No photos this week, the internet location didn’t have a USB port.
From: Nicole
Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 05/18/2015 12:56 PM
Subject: 1 Year Ago and Humbling Experiences
Sent: 05/18/2015 12:56 PM
Subject: 1 Year Ago and Humbling Experiences
Hola
a todos!!
Happy
Birthday to my Nephew Preston!! I love you!
Ah.
This week was a HARD WORKING week! My companion and I decided last Monday that
this week we were going to give ALL of our energy to the Lord's work (we
normally try to do that, but sometimes we need breaks as missionaries!) But we
made a goal to just give it all to Him. 100%. Holding back nothing. Which
included as many contacts as possible, walking fast and teaching on the way to
appointments, and just talking and teaching with everyone! And it was really
hard! But really , really super rewarding. I decided that I would put all my
focus into my area, into my investigators, into my companionship, as to
celebrate my 1-year anniversary of receiving my call! And I am TIRED, but
HAPPY. They weren't lying when they said hard work makes a happy missionary! :)
I am just so so so so so grateful to be a missionary. It really is just the
best, most wonderful work in the world.
One
of our sweet contacts was a woman named Diely. She was brand new at her house
and moving in when we contacted her. She happily welcomed us in and we began
teaching her. We covered our purpose, and the basic beliefs of the church, and
then invited her to learn more and come to church. She started tearing up and
said ''Last night I was praying to God for strength with this change of house.
I left all of my friends, my work, and everything to move here and I was
scared. Last night I prayed for a sign that he was looking out for me and that
everything would be okay. And you sisters are my very first visitors here in my
house. You are my sign from God!'' That was SO cool! We will keep visiting her
and praying for her and her progress in the gospel! Woohoo! :)
Another
sweet contact was Noe. Noe is the boyfriend of a less-active in our ward. We
contacted him at her house and he seemed half interested. But as soon as we
started talking about the love of our Heavenly Father he started tearing up and
told us a story from his life about losing his father, and later his nephew,
and how he was really down and depressed when he felt a warm feeling from God
that all is well. Well... he said he can feel that again with our visits! How
wonderful!
Daniela,
our 12 year old investigator is getting baptized this Friday! She is so ready
and excited! She passed her interview with flying colors. It should be a
wonderful baptismal service!
We
also did some service at a less actives house by cleaning the house. Her house
was all cement, with one lightbulb, lots of kids, and very very very little
space. I've seen houses like this here, so it wasn't anything too new but I
don't know. The look on her face as we cleaned her house was one of hope, and a
hope she must not have had in a long time. I was really humbled to see someone
with so little, be so grateful for the things she did have. It really put
things into perspective. How often do we take what we have for granted, and
only want more, more, more? I know that something I struggled with was
satisfaction and gratitude before my mission, as if I didn't have enough. But
really, I had the world. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to see people so
poor, with so much joy and peace. However, how wonderful would it be for us to
just be grateful without being compelled to be? I know there's so much joy in
gratitude, seriously. We also contacted a girl named Rosanna at this house who
had a ton of questions about before and after this life. We are stoked to teach
her the plan of salvation this week!
We
are teaching a man named Jose Manuel who is die-hard catholic. But, he is
attending our church with his aunt. Slowly we've been seeing miracles with him
and he is starting to accept our message more and more. Well, however, he
missed church yesterday and after we had a lesson with him and his aunt yelled
at him and said ''Do you know the first commandment Jose?? It's go to
church!!'' well, thankfully, he didn't know that wasn't the first commandment
and agreed with her. Well, although it technically wasn't true he is definitely
more committed to come to church again!
Other
than that there's nothing new to report. I love you all. The work is good. I
was reading about the stripling warriors, and one of their keys to success was
the provisions from their family. I take that as my emails, letters, and
anything I get from you guys. Thank you so much! It really keeps us going out
here. I love you all.
The
church is true friends. I testify of that with all my heart.
Hurrah
for Israel! :)
-Hermana Schmidt
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