Week 26

Hola Mamá!

Oh man, this week... twas interesting to say the least. But, question answering primero (first)! Yeah, things are going super great with Elder Barney... más o menos. Jaja I'll explain later. But he is still super awesome, and now that we know each other a lot more, we're more comfortable. So now it's even more fun, because we're joking a lot more together and what not, but also because we are teaching better. We know each other's strong points (for Elder Barney, all of it) and all of our weak points (for me, all of it)! And it's way better transitioning, which while teaching as missionaries, is vital! So I'm definitely enjoying my time with him. Yes, we are the only two in our area, which is all of Pozo Almonte and Pica. So what that means is that we travel... a ton. Which is bad. Because we are so pobres (poor)!!! So we have to go to Alto Hospicio almost every day, and that costs 2000 pesos each. And there's so much time that we're not even in Pozo. It's tough, but oh well jaja, así es (it is what it is)! He says he's recovered from the cat burglar, but I don't know! ;) There are times when we can hear the cats running on our roof, and Elder Barney's face is one of terror. But oh well, PTSD is hard! 

So this week was kind of slow, mainly because the whole week Elder Barney was super sick. The sickness started out last week, and he just got super exhausted. Like, more than usual, because we are always exhausted jaja! But it just slowly escalated to his head hurting a ton, and then moved to his stomach. Tuesday, we didn't go out to work at all. He slept for a while, and I just read the bible. I finished Acts and started Romans. It was actually pretty awesome, because I had never read those all the way through, but it turns out that the apostles are pretty awesome! ;) There are a ton of crazy stories that I never knew existed! Like, when Paul got stoned, and a bit later just got up all fine and continued preaching. Or the fact that Paul got shipwrecked on his way to Rome! What? But he was chill about it, and basically told all the people on the ship 'We're good! Y'all are with me, so we'll be fine! Just chill.' Crazy stufff...

But anyways, Elder Barney eventually got bad enough that we had to go to the mutual in Iquique, which is basically like a clinic. We were there for soooooooo long! It was crazy! We go there, and wait an hour or so before he goes in. The whole time we just sat there, at first trying to avoid the tv, but eventually just watching the news and a tv show called Amanda. Then he goes in, and comes out a bit later, and says that we have to come back at 4 pm. Which is 2 and a half hours later! Ugh! So we just go out, and chill on a bench, because Elder Barney is dying. When we get back, we watch Amanda a bit more, and he goes in and gets checked out. Then the lady and him come out and say that an ambulance needs to take him to another place so someone better can look at him! The thing was, they could only bring him in the ambulance. So I just sat there and chilled for another solid chunk of time while my compañero was out riding the town in an ambulance. .... I watched a lot of Amanda... but he came back with his diagnosis. He was diagnosed with 'Hypothetical Colitis'..... we have no idea what the heck that means! But he has it! or at least, hypothetically. So they gave him a buch of pills to take, with another appointment on Tuesday this week to finish the tests. He has to first stick something up his ? and take a sample... and there is also a cup for another sample. We were reading the instructions, and they call the sample the 'nut' jejejeje. Long story short, life wasn't very fun for Elder Barney for a while. But we also had to go to another clinic on Friday, but this one more public. We took a number, and waited a solid 4 hours before we were called. .... guess what show we were watching!

Other than all that garbage, the week turned out pretty good! We are getting very good with our work, so our numbers didn't suffer too much, even though we only worked a few hours. But we had a few baptismal interviews, one for Geraldin a girl we met last Sunday whose grandma is a member and wants to get baptized. And Marisol! And finally, FINALLY, Marisol came to church!!! I've forgotten how much time we have taught this lady, but she finally came to church!!! WUT WUT! I was so excited. Geraldin also came, and the investigador I was telling you about last week. Lets call him Diego. We also visited a menos activa (less active) this week named Gabriela, and her two adopted daughters were there. They were a little hard at first, but after we taught for a bit about Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial (God is our loving Heavenly Father), they showed a lot of interest in being baptized! And they came to church!!! For the first time in my mission, everyone we invited to church came! It was definitely a good feeling. And what's more, Presidente Ferreira's counselor was there. He just kind of showed up, but it was great, because he came when we had the most assistance that I've ever seen in this branch, with 5 investigators there. It was great. 

So before church, we were helping get everything ready, and Presidente Martinez, the branch president, walks up to me, and says 'Elder, puede hacerme un favor?' (Elder, can you do me a favor).  I, of course, thought it was something to do with getting ready, but nope. He says 'yo necesito que hagas un discurso.' (I need you to give a talk). I could do nothing but say yes. So basically, my first talk on my mission, and I had less than 30 minutes to prepare it. It was fun. I ended up just giving it on lesson 3, El Evangelio de Jesucristo (The Gospel of Jesus Christ). It went well, I think. I kind of cheated because it is one of the missionary lessons that I've given multiple times, but oh well! I don't think I said any embarrasing things in Spanish, so that's a win for me! And, I ended up counting that as a lesson with members, because there were investigators, and there were members! ;) jejejeje

Two more things.

Whoever told me that I would not need a jacket, that I wasn't going to be cold ever, is a LIAR!!! I'm freezing. It wouldn't be too bad, because the temperature isn't bad. But the thing is, there is wind!!! The wind chill is so bad!!! I'm lucky, Elder Crabtree left me a jacket. But oh man, I was a fool for leaving the other one. You were right, mother. Iqual que siempre. (As always) 😏

Another interesting story. I was walking the other day, and it was just a day of lots of walking. And then, I feel my feet begin to hurt. I thought it was nothing, so kept going. Then they began to hurt a lot more, but we were in a rush, so I couldn't check them! It wasn't like a muscle pain, or a bone pain, but more like a cut, or a pinch, or a tear. So then after a few hours of this, all the while complaining a ton (jejeje) I feel like there is some sort of liquid on my toes! So the time comes to go home, and the first thing I do is take my shoes off. And yup. They were bleeding. I had literally walked my feet raw, walked until my feet bled. Welcome to the mission... take a look at the picture of my shoe. It's destroyed.

So that's my week. very slow, muy tranquilo (quiet). But that's ok! We done good! Pero más importante, Elder Barney me está ayudando mucho con muchas cosas, especialmente en mi testimonio y mi ánimo aquí. Él es un buen hombre, y un gran misionero. Estoy muy agradecido para su ayuda y su paciencia conmigo. Estoy disfrutando mi misión más ahora. Estoy menos tronki (homesick), y más enfocado en la obra misional. He obtenido la vision para bautizar, y estoy trabajando mucho más con este visión. Pero mas importante, él me está ayudando con mi poder como misionero. Trabajamos tanto con el Espíritu en todos las lecciones. Me siento mucho más amor por mis investigadores, y estoy creciendo mucho aquí en Chile! Gracias por todo lo que hacen para mi! Les quiero!  (But more importantly, Elder Barney is helping me a lot with many things, especially in my testimony and my spirit here. He is a good man, and a great missionary. I am very grateful for your help and your patience with me. I'm enjoying my mission more now. I am less tronki (homesick), and more focused on the missionary work. I have obtained the vision to baptize, and I am working much more with this vision. But more importantly, he is helping me with my power as a missionary. We work so much with the Spirit in all the lessons. I feel much more love for my researchers, and I am growing a lot here in Chile! Thank you for everything you do for me! I love you all!)

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 25

Hola Familia!!!

"Do you not know that I have had diarrhea since the Easters?!?" Jejejejeje

But seriously. It's bad. Anyways, Feliz Pascua!! It's been one heck of a week! I legit have so many stories, it's pretty awesome. First things first, the new companion. Elder Barney is so awesome!!! We click so well, and I love the way he teaches. It's a lot easier to work with him! Not necessarily because I didn't like my other comps, but I just really enjoy working with Elder Barney. 

It's funny sometimes, because we are almost the same person! He's just a bit more nutty! But we react the same way to everything, have a very similar sense of humor, and have the same style of teaching and contacting and working and everything. It's awesome. He is technically the compañero mayor (senior fellow), because he has more time than me, but oh well. He talks spanish very very well. He has the Chilean accent down! We have a goal to only talk in spanish, so I am hoping to learn that from him. It's not that I'm not clear when I speak, but the Chilean accent is so destinct, there are times when the Chileans don't understand me simply because their spanish sucks jajaja! It's weird. I have to learn the language, and then basically forget it and learn Chilean. It's dope. The other night, we were in bed, and got woken up at 4:30 in the morning. Our beds are upstairs, with our closets, and everything else is downstairs. But Elder Barney woke me up, and said 'Hey, listen!' So I did, and I heard stuff shuffling and boxes crashing. We stare at each other, and we both realized... somebody was in our house!!! We sat there for a while wondering what to do, and we decided to go confront the person. The whole while we were just listening to them go through our stuff. But then we get up quietly, and tip-toe to the stairs. We didn't have anything in our hands or anything, we were going just fists! So we count down, and run down the stairs! Screaming and yelling like crazy people! We gave it our most scary, gutteral sounds we could muster! We run all over the place, and see a shape moving in the darkness, and I managed to flip on the lights... it was a cat... a freaking cat got in through our broken window and was eating our garbage... unbelievable!!! Elder Barney was completely shell shocked jaja! He was so afraid, and after that, it legit shocked him. His brain wasn't right for the next day, it was all he could think about. But it was kinda funny. Freaking gatos (cats). 

Our investigators are kinda iffy right now. It's hard now, because Elder Barney and I are pretty new here. But we are finding a lot of new people, which is great! Oh my gosh listen to this!!! We were walking in Pica and contacting people in the street, when we see this one kid who looked pretty cool so we began talking to him! The first thing he tells us is that he's Haitian, and his Spanish is chanta. (chanta=sucky, like it sucks). I was trying to remember what language they speak there, but then he spits out something that I recognized from school! So in what was probably the worst accent ever, I say 'C'est bien! Je parle Francais aussi!!' Jaja, the French classes in school finally paid off! I was able to remember a lot of stuff, and we talked for a bit in French. I honestly think the Gift of Toungues was the only reason I was able to do that. But it was so awesome! We are going to pass for him eventually, when he has time off from work. Christiaan... I need your help jajaja!

That same day in Pica, we were super excited, because there was going to be a youth activity in our branch back in Pozo. We were invited, because we were bringing an investigator, and we were stoked. We were going to play fútbol with all the kids! It was going to be awesome! But then, things went super bad for us in Pica. Not bad for us, I guess, but things that were keeping us from the activity. We weren't able to leave Pica until super late, which is kinda bad, because it's an hour or so from Pozo. But then while we were in the bus, the driver turned out to be basura (trash)! He was slow as crap, and was just bad. And then, on top of that, there was crazy traffic for la semana santa (The Holy Week)! There's a crazy big Catholic town in between Pozo and Pica called La Tirana, where tons of catholic people meet for holidays and do crazy demon dances. I don't know, it's weird, just look up dance at La Tirana. They dress up crazy and put on demon masks and dance. But anyways, there were a ton of people there for the week of easter. The entire week is big here. They celebrate the whole week. But anyways, because of that, there was a ton of traffic that also slowed us down. And also, we had to wait a ton for some construction on the road. So we got back way too late for the game, and we were honestly really bummed, a little mad. So we decided to go back to the house, for some reason I can't remember, which is weird because we usually don't, we just go straight to work there. But as we were walking to the house, we ran into a guy, and he started talking to us! Apparently, he was an old investigator, and he wanted to talk to us again! We were like, well ok! And we set up an appointment the next night. The next day comes, and his girlfriend, who is a member menos activo (less active), calls us and wants to talk. Which never happens. It was a weird call. But we go over, and he isn't there, but she is obviously really distressed. So we talk to her a little, and it turns out that her pareja (couple?) has cheated on her for the second time. (I'll remit names for privacy purposes). They have two kids, and she is just done with it. She needed advice on what to do. She asked for counsel. So we told her only what we could, that Jesus loves her and can help and will help, but then reffered her to the branch president. Then, we leave, and we have the cita with her partner. I go into it really skeptically, because I know what's up. I wasn't sure what he wanted. But we began talking, and he just came straight. He told us everything, what he was feeling, and what he wanted. He told us what happened, and then said that he is feeling a change. He is realizing that this isn't the person that he wants to be. He wants to change. But not for the sake of his relationship, necessarily, but for himself. He isn't happy with who he is. So I was stoked. I knew what he was feeling, and how to help! So we talked to him about repentance, how it's a process, and how he is starting that. We talked a bit more, and he ended up telling us what happened the day before. He had prayed, sincerely, on his knees for something from God, any sign that he is listening, and asked for help with this new change. Then he walked out the door, and saw us two walking by, and immediately knew. It was great to use that and testify that God really does hear your prayers! Sometimes he doesn't answer so physically, or rather, usually he doesn't. But sometimes he does. And we learned why everything went against us to go play soccer. It's because God was using us as tools to help out his son who was sincerely looking for help.

Oh man, one more thing. For the past week or so, I keep getting woken up in the middle of the night by freaking temblores! Little earthquakes! Jaja I lay there and wonder what woke me up, and all of the sudden everything just starts to shake. Not too bad, but definitely enough to move me around. It was cool at first, and I loved it. But sometimes they last a while, and I'm getting a little annoyed, becuase they keep waking me up! Jaja I never thought I'd say I'd get annoyed by earthquakes, but hey... Chile changes you! 

Anyways, sounds like you guys had a really great Easter! I'm so happy for Jace to go through the temple! And that's awesome that he invited you, mom! I'm so stoked to hear about his mission! I got an email from him this week, I'm excited to read it. Hopefully I'll have time to answer! O_O And what?!?! Oma, Opa, that's is SO AWESOME!!!! Jakarta, Indonesia!!! That's so cool!!! I'm so excited for you two! And we'll be serving together at the same time! Dang, I'm not sure the Schmid family can handle so many blessings ;). But I am really so happy for them! And hey, I have a friend there right now! I need to email him... and wow, yeah, 61st ward is everywhere! That's so awesome! I'm excited for all of them, they are going to be fantastic missionaries. But thank you for the email, for the updates! I love you guys! Take care! ( 23 days until mothers day!)

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 24

Hola familia!

Cómo están todos? Another week down here in Chile! We had a crazy good week, but really busy. It started last PDay, actually. After it was all over, and we started to work again, we get a call from one of the people in the mission office inviting us to the mission leader meeting that they hold every month in Antofagasta! Usually it's only for the Zone Leaders, so being invited as just district leader it was strange. And super last minute! The meeting is Tuesday at 10 in the morning. Which meant that we had to be in Iquique to leave by bus at 12:30 in the morning. Usually they have us leave from Iquique more around 3:00 a.m., so you get there at a better time, but we got our tickets super last minute. So we left, and got to Antofagasta at around 5 in the morning, 5:30. We stayed in the mission office apartment, which compared to the rest that I've seen, is a penthouse! They live on the top floor of some really nice apartment buildings with a incredible view of the city and the ocean! Like, what?! My view is of a wall... and a lamp post. But then we had the meeting, and it was super good. We talked about what the mission, as a whole, can improve in, as well as, what we learned from conference. It was a great meeting, even though I never really figured out why I was there. But then we had to drive back to Iquique, and from there to Alto Hospicio. I didn't end up getting to sleep until 2:00 Wednesday morning. But on the bus ride there, they were playing movies! In English! Jaja I watched Identity Thief and Ben-Hur. I asked later if it was chueco, but every missionary does it. I even asked my Zone Leaders, and they said it's allowed. 

So anyways, this week we also had baptisms! Finally!!! We baptized little Carlos on Saturday, and good 'ol Sebastian the next morning! Both were super great baptisms! Carlos asked me to be the one to baptize him, and that was a neat experience. He was super excited! Elder McKinlay and I had to plan everything, but it all turned out nice. There were a bunch of non members at Carlos' baptism, so I have a feeling we'll have a few new investigators, too! ;) But he absolutely loved it. And Tania, his mom, was also very excited for him. It took some work, convincing his dad to let him be baptized, but we got it! And now he has been baptized, and it looks like they will remain in the church, which is great! Sebastian, who was baptized Sunday after church, was so ready! We had fast and testimony meeting, and he bore his testimony! He just talked about how he was making this choice to change his life and be closer to God, and it was fantastic! Elder McKinlay baptized him. (I don't have my camera on me, but next week you can see pictures) 

So Sunday, during sacrament, I was playing piano for the hymns, and I chose to do the hymn 'Because I have Been Given Much'. That was a mistake. Haha, these people are so secluded, they have adopted their own way to sing the hymns! Usually I can adapt quickly to what they're singing, but this time was different. It's supposed to be a slow song, right? NOPE. They started going rapid fire! They sung it at least 5 imes as fast! And they can't read music, so basically it's just what they've remembered from the song, mixed with their own thing! They paused in random places, sung way fast in others... I just gave up on the piano. Lesson learned, coordinate before church to see what's up haha!

So big news, transfers came!! Elder McKinlay left to some city near Antofagasta, and I'm staying here. Elder Barney, from Idaho, came to be my new companion. He's got a little over a year on his mission, and actually was born in Los Condores too! He went to the city Arica for a few cambios, but he's back in Hospicio. He is a rock-solid missionary! I have only ever heard great things about him! He was actually my papíto's companion before me. So that's cool. But he is a crazy hard worker, so I've heard, so we'll see what happens! I've had only a few hours with him, but I am very excited for this cambio!

So that's my week! How is everyone back home?! I love getting your guys' emails! They make my week! I love and miss you all so much! 

Les amo a todos,

Elder Schmid

Week 23

Hola Familia,

Well, another week down. And I thought they were blurring together before! It's very hard to distinguish what happened this week from what happened the week before, or even the week before that! I got really excited to tell you guys about Humberstone, when I remembered I already did... jaja. If I ever repeat myself or my stories, lo siento (I'm sorry)!! But I will try to make this email exciting.

It was another average week in Pozo and Pica. Elder McKinlay and I are now more in lessons than we are outside contacting, which is so awesome I cannot tell you guys. Contacting, while great, gets kind of boring. Not gonna lie. I love being in a lesson, a cita, that we fijamos antes (we fixed before). Oh my gosh... I forgot how to say that word... it's happening to me... jaja. My conversations with Elder McKinlay are a really bad mixture of English and Spanish... and Spanglish. I'm not sure anybody would be able to follow our conversations unless they also were missionaries struggling with a new language while maintaining the other! But we have forgotten certain english words and just use the spanish as a substitute. I will admit, we're not speaking as much spanish as we should. But we are both relatively new gringos, and doing that is very hard. I know I could if I tried... but I don't want to jaja! But looking back, it's biting me in the butt because my progression with the language is basically at a standstill. Con esperanza (with hope) I'll receive a Latino companion again! I kinda got ripped out of my last one. 

While we were in Pica, we finally found this guy that we've been passing for almost every time we're there! His name is Sebastian, and he's been listening off and on to the missionaries for several months. We talked to him and everything, and the lesson turned to baptism. We asked him what that word, that action, meant to him. He didn't really know, and he told us that. So we explained what it was to him, what it meant, the promises involved, and the change it means. He became super interesado, and began asking more questions, and basically just asked us,"How do I get baptized?" Jaja, those are the magic words! We asked if that's something he wants, and he said yes. He wants a change in his life. He's been going to church, and actually, while he was in Peru, he went to a temple marriage! Wut-wut!! Jaja, he's perfect! We set up a date for the ninth, and invited him to conference, which he also seemed very interested in. This was important, because he needs an assistance (we think he means attendance) at church with us to be baptized by us. It's difficult with him, though, because he is traveling so often. He has been gone the last month or so, that's why we haven't found him. So now we are just praying to keep him here for a little jaja!

Several others have their dates too! Turns out, Tanya, our most solid investigator, is solid because... she's already a member! jaja We were walking together, going to watch the Partido (soccer game) of Chile vs Venzuela (don't worry. If we watch with an investigator, it's allowed), she comes in close and whispers that she has a confession. She tells us she was baptized when she was 14 years old in Bolivia! Jaja, that was a shock. But it started the long arduous search, the next few days, of her records there in Bolivia, but we found them. She's officially a member. However, her son, Carlos, is not! So we are talking with the dad to get permission, and he has a fecha for the 9th as well. Marisol, the older investigator we have, once again did not go to church. Which stinks, but not our fault. We were in Alto Hospicio watching conference. The members, I think, forgot about her. We had them all set up to go and get her, but she told us that no one passed for her! AAAAAHHH that was so frustrating! We trusted the members a ton with that, and they didn't do it! But oh well, she as a good sport, and said 'It's ok. As long as I get baptized eventually'. I love her. She's great.

Conference was fantastic!!! So great! I realized that conference weekend is the biggest holiday for missionaries! There is a 'Gringo Room' in every zone, where all the gringos can watch in English. Ours was in Alto Hospicio. So Saturday morning we made the drive over. Before heading in, we went by a grocery store, and bought a ridiculous amount of junk food! Imagine what you buy for the family, times it by two, and that was just for me! I was so happy! Jaja don't get the wrong idea. I never buy this much junk food! Most weeks, I don't buy it at all! But that's just what you do for the gringo room! And it was fantastic. We watched conference there in English, then slept there as well to watch it again Sunday. The talks were really fantastic! The best I've heard! (Then again, I am a missionary. This is the most I've ever actually paid attention... sorry mom) I was awake the whole time, too! Jejejeje. I was especially touched by Elder Holland's talk. Maybe it's because I was in choir my whole High School, but it was fun to follow, and easy to apply! While I was taking notes, I also added my own things to the analogy! But I loved it! We need to stay in the choir! Mr. Schreiber told us that even though we can't really pick out a single voice while singing, if one voice messes up, it's super obvious! And all the voices together are what makes it fantastic! We are all in Gods choir, and he is the conductor. Not many people realize how much work the conductor does with the choir to make it sound good. Countless days of fine tuning every aspect of the choir are put in! God is fine tuning us to fit the goal he has for us! We must stay in the choir! Even sometimes when our part doesn't seem that important, or we don't have a 'solo', we are needed in the choir. I don't know, I just loved listening to that one. The other talks were fantastic as well! I realized something. The gospel is universally applicable! You can take one story, one lesson, and apply it to almost any question, any doubt, and aspect of your life! I was talking with Elder McKinlay afterwards, and we got completely different things out of the same talks! For example, I forget which talk, but it was good for both of us, but for different reasons. For me, he talked more about the Holy Ghost, how to listen and respond, while to Elder McKinlay, it talked more about the topic of obedience. The gospel goes to every aspect of life. That's why when we go into conference with a question, it will be answered! That's why the gospel is so beautiful!

After conference, we had a branch baptism in Pozo of a little niño called Josè. It was such an awesome service! He asked Elder McKinlay to baptize him, which he did. His mom gave the talk on repentance, and by the end, she was crying. I didn't realize it until he stood up to go to the font, but Josè was crying as well! He obviously felt the spirit in this special moment of his life! It was especially great because they were a less active family who are actually just reactivating themselves! The brother now has the priesthood, and Jose got baptized! It is such an amazing family, and very strong. It was a good service. 

But that's my week. I see that I have more emails from my family members! Jajaja wut wut!! I'm excited to read them! I'm glad you got my letters! I think I sent them around 4 or 5 weeks ago. I'm still not exactly sure how long mail takes. I look forward to your pàckage! ;) I love you all! Stay good! Try to be happy even though your favorite person is far away in Chile! ;)

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid