Final Thoughts

Excerpt from May 31st email:
". . .there is a lot going through my mind but it wouldn't make much sense to anyone else. I am excited to see you all, sad to leave a place I have called home for the last 17 months, nervous to start a new life but also hopeful that it will all be okay. The Lord hasn't let me down yet, I don't expect Him to now. I've grown so much here, I love this place, love the work I do everyday and will miss it. BUT, it's time. I have come to terms with that. "

Rain and Rejections

Excerpt from May 24th email:
This last week was full of rain and rejections. No one wanted to even open their door for us, but the trials brought a lot of blessings. That is something I have gained a really strong testimony of in the mission. If we do our part, try to have patience and just keep going even in times of trial, the Lord will bless us. We had an especially tough day on Wednesday, but when we went to the church for our meetings everything turned around. I got to do a question and answer session with the mission prep class and it was really fun. They asked lots of really great questions like, "What do you love about being a missionary?" but then there were also some really bad ones like, "what do you miss most about home?" and "Why didn't you just stay home and get married?" In the end it was really nice to be able to give them advice and think of all the things I have learned in these 18 months. THEN, when we got home that night our branch president called us and said that he put a baptismal date with one of the young boys that comes to seminary and plays soccer with our branch. THEN, his mom traveled to Buenos Aires and we don´t have her signature to sign the baptismal record...so the blessing still comes with some trials. But I might be seeing another baptism before I come home. Abigaíl got baptized on Saturday and it was really sweet. The other ward we share a building with also had baptisms and it was very nice. The primary (well 4 kids) from Parque plus me sang "I am a child of God". They wouldn't do it without me...which is kind of endearing. That is kind of the motto of Parque, "not without Hna. Schmutz!" I don´t know what they will do when they for some reason don´t have missionaries one day.

I will follow God's plan for me

Excerpt from February 15th email:
"I love being a missionary...have I told you that before? I am really happy to be here and everyday my desire to learn and progress grows even more. Frequently as I think about this experience the song, "I will follow God's plan for me" from the Primay songbook comes in to my mind:

My life is a gift, my life has a plan
my life has a purpose, in heaven it began
my CHOICE was to come to this lovely home on earth
and seek for God´s light to direct me from birth...

We chose to come here, and I think that means that we knew it would be worth it. All we are asked to do is be obedient, and that isn't even that hard considering the blessing we receive in doing so. I love it."

First Day of Spring

Excerpt from September 21st email:
"It´s officially the first day of spring here in Argentina, and winter really didn´t go out silently. We had rain and thunderstorms on and off almost all last week. Rain here can be inconvenient for the work but we are never discouraged, walking in a storm can be quite entertaining. It has made it so that all of the short cuts we take have turned into marshes, so we usually take the long way right now. Yesterday, though, we were late for an appointment and my companion suggested that we walk across a field we usually take when the weather is dry. The sun had been out the few days before so we thought it would be harmless. Halfway through I took a big step and sunk into dirty marsh water up above my ankles. I turned around to warn my companion right as she did the same. Needless to say, we had to get to an appointment and we were already half way, so we tromped through the muck and laughed as we did it."

Reflections: sweet, sweet Hermana Schmutz

With Hna. Sal (one of the best members here) who just moved to Buenos Aires...the rama is definitely sad she is gone!

Excerpt from July 22nd email:
". . .As the weeks pass me by, I am still amazed at the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. The experiences that I have had here are going to bless me forever. In the grand spectrum of life, 18 months is nothing, but I can honestly say that they have been so worthwhile. I have been thinking a lot lately about the ways I have changed. I wasn't a bad person before, but I just wasn't as committed to the things that matter the most in life. My personality hasn't changed at all, but my priorities have for sure. There are days where I cannot believe that I never took the chance to share this beautiful message with other people that I know and love...I guess I will just have to make up for it after."

Hermana Schmutz, Hermana Glade and the rest of the district