I'm Here!

Hello!

  Well I eventually made it out into the field safely! After staying my first night in the mission field in a hotel we made it back to the airport and made it on  the flight, I am suppose to be reimbursed for the costs. I had some trouble getting through security because my drivers license, mom have you received my new one so you can send it to me?  So we flew into Durango and one of the senior couples that works in the mission office picked me and elder Eging up. It was about an hour drive down to Farmington where we met Sister Jones at the mission home.  The first thing she did was apologized to us and tell us a story about how she missed her plane once.  President Jones got to the home a little while later and we all had lunch, the Elders that were going home were there as well.  The two trainers were also there so after our interviews he made our assignments and we took pictures with our "father's", my companions name is Elder Sharp. I spent most of my time in my interview talking about FFA and 4-H and animals. President graduated from BYU with a degree in Animal Science. We have a lot in common. After we got our new companions we had to go to the mission office to have a brief introduction to everything. Once we were done we had a two and a half hour drive to our area.  My first assigned area in the mission field is on the res. in Window Rock.  The area just got split so we cover half of the ward then the other elders cover the other half and a small branch about 20 miles up the road.  We all live together in a trailer behind the church. It's fun we all get along really well. My "brother" Elder Chappel, and Elder Taylor the other missionaries are awesome, we all have a lot in common.

   It's a little different here. Everything on the res. is so laid back, and there's dogs EVERYWHERE.  They also just let their animals roam around.  The other day there were a couple of cows just walking down the sidewalk, can't say that I have seen that before.  There's also horse's that just run freely if people want to ride there horse they like have to go out and find it and catch it first.  It's kind of hard here.  If everybody in the ward was active there would be almost 1000 people.  But there's usually on average 120 people that come to church.  But yesterday there wasn't even that many because the girls basketball team made it to state so pretty much everybody was in Phoenix, and then there was a bad storm and nobody could get home. they won state so last night when they got back it was like a big party. My first day we were going to go to the store so I could get some food but we couldn't make it into the store we kept getting stooped by Glaani's (drunk people) and they wanted us to pray for them.  It's kind of difficult because they know who we are and they know whats right but they don't want to give up their ways. There's a lot of work to be done. I'm working on my Navajo, I think it's coming along kind of well I need too because people speak in English and they throw Navajo words in. They also point with their lips its kind of funny. I'm starting to pick it up.

   Elder Sharp is from Utah. he wants people to write him but hes kind of a loser so he can't get any girls to write him. He told me to put that in so I'm obedient to my father.  I assume he might only be here for one more transfer because hes been here for over four months. He's the district leader. We get along pretty well. He's been out for about seven months, he says it doesn't seem like it and that time flys by, which I can see because it seems like just yesterday that Mom and Dad dropped me off at the MTC. 

   We didn't get in from Farmington untill 9:00 on Tuesday so we couldn't go out, I had to unpack so I didn't get to bed until like 11.  The next day we had one set appointment with a kid named Rodney, well hes 20. We talked about the Book of Mormon and we committed him to baptism.  Hes getting baptized on March 19, so that's pretty cool.  He is definitely ready. Elder sharp was saying that he is probably the most doctrinally ready investigator he has ever had. We have a baptism this week as well.  It's a little girl who's mom was inactive and started coming back so the elders have been working with her. So it's pretty exciting.

   So how is everything at home? I'm glad to hear you are getting ready for some animals, I'm sure the boys will be excited to come up and see some since we haven't had any for so long. Well I better get going. I love you all!

 

Love,

Elder Schmidt

 

my address is:      p.o. box 203

                           Saint Michaels AZ 86511

On his way!

Elder Schmidt left the MTC early Monday morning on his way to Farmington, New Mexico. He was traveling with 3 other Elders and one Sister missionary who were all headed to the same mission. During his layover in Phoenix we got to speak with him. It was AMAZING to hear his voice and hear how much he has changed already. Before contacting us, they asked what time zone they were in to ensure they were at the gate in time, but they were given misinformation. They ended up missing their flight! They got a flight for the Sister and Elder Schmidt along with the 3 other Elders spent the evening in a Phoenix hotel to fly out Tuesday morning. We have yet to hear where he is serving exactly, but hope to hear from him or the mission home soon and will update everyone once we know!!!

Just a few more days...

Hello everybody!

Yes I have been getting letters from dear elder mom and dad. It's kinda of crazy to think in just a couple of days I will be packing to head out to New Mexico!! Well i actually fly into Durango, I don;t know why.  I have a hour lay over in Phoenix so I will call from there if I have time to. It would be between like 8;30 and 9:30. Well its been another awesome week. I'm ready to leave though the food here is getting pretty old.  I don't know how the kids that are in here for 9-12 weeks do it. I would go insane.  I guess that just shows how much the Lord knows us.  There are a few elders and sisters from my mission prep class here right now so the sisters want to get a picture and send it to our teacher, so we are going to do that on sunday.  We had a very good TRC appointment on monday, it was our second one with "Kate".  we talked about the Plan of Salvation, with a focus on the atonement and repentance.  Our lesson was actually cut short because our teacher thought we went at a latter time so we only had about 20 minutes to teach. Which I would have thought was a lot of time before I came out, but it really isn't. It's amazing how well you can do when you just let the spirit guide you and you listen.  The spirit was so strong in that lesson especially as I talked about the atonement. It was amazing!

I'm glad to hear that Megan and Allen finally got their own home. That's exciting.  Aubrey do good in track! it's unfortunate that they keep bringing the younger girls up I don;t see why they do that. Just go out and have fun, that's what high school is about. have fun and meet new friends! So have you gotten any pigs for fair yet, or are you looking? I got your valentine package mom! Thank you! I  never thought I would get a package but then I got two in one day. Krista and the boys sent me a package as well. It was fun to get their cards and have something to put up on my wall. 

Well today has been pretty busy. It doesn't seem like there is enough time in one P-day to get everything done.  I got my hair cut and did laundry. I still need to finish all of my thank you letters though. Mom, I will send you a letter as soon as I know my address when I get out into the field. I can't wait to see where I will get to go and the experiences that I will get. Last night Elder Pearson from that seventy spoke at the devotional. It was a very powerful talk. I hardly got to look up I was busy taking notes that whole time. It talked about becoming a missionary, and talked about our purpose. It was a powerful talk and it was extremely motivating.

That's exciting about Uncle Martin's new calling. He will do an awesome job! I know he will there is a work that the Lord needs him to accomplish.  the lord has work for all of us. We need to be faithful and trust in the Lord he knows our path and will guide us down it. Well I have to go. Thank you everybody for writing! Thank you for all your love, and support especially your prayers. I love you all!

 

Love,

Elder Schmidt

 

keep writing :)

One week already down...

Hello Everyone! 

Well i don't really know where to start. Hopefully i can answer everybody's questions.  I guess what everybody said was true, if you make it to Sunday it just fly's by afer that.  Saturday was a pretty long day.  We were in the class room from about 9 in the morning untill 9 at night. It was the hardest day to get through. Wednesday Thursday and Friday were pretty much all introduction and orientation days so they weren't to bad.  My companion's name is Elder Jones.  He's kind of a goofy kid, but we get along really well!  We work really good together and he always opens my eyes to new ideas and new concepts of the doctrine. He is really into basketball so we share some sports interests together. Its pretty nice, we are the only two in our room, everybody else has two companionship's per room. So, we get to spread out and have our own space.  I really love my district! We all get along so well and share many interests. I will say that if we were at school or something I don't think we would necessarily come together as friends but we have come together for one purpose, and that is to bring others closer to Christ. I find that I see my self viewing people on a spiritual scale rather then a worldy scale. I must say I love it here the spirit is so strong.  However; I can see why some have referred to the mtc as spirit prison.  Needless to say you can tell which Elders have been here for over six weeks.  They kind of start to go crazy in a way.  Even though I love it here I can't wait to get out in the field. I want to teach people and I can't wait for the experiences.

Well on Monday we had our first TRC appointment.  The TRC program is where volunteers come and the Elders get to practice teaching.  It's kind of nerve racking because some are non-members and some are but they don't tell you.  It is cool though, they have shared stories about some non-members who have gotten baptized through the TRC program.  We didn't know anything about our investigator and after getting to know them we shared about the restoration and prayer.  We taugh for almost an hour which I couldn't believe.  Before I was nervoous that we would not fill the time.  We have another one tomorrow and I can't wait to do it again.  Its awesome to let the spirit guide you in your lessions because you might not teach the lesson that you have prepared but you will be led in the right direction. Well i guess I need to work on my typing skills my time is up. I love you all! I hope all is well!

 

Love,

Elder Schmidt

Entering the MTC!

Trevor reported to the MTC February 2nd, 2011!

With Mom and Dad before heading out!

After a delicious lunch, he said his final goodbyes to the family in California and to Mom and Dad! 

Unloading the car in Provo to report for 2 years of service! 

Off to SERVE!!!