Email exchange with David

On Friday, January 10, 2014 8:52 PM, David Erickson <David.Erickson@imail.org> wrote:

Fifty eight days?  I can’t believe all you have been able to do while you’ve been there.  You’re a real inspiration to us!  Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Susan.

 

David

 

From: Susan Schmidt [mailto:susanandjim6@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 4:23 PM
To: David Erickson; David Erickson; Cindy Campbell Erickson
Subject: We got your wonderful card!!

 

Hi David & Cindy!  We opened your beautiful card!  Wow your family looks great!  I count 41 happy wonderful looking family members!  Thanks for thinking of us!  And we watched your DVD Christmas Oranges on Christmas Eve.  It was very special!  Thanks so much! 

     How was your holiday?  How is all your family?  I talked to Rachel and Peter, and Liz on the phone when Ellen had her party, then later saw Jared and Anna and Steven and Andra when Jeane got there and turned on her computer.  Families are so fun!  We're glad were in the family with you!

Love,

Susan & Jim  We'll be home in 58 days!:)

Merry Christmas from Darren

On Tuesday, December 24, 2013 10:36 PM, Darren E Schmidt <SchmidtDE@ldschurch.org> wrote:

Love you Mom and Dad...Merry Christmas...We hope you enjoy your present!

Darren Schmidt
Seminary and Institutes of Religion

saludos

Saludos Elder y Hermana Schmidt , espero que todo este de maravilla en santo domingo, a mi también me dio mucho gusto el poder platicar con ustedes ese día esa llamada lleno mi corazón de muchos  buenos recuerdos. Les contare que este lunes tuve mi primera cita con una joven  fue algo muy interesante no llegamos a nada , pero creo que no seguiremos saliendo,no busco casarme ahora mismo ,  pero sigo en busca de mi pareja eterna,y de igual forma de poder terminar la universidad. Me he sentido muy bien en mi casa, el poder regresar y ver a mis amigos de la iglesia y ver que ellos ya terminaron sus misiones de igual forma, me da mucha alegría, si las cosas han cambiado mucho , pero me siento muy satisfecho con el señor me he acostumbrado bastante rápido al  cambio, me daba un poco de  miedo salir solo pero ya rompí ese temor, pero me siento bastante contento , el domingo me toco discursar en la capilla fue un domingo muy emotivo la iglesia ha crecido mucho en mi capilla, hay mas miembros pero y habrá aun mas por que hay 6 misioneros en mi barrio pero 2 de ellos son los asistentes y el presidente de misión asiste al mismo barrio que yo , de hecho es mi vecino eso es un poco incomodo no les conozco bien pero , no me siento tan fuera del ámbito misional estoy muy contento ,espero que puedan disfrutar este año nuevo y seguir trabajando muy fuertemente el a oficina les aprecio mucho.. mis mejores deseos este nuevo año..

con amor

Hno. Kemish Limhi Aviles Candia

Note: Elder Aviles is from Veracruz Mexico.  He wanted to Skype us on Christmas, but the elders here were on the computer most of the day and he couldn't get through.  He wanted us to meet his family that were all together.  So sad.

Christmas in DR

We're fine, thinking of you all and feeling bad we are missing another Christmas with you. 

  

     We passed out suckers yesterday after our 3 hour block at church.  They don't melt, they came in quantity because you never know how many will be there, easy to take out to our branch, not messy or hard to dish up, and something that would not embarrass the people by costing too much.  They were wrapped in pretty colored foil.  The people were very excited.  We gave the children's illustrated Book of Mormon to the families with kids--usually only 2 families, yesterday there were 5 and no one left early, so I was one short--(I doubled the amount in case.)  Anyway,  I gave away a easy hymns (the little boy comes our piano lesson before church) to that family and promised to get them a B of M for next week.

     I rolled out sugar cookies this weekend, then frosted them before we left for the office this morning.  The president gave his devotional message on the Estrella de Belen (the Star of Bethlehem.)  So that fit together.  The lady Ramona who cleans the office, we got a Christmas towel, some candy, and money that would help her family.  Also the 2 guys who guard our apartment day and night.  And of course a gift bag for the President and his family and the other senior couple.

     Jim put more suckers in packages by zones and they were sent out today in the mail. And then the fun one, a gift bag for each of the 4 elders in the office that we will put under our Christmas tree for when they visit us on Christmas day.  Amy bought a tie from the mall in Layton for each one when she came in September.  We gave one to the president for his birthday last month.  We found a $40 spiral ham in a store and hope to make potatoes, jello, fresh pineapple, yams etc. and pies.  The pie crust here won't roll so I pat in into the pans.  The ovens are Celsius, so they are not like at home,but they are "better than nothing."  Jim and I are giving each other dinner coupons.  There are some nice restaurants here, very expensive--$20 or $30 dollars a plate.  The food is like what we are used to, it's safe, and the atmosphere is fun.  (Johnny Rockets or Tropical by the water, or a Chinese buffet.)

     Anyway, we've enjoyed the experience here, we have learned so much, got to know each other on a 24/7/18 months deal, and met so many wonderful people, and seen how the Lord loves people everywhere!  But when the time is up we will return to clean water, my kitchen, carpet, vacuum, ice maker, central air, nice post office, wonderful stores.  But most important:  back to the wonderful people that we left at home!

Email to kids

OUR MOST PRECIOUS GIFT---YOU!!! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!! love Dad & Mom

From Elder Aguiñiga

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: José Aguiñiga <jose.aguiniga@myldsmail.net>
Date: Wed, Dec 25, 2013 at 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: Elder Aguiniga 4
To: James Schmidt <schmidt.james@myldsmail.net>

Thanks Elder and Hermana Schmidt, Im feel grateful for your friendly and his love, I remember that forever and they are my friends and I wish you Merry Christmas, Thanks for your service and love in the work of God.

Email from Elder Reeder

Elder and Sister Schmidt!

How are you? Thanks for the updates! I'm spending Christmas on a tropical island again- this time in the pacific! It's not quite like being home- but it's good to be with family! I would love to talk to you guys tomorrow on Christmas if you have time! Let me know! Merry Christmas!!!