Bringing the Gospel to Yaounde, Cameroon

Monday, February 25, 2013

 
Dear Mom,
 
Well, I have been sitting at the computer for 13 minutes and MyLDSMail is not loading so I am starting this email on Microsoft Word. I haven'’t had to do that in a long time. I am sitting next to Elder Nash… my new companion! My old 200 pound 6"’ companion was replaced by one that is 118 and 5'’6". It is an interesting change but I like it. I was sad to say goodbye to Elder Davis. I loved working with him so much. We were together for 18 weeks and we never argued or had any heated feelings. Those three transfers were awesome. I have been really blessed to have great companions. He is now over in my old sector. Well actually, Ekounou got split up and now there are three companionships. My old area has exploded and there are so many members. It’s awesome. So Elder Davis gets to go over there and work his butt off and bring them all to the knowledge of the Gospel. He will do great.

Pointe Noire Elders
 
Jean Joseph wanted to say goodbye to Elder Davis so he had a big dinner and invited the branch presidency, the elders quorum presidency, the relief society presidency, and the MPaka missionaries. He got this big tent shade set up in his parcel and set up a bunch of chairs. The thing was supposed to start at 3:00 PM and we were there ten minutes early. It ended up starting at 4:45. … I thought Mormon Standard Time was bad. HAH! Try being organized and punctual in the Congo. It eventually started and we had a nice lesson. I felt bad though, because the branch leaders totally took over and didn'’t even let Jean Joseph even conduct or lead HIS little get together at HIS house. The Church is so interesting when it is in its beginning stages. As we were sitting there Mother Nature decided to let us know that she'’s a powerful beast and we had freak wind storm followed by awesome rain and lightning. We were all sitting there and then the tent started flying away and iron poles were falling all around us. No one was hurt. We all made it safely to the house but we were all soaked. So we just finished the night in there and then we ate an amazing dinner. I love that family.
 
I love working with Elder Nash. It is fun having someone with as much experience as you. His French is great and so that helps a lot when we are teaching. When my companion doesn'’t speak a lot of French I tend to dominate the lesson. So it helps that he speaks it well. It is just weird having someone up to my neck.  I love it eventhough it makes me feel big :) He is a great missionary. Him and I became good friends in the MTC and we would always tell each other that we would be companions in Africa and, lo, and behold, 18 months later here we are! It is great. I look forward to this transfer.
 
Elder Lavering is now over here in Congo!! I was so excited to see him! He told me so many awesome things about the progression of my old sector in Douala. Our investigators got baptized! Elder Lavering is such a chill, funny kid. That companionship was so much fun. The only bad thing is that we are not in the same apartment… but hey, maybe before the end of my mission I'’ll get transferred to a sector over there and then we'’ll be in the same apartment again.
 
I volunteered to teach the amis class this Sunday and it was awesome. I love how comfortable I feel when teaching in front of people. I don’'t get butterflies,… I don'’t stutter…, I don'’t get lost. The Lord has really helped me out a lot. I love to teach. The reason I taught was because the last two weeks were a disaster. We just wanted to show them how we want amis class to run. The last two weeks the amis didn'’t even participate and it was just two branch missionaries bickering back and forth. It was pretty annoying. They tried to do it when I taught, but I was the boss of that lesson and I didn'’t let them.
 
I am so happy that Caelan made it to BYU!  I knew she would…, especially when I heard that she got a 31 on the ACT. She is a genius. So how many names does Bronson have? Bron Bron, Bronson, Brony. … He seems to have a new nickname every week! 
 
I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week!
 
Je t’aime,
Elder Schmid

Monday, February 18, 2013

 
Dear Mère,
 
I love you. I'm so grateful for you and Dad and for all that you have done for me. I was looking through some pictures that you sent me the other night because I had some free time and every time I look at you I just realized how blessed and lucky I am. I must have done something right in the pre-earth life :)
 
Elder Christensen is doing a lot better. He got the watch that destroyed his elbow. I'll take a picture so that you can see it some time. His hair and blood is on it. That thing tore up his elbow.
 
As I was reading Dallin's email I said, "what the?!" out loud when he mentioned that he was going to do pole vaulting. Has any Schmid ever done that before? Good for him! He told me that he is taller than Kurt... that's just weird. He said that he might look at me in the eyes when I get home and I say nope. Not possible.
 
I can't believe that Kurt is home! It sounds like his talk was amazing! By chance was it recorded? If so I would love to hear it. I'm proud of my cousin. I love him. It was awesome being out here in the mission field with him. He is a great example to me and I can't wait to see him again.
 
We had two baptisms this week. Amour, who is the grandson of Jean Joseph, and Jean. Amour was baptized by Muriel, his uncle, and Muriel grabbed him by the neck and threw him into the water and then threw him out of the water. It was probably the fastest most violent baptism I have ever witnessed but hey it was done correctly and Amour had the biggest smile on his face. Jean, on the other hand, had to go under water 9 times. Poor guy... he was scared stiff when he had to go under. Right as his head would touch the water he would stiffen up and shoot up. The guy baptizing him just needed to shove him under the water but he was too nice. Finally, we got another guy to baptize him (he was already in his whites because he baptized a kid in the branch. After the 6th try with Jean we gave him a break and had this other guy baptize the kid) and he got it done in one shot. He SHOVED Jean in the water and was completely submerged by at least two feet. He stood no chance of struggling. After all was said and done he was baptized by someone holding the authority, au nom du Père et du Fils et du Saint-Esprit (in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit), and by immersion so it was accepted in heaven!
 
Here is a funny little experience. We were meeting this guy for the first time but we had no clue where he lived so we had this 11 year old member show us where he is at. We finally got there and he invited us into his house... we were hesitant because it was in the middle of the afternoon and when you go into houses you go into miserable heat boxes. But we didn't want to be rude so we went in... along with Ganish, the 11 year old kid. Right when Ganish sat down his shirt came off and he was whipping it around trying to fan himself off because we were all sweating almost immediately. It was pretty funny. We were trying to have a spiritual moment with Patrick, the new ami, and there was Ganish shirtless whipping Elder Davis with his shirt as he was trying to fan himself off. Later in the lesson I looked up and Ganish was there playing with his pudgy little stomach and then a little bit later I looked up at he was playing with his nipples. It was hard not to laugh out loud. I asked him to bear his testimony and he gave a sweet basic testimony and it made him happy that he was able to participate. I love the kids here in Africa. By the way, Patrick is awesome. He was at church for the first time last Sunday and he got a bunch of Liahonas and brochures and he spent his days reading them and having a huge spiritual feast. He is a boat captain that takes all the oil workers out to their rigs and he has two weeks of work and then he has two weeks off. He is off right now so he was able to come to church. He LOVES everything that he has learned. What he loves the most is how clear everything is. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he was stoked because he could finally read in Alma. He read some conference talk that cited Alma a lot and he wanted to read that book so bad. He goes back to work this Thursday so we'll try to see him a couple of times before he heads out.
 
Elder Davis turned 20 on the 16th so we went out to eat at our favorite restaurant, Le Grand Café. In order for the restaurant to sing happy birthday to him we had to buy a $24 cake... HAH!! I'm not that white!! So I just stood up after we all got our ice cream and I announced to the whole restaurant that it was Davis' birthday and I had them all sing Happy Birthday with us. It was awesome. Happy Birthday Elder Davis! He definitely got a little red after. Victory.
 
Yesterday was my four year anniversary of receiving my patriarchal blessing. That blessing has brought so much comfort and insight into my life, especially over these past 20 months. Every time I read it, my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ grows. It may seem crazy... going into the house of a man that you have never met before in your life and then having him lay his hands upon your head and pronounce upon you one of the most intimate blessings you will ever receive. I'm so grateful that the Lord loves me. I know that He lives and that He is aware of each and every single one of us.
 
I love you all so much and I hope you have a great week!
 
Je t'aime,
Elder Schmid

Monday, February 11, 2013

 
Dear Mom,
 
Thank you so much for sending me Kessley's testimony. That was powerful. His life is a perfect example of the Lords redeeming love. He is an incredible example to us all and I know that he and Grandpa are there helping Kurt and I fight through Satans forces and converting people to the true Light, our Savior Jesus Christ.
 
We had a pretty good week this week. It was just another week full of teaching and walking and heat and sweat and no power. We haven't had power at night the last 5 nights and it has been pretty miserable. You just lay there and your pillow soaks up your sweat. It is so difficult to sleep. It gets to about 86-88 degrees in our apartment but the humidity is what kills. It is disgusting. Oh well... I'm in Africa.
 
Please forgive me for not telling you that I got your package! I'll tell you now to make you a little happier... Oh, hey Mom I got that package you sent me! Thanks so much! But really, harmonica? That was completely random and not expected. I loved the notes from everyone. I love you guys! Speaking of things like that... that letter you got from me last week made it to you in less than two weeks. I'm going to try to send more out. We just don't have that much time to write. We are always go go go on pdays.
 
I was able to go on splits with Elder Christensen and we had a 10 lesson day in our sector. I love days like that so much. They always go by so fast and when you get home you are just exhausted, but that is always good. That is when you know you worked hard.
 
The basketball court over at the church is finished and it is fun to play on. We were teaching some of the branch missionaries who were there how to play, after English class, and one of them cut Elder Christensens elbow wide open and we had to go to the hospital and get stitches. He got 6 but he should have gotten at least 10. It was a huge deep cut and it was in a perfect circle. I got some sweet pictures. You could lift the skin...it was a huge flab. We have no clue what cut him but it got him good. So we got home super late. The Wheatley's weren't there... they were still on their safari trip in Tanzania so I was in charge and I went with him. They guy we rent from is awesome and said, "Mes enfants, vous irez avec moi."  (My children, you will go with me.)  He gave us a ride and stayed with us and brought us back and it was late and far out. We are going to bake some banana bread and give it to him. Christensen is doing good. He just can't bend his right arm. It is right on the elbow. He can't even see it.
 
I'm sorry this email is pretty lame... It was just another week and I can't really remember anything too crazy. It all blurs together. My Eccos and my Asics are starting to lose their tread. My Eccos will probably last me the rest of my mission. I will probably buy some African dress shoes and wear those home on the plane. Don't worry about sending me anything. For all missionaries leaving, tell them to get those underarmour socks that I have. EVERYBODIES socks, except for mine, are falling apart and have holes all over. Those socks were totally worth the money. I guess there is a missionary mall over by the MTC... don't tell people to go there because all their stuff falls apart within the first 6 months.
 
I had a sweet study in D&C 4 and Moroni 6. I want you to compare D&C 4:3 and Moroni 6:3 and tell me in next weeks email what you understand from those two scriptures and how they go together. I want to see if we find the same things. I love studying the scriptures! Have a great week and Happy Valentines Day in advance! Say hi to Kurt for me when you see him!
 
Je t'aime,
Elder Schmid

Monday, February 4, 2013

 
Dear Mom,
 
Dang, you already got my letters?! I sent those about three weeks ago! I thought for sure they would get to you in March. The Lord answers prayers. Those are there, in your hands, because you guilt tripped me on our amazing skype call on Christmas :)  Ravens, won... yay.  I could care less. I laughed when I read Dad's comments about Dallin trying to get you to let him watch it. What you guys did instead will have such a greater impact on the family. I can't wait to experience times like that with you guys again. One day when Dallin is serving the Lord full time he will understand. As for now, sucker!
 
I have a lot that I want to tell you so I am going to fly through this email. Please correct any spelling errors on my part.
 
We had a zone activity last Monday and we went to this super nice golf course and hit up the driving range. It had been almost a year since I had swung a golf club. I was cranking it! I was hitting it over 250 meters with the big driver. I don't know how far that is compared to people who actually play golf but it was cool watching the ball disappear. I almost nailed one of the ball fetchers way out in back of the range. He thought that he was out of my range... HAH! We also drove through the jungle and it was gorgeous. I took some awesome pictures and I'll try to email them to you soon. It was so beautiful. We went to a gorge that had beautiful red cliffs and over looked the ocean. That night we went to a members house to eat and I ate some animals intestines and it was so weird. It had fur stuff on it. It is definitely not one of my favorite things to eat.
 
One of our recent converts named Délaur has had a lot of personal problems lately. We have had a hard time seeing him and finally the opportunity came and we jumped on it. We had a long talk with him and he explained to us everything that was going down in his life. He was kicked out his house because he refused to deny the faith. He wanted to stay true to his testimony. His dad wanted him to leave his church and rejoin him in their little neighborhood assembly but Délaur basically said "heck no!" Délaur made it seem like it was such a simple choice for him. I was very proud of him when he told us that. He hasn't been to church in a few weeks because of major issues with the family but he will come back. We know that he has a testimony...after all he was kicked out of a nice house because of it.
 
We met this new investigator, and when we sat down, there was this young woman who had more than the gospel on her mind... that probably wasn't even close to what was on her mind. She was just staring at us as we would talk and she tried her best to do seductive looks. At the end of the lesson she asked me when I was going back home (to the states) and before I could answer she said, "You need to take me with you." I looked at her with my "get-out-of-here" face and said very bluntly, "My home is not your home." She hasn't said anything since.
 
Fugain is an amazing investigator who loves to read the Book of Mormon. He had had the book for a week and had already read to 2 Néphi 4. He always asks legit questions and understands so well. He will be getting baptized on February 16th.
 
We had another rendez-vous with this kid named Pierre. It was our first rendez-vous with him and we had to meet up at a school out in the quartier so he could show us where he lived. Right when he walked up to us he said "Bonjour" and immediately said, "So what do I need to do to get baptized?" Well Pierre, you are with the right people!! That happens a lot out here. But most of the time it was just to good to be true.
 
Over here everybody thinks that we are Jehovah's Witnesses. It is pretty annoying. In french they are called Témoins de Jehovah. You are guaranteed to have at least one person call you that as you are walking from rendez-vous to rendez-vous. One day we were walking and this younger lady walked by us and kind of said quietly but loud enough so that we could here, "Les témoins de Satan!" I just turned around and started laughing. She turned around as she was walking and smiled. Oh well.. if she associates the devil with them I won't change her mind.
 
Hey, just to let you know, I got Christmas letters from the Enghs, Grandma, and Oma and Opa. I loved them all so much!! I love hearing from my family. I have the best family in the world.
 
Here are some cool little Sunday facts. Fugain, our ami, hasn't missed church since he first came and he is now at 5 Sundays in a row. Amour, our other young ami who will also get baptized on the 16th is at 5 Sundays and hasn't missed one since he first came, and Daljus, who was baptized the week before I got here to Congo is at 22 Sundays in a row and hasn't missed since he was brought by a friend for the first time. We have awesome members and investigators here. We did weekly planning yesterday and we were planning for 33 people. We have so much work to do.
 
I love you all so much and I can't wait to hear from you again. I can't believe that Kurt is on his second to last week. Le temps passe vite! Have a good week!
 
Je t'aime,
Elder Schmid