Week 100

Hola!

ohhhhhh boy, we're getting pretty close, aren't we?! Not too much time left for me out here. My last week was pretty normal, except for the weekend, which was awesome and filled with spiritual experiences. Sounded like yours too was pretty great! Nico got his eagle project done! Nice!! Why has Aiden not done it yet? And Darian had a solo?! And I missed it?! Gaaaahghghhaghahgh that's so cool! And lame... cause I missed it! But I'm proud of her, based on how good you tell me she did! 

Anyways, this week was fun. Independence day came and went... it was pretty uneventful. We had a very good lunch with our mamíta, she made us asado. It was pretty delicious, ribs steak and chicken! We had a ton of Mote con Huesillo as well, and I think I've kinda gotten used to it! It was pretty good. In the day and night, we had planned a little family home afternoon with La Familia Vilca, and that ended up going on the whole day... but we kinda let it go on the whole day, because nobody else would let us in their house. So it was a good day, we had some more Mote con Huesillo in their house, and it was delicious. In the family home evening, they invited friends and another family from the ward, and every singly one of them was peruvian! I was the only one their who wasn't peruvian! Out of 18 people... so it was fun, we didn't really celebrate the independence day too much because... none of us were Chilean. In Chile they don't celebrate it as much as we do back home. Or at least, not in Antofagasta. Just a ton of asados, family time. It's chill. 

The next big thing to happen was Saturday. It was a big day of course because Elder D Todd Christofferson came to Antofagasta Chile and had a special conference with all the missionaries of the mission. For the first time since I've been here, the entire mission came together, all 200 missionaries and senior couples! It was so amazing! The rules were strict, and the office was super stressed out, but I enjoyed it a ton. We weren't allowed to take too much time to visit with all the missionaries, but.... I went an hour early and did that. It was so awesome to see everyone there! I had 7 companions there! Elder Blanco, Aparicio, Bravo, Carrasco, Flores, Vicente, and Gonzales! So I got a picture of me with all of them, of course. 

The conference itself was absolutely amazing. We were all outside waiting in formation when Elder Christofferson showed up. He came with his wife, and with Elder Bragg and Sister Bragg. We took a picture with him as a mission, then we all shook his hand and the conference started. Everyone else had a short time to talk and give their testimony until we got to Elder Christofferson. All the testimonies were super great, and very powerful. The spirit was just thick in the room, everyone could feel it. Christofferson ended  up speaking on several topics. (GAGAGHHGHAGGAHGAGHAGHGHAHGAG crap, my computer just erased everything I wrote after this point, and I have to redo it... freaking internet) Anyways, He spoke on the name of church, and pointed out the different parts of it and explained it. For example, he picked out ''Saints'' and shared many scriptures on what it means to be saints. It was very interesting. He also shared a lot on his calling and how it relates to our calling, and he talked about how we can do the work with the Book of Mormon. At the end, he opened it up to a big questions and answers session. It was at this point that I felt the spirit most, and gained my testimony of his apostleship. I realized, he's just a man! He's like any one of us! The only difference is, God speaks through him. There were some questions that were very difficult, that I was thinking to myself, dang I would have no idea how to asnwer that. Then I look at him, and realize he's thinking the same thing! Then, it was interesting to see, he put his trust in God. He paused for a few moments, and let the revelation come. I saw how God spoke through him. That's what makes his callimng so special. It's not that he himself has all the asnwers, but he's connected to the one who does, and has learned how to trust in that person. I have a testimony that God has called prophets today, and speaks through them. Elder Christofferson is one of them. 

We've been moving forward with Luz and Danny, and I honestly feel like they are on the verge of being baptized. They are so close! I feel like one more little bit and they'll be in the water. They come to everything, including a fireside chat that Christofferson had with the jovenes adultos solteros on Saturday after the missionaries. They are already members, they just need baptism. Victor and Elsa and co. are kinda falling off, though they did come to the same fireside. They did not come to church, however, and work now is taking over their lives, and we aren't able to teach them. 

All the questions that you asked feel more like a last email kind of topic, so I'll address them next week! ;) Until then

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 99

This week has been pretty good! Nothing too big went on. Well, actually yeah a few things happened! It was a good week! We kicked it off with a zone conference with President Ferreira. My last zone conference, actually. I was actually late to it, as well. Hermana Ferreira had me wandering around the city a bit haha. I was supposed to take a blood test to make sure that the tb was negative. I lived at least an hour away by bus from the clinic. It would be difficult enough getting there, but the people who were already there did not know how to get me there. I asked the bus to let me off close to the building because he said he knew it. He let me off 2 miles away. -_- So I was on the phone with Hermana Ferreira and the missionaries who were there, and none of them knew where I was, nor how to get me to where I needed to go. So that was a fun hour. At the end, I found it, and got my blood drawn. The conference was a very good conference, though I felt like I've had it before. It started out with how we can work with members, and ended talking about working with less active members. It was a very good conference, I enjoyed it. And we had pizza for lunch! Which was so great, because President had stopped buying pizza for lunch a while ago. So this was a nice surprise. I saw several friends there, Elder Vicente, Elder Smith, Elder Cook. It was a good time. 

We are getting very close to the celebration of Chile's independence, the 18 de Septiembre. Everyone is decorating (because it's the law and they have to) but I love it! The ward had an activity on Saturday, in the morning. They gathered everyone and basically had a big barbecue. There were games, food, and La Cueca. La Cueca is the national dance of Chile. I don't remember if I did anything for the 18th last year, but this year I went all out. I played soccer with the ward, I helped cook, and sang karaoke with them, and... I danced the cueca! Jajajaja it was so fun! I and two other elders danced. It was fun to learn it and try it out. It was definitely something new and different, but I got good at it! ;) Someone took a video, but it was of my first try, so it was kinda... awkward. But it was so fun! I'm hoping the 18th we can actually get in to some asados or something, enjoy the day. 

So, I don't know if you remember, but in Caliche I talked about two dogs who would follow me everywhere and use us as shields from other dogs. Well, they've migrated. Now they follow Centenario. I'm stuck with them again. However, if I plan right, and do some running strategic, I can dodge them and they go with the other companionship. So I was trying to do that on Friday, aaaaaaaaaand as I was running I was attacked by a dog jaja! Rule 1 in the North of Chile: Don't Run!!! The dogs will chase and attack you. Luckily he only scratched me, but now there's holes in the shape of a dog's mouth in my favorite pants. -_-

We are getting further along with Victor and Elsa and Emily y Mary. We were with them almost every day of the week! They are progressing well, and are reading from the Book of Mormon. Victor is progressing the best. He reads daily, and is understanding everything! We ask him what he remembers, and he gives us the detailed story as if he were reading it to us! I'm stoked for him, buuuuuttt... they didn't come to church on Sunday! AAAAagagghghghg I was so frustrated. We still don't know why, but today we're heading over to see what's up. I want them to keep progressing. Victor has been searching since 11 for the true church, and he says that with us he feels something that he's never felt in any other church! Dude!!! That's the spirit! I want him to recognize that. Once he does, he will commit to baptism. With Elder Gonzales we're doing ok. Just... chugging along haha! I'm so grateful that in my last cambio I was placed with somebody who likes to work!

And that's my week! I hope yours was fantastic! And... 3 weeks left! ;)

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 98

Hey!

Is it not weird to think that I'll be doing this only a few more times? I think that's kinda weird... so many good things are going on back home! I'm stoked that Ashlyn gave such a good talk! She's gonna have to give it again to me when I get back! ;) And Bronson, that kids a crack. Jajaja that story made me laugh pretty hard! I can imagine his face as he told Dad to clean up the jenga! At first I was bummed that I won't be coming back to my double bed, but you're so right... it's better than the cot that Christiaan slept on! 

So this week has been pretty busy. Más que nada it's because we had so many activities in the ward. It was their ward conference yesterday, so Bishop wanted to do something special during the week. They had a night of ''Who knows the Book of Mormon best?'', and a pass the Book of Mormon to a friend challenge, and a movie night of The Testaments, but the big activity was on Saturday, when we had the open house. Instead of having the normal tour, bishop decided to have different ''theater interpretations" of the Book of Mormon. The young women did the tree of life, the elders did Captain Moroni, the primary did the visitation of Jesus Christ, and last but least, us the Elders (missionaries) did when Joseph saw Moroni in his room, when he received the plates, and the translation. Joseph Smith was played by yours truly. I think we did pretty well. We had to fit a ton of people in a tiny room, and so my space was limited, but I'm still one dang good smokin actor, so it was ok. All the preperation and whatnot took up a ton of our week, so we didn't really work in the mornings.

Ok, so about TB. Doc says my XRay looks good, no sign of TB. To be sure, tomorrow Hermana Ferreira has me and five others going in to get our blood tested. So... I'm so sorry, but official results will be coming next week. 

My investigators are coming along alright. Luz and Danny are progressing, but slowly. They did come to church again, and to the breakfast that the ward put on before church. They were with their parents from Peru for the whole week, so we couldn't visit too much with them, but they're still ok. There is another family who got here a few weeks ago from Bolivia, Victor, Elsa, Emilyn, and Mary. We have had some awesome citas with them, and they are progressing very well! They promised to come to church, and I was worried when sacrament was finished and they weren't there, but after the meeting, I walked out and they were standing right there! Jaja apparently they were walking around the city for a bit because they got lost and that's why they were late, but they stayed for the classes! They're so great!

Something a little funny happened yesterday during gospel principles. I was there with Victor, Elsa, Emilyn, Luz, Danny, and everyone else and we were talking about talents, and how we need to develop them. In this moment, we were talking about how some people have certain dificulties to overcome for their talents. The teacher asked if anyone knew about Beethoven's difficulty in developing his musical talents. I was the only one who rose their hand, so I was called on. Now, so you know, in spanish ''sordo'' means deaf, and ''surdo'' means left handed... I was explaining how Beethoven is a world famous classical composer who lived a couple hundred years ago. He was a musical genious and wrote music that lasts until today, but it was very difficult to do for him because he was ''left handed''. Jaja I was explaining that nobody thought he could write or play or anything due to the fact that he was 'left handed'! Everybody was super confused, and the teacher recovered from her laughter enough to correct me. It was kinda embarassing haha!

It's been confirmed that on September 22 we will have a conference with D Todd Christofferson! We are starting to prepare for that. I'm really excited because I'll finally meet an apostle! 

So that's my week! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid

Week 97

Mamá!

Wow, this letter was huge! I guess you felt like you had to make up for past weeks or something! ;) Anyways, it sounds, like always, that you guys had an amazing week. Some questions: Darian travels for work? What does she work in? What's she studying in MCC? If I share a room with Aiden, does that mean I don't get the double bed? 

Anyways, I'm sorry for writing a little late, I had a long day. I was finally sent today to the doctors to take the test for TB. And so I was basically in the urgent care and consultorios and everything until 5:00 pm, and just recently was able to get on the computer. They took an X-ray of my chest, and nothing else. The whole flipping day, and the only thing they did was take an X-ray. They didn't even look at it, I have to go back tomorrow so a doctor can actually analyze it. But oh well... we'll see what happens tomorrow. I guess you'll have to wait another week to know if I have TB or no! ;) 

Things are going excellent here in Centenario. I was a little worried at first, because I thought I was going to feel bored here on account of me having been here basically already. But I am doing well! Haha Elder Gonzales and I work well together. He is an interesting missionary. He is the epitome of what it means to be a missionary. Strictly obedient, never says anything bad about anything, talks in any conversation like he's giving a testimony, always talking about something about the work. Sometimes it frustrates me, but it's normally ok! He is from Perú. He was born in Piura but grew up in Lima. He's a good missionary, he'll help me with my goal of not dying before I leave. We teach well together.

We live in an interesting pensión. It's the upper two floors basically of a 3 floor house. It's very... spacios. I say that because the only part that is seperated is the bathroom. There aren't rooms, everything is just super open. I actually really like it, it makes it seem bigger, but also weird because we have no furniture. We sleep on the 3rd floor, and study there two. Elder Gonzales and I live with the two other elders in the other part of Centenario. The pensión is actually around 30 minutes walking from our sector, which I kind of like, honestly. There are a few interesting things about the pension that I think are funny... for example, my first night, while walking home, Elder Gonzales told me ''Oh that's right, I forgot to mention, we have a small cockroach problem.'' And I thought, ok, normal, just a few bugs crawling around. But then we get there, and I turn on the lights, and everything is covered in cockroaches. Dishes, fridge, counter, floor, everything. It was... kinda disgusting. As the light turned on, they all scurried around and found some hiding place. So that's awesome. Also, we have no hot water. Welcome to Antofagasta again! XD

We are working with several awesome people here. The first of which is a family, the Vilca family. They are Peruvian, and don't have too much time here in Chile, except for one who has several years here. Viviana, the one who's been here a while, is a member, and is recently reactivating. She lives with her two sisters, Rosa and Luz. Rosa is not a member, but her daughter just got baptized. Luz isn't a member either, but her daughter got baptized at the same time as Rosa's daughter. Luz also has a son who isn't member. Basically.... we're working with Luz and Danny, her son! :) They all are amazing people, and they love the missionaries! We had a family home evening the first night right after writing, and it went very well! They love listening, and Luz and Danny are sure they want to be baptized. The only problem is, they want to wait. They don't even know what they want to wait for, they just want to wait! So that's a little frustrating, but they still listen and come to church, and so I will still teach and testify. Luz came to church on Sunday, but Danny didn't, however they both have around 8 assistances to church. For now, they are the main people we are working with.

The ward is doing a ton of activities, and this week we will have one every day. I love it! This ward is just so established! This week, we will be giving a Book of Mormon to every family in the ward with the challenge that they give it to a friend. I'm curious to see how it goes. Of course we will have a little time with the members teaching them some ways of how to do it, and will be doing some practices so that they feel confident doing it. Also, we will be having an open house this week, but instead of a tour of the chapel, we are going to do some ''theatre interpretations'' of the restoration. Basically, every group in the ward is going to act out a certain part of the Book of Mormon or restoration. The missionaries, we are acting Joseph's meeting with Moroni and him receiving and translating the plates. So I'm excited for how this all turns out!

So, I think that answers all your questions! I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid