September 25, 2013 - New plans for mission in D.C. north

Hey Mom!  Thanks for all the updates.  I particularly liked the part about Chandler and him "beating" me haha.  I still could sit on him.  Also about Ron, honest and true people can be found wherever you are.  He sounds like a really cool guy and I'll have to meet him when I get home.  I'm thankful we have health insurance.  It is a blessing that so many people I have worked with and seen don't have.  Hope the black belt test goes well this week!  And also an announcement for a happy birthday to Grandma Jarvis!

Well this past week has been a lot of efforts by Elder B and I to find some great people to teach.  We met a family from India on Monday that we're gonna try to go back to on Saturday or Sunday.  There's also a family that lives across the street from our members that we've talked to a few times.  They go to a church already but are nice and I feel like they need us.  We have some former investigators we're trying to work with named B and S.  They're a couple, he went to the U so he knows a little bit about us peculiar people :)  

J is doing well.  He wants to be baptized soooo bad, he's considering moving the date up but not sure yet.  He says, "I live the Mormon lifestyle already, I'm just not baptized."  Well my mother, that'll change soon :)

 

We had interviews with President and Sister Cooke this past Monday, really good.  President has some new plans for the mission.  Next transfer, Preparation Day will be moved to Monday.  Missionaries will now be allowed to go to any formers baptism, not just ones in the previous area.  We will stay in our area's a lot longer, an average of 7 months an area for about 3 total transfers on a mission.  

Today we had a special meeting with President Pratt of the Temple Presidency.  It was good, he talked about how the temple gives us the spiritual power to be the men, women, and missionaries that God wants us to be.  I'm not feeling so good (kinda like a snuffle-upagus) so I didn't do an endowment session, instead I walked around the temple, went to the 7th floor to sit and think, and went to the Celestial room to read.  It was really rejuvenating.  

 

Well I gotta go now but LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE! to the edge, Elder Schoemig

September 18, 2013 - 5 months to go!

Heyyyy yooooooou guyyyyyyys!  It's super weird that I'm on Facebook right?  But a sense of normalcy will return with time.  After the first time being on I was literally speechless.  I had to let out a few yells cause I was so excited.  I'm looking for ways to be effective online.  I don't know if anyone else has been a Facebook missionary before, it's not very big yet ;) so I think I'm kinda alone on this one to figure something out.

I have something to say to all those who are planning on going on a mission soon or ever for that matter.  Actually, this is for everyone, period.  Make your profile something you would be proud of.  Don't post any stupid things otherwise you'll have to spend hours hiding old posts and pictures.  Be ready for a mission, NOW.  Post things that you believe in, link to videos you like on lds.org or mormon.org.  It will be such a blessing for you, the people you will teach, and all your friends and family who are already Facebook friends with you.

Anyway, J has made some really big steps this week.  He really wanted us to go with him to an activity for FHE, but we've been trying to help him not rely on us and to build better relationships with the members.  He told us the day of we didn't have to go.  So we didn't, and it went awesome!  He said it was a great time with all of the people there and they played a really fun game.  We had a lesson with him last night and it was one of the most spiritual of my mission.  All three of us were about to cry, so so close to tears, but of course we're really manly and didn't ;) (Just so everyone knows, it is my opinion that's it's perfectly manly to cry, because I cry all the time, and I'm a man)

Well I am working hard, because I know that my people need the blessings.  Whether they be my people here or my people at home or my people spread across the globe making the same sacrifice for the same God as me.  I want you to know my heart and mind and might is with you Mom.  Don't doubt, don't fear.  Believe and love.  That is the formula for success in this life and eternal blessings in the world to come.  I LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE!!! to the edge Elder Schoemig

 

(Mom's note:  He has a profile on Mormon.org.  Click on http://mormon.org/me/8J6K and you will see Elder Schoemig!) 

Sept. 11, 2013 - 9/11, the day we will never forget

Hey Mom!  I'm doing well out here, just chillin.  I'm sure that your calling is for a reason and from God, we must always endure and enjoy the time we have.  Congrats to Dakota on the good game!  I'm glad the Lumina is gone.  I never liked that car.  :)  But who knows what, if anything, I'll drive when I get back home.  I'm sure my bike still works.  I'm glad to hear about G-Man, he is a stud and will always be my brother.  Can't wait to give him a big ol' bear hug from Shrek to Donkey :)

Out here things are going well.  Just the same old same old ya know what I mean?  The Sister's are doing well and doing their best to pick up what we left for them.  The French are gaining some momentum so I'm pleased with that.  As for me and Elder Brimhall we are doing great, learning from each other and teaching each other how to be better men. 

We heard we're supposed to have some storms out here soon.  It's been pretty hot recently.

I hope everyone has some time to reflect on what a day this is.  9/11.  12 years later and it's still etched in my mind.  I'm sure many people who witnessed things such as Pearl Harbor and other traumatic events can attest to that with those experiences as well.  Images and feelings can fade, but the truth is eternal.  And the truth is that we were taught this day what it would mean with the God-given Liberty we enjoy.  I love the USA, soldiers have given and continue to give their lives for this cause.  What are we doing?

Mom, I LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE WHOLE WIDE ALWAYS GROWING UNIVERSE! to the edge, Elder Schoemig

September 4, 2013 - Same companion/transfer day

Hey Mom!  I have some news for this week!  We split the area and we got Sister B, Sister S, and Sister C in our ward!  It'll be a fun and new adventure to work with the Sisters, I've never done that before.  I've been nervous and praying for the right ones to be here and for the Lord to bless them so I think that He will.  Elder B and I are staying together!  It'll be way fun this transfer, we gotta work hard and do a LOT of finding and just kill it.  This transfer we are doing a "Process of Purification" like we did a year ago, but just our district.  It is where we will fix 4-5 things we want to improve on and the Lord will help us and we will be better missionaries.  Also the mission is doing a Book of Mormon reading these next two transfers so I'm super excited to do that.  We of course have the Nats/Phillies game we're going to next Friday night, so if it's on TV you should try to watch it and see if you can spot the missionaries!  It's gonna be so much fun.  We had a great lesson with J and the Elders Quorum President, Brother S at the church last night.  J is soooo cool and he's one of the greatest guys I've met out here.  Well I gotta go now, here at the College there will be a class starting in the room soon.  I love you to the EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE!  to the edge, Elder Schoemig