Week 70

Hola mamá!

Well, this week was intersting. Very, very slow. But pretty good, I guess. That's awesome that you got to talk in sacrament meeting! Haha, I'm sorry I missed it. And it means that I won't be able to see you talking again for a long time. Oh well! And I'm sorry for Shawna and her family. I'll be praying for them, definitely. Her and her family. It's so sad that it happened while they were so young. But I'm always grateful for the plan of salvation in moments like these. We had a very good lesson on the plan of salvation with some less actives yesterday who were in a lot of pain over the deaths of their family members. But we know as long as we do our part, we can not only see them again, but live with them forever with God in happiness... I haven't felt the pain of a death in the family yet, but I am glad that the mission is preparing me for that well. 

This week, as I said, was very slow. But it started out interesting. We were shopping on Monday, and I was thinking about maybe buying a new pan for our kitchen, because our old one was absolutely disgusting. And as I was thinking that, all of the gross crap about my apartment came to mind, and I snapped! I bought a ton of cleaning supplies, wasting the rest of my money for the month, and decided to change our apartment! The whole rest of the day was straight cleaning. I scrubbed every inch of that place! The bathrooms were awful, so I went at them. The walls of the shower were covered in a layer of mold that I didn't even know about! I thought it was just the color of the tiles! But no! As I began to scrub the tiles, the mold came off a little, and I saw what color they were supposed to be, and then I went ham on it. And didn't stop there. I scrubbed every inch of the floors, the tub, the toilet, the ceiling, even the light-bulbs! Haha I cleaned it all! And it was like that with the rest of the house too! I then went to the kitchen and deep cleaned it in what I am sure is the first time it's ever been cleaned. It was absolutely disgusting, and I can't believe I was cooking in it. (I did end up buying the new pan. Best choice ever!) I scrubbed the oven, the stove, the fridge, the walls, the cupboards, the everything! And the end product even then wasn't perfect, because I couldn't get all of the stains out of the floor and cupboards. So it still doesn't look like the kitchen back home, but it is now safe to cook. I also took bug killer to every corner of the house, and found out how infested our house really was. There were so many bugs! (I counted how many massive spiders we had...... 84.......) But they are all dead now. I killed many with a flamethrower made of axe body spray and fire. Then I swept and mopped. Since I've been here, I've been the only one who has swept, and only some places while I tried to get everyone else to sweep too (they never did). I swept and mopped with a mop and bucket and cleaner that I bought. I am also sure that the place has never been mopped before, either. the end product was a completely different house! It was amazing! I felt so good! I kept reciting to myself the scripture in D&C, put your house in order. I definitely felt a ton more of the spirit after I was done in my house. It made me think real hard of how much it was always stressing me out to live in a filthy home like that, and how much time I wasted just taking it! So my comp kind of also got dragged in with me to clean, he didn't have a choice (though I did have to go over everything he cleaned again, because he didn't do it right) and we were there until the night when work time was over, and I was thinking maybe it wasn't the best thing that I could have been doing with my time... but at the end, I knew it was exactly what I needed to be doing! It was night and day difference! I also created a chore chart to keep the house looking that way. The others laughed and thought it was weird, said ''Ok, mom, whatever you say,'' but I am serious! It was absolutely disgusting how it was before! It was the first time I've seen our sink empty of dishes, even! That's just bad... we're going to keep it clean. I have to come up with a punishment for not doing there chores......

The rest of the week was normal. Slow. We worked one morning with the President's assistant, an old zone leader of mine, Elder Rupe. We were basically just being pulled along by a leash of some massive hyperactive dog who barks and runs at anything that moves. We contacted so many people! It was fun, but it wasn't my style of teaching, and I'm not sure how much I liked it. But that's the thing about missionary work, you have to forget everything you think the work should be like. That is absolutely outside your control. You can only do what your leaders tell you to do, and how they tell you to do it, even if you don't like it... that's the hardest part of missionary work. Ditching all of your opinions, because they really don't matter. It's you versus the guys who gets revelation from God about the subject, so... we will be trying to do the work now more like Elder Rupe, crazy contacting to everyone we see, not just everyone we pass by, 5 minute lessons, 10 maximum. A ton of walking and a ton of talking. Should be intersting, no?

We found a Haitian man! Finally! His name is Jonas! He's super awesome. We actually found him last pday, but couldn't teach him because he works a ton. But he told us he was going to come to church Sunday, and he came! What?! Haha it was great! We got him to stay for Principios del evangelio, and ended up teaching him in french, with a little help of somebodies smart phone and google translate... I think he got the message. He said he would pray and read. He at least can read and understand spanish, so we gave him a book in spanish, and he said he wants to get baptized! So we'll see how he progresses. 

We played Cover Your Assets today with the zone leaders. One of them, a peruvian, Elder Donayre, crushed us all! It was embarrasing! But still super fun. Elder Bravo fell one day while walking. Haha he tried to hop over a small wall guarding a sidewalk, and he tripped and ended with his feet in the air! I helped him up and everything, and made sure he wasn't hurt.... then couldn't stop laughing the rest of the day! Some kid was right there as well, and he laughed too. It was a spectacular fall. He almost completely flipped over! What can you expect. He's old. He's 26, can't do what he used to! ;) 

Anyways... that's pretty much it for this week. Not too much, like I said. Yeah, it's only 75 degrees, but it gets a bit worse when the sun will burn you completely after just a half hour, and you have to be outside the whole day in church clothes. Things seem a little hotter with that. You guys do have 115 degrees, but you also have AC. That don't exist here. And you guys aren't walking around in church clothes in the sun all day. SO yeah. It's a little hot here! ;) I hope y'all have a fantastic week! Good luck mom with the iodine thing! Don't drink too much Mtn Dew! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 69

Hola familia!

Jaja it's ok, mine will be shorter as well. I'm sorry to hear that dad's sick... and hocking lung cheese into a solo cup... mostly I'm sorry that now I have to imagine that. And I'm glad you saw Coco! It's a good movie! I'm curious to finally see it in English, because there are undoubtadly some parts that are in spanish, and I want to see if I can understand them clearly. But it has a real good message, and I like the music. Even if it is all in spanish. 

So this week was pretty... slow. We didn't get too many people taught. It's the last two weeks of summer vacation, and so many people are going out of town. It's not an excuse... but, yeah, it is, haha! All of our progressing investigators have disappeared, and are not answering their phones! So frustrating! But that's ok, we are looking amongst the people who will never leave, so everyone we find right now will surely be good... maybe. It's also very hot... luckily, I walk around in an Indiana Jones hat (looking super sexy), and I'm avoiding skin cancer. I hate the hat. But it helps my skin. I also look like a Jehovah's witness while wearing it. Some people come up and start talking to us, thinking that we are JDubbs, and then they realize that we are not, and they freak out, but it's too late, because the contact was already started. We weren't able to set many baptismal dates this past week, and that will affect us... but that's ok! We will just keep moving forward and trusting in God! What more can one do?

We had an activity this week, a little rescate, in which the ward came together to pass out invitations to less actives to the stake conference. It was interesting, because the area seventy that was in town decided to come help us! And so we went, and helped, and Millaray came! The convert! She came and helped pass out invitations, and went with a comp and everything, and I thought, 'Dang, she gon' be a missionary!' It was great! And two investigators also showed up, one of which needs to be baptized already! Luciano, a joven who is friends with another joven in our barrio. He came to church as well! We gon baptise him. So it was good that the area seventy knows the missionaries here are doing work. BOOM BABY

We had stake conference this week. It was good! President Ferreira talked with his wife about pretty much the same thing as in the missionary conference, but also talked a lot about member missionaries, and the Book of Mormon. It was fantastic hearing their testimonies. The area seventy spoke, but we didn't hear it. We had to go set up an appointment with our investigator who was leaving, and it took a lot of time to plan it all out, becasue it's gonna be a family home evening with a member family. There was also a choir in the conference, which was good! They actually sang in parts! It was fantastic! But all in all, it was a good conference

Well... that's pretty much it! We played soccer with Pres today. He always gets really heated up while we play. I did notice that I am getting a lot better at soccer! I can juggle the ball around, not perfectly, and not exactly like the latinos, but I can move it! And I juked out a ton of gringos! I felt good. But my team was winning by a lot, and Pres was on the other team, and he doesn't like it when people don't play good on his team, and he gets mad! It's hilarious! He makes a mistake, and then he starts chewing out people! But not really angry, just exasperated (is that a word?) and everyone laughs, and he laughs, and we keep playing. We had fun! But yeah. That's it haha! Hope y'all have a fantastic week! Yeah, the transfer ends the 8th of October. I will come home the 10th, or one transfer later in November or something, but I'm pretty sure the 10th. 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 68

Hola familia!!

Hahaha, mom, I saw the first sentance, ''This might be one of my shortest letters because there is not a whole lot to say...'' that was so wrong! Haha it was one of the largest! But it just made me laugh. This letter from me might be pretty short... I don't know. As always, sounds like you are having a ton of fun there in the states! I'm glad to hear it! Trying not to be jealous! ;) The love language test... yeah I guess I can try.  Things here are doing alright! Moving forward.

So this week was really, really slow in terms of work. We had a ton to plan and a ton to do. One part is that we had interviews and conference with Pres... again. Two weeks after the last one. It's because the EFY was held here, and he was here talking for it, and he decided to just have the conference while he was here. Oh well! But it was good! The interview was short but sweet. Normal stuff. But then, afterward, we had a service with Millaray and Camilo at their house, and the Pres's assistant came with us to do their baptismal interviews. And they passed! WOOT WOOT! So we began planning their baptism and everything. I wanted this baptism to be super awesome, because it was also the birthday of Camilo. He was turning 14 on Saturday! So we planned it all super well, and his family was even coming in from Vallenar, which is a couple hours away. All of their family are members, except the two of them, because their mom went inactive. But when they heard that she had come back to church, and that the kids were getting baptized, they were so happy! They all came. Friday, a member called us, and was telling us that we needed to postpone, because everyone was going to be tired, or busy, or whatever, especially with the PFJ (EFY) ending, but we felt that we should move on through, and it turned out great! Saturday, Camilo and Millaray got baptized! It was an excellent service! Their grandma gave a short message and testimony that was very special, and left her and the kids crying, and everyone feeling the spirit! Sunday they were confimred by their uncle! I'm so happy for them both! They are both very smart, and super great people, and I know they are going to go far! Now we are going to jump on the ward and make them do their part to keep them there!

The rest of the week was very slow. As I said, we had the conference as well. It is now one of my favorite conferences. We talked about charity. He had us memorize some scriptures, all of them doing with charity. My favorite was Moroni 7:44-48 

( 44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— 

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.)

I was repeating it to myself a lot over the week. We learned a lot in the conference about Charity, and the roll it plays in the missionary work. We can all always use more charity in our lives. Without it, we are nothing! How interesting...how we can have a perfect faith, and a perfect hope, believing completely and doing everything we need to, but if we don't have charity, it has no value for us. We are nothing. That's some intense scripture! It made me think a ton of my experience with charity here. I remember arriving, just before Christmas, thinking how great it would be to spend my favorite holiday here, and all of the sudden I'm in the desert dying, sorrounded by strange people with a really weird language, and I was super frustrated! And I stayed that way for a long time! I was always frustrated with everything the Chileans were doing, and it was very bad for me. But, as I began to look at the people and how God looks at them, with the love He has, having more charity, it all began to change! It is still hard, and the people are still the same, but now I am here with a love to help them! I loved talking about charity in this conference!

The rest of the week was just walking around trying to fit in some lessons through the chaos. It ended with Sunday having no investigators coming to church but an eternal investigator, who doesn't want to quit drinking, so can't get baptized. Oh well. I am super happy! We baptized! But not just to baptize and compete with some goal, but because these two children of God were ready to take the next step in their eternal progression! So that's my week, hope y'all have a good one!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 67

Hola papá,

I always imagine your's and mom's emails like Nephi's plates. Mom gives me a basic run down, not too much detail, but you have the more detailed one. Basically you tell me almost every detail that doesn't matter. But I actually love it. It gives me a clear picture in my head haha of what y'all are doing. 

Didn't get an email from mom, so I take it this is the weekly fam email! I never really followed football, but congrats eagles, I guess! And the Super Blue Blood Moon... that sounds intense! I was very definitely... doing something at that time, but not watching that! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait another 152 years. No bigee.

This week was pretty normal. We are getting into the new swing of this new cambio. I can tell it will be a good cambio! For one thing, we are accelerating well with some of our investigators! Those people who showed up to church last week came again this week! And we met the family. Millaray and Camilo are siblings, jóvenes, with 16 and 13 repectively. We went to their house to teach them and met their mom, who is a member! She hasn't been to church in 11 years. But she still believes everything the church says! She's only forgotten a little. But we were teaching them a lot this week with various members. They are a really good family! Camilo wants to get baptized, and we are preparing for the 10th, which, coincidentally, is his birthday! Haha! It's like a little gift from God! ''Here, I got you a full forgiveness of every single sin you've ever commited in your whole life, and a future with me in my kingdom with your family forever... hope you like it!'' Should be awesome. We were also teaching a lot to Javiera, another jovencita. She is also progressing well, and lives currently with the stake president... so she comes to church. But she lives actually in Antofagasta, and it seems like she is going back this week. What luck, huh? But, I'm sure once there, she will get baptized! WOOT! 

We had a lot of activities in the ward this week. On Wednesday, we went and helped with the mutual, which was a shared mutual. We went because if we didn't, Camilo and Millaray wouldn't. So we went, and introduced them to the leaders and the jóvenes there, and basically tried to avoid them so she can become better friends with them instead of us! And it worked! Now all the members in those groups have an interest in them and their progression. It's awesome! Now we just need to have that with all our investigators! The activity was basically just to get to know everyone better, and we all presented ourselves in a group. Then they watched Jumanji, the new one with Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black. It was cool. We tried to avoid the movie... most of the time! We also had a Ward Night in church on Thursday. We invited all of our investigators! It was to be at 8:00! At 8.00, we and all of our investigators were there! 8:15, the person in charge shows up, and then people slowly start trickling in, and at 9, we decide to start. 9:15, everyone starts showing up! WHAT?! I still don't understand... that is literally everywhere, here! Until even our zone leaders have the punctuality of a hungover man in the morning! I don't know... it's frustrating. but it was a good activity. Then on Saturday, the primary had an activity, and they watched Coco. Oh man... that's a good movie. I don't know if it's just because I'm so movie deprived, but I loved Coco!! I loved it! Then we, the missionaries, talked a little about families, and how God's plan is to make them eternal. I loved the activity, honestly. It was awesome. Bravo to the primary! 

In church we had six investigators come! It was awesome! Javiera, Millaray, Camilo, Yvania, Daniel, and Maria! It was really relieving, especially becasue this Sunday was so great! Here in Copiapo this week, they are hosting the PFJ, which is the EFY here in Chile. It's going on all this week. And Sunday, all the counselors decided to come to our ward. It was basically just a bunch of YSA sisters, and they all bore their testimony, and it was excellent! And the spirit was felt. And our investigators were there feeling it too! Which is awesome. We gon' baptize them! WOOT.

But that's pretty much it... don't know what more to say haha. But thanks for the email! Hope you all have a great week! I bear (bare?) testimony that this is the church of Christ here on the earth, the only church with the power and authority from God to create eternal families. I know this because God has told it to me. He has also given to me to know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and restored the church! This week I saw more of that, especially focusing on families. I know that I can be with my family forever. As I was focusing on that this week, I realized that's one of the biggest reasons I'm here. The families here do not have that same happiness I do, because they do not know what I know! And how shall they know? I will tell them! That is my mission! And I am so grateful to be able to do that! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid