Seniors Reunion During Conference Weekend

Last of the missionary stuff

"THANKS YOU

ELDER Y HNA SCHMITD

FOR ALL YOU DOING IN THE MISSION.  LOVE, PTE. RODRIGUEZ    8/1/2013

FROM ELDER LUZON:

Para:  Elder Kirk, Elder chinchilla, Elder bryner, Elder Pitti, Elder Reeder, Elder Aguiniga, Elder y Hna Schmidt

!!!Les Amo Mucho mi gran y fuerte oficina!!! Perseberen sabiendo que lo recompense no solo esta en el final si no tambien durante el transcurso del viaje.

WE LOVE YOU!   (Red card with hearts)

 "Thank you for all that you di for us and the branch.  You are both wonderful people and missionaries.  I look up to you.  You both make me want to become a better person and missionary.  We will miss you a lot.  Always, Hna Bush

Brother and Sister Schmidt.  Thank you so much for all your help here in the mission.  I hope all goes well at home for you!--Elder Tyler Hill

"Gracias por su ayuda en la oficina y mandar siempre los reembolsos--Elder de Leon  Daury.513@hotmail.com

"Gracias por todo el amor que pusieron en la obra del Senor y por ser un gran ejemplo para mi de trabajo y amor.  Los amo--Hna Molina

"9 Marzo 2014  You two are so sweet and kind!  I am ever so grateful for all your love and help.  I wish you the best!  Thank you so much for always giving us snacks. and for your love.  Thank you for your example and service.  God be with you til we meet again!  I love you!  Hna Michelle Gamez, Riverside California  cuppiecake.michelle@yahoo.com

"I will miss you.  Thank you for everything.  I would like to visit you in Utah.  When do you want you can come Mexico.  You have a home.  Sincerely, Elder Jorge Rincon

"Thank you very, very much for making the office that much better!!  Your cheerful attitude will be missed"!  Love, Elder Colton Thurgood

"I'll will not forget you.  Thank you for everything.  Enjoy the time with your family an have a good travel.  I love you Schmidts!--Elder Fabricio Suaste.

"Thank you for all you've done for our mission!  You've left us all with a smile and a bigger stomach!  Love you!, love, Elder Jacob Thibault

"Thank you so much for your cheerful service and your acts of kindness.  All your consistent small acts of service left a big impression on my heart.:)--Love Elder Dallin Rodriguez

The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints

Caribbean Area Presidency, Ave Cayetano Germosen #40, Urb. Alexandra, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Elder James Elliott Schmidt

Sister Susan E. Schmidt

Dear Elder and Sister Schmidt,

It is with our deepest gratitude and appreciation that we acknowledge your valuable service in the Caribbean Area as full-time missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  For the past eighteen months you have labored diligently in your callings as Office Specialists.  You have seen the work in the Caribbean Area grow and progress.  Many people have joined the Church, had their testimonies strengthened, and had their lives positively infouenced during your time here.  Many will call your name blessed because of what you have contributed to their lives in the Gospel.  In prayer circles throughout the world, blessings have been called down upon you as participants  in the great missionary effort of the church..."    "Upon your return home, you will have numerous occasions to tlk to others about the blessings that come from serving the Lord on a full-time mission.  We are grateful that you will share with them the blessings you have received while laboring in the Caribbean Area.  We love you and are thankful for your faithful service...."  With warm regards, Elder Wilford W. Andersen,

Elder J. Devon Cornish, elder Claudio D. Zivic Caribbean Area Presidency   February 28, 2014

Thoughts and Comments From Others

Sounds like everyone had a nice visit even with things being busy and people getting sick. Welcome back to the United States. Sorry our whole family couldn't come, but the kids are looking forward to seeing everyone in August.

-Ross

*****

So nice to see you guys today--was very impressed by the things you had to say and the experiences you had, the love you developed and the closeness you share. You guys are amazing.

Thanks for the adorable bracelet and the cute magnet--you're so sweet. Sorry, Susan, I forgot your wee gift! I'll just mail it.

See you soon!

EA

*****
We are so grateful for your examples to us and that your missions have been such a success...Can't wait to see you. All our Love!

Darren Schmidt

*****

It was fun to see you all. Your parents did a great job on their mission report. It was a wonderful meeting.  
- Debbie Gee

*****
Dear Elder and Sister Schmidt,

I just wanted to say:

Have a great time packing ....... (ohhhhhhhh)

Have a "teary" goodbye,

Have a  super trip home through New York     ...........

I hope the flights are good, on time, customs easy  ..........

HAVE A VERY WONDERFUL TIME seeing everyone at the airport!

Have a fun dinner too!

Jim and Susan, you are two very spiritual people;

you are full of faith, love, charity!

You are wonderful parents, grandparents, sister and brother, and

SUPER MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!

I've sent a few welcome home things- wish I were there

we can talk a few days after you are home.  I'm thinking about you both!

I will be anxious to hear about the Senior Goodbye,

their reaction to the hymn books and cookies,

and how the last week went.

I love you!

Janet

(wish I were there to welcome you...end of July will come very soon!)

BE safe, be Happy, Know you are loved!

Hope you were able to "Party" often--ha, ha, ha,!

You will be missed!

*****

Dear Elder and Sister Schmidt, (Jim and Susan)

Glad you are home OK; hope all is well!  (Sounds fun with all the special things that they did for you!

Good luck and lots of blessings, peace and inspiration as you prepare for and give your talks this weekend!

Wish I were there!

We'll talk next week, when you have a chance.

Please tell your family "hi"

Love you two!

Janet

*****

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DID!!!  Yours and Annette's surprise was the highlight of the event!!! Thank you Ross so much!  and Thank you Andrea!  What wonderful skills you shared so willingly and easily!!!  We are in awe!!!  If you hadn't been here, we would have had a disaster!!!  We had a great time.  Too bad we had to do the church/meal thing.  Oh well! -SES

*****

Hello Brother and Sister Schmidt! Thank you for inviting me to your homecoming on Sunday and for that wonderful card, I greatly appreciate it. You both did wonderfully on your talks and it brought back great memories of working with you.

I hope you don't mind. But I put your name down as a reference Brother Schmidt on an application for a job. You and Sister Schmidt were and still are so very kind and always recognize our efforts in the office, I felt you'd be a wonderful reference for the employer. I assume the phone number you gave me in the last email has the area code of (801), correct?

And if you don't feel comfortable being a reference please just tell me. I realize I should have asked you beforehand but I was a bit rushed in filling it out.

Thank you so much for everything and I hope you're enjoying being home.

Connor Bryner 

*****

I have been submitting my talks to EFY the last couple of days and stumbled into a quote I thought I would send to you.  You and Dad are great examples of Faith and have always been.  It has been a choice!  I will be teaching a class this summer on how to answer difficult questions about the church.  I thought I might remind the students of this along with President Utchdorf's talk about doubting your doubts before you doubt your faith.  Love you ...Have a great day! -Darren

"Several years ago a friend of mine had a young daughter die in a tragic accident. Hopes and dreams were shattered. My friend felt unbearable sorrow. He began to question what he had been taught and what he had taught as a missionary. The mother of my friend wrote me a letter and asked if I would give him a blessing. As I laid my hands upon his head, I felt to tell him something that I had not thought about in exactly the same way before. The impression that came to me was: Faith is not only a feeling; it is a decision. He would need to choose faith. My friend did not know everything, but he knew enough. He chose the road of faith and obedience. He got on his knees. His spiritual balance returned.  (Elder Anderson Oct. GC 2008)
*****

Dear Elder and Hermana Schmidt,

... Thanks for everything you have done for me and the other missionaries from la mision oeste! 

Blake Midgley

*****

Nice to see you all, nice to visit with all your kids--you've got a great family. Good luck settling back in!

EA

*****

Looks like a great end to the mission.

Chris

*****

Welcome Home!  Did you even go to sleep last night?  I am sure you are 
all having a wonderful time visiting and catching up - what a wonderful 
time for your family!

Bruce sent me an email and said that he was at the airport and that you 
got your luggage etc - hope it all went well.  I can't imagine packing 
and trying to get home all of your things.

Take care - we love you and are so proud of you!  Nancy & Ray

*****

Jim, Susan,

Thanks for all your hard work and your tremendous example! I wanted to meet you at the airport, but family issues prevent me from doing that. Hope you have a safe trip home. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Have fun flying home! Bruce

*****

Hope you arrived safely after your delay! Hope you got some rest. Enjoy your family! I love you!

Janet

*****

Dear Susan and Jim:

Welcome home!  We are so sorry to have missed your homecoming.  I had to teach gospel doctrine and David had to teach the Elders' Quorum in one ward and give a talk in another today.  He finished his last meeting tonight at 8:30 p.m. We are so sorry. Love, Cindy and David 

*****

Reply to Cindy & David: 

We missed you yesterday but knew you would come if you could.  We had a great mission, but speaking when going or when coming back home is one of the hardest things about the mission.  Anyway, we had a great send off when we left the mission.  The President had all the office to lunch at his house, and the 6 elders came and sang to us the night before we left and offered to help us clean/pack etc.  Then they drove us to the airport at 4 the next morning.  We were honored by the senior couples too.

     Here Darren and Amy and Ashley and their families and Uncle Bruce met us at the airport.  Then Brent drove down from Idaho, then Annette surprised us from Arkansas and Andrea  surprised us the next day from Sacramento.  Their husbands covered for them.  Everyone knew of the surprises but us. They each brought their new baby that none of us had seen.  So we had a few days all together.  We all went over and swam at the Comfort Inn nearby where Brent was staying, visited, the park, out to eat, and baked and readied for Sunday.  

     It turned out nice (not sure if they should have the tradition of honoring missionaries, but--), got everyone to the airport to go home, watched Darren's kids today as his son had 3rd surgery on his bladder/kidney.  Got our internet today, phone the other day, still got some cars to put a jumper cable to, yard work and stuff to organize and put away inside.  Amy and Jake who lived here and watched our house, will be moving in the next few weeks when his Grandparents house that is being remodeled is completed.  So life marches on. 

*****

Mom and Dad,
I was so happy that I got to come to your farewell and homecoming. Honestly when you visited us in March 2012 in Texas, I gave you hugs and thought that might be the last time I would see you until you got back from a mission..., but then I saw you at your farewell, I saw Mom after Jill's birth, and then I was there the  weekend you got home. It was very special. I'll never forget your powerful testimonies. You are such great examples for me. My patriarchal blessing declares more than once I have have "wonderful" and "devoted" parents who have "taught and nurtured" me, giving evidence that Heavenly Father is pleased with your work as parents. Thank you for your wonderful examples and the inspiration you give me. I love you both so much! -Andrea

Homecoming Weekend

(Note: Part of this is taken from Andrea's blog)

My Facebook Status: Surprise trip! Jill and I flew to Utah last night to see my parents' mission report in church. I've had the ticket for two months. My mom cried--now all her kids are here. She had no idea we were coming.

My sister Annette (from Arkansas) flew out too, but she came a day earlier. After she arrived my mom got on the phone to beg me to find a flight out. Little did she know I was already coming. My flight out of Sacramento was delayed all day and then further delayed three times, late enough that it would miss my connecting flight in Vegas. I repacked my bag into a smaller carry-on (so I wouldn't lose a bag in a quick transfer) and then when the time had been altered to even later I figured we have to reschedule completely and I wouldn't arrive until mid-day on Saturday. But then a miracle happened...  we made comments on Facebook...

Ross Tucker We're just glad she made it on the plane. She had a 6:30 pm flight they kept delaying throughout the day, eventually rescheduling it for 9 pm. Then Andrea gets a text at 5:26 pm saying the new departure time was 6:35 pm...and Andrea was still at home.

Andrea Schmidt Tucker Umm, yeah. Miracle. I had to get five kids in the car and load my stuff. We live 30 minutes from the airport and I was driving in rush hour to a place I've only been once. And to keep my Capri Sun (my emergency juice for my diabetes) I had to agree to an additional pat-down in security. Total miracle we made the flight.

Our trip was wonderful. It was so nice to spend time with just Jill. It was nice to see everyone together again (last time was their farewell 18 months ago), it was nice to be there to help and visit. My two sisters were also staying at my parents house so all the bedrooms were taken. I figured we'd squeeze in somewhere and be fine. They added a pack n' play to the sewing room for Jill and a roll-away to my parent's walk-in closet for me--worked out great. I loved being a in little tucked-away spot and that bed in comfy!!

Amy picked me up at the airport. She said that mom was still up making cookies for the weekend. When we got there Annette and Jake and my parents were all still awake--each quiet in their rooms. My dad waved me in (he knew I was coming) and I said, "Hi Mom!" with the car sear in my hand. She was shocked. She didn't say anything. Just cried. She had wanted me to come so bad, so all her kids were there together. Later she said that Amy and Jake had gone to Denny's for a "snack" and she had secretly hoped they were going to the airport to get me. When they got back and talked about the food they had, she was bummed and figured that was it. There was no way I was coming. Amy slipped away to the airport a few hours later.

We stayed up too late talking and sharing stories. Baby Grace was sick with the flu and so Amy and Jake were changing sheets and doing laundry through the night. We were all tired.

Saturday morning I heard a soccer game going on. I helped do projects -- switch family pictures in frames, sort jewelry and shells, and cut celery. We met Brent and his family at the Comfort Inn pool to swim and then had dinner that evening. We arranged furniture and put food on platters. My mom felt sick that night and went up to bed earlier. The rest of us stepped up and had it all ready by morning. We had fun with music on as we cooked and prepped for the event. Dad was up past midnight with us three girls helping too.

Sunday was special. I accompanied the grandkids singing "We'll Bring the World His Truth" (aka "Armies of Helaman) as a prelude musical number. I loved hearing my parents share their testimonies and their experiences. They grew a lot while they were gone. They shared many miracles I had not heard before, and even stories I was familiar with came with a different Spirit being in that meeting as they shared it with the ward. It was incredible. The feeling I had was worth everything it took to get there. Makes me want to go on a mission with Ross someday even more. A few elders they worked with in the office came and sang a musical number with my parents and Brent and Judith--about four hymns (first verse only) in Spanish. It was cool. My mom even shared a little bit of her testimony in Spanish and my dad slipped called a washing machine its Spanish word because he couldn't think of what you call it in English.

We went home and ate and visited. Near the end we took a family picture, minus two spouses and five grandkids. My dad got to meet three new grand-babies. Amy's due in a few weeks so another one with join the family.

***

Persuasion to come out... little did Susan know that Andrea already had a ticket purchased two months ago. Here is some email exchange from Thursday, March 13th--

Mom: Hi, I tried to call. Did you look into the tickets? Any chance a quick trip up here? Do they have cheap last minute--price line tickets?

Andrea: Oh! You have internet? I didn't know if you did or not. Sorry we missed your call. We were having dinner. I'll think about it. Did you go to the pioneer meeting?

Mom: No, Annette came as a surprise, so fun!! Then I cried because you weren't here! I've tried a few times.  Love you so much!!  Mom