Aug 30

Well everyone this is the last week before transfers. I have mixed feelings about transfers, I really dont want to go to Temucla it is super hot there, that is what the other Elders have told me. I feel like I have tracted this whole area though. So it would be nice for a change i have been here for a while. My comp and I are getting along really good lately to. They say it always happens this way. Just when we are working good together it is time to move on to a new area.

I got letters from Alyssa , Uncle Grant and the Goodwins. Tell Alyssa super thanks for the gift cards I am planning on using one of them today. Uncle Grant told me how proud of me he is. That was nice to hear. I guess everyone is staying up on what I am doing through my blog. thanks mom for doing that. And the Goodwins letter was so fun I can't believe that Jess is old enough to swim. It made me jealous I want to go swimming. When I come home I am going to spend a week at their house and swim everyday.
Thanks for the picture of my Ellie girl and dad. She looks like she is getting so grown up. As long as she is still silly when I get home and she remembers me it will be all good. I have some pictures on my SD card I want to send do you want to trade SD cards again.?

We are working on reactivating some of the members in this area but have been striking out lately because the couples both work. They spend a lot of time working down here. Alot of people dont get home till after our cerfew. So its a little hard to catch them at home.
We worked with the Myrical family again this week. The first appt was great well this second one we brought the ward mission leader with us. He got a little deep for them. And they need someone who speaks spanish. The husband speaks perfect English but the wife dosnt speak it or understnad it as well. We get to meet with them one more time before transfers. I hope that I can see some success with them.

That is cool about Cory Hancock coming to my mission. I dont remember him that well but it will still be fun to have someone from home. He can update me on all that has happened there since I left. What the heck Brady is ranked 4th in the state for wrestling how does that work ??? He only knows one move. Sorry Brady that is good way to go little brother.
I love you all
Stay Classey
Elder Schmidt

Aug 23

I got the package. The cookies are so good mom thanks so much it was a taste of home. I had to go straight to the store and get some milk to go with them. I gave my comp a few but I didnt want to share. This was to good.

I got my debit card so now I can get my sunglasses. If we have a chance to go before transfers. I feel like I am going to get transfered so not sure if I will be able to go.

We had our conference with Elder Gibbions he talked a lot about working with members and using them to set appointments up for us. That would work if we had any active people on our side of the ward. No worries we will find someone. We set a new goal this week and we are going to have some success.

Sorry my email is late we went to the New Port Beach temple today . It is nice to go to the temple and relax. Believe it or not being a missionary is hard work and a little stressful. But you know me mom I dont get to stressed out.

We had a guy named Shawn come out to a gospel doctrine activity. He says he wants to come to church so cross your fingers for us.

Sorry to hear about Bradys injury tell him I say to endure. He is going to have a great season. Tell him to get good grades or he will be living in a van down by the river. I am so funny.

Gotta Run
I love you all
Stay Classey
Elder Schmidt

Aug 16

We are finally done with exchanges . Yeah it seems like it takes forever. My companion is a district leader so he goes on splits with the other Elders in our area it usually takes about 24 hours per person. I still havent got my package yet. I need my new debt card. I want to get some sunglasses from the Oakly factory. They wont send the package on. So unless we have a reason or they have a reason to come here i wont get it untill Zone Conference, I went to the bank and got some cash out so I will be fine for a while.

Dont worry about it mom I am sure the cookies will still be good. Your cookies usually stay soft for a long time.

We have Elder Gibbins coming next week for a conference his whole talk is supposed to be about reactivation. Our area really needs this. Our whole half of the ward is inactive. We spend a lot of our time with them. I know its important to reactivate them but I want to convert people also.

Tell Darci I am proud of her and I want a wedding announcement.


So football is starting. When do you guys play Bingham?? and what about Highland don't they have a lot of starters returning? Keep me updated. I hope everyone has a good season.

I love you All
Stay Classey
Elder Schmidt

August 9

Slow Week
We had a slow week this week. We did a lot of tracting. It is muggy every morning and then hot all day. We ride the bikes everyday. I don't think I will ever get used to riding bikes. I have nick named mine Frankenstein because I have had to piece it together with different parts. And well its green.

I got my birthday package! Thanks for everything you are the best. I was really wanting to go to the Oakley Factory again but we have been so busy even on P-Days. My companion and I worked all week in our area. He didn't go on exchanges all week last week. We have such a big area to cover it takes a while to get places while we are riding our bikes. In the last ward council meeting the ward mission leader asked us if we were really doing all we could. It was a little frustrating because we have been working our tails off. The other side of the ward were the other missionaries are serving had a baptism. They had someone fall into their lap, so it looks like we are not doing anything. We met with some members and asked them to be member missionaries. The problem is our side of the ward is full of less actives so we spend more time trying to reactivate them then finding new converts. I am venting a little. I have a hard time understanding how someone could have the gospel and then become less active. Thanks mom and dad for always being faithful. I know I am so lucky that I have had the gospel the whole time I was growing up.

So football season has started. Tell Ethan to be nice and not hurt anyone. and tell Brady to play some defense. He is a smart kid with a thick head I am sure he will figure it out. Wow Ellie playing soccer huh that is kinda funny. She is such a goof ball. There is a family in our ward that has 5 little girls in their family. On Sundays I see them and it always makes me miss her.
I don't know how much longer I will be in the area. I think I have the Moses ADD because I am getting tired of this area. I guess the ADD is like diarrhea it runs in the genes. That was my joke for the day.
Well this last week was slow so that means this next one is going to be great right!!!!

I love you all
Stay Classy
Always Faithful
Elder Schmidt

Aug 2

Hey everybody. Well this week we did a lot of service. We did what they call a hogs head in a car. Let me explain this to you. We worked on a 1919 Model T Ford the transmission was leaking. So mom this a once in a lifetime experience. We took the top off the transmission that is what we call the hogs head. Then we put some sealant in there the guy that owns the car is called Bob Robb he is not a member so we worked in a discussion while we did the hogs head. After we finished he started asking questions I don't know if he was just doing it to be nice because he worked out tails off. We were feeling good about our service and as soon as we got home someone from the ward called and asked us to help them move. We were so tired when we got home. I had a hard time with the moving because of my wrist and the bike wreck. Well the day after we did all this service we got to visit with President Cook. He is a great guy. His wife tries to be the mom to all of us. She took a look at my wrist and told me to take it easy for a week and not do any heavy lifting. I told her I have a high threshold for pain. But she did wrap it for me and it feels better to have it wrapped. Its doing a lot better.
It was a fun week it was nice to mix it up a little this week with some service.
Hope everything is going good for you guys.

Love you all
Stay Classy
Elder Schmidt

July 26

Well transfers were today and I'm staying. i was kinda of thinking I might be moving on but the Lords needs me here a little longer.

We met a guy from LA his life is messed up he served a mission to England but has lost his way a little. We are working with him. He is humble right now and that is the first step.
Remember how I was talking about the Born Again preacher that is in the area. Well we have been working with a family that has been influenced by his preaching. Well we met with them again. So glad that we had Brother Anton there it was a very humbling experience I need to study alot more. But at the end we challenged them to be baptized. They said no. But they are willing to do the Moroni Challenge.
We are in an area that has a lot of less actives. There are 4 missionaries per ward and we cant visit all the less actives on this side of the ward. We have this guy that works in the Oakely factory he is going to work us a deal on some sunglasses. I am so excited. He is a recent convert so he like spending time with us. He also helps us with the less actives. I think it is as frustrating for him as it is us. How could you forget the gospel.

Well everyone I love you
Stay Classey
Elder Schmidt

July 19

Hey everybody I have a funny story to tell you all. I had to put a tire on Old Green. that is my bikes name. Its working great now. Anyhow we had dinner with this Poly guy and his cousin. Well it is their custom to shake hands and then kiss both cheeks. Well I was a little shocked by this old lady kissing both my cheeks that as we left I wrecked pretty good on my bike. I grabbed the wrong brake and hit the front one instead of the back one and went right over the front of the handle bars. My comp was laughing really hard. But I now have a cool scar and story to go with it.. ha ha

I had a PMG training all day Saturday. And then we have meetings all day on Sunday. Hey Dad I go to Ward Concil meetings just like you. Some people really need to keep their comments to themselves.

Also Cali is a fun place to be. It is hot and a different climate. We caught a black widow spider and we are keeping it as a pet. I know Mom its not a pet. We already let it go I just had to tease you a little bit.

Hope everybody is doing ok.
Love you all
Stay Classy
Elder Schmidt