Halloween Week

Hi Everyone,

So I was unable to go to the temple this past Saturday because the temple didn't have us scheduled in and President Roberts never called to confirm.  The next temple day for the branch is in February. Hopefully President Dymock will allow me to go when they go next year. He wants us to see the fruits of our labors!! SO that was depressing. I was looking forward to seeing Brittany do baptisms for the dead :( 

SO I learned how to crochet, but only a straight line. I am not that good yet. But it was fun and Malissa Dawson, the girl who taught us how to crochet, said that she can make my scarf! YAY! So I have an adorable scarf and I am waiting to use it when it is cold. It is cool here but it feels good. I do miss sweatshirts and jeans though.

For FHE the activity was to figure out what movie or musical  the line or song is from.  I obviously killed it for movies but not musicals. I haven't watched many musicals before. I was surprised by how many people have in the branch and that they enjoy them. I don't know if I would enjoy them....

Then on Tuesday we taught Brie about the Plan of Salvation because she finally read from the Book of Mormon :-) It was good and we are a little nervous to see how she is when we share with her the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But such is life.

Oh before I move on I discovered, by asking questions to the right people, that Sister Dawson, Malissa's mom, was Sister Stahr's companion. Sister Stahr was her trainer. She told me that she loved Sister Stahr and that she remembered that she didn't like the humidity at all! haha!

Anyways, back to Tuesday. We had exchanges that day with the sisters in Orofino. So I went to Orofino with Sister Andruski who is new this transfer. Sister Rencher and Sister Lovell stayed in Lewiston. Orofino is very beautiful but I don't know if I could live out there. I like Loomis. It is not a busy area like Rocklin or Roseville but it is close enough so that driving there is not a hindrance. I got to drive a JEEP!!!!!!!!! It is a 2015 jeep. It was beautiful and it was so much fun to drive on those mountains. I met a lot of people and I let Sister Andruski talk a lot because Sister Rencher does all of the talking. The sisters live in a motel in Orofino which is owned by some members and it is really nice. They have queens sized beds! I was in heaven that night! :-) I had a prayer answered that night and it was so simple it was amazing. Like in the scriptures, " by small and simple things, are great things brought to pass." Then we exchanged back on Wednesday and once Sister Lovell and I were in Lewiston she realized that Sister Rencher had our phone in her bag. We had no way of calling anyone obviously so we went to a members home in the Lewiston 1st ward who we have dinner with every Friday. We hoped that someone was home so that they could call the Lewiston 1st Elders so the Elders could get ahold of the sisters in Orofino. Unfortunately, no one was home and we had an appointment in 10 minutes and we still had to drive there. I said a prayer in my head for us to find Elders on the side of the road. On the way to the church building, 5 minutes later, I saw the Lewiston 1st Elders on the side of the street and I pulled over and we jumped out of our car and we told them our predicament. They called the sisters and told them that they had our phone and they scheduled a time for us to get it back on Thursday. God answers all prayers! SO that was cool! Later in the day I realized that our miles have been shot. Sister Rencher got lost so much and Sister Lovell doesn't know the area, so on Wednesday they used up 125 of our miles! We usually only use 30 everyday. Then we had to drive all the way up close to Orofino to get our phone back and at the end of the day on Thursday we used up 90 miles. We only get 1200 miles a month. Also we are driving to the temple this Wednesday and that takes about 230 miles there and back, so that leaves us with 30 miles left for 5 days. We are going to be walking a lot this week.

Before I forget, when I was in Orofino I met the ward mission leader and it turns out to be a brother of Sister Johnson, Brother Van Johnson's wife...SMALL WORLD!!!!!!!!!! Then Sister Lovell and I were looking through her pictures on her Ipad and I recognized a young man in one of her pictures. I asked her what is his name and she said Cody and I said what is his last name and she responded, Elder Percival. He was an assistant to the President in the Roseville Mission. He was an Elder in the Rocklin YSA ward in the summer time when I was there. This is crazy! Scott should remember him. 

So back to Thursday! Sorry I go off on tangents. I just remember something and I type it out because if I don't I WILL forget. On Thursday we taught one of our investigators named Andrew Hazelbaker. We talked to him about recognizing the spirit and he read a little from the Book of Mormon as well. We have an appointment with him next week. So Lydia Bjornn is doing well!!! She comes to church when she doesn't work, but she is still developing her testimony again. Every lesson with her has been amazing. The spirit is always there and I have cried almost every time. She has also cried and she usually does not cry. I just have that affect on people.. haha!! It is going to be so hard to say goodbye to her and to no longer teach her :( But such is life. I will take a picture with her before I leave and I will send it to you. She is saying her prayers, reading her scriptures and she committed to prepare for temple marriage!! YAY! 

Then on Friday we had District meeting. I love my district. Sister Lovell and Elder Jingles have been out the longest, 13 months. The district leader has been out for almost 6 months, a transfer ahead of me, and then there is me, almost 4 months and then there is the other two who have been out almost 3 months. SO we have a young group which is cool.

One evening this week we were trying to find a former investigator and we see someone walk into the apartment that we were going to try. It turns out that it is not the former investigator. The young man's name is Ben and he was really nice. He is smart and thinks logically which could be a problem. We talked about the three kingdoms of glory and we was a little intrigued and he asked the question of why do I need to believe in God to go to Heaven. We talked about the Book of Mormon and we discovered that he has a Mormon friend who went on a mission and he has had gospel conversations with him before. He asked us if we had a Book of Mormon, and of course we did. We gave it to him and a Plan of Salvation pamphlet as well. He is not religious but has thought about God lately. He took our number and we hope he will call us. He said that he will look through the Book of Mormon. We are praying for Ben to be ready to receive the Gospel. It is hard to find young people who are ready to receive the gospel. I am happy that mom was ready and grown up at 18 unlike a lot of kids I meet.

Saturday was the hardest day so far. We had four appointments and they all canceled on us and we don't really have miles to drive anywhere, and then our phone was almost dead even though in the morning it was fully charged. Sister Lovell and I felt like unproductive missionaries all day. No one was home or answering out text messages and phone calls. I used to like Saturdays before my mission... not anymore :(

For Sunday we asked the Relief Society President if she could give us a ride to church since we have no miles and she was willing to do so. So we were at church and Lydia showed up but none of our investigators. Then one of the ladies, whose husband is in the Branch presidency invited us to come over for Thanksgiving dinner!! That is next transfer so I don't know if I will still be here... But that was so kind of her.

So yesterday we walked everywhere. We didn't drive our car at all. One thing that was successful was yesterday in the evening Sister Lovell and I both had the feeling that we should probably not walk up this path on a hill in the dark. She didn't say anything and I said it out loud and we decided to not continue on this path and we turned around and I said we should sing a song and she said that she thought the same thing and we started to sing the same song. That was a really cool experience to have. The spirit talks to us all the time!  The rest of the night we kept singing hymns and primary songs while we were walking. Sister Lovell later that night told me that she felt prompted to sing at certain points where we were walking and that it why we were singing. We kept singing because it helped us feel better and it was fun. There were people out and they heard us sing and hopefully they felt the spirit because one way I feel the spirit the strongest is through music.

That has been my week so far. I am astonished by how long this email is, but you all are probably happy that you have more to read. Something funny that happened is that we text Pypre, our investigator, at night to read the Book of Mormon, and last night I texted her "Your scriptures are calling your name!" Sister Lovell thought I was weird but I sent it anyway and Pypre responded "I hear them!" haha!! Tonight for FHE we are carving pumpkins and we have pumpkins to carve! I am excited. For Halloween we have been instructed to be in doors when it gets dark which is about 5:30 here, unless we have appointments. 

Love you all and miss you!!! toodaloo.

Sister Schmidt

Learning to crochet!

Apartment door in Orofino, Idaho

Turning Point

Hello Everyone!

Well I had your email done, but once I was about to click send ~ it was deleted! It was so long, so I am kind of mad right now and I am having to rush to finish this one. SO ~ I am doing better. This week was far better than last week.  My companion and I are doing better. We are getting to know each other and we are laughing together. Something clicked in my head yesterday during personal study and companionship study. I am going through hard times and I need to rely on my Heavenly Father more. Before my mission, I would turn to you mom, and dad, and Midget, and music, and movies, and to my friends for help and comfort. I didn't really turn to my Heavenly Father. But since I am away from home and since we are not allowed to listen to music unless it is sacrament appropriate, and we are not allowed to watch movies, and I can't hug you mom or dad or talk to you Midget I am having to turn to my Father in heaven. I am developing a stronger relationship with Him in ways that I couldn't have unless I go through what I am going through right now. We go through things to grow and to learn and to be better. I am doing just that. I am growing. I am grateful for my challenges that I have to face and go through in this life. It means that God is saying that I am ready to grow and to learn. It is a compliment from God having to go through difficult times because it means that He knows you can't get through it and that you have the strength to overcome it. It all depends on your attitude and I recently did a 180 degree turn on my attitude.

Well a lot of things happened last week. One is ~ one of our investigators dropped a bomb on us which entails her sexuality. We had no idea what to say to that and so we just invited her to read from the Book of Mormon and to pray and ask God if it is true because He will answer you.

We fixed the issue with the smell of Lewiston's paper pulp plant.  We bought a wax warmer and wax so that our apartment smells amazing, more like delicious. haha!!!! :-) I miss candles so I am glad that we can have a wax warmer.

Oh, I received permission from President Dymock to go to the temple this Saturday with the branch. I get to see Brittany Harrison do baptisms for the dead. President said that since I was not able to go to her baptism I get to see her do baptisms. He told us not to tell other missionaries because this doesn't usually happen. It is case by case he said. So that is extremely exciting. 

Also, we are carving pumpkins sometime next week for Halloween and I wish that I had Keith's magical abilities so that I could carve the Salt Lake temple or a wolf but my abilities are limited. :-( 

Sister Lovell and I are going to the temple the 28th to do an endowment session. I am super stoked to go the temple twice in the same transfer! That rarely happens to the point of it never really happening.

Something that is a blessing is that we are being fed 4 times this week. We are being fed today, tomorrow, Wednesday, and Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That NEVER happens here!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER! So I am excited about being fed real food.

None of our investigators are solid, which is very unfortunate. We are also struggling to find new investigators. No one is interested.  :-( 

I love all of you and miss you bunches!! toodaloo!!!

Sister Schmidt 

2nd Transfer

Hello Everyone,

The transition with my new companion is okay. I am having a hard time with the change but I am doing good. My companion and I get along okay. She doesn't like the area because it smells and there is no work here to do. She told me that when she got the transfer call she said, "that is the last place that I want to go on my mission." She misses her other two areas and she misses her other companions ~ so that doesn't help with our relationship as a companionship. It is just going to be a hard transfer, but I apparently have to learn something from this. I hope I can find out what it is soon!!!

I AM trying with my companion but nothing seems to work.  She has been out for 13 months. She is legally blind and wants to do everything for herself because she doesn't want to rely on anyone else for help so that is overwhelming to me because she won't let me serve her.  So I am out of ideas.  We don't really talk to each other.  It is just hard to be with a companion that you don't really get along with. We don't fight but we clash. It is hard to be happy and to smile and laugh.  Oh well, you can't get along with everyone in the world.

I am going to miss the Elders that just left too!  But there are now Sisters in their place.  They are sweeping an area called Orofino which I think is about an hour from here.  So exchanges are going to be fun! :-)

This week we have met with a lot of people. SO that has been good. Nothing really exciting happened this week to write about. We have an online referral which is exciting but that was three days ago and we have yet to have any contact with him. SO we hope we will be able to see him soon. When we were trying to find a less active member we found another person instead. We shared with her the Restoration and we gave her a Book of Mormon and a Restoration pamphlet. So I am hoping that goes somewhere. 

Well I love you all and hope you have a good week!  Toodaloo! 

Sister Schmidt

WE HAD SUSHI!!

From left to right: Elder Janis (he came out with me), Elder Stirling (one of my zone leaders now), Sister Winsor, and me.

3 Months Down!

Hello again everyone!

 

So transfer calls happened. I am.......................................................staying and Sister Winsor is leaving. My new companion is Sister Lovell. She came out with Sister Winsor and she has blind spots in her eyes. SO I will be the driver again! YAY! I am nervous to have a new companion because you know me ~ I don't like change at ALL! But I have to get over that because that is part of life. I am excited to stay and then not because the work is slow. We are trying to find people but no one is interested. It can be discouraging at times. I can't believe that I have been out for over 3 months now. Time flies by sooo fast. I have a feeling that I will be staying in Lewiston for another transfer after this one. So that means I could be here for 6 months! But who knows, this could be my last transfer here? 

We didn't meet with any of our investigators this week because they all canceled on us. Oh well, everyone has their agency ~ but some people misuse it! haha.

The temple was amazing. It is so small! I am used to the Sacramento Temple which is a medium size temple. On Thursday I went up to Pullman, Washington and Sister Rogers and I street contacted for 4 hours on the Washington State University Campus. We talked to 43 people! I swear that there is not 43 people in Lewiston. Well there is, but not on the streets. If we see someone in Lewiston we have to track them down because you most likely won't find someone else for awhile. SO I learned a lot about street contacting and talking to people. I definitely needed that for myself because I was struggling with talking to people. I have improved tremendously over the past 3 months.

I found something out on Friday that just made me die. So on Fridays Sister Winsor and I go to the Food Bank and fill food boxes for 2 hours. While we were there, a young woman said that her boyfriend and she have 2 RACOONS for pets! Who does that!?!? She even said that they are potty training them now. Apparently this only happens in Idaho. I thought that was hilarious.

I loved General Conference! It was so powerful. All the Elders in the valley and Sister Winsor and I went to the stake center and watched all four sessions. I took so many notes. I loved Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk and Elder David A. Bednar because their talks helped me better know how to respond to people when they say they don't believe in organized religion, and when they ask why the church is run by older men. I really loved Von G. Keetch's talk too because he talked about why we have commandments. They are there because He loves us and to protect us. The commandments of God are the only way back to our Heavenly Father. He has provided the way back to Him and to become like Him and all we have to do is follow them. Then I also liked Larry R. Lawrence's talk. The spirit helps us in this life. He helps us progress, but what I love is that He doesn't give us too much at one time. He knows what we need. I also liked Devin G. Durrant's talk about ponderizing. Even though that is not a word he said that it is a word to him. I love that idea! . 

We were fed dinner Sunday night by a wonderful family. Their son is in the singles ward and he came up to us and asked if we had dinner plans Sunday night and we immediately said, "NO!" The family also had the Lewiston 3rd ward Elders.  We had pork loin and salad and homemade rolls. Man, my mouth is salivating as I am typing this out. But it doesn't help the situation that I am hungry right now. Anyways it was delicious. But the point of me telling you this is I said something funny. So one of the elders accidently grabbed two rolls and I commented and said "Wow Elder Kosmiki, taking both of them?" and the son said "You have to go big or go home." Then I said, "Well he can't go home!" Everyone started to laugh. It was funny.

Well I am excited for this new transfer and nervous at the same time.

Love you all and miss you tons! toodaloo!

Sister Schmidt

Sushi Night

Monica eating legit sushi!  

(Not one of her favorite things!)