Dear Mom,

 

Time keeps going by at a faster and faster rate. This week went by way fast. It was a good week too. Elder Johnston and I are getting used to our new sector and finding our way around. We have an awesome member who has worked with us three times already. We don’t have a lot of investigators, so we have been focusing a lot on inactive members. We went to our branch president’s house and talked to him about our goal of working with non actives and he changed his clothes and went out with us and took us around to the houses of inactive members in his area, and this week we will start visiting them and helping them out. We have a special training program for the new missionaries that we call the 12 week program, and week to week we study about certain principles of missionary work. This week we studied the importance of working with members, so, we are trying to improve the member/missionary relationship and gain their trust. Things are looking good.

 

This weekend we were able to watch General Conference at the church with the church members and it was incredible. I have never been so concentrated on conference talks before. The four general conferences that have gone down since being on my mission have done so much for me. Before the mission I was excited for conference because that meant I could lay down on the comfortable couches and relax and sleep. But now those 10 hours are so precious to me. I loved Elder Craig A. Cardon’s talk on the Atonement and forgiveness. I love it when people get fired up and raise their voices a little. That’s why I love to listen to Elder Holland so much. Elder Cardon nailed some basic principles that can make all of our lives so much better if they are put into effect in our personal lives. I also really enjoyed Sister Dalton’s talk. That was powerful. She will be missed. I always love it when speakers talk about families and marriage. I really enjoyed Elder Clayton’s talk on eternal marriage. I loved how he used the phrase “watch and learn.” I have the perfect examples to watch and learn from… thank you Mom and Dad.

 

We have an awesome kid that we are working with named George. He is an inactive member who is coming back because he misses what he once had. His story is pretty interesting. He went to Equitorial Guinea following soccer dreams and false hopes, and one day when he was down there reality hit him and he realized that he was distancing himself from the Lord. He made some big mistakes over there and, with the help of his mother, got the courage to come back and straighten things out. He is a young kid, I think around my age. So these past few weeks Elder Johnston and I have been teaching him the Plan of Salvation. I love teaching him because he loves learning everything about every principle, so that allows us to go into deeper things that we don’t talk about too often or things that are not often understood by individuals who don’t have a deep conversion in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. This week he was telling us about one of his friends who would always tease him because of his religion. He would get picked on because he would wear his white shirt and tie every Sunday. He would get picked on because he is such a minority here in Cameroon. He would never let that get to him though. He said that it was difficult but he let it go and didn’t worry about it. He was still a friend to the other kid. The other day this one kid’s mother passed away unexpectedly. It has been a difficult trial for this one kid and also for George because George was often there with that family. So as we were in our lesson with George, he said, “I have been thinking a lot about what I could do for my friend. I want to go over to his house and share with him the message of the Restoration and talk to him about the Book of Mormon. I think right now would be a great opportunity to do that. Do you think that that would be okay?” Ummm YES!!! I was so proud of George. Here is someone working to find again his testimony and through the process he wants to lift others with him. We told him that that would be a great thing to do and also mentioned to him how much the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation could help that grieving family at this moment. He was so excited. I look forward to hearing about how things turned out. We have a Book of Mormon and Plan of Salvation brochure that we will be giving to George tomorrow so that he can give those to his friend. Missionary work rocks.

 

I’m going to tell you about something that happens quite often in one way or another over here in Cameroon. Elder Johnston and I were leaving our apartment and we were walking up a big hill to go to the main road to get a taxi. As we were walking, there was this man who passed us going the other way. So, like we normally do, we said “bonjour” and kept on walking. He responded with a cheerful greeting and continued his way. We got to a gas station at the top of the hill and before we crossed the road this man that we passed a minute before had caught up to us. He started talking to us… small talk stuff. And we said, “weren’t you going the other way?” and he simply said, “I was trying to but some energy kept on pulling me toward you guys and finally I turned around and ran back up to catch up to you.” We basically said, “Well, that energy wants you to learn something very special and this is what it is…” and we gave him a Restoration brochure and we exchanged contacts. For me it was just another run in here in Cameroon. I looked over at Elder Johnston just a few minutes ago and asked him what he is going to write about in his emails and he mentioned this little run in with this man named Rod. It kind of helped me remember of the little miracles that happen every day in the life of missionaries.

 

Next week is going to be an interesting week for us. On Thursday, all of the missionaries here in Yaoundé will be taking the bus and going down to Douala for a big zone conference with President Jameson. We will be there until Saturday. Friday, President will be doing interviews for the Yaoundé elders and depending on the schedule of President Jameson that could be my final interview with him… my exit interview. That seems somewhat surreal. On Saturday, we will have the actual conference and right after that we will head back up to Yaoundé. Then, on Sunday,  we will be skyping our families!! So, I will be able to see you guys! I am so excited! It doesn’t seem like it has already been over four months since I have seen you guys and heard all of your voices.

 

Well, I gotta go. I love you so much and I hope you have a great week! Mom, always remember that tu as de la chance de m’avoir comme ton fils! (You are lucky to have me as a son!)

 

Je t’aime,

Elder Schmid

 

Cleaning my aprartment

Storm coming into Yaounde

Dear Mom,

 

I just looked at every picture that Janalyn took for Caelan and they look amazing! Caelan is so beautiful! It is crazy seeing how much everyone is growing up. It sounds like she has been having quite the senior year. I am proud of her. I love my family so much and miss you all like crazy, but don't worry... after two more months of giving it my all, I'll be back home with you guys :) That's a wonderful thought.

 

So I have been having some pretty hard core asthma lately and all I have is an old inhaler that expired back in September 2012 so it hardly works. If you send me a package could you please put a new inhaler in there. I have no clue what is happening but I have been waking up in the night because it was so difficult for me to breathe. I have only used two inhalers my whole mission and I left all the others in Douala but those won't do me any good because they all expired last year. I thought it wouldn't matter, the expiration date and all, but now that I really need it, I am starting to realize that I was wrong. Don't feel rushed! I'm not dying... yet.

 

This week we were able to go to the monkey park and look at they monkeys. It was neat but it wasn't as fun as the last time I went. Last time I went we were able to get right up close to the gorillas and chimpanzees and what not, but this time they had us far away from the fences. We didn't even get to dodge chimpanzee poop and sticks! That's the whole reason we go there! It was still fun though. Last time I was there, I was with Elder Lamb. Time has gone by so fast. I think my favorite part was being able to be with the Gaileys. Our four man district was in their truck for the drive and I was up front sitting with Elder and Sister Gailey and we were able to talk a lot. I think I feel so close to them because they remind me so much of our family. I really hope one day that you will get to meet them. They are some of my best friends out here on the mission... that's for sure.

 Elder Johnston and I have been getting to know the sector and we have it down pretty well I think. It's still a little rough in some areas but things are getting better. We don't have as many lessons as I am used to. Like last week we only had 19 and this week we only had 17. I know that in other missions elders would kill to have that opportunity... so at the end of the week when I report my numbers, I have to remind myself how blessed I am to be in an area where I can just go out and talk with whomever I want about Jesus Christ and they will accept me and continue a conversation with me.

 

I really like what you said in your last paragraph.  (From mom's letter:  "I know the Lord is always mindful of you and will always watch over you.  I pray that He will continue to bless you with the strength you need to endure, and a feeling of peace so that you may always be happy.  I'm so proud of you and of all your accomplishments!  You left as an immature boy and you are coming home as a man of God.  I hope the traits you have developed on your mission will stay with you a life time.")  So much has went down since June 29th, 2011 and I have changed so much and I hope and pray that these changes will stay with me for the rest of my life. There will be days when I lay my head on my pillow after a long day and I just ponder my life and everything that has gone down. I realize how far I have come and I just sit there smiling. I am so blessed. I'll be talking to people about my life over here and when I'm done I'll sit there and reflect over what I just said and then quietly think to myself, "Man, my life is perfect." I am so grateful for the maturity that I have received since leaving you guys. My understanding of things of eternal importance has grown so much and it came after the biggest trial of my life. This week in priesthood we discussed chapter 7 in the Lorenzo Snow book. I love that gospel principle so much... we cannot be exalted and become as our Father is if we don't pass through tribulation and trial. I love finding answers to life's questions. I have found a lot since being set a part as a full time missionary. One of those questions that I had was, "As faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do we have such big trials? Doesn't the Lord bless those that love Him?" I found the answer to that question in the New Testament, 1 Peter 1:7-9.  ("That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.")  I love those verses so much. Those have become some of my favorite verses in the scriptures. I use them often because they provide so much understanding. The finest steel comes from the hottest fire... and our Heavenly Father doesn't want anything but the finest steel in us, therefore those who truly love Him and put Him first find themselves receiving some of the biggest trials in this world. We have gone through a lot lately as a family and as individuals but that is because we are putting God first. He wants us to be polished and ready for when we see Him again. I love talking about that so much with people.

 

Well, I love you and I hope you have a great week. Thank you for your prayers. I need them and I know that the Lord is answering them and helping me out.

 

Je t'aime,

Elder Schmid

 

Elder Johnston and I eating your typical Cameroonian dish...
mashed whatever-you-can-get with fufu.

 

Dear Mom,

 

It sounds like you had a crazy week! I'm glad everyone is doing well and enjoying life. It sounds like Caelan did wonderful in the MVT production. I wish I could have been there to hear her perform. I miss those times. I regret not taking full advantage of them before my mission. I enjoyed your little testimony of how our Heavenly Father always hears and answers our prayers. I have had the same thing this week... I realized that I needed His help in a certain area, so I quickly went to my knees and before I knew it I had the help I needed. I know that He loves us and will help us according to our faith and righteous desires.

 

This week proved to be one of the most challenging weeks on my mission. Well, the beginning of it to be more exact. The missionaries, whom we had replaced, set up a schedule so that a branch missionary would be working with us everyday to show us around and make sure that we didn't get lost. Well, all the branch missionaries bailed out except for one and we had him for two days, Tuesday and Wednesday. The rest of the week we were on our own trying to get to the right parts of the city, and then trying to find the little shack in the middle of the numerous labrynths that exist here in Yaoundé. One of these days I am going to record me walking from the road down to one of our investigators houses. You need to have a good memory. You could get lost so easily. We have had to do contacting to expand our teaching pool and that was successful. Our goal is to contact around our members houses. Actually, if we did it like I want it to be done we wouldn't do any contacting. Our members would give us referrals and that way when that certain investigator came to church he/she would already have a friend there so they didn't feel so isolated and secluded from everybody else. Elder Johnston and I have been trying to really drill that into our branch missionaries. We'll see what comes of it in the next few weeks. So yeah, this week was challenging. I think it was all mental though. There were a couple of days where I came home and was mentally exhausted and went to bed early. BUT now I feel like everything is just fine. I'm grateful to be here and I am so grateful that I get to finish my mission here. It is a beautiful sector.
 

Elder Johnston is doing great. His french is awesome and this week we got over the "getting to know you" awkwardness and things are normal. He is a great teacher and has great insight. We had the opportunity to teach a man who was recently released from prison, and he was an anglophone, so we taught in english and Elder Johnston as able to teach majority of that lesson and did an awesome job. It was on the Restoration and the Spirit was definitely there. This man we taught, his name is Manga Peter. He was injustly thrown in prison and was there for a while up until a few days ago when they gave him his papers of release and let him go. While he was there, a member of the Church passed by and started talking with him and taught him about our message and about the Restoration and actually gave Peter a Book of Mormon. Peter read the beginning of it and had a lot of questions. The member gave Peter our number, and so once Peter was free, he contacted us and we were able to meet at the church and answer his questions. I feel bad for the guy. He is big. Like as big as Dennis (I think he means tall). He lives way out on the edge of the city so I doubt anything will happen with him because the missionaries won't really be able to go out there, and it will be difficult for him to come to church at least once a week. A seed was planted... Elder Johnston and I watered... but in the Lord's due time the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will come to him.
 

Last Monday, we were invited to a Family Home Evening with an American family that lives over here in Bastos. The father is one of the big dogs at the United States embassy, so they have a pretty nice place over here. They are here with their four children who are child genius'. We ate an incredible carbenara pasta ... I have no clue how to spell that. The fun part was being able to talk to the parents and then have FHE with the whole family. We acted out some stories in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The kids had a blast and it was fun letting the inner kid out. The lesson was followed by an amazing apple mango crisp. I was going nuts!! I was in heaven! I guess they really enjoyed having us over because they invited us again and we will be there next Monday evening. We'll have to make them cake or something. Oh my goodness... I almost forgot! They sent their driver to come pick us up at the church because we didn't know where they lived. So, we were just chilling there and then all of the sudden this huge white Nissan Armada pulled up and we were told to get in. I haven't been in a car that big (besides the bus from MTC to airport) since the morning of June 29th, 2011. I was put in the back between two car seats but I wasn't complaining! I would take that over being crammed between to african mommas who had just finished working in the field all day. I have had some shirts stained from my taxi acquaintances.
 

Me, with some of the mangos that were sitting on
my lap on the bus trip home from the university.

 

The other night Elder Johnston and I had just finished a rendez-vous with some young women from Pointe Noire Congo. They are here at the University. The university is basically "au village." (translation - in the village) It is so far out! We had to get into a crammed bus and we started our way home for the night. I was sitting there just looking at Africa pass by as we were in our rickety rocket tin can bus and I had one of those moments where I realized how incredible my mission is. It was one of those moments where I realized that I am in Africa. I love it when those moments come. I was crammed in my corner looking out a badly scratched plastic window, the man in front of me was stuggling to speak english to someone of the phone, the bus driver had some cruddy african music playing on the speakers (thankfully it wasn't super loud), the men behind us were eating grilled corn. The young girls all around us were, of course, talking about us and singing American music. We joined in when they sang "Apologize" and it was fun. I had wild mangos on my lap from a family that we met with earlier in the day. There was a child who wouldn't stop staring at us because they had probably never seen a white person before. There was an albino black woman sitting towards the front who was dressed like a woman who needs to be taught the law of chastity. There was another child crying because he thought we were ghosts. I just sat there and took it all in and realized that these moments are numbered and soon will be but a memory. I can't believe how fast time is going by. I am grateful for what Africa has taught me. I'm grateful for what the Lord has taught me. I'm in the process of fulfilling my priesthood responsibilities and the Lord is definitely blessing me accordingly. I know that I have been called of God. I love my life :) And I love you all! Have a great week!

 

Je vous aime,

Elder Schmid

Dear Mom,

 

I just logged into my email and it took just over a minute. Awww yeah!!! Fast internet! I have missed this so much! I am so excited to be back in Yaoundé. My life changed in this city. It is special to me. I'm glad to hear that you all are doing well. For conference, we were only able to watch the announcements by President Monson about the 65,000 missionaries, and we also watched President Packers talk and then we watched the Priesthood session. There were some powerful talks. I think the two that touched me the most (out of the 7 that I saw) were Elder Callister's and President Monson's talks in priesthood. I remember being deacon's quorum president but I didn't even come close to understanding my full potential. President Monson's talk in priesthood seemed to be geared toward missionary work, so of course, all of the missionaries there that night were glued to the screen. I love when President Monson teaches because he teaches with his experiences. I am always so interested in his talks because he can pull you into his life. That is how it was for a few weeks when I was reading his biography. I know that he is a prophet of God.

 

I'm glad you are following up with your commitments to the missionaries. We are always trying to get coordonnées but it is so difficult because people are scared that their friends are going to think they are weird or overbearing when they find out that the missionaries were sent to their house at the request of that particular member. Don't fear! It's the gathering of Israel, right? We're all in this together. Thanks for taking on that challenge and doing your best with it. You guys are golden.

 

So, I want to tell you about a little miracle that took place as Elder Addington and I were leaving Congo for Cameroon. In the past, missionaries have had to pay for overweight charges when traveling, like when I went to Congo. Well President Jameson announced that the mission will now cover those charges so we are able to pack our normal things and not leave books and what not behind. Well, as I was packing I realized that I was going to be overweight and by a lot and I just felt guilty. I didn't want precious church funds to have to go to a missionary who wanted to have a few extra french books and things he has collected over the mission. I knelt down and prayed and basically said, "Look, I know that I am overweight. I understand that the mission will pay for the overage charges. Father, please let Elder Addington and I go through without needing to pay, and allow these funds to go to something more important. But I know the Church we will honor the laws of the land." Something like that. Well, I picked up Addington's suitcase and he was twice over the limit. Together we would have had to pay $160. We got to check in and they put the bags on the scales, I was looking around and other people were getting charged for their overweight bags so I thought to myself "great, well, get the money ready..." Something went wrong with my check in pass so I sat there for about 10 minutes and then the guy weighing the bags announced the weight to the guy checking me in and he simply said "ok" and gave me my pass and smiled and said, "have a nice flight." I couldn't believe it!! It was like it didn't even phase them. It was an awesome answer to prayer. I don't think that has happened before with the missionaries traveling to and from Congo.

 

I am now with Elder Johnston. He is from Oklahoma and is very white. Every missionary is when they first get here. He is somewhat quiet but has opened up a lot over the past day or two. We haven't been able to do much teaching because of the activities and meetings and what not, but this week we will hit the ground running with our branch missionaries and really get into our sector. He took french for four years before the mission and his basic french skills are really good. He is just having difficulties understanding what the people are saying. Cameroonian french is not the prettiest... that's for sure. I know that in a transfer or two he will have it down and will be teaching just as much as I am. I am so excited for these next two transfers.

 

I know that some of you have sent things to Congo and are worried if I will ever get them. Elder Nash said that he will take everything home with him that comes after I left. So no worries. I'll get to open your letters and what not and you can watch!

 

I am so happy to be back here in Yaoundé. The Whitesides are awesome!! We have such incredible couples in the mission. I have always heard great things about them and now I get to experience them for myself. It hasn't even been 4 days and Elder Whitesides and I are already good buddies. I have to thank the Gailey's a lot though... they put in a good word about me. I was actually able to see the Gailey's when I landed in Douala. We were only together for about 20 minutes because they had to get us to the bus station to go to Yaoundé but it was awesome being able to talk with them in the truck. I love them so much. They come up to Yaoundé sometimes so I'll be able to see them a couple more times before I go home.

 

Well, I'll have more to tell you next week! I love you all so much and I can't wait to hear from you next week. You are always in my prayers :)

 

Je vous aime,

Elder Schmid

Dear Mom,

 

Hey, so I have something exciting to say! Remember when Mimi Cody came over to our house right before I left and told me to find her family whenever I made it down to Pointe Noire? Well, I was able to call her sister and her brother and I actually met with her sister, Helga, and presented her with a family brochure and Restoration brochure and invited her to come to church. She came late but she came! She stayed for some meetings in the branch after us. She came with her daughter. She was happy to be there and will be meeting with the missionaries this Thursday and we will give her a Book of Mormon. I was able to get some pictures that I will be giving to Mimi when I get back. I have only been able to talk to her brother on the phone. He lives way the heck out there but we might be able to meet somewhere in the middle sometime this week. So make sure you tell Mimi that. I’m sure she will be thrilled.

 

We have some awesome investigators who have really made a lot of progression this week. For about a month we have been teaching this guy named Jules. He is always there with Flogers. Up until this week, he hadn’t really made a lot of progression. We gave him a Book of Mormon and we would give him things to read and what not but it was so obvious that he didn’t read when we would bring it up at the next rendez-vous. Well, one day Flogers wasn’t there so we took that opportunity to do a little two on one with Jules and it made all the difference. We felt like we needed to talk about the Book of Mormon and the importance of it. Elder Nash shared a sweet scripture that I love so much. Mormon 7:8-9 (Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.  For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.)  We had Jules read it and when he did he was smiling super big and nodding his head and at the end he looked at us and it looked like he was on the verge of tears. He said, “that is exactly what I needed to read.” He went on to tell us that he knows the Book of Mormon is true and that our message is true. It was neat because it is such a simple verse basically stating that the Book of Mormon and the Bible work hand in hand but for him that could have been a matter of conversion. He went on to tell us that he hasn’t been to church since he was a child (he is about 25 years old) and that he has always been hesitant because there are just so many and he doesn’t know where to go. He then said that he knows that our church is the church that he needs to go to and he promised that he would be at church. And he was! He finally came and he learned so much! It was awesome. I love watching the Spirit work with people. It is always a beautiful thing.

 

Whenever we go see Flogers and Jules, there are these two little boys who are probably three or four years old who love us. They will always run up to me with their arms open and I will pick them up and throw them into the air and then catch them. They will run off and play for a little bit and then find us again and just crawl up onto our laps and chill. One fell asleep on Elder Nash. It was pretty cute. I saw one coming to sit on my lap and I quickly noticed that this little kid had just peed his pants. They were all wet down the legs and before I could move to keep him away he was already crawling up. I figured that my pants were already super dirty so I just let him. Oh Africa. After you are here for a while you just don’t care. You just tell yourself “this is Africa.”

 

This week I finished reading “The Miracle of Forgiveness.” That is such a powerful book. I love how President Kimball wrote. He was so bold and made things so clear. No one can walk away from that book without a desire to be a better person. No one can read that book and not get their soul pricked either. But that is always good because if improvement is necessary then it would come through inner conviction telling you that you need to do better. That book is the perfect conduit for that. I am definitely going to read it again when I get back home. There is a chapter that I loved so much titled “As a Man Thinketh.” He talks a lot about what that one Allen guy talked about in his book also titled “As a Man Thinketh.” I will be reading a lot when I get back home.

 

So yesterday was Easter. I hope it was a happy day for you all. We are all so blessed to have the knowledge that Christ is a resurrected being, living, and guiding our Church today through a living prophet. I love bearing witness of that. Elder Lamb showed me one of his favorite scriptures and it has now become one of my favorite. Luke 24:5-6 (And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen:  remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,)  I love how our church doesn’t put so much focus on the cross. Why? Why worship something that thieves died on? Why worship something that was only partial to the plan. Christ said that he was going to die… well we all are, aren’t we?  But he also promised that he would live again just three days after! Our testimony to the world is that He wasn’t a liar. That He was true to His word. He lives. I know it. I have never seen Him, but I don’t need to see Him. The truth has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost.   I love telling people that.  No one can ever argue against my testimony.  It’s true.

 

So, I have some news for you all. I am being transferred. Next time I write you I will be back in Yaoundé. I will now be working in a sector called Bastos 2. But here is the really sweet news. I’m training!!! That makes number three and I couldn’t be any more excited! My happiest moments on the mission have been when I was involved in the training process. So far I have done seven transfers (42 weeks) and now I get to do two more. My new companion is Elder Johnston and I believe that he will be flying in from the States on Friday. So that means that we will be doing a white-wash. Neither of us will know anyone or anything about our sector. It will be interesting but it will be fun! Elder Thibault will also be white-washing and training. I am going to the sector he is in right now. On Friday he will be going down to Douala to work in Bonaberi. Elder Nash will be working with Elder LaFleur. Do you remember him? He and I were companions for about a week in the MTC when I was in that threesome. I am stoked to see the Gailey’s again. It will only be for a short time but I’m excited to talk to them for a bit. They are awesome. So, now I get to finish my mission doing what I love most. I am so grateful for that. I have had such an incredible mission.

 

So that’s my week for you! I hope all is going well for you guys back home. I pray for you everyday and whenever I read your emails I always see that Heavenly Father is answering my prayers. See ya!

 

Love,

Elder Schmid