Tuesday, May 14, 2013

stayin here!


Hey Family!!
 
First big news is that Sister LaPorte and I are both staying in North Baton Rouge for another transfer!!  I'm so excited to be staying here with the ward and people and hope I can stay for a while longer.  The people here are seriously the best and I love them all so much!  Our district is changing a lot this coming transfer.  We won't find out who is coming in until tomorrow but the zone leaders are staying the same.  Sister Olden and Seegrist are switching down to Prairiville's area.  Sister Haskell and Wheeler are both leaving.  Two new elders are coming into Tiger Bend's area with bikes only.  And Elder Bawden is leaving.  Sad day but also a good one.  :)  I never thought it would be hard to say goodbye to other missionaries while on your mission but I'm grateful for the plan of salvation and the knowledge that we'll get to see everyone again even if we can't see them again while on earth. 
 

So yes please send the package to my regular apartment address.  Thank you so so so much!!!  Y'all are the best and thank you in advance for all the clothes you're sending.  :) you're lifesavers.
 
I loved talking with y'all on mother's day and seeing all your lovely faces!  And mom I'm glad you got my card right in time for mother's day.  I hope it was a good day.  So much is going on at home it's crazy to think about.  While serving a mission at times I forget that time keeps moving on back home and outside of the mission.  
 
As tradition calls, here's a couple miracles:
 
numero uno: Lyla is our newest investigator and she's super sweet.  We visit Sister Banks every monday night because up until a couple weeks ago she hadn't gone to church in over twenty years.  So we like to come and read the scriptures with her and her family and bring the spirit into her home.  Anyways a couple weeks ago Lyla came in and we asked her if she'd like to join us and she did.  (She's Sister Banks niece) We got talking afterwards and she was meeting with the missionaries a couple years ago but never got baptized.  We've met with her a couple times since then and she's keeping her commitments and asking lots of questions.  Her cousins and sister have been waiting and wanting her to get baptized for the past three years.  She hasn't really stated this but I think this is one of her big concerns, she's been dating the same guy for nine years and they aren't married yet.  She's pregnant with their second son and she told us she wants to get married but he just hasn't said anything.  Long story short we found out yesterday that he gave her a ring for mother's day.  So I'd say they're practically engaged!  Seriously it's amazing the way the Lord works.  
 
numero dos:  A family in our ward is moving soon and we've been asking them for months if we can help them do anything to help them prepare to move.  They keep saying no and that we shouldn't waste our time on active members.  After months of pleading with them we were finally able to help them deep clean their house this past week to get ready to sell.  It's true, service really does open the hearts of everyone.  
 
numero tres:  Miranda started her mission papers!  Well she actually did a couple weeks ago but I'm just so happy for her.  She moved into our ward a couple months ago from Denham Springs and she's the only active member in her home.  Her family doesn't have a car so she always has to ask for a ride to church and she hates doing it, but she always comes.  Plus a mission is going to be amazing for her.  She's shared with us how the gospel helped her when she was super depressed and it's such an inspiring example.  
 
This week while studying the Book of Mormon, here's a couple insights I was able to receive.  I was reading in Mosiah 10 and I loved it because the Lamanities were starting a war against Zeniff and his people, and the first thing Zeniff did was hide the women and children in the wilderness and then gathered all the men together to fight.  Even he was there and ready to fight ready to be an example to everyone.  In verse 11 it says, "Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength.  Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men."  They were super strong men, but as in verse 20, "And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them."  Even though they were strong, many died because they didn't have the strength of the Lord.  Always remember that the strength of the Lord will triumph over the strength of men.  It went on to say that the Lamanities did all these things because of false judgements and misconceptions.  At the beginning I was thinking how stupid they were for that, but in reality we're all that dumb and blind to the eternal perspective.  So I've learned to not judge others and myself for things we have to go through, but to look at the eternal perspective.  
 
Also one more quick thought. In Mosiah 12:27 it says, "Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise."  Abinadi was asking King Noah why he wasn't teaching these people all that he was learning and that's what it all comes down to.  He understood what he was learning, however he understood it in his mind.  When you understanding things in your heart you apply it to your life and take action.  So apply what you know and do something with it. 
 
Man the Book of Mormon is so amazing!!  And here's my best advice to y'all if you don't feel this way towards the BoM...read it and read it until you do find it amazing!
 

Well I've gotta get going but know that I love y'all so much and think about you often.  Sarah you should keep the early morning custodial job...it will be worth it in the end.  :)
 
Love Always,  Sister Schmutz
 
p.s. here's a picture of Alexis' dogs...they're my favorite!  The pitbull is named Nunu and the little one is Duke.  I told Sister LaPorte the other day that when I go home I'm gonna get a pitbull just to remind me of Louisiana because everyone down here has one, no joke.  Plus they're funny dogs.  Nunu's whole body shakes whenever she comes over to see us haha it's the greatest.   
p.s. and the other picture is hopefully one of the BR zone after zone conference a week or two ago.  I hope I downloaded the right one though.

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