Address Update

When the mission office sent us the information for Monica's address, when she got to the mission home and sent to her area, they forwarded on the wrong address. 

Here is the correct address:

1319 Grelle Avenue

Lewiston, ID 83501

As Monica gets transferred from area to area throughout her mission, I'll update the post titled Monica's Addresses

with the new address. 

and include the new address in the next post as well.

Catch-Up From Mo!

Clips from Monica's Emails from the last three weeks! 

7-9-2015

Monica's stay in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) was quick and exciting.  She was there from July 1st - July 13th. Her companion was Sister Blackwell from Indiana. They had an awesome experience teaching a gentleman by the name of Dominic Cavaliere who lives in Provo Canyon, UT.  He is 72 years old and a member of the catholic church.  He has a step-daughter who is LDS and his grandson is currently serving a mission in Florida.  They taught Dominic about the restoration of Christ's church and also about faith in God and prayer.  They were able to teach him 4 times while in the MTC.  During one of the lessons Monica and her companion felt prompted to sing "Joseph's First Prayer" to him which was quite a stretch for Monica.  She loves to sing ~ but not like that.  She loved the Spirit that was in the MTC.

July 20, 2015

Monica said that Spokane is beautiful!  She was in a group of 29 missionaries entering the mission together.  They left the airport and went to downtown Spokane to do some street contacting.  Which she said was "terrifying" but after a bit was okay.  She said they gave away a lot of pass along cards.  They then had some lunch and training at the stake center near the mission home.  Dinner for the 29 missionaries was at the mission home where they had a family home evening by sharing their testimonies with one another.  In the morning they had breakfast and off to the church for some more training.  They were then told who their companions were and where they would be serving.  Monica's companion is Sister Windsor ~ she is from Saratoga Springs, UT and is from a family of 6 children.  They are serving in the Lewis-Clark Young Single Adult branch.  

July 27, 2015

Monica is excited to be in Lewiston, ID.  She said it is a very poor area with lots of homeless people ~ which makes her appreciate home that much more. They are working with mostly people who are not coming to church much.  She and her companion get to drive a car as they cover quite an area.  Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA mostly.  Also Grangeville, Orifino, Winchester and Kamiah.  On Saturday, July 25th, they were able to serve food at a church Pioneer Celebration for all the wards there.  She said it was very windy and the skirt she wore "DID NOT" mix well with the wind!  They had the opportunity to teach a young girl named Lydia this week who is struggling with faith and the afterlife.  She feels there is no reason to live the standards of the gospel if she isn't sure she will even live with her family in the next life.  Monica said she and Sister Windsor did their best to help her see the importance of striving to live with our Heavenly Father again as an example to her family.  They hope to have the chance to talk to her some more in the coming weeks.  She is a bit discouraged as many of their contacts have cancelled on them this week.

She says hello to all and is always excited to hear from any of you!!  Emails and mail are always welcome!

Mission Arrival!

Monica has arrived in Washington! And she has been assigned to her first area. Her companion is a Sister Windsor and they are serving in the Lewiston Idaho area. Her mission president also included her updated direct mailing address:

Sister Monica Schmidt

1319 Grelle Avenue
 Lewiston, ID 83501

And two pictures of our missionary!

First Week in the MTC

Hey Everyone,

I have been at the MTC for about 5 days it has been good so far. Everyone here has been telling me that if you can make to Sunday you can make it. Well I made it passed Sunday! The environment here is awesome. The spirit is so strong! But I can't wait to leave and go to Spokane. But patience is a virtue. I love my district and my companion. Her name is Sister Blackwell and she is from Jeffersonville, Indiana. There are 6 elders and us two sisters. We are already a small happy family. The elders make me laugh so much and they discovered that I laugh a lot! Four of the elders are going to Guam for their mission and the other two are going to Seattle. Elder Rupp is from Granite Bay, CA which we thought was pretty cool. Before I arrived at the MTC I was extremely nervous but now that I am here I am not.  I miss home but not as much as I thought I would. Because I am running out of time to write I want to share this story. 

A sister in my dorm room received tragic news a couple days ago in the middle of the night. She found out that her dad had passed away that day from a heart attack at work. Everyone in our room was devastated and to bring comfort we sang "I am a Child of God" and we knew everything would be alright. Before this I already had a testimony of the plan of salvation and that families can be together forever. But after this I am even more determined to share this with others. I know that the sister will see her dad after this life. He is not gone or lost. He is just not physically here. I am grateful for this gospel and the joy that it brings to me. I wouldn't be dedicating 18 months of my life if it didn't. Just like my cousin, Luke, said "I can do hard things." I can do hard things and something that has always stuck with me from one of the blessings my dad gave me was "I can do anything that I set my mind to." At this moment in my life I have set my mind on my mission. I am a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I can't wait to share this wonderful message of the gospel with others in Spokane, Washington. 

Sister Schmidt

~Some other highlights from this week:

She has seen Jake, Kelsey Perez and Brandon Jeppson from Loomis 2nd ward which was nice for her!

One of the elder's in her district is an Elder Golightly and he is the nephew to Dad's (Steve) mission companion. Such a small world sometimes. 

She loves her district and says they are already like a small family.  They get along well which she says is a blessing because a lot of districts have drama and contention.

Monica's Addresses

Monica entered the MTC on Wednesday July 1, 2015! We are all so excited for her! Check back often for updates on Monica and her mission! 

Sister Monica Schmidt

2808 S. Assembly Rd. #82  

Spokane, WA 99224

Sister Monica Schmidt

Washington Spokane Mission

820 S Pines Rd Ste 101

Spokane Valley, WA 99206-5595

monica.schmidt@myldsmail.net

I'm sure she'd love to be spoiled with mail and emails.