Week 48

Hola hola hola familia! 

¡¿Qué pasa?! How is everyone? I loved the email! I think the part that made me happiest was the fact that I wasn't there and didn't have to plant the rye grass! But then I realized that you guys will have beautiful green grass while I'll have dirt... and dog crap. But oh well! So what do you guys think about the voice recordings? Is it a good or bad idea? It was to replace the journal. I don't know yet if it's a good or bad idea, soooo... comments? Thoughts? I will definitely try to leave my neighbors out of it. 

Anyways, my week has been pretty eventful!!! It was, of course, the slowest week of my mission. There were not too many people that were out in the street, and it was the first time in my mission that I did not have a single investigator in church... so that cut deep. But it was eventful in different ways. The main way being that we had cambios this week!!!! They called Friday morning, and............. Elder Blanco is leaving! He is going to Calama, the driest and hottest place in the mission, but not the ugliest. That would be Hospicio. (In terms of land, of course. The people there are awesome!) But he is going to open a sector, which means he and his companion are new to the sector and don't know anything about it. He is also going to train! Little Blanco is pregnant!!! Hahaha he is super excited! And I am staying. And I think I will be here for two more cambios because I AM TRAINING!!!!!!!! WUT WUT!!!!! Hahaha I am finally going to have a little hijito!!! Haha I'm pregnant!!!! I am beyond excited! I was super apprehensive about it before, but after I heard it was official, I'm just super ready and excited. We gonna rock it here in Caliche. 

The other big day was Saturday. It was the 23 of September (supposedly the end of the world) which was some global service day or something. The two stakes here, Antofagasta Centro and La Portada, had planned a service activity in an orphanage here in Antofa. We cleaned up around and trimmed a bunch of trees. The group I was in chopped down several trees until the zone leaders chewed me out for using an axe hehehe! But it was fun! And there were a ton of people! All the missionaries in Antofa came and a good amount of members. We were a couple hundred strong all working around the place. Nobody in my group knew how to use an axe (including the members) and so I was hacking away all day and now I can't even shake people's hands but that's ok! We walked to the service project, which was five miles away or so, then to our lunch after, another 6 miles, then to our house, which was a few miles uphill.... I was tired! I fell on my bed and before I knew it, I was a couple hours late to get to work! CRAP! I woke up Elder Blanco, because he was crashed out too, and it was kinda bad, but it was a really long day haha! 

During the week it was very hard to find people in their homes. There were two days where we did not enter a single home! Which was rough. But Sunday came, and we didn't have too many people commited to come to church. We at least have to have 30 people tell us they're coming to church for 6 to show up, and when Sunday came, we had 3 commited. So nobody came to church on Sunday, and that was super hard. But that's ok, because this week is going to be different! Elder Blanco is going to stay with me until Wednesday. The new missionaries come tomorrow, and spend a day with the pres, and the next day we have the big trainers ceremony thing. So we are going around having people sign his notebook and saying goodbye. We are both super excited to meet our new hijitos!

But that's what's going on here! Just one big weekend! But to answer those questions mom, there are no favorites between the two (Skittles or Starbursts for those who would like to send something to Elder Schmid). They are both my favorite, and I can buy them here, but I don't, because they're ridiculously expensive. I miss Canes, but I don't think you can send me that. And movies. But I do also miss beef jerkey. A little. I guess. Actually, no. But Elder Ramones says he wants some hahaha! For my birthday, I want... fetch, I have no idea. Leather gloves? Sony rechargable batteries. Polo RED cologne. Or aqua de jeaux, or however it's spelled. A samsung smart watch. A laptop for when I get home. Scholarships for when I go to BYU. I don't know! I honestly just love the fact of receiving a package with the surprise inside! Just remember, sour cream doesn't exist here, I can't make ranch. And I can't play any games other than Chess, Monopoly and Uno. But I don't know. Something awesome!

Anyways, I love you all! Hope you have an excellent week! Keep walking mom! When you walk 16 kilómetros every day, then talk to me! ;) Haha kidding, it's awesome that you're walking more! Take the whole family with you! Take care everyone!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 47

¡Hola hola!

Hey! Dang, how awesome was your week?! I'm so jealous haha! A campout in Kinder Springs sounds like such paradise right now... but oh well! I'm glad it was a good semana (week) for everyone! I did laugh at you guys for being locked out so much! Seems like you just can't function without me! ;) And it's even funnier that the whole ward winessed it! I'm also glad you could look for and find some rest in Sunday. I wish I could've heard that talk from Daniel. But it makes me happy to know our friendship is strong. 

This week was pretty great! There was a lot that happened. First we had conference on Tuesday.  It was a great conference that talked a lot about the spirit of urgency, and how we need to baptize and do it now. It was just with my zone and the other here in Antofagasta. It was neat to meet up with some missionaries that I was friends with back in Hospicio, and who are now in Antofagasta. I also enjoyed the training we were doing. The day after, Elder Blanco needed to do some things for his visa, so we had another trip to the office, and then to center. Since we were right there anyways, we were able to print some pictures that we had! I printed one of Christiaan's family and one of Mae, then some for Rodrigo so that he can have a picture of his baptism! It's always great to have a physical copy of the pictures, makes it a little more special, I think. That day, we were also contacted by Oscar saying that he had broken up with his girlfriend (our mamíta) and that he was moving to Ecuador, but before going, he wanted to get baptized! He's been investigating since November of the year before, and has been going to church and everything, and the only thing that was holding him back was being with his girlfriend. Then they broke up, and so we started moving forward with the steps to get him baptized, realizing that the situation was a little more delicate. Well, after a few interviews and lessons, he was ready for baptism! 

Thursday we had interviews with President Ferreira. Ours was right after lunch at 4:00, so he was a little late, but it was a good interview. He told me that he has seen a change in me, and that he was thinking of giving me a bit more responsibilty... oh crap!!! Hahaha, with Presidente Ferreira, that could mean anything! I have no idea what he has in mind... but I have the feeling he's gonna have me train. There are 14 new missionaries coming, and we are opening 5 new sectors in the mssion. So, we'll see what happens! 

Friday was crazy, because we had a ton of citas, and we had to get Oscar his last interview. Everything worked out, though, and Oscar passed his interview! We called the Bishop telling him about it, and he said, ''Ya! Bautizale no más!'' (Already! Baptize no more!)

Saturday we had the baptism of Elizabeth and Oscar! It was a fantastic service, even though legit everyone showed up 30 minutes after it was supposed to start. But it was a good turnout, the best I have seen yet! It was great to see such support from the ward, and it was a very spiritual experience for everyone. I was able to baptize both Elizabeth and Oscar. But the pila (font) filled up way to slow, and the water was freezing! When we got in, it was a little bit higher than my knees... so imagine how it was submerging them in the water! But we pulled it off. It just looked like I was trying to drown them haha! It was a little awkward, because I completely forgot to ask Oscar what his full name was, and then they opened the doors, and I had my hand up and began ''Oscar......'' and then realized I had no idea what his name was! Haha, I stopped and asked him, and then we continued, but it was super awkward! The rest of the night was kind of slow, nobody was home, and everone was preparing for the 18 of September.

Sunday was also very slow. We had commited a lot of people to church, but in the end only 2 came, Oscar and Elizabeth. We confirmed them, and then the Elders had to give the talks. I decided to talk about the Book of Mormon, and how it helps everyone, and how easy it was to read it in our day! I then tied all of that in a challenge to the members to share that with others, and how, if it is so easy to have and share, it means God wants us to read and to share it! I recorded my talk, and then deleted the recording after because I realized how bad my spanish was! But the rest of the day was really calm. Everyone basically was too busy preparing for the 18th. We got a couple lessons in, but not too much.

Today is the 18 of September! And oh man, it's crazy! The 18th of September is the Independence Day for Chile, and basically, they go all out! It is a massive week long party that begins today! Almost everyone has work off, or work for half the day, and all the schools are out, and everyone is having asados (roasts) and are dancing and it's awesome! Today we played soccer with President in the city's stadium and afterward had lunch at his house. I haven't been there since my first day in Chile! And I realized today how massive it is! They live in such a rich sector! And I was thinking before that it was so tiny! We had an asado and some ice cream. All the cibers are closed, so we are at a member's house writing. But it will be a crazy night for sure. 

But anyways, that's my week! It was a good week, and I am super excited for this week! I hope you all have a good one!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 46

!!!Hola hola hola!!!

As I expected, you all have had an extremely busy week! But that's good, it's good to busy! Right?! Haha, but yeah, I would love to be there to help out for the wedding, but... I'm not there haha! But I'm sure it’s going to be a fantastic wedding! And wow, that is also a story that I never expected to hear from Darian! I'm sure it was hard to give up that book of mormon. If I lost mine right now, I would die! Both the spanish and english! But I'm super proud of you, Darian! I'm sure God is blessing that woman through your efforts and through that glorious book! Sometimes it takes being a missionary to see how much it blesses and changes people who haven't had it their entire life. Thanks for sharing that story! And I'm super excited to hear about Daniel and Ethan and Jared! I want to see the change you are talking about! I can't see it in myself, because one doesn't normally see change in oneself, but I know at least I'm a bit more mature. Or a lot. I can't wait to experience the same as Ammon, and meet with my brothers again and rejoice to see they are still my bretheren in the Lord!

This week was super cool! As always, there were tons of small miracles to be sought out, and a few bigger ones thrown in! First things first, I suppose, were some awesome things going down yesterday. Rodrigo, my recent convert, passed out the sacrament yesterday! It was so special to be able to note his progression so much! When I found him, he avoided us because he didn't want to talk about the Mormons again! Haha and now look at him! But I was able to feel a lot of the spirit in that time. He has progressed a ton, and I feel like I have benefited as well from his progression! Rodrigo is just fantastic! We also had a little intercambio yesterday. My zone leader came to interview Elizabeth for her baptism. She, of course, passed. With flying colors. Afterward, my zone leader was talking to me, and he said, ''I will probably write about her in my Preach My Gospel. She is the most prepared person I've ever met for baptism...'' It made me feel so awesome, and so happy for her. Of course, all the preperation was pretty much on her part, and on God's. She opened her heart, and God filled it. Elizabeth will be a fantastic member of the church. Even not being baptized, she is a fantastic person! I am so excited to see her receive the eternal blessings that come from baptism, and then further on from the temple! Then, further on in the intercambio, we found a golden family! We contacted a lady watering her dirt (Chileans like to water their dirt... I don't know why) and talked to her a little bit, and she asked us ''What are you guys doing here?'' We told her we are sharing a message about Jesus Christ to bless families. And she says ''Yeah, I know, I'm Mormon.'' Haha I was super confused, but she ended up letting us in. Guadalupe had been baptized 28 years ago, and stopped going to church that same year because her husband didn't let her. Her kids, Brandon and Ghojann, are not baptized, and are super awesome! We shared the message of the restoration, and the mom bore a powerful testimony. Apparently she had shared basically all of the mormon doctrine to her kids, minus José Smith and his story. So thus we see how the Lord prepares his children to accept his gospel! They accepted a date for the 23rd. 

The rest of the week was cool too. Just a lot of struggling to get some members to come with us. We had one planned everyday this week... and all of them fell through. I got super frustrated, but oh well. Saturday, we ate lunch with a super awesome family, la familia Mamáni. They gave us Italian food (heck yes!!!) And then we were talking for  a while with the father. He told us that he worked as a dog trainer. I, of course, jumped on the oportunity and learned everything I can to not get attacked everywhere I go. He explained it was all in your character, how you act, and how you smell. He told me a bunch of stuff I didn't understand about what dogs can smell, and ended up saying they literally smell my fear! Haha or smell something that I put off when I'm afraid, or even act afraid. So he told me I have to ''mostrar su ira'' (show your anger), and then explained how even yelling and going at them without fear will freak them out. So that night, there was a couple of dogs nipping at my comp, getting really close, and he was freaking out, so I did what the guy said, and I tensed up everything, and bared my teeth, and gave this ear shattering scream! Haha I legit released some kind of demon from deep in my gut, I don't know what it was. but they scampered away afraid! It was awesome! I felt pretty beastly. Then we ended up contacting the dogs' owners who were right there watching haha! It was funny. 

Other than that, it was a pretty normal week! A lot of contacting, a lot of disappointments, and a lot of miracles! This week everything added to my testimony of the effect of the gospel in the lives of people! I loved seeing the progression of Rodrigo, and how he's changing the lives of everyone around him! I loved seeing how much Elizabeth has grown, and foreseeing the great leader she will be! The gospel changes people! Even if they don't want it, and especially if they think they don't need it! Perhaps that has been my biggest realization. Mom you talked about feeling sometimes how we are not worthy of God's help. What I feel at times is worse, I think. Sometimes I feel like I don't need God's help. Like I don't need to change. It's so wrong, and so prideful! We all need the change that comes from the gospel, whether we be members since birth, or recent converts, or non members! Repentance is not an event! It's not even a process! it's an attitude. A life style. It's every moment of every day, striving to improve, to change for the better, to become more Christlike! Seeing as how nobody but Christ has ever been or ever will be perfect, our repentance never ends! Every moment of every day we need to use the effects of Christ's atonement in our lives. That is the testimony from this week. Have a great week!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 45

Hola Familia!

Well.... WHAT!!!! Caelan is engaged!!! That's awesome!! I'm crying... a lot... on the inside, because I wont be there for any of this, but... I guess that's good for her! Haha congratulations, Brad, you lucky turd! (whoever you are). And wow, good job Kiwi! I have to say, though, the part that made me most jealous was how you saw many apostles. I must be a missionary...

Well, my week was short. Simple. Not too much to be said. Haha sorry. But I guess to start out, Rodrigo received the priesthood this Sunday! That was cool! This kid is a machine. It's funny, because he'll ask if we want him to come with us, and we say ''Yeah!'' We thought he would accompany us to a cita or something, but he had other plans! His thoughts of coming with us were walking down the street, and him knocking the door of everyone he knows (the whole dang street) and introducing them to us! This kid! He's golden!! He's got no shame, but in a cool helpful way! I think we'll be taking him out a bit more often. He also took a few of his non member friends to his first mutual activity, not even knowing what it was! Let's just pray he keeps this fire up!

Elizabeth also came to church again, and she went to the Relief Society activity too! She's a golden investigator too! I'm sure she'll be baptized soon! The only problem I can foresee is her belief in Saints. But we haven't really talked about that too much. Or at all. But once we do, all she needs to do is pray to see if what we said is true! She is very good at doing that. We taught her about the Word of Wisdom, and she has drunk tea her whole life. At the end, we challenged her to follow the Word of Wisdom, and she told us that it sounded a little weird, and she loved her tea, but if we told her that God says it's bad, then she'll do it. I felt so awesome! She is so awesome! We'll see her progression especially this week, we're going to have her interviewed. 

We fell short of the standards this week, but we are going to get them this week. Sí o sí. Elder Blanco keeps talking about how he thinks he's leaving this cambio. I don't say anything. It's very possible that he goes, but also very possible that he stays! I would laugh a little if he does stay, but I think he'd be pretty salty. But oh well, that's another 3 weeks away! 

We have interviews with President this week. I'm pretty excited. I'm finally going to tell him that the apartment we live in sucks, and we're going to move! Haha we've needed to do that for a while. So we'll see what happens. 

Uhmmm.... I honestly don't know what else to write! So, yeah! Love you all! Congrats Caelan! Take care!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid