september

Hey Family!

 

Sorry we didn't get to email yesterday because the library was closed.  It feels like I haven't written to y'all in forever! 

 

Holy cow and I have a crazy story to tell you!!  Saturday we were visiting a referral and Brother Chou from our ward kept calling us over and over again.  So while Shandra was busy for a sec we went outside and decided to call him back because we figured it must be important.  So I get on the phone and he says, "Sister Schmutz, I have someone I want you to talk to."  And here's the crazy part, it was McKenzie Cooper!!  I guess one of the Chou's kids live in Oklahoma in the ward she's serving in and they were there visiting for the weekend.  We only talked for a real short amount of time but she sounds like she's doing great!  I'll have to find out more from the Chou's when they're back in BR. 

 

This past week was an awesome week.  Since it was the end of the month we had extra miles and part of our ward area crosses the Mississippi but no missionaries ever go over there because we don't have enough miles.  I think it was about two years ago when elders were assigned there but there was no progress so they took them out.  And currently there's only two active members over there, I don't blame them though because it takes them an hour to get to church.  So we decided to cross the river on Friday!  It was real pretty over there and we tried contacting a referral but she wasn't home and hasn't answered her phone.  Other than that we tried stopping by a couple less active members, we saw the Dedon's (active members), and then tried some tracting.  Let's just say all the people that live out in the middle of nowhere live there for a reason, because they don't want to be contacted.  But overall I think it was a great experience.  New Roads, the area up by False River was beautiful.  I'll send some pictures home to y'all next week.  Plus we got a brand new car this week so it was fun driving way over there in it. 

 

Another highlight from the week was when we got to watch Mulan for our monthly ward movie night.  Usually we have to watch church sonsored movies because the missionaries are in charge of movie night but President gave us permission to watch Mulan and it was great. 

 

A sweet miracle from this week was a referral we received from mormon.org.  It's kind of a confusing story but I'll try to explain it clearly to y'all.  So the referral was from her friend that lived in South Carolina and it said that she was interested in learning more and had two children.  So we try stopping by the address given and the guy there said that Geneva didn't live there anymore, she lived with her mom.  We were confused so we asked how old she was and he said 13, but the referral said that she had two children.  So we asked for her address here but he didn't know it but he gave us her phone number.  The phone number was the same as the one received but the one we had had a different area code and when we called it didn't work.  We were just about to stop by again to ask him for another phone number when I thought maybe we should try the local area code.  We asked for Geneva Johnathan because that's what her friend said her name was but turns out those are her two childrens names.  Haha so Shandra invited us over and she fed us.  Turns out they went to church in South Carolina with her friend and loved it there and really felt the spirit.  And she's been trying to find that same peace again.  I'm so excited to start knowing them better and bringing the peace and spirit back to them! 

 

us and prairieville down in NOLA.  :)

Something I learned in my scripture study this week was about faith.  Every month we strive to develop a christlike attribute and this last months was faith so I was already studying it a lot getting lots of conference talks to read.  And in Moroni 7 it talks a lot about faith, hope, and charity with how they're related.  In verse 40 it says, "And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope.  How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?"  In order to have faith we have to first have a belief.  And then we exercise that belief until we do have faith.  The definition of faith is unquestioning belief.  And the key to changing belief into faith is hope.  Hope is the key factor that changes our belief to unquestioning belief because we have enough faith. 

 

Sorry I have to hurry and email President before an appointment we have to be at soon.  I love y'all and hope you have a wonderful week! 

 

Love Always, Sister Schmutz 

Hey Family!!

New Orleans was great!  Way back when, President told Sister Andrade that she needs to go see New Orleans so we decided to ask the office elders to go today and they said yes so we ended up going with our district which includes the office elders and north elders and then we also invited prairieville and tiger bend so it was just our old district that came along.  As always a great time with fellow missionaries.  :)  sorry we're off to a dinner appointment soon so I'll try writing as fast as I can.  

This week we did tons of service.  Let's just say I've never sweated so much before in my life.  For specialized training we had an hour of instruction and then President wanted us out and doing something so we had a zone service project all day for two days.  Hot and humid weather equals a lot of sweat.  And then we were helping lots of people move all week.  Man I love serving though.  :)

Oh hey and there's a new video for the temple and it's awesome!  If y'all haven't seen it yet you should go soon...it's so good.  

Other than that this week was just a weird one because I hardly saw anyone from the ward.  We went on exchanges and I was down in second ward for wednesday.  Then thursday and friday we were doing service all day and saturday we were helping people move all day.  So we hardly got to see anyone.  All I can say is I love our area and the people here.  

I hope y'all have a wonderful week.  I love y'all!

Love Always, Sister Schmutz 

miracles

Hey Family!! 

 

Thank you for sending the package.  Y'all are the best!  Mom be sure to take the money out of my account to pay you back for the scriptures.  I wrapped them this morning and we'll give them to Alexis on Wednesday when we see her.  :)  Holy cow, school starts this week for you Emily!  It's crazy how fast time keeps flying by.  August is almost over and before we know it the year will already be close to done.  Thank you for the bracelet from Africa, Andrew!  Dad sent me a picture of the stuff you brought home and it all looks pretty sweet.  When you find some time you'll need to send a couple pictures.  Dang Sarah you'll need to get a job with red hanger when you move back in the winter.  Even better go to prestige and talk with Sikander or Ryan.  It sounds like things have been going awesome at home.  Go find Sister LaPorte!  I told her y'all are coming and she'll be looking for ya.  Hey and before I forget I have a sweet miracle to tell y'all. 

 

Alright so last week I told you about Kiwanna, right.  Okay so on Wednesday we went over to see her.  I was talking with Sister Andrade before and mentioned how in the past my companions always commited everyone to be baptized and I never had...so of course she said that today was my day!  After six months you'd think it's about time.  Anyways we get there and talk about the priesthood and authority along with following the example of Jesus Christ.  I was nervous to commit her but finally just said it haha and I caught her off guard.  Basically this is how it went.  "Kiwanna will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority?"  "What did you just say?"  "Umm..will you be baptized by someone holding the proper authority?"  "If that's a good thing and what I'm supposed to do then sure!"  Long story short we talked about Joseph Smith afterwards and how he saw the Father and His son.  We asked if she believed that someone could see Him and she said she didn't believe it could happen today.  I think we overwhelmed her a ton but nonetheless we committed her to pray to know if Joseph Smith really did see God and Jesus Christ.  Then Sunday rolled around and she said she was coming to church but she never showed up.  So we decided to just stop by Sunday evening and see what was up.  Long story short she forgot to ask work off so she had to work and then she forgot to tell us she couldn't come.  So we were all just sittin there talking about who knows what when she says, "You know how y'all asked me to pray about Joseph Smith?  Well I have something to tell y'all but I don't think anyone but y'all will believe me."  Turns out she prayed and this is what she said, "Icould almost hear the answer was yes but Ifelt it in her heart that it was true!"  Holy cow we didn't even know how to respond to her!!  Oh yeah and here it gets even better.  While we're sitting there, in walks some random people and low and behold one of them was at church today!  Turns out her cousin is actually a member and she didn't even know it!  Her cousin actually lives up in Baker but she attends our ward alot because she's helping her dad get to church so they can both go to the temple.  Kiwanna's cousin sat in on the lesson and shared her testimony which was so awesome!  Such a crazy story but so amazing!! 

 

Another little miracle was on friday we didn't know who to go see.  All of our plans had fallen through and we were just stuck.  While driving I thought that we should stop by Sister Holland's home because she lived nearby and she was home!  We found out she needed help moving all her stuff into storage so then we were able to go help her the next day.  It's inrecible how the Lord always places you in the spot where you're needed.  Plus when we were there she basically taught us!  She shared about her conversion story and how she shared the Book of Mormon with a friend.  She's incredible! 

 

Seriously mission life is the absolute greatest!  I love all the people in Louisiana, especially those in North Baton Rouge. 

 

Something I learned in my studies this week was in the book of Job.  In just the first chapter terrible things had happened to him repeatedly and all so fast.  These terrible things included, "slain the servants, burned up the sheep and the servants, fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword, thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine and the four corners of the house full upon the young men, and they were dead."  But through this, "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged(accused) God follishly" (v.22).  He didn't get mad at God for everything that had happened because he understand that God has a plan for everyone and He understands more than we can comprehend.  It's amazing because often times in these circumstances we tend to blame God and continue to ask him why?  But when we begin to understand his ways it makes it just a little easier. 

 

I hope y'all have a wonderful week!  I love y'all so much.  :)

 

Love Always, Sister Schmutz