Hermana Schmidt Week 59 Letter 11/09/15

From: Nicole Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 11/09/2015 9:30 AM
Subject: The Rains Came Down, Floods Came Up, Hermana Schmidt fell down, And the cockroaches came up..

Hola a todos! 

I don't have very much time because I sent pics and i'm taking the time to respond to some emails this week. 

But here's some updates/stories::

We served on Saturday by cleaning the whole church like deep cleaning it. Yay for Mormon Helping Hands. :) And I finally got a vest!! Woot! :) (Also I wore jeans/tennies for my first time in almost 14 months... lets just say I was walking like a grown man trying on high heels for the first time in his life.) 

We have continued teaching the 21 year old twins, one is named Luis who is progressing really fast!! He told us ''A year ago I just felt like giving up coffee. It was giving me headaches and so I just gave it up completely.'' UM YEAH. Super prepared!! So cool and he came to church! :) Miracles upon miracles. 

It is FLOODED here in San Pedro!! It's calmed down today because sewage has cleared up a bunch but it has downpoured so we were stuck inside/inside other houses a lot this week. But thankfully not for very long, and thankfully my companion knows how to make some good hot chocolate. :) 

That being said, the ground is very slick and my shoes (the ones I have used my ENTIRE mission) are pretty worn out so the bottom part is also slick... I have had some fun falls this week. One time we were leaving with a member and I slipped almost into the splits on this one sidewalk, and I stood up, twirled really fast, and said I was just dancing. It was a good member/missionary bonding moment because we died laughing. Let's just say I am already a klutz as it is, so the slippery ground / water up to our knees almost doesn't exactly help the problem. 

This morning I was walking down the stairs and slipped!! I fell down almost a whole flight of stairs. The miracle is that I don't even hurt and it was a badddd fall. I seriously believe in protecting angels for missionaries... no joke!! 

About two days ago my companion woke up screaming at 6 in the morning and ran out of bed and turned on the light. I seriously think she is a champ at making my heart almost fail. I'm serious. But she yelled, ''LOOK AT IT!!'' A HUGE COCKROACH was on her bed!! It had been on her neck and woke her up. What a blessing. At least we survived. :) 

I love you all and sorry for the lack of updates but it's almost transfers!! Ah. I am praying I stay in San Pedro!!! I love you all and thanks for all of your support and prayers. 

Hurrah for Israel! :) 

-Hermana Schmidt 

Getting ready to clean

Companions in the rain

Another of companions in the rain

Hermana Schmidt in the rain

Another in the rain with floods

Playing the piano

Cleaning the church

Another cleaning the church

Companions cleaning

Another cleaning

The "cleaning" photoshoot :)

Hermanas in her district

Hermana Schmidt Week 58 Letter 11/02/15

From: Nicole Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 11/02/2015 10:37 AM
Subject: Creepy Crawly Halloween

Hola a todos! :)

Can I just say that this was one of the BEST weeks of my life!? :) Aw I am just so so grateful to be a missionary. This week I tried to really focus in on thinking of the importance of putting on my plaque, and who I was about to represant. I knew every morning that I would represent the church, the lord, and my family. As I thought more on it, I realize what a joy and blessing it is to even have a plaque. It has given me a boost every day, and every moment that's hard i've tried to look at my plaque and think that ''I'm doing something great. I'm doing something for the Lord.'' and it makes it all easier, and so, so worth it. 

That being said, my companion and I have set goals on our gratitude and our personal prayers. We are trying to focus in on small ways to be more diligent servants of the Lord. Sometimes I think as missionaries we focus on bigger tasks like ''Ask referrals from everyone'' and ''leave with a member every day'' when we sometimes lose focus of the small things that really matter and that lead us to accomplishing the bigger tasks. So we thought on it and after reading a liahona together we decided to start changing our personal prayers. In stead of praying in our minds in the same room, we now seperate and pray outloud in different bedrooms in the house. We do it early enough to really have time to pray sincerely but still get to bed and get exercising on time. Can I just say WOW. It has been months since i've prayed outloud alone in a room. The spirit has overwhelmed me just over the past couple days of doing it. I really, really feel that I am talking WITH (not just talking to) my Heavenly Father. I've never felt more guided by the spirit in my entire life. Prayer truly is a precious tool we have between us and heaven. 

Now that I am going with the spiritual, we had some AMAZING lessons this week!! My companion got her hair done a couple of weeks ago and we contacted the hair lady. Her name is Vavan. She taught me how important it is to find opportunities to share the gospel- everywhere! :) We started teaching her and recently she said, ''I just feel like my whole life has turned around since meeting you. Ive been searching my whole life for the right church, and have never felt satisfied. But i'm started to fill something, and it's new and wondeful!'' She accepted a baptismal date for November 21st and came to church yesterday and loved it!! Such a tender mercy.

We also have been keeping up with the Less-actives and we found one named Claribel who got baptized TWENTY years ago!! She said she lasted just a small amount of time in the church and that she's felt a difference. But that she's ''just to busy with jobs and school to get back into it''. Well we had a lesson on the power of the Book of Mormon and how it can lead us to do what's right and we started talking about how much God loves us that he has given us tools not only to guide us to him- but to guide us BACK to him. The spirit was so strong and we talked about her divine nature and potencial. There were no dry eyes in that lesson. It's never too late for anyone. We should never give up hope!! 

Another night we were teaching a lesson and I felt a strong impression that we needed to go visit 21 year old twins that we are currently teaching. They usually are there only on thursdays and sundays and it was a friday so I was a little hesitant, but told my companion and we agreed to go. When we got there one of the twins were there! He told us that he had been reading from the book of mormon and had really been enjoying it. His mom even got more interested for the first time. Now his WHOLE family is listening to the gospel!!! I seriously just know that we can do nothing without the spirit!! 

On a funny note, this week was halloween. Well, we had a nice fun week of finding new creatures in the house (yay). On monday, I was in the kitchen and I saw my companion slowly entering a bedroom and I was like... uhh.... is someone in our house..!? And I slowly followed and she said, ''SHHH he might hear you!!'' And I was about to pass out because I thought there was someone in the house. I don't do well in moments like this. She flipped on the switch and flew into her bed and I was like WHAT IS GOING ON, and she said, ''a rat! a rat!!!'' and I was so relieved but then it hit me,, rat.... and I was no longer relieved. So I did the only logical thing and said, ''Hermana, this means war.'' So to go rat hunting we had a pole, a pot, war makeup, and our camera recording it all. My comp was searching as I was recording... not because I was scared or anything but because someone had to record ;) and something flew out from my suitcase and it was a huge IGUANA. She thought it had been a rat but nope, just a huge reptile. So that was a relief (not). But it left and we were good. 

On Holiday I gave candy out to some neighbors and their kids, the most halloween has been celebrated in the DR ever I believe. 

This week was just wonderful. I am seriously LOVING opening and training this area!! The Lord has been truly there for us. I just know that this gospel gives us all the answers of our soul, all the joy we could possibly have in this life .And I KNOW that it is NEVER too late for anyone. It doesn't matter where we have been and what we have done, we can always return and feel whole again. I read something this week that said something like this ''Í used to think the atonement had holes in it because it could heal everyone but me. But I came to realize there's 7 holes in the atonement.. his hands, his feet, his wrists, and his side... and I realized that he suffered those holes for me and there truly are holes just for me in the atonement, and I can be whole.'' I loved that and I testify of the atonement and the reality of a living Savior and the reality of a restored gospel.

Hurrah for Israel!! :)

-Hermana Schmidt 

Warriors

Warriors

Hunting for the rat

Hermana Schmidt Week 57 Letter 10/26/15

Note:  If you are a returned missionary and want to continue getting these emails, please email me your new email address.  You can also keep up with her at hermanaschmidt.blogspot.com.  I am starting to get some emails returned from mid-summer from missionaries ldsmail.net accounts which I guess expire after a few months.

Bunney

From: Nicole Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 10/26/2015 10:59 AM
To: Bunney Schmidt
Subject: Fruity Jack-o-lanterns! :)

Hola a todos!! :)

Happy birthday to my cousin Amanda! :)

So this week was a lot of SEARCHING. We have a list of less-actives in our branch that is long. So we have dedicated basically every day to trying to contact every person on that list. It has been especially rewarding, not because we've contacted every person and they are all jumping for joy to return, but because I feel so, so close to my savior. I always thought that searching for investigators was the most rewarding experience, but I think it's tied with searching for less-actives.

I've thought a lot this week about the parable of the lost sheep, and it said that the shephered diligently searched for the lost sheep. Every step I've taken this week with a list of these lost sheeps I've felt the shepherd literally walking at my side, and encouraging me to find his sheep that once knew, but are now lost. It has been INCREDIBLY spiritual and motivating. I thought a lot about this quote by Dale Renlund : 

“I now realize that in the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes.  Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul.  Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children.  Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them.  We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God’s eyes.  This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others.  Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with “the pure love of Christ”. Every day we should plead with God for this love.  Mormon admonished, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with thus love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” With all my heart, I want to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.  I love Him.  I adore Him.  I witness of His living reality.”

I just know that, that's what it's all about. Helping, lifting, loving our brothers and sisters and helping them to be faithful. As Neil A. Maxwell put it ''True that wickedness never was happiness, but neither is lukewarmness full happiness. Failing to be valiant in christian discipleship will leave us without significant happiness. Therefore our active avoidance of wickedness must be followed by our active engagement of rightneousness.'' What are we doing to be more valiant? What are we doing to help others to be valiant? From all of these less-actives I've seen a missing part of their souls. They have normal lives, many of them, but many of them have found themselves to be unsatisfied, unhappy, and filling in the gap with anything BUT the gospel and expecting it to last, but it doesn't, and they are even more lost than before. What are we doing to help them? 

I know that true, valiant, christian discipleship is what makes us happy. A happiness that actually lasts!

Hurrah For Israel! :)

-Hermana Schmidt 

It's the beginning of Christmas in the DR

Carved pineapple since no halloween there

Decorating 

More decorating

Still more decorating

Nice tree and nice kitchen

Even more decorating

And yet more decorating

Happy Halloween 

Celebrating halloween DR style

Soaking wet

More wet photos

More soaking wet

Tags in the Christmas Tree

Hermana Schmidt Week 56 Letter 10/19/15

In addition to this letter, I asked her how her ward members were and how the area was in listening to investigators and she said this and told me to add it to this email and promises a longer one next week:

1. The members are GREAT! and leaving with us tons. 

2. Yes, TONS!! IT is wonderful!!! :) And lots of families!!

From: Nicole Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 10/19/2015 1:20 PM
Subject: It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!!

Hola a todos!!

Happy birthday LUC!!! :) 13!!!! AH!!! 

Okay I seriously have no time left. So I will just share a super cool story from our week. 

So we went a visited an 81 year old woman named Margo. She hasn't been home but we both felt we should go try again. and she was there!! So we shared a scripture with her and talked about how much our Heavenly Father loves us. She then said, ''I've been searching my WHOLE life for something that fills me, and nothing ever has. But now I finally found what I was looking for. What you girls say, it really does fill me.'' 

She accepted to be baptized right then and there!! We are thinking mid-november. It was just amazing and it's never too late to enjoy the filling, energizing power that the gospel gives us!!

And it's beginning to look a lot like christmas means that EVERYWHERE there is already christmas decoratios!! it's crazy!!!  

The biggest thing i've felt and learned this week is the importance of prayer and just pouring out all of our feelings to a loving HEavenly Father. I've NEVER felt him closer and everyday I feel like we are receiving personal referrals from the Lord himself! It’s just incredible to see so many miracles every day, and I know a big part of that are our prayers. I've just felt that prayer really leads to power. I have NO DOUBT that He hears us and loves us so much. In very precise moments he has answered the very smallest desires of my heart, like a hug, or (food...it's true), or just a friend to talk to. He has always been there. I just know He lives and loves us!!! He really does look out for us and answer our prayers. :) 

Hurrah for Israel!! :)

-Hermana Schmidt

San Pedro with her zone sisters

Long Alley behind her house

San Pedro Church

Happy Bday Luc

with Hermana Martinez

Visiting San Pedro

Visiting San Pedro 2

Shopping with the Zone Sisters

Another with zone sisters

Hermana Schmidt Week 55 Letter 10/12/15

From: Nicole Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 10/12/2015 10:55 AM
Subject: Sun tanning has never been so easy!

Hola a todos! 

Happy birthdays to Ciera, Shannon, and my nephew Andrew!! :)

I can´t even begin to talk about how amazing, incredible, overwhelming, trying, and rejoicing week this has been!!! Opening an area is NOT easy, but it has been so so special to feel the spirit TRULY guiding us to find people in our area, especially families. It is an AMAZING experience to truly build zion little by little!! I have felt time and time again that we are here to build a solid foundation for many sisters after us, and maybe we won´t see tons of fruits in our time here but because of our hard work, there will be tons of fruit in the future. The Lord truly is good, and puts us where he needs us.

San Pedro is so different from my other areas. It is a lot more humble, and the people are way more open. It makes the work easier that is for sure!! It is also a LOT more hot!! Holy cannoli, I will be like 50 shades darker in 2 weeks I swear. But, hey, free and fast sun tanning I can´t complain! 

My companion, my trainee, is Hermana Martinez. She is Dominican and from the north part of the country. She is SO prepared and so it´s made training easier in a lot of ways. She is bubbly, outgoing, and so hard working! 

I don´t have a lot of time left due to picture sending and a slow internet place, but I love you all and thank you so much for your prayers!!! You have no idea how many miracles we´ve already seen... and we are just getting started!! :)  How exciting! :) 

The Lord truly is guiding us and helping us. And that makes it allll worth it!! 

Hurrah for Israel! :)

Hermana Schmidt 

Hermana Schmidt and Hermana Martinez

Hermanas with President Corbitt and his Wife

Crazy Hair after Rainstorm

Poor Hermana Martinez had her suitcase break

Hermana Schmidt with her trainee Hermana Martinez

Last FHE before moving

Last night in Mi Hogar

Nametags after massive rain storm

with Brendy and Jessica

with Hermana Lorlita

Another with Hermana Lorlita

Hermana Schmidt Week 54 Letter 10/05/15

From: Nicole Schmidt [mailto:nicole.schmidt@myldsmail.net]
Sent: 10/05/2015 9:57 AM
Subject: Riding Onwards in TRAINING wheels... Into Opening a New Area!!

Hola a todos, 

Happy birthdays to my 2nd cousin Garrett, and to my cousins Bella, Tomoko, and Daniel!! :) I hope they are great! :) 

So wasn't conference just incredible!?! :) It was for sure what I needed to hear. I am so grateful for modern day prophets and apostles, and if I had the time I would write out all of my favorite talks and quotes. But one that I will be putting into practice NOW that I will write about is the ''Ponderize'' talk. I want to do that with my next companion every week, and I will be excited to see the fruits of this practice. I hope my family will take on the ponderize challenge as well. :) 

I have some very exciting news to share with all of you that I am just bursting in my seat to write!!! On saturday night we got a call from President Corbitt. I quickly picked it up and president corbitt asked me to put it on speaker. He told hermana jackson and I that we would both be training BRAND NEW missionaries!!! Hermana Jackson will be staying here with her trainee-- she will just do fabulously and I am so excited for her! :) He then said, ''But now I want to specifically talk to Hermana Schmidt. I was talking to your future trainee at the MTC (he won't tell us who they are early) and she is just SO bubbly and so optimistic that I decided to call you BOTH (my trainee and I um... she must be awesome!!) over the mission english learning program. So you are on the mission leadership counsel now and will be expected to go to all the leadership meetings each month. On top of that, you will be opening a new area in SAN PEDRO!! (which is the CAMPO. A poorer part of the country and where I have always wanted to go!!) 

Basically since that call, I have been studying and preparing myself like crazy. I've been so, so nervous but so excited!! I had the thought that this is seriously what having a baby must feel like-- nerve wracking, exciting, anticipating, with lots of chocolate cravings. But I came up with a list of some training goals :

1. Be Creative, Fun, and Happy. :) (That's my top goal) 

2. Rejoice in the good times, and find the opportunity that can come from the oppositions

3. Praise first, Correct 2nd. 

4. Ponderize scriptures each week. 

5. Be balanced in our teaching and unified. 

6. Listen and Lift her. 

7. Ask HER for help also! :) 

8. Be positive and patient. 

9. Be humble and prayerful. 

10. Line upon line I will learn and she will too, no need to stress. If I stress out, she'll probably pass out. 

11. See her through the eyes of my mission president and our Heavenly Father. 

12. Be exactly obedient and organized. 

13. Train her in a way so that she would be able to train someone after her training. 

I don't have a lot of time but I am just SO excited to train!! :) I know that this call truly came from the Lord. I was pondering this morning and reading my scriptures and I felt so, so strongly ''Do not fear. This is completely by inspiration.'' And I just knew. This is right. So i'm not afraid. I'm nervous, but not afraid. I'm excited and I know that the Lord will help my trainee and I through whatever lies ahead- joyfully and miracously-- as he has done for me so many times before. He's never left me before, so I know that he won't now. I truly know that it is nothing that I have done that has ''earned'' the spot of a trainer. I know i'm a trainer to learn, and to come closer to the Lord, and to serve. I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to learn more and have new experiences that I am sure will teach me even more of the Lord and of the gospel!! 

Thank you for all of your support!! Here's to the next BIG adventure!! (and I will be  finding out who my 'daughter' (mission lingo) is tomorrow) :)

Hurrah for Israel! :) 

-Hermana Schmidt 

October and the Pez candy she found

Another of her excitement on finding this