Letter #36 March 13

Hello my dearest family,

Good news... I still love my mission! ha So things have been good I went to L'viv. Oh boy, Trains. So our train left at 10 at night and we got to L'viv at 7:40 in the morning. I struggled all night to sleep comfortably. I am good at sleeping so poor sister Robinson who is not good at sleeping, she struggled more than i did. Well we got there and I hate to say but, L'viv just isn't what I pictured. I heard SO much about it so I made this dream town up in my mind and it wasn't like that. I hope I still serve one more here in Kyiv and then Head out to L'viv I love this area nd i don't want to leave it. But where the Lord wants me I will go. I think it will be prettier in the spring and summer when it is not so snowy and dreary. I really would love to serve with Sister Podvodova there though. That is the one thing I wouldn't mind about serving their in a

I LOVE kyiv so much. I have the best area, best members and great companion, with the most adorable investigators!

This week was a HUGE holiday the 8th of March! It is woman's day and the celebrate it a ton. So take note I expect all of you to celebrate it when I get home. It's neat they do everything for all women and girls not just Mothers like on Mother's day. They buy flowers and don't let you work and the thank you for existing. It's cute! All the Elders for district meeting bought us chocolate and roses waiting for us. Sweet little boys.

Wow I think for the first time I am at a loss for words. I don't really have anything new to say or anything. I just wish you could all be here and see all that I see and be here for my ups and my downs. It truly is funny how it can be a roller coaster of emotion. But it's not as bad as it was in my first two transfers. I don't nearly cry as much. ha ha I think the last time I cried was a LONG time ago. That's a good sign right! I am loving it here so much! I just love being a missionary. But man I am still not as good as I want to be. I translated for Americans that were here adopting children and It was SO hard I was terrible at it. They were so nice and funny! I just loved them. One lady really touched my hear her name is K Shaw she is from Orem she can't be more than 30 and is adopting a 16 year old girl. She saw her in Utah on a host thing and new it was her daughter. She doesn't speak English and the mom doesn't speak Russian she has no idea how to communicate with her daughter. AH that would be so hard! The other man I adored was with his second wife adopting three children. His first wife and three children died in a car accident 4 years ago you might know about their story and then he had 3 others die of cancer so he only has two kids from his first marriage and then she has 4 of her own and thy are adopting 3 together! What cool amazing people.

Well Update tomorrow we have a huge zone conference with someone from the area presidency. President has been freaking out for a month about it. I am super stoked! Then President Lawrence is his name we have to leave at 6:20 to be on time! that means we have to be up at like 5! Yikes! I better not fall asleep during it!

We already know who our new mission president is. He is from Germany his wife is from Ukraine they are in their 40's you can look them up on the church website and read about them!

shapka's 50-150 dollars Buy or not buy?

Camera? Buy or not buy!?

I am sorry I spend so much money! I am such a pain. I love you all so much! This was such a random e-mail. Pray that I receive incredible Revelation at the zone conference! I am in need of it! Thanks!

Sister Schmidt

Letter #35 March 6

Hello hello!

So has anyone caught on that each subject is a song :) give ya ten bucks if you can name that song! ;) ha ha

Everyone.... To buy or not to buy that is the question.... Do I buy an authentic Ukrainian fur shapka/hat? They are a little expensive, I will never wear it in America unless snowboarding to be funny, so in my mind why would i waste good money on something that might just collect dust and take up space. But on the other hand if I served a mission in Ukraine and never bought a Shapa that is just crazy. What to do what to do... Please one and all let me know what you think but lets me honest it's probably what mom and dad say will be what i choose :) ha ha

Okay next guess what!!!! I AM GOING TO L'VIV TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! woahoo! I am taking a train to l'viv tonight at 10 i will get there at 8 in the morning. I am super excited I will be going with sister Robinson. Big shock I am always with her. at first I was going with sister Kok kola (she is from Hawaii and i can't ever remember or pronounce her name) but then I think they realized we didn't know how to get there because we have never been to l viv. I don't really know why I am going but President told the assistants that he wants us out there for an exchange for two days which isn't normal. It's weird because they said no matter what I am going they just were trying to figure out what other sister would go. It was interesting. I am super happy about it though! I think i will be serving there soon.

Dad Andre and youlya are not living together :) they have already accepted the law of Chasity and the word of wisdom. Cooest part they asked us about the law of chastity because they didn't think it was right. Cool huh and they didn't have problems with the Wow because they were already living the law.... oh ye of little faith ;) they are doing good I am still not knowing how best to help our investigators. I am so sorry this was just business. Wish me luck in L'viv. I return on Thursday! I love you all I love this gospel. I know this church is true! LOVE YOU!

Sister Schmidt

Kyiv Ukraine Temple - Youth Cultural Celebration

Letter #34 February 28th

Hello one and all!

It's a beautiful day in Kyiv Sister Schmidt is smiling because the sun is out and there is blue skies. I find myself struggling to be super happy and excited it is is cloudy and grey. And Let me tell ya it has been cloudy and grey! Mild case of seasonal depression? Possibly. but bci odho! because it is beautiful today and I am a happy little missionary. Whats new in Kyiv?.... nothing. What's new in my missionary life?... Everything! I Love being a missionary (nothing new just felt like restating it) Can you believe I am a missionary. Sometimes it freaks me out especially because this month (March) I hit my half way mark. Yeah tell me about it I am going to come home before you even start missing me. Freaks me out just as much as it does you. Still don't know the language, still don't know how to be a missionary, but still loving live trying to learn these things. I just hope I get the hang of it before I blink and I am already home!

This week we had some GREAT experiences and miracles! Yeay! I love miracles. So your prayers are appreciated and working. So updates on our amazing investigators! Youlya (20 yrs old) prayed (last week) and knelt and asked if she should be baptized on the 12th of March. Next time we saw her she said that she said she is not ready and doesn't think its right. I was CRUSHED! o the next lesson we had was with Andre (23) and youlya together. We had a great lesson and I felt prompted to ask her about her thoughts on baptism again and she told us this long story about seeing people readying books everywhere, and as the end I said so what do you think about what does that all mean and she said "I think it's a sign" Yeah my jaw dropped too! I told her that's exactly what it was and that she needs to get baptised. she agreed but (there i always a but always that's the kicker) she wanted to get baptised with Andre who hasn't received a sign. I prayed my little heart out I was walking on clouds all evening! I knew they were getting baptised and they were coming to the baptism the next day oh and Andre knelt at the end of the lesson and prayed about baptism! So at the baptism we had another lesson with them and was super spiritual. He said he still hasn't received a sign and doesn't want to pray about an actual date. He says after he receives a sign then he will decide a date. once again crushed. I felt like my heart got stomped on. No I didn't loose the faith I just want it SO ad for them. They need to want it like I want it for them! Ah! So they said they will probably get baptised in a month or two but They have to be careful or that it going to go away and they will never get there.

Next situation.... Natalia (22) she wants it she wants an answer she wants and knows it is important to get baptized. We ended our lesson with her praying and kneeling and asking if she should also get baptised on the 12th of March. Well sh came to church yesterday and asked the ladies in the ward what is wrong with her and why she still hasn't received a sign. It was so neat that she felt comfortable asking for their advice! She is incredible! I think she truly wants it but expects something bigger than just a feeling but she says that is all she expects but. We really need to help her get it she is ready and willing. Please keep praying for these people. They are so amazing and truly have humbled themselves and want to do what it right. they just need to have the faith to do what is necessary. I think all the time of the scripture it is only after the trial of your faith that you receive a witness. It's that way in all of our lives. Not even focused on things such as church but we find ourselves needing to make decisions about life, school friends and work and we need to have the faith to decided what you are going to do, ask your Father in heaven if it is what he wants for you and then GO and DO!

I am so grateful for this Gospel it has made all the difference in my life. This week my companion has been feeling ill and we were at home last night talking. We were talking about our lives and how we have changed and become different people. I am forever indebted to my savior. He is the only way I have been able to be where I am today. The atonement is so real. I think about Alma the younger and how he was one of the "vilest of sinners" and through the atonement he was able to change his life and devote himself to the serve of saving souls. I relate it to me and how now I am on the Lords Errand. I have the opportunity to help save my brothers and sister her in Ukraine and I owe it all to my Savior. He literally saved me from a life of sin and sorrow. I now find myself surrounded by His love and mercy everyday of my life. I have found the joy and comfort that we read about in the scriptures. I love this work I love who I am becoming and I love helping my brothers and sister feel the love of their Savior. I love you all and I thank you for your love, example, and strength that I feel everyday!

Sister Schmidt