Elder Zivic

Middle of September 2013,  with Elder Zivic

Re: Thanks for all you are doing for the church

Dear Bro Parry and High Priest Quorum:

 

What an experience to be here.  What a different world--not just in language but in customs.  Sister Schmidt and I stay very busy in the office in a mission of over 250 missionaries.  Three fourths come from Latin countries and only speak Spanish.  The others are Americans.  As of late we have been receiving more Americans. I guess from the availability of the 18 year olds.  What do we do--it's more like what don't we do.  Passports, visas, all missionary credit cards,  mission credit cards, bank reconciliation, missionary mail/post office, letters to incoming missionaries, letters to new members, folders for new missionaries, letters/certificates for terminating elders/sisters just to name a few.  We work about 8 hours a day-sometimes more.  My phone rings all hours--I used to get so frustrated because I couldn't understand, but now that has has improved.   Our president is Dominican and does not speak English.  But, the lord has blessed us.  Many a time I have said a prayer that I would understand him when we met--the lord has truly blessed us!  When things come to him in English he trusts me to translate and help him--what an honor!  Sister Schmidt plays the piano in a small branch about 45 minutes from here in the countryside where we are assigned ,and I teach the young men.  It is summer here year around, and we live with fears of hurricanes.  I have seen miracles--The Lord is at our side.  There is not time or space to relate stories, but we have some.  With what has happened in our lives we will never be the same.  We will be home in less than six months--in fact we will be requesting our flights like we do for all the missionaries.  The Dominican people are warm, accepting, and friendly even though they don"t know how to drive. They have never made fun of my Spanish or harassed us for being Americans.  We do stick out as foreigners.  Our mission is baptizing about 750 people per year.  The Santo Domingo Temple is located 20 minutes from here.  It is moderate in size and very special to all those in the Caribbean.  Take care Brother Parry!  Saludos,  Elder Schmidt, Santo Domingo

Hi Fergusons!

We have 6 months left in the mission.  It has been great.  I guess the best part is working in the office with the Mission President and the Elders and being part of the workings of the Mission!  (And Elder Schmidt says he's learned a lot about himself here.)

   The Nizao Branch that we go to on Sundays has given us an opportunity to be with several sets of sister missionaries, sing and play for the choir, teach piano lessons before church, and play for Sac. Mtg, team teach the Sunday School lessons to about 17 youth (for March and August), teach the Aaronic Priesthood lessons, and try to communicate with a branch family where we mostly just say "Hola!" and shake hands and give hugs. 

     We've enjoyed the seniors at FHE too!   We took a ride earlier today to the aquarium, Tres Ojos, and the Falon de Colon.  Last week we drove to Juan Dolio.  Our daughter and her family are coming the end of the month and we thought we'd see if we could find these places.  The last time we were there at the beach was with you!  Thanks for the great time! 

     The Yterraldes had their farewell last Monday.  They spoke of how much they missed and enjoyed being with you!

Love,

The Schmidts

Hi All!!

Hi All!  How are things? 

How is the house coming?--heard the framing looks awesome, Brent & Judith, and Derek's middle school is awesome!  Hooray for your family and BYU-I.!

How's West Jordan?  Patrick made the musical "Once Upon a Mattress", Cameron is playing trumpet at school, Maylin takes piano, Sydney and Celeste and Mike are doing soccer, Christian and Jolynn are doing preschool and Darren and Joshua are doing soccer skills classes.  Fantastic!  How do 10 people manage so well!

How's good old Layton?  Amy and Jake have been doing yard work and gardening, and keeping up with Grace.  She can pull herself up, and scoots all around and gave up nursing, and is darling! 

 How's Sacramento?  Andrea and Ross saw tons with their family at Mt. Lassen National park.  Wonderful! I used their cave experience in a talk on prayer. 

How's the new baby coming?  Annette and Caleb and Hyrum are doing great at Sam's Club, beautiful cake planning, preschool, and playing cello in Sacrament Meeting.  They are raising a boy so well! 

How's the schooling going?   Claire loves school, so do her parents!  Kelland gets his masters in December!  Ashley's will follow!  She's got 3 more weeks of terrific dancing in Joseph and the Technicolor Coat! 

 

      Last Monday, Elder Chinchilla a little before the President's devotional asked me, mostly in Spanish if I would give the thought.  Sure!  Elder Scharman offered to get his English scriptures from downstairs.  Wow, there wasn't time.  And I couldn't do it in Spanish.  Yikes, I decided to just go with the Book of Mormon.  I'd given a talk on it in April in our branch.  I grabbed an old Book of Mormon for the reference of Moroni 10:4-5 or one of my favorite parts, Alma 34:16-21.  (When I was at Andrea's the night before I was to return to the DR, I was packed, missing you all and sometimes my parents and brothers and sisters too, sad to leave America, scared to travel alone, knowing I had to give a talk when I returned, etc.. I turned to my old friend the B of M for comfort, I just opened it at random and began reading--There it was, I was in Alma 34:16--one of my favorite parts, Amulek tells us to pray over everything, our laundry, our baking, kids, any and every little thing, and to have our hearts open in prayer always to our HF, etc. .)

     Anyway, I began my talk turning to Elder Chinchilla who sat near the president, "Gracias por la opportunidad!  Then I said, "Mi encanta el Libro de Mormon.  (I love the Book of Mormon)  Then in English with Elder Scharman translating after every few sentences. I said I loved the stories and told how we used to read them in our home, everyday for years.  That we had begun when our boys were little and the baby was a little girl.  That the boys sat on the edge of the bed with their eyes wide open when I told them that the Lord touched the stones of the brother of Jared.  That Jared had great faith and was able to see Jesus Christ.  That was the beginning of the love of the scriptures for our family!  (Also told of all the blessings that President Ezra Taft Benson promised to families if they would read it.)

     Dad and I worked on a talk for me on Prayer this last week, and practiced to accompany the choir singing, "High On a Mountain Top", but neither came to pass as we had branch conference.  They posted the music numbers as the counselor to the district president began to announce the opening himno or hymn.  Needless to say, the songs hadn't been practiced very well and I didn't play very well.  The sister missionary over the choir decided we hadn't practiced enough so we didn't sing. 

     Dad was asked by the branch president to pick up an elderly man just before the meeting started and we took him home after.  He was one of the first members of the church in the area.  When he got out of the truck, he left an old worn 50 pesos bill on the seat and a few coins.  (We took the money back to him later.)  Then we went back to the chapel to take the 4 sister misioneras home, and to take big jars of peanut butter and grape jelly and a big bag of raisin bran cereal that were ordered to the elders from the Don Gregorio branch that meet in our building. (One is Elder Kylan Larsen from your stake in Arkansas, Shileys).

     Yesterday was translados or transfers in the San Geronimo building.  Dad instructed the misioneros to begin filling in forms and I took pictures for 34 missionaries.  After the President interviewed (entrevistas) each missionary, each missionary was assigned a companion, we began the meeting.  Elder Chinchilla conducts, President and Hermana Rodriguez are on the stand.  Dad and I are first.  He goes through each item in our packed in Spanish.  I repeat in English.  The Prayer (oracion) for the Dedication of the Land is first in English and Spanish depending on which each missionary speaks, then a message by Jeffrey R. Holland, A form for Temple Clothes Sizes, Rules of the Mission, A health form, then how to get money back for expenses of health, utilities or transportation (reembolsos.)  Then how to address an envelope, stationary to write parents, and a map of the country where they circle their new assignment or asignado.  Then the same lunch, candied banana, chicken, rice, cooked vegetables, and sort of an orange drink.  We like it better all the time.

     Then to the temple with the clothing sizes of the missionaries going home.  We change into white, pull a pile of clothes for each missionary, put their names on top, pass them out when they come.  When the president and his wife come, they try to tell me in Espanol, their sizes.  This time I remembered and tried to have them ready for them too.  Problem was a young sister was Hermana. Rodriguez, and the President's wife is Hermana Rodriguez, and the temple worker who insisted on handing them out, got them mixed up!  EEK!  Will things ever go smoothly!  We went to the session altogether, we took their picture outside the temple with the president and drove 5 elders in our back seat back to the presidents house.  (only 5 automobiles in the whole mission.)  Then we got a call, go back to the office (about 10 pm now and get a pasaporte or passport for a sister going home.  This was the 3rd time this week--this time we were still in our missionary clothes!   Oh, before I left the temple, the Spirit pointed out I'd left some of my temple clothes there-- One piece I handmade early in our marriage.  That was a blessing!

     President Eyring said to watch for how the Lord is blessing us each day!  How you coming?!! 

     Love you all so much!!

Mom & Dad--- Oh, Dad sliced the bottom of his foot through his sock on the edge of a cement wall of our apartment as he came down off a chair from changing a light bulb.  Pray for him.  Infection can set in when the water isn't very clean.   LUV U!!

Letter 9/1/2013

Hi Collins Family!

     We have been out almost a year!  It has been an awesome experience.  Glad we did it and looking forward to more adventures the next 6 months and then the adventure of coming home.  We have met awesome missionaries!  I bet Michael was one of these.  It is truly amazing how you can see the hand of the Lord through them.

    It is hot and sweaty most days.  Many days are more hot and sweaty than others.  We have had rain maybe 3 or 4 times a week.  It comes down in sheets and then is gone.  Sometimes it cools it off and sometimes it's more muggy.  Oh well, we keep going.  There is lots of sun here, it is overcast when it rains and then it clears off and is sunny again.  It rains more now than other times of the year.  We heard you had the hottest July and August ever!  Wow!  Sorry!

     They don't do Halloween here, they decorate for Christmas early.  They don't do Thanksgiving either.  They had Independence day 2 weeks ago, they fly a lot of flags.  Yesterday I made 2 big pans of cinnamon rolls and orange rolls and took them to the office to have after the President's weekly meeting.  Other missionaries stop by for temple recommends, interviews, etc.  "Wow, you made these early this morning", I reminded them it was Labor Day and a good day to labor.  Memorial Day I made red white and blue muffins, 4th of July apple and cherry cobbler.  I hang a decoration sometimes, and we mini celebrate, but the work goes on.  Our mission has 70 or 80 baptisms a month and there's lots to do in the office.  Today we did go home packets for 15 elders, yesterday welcome letters for people who joined the church in July. 

     Last Halloween I was an interior decorator, Jim was a banker, the other senior couple a general authority, and she a fashion designer, the young elders in the office (just with their white shirts and tie outfits) were a CIA agent, a security man for a singer, a game show host etc.  (We just played like it was a costume party to break up the "same old same old".  They all come to our house to eat before transfers, and we did a Valentines, Easter or St. Patty's theme.  Course they came for Christmas day, skyped their families after dinner.  Half are Latin and half American, but they all speak Spanish but me (but I'm understanding more and more, so they have to be careful what they say around me--just kidding.  Enough of me rattling on.  Hope things are good with you all--you've got a great family! (Su familia es marvilloso!) 

Love,

The Schmidts  

It's Monday!

Hola!  Not sure if you check this email any more, but wanted to share an experiencia.  Today Hna Schmidt was asked to give the mensaje not very long before the devotional began.  Bringing no scriptures, and not wanting to use new ones, she saw a used Book of Mormon in the supply room.  She gave the message on the Book of Mormon, the power it contains, told of someone who could feel it's truthfulness by just holding it, and shared personal experiences--mostly in English and the elders translated.  (She also clasped the book for moral support!)

     When she sat down she opened the book to check for references that the president was having us read, and there was your name, Elder Reeder in the front of the Book of Mormon.  Seems like you are still helping us!

     Oh, today the President, Hna Rodriguez, us, and two men met in meeting to look over menu items for a new caterer!  Finally, huh!

     We never resolved the missionary support batch with no numbers on it, the president said to just file it with hand written numbers on.  (The figures are inside on the reembolsos, anyway, right. 

     Good luck in school. Thanks for all you've done for us!  Los Schmidts

Ashley has Opening Night tonight!! Three cheers!!

Ashley has Opening Night tonight in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat!!!  She says it's the most dance intensive show she's been in!  Don't break a leg Ashley, but do your best!  She has a piano recital tomorrow for her students at the Layton Library.  Her family is so busy!

     Annette has a blog!  Her family drove cross country and back from Arkansas.  Amazing, that is a long way.  They saw 4 National Parks:  Mesa Verde, The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Yellowstone.  They went to Albuquerque, New Mexico--a special family place, and had a fluke meeting with Andrea and her family at the Temple!

     Andrea and her family are settled in Sacramento.  They've done a terrific job and are down to the final last details of hanging pictures, etc.  The kids ride the bus to school and have enjoyed their first week. 

     Amy and her family went on a weekend retreat to see the sights at CEU, Price, Goblin Valley, etc.  Little Grace will get to see where her Mom went to school and her Dad played football, and all the places the Schmidts had great experiences at.

     Darren and his family finished Education Week at BYU.  Teaching the youth, and adult classes in family, parenting and marriage was exceptional!  There was a line for his autograph!  They sure had a variety of camps this summer for the kids and the whole family!

     Brent finished Matthew and is on to writing for the new edition of Jesus the Christ!  Wow, I loved that book.  Dad gave it to me when we were first married and we read it together.  Then I read it with the ladies in my ward just before we left home.  Their house is being framed and they have picked out all the color schemes, and all that fun stuff!

     Dad and I are having a great time.  We had zone temple trips this week and next.  Two zones on Wednesday, the San Geronimo and Las Caobas, and today we had Independencia and Las Palmas.  We pulled the clothes for them and handed them out then stayed for the session today.  We have been teaching the Youth Sunday School class for August.  It is on marriage and family.  What a great family we have!  And what great families you each have!  We love you so much!!

I have a testimony of the importance of families and of working hard to be part of Heavenly Father's Family.  (Tengo un testimonio de la importancia de familias.  Son eternas!  Ustedes son mi familia.  Agradicia por cada uno! En el nombre de Jesuscristo, Amen.)

Con amor,

Mom & Dad