The Great Moose!

Hello Everyone!

How many people are getting married while I'm gone?!?! Many of my friends are already married and Alyssa Penney is talking about marriage with her boyfriend and Sister Jones is getting married and so are both Robin and April Tourtillott. ?!?!

Daniel Poulson is going on a mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for him. Let him know that I am proud of him and that he is doing what the Lord needs of him. So many things are happening while I am gone. 

Life is not going to be the same when I come home. I never thought about it really deep before now but it is really setting in that home is going to be REALLY different when I get home ~ in less than a year. It is exciting but then sad. You know me. 

Hey mom guess what!!!!!!!!!!? On Friday we are getting new tires. Now take a deep breath and relax. I have had a few awesome stories because we had bald tires. 

The temple was amazing. I love going. It is so peaceful. I was unable to go when I was in the MTC because it was being cleaned..... :( So this week so far has been very exciting and busy.  Sunday the whole stake presidency came to our ward and I knew something was up. Turns out something was up! It was announced that our ward is being split. It was approved from the First Presidency. SO I am now covering the Sunset Ward and the West Terrace Ward. Every Sunday since I have been here ~ which is almost 3 months ~ there have been about 300 members present. So they split it. President Dymock told us on the phone when we gave him the news, "Congratulations you are now over two wards." So we have a lot of work to do. We need to update the area and color code everything. we need to make another area book and we have a lot more paperwork to do and more meetings to attend. But I am so PUMPED! I love being busy. 

Ana, one of our investigators, is doing really well. She is plowing through the New Testament. She is almost done in 1 Corinthians and it has only been three weeks!!!!!!!!! That is super crazy. She always gives us jewelry. I have two rings now that are beautiful. I love them. She loves us coming over and helping her understand the scriptures. When we told her that Jesus created the earth she asked how we know it was Jesus when it only says God in Genesis. (Remember she is deeply rooted in the Old Testament). I then pointed her to John chapter 1 and after reading about 15 verses she said okay. She accepted it right away. It was awesome! 

WE also got popcorn from a member on Tuesday since it was national popcorn day and she loves having a party anytime she can. 

The missionary worldwide broadcast was awesome!!!!!!! Every missionary in the world at the same time was watching this broadcast. We all sang "Hark All Ye Nations." The spirit was so strong!

We also saw a moose on Thursday before zone conference! I took pictures!
I was so happy to see a moose. The great moose!

Zone Conference was amazing!!  I was on a spiritual high. During the last two hours we had the ward council members come from every ward in the stake. We were trained on how to work better with the members. But now our ward was just split so we are going to have new leaders who weren't able to come. That will be fun. 

Spokane West Zone

I apologize that this email is all over the place but my mind since day one has been all over the place. 

Last week we received 3 new investigators and two of them are a couple. They were handed off to us by the Marshallesse Elders because the guy is Marshallesse but he knows English pretty well. They are almost on date for baptism and we love them all ready. 

This week we will have about 2 to 3 new investigators. This is area is on FIRE and I don't want to be transferred. But the Lord knows best. 

Guess how many times I have eaten lasagna on my mission.... You will never guess correctly so I might as well tell you. I have only eaten it twice and the second time was on Sunday. They asked us what we don't get and what we want and Sister Blackwell and I wanted lasagna. I never thought I would be asking for lasagna on my mission. 

Yesterday we had another lesson with Ana and we were talking about nuns and then about their hats which are called "habits" and Ron, her roommate, asked why they're called habits and Ana replied with a smirk on her face, "I guess Nuns just have to dress up like Muslims. They have to get in the habit!" It was hilarious. It might not seem so to you ~ but you would have to know Ana. 

Well life is good.  I love being a missionary. I love my mission. I love the people. I love seeing people be happy. I love seeing the Atonement play a part in someone's life. I love seeing people come unto Christ. I love my Heavenly Father and Savior. I know They live and I know that They love me. This church is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet. The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. Everyone should prayerfully read it and ask God of it is true and He will let you know that it is true!!!  I know it is and so does God. I am who I am because I am a member of The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know it. I live it. I love it. 

Toodaloo!

Sister Schmidt

P.S. By next week we should hopefully have 7 investigators!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! :-)