Letter #59 August 22

Hi Family,

Well this week has been a good week. they are all just going by so fast which is just crazy. I feel like everyhting in my life is great and i wish that I could share EVERYTHING that I did so that you can understand but it's just not possible and when i get home life will be going just as fast and I will never really be able to tell you wheat happened and how I felt throughout different times on my mission. And the sad thing is that I feel the same way about you all. i want to know EVERYTHINg you are doing in your lives and I want to know how you feel and all the little details of your lives but it's just not possible. It's just a weird feeling. I hope you are keeping good journals so we can play story time when I get home.

Well this week my companion and i have been successful at running EVERY morning. Yes (minus Sunday) we have gone running in the mornings. 12 times in the last 2 weeks. But I have gotten worse at eating ha ha ha so funny! But It's good fun. So this week we have been meeting with lots of less actives and having success 3 of the less actives on our list was at church this week it was great. It is exciting seeing people coming back and feeling the love and joy that comes from this gospel. I know that this is the happiest I have ever been in my life because I am getting to share the joy that I have found in the gospel. We talk about the amazing temple that blesses the land of Ukraine and I think about the MANy temples that bless Utah. But how many of us really let them bless us personally. I definitely didn't take advantage of the temples when I was home but now i true know how important they are because I see people giving all the have in order to come to the Kiev Ukraine Temple. What it takes them to come is nothing what does it take us at home to go? a 5 minute drive and 2 hours of our time all for the blessings of Heaven to have Heavenly Father to stand with you and strengthen you through out your week. Sounds like an unfair trade yet its what we have and we don't take it. Crazy.

Well We had a miracle where we had a lesson in a park with a friends of a member ( the friend was not with us) ans she committed to church ( and came) and then we were leaving after the lesson and this lady ran to us and recognized us as representatives of Christ and asked to talk to us. So we did. We talk to her and she saw the Book of Mormon and realized that she had a friend that was a member. It so happened to be the exact same member. I called the member that night and thanked her for being a great member and being an example of the believers. It strengthened my testimony of member missionary work that they really are doing their part by being great examples. That can also be an example to all of us. That we want to walk and be recognized as believers whether we have a name tag or not. There are eyes on us all the time. Members and non members. We still want to be seen as true believers of Christ that we live the gospel not just believe it. So I challenge you to look at yourself and see what parts of your character need work so you can let your light shine so that others can see that you walk with Heavenly Father. I know that as we do this Heavenly Father will rejoice and bless us and help us in all aspects of our lives. i love you all so much. Have a great week.

Till next time!

Sister Schmidt

Letter #58 August 15

Hey it's me again!

Well I just want to say how much I love you all. Oh man I just opened up the sister missionary new grooming site and I am such an ugly missionary! Yikes you will die when you see these beautiful sister missionaries. :( That just brought my spirit down. ha ha check it out but feel pity for me being stuck with the old dress standards! ha ha

http://missionary.lds.org/dress-grooming/dress/skirts/

Okay so what a great week! We have been blessed SO much I can't even tell you how great this week has been. i truly feel like I have been an instrument in the hands of the Savior to help investigators, active members, less/non active members and missionaries come unto Christ. First of all out numbers were great but we all know we feel like we work harder than our numbers show. So this week we spent hours trying to find our lost sheep in the ward. This ward has 300 less and none active members. So we have been doing a lot. We are in charge of 106 people. We spend hours trying to find them and see what happened and in all the hours we found one. But oh haw great is the joy when we bring but one soul unto Christ. Saturday we stopped by over 10 people trying to locate and bring back our brothers and sisters and we found Alexandra. We met with her Saturday and then went and picked her up for church Sunday. We introduced her to members and to the bishop and Relief Society President. They were all shocked when they saw a non active member come to church with us. Least time she was at church was over 8 years ago. We have helped 3 less active members come back to church in two weeks. It as been a great thing to see them to church. We are also doing good work with investigators but its not has great. Oh but I told you we set a baptismal date that's good.

I can truly see the members starting to trust us. I am so grateful for them to feel like we are trying to work with them and do out best to help this ward. I sent you my President's Letter about the otter miracle of helping the members. I just wish Could explain all of my thoughts and excitement about the work. I actually love being in Borshahivskiy again. I love being around the mission President. He is a man of God I think he is so incredible. This week He got mad at me because I didn't say hi to him so I stood right at the opening of his door and waved in and he got more mad at me that I felt like I couldn't come into his office it was really awesome. I just have so much on my mind and can't spit it out. So mainly this. I Love this work I know that if I do all that I can Heavenly Father will make up the difference of where I lack. I am grateful for my family doing all that they do for me. You are amazing. This work is the greatest thing ever. I love it! i love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Schmidt

letter #57 August 8

well Are you all dieing to know where the sent me.... I will give some hints....

1- It's in Kiev

2- It in Kiev West Zone

3- It has a temple and the office and the assistants in the zone...

I am sure you are thinking wait... Borshahivskiy? She has already served there.... Op guess what you guess right I am in Borshahivskiy my first area again! Crazy huh! I will begging and end my mission in the same area! CRAZY right! To be honest I was actually really bummed at first but I was luckier than Sister Carpenter! So We were in Bulgaria for it all and didn't know so when we came back a few hours after transfer meeting we were just off the plane and Elder Park the Senior couple financial Elder called us and told sister Carpenter where she was going and told me too so sister c was like okay and was super quiet so I found out I was going back and told her and she was like I am going back to my old area too craziest thing was that she was going to lviv we switched places and she served with sister k in borshahivskiy so they are together a second time. Interesting transfer huh. Also we got 12 new elders and randomly we were supposed to have 13 but one booked it out of the airport in Amsterdam and no one knows what happened to him! crazy right!

Okay Bulgaria was awesome it was quick nd successful while we were there we went to the Apple store so much technology has come out! I want to get an IPhone. I am going to get one when I get back and then we can all talk on Face time have you heard of it? Mom dad jen and heath who all have iPhone ipads or an itouch we can do Skye all togher at the same time for free cool right! So I already decided I have to get an I phone ha ha ha worldly moment oops!

So I got home found out where I would be serving and then drove to the office and we exchanged companions which was super funny! and then we got to work. This week we have worked hard and had some great things happen. Oh before I tell you I have GREAT news!

Andri Recent convert from Center is serving mini mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great huh!!!! I hope ina year he serves a full time mission then comes home and marries Yulia! After her mission of course!

Okay back to Borshahivskiy So Sunday was great I saw so many people I knew from a year ago oh and funny thing... Thursday the 4th of August was my exact 11 month mark in the country 11 months ago i flew into the same airport i was ine got in the same car with the same driver to the office and found out i would be serving in the same area same exact date just 11 months ago! weird! Sorry that this e-mail is so ADD. I guess somethings just don't change! That should change though ha ha oh well. So Sunday... talked to a lot of people some remembered my face so that was cool other still good friends. It is neat how together sister stiles and I know a ton of members there is a lot of work here to do And we set a date with an investigator that has been investigating for 7 months and never had a date we finally set a date with her she is geting baptised next month on the 9th please pray for her her name is alexandria! oh and it is super intimidating because president and his family attend this ward. So I get nervous around him that I am not doing everyhting perfect! but Lets be honest we already know I am not doing everything perfect anyways! I keep having really really weird deja vu I just think sister Robinson should be behind me in the kitchen or studying its weird! Well I love you all so so so so much! I am sorry this is all over the place but I love you all hope to here from you soon!

Sister Schmidt

Redo sorry about the cut off- Letter From July 18th

Hi family,

This is going to be fun. I have news.... It seems to be that my mission call will be changing. this e-mail is not coming from Ukraine, I am in bulgaria..... STILL! Yeah I know. I was supposed to have returned to my mission on Thursday..... It is Monday and I am still here. So I am now serving in the Bulgaria Sofia mission! Wahoo!!!! I am kidding, sorta. I came to Bulgaria with 6 elders and sister carpentar. We had one day in Bulgaria and were supposed to head home. Well Wednesday I get a call from our mission telling us that Sister Carpenter Elder Lewis and I didn't have our visas and that we were not leaving with the rest of the group. So we thought that we would get them the next dat no big deal... False. We are still here and no news about our visas. We have been staying with the Sisters here that ar ina three some so there are 5 of us in a tiny apartment. The day we got here we went out and were seeing EVERYTHING and eating everything. They have Dr. Pepper here subway KFC, pizza hut and other American places. We were loving it Starbucks and all that good stuff. But then we got called and told that we were stuck in the country and we wouldn't be leaving. So we stopped trying to eat at everyplace in one day and calmed down. So then we returned home and we found out that the sisters weren't feeling good. We then figured out what our purpose was here and why we were stuck here. The one sister had a fever from 102-104 and I stayed inside with her for the past few days. The first time I got out of the house yesterday was 8:45 PM because I stayed and took care of her. I wanted to just get out and walk really fast. I am on a day to day basis on when we will return to out mission. I am sorry this is short I wish I could right more. I am out of time! Love you all so much!

Sister Schmidt

Letter #56 August 1

HI!

What do you knw it's me again. I wonder if these e-mails ever get borring after all you get it everyweek and they dont change very much. First off it's official, Dad saw my Elders and what was supposed to be me at the airport. Maybe it's a lot better we didnt see one another. Second of all because of that situation I now have news. As stated previously I have not recieved my visa, SO I got a phone call this morning it's the last P-day of the transfer. We were sure one of us was leaving and I figured it was me but I didn't start packing because I just wasn't sure. okay back to this morning. I get a phonecall from one of the office elders informing me that they just bought my tickets to go to bulgaria AGAIN....best news I fly out from Kiev TOMORROW. So that means we have to put 2 and 2 together I am in L'viv an 8 hour train right away.... YES I hav to hurry and pack tonight. Then he states you will get back on thursday right after transfers... So I thought wait one of us is getting transferred do we come back after transferrs or what? They say uh.... I will have the assistants call you..... So I get a phone call about ten minutes later saying Sister Schmidt I have permission to let you know you are being transferred and you have to pack up all your stuff BEFORE Bulgaria. That means I have to once again pack up and leave in the same day. Last time I at least had 14 hours this time i have ten. I know you are all wondering did I cry? Sure did. I have come to realize that Heavenly Father LOVES to keep me on my toes. I have yet to feel secure when transfers come around. So I am writing this and then running home to pack and be one a train by 8 tonight. I then fly to Bulgaria stay there till Thursday and come back to a whole new life and area where I don't know my companion but the whole mission already does. Yikes its crazy family. Sister K and I laughed and though gee what is heavenly father preparing for in my life. Maybe I will never have a stable place to be. Maybe I will marry an army man and be moving from base to base out of the blue. ha ha Just kidding I don't think I would marry an army man but it's just interesting!

I am sad to leave my area but I am ready. I feel like it is time for Sister K to take over to truly feel the love of L'viv and learn the area. I know that there are more people and places that need to touch my heart and change my life as well as I to them. I had a great last Sunday. President came to L'viv and we had an 8 hour zone conference. It went by so fast and was a great experience for me. I really loved it. Then he stayed and spoke to the branches. I had to speak before him and I was terrified I guess it was the first tie in his life he heard a sister missionary speak. Too bad I batched it and can't speak Ukrainian I just said the same thing just in 7 different ways. Ha then we had branch lunch and it broke my heart as I saw these people get a craze in their eyes because they are all so hungry. people don't have money here! :( and then we all took a few pictures and one member that I have been working with trying to get him to get over some issues came and personally thanked me for the influence I had on his life and that he says I really helped him and he can't explain by words the way he feels. I almost cried because I truly felt like he meant it and I knew all the meetings we had and talks to help him understand things. Then the branch president heard I might be leaving and said that he really loved having me here and that Sister K and I were the best companionship they have had in the branch for a really long time. It was sad but it was such a great Sunday. We took lots of pictures and it was just a wonderful way to end my service in this area. i love these people so much. They have all touched my heart and changed my life. I know that missionaries come and go and they barely remember who serves in their branches but I am just so grateful to been able to work with them an strengthen them and they strengthen my testimony. This work is amazing. I am not here to help these people they are here to help and strengthen me. For that missions are such a selfish thing. We ALWAYS come out of top even though it seemed like a sacrifice at first. I am changing and growing thanks to this work and I am so far away from my potential but it is a progress and that is how we grow and involve is through time as we sit in the hands of our God and Savior and they mold us and shape us. I love you all I will let you know how Bulgaria was for round two and where and with whom I am serving. Spread the word and spread the love.

Sister Schmidt

Letter #55 July 25th

Hi family!

Where did July go? Everyday I walk out of the apartment and snicker. I keep thinking its the beginning of May. The weather here is so amazing. It has not gotten over about 90-95 degrees all summer. Everyday it sprinkles a little day and keeps things cool and moist. Heavenly Father really is controlling the weather for me on my mission The summer and winter here have been very mild but the years before were very extreme. I am a very grateful sister! (and Aunt) ha ha I love saying that I am an auntie now. Heather and Rich will you start Charlotte now to say Teetka because Teetka means aunt in Ukrainian or teetchka which means auntie (in cutesier form of course) She is adorable! Congrats on the baby blessing. Does she have a middle name?

Well I am back in L'viv. I flew in to Kiev of Tuesday late night and then Wednesday went to the temple and got on a train to l'viv. We normally take night trains from 10:30 to 6:30 but they didn't have anymore so we had to take a train that was ten hours long from 3 in the after non till 1 in the morning. It was really old and gross and hot but I was just happy to get back to L'viv. I missed everyone so much. On Sunday they all ran up to me to ask me how Bulgaria was. It was nice that they missed us. Well we worked rally had and were blessed with good numbers even though we weren't in our area for the first half of the week.

I have great news! One of our investigators, Isabella (a 70 yr old grandma that is a singer) is getting baptized. Our first meeting she said she thinks she wants to get baptized and then we looked at dates she said the 21 or the 23 well having us be gone so long she wasn't ready or wanting to get baptized on Saturday. But we have been working and praying and fasting for her and she i probably getting baptized this Saturday. It is a little crazy of a day and week though. Because it is the last full week before transfers and on Saturday we have an 8 hour long zone conference so we will have zone conference Saturday from 9-5 then 6 will be her baptism. She still has a lot of fears and is worried about the ugly baptismal outfit. Will you pray for her to have the courage and faith it takes to get baptized this Saturday and in your prayer will yo specifically pray for her to not be worried about what she is wearing. (its a big deal to her :) ) So please for her and excercise your faith to help her.

Well We also have a few other investigators. Bogdana is a refferral from the brach President. I love her and get so frustrated with her at the same time. It's funny. I feel the way mom probably felt about me when I was in high school. I seemed to work out okay so I think Bogdana will too. She is cute and accepting but she tries to sell my vitamins all the time but she still wants to know about the message. It's confusing. We also have the twins. The are very active socially but I think that the young members have become a bad exapme for them. They have talked about the different members and that the bad things they do at church. It is stressful because I try to be an example but oh man it gets frustrating. I am learning patience and understanding how my parents had to deal with me and my poor sunday school teachers. Bless all their hearts for putting up with me. Thanks everyone for putting up with me becasue i was so difficult! ha ha I love you all the much! Please remember to pray for our investigators especially Isabella! I love you all!

Sister schmidt