Yaateeh!

Well this week flew by! We were just driving back from working out and we were talking about what we did last P-day and it seems like it was just yesterday! The time seems to go faster and faster every week. We are in week 5 of the transfer and there is a pretty good chance that I will be leaving at the end of this transfer, there are six weeks in a transfer. President usually does not leave a companionship together for more then two transfers which is three months. It doesn't seem like Elder Smith and I have been together for three months already. I don't even remember last transfer.

We had an alright week this week. Joseph and Joanne our two investigators who got married last week are suppose to get baptized this week. We met with them on Saturday to talk about some things. Joanne is ready to be baptized but Joseph is still having some problems with the word of wisdom. We told them that he would have to be over it for two weeks before he could get baptized so he wouldn't be able to get baptized this week. Joanne took it pretty hard and told us that if he wasn't going to get baptized then she wasn't. We talked to her for a while about it and she told us how she has prayed about it and it's something she knows she needs to do. I kills me to see someone that has such a desire and knows they need to do it, yet they are going to let one little thing stand in their way. We told her that it's not like he can't get baptized we just have to keep working with him on the word of wisdom and then he can. She promised me that she would ask Heavenly Father what she should do, so I need to call and talk to her. On a better note; this week the ward is doing a temple trip with a focus on getting our recent converts to do baptisms for the dead. Sandra and Terrance are both going. In order for Terrance to go he had to get the priesthood. We set an appointment up for him to meet with the bishop before church. Bishop had PEC so the interview was really early at 7:30, but Terrance made it here before bishop did(not surprising). So during priesthood I had the opportunity to do a first in my life. He asked me to be the one to lay my hands on his head and confer the Aaronic priesthood to him and ordain him to the office of a priest. That was a really awesome experience to have that opportunity. I have stood in on ordinations but never have been the mouth piece. It was really awesome.

This week we helped some members move. They needed some sewer and water lines dug so we went to help them. We started by digging by hand using shovels. If you knew how hard the ground is around here you would realize that it would have taken us all year to complete this project. So, after about an hour they decided to rent President Brown's backhoe. They were operating it at first, but they are some older people and couldn't really get the hang of it. So, they asked if we had any experience running one. I had the most of any of us which was close to none, but I gave it a try. I actually did pretty good. I got the hang of it, it was fun.

Well I better get going. I hope you all have a wonderful week! I pray for all of you. I love you very much!

Love your favorite servant of the Lord,

 

Elder Schmidt

Awesome week!

Yaateeh everybody,

 This past week has been a pretty awesome one. I didn't even realize that the second was this week, that means I have been out for four months already. It does not seem like it has been that long. This past Wednesday two of our investigators, Joseph and Joanne got married. That was pretty exciting to see them be obedient and follow the commandments so that they can enter into the waters of baptism. I didn't know this, but ever since we talked to them about the Law of Chastity, Joseph would sleep out on the couch. We had an appointment with them on Thursday after they got married and they jokingly said that we had to bring them a cake now. So, on Saturday we had to go to Gallup to get our oil changed so we bought a cake and took it over to them. I made them cut it and feed each other just like they do in wedding's. It was pretty fun!

So this week I participated in my first butchering. Sandra, one of our recent converts, daughter wanted mutton ribs for her graduation party, so we asked if we could come over and help. I was going to cut the head off but her dad just did it instead. Which is probably a good thing because I most likely would have messed up and cut the wrong spot. So here are some pictures of that. We did eat her later that day. I don't know why they like mutton so much, I think lamb is much better! But if you wrap it in a fry bread then it's not to bad. There was a fair this week with a Rodeo. It reminded me of being home and going to the fairs growing up, except for the fact that I couldn't participate in it.

Well I better get going. I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Schmidt

 Elder Schmidt still loving the animals! As close to home as he can get!

  Joseph and Joanne cutting the cake!

Hello,

Well this has been kind of a crazy week. We have done a lot of service and helping people out this week. We helped a family in Sawmill build a brick wall and we have been helping with a lot of gardens as well. It seems that most people have put it off for as long as they could and now they are suppose to be getting ready to plant so everyone is trying to get their soil together last minute. The people putting it together gave a calender with a schedule but didn't stick to the plan.

We had a couple of baptisms suppose to happen this week with Joseph and Joanne but we talked about the Word of Wisdom and they are still getting over that and we found out that they have peyote meeting's at their home, so it might take a little longer then we expected. But they are still doing really good.

Last Tuesday we did have a really awesome meeting with Elder C. Scott Grow and President Jones. They talked a lot about our numbers as missionaries and what we have to do in order to obtain those numbers. We have what are called Standards of Excellence which are based on week by week and month by month. They compiled the numbers of the mission for the last little while and demonstrated how we reach our baptism goals. He talked about setting our baptism goal first and looking at what we need to do in order to obtain that goal. It really is not very hard to reach those goals if you are obedient. Obedience brings blessings beyond belief. There seems to be quite a few Elder's that have a difficult time with obeying the rules and doing what needs to be done and their numbers reflect that. Clearly they do not recognize that they are on the Lord's time and not their own. There is no reason why we can not put ourselves aside for two years and truly dedicate that time to the Lord. We talk about our time here on Earth compared to eternity and it is not very much and if we compare two years on Earth compared to eternity it is even less! It reminds me of the story about President Hinkley when his father wrote to him and said forget yourself and go to work. Something we all need to heed to.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Schmidt

Yaateeh everybody!

Well I don't know about you but I must have survived the Rapture.

Well this has been another pretty good week here in Window Rock. We didn't have as good of a week as last week but we did get some good news. Joseph and Joann, two of the people we are working with called the court and scheduled an appointment to get married. They are getting married on June 1, so we have their baptism scheduled for the 4. We are working with another couple that needs to get married as well. They were going on Thursday to find out if they could get a date to get all the paper work. Hopefully they have so that we can set a date with them. They are all ready so hopefully we will have a couple of baptisms coming up in the next couple of weeks.

Well I had my first real "experience" with eating something weird. Yesterday we had a lesson with two new investigators we got this week. They had just finished butchering when we got there and had meat all over the place. While we had our lesson I guess the parents and everybody else cooked the meat. Well after we were done with the lesson they brought a plate full of meat and fry bread. Well if you can call it meat. They told us what it was and I'm pretty sure I wish they hadn't. They cooked the liver and gave it to us. Yes I ate liver! Can you believe it. Then we were about to leave and they brought our this huge blood sausage. If you think I ate that, you would be wrong!!! I draw the line there. That is just plain nasty!

On a better note. Tomorrow we go to Gallup and meet with a general authority. Elder C. Scott Grow is touring the mission. We get to spend the day with him and ask questions about what we can do to help our investigators and how to become better missionaries. I am excited for the opportunity!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and week! I love you all! Be safe!

Love,

Elder Schmidt

Two transfers done...

Yaateeh everybody,

This transfer absolutely flew by! It does not seem like six weeks ago that we were picking Elder Smith up in Gallup. We will be staying with each other for at least another six weeks. We get transfer news on Saturday then transfers are on Tuesday. Elder Larsen is leaving and Elder Chapple is staying. We are pretty excited for that news!

This week was a very good week! We did have our two baptisms on Saturday. It was really neat, President Jones was in Sacrament here because he had to talk to Elder Larsen about some things so we got to see them. I baptized the lady here named Sandra Begay. Then one of the members of the ward baptized Terrence. It was really neat to see that happen. He had never baptized anybody before, and he also stood in when we confirmed him on Sunday. It was really good to see some members excited and really have the opportunity to exercise their Priesthood. We have two other families that are getting close to baptism, but mom and dad are not married. We talked to both of them about the Law of Chastity and how they need to be married. I thought it was going to be very difficult for me to do, but when we really are not the one's doing the teaching and you let the Spirit teach, it's amazing. They were both very receptive and looked into everything and are making the plans to get it done. It is so awesome to see the enthusiasm of the people we work with and how they can just recognize a difference in their lives when they do what the Lord wants them to do. I just wish that the ward members had the same enthusiasm and would welcome our investigators when they come to sacrament meeting. We have a lot of trouble getting people to sacrament, so I wish the ward would be a little more welcoming in that aspect. That is one way that we can all be member missionaries. If we don't find somebody that the missionaries can teach, at least welcome their investigators when they come to church on Sunday!! This week was a really good week despite a couple of slow days we had early in the week. We got five new investigators, which we are really excited about.

We had some opportunities to do some service this week. On Friday, Bishop called and needed some help moving a refrigerator into his house. We had to lift it up some steps and for some reason someone pushed when I was trying to get it lined up with the door and it fell on my finger. Now my finger is all black and blue and swollen. Then yesterday I went with Elder Chapple to Sawmill because Elder Larsen needed to stay here and talk to President Jones. Some of the members were branding horses and needed some help.  We had never done that before so we went to help them. Now when I say horses, I mean horses that were like two or three years old. We recorded one of them, so hopefully I can get it to you. They did it the old fashion way where we used ropes and not a chute. It was pretty fun to do.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all!

 Love,

Elder Schmidt

Elder Smith, Elder Schmidt, Terrance & Brother Runningbear~ May 2011

Elder Smith, Elder Schmidt & Sandra Begay~ May 2011

First one...

Yaateeh everyone!

 

    It was so good to talk to you yesterday! It seems like it went way faster then it should have though!  You all sound like you are doing wonderful.  Thank you for all of the support1 I love you all.

    We do have two baptisims this week, and two maybe three next week.  The lady that is getting baptized this week asked me if I would baptize her. It will be my first one on my mission.  It is so fun to see the excitment and enthuasiam that people get when they pray about the gospel to know that it is true, and have a desire and want to do everything to follow Jesus Christ.  After we got of the phone we went to see some investigators.  The two that are suppose to get baptized next week we found out that they arn't married but we talked to them about it and they said that they have been wanting to do it for a couple years now but for one reason or another they were unable too.  They said that they would call today and find out about getting the paper work so that it can be done. We also talked about them gettingh married and then getting baptized right after on the same day.  So, we will see what happens.

     It is hard to believe that this is the last week of my second transfer. It seems like i just got here to St. Michaels/ Window Rock.  Now it has been 12 weeks. Time has flown by, but i am having a blast and loving every minute of it.  Today we are goiing to Chinle to have a zone activity.  It is one of our zone leaders last p-day. He dies next week so we decided to get everybody together and play some games. It should be fun.

     Well I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all!

  

   Love,

    Elder Schmidt

Three Months! (crazy)

Yaateeh everybody!

 

   Mom, I am glad to see that you are keeping such good track of time. It has been three months not two.  That means that I am one toothbrush down. It's hard to believe that I am already 1/8 of the way done. Sure it doesn't seem like much, but when I have been waiting 19 years to do this; time has absolutely flown by.  It seems like just yesterday we went to the temple and the next day got dropped off.  It has been amazing though. I have learned so much and have had so much fun.

    Well this week has been kind of a weird and crazy week.  The other Elder's truck got hit by a quad the other week, so last Monday we had to take it into Gallup to get fixed.  We gave them our truck to use for the time that there's was in the shop, since we live in our area and they cover the branch about 20 miles up the highway.  So, that means that Elder Smith and I were walking for a few days, which ended up being longer then we expected.  Their truck was in the shop until Thursday.  It was fun to get out and walk instead of being in the truck all day.  It was really hard, because we couldn't go and see our investigators that live outside of town though.  We had a really good week of investigators at church this week.  We had five investigators at church, and four of them were for the first time.  We were very excited to have them there.  One of them was a blind young man that we met last week.  He just moved down here from Farmington, and was meeting with the missionaries while he was living there.  He has a baptismal date for the 14th. We are excited, we have two baptisms on the 14. The other is a lady that we have been working with since October.  The other three that were there for the first time was a mom and dad and daughter.  They are very enthusiastic about the gospel and we are excited for them.  Saturday night when we got home we went to ask the senior couple if they could pick up one of our investigators and he was not feeling very well so we got to give him a blessing.  After we got done and got home, we got a call from the relief society president asking if we could go to the hospital and give a blessing. That was some thing I had never done before. You're suppose to get escorted by security, but they just watched us from the cameras and they have to open the door for you.  It's kind of weird because only Navajos can go to the hospital, but all of the doctor's and dentists are white. Pretty much all of the dentists are members, there are three of the dentists that are members.  It's weird they can't even take their own kids and work on them.  But it was really neat to go and give a blessing to a little boy and talk with his mom.  She had some questions so we were able to answer them for her.

    Okay in regards to calling, we just called the AP's and they said to call. They didn't give us any details. So we are planning on calling after church. We get out at 12 so I believe that is 11 your time.  So i was thinking about planning on 2 your time 3 our time if that works? If there is a time that works better for you write me a letter today and send it so I know.

   Well on worldly news we heard that the Royal wedding finally happened and that Osama Bin Laden was killed.

   I hope you all have a wonderful week! I will talk to you soon! Literally!