Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Fun pictures from Elder Schoemig

Elder Schoemig with the Halloween decorations we send him.

Elder Schoemig sent this picture for Mama Lewis.  :)

Elder Schoemig with the Arthur family.

This is for Taylor Lewis, Sydney H. Kelsey B. and Mickey L.

October 31, 2012

Hey Mom! Happy Halloween everyone! FRANKENSTORM did not live up to it's name. The damage here is minimal, a little flooding, a little power outages. We had power all the way through the storm and had enough food and water to last us if anything did happen. What Hurricane Sandy did bring however was the wet penetrating cold. The weather was supposed to get better next week from what I've heard but nothing yet. Our landlord came over last night since none of our radiators are working. He's gonna get a professional guy to come over and take a look at all of them. He's super chill.

Glad to hear that Elder Lewis is home safely. He'll get through whatever happens. I know that to be true. It comes from a very special experience I had with an Apostle of the Lord. Elder Cook came this past weekend for a multitude of things including our stake conference. One other thing was a mission conference. At the end of the conference he conferred upon us a blessing that is sacred to me. He blessed us that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and the Lord has us here for a reason. He blessed us that whoever is at home, our family and friends, no matter what the circumstance is, will be protected and taken care of. He blessed us that it will all work out in the end. There were more teary eyes than just mine in that room. I needed that desperately. I was thinking about everyone at home and all the struggles that have been confronted and overcome. Satan tries to take us down with every type of trial and tribulation in this world but the in the Savior there is safety and security, there is love and learning, there is power and peace. I feel that is the truth and the truth will set us free.

We had a miracle yesterday when we put D, the girlfriend of one of our less-active members, J, on date for baptism. We are excited to really start working with them and see all these great blessings come upon them as they progress toward the Savior.

I love you and wish happiness and safety on you and the kids and everyone as they trick or treat tonight. To the edge, Elder Schoemig
ps attached are some pictures. one is of the A family and me. I love that family so much they mean a lot to me and they moved so I'm gonna miss em. another goes to Mama Lewis, that one is the finger puppet one. i tried to put some zombies in the background to make it more ghoulish hahaha. another is a rainbow and that one goes out to Kelsey, Sydney, Mickey and Elder Lewis. They know what it means ;) the temple is the morning of the mission conference with Elder Cook. the one with me looking like i do is the decorations you sent and i put up. thanks for those it's been really fun to have them :) that is all. to the edge!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Hurricane Sandy aka "Frankenstorm"

Dear Families,
There is good news from the Washington DC North Mission.  All missionaries have reported in.  They are safe, warm and accounted for.  None lost electrical power or experienced difficulties of any kind.   No mission cars were damaged, no missionary was in harm’s way, nor have there been problems of any kind reported.  We are happy to say that the mission will continue onwards, “with business back to normal”.   Your prayers and ours have been answered. We thank you for those in our behalf. 
Some libraries and facilities that missionaries use for their Wednesday computer time may have closures.  Just know that if you fail to receive an email this week it is most likely due to other factors and not the missionaries well being.  Again we assure you they are all save and taken care of. 
Warmest regards,
President James R. Matsumori

(Mom's note:  Thank you for all your prayers for our son and missionaries.)
 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

October 24, 2012

Hey Mom :)  Sad news about Elder Lewis.  He was and still is a great missionary and I'll be praying for whatever needs to be fixed to be fixed.  He is a tough guy and will come out on top of whatever is ailing him. 

This past Sunday we were supposed to have the confirmation for K but K her mom was sick so couldn't make it so they didn't want to do it without her.  We'll have to wait a few weeks since this weekend is Stake Conference.  I'm so excited to have Elder Cook here!  He's sure gonna pack the house as we have been preparing for him to come for a long time.  I'm looking forward to this experience.

Yesterday I had a pretty awesome day on exchange in the French program.  We taught 4 lessons to investigators which is way sweet.  We put two of them on date for baptism too.  I actually got to say stuff on three of the lessons cuz the investigators new some English as well. 

This weekend B A and his family are moving to Atlanta Georgia.  I'm gonna miss him a lot.  He was like my mentor.  Someone who really could help me with signing and being a good missionary and person.  I wish him the best of luck in Atlanta and someday we will meet again. 

I love you Mom, I want to say that every week and let you know it's from the bottom of my heart.  Many times I think what amazing selfless service you provide for us kids.  Thank you. 

To the edge and LOVE YOU AS BIG AS THE UNIVERSE!!! XoOxX (Big hug, little kiss, big kiss, little hug, big hug.  Thank you Nacho Libre.)  Elder Schoemig

(Mom's note:  It was a very short time for "four for four" on their mission since Elder Kale Wright went into the MTC last week.  One of his best friend and "brother" Elder Taylor Lewis had to come home on medical leave yesterday.  He had been sick for a while and please pray for him so that he can get better and for the doctor to find what's wrong with him.  Like Elder Schoemig said, he is a still a great missionary.  We love him a bunch!)  

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

October 17, 2012

Hey Mom, family and friends! Thanks for the email it sounds like this weekend is gonna be a blast for you mom! I'll be prayin for you to get a buck bigger than dads :) Oils workin well for me. I'm actually really improved with my sickness. I don't drink milk and only buy low-fat for cereal or cooking or whatever. Can't believe that right this very second Kale is in the MTC starting his journey of a lifetime. What a wonderful feeling to have the whole squad on a mission :) Lookin forward to whatever packages come my way! The Halloween one was AMAZING you know how much I love this holiday. I think I get it from Jenny ;) This week was an awesome week! We had K's baptism go down! And her mom and older sister made it to the temple last Thursday for baptisms for the dead! Wow what progress has been made, it really makes all the struggles and trials worth it. This family is comin along, we just gotta keep on coaxing them :) Today was a blast! We went to the zoo! I saw all manners of animals! Lions and tigers and bears and ELEPHANTS! and snakes and pandas and sea lions and monkeys and zebras oh my! the sea lions were really cute when they were swimming side by side and then they kissed! the elephants were playin in the water and eating some branches and were so fun! it really broke my heart when I went through the Panda exhibit and saw that just recently a baby panda had died. made me wanna break down cryin right there. we're gonna go back soon cuz we didn't even see everything. Well I love you! To the edge, Elder Schoemig

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

October 9, 2012

Hey Mom and Dad and everyone! Gotta be a short one this week, we gotta lotta stuffs to do. I got my son today! I am training Elder S from Yucaipa, California. He is an ASL missionary and we are in a trio with Elder W. This transfer is gonna be the bomb! Elder S says he loves to cook so that's a testament that the Lord really does answer prayers! This Sunday we have K I's baptism! After many months and long hard labor it's finally here! I know that the family will benefit from this spiritual experience and K herself will benefit the most. We had a kinda slow week last week but this week we have lots of good stuff happening! How was General Conference everyone? Wow to me there was tons of revelation that was received and recorded. How about that announcement to lower the minimum missionary age for Elders and Sisters? Whooooo-eeeeeee I felt an overwhelmingly powerful testament from the Holy Ghost that that was supposed to happen and that President Monson is the prophet of God. Wow it literally brought tears to my eyes. These past couple weeks I have had more of those tearful, happy experiences than ever before. The Standard of Truth has been erected, no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. I love you! To the edge :) -Elder Schoemig

(Mom's note:  We got this a day early because tomorrow is transfer day in D.C.) 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

October 4, 2012


Hi Mom! We've had a pretty good past week! Thanks for you email lettin me know everything that's goin on! I always love these little moments. I had some really good little moments yesterday in the temple, but before I tell you about that I'll say some other things first.
Last week was a killer week for us! We have four people on date for baptism, we had 2 new investigators, 4 lessons with members present, 4 other lessons, and 3 investigators at sacrament meeting! It was really nice to see those numbers jump up like that, as they have been building all transfer. The Lord gets all the credit, we put ourselves in His hands and he did the work.
I'm glad Carson's baptism went  went great! I had a long day of work that day and was thinkin about him.
I'm super excited about General Conference this weekend! I can't wait to listen to the Prophet's voice and receive inspiration and revelation for all the people I'm working with. On October 28th we are having an Apostle come to give us a mission conference and come to our stake conference! I can't remember if I told you this before or not, but Elder Cook is coming! We are way excited for this opportunity. This will be the 3rd Apostle I've seen on my mission.
Yesterday we went to the temple and Elder W and I did sealing session. Wow what a joy and a thrill that was. They were doing a daughter sealing and I was a witness and I saw that it took seven years from her baptism to the sealing to her parents and I was so touched with the Spirit. I was crying with happiness for every name that was read from then on. After the session was over I went into the Celestial Room and felt an overpowering closeness to my Heavenly Father as I was brought to tears once more. It was Elder W and I in the room alone with the sister and it was a very sacred experience to be in there. I was truly overcome with the Spirit as I reflected on my first experience in the Celestial Room and thought of the joy and everylasting happiness that comes from being with my Father. On the way to the temple we sang, "I love to see the temple, I'm going there today. To feel His Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray." I do love to see the temple, and I love even more to be in it.
Last night I got a call from the Assistants asking me to be at a meeting on Friday morning at 10 a.m. That meeting is for people who are gonna be training next transfer. Looks like I'm gonna be a daddy :)
I love you all! To the edge and beyond! -Elder Schoemig
ps can't wait for Halloween! It's the best time of the year! (tied with Christmas of course) a special treat? hmmm maybe some of the candies that dad loves so much, the peanut butter and coconut sticks that you buy at gas stations. and some ties and some shirts. that'll be all. thanks so much :) LOVE YOU!