Merry Day After

Hello my wonderful Wonderfuls!

Merry Christmas! Well, rather, merry post-Christmas! I hope that everyone had a wonderful day full of many happies and much joy, and that everyone was able to feel the love of the Saviour and of the Father yesterday.

So my Christmas was pretty good. We went to Church and the Primary had their end-of-the-year program, then we went to the house of the district's second counselor (a gringo who hails from Colorado!) and had a wonderful lunch. Then we went to another lunch at another member's house, and after that I just didn't want to look at food anymore. We were supposed to have two dinners that night too, but that didn't end up happening, which I was very okay with. After we got home that night I opened the pouch that I had received from the grandparents (on both sides), and I can honestly say that I have never been so excited to receive socks as I was yesterday. And boy do they feel good! Thank you Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Ted! Oh, also, I received something that was both wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time: an issue of Automobile Magazine that included a battle of all of the world's top supercars...and I can't read it for a year. I have a picture that better displays my emotions upon finding the magazine, but that will have to wait till next week because my computer doesn't have a port for an SD card. I would absolutely love to read the magazine, but as missionaries we're only allowed to read the Scriptures, the magazines put out by the Church, a handful of books by the Church, and that's it. Automobile Magazine is not in the approved missionary library, so I shall be waiting until I am back in the States to see if the new McLaren can beat the new Ferrari.

Also, thank you Grandma (Judy) for the lovely calendar and Christmas ornament, and for the lovely foodstuffs. I will be thoroughly enjoying all of those things. Oh, and yes, I was able to get a new camera, and it is lovely! I got a Sony SteadyShot DSC-W350, and I have been filling up my memory card little by little. Thank you to my wonderful family for such a wonderful gift! I'll make sure that at some point you see the fruits of the camera! Next week hopefully! Also, the sardines in the first box from my family did end up exploding and covering everything in the box, but I was able to save everything minus the sardines. I have yet to eat anything from the box though because I just haven't been that hungry, but that might change tonight. Thank you all! Also, more pouch should be coming this week...or the next week...or the week after that...I'll get whatever else it is that everyone sent sooner or later! A premeditated thank you to all!

I was sorry to hear about the passing of my cousin. I only met him a few times, and only really had the opportunity to talk to him once, but he was a good, funny, happy man. I know that now he has the opportunity to hear the Gospel and accept it as he waits for the Second Coming of Christ. He's not gone, not by a long shot. His physical body may have died, but even that is only temporary. When Christ was resurrected on the third day, He overcame physical death for all of us, and we will all be resurrected to be judged before Christ. Were it not so, we would never be able to receive a judgment, and we would never be able to live with our Heavenly Father again. If Christ had not come to earth, the end of our physical lives would also end any opportunity that we had to return to God's presence. But I testify that we all have that wonderful opportunity! God did not allow us to come here and never be able to return to His presence. He gave us the way in Christ, and Christ was resurrected so that we all too would receive immortal bodies and be able to live with God again. He has not gone away forever. He has gone on to a place in which he can learn about the plan of God for him, to learn that he will be resurrected as well to come before the judgment bar of Christ, and that we will see him again. He has not yet received his judgment because Christ has yet to come again.  So while it is sad that we don't get to see him for now, I know that his spirit still lives, that his spirit and his body will be reunited again, never to be separated again, and that he is receiving all of the lessons and instructions he needs to make his decision about whether he will follow Christ or not. I testify of these things as a representative of Jesus Christ, and I know without a doubt that they are true because God has made them manifest to me, and I do so in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Schomburg has asked that I include the following links:

http://lds.org/pages/the-plan-of-salvation-d-and-c-video?lang=eng&query=plan+salvation

 http://lds.org/ensign/2004/03/the-merciful-plan-of-the-great-creator?lang=eng&query=plan+salvation

Well, we'll be looking at a new apartment tomorrow and hopefully we'll sign on it tomorrow too. I really hope we get it because it's probably three times bigger than our current one, and there will always be water (huzzah!!). Also, in response to the question of whether I need more clothes; I'm doing well so far. Some of my white shirts are starting to experience some discolouring and basically all of my pants have had some minor snags, but they're all still in relatively good repair. Maybe the only thing that would be nice would be new baptismal pants in a size 36 waist, 34 inseam. The mission makes you gain weight if you don't workout every single day. But apart from that all is well. When I get home I'll probably be getting all new garments as well, but they're still good for now.

Well, I think that's all that I have to say for today. I love you all and I am very thankful for all of you. Please keep staying strong, and don't be afraid to learn more! Don't be afraid to ask if you have questions, and always be courteous about other's beliefs. I love you all and I will talk to you next week. ¡Chao!

Love,

Elder Schomburg

Christmas Spirit...

Helloooooo!!

It's hard to come up with different salutations every time, but Imma give my all!

Okay, before I forget (and I don't wanna forget because it's really important), I will be calling at 3:00 PM my time on the 24th of December. Okay, there we go. Yeeaaaaah, 5 days no más!! I may or may not be excited.

Huzzah for spreading happiness and joy and the Christmas spirit!! That's so amazing! I am so glad that you have chosen to serve others and help others in this time when people can feel way, way, way down. But just a simple act of kindness can give them the best Christmas ever. Way to go!! You guys get a whole bunch of brownie points (which are of course redeemable for brownies, but only in a year-ish)!

Also, my dad also gets all of the brownie points that weren't used for the family, because he treated my mom to an amazing time at the Broadmoor. He definitely wins, and he's definitely become an example of how a husband and father should be. "Yay dad!" (That's actually a very short quote from a movie, and if anyone can guess it, email their answers to my mom [or comment on my blog] and when I get back the winner will get...something. Exito!)

It's a bit disappointing that the missionaries may not be visiting you guys (mi familia) for Christmas, but I'm sure that they will still be well taken-care-of. Maybe next year missionaries will be able to visit you! That'd be really cool. Or maybe they can visit for New Year's (before they have to be in the house, of course, which for us is 4 o'clock [the same for Christmas Eve, and on Christmas we have to be in the house by 6 {I sure am using a bunch of parenthetical asides here}]). Either way, I'm sure they'll be able to visit you again at some time, even if it's not Christmastime.

Okay, so something I just want to put stress on: in this season, it is so incredibly important to reach out to everyone! Everybody is a child of God, and everybody is a spiritual sibling with everyone else. I know there are many people who are feeling incredibly downtrodden this year. What if you are the one (and the only one) who could make that person's Christmas marvellous? What if that person with the sad look on his face only needs a cheerful "Hello" or "Merry Christmas!" to help him remember how blessed he really is? What if passing by to have a quick visit to share a loving thought with the struggling family down the street could save a marriage? We could even say that the simple act of having a cheerful conversation with someone could save a life. Now, many might think that is far-fetched and won't happen, but I'm here to tell you that God still works miracles, and through the small things He will bring miracles to pass. What if you are somebody's miracle this Christmas? As children of God (and especially for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who have made a covenant with God to reach out to others [Mosiah 18:8-10]), there is a need and a duty to love everyone more, and the need is even greater in this season. Please, everyone, do what you can, even if it's not much, to make someone's Christmas the best ever. You'll find that in turn your Christmas will turn out to be one of the best. Everyone should read the December issue of the Ensign, because it is amazing.

Well, I don't have a lot more for this week...wait a second, yes I do! One of the "perks" of being a district leader and having hermana [sister] missionaries in the district is that you get a higher chance of being able to baptize their investigators (seeing as when you do the baptismal interview you have to ask who they want to baptize them). I have now interviewed three people (all were investigators of the hermanas), and I have also baptized all of the people that I have interviewed. That's a bit strange I think, but I was very honored to be able to perform such a vital ordinance for three more children of God. It was a very good experience, and the Spirit was definitely evident in the room.

Okay, now I don't actually have anything else to say apart from my closing remarks. I love you all! You are all so wonderful, and I am thankful for having been able to get to know all of you and share a part in all of your lives (even if it was something small or it's only from reading this blog). I hope you all have the absolute best Christmas of all time, and that you can feel God's love for you more than ever. I love you, and I'll talk to you in one week's time!

Love,
Elder Schomburg

It's the holiday season!

Hello to all!

I just got done with a game of Monopoly in which I lost fairly quickly. It turns out that Missionary Monopoly is a lot faster than any other Monopoly that I've played, and I believe because of that I lost so quickly. Or maybe I'm just not very good. One of the two.

So, life has been fairly good for me lately. Busy, but good. Being a district leader is definitely a lot of responsibility, but it brings a lot of blessings as well. My first baptismal interview went rather well I thought. She had to have a brief interview with the President in addition to mine, but she is good to go for baptism...just as soon as she decides that she wants to do it this year and not after the 6th of January. The interview was very good though. It took a bit, but I was trying to be thorough. It was a very spiritual experience for me though, mainly because I had almost no idea what to do and had to completely rely on the Spirit to guide me. I was way nervous going into the interview, but I came out of it full of confidence. I just had to trust in the Lord and He guided me through the whole thing. I have two more to do tomorrow, but they should be easier because they're a lot younger (15 and 11). Also, there are a ton of things you have to keep in order and a ton of things that end up bugging you (such as when your missionaries don't call at night or when they're 45 minutes late to a zone conference). Also, one of the missionaries in my district used to be my companion; I wonder if you recall Elder Ferneluis? Well, I'm also learning patience and how to be more loving. But all is well, and so far there haven't been any problems.

Elder Sotomayor and I are getting along well. It's a bit difficult to form a really close relationship with him because he has an accent that is extremely difficult for me to understand and so I can't understand him a lot, but I'm doing my best. There is certainly something more to learn from this. We're trying to find investigators, and I'm sure that as we keep trying we'll find the chosen ones. I sure hope so.

I really wish that I could watch the Schomburg Family Trio belting it out on youtube, but I can't. Oh well, I shall see it someday. I'm very glad that the ward Christmas party was a good one and successful. That is always a wonderful thing.

Yay Christmas preparations!! That's so exciting! I'm also very excited for Christmas this year, and I think it's because I'm focusing more on the reason for the season. I was writing some Christmas letters today and in them I of course shared some testimony about the Saviour Jesus Christ. It is so wonderful to be celebrating the birth of our Saviour, Redeemer, and the Son of God. He saved us! He redeemed us! He created all that we see! He was born! That's so amazing! I am incredibly grateful for all that He has done for me, and I will never be able to express my gratitude towards Him. He has done so much for me...He has given me the life that I have now and everything that is in it. I love Him so much, and I plan on doing my absolute best here and throughout life to show Him that love.

Okay, to answer the question about the Christmas phone call: I'll write and say for sure what I'll be doing next Monday, but right now it looks like I'll be calling Saturday the 24th instead of the 25th (the 25th being Sunday and all). That's my plan for right this second, but I will finalize it with the time and everything next Monday in my email. And if I do end up calling on Sunday, I'll let you all know. It can only be 40 minutes, just so you know, and I can only talk to family. I'd love to talk to all of you, but that would be against the rules, and I like to be obedient. I love you all though! President Ghent has approved the use of Skype for talking with families, but I kinda thought that maybe I wouldn't go that route. I don't want to get too trunky after the call. Also, attending church on Christmas is absolutely crucial! Well, only if you plan on remembering the Saviour on the day celebrating His birth. I know that it will be a meeting unlike any other. After all, how many times does Christmas fall on the holiest day of the week? Not many, so make the most of it by being obedient and going to church! It will be amazing: trust me on it.

Yay for helping out the needy! Yay for service! Yay for magnifying the Christmas spirit! Even just preparing to do so, as my family is doing, is getting them all excited. Just think of how happy you'll be once you're actually able to bring to pass your plans! I'm so happy and proud of you all. Keep on building that Christmas spirit and you will be blessed like crazy.

So the apartment that we currently live in is rather small and in need of some renovation, and the Geldmachers (the mission...money people persons [their calling is actually very fitting: in German, Geldmacher means money maker]) asked us to find a new apartment, so we'll be doing so hopefully shortly. We have an appointment at 5:30 with a person who just recently put some apartments on the market, so we'll see how that goes.

The membership here is mas ó menos [more or less]. They recently got a new branch presidency and attendance fluctuates between 50 and 100. The members are all really good and there are quite a few young men that can accompany us...now to just get them motivated to do so! I like the branch a lot though. I'm definitely happy to be here in Riobamba.

I got a package the other day! It was so good to get pouch! Pouch seems to have slowed down quite a bit in the past months, so anything I get now is absolutely relished. And thank you to my most beloved photographer [Jen Duval at duvaldigital.com - she's the best] for sending me such a wonderful package! When I told the missionaries here who the package was from, they all just kinda looked at me weird. I guess missionaries don't receive packages from their family photographers very often. I am appreciative of whatever anyone wants to send my way. And I'd love to send more pictures to all of you (speaking of photography and such), but my camera is very much out of service, so unless I find a way to get a new camera, the pictures will be few and far between. [Elder Schomburg will be getting anew camera for Christmas.]  I love you all!

Well, I guess that's about all that I have for today. Nothing really spiritually uplifting I know, but sometimes you just need to take time to respond to stuff that's happening. I hope everyone is doing splendiforically today and continue to do so throughout the rest of the year ('cause it's almost over!). I love you!

Love,
Elder Schomburg

Welcome to Riobamba!

Well hello there everyone!

So I understand that it's snowing in Monument today...it's not snowing here, so I'm jealous of you from Monument. But that's okay, because it's currently not raining in Riobamba, which is nice because it has rained every single day since I got here. But thus is winter in Ecuador. Oh, more weather related news! On Saturday we were walking to a service project (I was with Elder Rodriguez at the time), and I noticed that something was falling from the sky. I pointed it out to Elder Rodriguez, and he told me that it was ash. Ash? But from what? Why, from the volcanoes of course! Yep, there is a volcano rather nearby that is rather active and has been for 12 years now. My first night here it erupted (it was mild, as in there was just a bit of lava coming down the sides, no explosions or anything), and then it spouted ash Saturday. Welcome to Riobamba! Also, ash doesn't feel so good when it gets in your eyes, but thus is life.

So, remember how last week I said I was trying to do away with striving to become a leader instead of striving to be a representative of Christ (or something like that)? Well, today was the real day for cambios (changes [last week I was changed a week early]), and I was made district leader. I'm still in quite a bit of shock actually. Elder Sotomayor called our former district leader this morning to find out the cambios, and when he told me that I was the new district leader my insides did a few flips, sunk out of my shoes and then leaped back up, and they're still doing acrobatics actually, though they've calmed down considerably. But wow. Also, the responsibility of a district leader is a lot more than even being a trainer. I'm now in charge of 8 missionaries (myself included). I get to teach them in the weekly district meeting, I get to do baptismal interviews for their investigators (my first one is Wednesday), I get to go to more leader's meetings, I have to plan what the district will be doing throughout the week, I am the one that's called at night now (the missionaries have to call and give a report of their day and stuff), and I have to pass on that information to the zone leaders...I'm now responsible for all kinds of things. Believe me, there will be much praying to be had.

Anyway, to other things! I saw the Christmas Devotional last night by the First Presidency, and it was amazing. Seeing Salt Lake and all of the Christmas lights may have made me miss home a little bit, and hearing it in Spanish wasn't as good as hearing it in English would have been, but I did receive a little bit of revelation, which was pretty cool. While President Uchtdorf was talking, a thought came to my mind: "How can I make Christmas more spiritual than materialistic?" I was kinda thinking of the future (as in with my own family) when I thought of that, but I decided that there's no need to wait till later to start having more spiritual Christmases. A little bit later during the devotional, I got my answer from President Monson. I decided that the best way to make Christmas more spiritual and more focused on the actual reason for celebrating the day than materialistic is to serve others. Service is a principle that Christ always taught. He was always serving others, and He completed the biggest service project of all when He took upon Himself our sins and died for us. If we can all do more service this year in the days leading up to Christmas, then we will all have the most wonderful Christmas of our lives, I'm convinced of it. But there's a catch; we can't serve just to say that we've served someone else, or else the good feelings won't accompany the service. Rather, we need to serve because we want to serve. And why should we want to serve others? What have they ever done for us? Well, that second part doesn't matter really. We should want to serve others because we are all brothers and sisters. We should love everyone and want the best for them. Just think of the happiness that you want this Christmas. What if you did your best to bring that happiness to someone else? How incredibly grateful would that person be? Now, I want you to think back to any moment in which you served someone selflessly, even if it was a very small service. How did you feel? You probably felt pretty good, especially if the person at least said "thank you." Now think if you tried your best to make someone feel happy. How happy would you feel to see the look of gratefulness and joy on the face of the person that you're helping? I know that if we can all put aside our own self interests and help others as much as possible, our joy will become complete. We will have a Christmas that is unforgettable. I challenge all of you to go out and serve others. Serve from now until Christmas, and see what kind of a Christmas you have. It's nigh on impossible to have a bad Christmas if we're trying our hardest and our best to love as much as possible. Your attitude during the service will determine how happy you are, so remember to always keep a good attitude about things. Also, write to me about your service experiences! I want to hear how you feel and what you do and how the other people end up feeling! I'm sure that this experience will be incredible for all that have the courage to test it out.

[These are the Christmas lights on Temple Square in Salt Lake City that Elder Schomburg referred to - it's absolutely gorgeous!]

So, there are two more events that I'd like to share. First has to do with the Devil trying to bring me down. So, we were walking to lunch on Friday when I saw some graffiti. Graffiti is not unusual at all, and it seems that most of the graffiti is of people declaring their love for someone else (nothing says "I love you" quite like graffiti). Anyway, I saw this graffiti, and it said "Mishell y Andrés" in a big ol' heart. Now, if you were in an English-speaking country, that graffiti would have said "Michelle and Andrew", and would have still been in a big ol' heart. I just found it rather amusing that Satan is trying hard enough to distract me from my mission that he's now resorted to graffiti. I just kinda laughed and kept walking. Now, the second story is not about graffiti, but rather is about fireworks. So, Saturday night we had just finished our prayers and heard some fireworks go off. Fireworks aren't unusual; every night someone lights of a firework somewhere. However, this night was special because someone had bought a whole bunch of fireworks and gave us a rather nice show. When I say fireworks I'm not talking about firecrackers and smoke bombs and sparklers and whatnot, I'm talking about ones that you actually shoot up into the air and ooh and awww over. Anyway, we had a nice 10 minute show of fireworks that night. Welcome to Ecuador!

Well, I think that's about all that I have for today. I love you all very much, and I am very grateful for all that you do for me. Thank you for your prayers of support, and thank you for remembering me. Have a lovely week! I love you!

Love,
Elder Schomburg