out. One came to eat with us, and my first thought was 'Wow she's cute!' I thought she was maybe 22 or something, not much older than I am. But then when we were all talking, I find out she's in her thirties and has a kid and everything and I was like whoa you don't look your age! But they were all super fun to talk to, and they taught me a lot of bad words and phrases to say in spanish so it was an awesome visit ;)!

But anyways, yeah, I got a new camera, that's the money you saw leave. I do like it, and we shopped around a bunch and found the best deal. It was a better camera, 21 megapixels, but for cheaper than other cameras of 16 megapixels in other stores. Which is good. But Hey, love you all! And miss you all tons! I'm trying to get pictures out, but it's a very slow process... but have a good week!

Les amo a todos, 

Elder Schmid