Hermana Karras

Excerpt from April 26th email:
"I have a new companion. I was sad to see Hna. Herrin go, we really did enjoy our time together, but I am happy that she gets to start another adventure in the mission. I remember being sad to leave my first area, but also excited when I was able to see how much I had grown. My new companion, Hermana Karras, is from Ogden and has already graduated in Journalism. . . I am excited to be able to learn a lot in these last weeks of the mission. The Lord really knows what we need to keep us on our toes!"

New Companion

Excerpt from January 31st email:
"My new companion is great and we get along really well. Her name is Hermana Alyssa Herrin and is from Idaho Falls. She studied Opera at Idaho state for a year and then studied drama education at BYU, she has already sung 3 solos in her five days here…her voice is beautiful and I get embarrassed having to sing hymns with her. She really reminds me of me when I got to Argentina: totally lost and uncomfortable with the fact that the mission is nothing but glamorous. I am really proud of her though, she is a trooper and everyday complains less. We are really going to enjoy this time together, I am sure of it."

New Mini Missionary and the Great Plan of Happiness

Excerpt from January 11th email:
"Things here are good, it was a really hot week and today we had a pretty killer rain storm. We were lucky to get caught outside when the downpour came...the thunder and lightning here is incredible and after five minutes of walking in the rain we were up to our ankles in muddy water. I liked it.

Hna. Tau is great, we get a long really well...she is only 17, but she really opened up with the people this week and is doing a pretty good job calling them all to repentance.. It just seems a lot less harsh when coming from someone who is still in high school I guess, it works for her."
"Tonight we are going to teach Mabel about the Plan of Salvation. She was a reference from some elders who she stopped in the street. She explained to them that her husband had died 5 days earlier and she wanted to see him again. they gave us her address and information and we went and visited her to put another appointment, she is great. She is someone truly prepared at this time to accept the Gospel. I feel like the Lord is really blessing me at this time in my mission, because Mabel isn't the first reference we have received that is really prepared, or has a lot of potential. I am so glad for the Gospel and the joy and comfort it brings, even in times of extreme pain and suffering. We had zone conference this week and it was great. The focus was on our Savior Jesus Christ and developing attributes that He has. Presidente del Castillo challenged us to read the entire Book of Mormon before the first week in April, marking all the references that there are to the Savior, I am only in 1st Nephi and it's pretty incredible what I have already marked.. The conference was really nice, I needed to remember who it is I represent at this time and what I am here for. To be like Him, we must also know Him"

¡Feliz navidad...prospero año y felicidad!

December 21st email:
I want to wish you a merry Christmas! I want to wish you a merry Christmas, I want to wish you a merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart! I taught this song to my companion (Hna. Hernandez) and when she sings it, it sounds a little something like this: I want to wesh you a miri critchmash...from de butum of mi hirt! I am not making fun, I love her from the butum of mi hirt...but it a little reminds me of "A Christmas Story" when the family has to go out to eat at the Chinese restaurant...

Another transfer come and gone...and full of more changes! Hna. Hernandez got transferred to Terminal (the area right next to mine) and I was given a mini-missionary (or a local missionary)...I am with a sweet girl named Josefina Barrios and she is 18 years old, just finished high school. She is a really great missionary and we get a long really well. I am not going to lie, I was scared to death when they told me. But, once again the Lord has given me an opportunity to learn and progress. Having a mini can be pretty tough, mostly because they get no missionary training whatsoever, but she has been a big blessing! Unfortunately, she can only be with me until the 24th, so the mission is looking for another companion to replace her. I may have to wait until the 1st or 2nd of January...in which case I will be with Hna. Gilman and Hna. Marilaf to work for a few days. I get to spend Christmas Eve with the family of Hna. Barrios and I am really excited, it has been really fun working with her, and I will def miss not having her as a companion.



Yesterday was another great day at church. Even with transfers, being with a mini and the holidays, we had 6 investigators come to church. One of the investigators, Pedro, was really excited after because all the members invited him to activities. He is really shy and doesn´t talk much, but he is really starting to open up to us. He is friends with a recent convert named Alejandro who is preparing to receive the Priesthood this coming Sunday. In my short time here I have seen him progress a lot and he is even talking about serving a mission, so that is exciting. He comes with us to teach investigators and also introduces us to all his neighbors...It makes me happy to see him progress so well.
In the middle of church the lights cut out because everyone was using their ceiling fans and air conditioners. It was extremely hot and hard to concentrate...then Martín Martinez, one of the Young Men (he is 14) got up to give the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting and asked Heavenly Father to please let the lights come back so we could enjoy the meeting. I thought to myself, that was odd...and then as soon as he said "amen" the lights came right on. Everyone was pretty surprised and I am pretty sure I heard someone clap...not sure if it was an adult or a child. Anyway, we could all enjoy the meeting with air conditioning and a microphone...then, the branch president got up to give his message and compared the humble and faithful prayer of Martin, to the prayer of Joseph Smith. Both asked to receive light, and it was given in one form or another. He also pointed out that only a child (or young boy) would be humble enough to ask for something like electricity in a Sacrament Meeting prayer. As adults we believe that it is inappropriate to ask for something so simple in a formal prayer to begin a meeting. It was incredibly strong the spirit that was felt. It seems so small and simple, but I learned a big lesson. He testified very boldly that the Lord answers our prayers and that this was a testimony to him that the Lord answered the prayer of Joseph Smith as well. The spirit continued very strong throughout the meeting. It was the most reverence I had ever seen in a Sacrament Meeting in Argentina.

We are having a dinner/service activity as a ward to celebrate Christmas in a orphanage for girls. My companion and I are in charge of the decorations and singing a song, and a member is dressing up like Santa to give out presents.. We have a girl in our ward who used to live in the home and is going to share a spiritual message...I will be sure and send pictures.
The spirit of the season is strong here in Argentina! I am happy, healthy and trying to keep up with all the Lord has given to me. I hope you are all able to look around you and find ways to serve, ways to love and lift those who have fallen. We are all in need of something, and we all have something special to give.

Stay awesome!
xoxo
Hna. Schmutz

Safely in Argentina

A short note from Hermana Schmutz on her 1st day in Argentina:

Hermana Schmutz & Cataldo

"My mission president and his wife are awesome, they are both very friendly but also very serious about mission work. It's hot here, and super humid. Just how I wanted it to be! My Spanish is no where near where it needs to be and I understand very little, but today when I was talking with my mission president he told me I do a very good job...so I'm feeling okay. I don't know my trainer yet but I do know she is North American...I promise to write more later. I love you all and it's hard to be this far away. But, Argentina is awesome and I already LOVE the people so so much! I am excited to serve them for the next while...Lots of amor y besos!
Hermana Schmutz"