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