Week 44

¡¡¡Hola hola hola!!!

¿Cómo están? Well, this week has definitely flown by! It's like I'm back in the CCM jaja, slow days but fast weeks! I guess that's a good thing, right? Anyways, not too much happened on this side of the world for me. Just lots of working, and finally seeing some fruits of the labor! 

To begin, sorry about not sending pictures, the cord doesn't work, and so I bought this SD card to usb converter, but the computer won't accept it! Dang piece of kaka. But that's ok, I'll keep trying! in the meantime... sorry! 

This week was also filled with little random miracles here and there, and actually this week I just wanted to share a few! One, of course, is the baptism we had! Rodrigo got baptized!! WUT WUT!!! It was great! We had to do it Friday, and I was scared the ward council was going to tell us no, but they were fine! And he got baptized! He invited all of his family on that street, but only his mom and dad and sister ended up going. But he was happy the whole day! He was especially excited because I had promised him weeks ago that if he got baptized I would sing for him Justin Bieber's Sorry. I thought he'd have forgotten about it... he hadn't. But he was also excited for the baptism! The other missionaries helped as well to set it up, and we had some mormon messages playing during waiting periods. The baptism was at 6, and so of course Rodrigo and fam decide to show up at 6:10. Usually I would have been really worried, but I was more or less ok. Why? Because depsite that, they were the first ones to show up. The rest of the people, mambers and what not, showed up at around 6:30. The last person was the one with a talk, and he came around 6:40. But... oh well. Those are Chileans for you, haha! It was still a good service. And the missionaries abajo had another baptism the next day of a family! Which was also an awesome service. 

Another small miracle was the awesome people we found! One is Felipe, a man who moved from another sector to ours, and so the missionaries called us and told us to go to him. He is a golden investigator, and he moved becuase he seperated from his pareja, soooo... ¡¡¡Hay Bautismo!!! (There is a baptism!) He is a super good guy, and loves the missionaries, so I am excited to see him progress. We also found another family of old investigators, Jocelyn and her kids. Elder Blanco talked with the kids first on an inter-cambio and we passed by to meet the mom, and she was super friendly, and invited us right in to eat completos!!! Oh it was great! We couldn't stay for more than a minute because we found out there was no man, but that's ok. It's the thought that counts haha! We also found a very great hermana named Elizabeth. Her son had talked to missionaries before, but never her. She had friends who were mormons, and was always curious, but never met with the missionaries. We taught her about the restoration, and it was very spiritual, and she seemed to really like it. I am also excited to see her progression. 

The next little miracle has to do with Elizabeth too! Sunday morning, we were calling around and verifying with everyone, and were on our way to pick up Rodrigo. We were passing by the street where lived Elizabeth, and as we passed by her house, she came out, completely ready for church! I was super surprised, because I hadn't even thought to call her! I thought she told us that she works every Sunday, but it turns out my spanish still isn't perfect, because she doesn't. She told us she was waiting for us, and as we walked by, she just walked out! We were like, ok sweet! Come on, lets go to church! Jaja but she was excited also to meet all the hermanas there. She told us that the last of her friends moved away recently, and that she has cero amigos! So during church, I began to talk to a few hermanas about talking and welcoming Elizabeth, and before I knew it, the entire Relief Society was gathered around her like a swarm, talking to her and everything! It was great! I think... maybe... haha it seemed good to me! And she told us after church that she had to cancel our appointment with her becuase she was going to the relief society activity at that time. I think she'll progress just fine! But we also had 5 other investigators there, meaning, we met the standard!!! It's the hardest standard to reach, and so we were super pumped to go out and get the rest, but were a little worried about meeting the standard of lessons with members. God solved that for us by giving us Byron and Maicol, two cousins who live together and help every now and then with appointments. They decided to do divisions with us, Maicol with me, and Byron with Elder Blanco. Jaja 2 hours of pure contacting and lessons with members! It was awesome, and we ended up meeting all of the standards that we needed to! All in all, it was a good week!

But that's my life right now! Just moving forward here in Antofagasta! I hope you all have an awesome week too! Speaking of, sounds like this last week was pretty cool! Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I'm super grateful for the examples you both set for me! Especially dad, showing me that even guys like him can marry up to people like mom! ;) Hehehe no, but I am super grateful! And wait, Darian is being flown up to Utah? For work? What the deuce? I thought she made sandwiches? When I made sandwiches, the only benefits I got were when I ate free food, and even that wasn't necessarily allowed! But yeah, take care y'all!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 43

Hola familia!!!

So first things first... the internet cafe that I usually use just bought all new keyboards, and they are amazing, and it makes me happy, because I can type so much faster now... but that's irrelevant. But hey, what's up? Didn't get an email... but that's ok. I guess I will still send mine anyways! ;)

My week was pretty great. A lot of small spiritual experiences with a few big awesome ones thrown in there. The small ones are basically just teaching new people and testifying to them the truth that I already know, and inviting them to find out for themselves if it is true. In the mission Chile Antofagasta, we don't knock doors. We find new people by walking up to them and shaking there hand and no matter what they say, start teaching. We need to find out their needs in a few questions, while not being too interogative, and then start testifying based on what they said! I really like doing it... it's almost like a game. Every new person is a new puzzle to solve, all I have to do is ask questions to find out the key! Example: the other day, we were walking through the feria (fair), which is completely filled with people the whole day, and we stopped a man and shook his hand. We asked him where he was from (Bolivia), how much time he had in Chile (a few months) and why he came (work). We asked him if he had shared with missionaries before (yes) if he enjoyed his discussions with them (yes) and why he stopped (he moved). We asked if he believed in Jesus (of course) and then started talking about his family, and we found out that he had seperated from his wife and children and that he was struggling with that. From there, we began testifying about Jesus, but also how his sacrifice means we can repent, and that we can leave the sins of old behind us, and learn from them, and be forgiven of them. Now we have a cita with him for Thursday. Things like that, little moments, that help build a good day. 

This week we didn't complete with all the standards. We only had 3 people in church, and 5 baptismal dates remaining. But oh well. I worked hard, so I can sleep well! We've been working hard with Rodrigo, the kid with 13 years, and he has progressed pretty well! And his family too is beginning to come back into things, especially his mom. Turns out, the kids didn't really move too far after leaving home. The entire little street right there are her kids and their families! Rodrigo is going to get baptized this Saturday! He's super excited! And he's getting all of his family and friends to come see! They are all really excited too. Rodrigo and his sister, Maria, are the only two in a family of 9 who are not baptized. It would be super cool to be able to help reactivate them! I would love to see them all in church again! But I am super excited for Rodrigo and this choice he's making. It's going to be a good Saturday! Although, we are going to have to plan well, because there is another activity this Saturday. We'll see what happens!

Other than that, we have just been really trying with our parejas (couples), trying to get them progressing, and eventually, married. It's going very slowly haha. But meanwhile, we are finding new people every day, and teaching them too! Yesterday I had an awesome experience. All week I have been studying how Jesus Christ needs to be the center of our teaching. After all, my objective as a missionary is to invite people to come to Him! But yesterday, we began teaching a less active man with his family, who are all not memebers. We had a very good discussion about baptism, but more so about the gift of the Holy Ghost, and what it means to have that in our lives. At the end, I began to share my testimony. At the end, his little child, Nicolas, said he had a question. He asked me, 'Does Jesus Christ exist?' It seemed like a strange question. I almost didn't know how to answer, other than to say, duh! But I began to share a testimony of Jesus in the most basic terms that I ever had before. I testified that he existed. That he died, and that he rose again. I told that boy 'Jesus is your older brother. He loves you! He loves all of us! And he will help us with whatever we need!' It was probably the most basic testimony I have ever given. But, at the end of it... I was crying! I felt the spirit so strong in those few seconds, that I could not help it! How embarrasing, crying in front of strangers just because I believe in Jesus! But I am grateful! I know that this testimony that I have, and what I have gained here in Chile, will never leave me! It cannot be taken, nor broken! Jesus lives! And he loves each and every one of us! He suffered, but because he suffered, he can help us in our suffering! How beautiful the thought! But I just thought I would share that. The best part of my week was telling a 7 year old boy that Jesus does exist! Haha!

But anyways, that's my week! Not too much, but still good! Things move forward here in Antofa! The first week of the new cambio was awesome! ¡Vamos por mas! Hope you all have a good week!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 42

Hola familia!

Well, this week was a killer! A lot of working, and a lot of talking, and a lot of learning! But it was good, a good week! I guess I'll skip over most of it and tell the interesting stuff.

Elder Blanco and I finally completed with the mission standards! 14 lessons taught to investigators with a member, 10 new investigators, 6 baptismal dates remaining after Sunday, and 6 investigators in church on Sunday.  It was super intense, and we were working crazy hard all week to get it done. The news and the dates are easy. The hard part is getting people to act. It is very hard to get lessons with members because none of the members want to come with us. Which is frustrating. But when we have someone, we milk it for all it's worth haha! Maybe that's why they don't like coming with us... because we work them hard! But we finally got some this week. The hardest standard is 6 in church. It is not in the culture of Chile to go to church on Sunday. Nobody goes to church. So when we invite people, they immediately don't want to go. It's the biggest day to shop, and to sell. It's a big day to sleep, or to work. It's super difficult to tell people that one of the biggest parts of their culture is a sin haha! But... we try. Anyways, we have been focusing on a lot of families, trying to get them to come in, and Israel and his family finally came! It was awesome! They beat us there, too! We called in the morning, and they told us they were already on their way. That scared me, because people tell us that when they actually just don't want us to insist. But they actually went! And it was a really great sacrament meeting! They loved singing the hymns. They didn't come to the classes, because they left a kid at home sick with the mother in law, but that's ok. They said they're coming next week. Now the only thing they are missing is marriage!

So funny story, the missionaries here call everyone 'Huacho', like, 'heeeey, what's up huacho!!!' So I began to say it too. So we were in a house with an investigator, their daughter walked in with her boyfriend and their baby, and so I greeted them and everything, and I said hi to the kid, a 2 year old, and said 'Heeey huachito, qué pasa?' And everyone stared at me with a weird look, and Elder Blanco was laughing so hard he was crying, and I was like, what'd I say?! Elder Blanco told me that, apparently, Huacho is very slang, and it's a word used to say orphan! So I basicaly cursed while calling a kid orphan in front of his parents... so that was awkward... 

Cambios came in. Elder Blanco and I are both staying another cambio here in Caliche. I'm ok with it. Actually, I'm really happy. I've enjoyed my time with Elder Blanco, and we have a new drive to get work done! Cambios are always awesome because it's a fresh new start, a time to set goals and get ish done!!! So I'm excited. One of the Filipinos left, and the other is going to train! He's super excited, and I'm excited to see if it's a gringo. There are 15 new elders coming, and some hermanas. It'll be fun. 

Elder Blanco's birthday was on Saturday. We went ham hahaha! We worked regularly up until 6:30, and then we went to our mamíta's house. They had set up a massive party for us haha! They invited a ton of random people to celebrate with us, too, and all of them were Columbian or Ecuatorian, which apparently know how to party! There was karaoke and music and a ton of food! I of course did not plan any of it, I just let them know that it was his birthday, and they kind of took off... they are less active, so maybe that's why they went so crazy. But we were there for a couple hours, and I tried to share something, but... yeah, no. Haha, I feel kinda bad because it's basically a sin to do that as a missionary, but I take comfort in the fact that I did not plan it, and I did try to share haha! Afterwards, we went to a family home evening with an awesome family. Actually, José and Deyanira and their family. The bishop also came with us! We taught the lesson on making goals and asking God to help with them, and then Bishop talked for 30 minutes about marraige... haha that was not planned either, but oh well! Our bishop is awesome. He's a Columbian who loves to joke about his black skin with everyone! But he is super young, too, maybe 26. He's filled with energy and fire and everything, and is also super direct with people... I learned last night as he began challenging my investigator. But... I guess we'll see what happens haha! He still came to church, so that's a good sign.

OH! One more story. Last night we went to an investigator who is the husband of a less active lady. He has always had a hard time understanding us and what we're inviting him to do, and last night we found out why. They also had a dinner for Elder Blanco's Birthday (Lucky!) And they invited the husband's brother, a pastor or something in the evangelical church. He is super knowledgable of the bible. So we were just talking and the conversation turned to religion, and all of the sudden the man takes off talking about any subject and every subject from the bible. Elder Blanco and I just kind of sat there and listened. He wasn't wrong, because everything he said I already knew, and it was in the bible. But he had an attitude of trying to prove us wrong in some point. I didn't have any desire to bash his religion with all the new stuff I've learned (I recently read 'In the Defense of Truth' and have a new stock of religion destroying scriptures haha). Nephi tells us that contention is of the devil, but I like to be prepared if someone attakcs my church demanding that I try to defend it with the bible. Anyways, we basically just sat there and listened to the man talk until we had to go home. It was super weird. I learned how much I prefer the way our missionaries teach: with the spirit. The simple will be used to confound the wise! It is much more effective to have someone feel the spirit that comes from the truth than to teach them a lesson from the bible. It was good to learn that from the man, I have a bigger drive to search for the spirit in every lesson now rather than try to prove my point with scripture. 

But anyways, that's my week, other than proselyting and being attacked by dogs with rabies, and some crazy people (also with rabies). Hope you all have a good one!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 41

Hola hola!

Wow, what an awesome week for everyone!!! Except for Dad... sorry dad haha! And a little stressful for mom... sorry mom! But everyone else is loving life! I died when I saw the pictures of Christiaan and Alex with Mae! They're adorable... mostly because of Alex and Mae. Christiaan, your hair is long haha! 

My week was pretty normal, nothing too big to say! Our Pday was super chill last week. We didn't really do too much. This week was the last Pday of the cambio, so we had a little olimpiad that was pretty fun! We also played a lot of fútbol, and I'm getting pretty good! Not latino good, but no longer gringo newbie! During the week was pretty slow going. We are always contacting on the street, trying different things, but we are having difficulty with finding the people again. Sometimes they give us directions that don't exist, sometimes they don't know the direction because the tomas don't have street names nor numbers for the houses, and other times they're just never home. But oh well. We found a new family that is of gold! They were a reference, a girl and her mom, Prisila and Marcela! We went to their house and they let us right in! (Don't worry, we checked first, the son was there, he was 20 years) But we went in and began talking, getting to know them and their needs, and she (the mom) began to tell us about how she has been searching for a long time for a religion that is correct, that feels right, that brings her the spirit. She was born catholic, but doesn't feel good there. She's tried Evangelical (is that how you say it? Los evangélicos) but says it is weird and doesn't feel the spirit there. But she's been having a lot of problems with her family, and wants to improve it as their mother. So she's been praying and praying and now... we're here! But we taught about the restoration, because she asked how could she know what church is true. She loved the story of José Smith, and they both were super excited to go to church and everything! But they didn't accept a baptismal date because they thought it was too soon to commit, but oh well, next time! 

Our four strongest investigators right now are moving forward in bounds! Israel and Laura are a family relatively joven (young), both with around 30 years. I met them the first week here, actually, the first day, but could never find them again. But we had a solid lesson with them last week, in which they told us they had been talking about marraige, and want to get married!!! WUT WUT!!!! I was so stoked! Then they said they want to wait until June of next year. But we'll work with that haha! But they are super awesome people, and are a super cool family! They have 3 kids who are hilarious, and the kid with eight years, Francisco, is a baller! He completely juked me out when we were playing soccer. In front of half the ward priesthood. o_o Haha but he's super smart too. José and Mayori are another family joven with a daughter of 3 years or so. But they have also been talking about marraige and are getting closer and closer! Then we have José and Deyanira, another super awesome family joven, with a little daughter of 2 years almost. Deyanira is a member, and has been bringing José to church, and we've been teaching him, and recently taught about chastity! He took the lesson really well, and is in the process of praying and pondering. Then we have John and Giselle, another family joven with a daughter of 1 year. They're Colombiano, and don't have too much. But they are super awesome in the lessons, with a lot of deep questions! I love talking with them, because I know they are just drinking it all in! 

The highlight of the week was in church this week. Elder Blanco and I arrived with no success in bringing investigators, despite alll our efforts and work. We were a little disanimated, but used to it by now. But as we were sitting, we were greeting the people as they walked in, in comes José with Mayori, someone who we didn't even talk to for several days! It was an awesome surprise! I sat with them. Then comes in José and Deyanira, with the rest of the family of Deyanira, and that was awesome! But the best part was halfway through the meeting, when I look over and John and Giselle are standing there in the door of the chapel looking a little lost! I was so surprised, but so happy!!! We were not able to talk with them at all this week, and so I did not even think of them in the morning, but apparently, they were thinking for themselves!! They told us that they were loooking for the church building at 9:50, so they would be on time for the sacrament, but got lost, and couldn't find the chapel. But then as they began to walk home, they happened to pass by it, and came in!!! AHHHHHHH I was so happy!! They really are special people! Now we just got to get them married!

But that's my week, slow, but good! Thank you for the email, and for your prayers, and for everything!! Love you all! Cuídense todos!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 40

Mom,

Sounds like everyone was super worried about Dad's surgery. I'm super glad he's doing better. Prayers were answered. And yeah, Aiden needs to tell me everything! 

This week was pretty good. Monday we had a sports day, we played soccer in the Antofagasta Stadium and ate lunch at some family's house in another sector. 

Tuesday we had a conference with President. He spent it talking about several things, but I think with a special emphasis on being examples as leaders. It was really cool, and interesting because I didn't have to travel so far to go! So that was a first. 

Wednesday we had an intercambio and I went to the lower section with Elder Ramones, an Elder from the Philippines. He's super cool. It sucked, though, because we only had four hours and then we had to go to ward council, and that took up the rest of the night. 

Thursday was super normal, just working in the morning and night all day. We found some new investigators who are super solid. One is a Columbian family. Jian is 24 and lives with his pareja Giselle, and they have a kid name Shalem. They're super receptive, and loved it when we talked about the plan of salvation! We also played soccer with the Filipinos and some of their investigators. It was fun.

Friday was another normal day. We talked with Rodrigo again, the brother of Maria, but they both are starting to work in the feria (fair) on Saturdays and Sundays, and I'm not sure if they're ever going to stop. But Rodrigo is gaining more interest, so that's good. Maybe he can help his sister out. 

Saturday we went to an activity for the youth in the chapel to talk to them about what President Ferreira wants us to do as missionaries. He wants us to have two activities with the youth every month to which the youth need to bring a friend to enter, someone who is not a member. The activities can be anything from a sports day to a movie, but the key is to bring a friend. At night, Saturday, the Filipinos had a baptism. Ricarda was her name. It was a very small service, I think there were ten of us in all, 6 being the missionaries and Ricarda and her husband. But it was good all the same. We had planned a baptism for Jhoadel, but he fell through last minute. In the morning, when we called, he told us he was going to be too tired. 

Sunday was nice to relax in church. We had one investigator there, a guy named José who goes with his pareja who is a member. We just began teaching him, and he seems receptive. He has Family Home Evenings with his pareja and his brother in law every Saturday, so that's cool. I'm excited to see where it ends up. His pareja, Deyanira, seems very excited as well. They left after sacrament meeting, though, so we had nothing to do, and so the four of us ended up reading the definitions in the guia de las escrituras (scripture guide) and having a competition of who can guess first. (In the spanish scriptures, the index of the Book of Mormon, the topical guide, and the bible dictionary have all been mashed into one thing, the guia de las escrituras) I won. 

But that was my week. We were bummed at first that the baptism fell through, but we're pushing forward and going for more this month! Working hard! I hope you all have a good week! Cuídense!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 39

Hola!!!

Oh wow, crazy week entonces for everyone! I'm happy everything there is going so smoothly! And welcome to the ranks, Oma and Opa!!! I'm excited to hear some of your stories as missionaries in Indonesia! I hope everything goes well for dad and his surgery! I will definitely be praying for him! Darian's working? And it's not babysitting? Awesome! And everyone freaked out when I waited until after the day to wish a Happy Birthday, so I guess I can wish it now! ;) Happy Birthday Kiwi!!! 17, how awesome! And crazy! Still a jovencita, but getting older! Hopefully, wiser at the same time! ;) Hehehehe! AIDEN!!! What the deuce?! So many awesome opportunities!! I'm jealous! But I do recognize that you had to put some work into this, and so you earned it! But still... that's all some crazy awesome stuff you're doing! Sacrament meeting with Elder Holland?! I would kill for an opportunity like that right now! And what are you doing with President Trump? Do you get to meet him? Crazy...

Well, things are going well here in Good 'ol Caliche. Antofagasta pleases me. It's cool. I like it haha. This week was kinda crazy in terms of mornings. We had a lot of meetings and what not with various people. Tuesday is when we have our weekly district meetings, and right before, all the district leaders in the zone meet for a liderazgo meeting. I have to teach classes each week to my district, but it's chill, because we're all missionaries, so we try to butt in every five seconds with our testimony and knowledge and what not. All I have to do is say the topic and afterward basically just keep everyone on track. After district meeting, we had intercambios, and I went with our Zone Leader, Elder Rupe. He's a super chill gringo from Utah, Morgan Utah. It was cool, too, because I got to work in his sector, and it's been a long time since I have worked anywhere but my sector. Usually, if we have intercambios, the district leader goes to the other sector to do interviews and what not. But the sector of the zone leaders is a very rich part of Antofa, and it seems like it's a bit harder. But it was super fun to work with Elder Rupe. He's super awesome! He was made zone leader when he only had 6 transfers. He is a very capable missionary.

Thursday is the day we have weekly planning, and I have forgotten to do a few things, so we took Thursday morning to update our area book and a few other things. Usually, weekly planning should not take nearly so long, and you should work in the morning anyways, but we weren't able to. Friday, we had a service in the morning for some people in our ward. Actually, they're investigators, and they're adding on to their house. They live legit at the top of the city, so they can just start building backwards. It's hard, though, because they live on the mountain, and so we helped clear some dirt and level it all. It took a while, and we kind of screwed around a lot, but it was cool. They're a cool family from Ecuador, and would be baptized, but they are not married. They're in the process, though. 

The president wanted everyone in the mission to try their hardest and try new things to meet the mission standard of 6 investigators in the sacrament meeting this Sunday.  So all week we were trying hard with the people to meet that. We compromised everyone to go, made a list of everyone, a bunch of stuff. Then Sunday came, and and almost everyone fell through. But there were a few that pulled through. Actually, one investigator who is planning on getting baptized this weekend came, Jhoadel. He's super cool, 18 years old. He's just not quite as animated. But this Sunday might've changed that. In fact, I'm sure it did. The thing is, while we were walking into church, we looked over, and Presidente Ferreira and his wife, Hermana Ferreira (President of the mission and wife) were walking up with some family from Concepciòn. So... that really freaked me out!! Haha apparently, Hermana Ferreira served in my ward when she was a missionary here in Antofagasta! So she likes to visit from time to time! Nobody decided to warn me... but after sacrament meeting Presidente Ferreira decided to teach our Gospel Principles class. He taught basically all the missionary lessons wrapped up in one, and at the end, bore a really powerful testimony! It was super awesome! We had four investigators there, 1 from Caliche B, and three from us, and the one from Caliche B is getting baptized for sure, and we go today to find out if ours as well. 

But anyway, that was our week. The work continues forward! Hope you all have a great one! Cuídense!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid