Happy Easter!

Hello to Everyone!

Things are going well here. We have three "On" dates for baptism! One is Korielle  ~ who is getting baptized on the 2nd of April. The other two are Cory (fiance of Korielle) and Brandi Simmons ~ who are both scheduled for the 30th of April. So a lot has happened this week! 

So bear with me for this email. I already know you will because you want to hear from me. :-) 

On Monday we played marshmallow dodge ball and I totally owned it! I snatched a marshmallow in the air with my left hand and I wasn't planning on trying to catch it but my arm thought other wise. Everyone was amazed but they said why are we even surprised anymore. I love surprising people!! 

So do you remember Ana Watson? She is a lady who we thought was not a member but who turns out to be. She read the New Testament in 4 weeks and she is now reading in Alma in the Book of Mormon AND she is reading the Old Testament for like the 10th time. She is amazing! She has had the hardest life ever. She has gone through things that I would never wish on my greatest enemy. Yet, she is the sweetest person I have ever met. She has no mean bone in her body. I have been blessed to have been a missionary who has had the opportunity to have taught her. She has taught me more than I have taught her it seems like but she would tell you other wise. Every visit she has jewelry to give us. ~ I have a mound of jewelry from her! I love it! ~

On Tuesday we met at the church building and she talked with the Bishop (and she didn't care if we were in the office when she was going to talk to him) about something specifically. It was a very spiritual moment.  I don't want be in that situation again ~ but it was eye opening to see the affect the Atonement has on people. It is said that one of the greatest blessings missionaries have is to see the affect the Atonement has on people. That statement is so true. After this meeting, she kept crying because the burden she has been carrying aaround with her for about 12 years was lifted and the flood gates were opened. Of course, the tissue box runs out in the climax of her tears so we got toilet paper. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Only on Tuesdays! (This happened on Tuesday). 

We had a lesson with Brandi Simmons on Wednesday and we brought Sister Robins who has been coming to Brandi's lessons. We taught her about eternal marriage and she wants to be sealed in the temple!!!!!!! I was so happy to see that she wants that for her family! For dinner on Wednesday night we had HOBO DINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so ecstatic to have those! I have been thinking of camping my whole mission! The Lord loves me! :-) Also on Wednesday we had exchanges and my companion was Sister Kulcsar who is from Hungary and she is going home next week. The mission life goes by so fast! We had a good time. She is an amazing missionary and it was a neat experience to learn from her even if it was only 24 hours. 

On Thursday we had a green cake since it was St. Patrick's Day. YAY cake! :-) 

On Saturday we saw Brandi again and we talked about following the prophet and she is excited to watch general conference. She is leaving tomorrow and she is going to be gone for 3 weeks. :-( Because she was leaving ~ we talked to her about how people make up lies and rumors about the church just like in Christ's time. She doesn't understand why people would do that and she says that when she hears something she will contact us and pray about it.  I love her! I am going to miss her because I feel that I am leaving this area. 

Oh transfer calls are on Easter Sunday.  

We then saw Cory and Korielle on Saturday and we taught them about obeying the law and serving others. Their life is really stressful right now with everything that is going on. We also gave them a Book of Mormon stories book and they were excited because they can read that with their kids and so they themselves can understand what is going on. It was a spiritually high lesson. 

I love Sister Sherwood. She and I get along so well. But I feel that I am leaving. :-(  I don't like it! 

Sunday, Cory and Korielle and their little ones came to church and they talked to Bishop Bates after sacrament meeting to talk about the final details for the wedding. I love their family. They want to do what is right. I have been blessed to teach them and to see them align their lives with God. I love it. I am so blessed! I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then we taught Gospel Principles and we were teaching a potential investigator. She is dating a less active member and his family are active members and she comes with them. The first Sunday her boyfriend invited her to come to church, and yesterday she asked if his family, the Barr's, would pick her up and take her to church with them! The Lord is preparing His people! Her name is Aubrey and she is 18 and she lives on base with her brother. Then we also went to West Terrace's wards sacrament meeting and Brandi came with her five year old boy, Jayden. (He has a crush on me according to what he has told Brandi.) He is adorable. She stayed for all three hours and she loved it and Jayden loved his class as well. She went to Gospel Doctrine with her friend who is a member. For dinner we had salmon and deer meat at the Barr's and we talked to Aubrey. She is so sweet. 

After dinner with the Barr's, we went to another dinner appointment and it was with the Robins and they invited Brandi and her family over for dinner. We shared with them the new Easter video. (#HALLELUJAH) It was powerful. Member missionaries are amazing! I am going to be so much better when I get home. Then we had an appointment with Cory and Korielle and President Clark came because he was going to have to interview Korielle.  She wanted to meet him before the interview because she is shy. (President Clark is a counselor in the mission presidency.) We talked about the priesthood and temples and family history. They want to be married in the temple! They also read 32 pages in the Book of Mormon stories! We just gave it to them two days ago! We put Cory on date for the 30th of April. I was there during the baptismal interview. We had it done after the lesson. She was crying when she was feeling God's love. I love this area! 

Well I have to go! Love to you all! Toodaloo :-)

Sister Schmidt