Week 31

Hey fam-damily!

So this week was legit. It was crazy hard. but cool, all the same. First off, dang I'm jealous! Haha Mt. Graham seems soooooo nice right now!! I feel like I'm gonna be Rae from Star Wars 7 when I get back! ''I didn't know there was so much green in the whole galaxy!'' Haha but oh well, enjoy your time there! It always seems too short. 

This week we hit it way hard again starting from day one! Last Monday we just went hard with all the people contacting everyone and giving everyone a Jesus card haha! But that mentality just continued the entire week! Our focus this week as a companionship was our attitude. We just went to every cita, every day, every whatever with a happy attitude. We figured it was all a choice, and we need a good attitude and to just be happy, especially because we're missionaries and are here to share happiness! But I think it went really well! We had very good results, and a lot of really awesome lessons! We have also been doing a lot more work in the mornings. We don't really have too many people available in the mornings, but that's ok, because we have just been knocking doors. Which sucks, honestly, I don't know how someone can knock doors their entire mission. Really. I hate it. But, sin embargo (nevertheless), it brings some results! We have found several new people, and some success!

Which brings me to the investigators. I just have to tell you about Cristina. We found her while walking one day. Well, actually, we knocked at her house because I got dis-animated and was tired and hungry in the morning, and, well... she sells Ice Cream! Jajaja it's a real good pick-me-up! So we bought some ice cream, and ended up talking to her. She has a son who is a member, and has always wondered what the church is about and everything. All she remembers is that her son's baptism was really 'lindo' (cute), and she loved it! So we made an appointment with her the next day, and began to teach her and everything! And she has accepted everything perfectly!!! It's so amazing! And what's better, she keeps inviting us back the very next day! Like, that ever happens! But her son is also coming to the lessons, the member one, and he is awesome. He loves the church, loved his baptism, and loves us! We click well with him because he's 19 too, and he helps us a ton. He keeps saying if he was allowed, he would baptize himself all over again just to feel that way that he did in his baptism. So then Cristina keeps saying, I want to feel that, I want that! Ah, it's just music to our ears. But anyways, we taught her the Word of Wisdom, which is usually a do or die lesson with the people here, as I imagine it is everywhere. But she had imagined that we don't eat a lot more than we actually do. So that was good. And she accepted it straight up. She told us that she will never drink tea again, which was the only part she had a problem with. We were excited, but we've heard that before by people saying it just to make us feel good when actually they don't mean it. But then we went over to tecito the next day, which is basically their dinner, but not really... it's hard to explain. It's like eating sandwhiches at night. But we went over, and usually you serve it with tea. So her husband sat down, and this was the first time we've met him because he's never there, and he says, "So where's the tea?" And Cristina straight up told him "We no longer drink tea in this household!" I was like, oh shoot! And I looked at him to see how he reacted, but he just looks at us, and says "Oh. ok then." I guess he knows a little about us, because I think he knew a little about the word of wisdom. But it was just cool to see her say that straight up. It honestly made me laugh. I choked on my tecito. But anyway, she has a baptismal date for next Saturday with her other son and her daughter. It's gonna be great!

We also have a lot of new jovencitas (young girls) that we're teaching. They all came to a youth activity we had in the branch, and we went too, because there were investigators there so we had an excuse! ;) But we played volleyball and it was super fun! But the girls we're teaching, I guess, are good friends with some of the members here, which is awesome! Two of the girls, Dafne and Yarlen, are daughters of a less active member who tells us she wants to start coming back to church. All of my baptisms have come from a part-member family, so I'm excited for this one. 

Elder Barney and I had the highest standards in the mission again. We were above the assistants! I'll send a pic. But it just feels good, and I know it's all God. I feel like Elder Barney and I aren't necessarily working to bring about great results, but working to show God that He can trust us to send us good people. All the success we've had I feel is from God simply because we've shown Him we are willing to work hard and be obedient and have a good attitude. Any success comes from Him, because I know I alone can't make any difference here. I alone am nothing. However, God is everything. And if I'm worthy to be His instrument, my mission will be a success, becuase it's not even me who's doing the acting. But I am grateful for the trust He puts in us. That being said... it felt good to see our faces again on the blog! ;) 

But anyways, that's my week. We are going to hit it hard again this week. I love you all, and want you all to know how much the mission is changing me. There isn't a day that goes by that isn't hard, and tiring. But the results outweigh everything, what happens to the people here, but also what happens to me. It's hard, but possible. I am excited for what's in store. 

Les amo a todos,

Elder Schmid

Week 30

Hola mamá!

Well, sounds like a lot is happening back home! Yeah, it really surprises me when people have a responsibility, like a calling to work in the temple, and then just don't show up, and don't inform anyone or get a replacement. That actually happened this week in church. But I'll explain later. I didn't know Abbey wanted to serve a mission? But awesome! It sounded like she gave a really good talk! Sorry I missed it. Oh well. Haha Stephen always made me laugh with random things he said. But that's funny. And dang, I'm super jealous! Just talking about the Bradford's food makes me hungry, even though I just ate! But oh well...Jared has his release date?!? That is so crazy!!! I still remember the day he left! Sounds like he will be released on the same day. That's cool! Exactly two years! I'm not sure if I will get that. And what?! Daniel extended his mission?! That's really weird... but cool! Maybe Braden will too, and we'll get home at the same time! ;) I'm sure Darian's concert was really good! I do miss doing those concerts! I wonder where Darian will go with her Viola talent. She is super good, and it seems like a waste to just have it during high school... don't want her to end up like dad, now do we? ;)

Anyways, this week was pretty crazy, in regards to the work. Or rather, the amount of work we did. I guess we start Monday. PDAy was pretty great, because we went to the beach. 

But then we got to work that night and just decided to start the week off by hitting it hard! So we did, and went crazy with talking to people and what not. 

The next day I had an inter-cambio with another elder in Alto Hospicio. (sorry if i don't use caps. the shift key is sticky.) but anyways, we had 3 members lined up to leave with us that day, which never happens, so i was super excited! the mission standard for lessons with a member present is 14 a week, and we have yet to get that. so i decided to just milk these members for all their worth haha! we talked to everyone!!! it was awesome! and super super tiring, too. but we had several lessons, several news, and several baptismal dates lined up. then, the next day, we were in pica, which is always super super slow, but we got to teach a lesson there, and a less active member was there, which is still a member, so that was cool. but the night was kinda crazy because we had several things to do. then thursday we had another inter-cambio, this time with our zone leaders. I was with elder Lozano, a Peruvian. He is just insane. He legit talks to every person immediately about baptism. We had several more lessons with members, and several more dates! and lots of new invesigators. On friday, we had a little zone training in Alto Hospicio. 

There, the assistants called us for our transfers, and we ended up just putting them on speaker phone so that everyone can hear. I am going tooooo... drum role please.... stay. I am going to stay here. Again. With Elder Barney. But that's ok, I guess. I was kind of bummed to hear that I still wasn't going to be transferred out of my first area, but that's ok. Elder Barney is still super awesome, and we are going to have success. And besides, if I preach here, or somewhere else, it's honestly all the same. The work is the same. But then we went back and just hit it hard again at work, meeting new people and what not for the rest of the week! Saturday was insane, and we worked a lot more than usual. But we went to visit everyone we knew and had dates for baptism with to invite them to church. It was a crazy amount of people and lessons, and we scored a lot more with members, too. And at the end of it all, we were excited to see what happened sunday.

Then Sunday came. We get up in the morning and get ready for church and everything, and leave to wake a few people up. We call a lot of people to wake them up too and see if they're still going to church. A lot didn't answer, but a lot also said that they were going to go, so I was excited. The mission standard is to have 6 investigators in church. So we go to the chapel to set everything up, and wait for some members that were going to help us pick people up. I left with Ivan, our branch secretary. We go to the investigators, and they open the door, and he's still in his pj's! Without a shirt! I'm like, 'Uhhh, are you guys coming to church?' Keep in mind, we had already called and they had told us that they were ready. He told me that they needed to shower first, but church at this point was in 15 minutes, and they live super far without a car! But he told me he was going to come, and so I left them to shower. Everyone else we went by did not open the door. We get to church, and there was basically nobody there. Not even the members! Church started, and there were only 20 people in church! We had two investigators show up. We had 17 tell us the day before that they were going. I was a little frustrateded, to say the least. A few more members wandered in through the meeting, but no more investigators. By the end, there were only 38 people in church in Pozo. 7 of which were our recent converts and investigators. That was frustrating. What's more, the teachers didn't show up, nor did they call anyone to replace them. We had to teach the sunday school class, and the primary, which technically was not allowed, but there was nobody else who could. The rest of the day kind of followed suit. We wandered around all day basically without teaching. It was a stressful day. Honestly the worst day I've had out here in terms of work, and one of the worst in terms of stress. It was definitely a lesson to me, though. We had our best day on my mission, and the very next day, my worst. But that's ok, because no matter what happens, the next day is brand new, and you just need to make the best of it.

But today, we were watching the other elders write here in the ciber, and they were on the website, the mission blog, and we saw the picture with the missionaries with the highest standards, or in other words, with the most success, and guess who was in place number one!!! That's right!! This guy!!! Elder Barney and I had the highest standards of the mission! 

It was super awesome to see! Last night, Elder Barney and I were talking about how good the week was and how much success we had, and we were getting a little prideful. But then we came to the realization that all of that came from God. What we put in, that comes from us. What we get out of it, that comes from God. He gave us the success, the good feelings, everything, and all of it because we put in our best. Lesson=learned. But still, it felt really good to see our faces up there on the blog. 

But that was my week. I know I wrote more narratively than spiritually, but oh well. Deal with it! ;) I am glad you are all having a good week! I love hearing all the good news!!! I'm uploading photos now! Take care everyone!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 29

Yoohoo, family!

Well, if I didn't say it enough yesterday, Happy Mothers Day, mom! I tried to emphasize that when talking to you, but yeah... it was a little hectic there yesterday, it seemed. I feel bad that the call didn't work on the tv, I feel like having it on the phone being passed around just made it even more hectic, but hey, whatcha gonna do? I did enjoy it though, and it wasn't as hard as the last one. Which was awesome. I think the last one was just at a bad time. It's right when I got out and was being slammed with everything missionary, and a call home to see everyone just made it worse. This time was better. I have settled in and am happy, and seeing you guys happy made it better and not worse. I hope you had a good mothers day.  I challenge everyone then there to make it not just Mother's day, but rather, Mother's week. You really don't know what you have there for you, how much mom does for you, and how much you rely on her and don't thank her. I want you all to make her feel like a queen, like the most loved mother in the world this week. She deserves it, and you owe it to her. You all owe her that and so much more. A little card once a year, though it is thoughtful and everything, is not enough.  I don't know, I was just thinking a lot about that the past few days. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I miss you all so much, and now realize how much mom meant to me, and how little I can do for her out here, so I want you all to do it for me. Please.

So this week was kind of loco, there were a few things that happened. We were on the bus everyday this week, either from Pozo to Alto Hospicio, or to Pica, or to Antofagasta. WE had inter-cambios on Tuesday and I went with my Zone Leader Elder Newkirk so that Elder Barney could do interviews for them and so that he could do some for us. He interviewed María, the old lady we baptized on Sunday. 

She is super sweet. I really like talking to her. The thing is, she can talk a TON! She lives alone, so I think all she thinks about all day is what she can say to people if she had someone to say them to. So it was really hard to teach her everything, but we got it done, and she had her baptism!  We sent out a group message (or had someone else send one out because we can't do that with our phone) inviting everyone to the baptism, saying where it was, who was being baptized, and everything. Then we called people to set up a really great program and everything for María a few days before. So we had everything prepared, and Saturday morning started to fill up the font, because it takes so long. Then we go out to work and everything, and when we come back to finish preparing the chapel, it's FLOODED! Ohhhhhhh I was so stressed! We were already running a little late, and we all of the sudden had to clean up the water! So we were cleaning and everything, and a brother from the branch shows up, and starts to help. We were greatful, but then he starts yelling at us. The bad thing was, he showed up right when it was supposed to start, and Elder Barney and I were still the only ones there. So he gets there, and nobody is there, and it's flooded, and nothing is ready, and it was supposed to start right then. So I go out and call the people who had talks, hoping they were on their way. But they answered and said, ''Shoot, Elder, I was just about to call you! It turns out I can't make it!'' One was in Iquique, the other just said she had problems. At this point, I was really stressed, and really upset. They forgot they had to talk, or at least, didn't care, and were doing other things, and didn't bother to call us! I was super frustrated. So then I called a few other ward members, and some ended up coming. In total, eight other ward members came, and María. We had to go pick her up. She was waiting on her porch for us for an hour. The service wasn't bad, and the thing is, María got baptized! I was really happy for her. 

On Friday, we had a conference in Antofagasta. We had to leave at 1:30 am Friday morning to get there in time. I was so tired, and coud not sleep on the bus. The conference was with Elder Texeira, and area seventy, and part of the presidency I think of the mission area of SouthAmerica South. Which we're a part of. The conference was central in the Book of Mormon, and basically, how it seemed to me, how we as a mission were failing to use it. I was super confused. I will try what he says, and do what he told us to, of course, but it is not like the vision we had set here as a mission, and I'm not sure what will come of it. 

So those are the more crazy parts of my week. It was kinda stressful, but I guess that's the mission. Así es la vida! I was really glad to talk to you all yesterday! Little baby Mae is just adorable! She is a little angel. 

Everyone is looking good, and Aiden's voice scared me. It was awesome talking to Caelan for a minute, and Brad. Hey Brad. And Natascha too! It was cool to see you there in AZ with everyone! I hope you had a good day, mom, and I want you to know how much I love you! Everyday I think of my family, but especially you and how you shaped me and raised me and taught me! I am incredibly grateful for everything you've done for me, especially to prepare me for my mission! This mission, it's a life changer. I am learning everyday. It's super hard, and Caleb is right, not that fun at all! But you were straight on when you said that it's not enjoyable until you put your heart into it, until you work your butt off to find results. God doesn't bless us unless he sees that we are willing to work for it a little. A little, not too much. Remember, compared to other people, and especially compared to Christ, our part to play is next to nothing. But God blesses us. My mission is hard. It's tough in every way. But you prepared me for it mom, and now I am learning from it! Thank you! And I love you all! 

Les amo a todos!
Elder Schmid

PS, we went to the beach today for our PDAY, which was super awesome! I absolutely loved it. We couldn't swim or anything, but we can go in the water up to our shins.  I don't look for things to take me away from work, but I do let things happen if they happen, and I don't feel bad for that. Is that bad? But anyways, the beach was super awesome! I loved the water and everything. Pictures are coming on next pday, I just need to convince Elder Barney to go somewhere other than the church here in Hospicio, because the wifi here is bad. 

Week 28

Hola Familia!

Jajaja, I guess I guilt tripped everyone into sending me emails! ;) I opened my email and had one from everyone! Which is a good feeling, keep it up jaja! This week was pretty great! Some pretty cool stuff, and a butt-ton of walking. You know how it is! It's actually getting harder to remember stuff so I can write about it! I'm trying to write stuff down in my agenda in my slots for Lunes, but even with that I don't remember everything. Sorry if I sound boring, but here goes! 

This week we did in fact have a baptism! We baptized our girls, las mellizas Catalina and Constanza! (Cata y Coni). 

It was absolutely fantastic! I love them so much! It's pretty funny with them, because even though they're twins, they could not be more different. They're nine years old, but Chilean girls are more mature looking, and so they look like they're older than Ashlyn. But Coni is super outgoing. Super friendly, but also super sassy. She sasses her mom right in front of us, which is kinda super funny but I feel like I'm not allowed to laugh jaja! But if you want to be completely lost, listen to Latinos argue, or listen to a Latina mom chastise her child. Only recently have I began to understand what they're saying, and it's kinda crazy!  But anyways, I'm off topic. So that's Coni. Cata is completely different. She is super super super shy. She always hides from us, doesn't really talk, or hides behind her mom or something. But we got her to open up a bit to us, which her mom said is super strange, because she doesn't do that. But I found out she likes to draw, so I asked to see her drawings, and after that we were friends! But Elder Barney bapized Coni, and I baptized Cata! The service was really great under the circumstances. We had it right after church, and a lot of people ended up not being able to go, including people we asked to do stuff. But we saved it, and the water was warmer this time. Actually, the water was perfect. A member also made some white tunics for us to use, which was so perfect, because we found out that nobody in Alto Hospicio has tunics for little girls. Thank you members! I'll try to download pictures to my onedrive today so you can see them. I love these girls! Their mom scared us a ton the day before, though. She is a menos activa, and hasn't been to church in a while. Like, two years. But when we went to make sure everything was alright, she told us straight up, "Actually no, they're not getting baptized tomorrow!" Downright scared us! So we got her talking, and turns out she just didn't want to go to church because supposedly 'she doesn't fall well with too many members'. I was like, what?! This is the salvation of your two little girls, and you're not going to allow it because you don't get along with some people?! I stayed quiet though and counted to diez, and we responded with love, and with persuasion, and all that good stuff that the scriptures say we need to have, and she ended up giving in! Jeje, we're just too good, she couldn't refuse us! But she ended up coming, and we watched her with the sisters, and they all responded as if they saw a family member that they haven't seen in years! And her too! 

We had another service project on Saturday, in the same place as before. Hermano Rojas lives in the middle of nowhere out in the desert an hour out of Pozo, and we went there to help finish building his house. I don't understand why he wants to live there, but he's there with his wife, and they make the trip to church every week, so what can I say? there house is legit just a frame, hastily put together by members, and some plywood to close it up, and nothing else. There's no floor, and the wood we used is whatever scraps they could find and put together to build something that won't fall. But that's ok, they like it! And he randomly pulled out these solar panels, and we made a box for them! I was so confused, because it seemed like they didn't have enough to afford a floor, and they whip out solar panels? What? Jajajaja, Chileans. But they like it! So what can I say?

Elder Barney is doing better. Way better, he doesn't feel sick anymore. I don't feel sick either, literally or hypothetically, so that's good! ;) We worked harder this week than I have ever worked, and all of our indicadores claves rose, which was awesome. We had an assistence of 74 people in church, 15 new investigators, 6 fechas bautismales, 14 lessons with a member present, and 5 investigators in church. The work is moving forward. Elder Barney is helping me with my vision to baptize, sí o sí. My vision for my mission has changed completely from what it was at first. He also helps me to be more obedient, too, and I can see the results, so that's awesome too! So our relationship is pretty good. We hit some rocky spots this week, but I feel like those are necessary for an even better relationship. So I'm happy. 

So here's the big part! We gon' talk in a week! WUT WUT!!! Jajaja I'm so excited!! So, we decided that we are going to call at 9:00 here, which should be around 6:00 there for you guys. Algo así (something like that). We want to do that, so that afterward, we don't have to work, it'll be the last thing we do jaja! I feel like that would not be fun to work right after talking with the family! So expect a call right around then from your's truly! (If I remember my skype password jejeje). But hey, I'm probably going to be super bad with talking, or finding something to talk about. So everyone write some questions or something that you're super curious about, or that you think I can talk about! Maybe I can talk the whole time in Spanish or something! ;) But yeah, I'll talk to you then! Take care everyone!

Les quiero a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 27

Hola Fam!

What's up?! I didn't really get an email this week, but that's cool. You guys were crazy busy seeing Caelan graduate!!! WUT WUT!! Caelan! Ya done did graduated!  You grow up so fast! haha no, but that's awesome! I'm so proud! 

Really, not much happened this week. We did, though, have a very good baptism! We bapitized young Yeraldine on Saturday, and it was a spectacular service. Honestly, it was the most spiritual baptism I've had. Elder Barney and I started it off with a musical number. We sang "Divina Luz", which is the spanish version of "Lead Kindly Light". There were three verses, and we sang the first one in unison, but the second verse, I sang the melody, and Elder Barney broke off into a harmony a bit lower. Then the third verse, Elder Barney sang the melody, and I sang a harmony, but higher. I was kind of proud of it, because we basically just came up with it in the bathroom 30 minutes before, and it sounded pretty good! But more than anything, it really invited the spirit, which set it there for the rest of the baptism. It was all super awesome, except for the fact that she asked for "agua helado". I found out that the cold water there in the chapel isn't just lukewarm, it's flipping refrigerated or something! It was soooooo cold! I got in, and was shivering! Her too! She asked, what's this?! This water is so cold? Through my chattering teeth, I said, Yeah! You asked for cold water! Oh my goodness, it was awful. I definitely didn't want to have to redo the baptism, so after the prayer, I kind of shoved her down to make sure she went all in. I'm pretty sure she hit the bottom. My face hit the water haha! But hey, i didn't have to do it again! But all in all, it was a great service. And her mom showed up! Which we were not expecting. So that was a small miracle as well that made it that much better. 

On Tuesday, we had a soccer game with the branch and some investigators. There is a rule where in these games the Elders can only be goalies. It's a rule from president. But I am definitely not a good goalie. I did, however, take a page out of the book of good old Scott Stirling. That's right. I got pounded in the face several times while trying to block. But hey, I blocked it! 

The temblores are stilll going. I feel like I've felt one every night for the past week, too! It's kinda crazy. Maybe they're leading up to something big! That would be interesting! 

We have a freezer in the pensión that has a bunch of ice in it that keeps growing. At the beginning of my time in Pozo, I started putting my hand on it to melt a hand print, but the ice kept growing, and with my constant melting, someting cool happened! The ice grew perfectly into the shape of my hand all the way around! So now there's a cave sort of thing in the ice in the shape of my hand, like a ice glove! I don't know why i told you guys this... I guess it's pretty cool.

Yesterday, we had something called a "Capilla Abierta", which is basicallly like an open house in the chapel here. They set up a tour led by the hermanas in the church building, and the rest of the missionaries went out to find people and bring them to the building. We ended up bringing several people in, and they learned a lot about us, and we even set a few baptismal dates! Of course, this is all in Alto Hospicio, so there's no chance of them being our investigators. But it was a super neat tour, with lots of information. So the missionaries who went out all split up to different companions, and I got put together with Elder Ambao, a Filipino who only has 2 weeks in the mission. So, we were walking and thinking about how to do the contacting, when I realized, "Oh shoot! I have no idea what I'm doing!" Then I look over at Elder Ambao, and he's looking back at me basically following whatever I was going to do, and I realized, "Oh shoot! This kid knows even less!" So that was an interesting experience, leading the companionship, but I actually really liked it! It was even more interesting to be the companion that knows the most spanish... but hey, así es! We were pretty successful, though, and I had a good time with it.

That's another thing. This week, I was surprising myself over and over. I was listening to people speak, from investigators to contacts to other missionaries, and after it all, I realized to myself that I understood everything they were saying! And more than that, I was able to talk with them easily and comfortably! My spanish is still no where near perfect or fluent, but I really am not too uncomfortable with it anymore! After I realized that, I was super happy haha! I definitely still have so much to improve, but I am not lost either.

But that's my week. No mucho, pero así es! How are things for you all? How was the graduation? How's Brad? Sorry Brad, for my family... but I hope you all have a good week!

Elder Schmid