Anna's email dated April 22,2010

Hola Mi Familia!!

My time is limited so this email will be sort and I'm upset because I forgot my
journal so all the amazing things I learned this past week- I don't have with
me!! First off -THANK YOU for all the dear elders!! I LOVED THEM!! KEEP SENDING
THEM!!  Many days are a struggle here at the MTC......Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
were amazing though and after every single devotional we have- I feel so
uplifted and believe that I CAN learn Spanish and teach with the spirit! Some of
the letter you write are answers to my prayers. I have been praying to better
understand my Saviors atonement and multiple things happened this week that
tremendously increased my understanding of my Savior's atonement. Kastle wrote
me an amazing dear elder that made me cry while I read it to my roommates!! We
studied and taught the 2 lesson: the plan of Salvation which also REALLY
increased my understanding as well of the amazing speaker on Tuesday.....don't
have my journal but it was a general authority...one of the 70.......I have
learned sooooooo much in the space of 3 weeks.....I've also realized that it's
really not the teachers or leaders at the MTC who are hard on the
Missionaries.....it's the missionaries who are hard on themselves!!!! This is
such an environment of love & understanding here and we bring ourselves down along with
Satan who is WORKING overtime to help you forget any of
your good qualities!! I've also realized how insanely selfish I am as a
person.....when you enter the MTC, it's not about who you were before.......it's
about who you're becoming......a Disciple of Christ!! Anyway I will write
letters and share more!!  Love Hermana Schmidt

Here is a hand written - snail mail letter that we received that was dated April 15, 2010

Hola Mi Familia,

Como Esta? So I already sent you a really, really heavy email today and hopefully this letter wont be as heavy although I am really, really struggling. Obviously it's my P-Day so I can write and let me clear a few things up. First - don't worry no one is pointing fingers at each other in my little trio companionship. We have made some pretty big rules with each other: No gossiping about each other in any form whether we speak it, write, or email it. I am working really hard on being humble & admitting my flaws to myself. There are many and Satan know it. We do pray as a companionship and I do always pray that we will have patience and love for each other. It does get hard sometimes for sure because the other two will want to do something so I just go along to avoid issues. But I figure it wont kill me to not always get my way. We also go around in a circle & compliment each other every night. It's really nice - however the elders are already having issues but nothing huge yet. Actually Hermana Hall and I sleep talk to each other pretty often. I woke up one night with us talking and I had the audacity to actually tell her to be quite - I was trying to sleep! Apparently last night we talked about Spanish!!! Anyway for all the hard things, there have been some really funny moments too! One time after changing for gym, Hermana Hall couldn't find her name tag and tore the place up trying to find it. I was thirsty so I said I'll get a drink while ya'll are looking for the tag. Well when I came back and walked into the bedroom, she looked at me so funny and said --YOU'RE WEARING IT!!!! Yeah we changed in the same corner and I grabbed her tag and put it on by mistake. Ha Ha! We just laughed about it. I love you all and please pray for me
Hermana Anna Schmidt

New pictures from Anna's second week in the m.t.c.!

Below are some pictures Anna sent us from her recent trip to the Provo temple, along with captions.



Provo temple.





"Best sign EVER!!! Exactly how I feel about learning Spanish!"





District 35 F! "6 of us are going to the Argentina Resistencia Mission! 2 of them are going to Paraguay right above us!"






Sunday April 11, 2010 in front of Provo temple.





Las Hermanas Probst y Hall y Elwood y Schmidt. "Hermana Probst was delayed to her mission so she was our 4th companion for a week and it was amazing! This was right in front of the Provo temple and waterfall!"

Second email!

So we got our second email from Anna this week. She could really use everyone's love, support, and prayers at this time, and she mentions that the letters of encouragement help her immensely!

Hola Mi Familia!
So today on April 15 2010 is my 2nd official P-day and I have some pretty
huge things to share. First off- THANKYOU so much for all the letters!! It's such a huge deal to get them b/c things are so hard here. Keep up the good work and yes Johnny I have gotten your letters (try to watch your language and please don't just type jibberish.....tell me about your day too and stop telling me how the pets are peeing on my bed.......its not fun to hear that..heehee..okay??)

I have to be honest right now and everyone will probably freak out but this past week multiple times I just wanted to come home.......I thought, WHY AM I HERE.......WHY AM I TRYING TO LEARN SPANISH?? IT'S HARD ENOUGH RIGHT NOW JUST TEACHING IN ENGLISH.......I wanted to walk away so bad.....I'm soo exhausted all the time even when I get my sleep and my personal study is going NO WHERE therefore I'm so behind in Spanish......
I felt really dark on Monday night after spanish class. The next day I woke up and felt such discouragement and embarrassment and was ashamed that I felt that way. Tuesday morning during our MDT time (missionary directed time where we study) The Zone leaders came into our class where I was studying with my companions. They looked at me and said they were trying to go around and get to know everyone in the Zone and how they had thought that they needed to meet with me.

I was surprised and actually kinda nervous somehow. SO I went into a room to talk to them and they asked how I was doing. I just started crying and said I didn't know why I was here trying to learn spanish and how hopeless I felt. I said I was embarrassed to be having such a hard time. Why couldn't I have just said I DIDN'T want to learn another language? Elder Murphy and Elder Reynolds listened patiently and I asked if I could have a blessing which they were actually about to offer themselves. Elder Murphy told me that it would be his first blessing and asked if I would be okay with that. I told him that I felt he could do it !! During the blessing he said that I would have the spirit with me and that I would feel peace. Heavenly Father is mindful of me!!!!!!! He said (just like the stake president) that I would be a good companion. He also said that I would be facing some hard
things-some REALLY hard things. But my family would be okay while I'm gone and greatly blessed. He also that I WOULD learn to speak the Spanish Language. This was such a huge testimony to me that my Heavenly Father IS aware & mindful of my struggles. These Zone Leaders were inspired that they needed to meet with me!!!

So I felt much better Tuesday. But I do still struggle and panic A LOT but usually I'm able to stay calm. Wednesday night was our TRC and we had to contact door to door in Spanish and talk about the Gospel & families to pretend investigators. Even though I was lost a lot and didn't understand everything I WAS calm and had a smile on my face the whole time. My companions and I also taught the first lesson again and this time there was such unity & the Spirit was VERY strong in the room that even our pretend investigator teared up. I felt such a high from this and I thanked Heavenly Father for the peace I felt and also that I wasn't nervous or full of anxiety because those things actually chase the Spirit away!! I never really realized that!!

Also I'm not getting out of bed and sleepwalking but apparently Hermana Hall and I talked about Spanish last night in our sleep. Hermana Elwood thought it was hilarious and tried to make sure she remembered what we were talking about. DON'T WORRY after me telling you all of this!! I'm trying to do my best and my teachers remind them that that's all I have to do is try my best!! I love you all....please keep using dearelder.com and writing letters....sometimes they are lifesavers!! I LOVE YOU!! I will send more letter and pictures to you
today!! LOVE HERMANA SCHMIDT P.S. LAURA YOU DON'T HAVE TO EDIT THIS AND PLEASE
FORWARD TO FAMILY!

Pictures!

Here are some pictures Anna sent. Some pictures of her companions as well as those who will be serving in her district.

1st letters and emails! pictures coming soon!

So I've already fallen behind in updating this (sorry!) But we got our first letter and email from Anna last week!

Her first email basically sums up everything from her first letter, so I'm going to skip transcribing it. The first week was pretty rough for her because she was thrown into learning Spanish, but we have since gotten a couple more letters where she seems to be adjusting more and more. Everyone should write her letters of encouragement because she could really use everyone's love and support at this time! In her first email she mentions being able to meet the first missionary from the middle east!
Here's her first email:

April 5,2010
Okay Dad, Mom and Laura, First off I'm alive & well!! I love you all and am
working very hard!!


Let me explain how this MTC works!!! I am only allowed to write once a week on my P day and I can only email on that day for 30 mins!!!! Right now as I'm typing the program is counting down my minutes!! It's actually VERY stressful!! I AM OKAY!!

Yes I have cried alot and have feel VERY overwhelmed but somehow at the end of every night I feel peace! I know this is a tender mercy from the Lord. Today on my p day we went to the Provo temple at 7 am!! It was AMAZING and so badly needed!! On the walk there I noticed a sign on the grass that said, "I'm trying hard to grow, so PLEASE don't walk on me" I started laughing and told my companions Hermanas Elwood AND Hall "THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT SPANISH" We had a good laugh about that!!

Hopefully after reading my letters you know about quite a few things here at the MTC! am soo amazed everyday that I'm here! I've been very bold and talked to all the missionaries who come here from other countries to actually learn english to
preach in America OR some come here because the is no MTC like in Russia or
Korea!! I talked to an Elder who is sooo sweet and funny and he is from thre
country Jordan!!!!!!!!

I taught him the word AWESOME which he loves to say! His
english is really good actually! He is the first missionary from the Middle East called to preach the Gospel in America!! It blows my mind! He says there are actually 2 branches in Jordan!! He says he can see the River of Jordan from his home where Jesus was baptized!! So cool!!

There is a sister here from Cambodia who is learning english and she is the sweetest soul!! Anyway everyday I have 3 hrs of studying which include personal study, language study and companion study, we have usually 6 hrs of class study with my Teachers Hermana Clegg and Hermon Garcia.

They have both served missions and are amazing teachers! Hermana
Clegg is so kind to me and told me how my District is REALLY advanced and that I
have hope & faith that I will learn Spanish.

As of yesterday I'm made some pretty big decisions : First off I will no longer say....if I get through this...from now on it will be "WHEN I GET THROUGH THIS", I've also made the choice to be more obedient and only write letters on my p day as well as make sure I go to bed by 10:30! By the way I haven't gotten a letter from anyone
except Sharon Erland in the last 3 days....what the heck family???!! ; ) As of right now I have about 8 more weeks before I go into the field.

I wrote in my journel about meeting the Argentine Consel & signing my
Visa and I ripped it out and mailed to you all and put in pictures from my
mission so far!! You should be getting that in a day or 2!! Plus I am mailing
more pictures & letter today!! I'm sorry you worried Mom but I really no longer
have any time for myself except for 4 hrs to do laundry on thursday!! So yea
Ya'll should be getting an email from me every thursday and letter after that in
the weekends!!!

The Elders in our District are sooo jealous of us Sisters for getting more letters than them....ahem...except for the last 3 days but after reading frantic emails I can see that you WERE worried and I'm sorry for that!! I love you all!! Dad, Mom Laura and Johnny (who needs to write me!!!!!!!!) Please forward this email as I have no time to enter everyone's addresses today!! I LOVE YOU ALL and please contiune to pray for me....this is soooo very hard but I'm been reading songs & srciptures about faith to help me!! I am nothing without the Lord, he's the one who will make up the difference!! I will write letters now and tell you more!! LOVE YOU ALL!! p.s. I've already lost about 5 pds!!


Her second letter talks about meeting the consul from Argentina and what to expect while serving in Argentina. It also mentions her continuing progress in learning Spanish:

April 6, 2010
Hola Mi Familia!!!
So right now I'm sitting with all the missionaries waiting for the consul from Argentina to walk in. Usually in the past, the MTC has to fly out all the missionaries to L.A. so that they can sign their visas!
But now the consul from Argentina comes to the MTC!!!

He's not a member of the church, but when he walks in we will sing 'Called to Serve' in Spanish!
He said-it sounds better everytime!

He's giving us the bad about Argentina saying a trailor park is like a 5 star hotel to the people. He said we will have to be used to "changes". He also said we could be kicked out of the country at anytime.

"If you aren't used to changes, you will be after Argentina."
He also called out to us planning to serve in Resistencia saying we should get our yellow fever shots! Haha-he asked if we already had them and said they don't eat their meat raw like in the U.S.A.

He's warning us about conversions right now-saying we'll be invited in but that doesn't mean they'll want to join. He said we'll probably be offered coffee and alcohol and some kind of tea. He said practice our speech to decline politely and that we'll be asked about everything about our lives. He said most people are nonpracticing Catholics but they baptize their children. He said people aren't used to being asked about their beliefs. He said people feel guilty about us asking about their beliefs because they don't practice. He's said even more things but I'll try to keep this short.


I figured after my last depressing letter I should write to tell you that I'm doing better everyday here. I'm starting to get excited about the people I will teach in Argentina!

Today we watched a clip from this project called '6 Billion', where they interviewed all these people from all over the worls and asked questions about what they felt and believed.

After watching these clips-we were asked how the world viewed these people compared to how the Savior views them. The Spirit was so strong as my teacher Hermana Clegg talked about meeting a meth addict when she served in Spain and how initially she was kinda shocked she was teaching a meth addict but how he changed after learning that the Savior's atonement is real. It was amazing to hear how he changed as a person slowly and got help for meth addiction and began to give up tobacco and alcohol. It was amazing to hear!

After struggling the first week-I am relieved to feel peace in Monday in my language classes. I did feel overwhelmed and cried during our companion study but at the end of the day I felt peace once again.

Tomorrow on Wednesday I have my first TRC where our scenario is my companions and I will be walking through a "park" and we will be contacting in Spanish but teaching in English (thank goodness!)

Yesterday my teacher Hermono Garcia talked to us about how as we leave our comfort zone and enter into the learning zone-eventually our comfort zone grows into that learning zone!

Talking to people and preaching the Gospel won't be hard, but teaching in Spanish will be very, very hard in the beginning. My teacher Hermana Clegg said ultimately its not what you say to them but how they feel!
Bearing my testimony in Spanish will be more powerful then.
Overall, things are somehow settling down while getting more busy if that makes any sense?

Anyways, I forgot to tell you all that I was so stressed I slept-walked the first 2 nights in the MTC but my companions and room-mates just thought it was funny and were really sweet about it.

Luckily, since then I've stayed in bed but my room-mates say I wake up having conversations. Pretty funny! I'm sure there's a million more things I could say to all of you! I love you all!
I try not to think about life back home because eventually I'll get really sad!
Love, Hermana Schmidt
P.S. You can use dearelder.com instead of writing if it makes it easier!


Letter #3:

April 8, 2010 (Thursday)
Hola Mi Familia!
I just sent ya'll an email-here's an idea for ya'll-go to dearelder.com and write to me and I will get it right away!
The MTC prints our dear elders out and puts them in our mailbox the same day! So this way I have more time to type instead of reading and typing! I will of course still email you on my P-day with the "countdown" until it kicks me off!

I have written so much random stuff to you that I'm not sure exactly if I've told you everything I wanted to!
Maybe I'll start by telling you what I've actually learned here so far-I have learned how to pray in Spanish, bear my testimony in Spanish, how to contact in Spanish, and of course verbs and conjugating them (boo verbs stink!)

Last night we had our first TRC where we contact in Spanish and set an appointment. Lastly, we had to teach the first discussion in English to the last person we contacted. This was super scary! However, now that almost 24 hrs have passed I realize that I did understand what I was asked-they asked if I spoke Spanish-and later asked how many people were in my family. It was nerve-racking at the time but important to experience of course.

Luckily, from doing this I'm already learning what I can improve on!

P-day is kind of weird because I'm actually wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt. Right now I'm doing laundry. I actually can't even recognize the elders in my district who aren't wearing missionary clothes. WEIRD!

After these 4 hrs it's back to missionary clothes and companion study at 4pm and dinner at 5 tp 5:30 and then class at 5:45 to 9pm. 9-9:30 is when we plan out next day.

It's actually kinda nice that there's only 11% sisters at the MTC. We get spoiled and I like it!

Today after the session at the temple there is a cafeteria in the basement of the Provo temple, so we ate breakfast and this awesome member there with his son went and secretly paid for all us sister missionaries' breakfast!

It was supposed to be a secret but the cashier told us so of course we all went and thanked that awesome member!

General conference was really powerful last weekend and thank goodness for it because I was able to take a break from learning Spanish!!!

There were a lot of topics discussed that really applied to how I'm feeling now-adversity and teaching...sacrifice. No worries! I do A LOT of praying and I hope that by the end of my mission I'll be truly fluent.

Sometimes its hard having 2 companions instead of one. Hermana Hall's passport never came so she was delayed six weeks and is with Hermana Elwood and me. Luckily, they are really patient with me.

Right now there are six of us sharing a room!!! Some of them will be gone soon though. Two other sisters in here are going to the country Hungary and are really good at speaking their language!

They sound fluent although they claim they're not.

...
Right now I'm just trying to focus on my future investigators and being the best I can be! I love you all! Please pray for me a lot!
Love, Hermana Schmidt


So those are the letters we've received so far! Pictures will be up soon!
Thanks everyone for reading and please, please, please send Anna letters!
-Laura

Dropping Anna off at the m.t.c.

So here are a few pictures my mom took of Anna arriving at the m.t.c. in Provo.

Before dropping Anna off, she and my mom had one last breakfast together at Ihop.





Next to the m.t.c. sign. It snowed all the way to the m.t.c. but finally let up right before Anna's arrival.





Getting out of the car. Anna was chauffeured by Mom to the 5th drop-off point (out of 35-40 drop-off points). The m.t.c. website says approximately 2-300 missionaries are dropped off at the m.t.c. every Wednesday.





There was a sea of helpful elders at each drop-off point acting as hosts. Each had a host tag. They were all very friendly.





Self-explanatory...





Anna's home for the next two months.





Officially her box number at the m.t.c. is 222 and her departure date for Argentina is May 31st, 2010.

I will post another update as soon as we hear from her.

-Laura