June 26, 2013 - Mission President and Sister Matsumori's last week

Hey Mom!  Good news on everything that happened in the Summer Games!  Really proud of my brothers.  Also proud of Benson and Taft for their performances in school! 

Anyway here in G1 we had J finally come to church after months of him being taught!  And he said he really enjoyed it and was very pleased with how things went!  MIRACLE!  It put such a huge smile on our faces and he says he's coming this next week too.

Yesterday we had and exchange where our zone leader, Elder J, came with Elder S and me.  It was a great day and we picked up tons of potential investigators.

Did you see the worldwide leadership training?  There was a veritable army of missionaries!  I thought, "oh my goodness we are taking over the world!"  I was amazed to see all those sisters!  It's just incredible.  Also I forgot to mention last week but MY mission represented all the missions in the world at that meeting, President and Sister Matsumori, the Assistants, the Zone Leaders, and the VC trainers were all on screen, if only briefly.  It was way cool to hear Elder Holland talk to President!

This is the Matsumori's last week.  I don't have much to say.  A lot of things are going through my head.  I'll miss them terribly but I know the new mission president will do a great job. 

Anyway love you to the edge of the universe!  To the edge! Elder Schoemig

June 19, 2013 - New area, Gaithersburg

Hey Mom!  Thanks for the weekly family/friends update!  I am having a grand time here in Gaithersburg, it is a car area but we get to bike and walk around.  I just borrow our roommates bike when we need it but I plan on trying to get one for myself from the Assistants.  This area is kinda stagnant right now but it has great potential that I see.  Right now we are trying to build the relationship with leaders, visit less-actives, retain the recent converts, boost our investigators, find more investigators, work as hard as we can, sing camp-fire songs, and stay as sane as we possibly can amidst the roller-coaster of missionary life :)

Elder S is really awesome.  He like anime and manga and loves to draw so it's been super fun with him.  I really enjoy listening to people talk about things they love.  That's something I've found on my mission.  

Last week at the transfer meeting we sang the mission song to the Matsumori's and we all were bawling and what not.  I'm gonna miss em.

Speaking of tears I got teary-eyed too at thinking about how good this ward is to us.  I was thinking about how happy I am to serve people and do things for them.  I do it, and I think I can say in general, the reason we do things for other people is because what they do for us is so much more than what we can do for them.  It's all about humility and serving others.

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

June 12, 2013 - New transfer to Gaithersburg, English program

Hey Mom, not a lot of time to email today, but the big news..... I'm outta the ASL program and in Gaithersburg 1rst ward!  I'm now companions with Elder S from Kaysville, Utah and we're gonna have a awesome transfer.  The biggest things about Elder S is he's a big reader like me, likes to draw (also like me),  and likes Doctor Who (again like me, but a WHOLE lot more!)  We're gonna have a great transfer together.

It's bittersweet to leave the ASL program, I love the area and the people and the language, it's beautiful.  But sometimes you need a new garden to work in.  I am praying my heart out for all the investigators and members in the branch and hope all goes well with them.

I've kinda accepted the fact that it's not likely that I'll get to go back to ASL.  Don't ask why, it's just a feeling that I'm getting.  

Anyway next week I'll tell you all about Gaithersburg and everything.  I love you to the edge of the universe!  To the edge, Elder Schoemig

June 5th, 2013 - U.S. Capitol Bldg. again today

 Hey Mom! I'm doing well here in the end of an era, as you know the Matsumori's are going home soon, at the end of June to be specific. We get our new President on July 1st I believe. It's hard to believe I won't be hearing that deep loving voice anymore. He'll still be President to me even when I'm home though. It is also the end of an era because I'm not sure how much longer I have in the ASL program. Transfers is next week and so we'll see where I'm going. I have a feeling that I'm near the end though.

 

I could possibly have a very awesome experience this afternoon involving the US Capitol building but I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know next week if all goes according to plan.

Love all the news from home, means a lot to me :) Keeping updated in the home world helps a guy stay grounded. I love the quotes from Conference, keep em coming.

Yep we had J over for a bit the other night, it has been really cool to see him. We had a good talk about mission life :)

Anyway sorry there's not much to report this week, just feeling kinda calm and chill today.

Love you as big as the universe, to the edge, Elder Schoemig xoxo