February 17, 2014 - Last few days

Well Mom, this is my last P-Day.  I said what I wanted to say last week, but here's a follow up on how the week went.  It was the weirdest week of my whole mission! I felt like God was saying, "You better have pushed yourself this whole transfer and not just relied on this last week cuz Imma send a snow storm to keep you inside for a day and a half."  And I can reply, "I did." I have been at peace for these last weeks.  I feel like I have really been ok with the concept of "going home."  It will be hard and I'm gonna cry, probably a lot. (#realmencry) But it'll be ok.  God has me in His hands and I trust Him. #Proverbs3:5-6

This ward has blessed me so much.  I cannot tell how how great each and every one of my areas has been.  I have never had a ward or branch that I wanted to get out of.  I feel that these past two years will be as Grandpa Jarvis says, "the best two years for your life."  I'm glad that I followed Grandma Jarvis's advice, "a little hard work never hurt anyone."  I'm glad that Grandpa Schoemig has been with me a lot of the time, guiding me and helping me.  I love my family.

I hope your time here in Merlind has been good so far.  It's kinda snowy and cold but hey it's February.  This is all so surreal to me.  Is this real life?  Have I even left the MTC? Have I even gone to the MTC?  I am now thinking of "Silent Lucidity" by Queensryche, "relax child you were there..."  That brings me some comfort haha.  

I bear my testimony of the power of a mission that has helped me feel the divine love of God, the mercy and justice of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the truthfulness of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church.  I share that I have defended the divine origin of the Book of Mormon and the sanctity of the marriage covenant.  I have sung the song of redeeming love and the melody of mourning.  I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for this.  If I could sing His praise forever I would still be in His debt.  I am humbled by the two years of man-making that I have enjoyed and endured.  I have done what I came to do.

Well this is more like a see you soon than anything else.  I LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE!

Here at the edge, Elder Schoemig

February 10, 2014 - Closer to the edge, Mosiah 20:10-11

"Now I'm closer to the edge"

Can't believe this is it.  Last full week.  Make it count. 

I stepped into this world of diligence and love two years and two days ago.  I have fought as it describes in Mosiah 20:10-11, "as a lion... and for their lives... and like dragons." This is my pinnacle, my shining moment, my masterpiece, and all glory be to God.  I will work this week as I've never known myself to work, I will serve this week as I've never known myself to serve, and I will love this week as I've never known myself to love.  This isn't about me however.  This is all about Him. 

I have seen Him here in DC.  I saw Him in the eyes of the first deaf Ethiopians I taught here.  I saw Him in the brothers and sisters that faithfully attend church every Sunday despite living paycheck to paycheck, and in neighborhoods where I never would have dreamed of living before my mission.  I saw Him in the laughing and crying children every week in church, at the park, on the streets.  Most recently I have seen him as my dear friend, Z A, got dressed in white and was baptized.  I have seen Jesus Christ all around me.  I hope others see Him in me.

Am I ready to come home?  I have found peace with it.  It is OK.  It was meant to be an ending so that I could experience the joy of a beginning again.  The Lord wants us to love things so deeply and so tenderly and then to give them to Him just as we give Him the things that we don't love about ourselves: our sins, trials, and pains.  The total commitment that is consecration comes in gifts great and small that we give to the Savior. 

I know I have been and will continue to be engaged in the greatest work that has ever been.  I know that the Lord and Savior of whom we speak and seek is this Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible and Book of Mormon testify.  I know that Jesus Christ restored His church and worked through a man, Joseph Smith.  I know Joseph saw what he said he saw.  I know that the temple is the House of God on the earth, and I love to see the temple.  I know that the family is so important that the appointment as the fundamental unit of society was not only given to us by God, it is part of what makes God.  God is our Heavenly Father.  He love us and wants us to be with him.  He gives us mountains to climb, hills to sled down, valleys to walk, and rivers to cross so that we can come closer to Him both in the journey and desination.

Man's extremity is God's opportunity.  Now I'm closer to the edge.

Learning how to use Ipad

Elder Schoemig's mission area are one of the few that get to learn how to use Ipad and here is the picture as he is learning how to use it.  :)

Elder Schoemig - bottom left corner

February 3, 2014 - IT'S OK! and a shout out to his father...

Hey Mom! The title of my post this week is, "It's OK."  That was something I learned to say last Saturday night, but I'll get into that a little later.

First of all, Z A is getting baptized this Friday!!! Woooo hooooo! It'll probably be the last baptism I have while I'm a full time missionary, barring some unexpected miracle, and it tastes so sweet! He is so ready and we've been able to meet with him a ton these past few weeks.  He had a really busy holiday schedule with family but that's all done now so we're in the clear! It's cool because it'll be the two year mark of when I got set apart by President Carpenter. 

I need to send a shout out to Dad, you know what day it is today. I learned many lessons that night, and I don't know why it happened, but it's OK.  I know that if you had stayed or if the Lord had decided to take you home it would've been in our best interest as an eternal family. I love you Dad!

So the past few weeks have been just a *little stressin with knowing that the iPad's were coming (yes we have them, no I don't particularly like them, guess I'm too "old school," but they are nice for certain things), and that my days left as a missionary are dropping like the temperature did a week ago (we had highs of 14 degrees, not too bad, I know Sister Lewis had -19 in Chicago at one point, but still cold).  Anyway, one of the recent converts and women that've I've learned to love and trust because of her amazing insight into what I'm feeling, sat me right down and gave me a 45 minute talk on how I've touched so many people's lives, and I've become the best missionary I can be, so why am I stressin?, and just enjoy the ride.  She made me count to ten and take a breath, after which I said, "You're right.  These past two years I've worked so hard for this.  I've done everything that I can, and I'm gonna enjoy the last two weeks, but still work hard.  I've done what I came here to do.  And I'm gonna miss it." (cue the tears) And then she said, "And?..." And I said, "And it's OK." I've been told by a lot of people lately that it's ok to cry, it's ok to miss the mission, it's ok to be starin down the barrel of a shotgun called "Going Home", that it's ok to this, that and the other, but I finally realized that it is OK.  You'd expect that when the greatest force for good in the entire universe, the Atonement, comes and drapes itself upon you that you'd feel heavier right? Wrong, you feel lighter because that force is the love of God, which takes our pain, sorrow, and grief away.  

I love you to the EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE! I'm closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

January 27, 2014 - Getting closer....3 weeks this Wednesday

"Gooooooooooooood afternoon Silver Spring Zone!" is how I normally greet the zone when we send mass voice messages that we call fittingly, "call-outs."  And that is how I choose to greet you today Mom, with a great, big, guttural "goooooooood afternoon!"  Anyway... I really appreciated the email this week, it makes me very excited to hear about what good basketball players Dakota and Carson are, but I think I can still take 'em :) It's great you got a smart phone! I would like to get one eventually as well, hopefully sooner than later ;) (That's a really BIG wink by the way)  The ASL temple session sounds like tons of fun! I know I've really enjoyed it all the times I've been.  It really helps to discover some more of the emotion behind the Plan of Salvation, however I haven't seen or even know if they have a translation for the new film yet.

Well this past week was a big week for the ASL program out here, as you know from my message to you.  I didn't get to go to the meeting on Saturday, but I did type up a proposal that I sent to President that hopefully was well-articulated and able to drive home some important points.  It was, at the very least, a base from which we can continue to gather ideas and make informed decisions with.  President Cooke informed me that the meeting went well, and that Elder Gerrard was very supportive in making things happen. We met with the ASL branch leaders, President Cooke, and Stake President Windley on Sunday morning to make sure we are of one heart and one mind.  The big part was, "how do the members feel like the ASL missionaries can be used most effectively?"  We decided that strenghening the core, the branch, before reaching out to other groups that have started up, is most important.  One of the main ways that missionaries will be most successful in strenthening, retaining, and baptizing in the ASL program is to have STRONG language fluency.  I personally wish I would have not had that time when I was not interested in signing, but I wish I would have worked hard to be more fluent and able to communicate.  One way that the branch wants to see the ASL missionaries continue to improve language fluency is to have them stay in the area for a lot longer, and to have them cover different areas, and to transfer them between each area.  The ASL branch and the two Presidents agreed on regular meetings to continue the effort and to get the ball rolling in where the branch wants and needs to be headed.  I am very excited and supportive of this effort, and know it will yield great results.

Ok wow... enough about that!  We did some other things this week too.  We taught Brother A two lessons and we decided to have his baptismal a little farther out, actually right before I come home, so that we can make sure we meet with him and have all the lessons and everything.  He is really excited, turns out for the past few weeks he had a lot of family members in town and was very busy entertaining them.  Darn family members getting in the way of a baptism ;) We had a snow day on Tuesday where we got about 5-6 inches and stayed in all day.  We planned and studied and cleaned and when we got bored we played in the snow!  It was really fun. We are busy getting ready for... iPads this week!  We are excited to see how they will help us out in our preselyting efforts and to create new ways in which they can be used.  We are also busy preparing for Zone Activity next week where we will be playing dodgeball and eating pupusas.  This morning we actually had a dodgeball fight in our apartment..... as you can imagine 6 Elders+15 dodgeballs= 1 messy missionary apartment! But we cleaned up don't worry.

Well, what can I say?  I've been very emotional lately.  I'm like one of the many pregnant women in our ward.  Super happy one minute to be "livin the dream" and the next just super sad and dreading the day when the badge comes off, permanently.  It's helped that our transfer motto has been "cry if you need to."  I am doing very well and positively for the most part though.  I think that I would rather go out working hard with all guns blazing and crying and being-torn-up-inside-because-I'm-gonna-miss-this-so-much than ANY OTHER WAY.  I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and the end was never easy, but it was also never the end.  I am closer to the edge. 

I LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE AND BACK AGAIN AS MANY TIMES AS THERE ARE POLITICIANS IN DC! Elder Schoemig

January 20, 2014 - Armor of God: Victorious!

Goooooooood afternoon Schoemig Mom!  (can you hear me impersonating Ty from Extreme Makeover:Home Edition?)  This morning I woke up at 5 am to go down to the Lincoln Memorial for sunrise pictures, probably for the last time, and played football and ultimate frisbee.  Walking on the National Mall used to give me chills, now it feels like home.  We also went to the famous Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street, I'm an official Washingtonian now!  It is the home of Bill Cosby's favorite half-smoke chili dog.  I know Grandpa Jarvis is gonna be proud of me, and I think we should go there when you're here.  It was delicious, however after eating it I felt like I walked like Bill Cosby does now... niiiiice and slooooooooooow.  hahahahaha.

I was so psyched to see the picture of Jamieson and you all on Facebook!  He is one of my favorite companions, and I know you felt the same love for him that I did.  I spent 6 straight months by his side, doing the work of the Lord in the ASL program, so we grew pretty tight.  

That's good news about the ASL program and the church!  I'm very excited for that, and hopefully I can be involved back home.  And it was good to hear about all the kid's success, I pray for them every day.

This last week was a hard fought week in the battle for righteousness, and those wearing the Armor of God came out victorious.  I felt really, truly alive and awake last week as we talked to everyone we could and invited them all to learn more.  As a result, we have lots of potential for this week, and our whole zone was blessed to find 53 new investigators last week!  For this mission, that is a TON!  Everyone was just letting their knees hit the floor and their shoes hit the pavement as we worked our tails off to be obedient and #findandbaptize!  It was sweet!  Now we turn those new investigators into investigators who are fellowshipped by ward members, come to church, set a baptismal date and be baptized and confirmed!  This work is exciting!

Ok, there's nothing I need... BUT don't plan anything for the night of Thursday February 20th, because we'll be going down to Calvert to eat dinner with some of my very favorite people on the mission.  I'll try to set up some other meal appointments for us!

LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE AND BACK AGAIN! closer to the edge... Elder Schoemig

January 13, 2014 - Mom stressed? Nah...more like can't wait to get to hold her son! ;)

Heyyyyyy yooouuuuuu guuuuuuuuuyyys! And by "you guys" I mean Mom.  How
ya been?  Holding up?  It's probably been stressful for you knowing
that your son is out on a mission in one of the most... interesting...
cities in 'Merica.  I just wanted to say, don't worry, just relax and
take the rest of the time that he is gone to not stress, cuz your son
will be doing the workload of the both of you while he finishes his
call to serve.  And he couldn't be more energetic, engaged, and
emotional than he has ever been!  This past week we had transfers as
you know and Elder Schoemig got a great new companion named Elder Adam
Ron Arnett IV, or just Elder Arnett, from Gilbert Arizona.  Elder
Arnett is a super hard worker and also a super fun guy so we've just
had lots of good workin and fun at the same time.

We picked up new investigator named E from Kenya on Saturday,
we're really excited about him.  His wife comes back from Kansas this
week so we're looking forward to working with him and her.  Their son
is 3.

Thanks for all the updates on everyone, they mean a lot.  I feel like
I'm gonna have a lot harder time to win at basketball with all my
little brothers growin up!  I'm glad Erik got home, he is the man.
I'm looking forward to getting to know him more.  Sounds good with the
whole Mt. Vernon thing.  I'd like you to meet some of the great people
I have met out here, as well as visit the sites in DC.

I love you so much!  to the EDGE of the UNIVERSE!!! closer to the
edge, Elder Schoemig

January 6, 2014 - Last Transfer this week for Elder Schoemig

Hey Mom! I was super proud to hear that Dad was the Employee of the
Month, he is always that in my book though.  Wow I didn't realize that
bringing me home required so much effort, but I guess it would have to
take a lot of hard work to take me from a land I love.  Glad to hear
about your experience and testimony from Relief Society, as well as
all the news from the kids.

This week IS transfer week and Elder Giles is leaving me :(  But he is
going on to become an Assistant to the President, and so he will be
with Elder Miyasaki, one of my former companions!  Last Saturday night
we got all the information about transfers so I know where everyone is
going and they all have to guess until Wednesday.  Some do pester you
about what's happening and it's hard to not share but I hold my peace
:)  So with Elder Giles and Elder Miyasaki being AP's I have named
myself, "the Assistant Trainer" since I was with them both haha.

I'm very happy with our work these past few weeks, I feel like we are
finally getting the ball rolling with some of the less actives and
investigators.  Brother A should have his baptism in the next
couple weeks.  We have a date set for this Friday but it might be
pushed back to next Friday.  I believe we can do it this week though.
We got to meet with a member who just moved here from Virginia, I
N, and her non-member husband I.  He will be investigating
and says he is looking forward to reading the Book of Mormon.  Also we
have been able to receive many good referrals lately that will
translate to us having lots of new investigators soon.

I am very pleased with the copies of the Book of Mormon that you sent
me with the testimonies in it, I am working hard to find the right
people to give them to, and gave away one last night!  We actually had
a meal appointment with a member, the Mills family.  They live in
downtown Silver Spring in a big apartment building.  They are moving
soon and so Sister Mills wanted us to go with her to say goodbye to
her friends in the building and to give them a Book of Mormon, so we
did!  It was really cool to see how a heartfelt giving away of the
Book of Mormon allowed us to talk to so many people.  None of them
committed to meet with us, but they all promised Sister Mills that
they would read it.  One lady even let us in for a few minutes before
we had to go to make it to our next appointment.  It was a sure
testimony builder for me of the power of members with enthusiasm for
sharing the Gospel.

Speaking of our next appointment though, it was a former Miss America
from Utah.  Her name was Sharlene Wells when she won, but now it's
Sharlene Hawkes.  Her and her daughter who was recently released from
her mission in Rochester where she knew and served with me MTC
district mates Elder Robertson and Elder Inkley, spoke about living in
faith instead of fear.  It was super great and really set the tone for
next transfer.

Well I best be going now, I love you so much Mom! As BIG AS THE UNIVERSE!

closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

December 30, 2013 - 7 more weeks!

It's off to work we go!  After a somewhat soft schedule during the
week of Christmas we're staring down the barrel of a 7 week sprint
towards the end of the greatest two years for my life and we're
saying, "bring it on!"  Temple trip is this week, tomorrow in fact,
and it'll be the perfect opportunity to make the last commitment to
the Lord for this next transfer.  Elder Giles and I have been
thinking, and we don't think that we're staying together... so we'll
see who I get if our gut feelings are accurate, otherwise we're all
in.

This past Christmas call was the best one I think for a couple of
reasons.  1) I got to see everyone for a final time before the real
thing 2) Everyone was in Ohio State garb, go Buckeyes! 3) I got to
hear Grandma and Grandpa Jarvis' voice, something that hasn't happened
for a looooooooooooooooong time! 4) I just felt the overwhelming
support that my family has given me even amidst so many personal
trials and temptations at home.  I am so proud to be a Schoemig, our
name carries the honor and dignity with it that Grandpa Schoemig would
be proud of.

Brother A is doing well, we are meeting with him today and
Wednesday.  We are gonna have his baptism in January, it turns out
that December was just a really bad month for us all around, but he
came to Church and still wants to so we're going for it.  We are
trying to work with another part member, I and her husband Ishmael
as well.

By the way, have I ever told you what my area is like?  It's a mix
between Africa and Central/South America, with a little bit of native
Merlinder and Washingtonian mixed it.  But mostly Africa and South
America.  I was standing in the store a few weeks ago, looked around,
and realized that we were the only white guys there.  That's how it
always is, but I never realized it til then.  Odd huh?

Mom I just wanted to express my appreciation to you, you have always
been a rock for me and for our family.  I don't think we could survive
without you!  One of my favorite things that you taught me is how to
truly feel others pain, to feel true love for another.  Thank you.
So, yeah... to the edge.... always.

I LOVE you to the EDGE of the UNIVERSE!!! Elder Schoemig

December 23, 2013 - The last Videophone call home from mission field!

Merry Christmas Mom!  Emailing from a warm, wet, but still miserable Maryland winter, it's been in the 60's and 70's for the past few days.  Wowzer!  Never thought I'd be sweating while I was tracting in December!  I'm looking forward to the call on Wednesday of course, it'll be fun to see everyone one final time before the big day arrives in February.  Yikes, that's scary to think about.

Anyone, Elder Giles and I have had the opportunity to play Santa's little helpers the past week while packages have been flooding in from all over the USA to members of our zone.  We get the packages from the assistants or President Cooke, then deliver them to the various zone members.  Some Elders just can't wait and open the package on the spot, but I'm a good boy and haven't opened mine yet :)  By the way, thank you to the Robinson family for sending me a package :)  It means a lot to me!  

Our Christmas conference this week will include a variety show of sorts in which our zone will have some time to put on a little performance.  We've decided that the Elder's will be putting on our version of the classic Christmas ballet, "The Nutcracker."  Thanks to the many performances by Mandi and Autumn, and a little help from the Sister's in the zone, we've got about a 2-3 minute dance we'll be doing.  I will also immediately afterwards retaking my "Man Card" by figuratively cracking skulls open with my bo staff that I bought at Home Depot a few weeks ago.  It felt reallllly good to have one of those in my hands again.  All in all it should be a great conference.  Did I tell you that we're watching Monster's University this year?  We're psyched for it.

Well the missionary work continues as usual.  Elder Giles and I have found this past week to be a little bit more productive as we've tweaked our schedule a little bit so we can have more proselyting time.  It's turned out great, with a new investigator and multiple potentials that we'll be trying to contact through this holiday season.  That's the one rough part about these couple weeks, is that everyone get's so busy running around doing different things that it's hard to set up appointments with them.  So we'll do what we can and look to January for a hot start to the new year.  

I love you Mom!  That call on Christmas will be the best present I could receive!  I hope everyone drinks some egg nog, watches some "White Christmas," sits around the fire, enjoys the candle light Christmas Eve dinner, and just basks in the glory and joy of the birthday of the boy that saved our lives.  TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE!!! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

December 16, 2013 - Festival of Lights at the Visitor's Center

Hi Mom!  Things are cold here, as per the usual during the last few weeks.  Last week we got to do parking at the VC for Festival of Lights and stand out in the cold for a few hours waving what I call a "mini-lightsaber."  That was fun and it wasn't very busy so we got to finish early and go watch the performance.  There was one performance that blew me away, it was a vocal school particularly for opera, and one of the professionals was this older gentleman who sang a beautiful and very moving rendition of "O Holy Night."  I think that song is my theme for this December.  It's just been runnin through my head the whole month.

I'll let you know when I get the package,  it'll give me something that I can open on Christmas morning!  Crazy about Dakota getting the priesthood so soon!  Kids really do grow up fast, but not me.  I'm as much of a kid as I've ever been.  That's something Grandpa Jarvis and I have in common I think :)

Well I couldn't end the email this week without wishing Jenny a happy birthday!  Hope you celebrate by listening to some Pink Floyd and Queensryche for me!  

Well, thanks for everything Mom.  You are the best.  I love you AS BIG AS THE UNIVERSE, closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

December 9, 2013 - Rocky Mountain storms is the best!

Hey Mom!  I'm sitting here the day after we had a "storm."  It's in quotations because it was itty-bitty compared to our MIGHTY snowstorms out in the good ol' Rocky Mountains.  Nevertheless it was dangerous enough on the roads for President Cooke to decide that it wasn't worth the risk of having us go out in it, so we stayed in all day and did whatever effective things we could such as studying and chatting with our roommates about how much we love snow.  It was amazing to see everything encased in ice though, and I hope more snow comes our way!

This past week saw us meet with Brother A as planned and it was miraculous!  After a couple months of seeing little to no progressing investigators, we have a man who wants to be baptized!  We went in the lesson on Tuesday, sat down, and the first thing that Sister A (already a member) asked is, "so what's the process for baptism?"  We explained it to her right before Brother A came into the room.  We began with a prayer then without even teaching a single principle, we felt the Spirit and invited him to be baptized! Yikes! I've never done that before!  Just goes to show that when the Spirit tells you to invite, you invite regardless of how much YOU think they know.  The Spirit knows, so listen.  He of course accepted to be baptized on the 22 of December, so we've got a lot of territory to cover in a few short weeks.  But, he's been coming to church for 6 months now, knows most of it already, and kept saying in the lesson, "I know it's the true Church, and I'll never go back."  Score one for the winning team!

We have Zone Training Meeting this week, so Elder Giles and I will spend some time getting a veritable missionary pump-up, pep-talk, give-em-your-best shot lesson ready.  Pray we can inspire the zone to motivate themselves! 

Christmas cheer is spreading itself abroad as we get closer and closer to the happiest time of year.  We can feel it when the wind whips through the air sending that cold, humid chill that cuts at you no matter how many layers you have on.  It's great!

Thanks for the updates on the family, I sure do appreciate them! LOVE you to the EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

December 2, 2013 - Grandparents home and Ward Christmas package :)

Hey Mom!  The week has been good, I've just been working on making some needed inward changes to affect my outward behavior.  I don't let myself get discouraged, very often anyway, I know that I'm really far from perfect, but there are moments when I become great and there are moments when I become really really well... not great haha.  But this swing on the spiral of life has God's hand guiding it.  The more good we know, the less bad it takes to make us feel guilty, and vice versa.  It's an interesting concept but it explains why Nephi and Alma had such great desires to do the things of God and why people that don't know any better don't feel bad about it.  I guess you could also say the better the lighting in the room, the more you can see the dust on the furniture, the stains on the carpet, and the crumbs on the table.  But all it takes is a little hard work and that stuff is gone and you have a nice, clean, illuminated room.

I can't wait to talk to Grandma and Grandpa in person about their mission experience.  I love love love them.  That investigator who see's the visions typifies so many people I've met.  Dreaming dreams and seeing visions, God's words come in so many ways.  

I'm really thankful for the package, the Christmas tree of hands is now up and on the wall.  Thanks to all who were included on that lovely gift.  I'm looking forward to receiving whatever you are sending to me!  Don't worry about sending me anything else though.  I don't need it.  I have everything I want in my missionary labors.  

Brrrrrr, it's getting colder!  Looking forward to the first snows, I don't know when they'll come.

Yesterday we set up an appointment with a man who has been coming to church for some time now, we hope to have him enter in the gate of baptism soon! 

LOVE to the EDGE of the UNIVERSE! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

November 25, 2013 - Grandparents' homecoming, changes, ASL program...wow!

Wow Mom! You were up really really really early this morning!  But I was awake before you even still!  We woke up at 6 our time to get ready to go down into the city for some Monday Morning Football on the National Mall.  The games were really fun and we played for a few hours.  It was wickedly cold when we woke up though, the car said the temp was 24 degrees, yikes!  It warmed up throughout the day, however by "warmed up" I mean it's now in the 30's instead of the 20's hahaha.  

Elder Giles and I have seen more appointments be scheduled lately, of which we are really really really really really really really really really grateful.  We've hardly had any this whole transfer despite our lack of trying.  It seemed like no one wanted to talk to/meet with us.  We're really looking forward to the next few weeks and the success we will see.

So we changed up transfers a little bit.  Instead of having a great big meeting where it is announced, on Saturday night we have a conference call where President announces it to the Zone Leaders, and Sunday night we sent the information on where people were going and with whom to our zone.  There was a pretty revolutionary thing that happened, our zone got combined with another zone so now Elder Giles and I are over 34 missionaries!  It's gonna be crazy as we run around like chickens with our heads cut off tryin to take care of everyones needs and stuff.  More responsibility has been placed on us as the Assistants are moving out of the office so they won't have as much to do.  It's gonna be great! And really difficult!

I have some news about the ASL program.  Elder Livengood is leaving on Wednesday, he has finished his mission.  I will miss him, but I know he has done a great job.  He has been a leader and motivator for me.  I've learned a lot from him.  Elder Squires is also leaving on Wednesday, he has medical issues that just won't go away and it's getting to be too much.  I of course will miss him very much too, as he has taught me so much about self confidence and being who you are.  So in one week I lose both my "brother" and my "son."  So that leaves Elder Winkler and I as the only called ASL missionaries.  However, Elder Wood knows sign language fairly well, and will be with Elder Winkler instead of me, but only for one transfer.  The reason only one transfer is because in January there will be a lot of ASL missionaries.  I've heard 2 Elders and 2 Sisters, and 4 of each, but regardless, that's a lot!  President Cooke has really been working hard with Salt Lake to get some ASL out here, since Elder Winkler and I both go home in February and we're looking pretty scarce.  I don't know what will be next transfer, but the ASL work will live on!  I told President that I would love to go back to ASL this transfer, as I have given blood, sweat, and tears to it, and he said my blood, sweat, and tears have paid off with more ASL coming out.  He said he needed me to be a zone leader.  So I accepted that and will continue to serve.  But I am glad we have come out of the confusion over what will happen and into the understanding.  

Anyway, lots of big changes!  And in a few weeks we get the "digital devices"(mini iPads?)  This transfer is gonna be craaaaazy!  

Oh and last notes, welcome back to the United States of America, the greatest country on earth, to my beloved Elder Grandpa Jarvis and Sister Grandma Jarvis!  Thank you for your service with me in the work of the Lord, I was strengthened just by knowing that you two were also wearing the badge as I was.  I look forward to your warm embraces again someday.  And I wanna wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to DAD!  Have a great birthday as you celebrate with turkey and stuffing and pie and football and most importantly, family!  

Happy Thanksgiving, I LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE, closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

Zone Leaders/Trainers picture

Elder Schoemig, zone leader with the other zone leaders and sister trainers along with President Cooke for the Council meeting. 

November 18, 2013 - Shortest email ever but with love! :)

Hey Mom! I love you, just gotta say that we had a great conference with Elder Zwick.  I am so uplifted and motivated from it.  I'll share more details next week, but I truly do love you!

LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

 

(Mom's note:  Apparently my email did not go through to him, tried it 3 times before it finally came through the fourth time so not much to say this week but more will come next week.)

November 11, 2013 - Prayer of faith

Hey Mom!  Gotta be quick like bunny through the bushes today, but we've had a good week.  We did our Zone training meeting, which was very uplifting.  Elder Anderson gave a bomb.com workshop on "prayer of faith" and it really helped to inspire the zone!  We got our best key indicator numbers for the whole year this week!  Lots of good things happening.  I firmly believe we can reach our goal of 100 baptized by the end of the year.  Everyone has to step their game up, from the top down, from President Cooke to the youngest missionary, from the Stake Presidents to the most recently baptized 8 year old.  We can do it!  We are really excited for Festival of Lights coming up!  I will probably post a lot of the pix on Facebook so that you can experience it with me!

A couple things I want to respond to from your email, first is can't believe that Grandma and Grandpa are almost at the end of their mission!  Only a few weeks wow.  Second is I'm excited to see how tall all my younger brothers have become :)  Third is yes to Dad, we will go camp, fish, sleep, freeze, and whatever else we want to do in the beeeeeeauuutiful Utah mountains! Haha.  But first, missionary work :)

LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE!!! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

November 4, 2013 - National Arlington Cemetery, sacred experience

Hey Mom!  Another sacred and satisfying experience today, this time coming from Arlington National Cemetary.  All of us missionaries that are going home from now til April went with President and Sister Cooke.   The first thing we did when we got there is go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  WOW that is an amazing place.  It just sings of the sacred ceremony of the soldiers who reside there.  I was praying while I was there and these words came to my mind:

This hallowed ground

of Tomb Unknown

is guarded by

the world unshown,

and one brave soldier

takes his place,

amongst God's noblest

holy ranks.

We got to watch the changing of the guard and watch a wreath laying ceremony.  The precision and discipline in which they do everything is awe-inspiring.  President Cooke, being the two-star general he is, got us a special little tour with the Sentinel's (the soldiers of the Third US Infantry Regiment who guard the Tomb, also known as The Old Guard)  in their barracks which is underneath the Tomb.  We didn't go into their barracks but one of the Sentinels talked to us in one of the rooms where all of the Sentinels names were put up.  Since 1937 the Tomb has been under 24-hour guard, 7 days a week, all year.  Someone has always been there.  And I'm sure that the Sentinel who guards truly does stand among angel's in defending the Tomb.  Being in the Old Guard is one of the highest honors.  Everything they do is in 21's too.  They take 21 steps, they count to 21 before turning.  It's all because 21 is the highest you can award someone in the military is what the soldier told us.  We also saw the Arlington house where General Robert E. Lee made his home for thirty years.  I stood where he stood, that is cool.  I saw the arch under which he got married, that is cool.  I saw the china where he and also General George Washington ate off of, that is cool.  We saw the grave of President John F. Kennedy and the Eternal Flame.  It was just a really good day to be a missionary here in DC.  I love this land!  I love America!

Ok so the P-Day activities are fun and all, but I gotta tell you about the area.  We are having a rough time kinda with finding.  We need to kick it up a notch because I know there are some prepared people out there.  They're sitting there, in their houses, waiting and listening for  those words, "I am a representative of Jesus Christ."  And I will say those words, and their minds will be enlightened, and God will be glorified.  Perfection!

Anyway, we got lots to do this week.  We have Zone Training Meeting where the whole zone will get together and hopefully be inspired and we have Stake Coordination where we will meet with the stake president.   Wish us luck!

I love you to the edge of the universe!!! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

ps Halloween was boring this year :(  better luck next year :)

October 28, 2013 - Two baptisms last weekend :)

Hey Mom!  I had a fantastic weekend with two of my brothers in the Lord taking the covenant of baptism upon them!  I baptized J on Friday night, and last night I witnessed R's baptism.  They are truly special sons of God and I look forward to the friendship that will continue to grow throughout our lives.

In College Park, we received word that some of the baptism's that didn't happen a few weeks ago, probably will happen in the near future.  We have been talking to them, and they just needed some more time.  Pray for E, E, and F to have the Holy Spirit touch their hearts and for them to listen to it.  Also, we picked up a really cool new investigator named K and his daughter D.  They really want to read the Book of Mormon and come to church.  Pray for them as well!  K's wife and other daughter will be new investigator's this week, so pray for them too please!

Elder Giles and I are doing well, tryin to get our wheels churnin and movin.  I've discovered that on a mission, you are more successful the faster you can get mobilized and get communication with the ward and just hit the pavement hard.  So that's what we're trying to do.  

We had zone activity today, we called it "chili-ing" out.  We had homemade chili courtesy of Elder Treasure and just chilled.  It was fun. 

Well I love you and I love Halloween!  Hope it's really really really fun and you get to scare lot's of people! LOVE YOU TO THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE! closer to the edge, Elder Schoemig

October 21, 2013 - New P-Day: Mondays!

Hey Mom!  Thanks for good email update about the family, not much to report here, other than I'm still off my feet and not doing much.  It's been a hard time for me.  I can't wait to see the doctor this Thursday and see if I am good to go.  It's just difficult to not work, haha a few years ago I probably would've never said that.  But I have really learned what Grandma says is true, "A little hard work never hurt anybody."  I have come to love the hard work.  It's really the only satisfaction that you get in life, knowing that you worked hard and you saw something great come to pass.

Well, we are gonna do some stuff this week to inspire ourselves and help to lead the zone.  Being a zone leader is weird, I've got to learn to have a little bit of a different mindset.  It'll come soon.

J and R in Gaithersburg are getting baptized this week, I'm so excited for that!  I can't wait to go to them.

Bryan Kehl, former BYU linebacker who now plays for the Redskins, spoke at the Visitor Center last night.  His wife did too.  They are great, and it is refreshing to see a successful professional athlete and his wife with such great testimonies.

Well I love you to the edge of the UNIVERSE!!! to the edge Elder Schoemig