february!

Hey Family!

 

How was y'alls week?  I sure hope it was a good one!  We had quite a few memorable experiences from this week so it was a pretty good one to say the least.  :)  here's a funny story for y'all.  We were going to see Sister Coleman and this lady walks up to us and asks if we have any daily bread or something like that.  I was super confused and asked her what she just said because I thought I misheard her.  But she said the same thing again so we just said..hmm not sure but we do have a book!  So we gave her a Book of Mormon and told her a little about it.  Then she asked us to pray with her so we grab hands and Sister Wolf starts praying haha and the lady just starts speaking in tongues during the prayer.  It was the strangest experience I've ever had and we just walked away so confused.  Haha I'm glad she felt the spirit though.  ;) 

us and Pearl...she talks a whole tone but she's super funny.  :)

The second sweet experience was this media referral we got.  We called her last week but no answer haha and the funny thing is she called us back but we didn't save her number so she didn't know who we were and we didn't know who she was.  While on the phone we just mentioned we were missionaries and she said that that's sweet and maybe she'd give us a call sometime.  Then afterwards we discovered it was Shelia but didn't want to call her back because we really did know who she was and why we were calling, so then it would just be super confusing.  Long story short we go to her house on saturday and we drive up right when she's driving up.  Let me just say, that is the most awkward situation...haha it's the worst when that happens.  We breifly asked her if she went ontomormon.org and requested anything and she said no, which usually happens a lot for media referrals but she was really nice and we just kinda didn't give her the hint that we received her info to go visit her.  So we just talked with her and asked her if we could do anything for her.  Holy cow and it was incredible because she said no one has ever asked her if they can do anything for her.  She kept saying how we made her day which was so sweet!  So basically we're going back either this week or next to help her clean up her porch.  It was a sweet little miracle.  Sometimes I believe that the media referrals we received were really sent from God because he knows we need to go and see that specific person, even if they didn't request it.  Definitely an awesome experience! 

 

us and Bettie!  Haha she'd call me sister smurf because she couldn't say my name!

The snow day was pretty sweet too.  It was mostly just ice though and let me tell ya there was ice everywhere.  We couldn't drive all day tuesday and half of the day on wednesday but we did get to walk around a little bit and it was a good couple days. 

 

Virginia she's super sweet.  :)

Man, I love it here.  That's all there is to it.  Going to church on sunday was the best!  Seeing everyone and just feeling their love.  Incredible I tell ya, incredible.  There's nothing better than being back in 1st ward.  Not to mention, butler 1st ward is home too.  :) man I guess that's just where I belong, in all the 1st wards.  The best reaction was Tania's.  We tried stopping by all week but she's been crazy with work and then we called her but she didn't recognize that it was me.  Then on saturday we were at bishops storehouse and Tania was walking down the hall but looking down.  I said hey Tania and she looked up and freaked out!  Goodness gracious I've never received so many hugs and kisses in my life.  I love the people here and the potential that's here!  That's a goal Sister Wolf and I have been working on, to contact as many people as we can...because we're both terrible at it.  And it's the perfect place because it's easy to talk about Christ and people are super friendly.  Man, I love the ward, love our roommates, love my companion, and love God.  This pretty much sums it all up, Ain't God Good?

 

Joy and Ms Lou.  They are two incredible ladies.  Man, I love them and miss them so much!

Here's a scripture I found this morning that I really liked.  You can replace Nephi with your own name and just think of the work you've been doing lately.  It's pretty sweet to see how we will be blessed forever!  "Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people.  And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.  And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will." (Helaman 10:4-5) 

 

Sister Toleafoa...she's one of the spanish sisters we live with!

I love you guys so stinkin much!  Oh yeah and Sarah sorry I've been a slacker and haven't written you back..not sure if I will be able to today either because we're gonna go search the elders apartment for a missing key they can't find and then we're gonna play settlers with them.  Hey and Emily you better still be reading the Book of Mormon and finishing up soon.  You only got a couple months left.  ;) 

 

us and the Covington Elders.  :)

Love Always, Sister Schmutz

 

p.s. I'm sending pictures of people back in Covington...hope you get em! 

home sweet home

Hey Family!

 

The miracle from the week is that despite God always hears us complain in our prayers and try to tell him we know what's best, he still likes to make us happy even when we can be really annoying.  ;)  so yes, I'm back in North Baton Rouge!  Goodness, I just love it here so much.  I can't even begin to describe my feelings.  :)  it's definitely a lot different than before, but it's good.  We're living with the spanish sisters now too which is so weird after living with just my companion for the past year or so.  It's a lot of fun though and they're really sweet sisters.  My companion is Sister Wolf and she's been out on her mission just a transfer less than I have.  She's great!

 

Holy cow and did y'all hear?  It snowed here!!  Well, let's just say it was more ice than snow, but still it was pretty sweet.  The funny thing is it's not even cold in Baton Rouge compared to Covington...it was freezing there!  But friday it was raining all day and everything turned to ice.  Haha the elders were riding their bikes and the chain froze and wouldn't move so they had to go back inside and defrost.  When we went to get in the car there was maybe like an inch or so of ice all over the car.  We had to scrape it off with gift cards we had in our wallets, and we got to help lots of our neighbors too which was sweet.  Goodness all the highways were closed too and basically everything.  It's funny what happens down here when there's ice compared to back home.  President Wall just emailed us too and said tomorrow is supposed to be worse and no one is allowed to drive!  Pretty crazy weather down here I tell ya...how's the weather back home? 

 

It's been kinda an interesting week here though because no one really knew we were here and we got a new phone so no one has our number either.  Plus it was stake conference this yesterday and hardly anyone from the ward came to it.  But we did get to see a couple people.  The best was Sister Banks reaction...we stopped by and she was in the other room but her friend let us in and just told her that the missionaries were here.  She walked out and was so surprised and happy.  She came over and gave us a big hug!  Man I love Sister Banks!  I think this scripture pretty much sums it all up with her.  This is when Alma and the sons of Mosiah had been converted and then they went on their missions.  They ran into each other later in time and this is what happened, "Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God." (Alma 17:2)  That's exactly how I feel right now.  There's no greater joy than to see that the people we'd been working with are still coming to church and progressing.  Aw man, God is good.  :)  We haven't seen the McCartney's yet either but Bishop Smith said they've been coming out regularly too which is amazing!  Oh, but Alexis was at the yw activity on wednesday!  She never came out back when we were here before so that's really sweet too.  :)  I'm so excited to see the miracles that can happen in this area. 

 

We stopped by and saw Chandra too and recommitted her to take the lessons and she's super excited!  The elders only saw them a couple times because she was really busy and kept cancelling appointments but we taught her the restoration again and she really has the desire to know if the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  She went to church down in New Orleans in November and she said they all loved it too.  So now they've just gotta come here and they'll love it!  That family, man I tell ya they're the greatest!  Keep Chandra, Geneva, and Johnathan in y'alls prayers please! 

 

Hmm let's see, that's about all the exciting stuff that's happened this week.  Oh hey I finally filled up one of my memory cards!  I know, it only took me forever, but it's good.  :)  I'll have to send y'all some pictures of people we love in Covington.  Man I miss them too, especially Joy and Bettie.  Those two ladies are wonderful people. 

 

Anyways, please let me know if I can do anything for y'all.  I think you're pretty amazing.  And I love you oh so very much.  :) 

 

Love Always, Sister Schmutz

 

p.s. Miranda's going to South Dakota Rapid City! 

transfer number 9

Hey Family!

 

I know you're dying to find out what's happening with transfers....so here it is...I'm being transferred!  I'm sad to be leaving but excited for the change and new things that are in store ahead.  Plus I have a pretty good idea of where I'm going.  :)  and that's all I'm gonna say about that!  Not to mention, thank you for all of your prayers. ;)  now the part I'm just worried about is whether I'll have a car in my new area or not.  On the positive side I think it'd be sweet to be in a bike area, but then at the same time I think I might die.  I'll keep y'all posted next week. 

 

This week has been so amazing, from zone conference to stake conference the spirit was so strong and taught me exactly what I needed to hear.  I feel like its been forever since I'd seen President Wall and we got to see him three days this past week at every conference meeting and also hear him speak.  Man, he's an amazing mission president.  I just love him so much!  Haha the best part was during the saturday night session of stake conference.  President Wall was talking and he said, "If you're skinny in Louisiana it means you got no friends."  Everyone always invites ya over for dinner and feeds you nonstop, it's so true.  Elder Perkins was really good too.  :)  I loved hearing everything they had to say!  Goodness I just love everyone here so much.  And it was so good to learn so much during the weekend, we've got some good goals we have set to work on now.  I would tell ya more about all the conferences but my notes are in my old planner packed away in my suitcase so if I remember I'll write y'all next week.

 

That's so excited to hear Ashley got her mission call!  Tell her that I'm so happy for her and think she'll do amazing.  If she's got any questions y'all can ask me!  Some exciting news from down here is that Miranda's mission papers are finally in!  She emailed me a couple days ago and said she's still waiting for the letter...only problem is her phone is being cut off and they moved back to Denham so I probably won't hear for a while where she'll be going.  But anyways, she'll do wonders, I tell ya I love her so much! 

 

I did get the package, thank you so much mom!  And I haven't gotten sick yet!  Oh yeah and for the stuff for my ear I haven't taken any of it yet.  You know me and medicine...I don't like to take it until I'm dying.  So I plan on taking it when I can't hear out of my ear again.  Is that cool?  Here's the update on my retainer...it fits!  I've been wearing it every night and it's not too tight anymore, actually it probably needs to be tightened but it's all good.  Alright so it's kinda cheesy but I related it to repentance because President Wall has asked us to study repentance lately.  It's been a couple years since I got my braces off so I figured I'd be good to not wear it...that's the beginning of all sin, excuses!  Low and behold then my teeth started to move and when I tried to put my retainer back in it was way too tight.  I couldn't even wear it for thirty minutes without it hurting and have to take it out.  It was really hard at first but I set goals to do what I could each and everyday and eventually over time my teeth have moved back and it fits without hurting.  It's the exact same way with repentance...we may think we'll be good to go without, but in reality we won't.  Then it gets hard and it's really hard in the beginning.  But then we just gotta get up and do it and it becomes easier from there.  And when we look back it wasn't that bad.  Repentance is sweet I tell ya.  Anyways, enough of the cheesy story. 

 

The pictures were all perfect too.  And man, I agree with Emily we got a pretty cute family!  Don't worry, I'll be taking lots of pictures today of people I love here in Covington so y'all can see who I've been talking about.  Dad, the camera from walmart is working pretty good.  This morning I turned it on and it already says low battery so we're gonna have to go buy some batteries before we go say goodbye.  Pretty classy camera if I do say so myself, I mean there's not many cameras now a days that still use real batteries.  It's pretty priceless if I do say so myself..haha but it's all good! 

 

Oh yeah, Dad I have the answer for your question last week!  I didn't respond because I wasn't really sure what to say but I been thinking about it and here's what I have to say.  This week we visited Brittany.  Her husband Alberto was baptized last month and he'd been taught by the missionaries forever but just never wanted to get baptized.  Finally he just said yes and he did it.  But here's the thing she said that she asked him how he felt the day of his baptism and he just felt normal, nothing too excited.  There wasn't some big miraculous change that made him want to join the church or anything.  And even after he was pretty much the same.  But everything changed when he received the priesthood!  She said now he's reading the Book of Mormon more than she does and is super excited to go to church and eventually the temple.  So I guess sometimes we just do things because we just feel it's right but don't really feel the big difference, but it's just like it says in John 7:17 "If any man will do his will, he shall nowof the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."  And eventually when we keep doing these things then we'll know for ourselves that it's true.  So I guess a question you could ask him is what would it mean to you to have the priesthood?  Or maybe even why not get baptized?  Let me know how it goes!

 

Sarah!  haha tell Nik I say hey too.  Sorry I've been such a slacker at writing both of you.  Oh my, you two kill me!  Tell him to quit thinking about people to set me up with!  I'm a missionary for goodness sake!  How's work been going?  You should go down to Presitge and talk to Ryan or Sikander and see if they've got anything you could do. 

 

Anyways I gotta get going so we can say goodbye to some people.  Just wanted to let y'all know that I love you!  I love the people in Louisiana, I love President and Sister Wall, and I especially love the Savior.  He's everything to me!  One quick story before I go.  No one can ever remember my name here...seriously no one!  I was thinking the other day and it's so frustrating because it's not that hard to say and no one will remember me when I leave.  But ya know what, I'm not doing this to be recognized.  I'm doing it for Christ.  So it doesn't matter if everyone calls me the wrong name, if no one remembers anything I did, nothing about me matters because I do it all for my Savior.  

 

Love Always, Sister Schmutz