Not a bad view I've got

Saying goodbye to Pinneberg :(

Yep my time is pinneberg is over. And I feel very uneasy. I'm really
going to miss this place, it is a really good place. I will miss the
cool members and Evelin our cool investigator who is progressing
towards baptism. And I will miss Elder Tischner.

Our week was really good.
We had a zone conference with Elder Adler of the seventy. I absolutely
love that man! He has visited our mission a couple times and every
time he or his wife speaks I learn so much and I feel so uplifted!
Some conferences are also a great time to see old friends and to just
have a good time.

We also had stake conference this week, and there was a brand new
seventy there. He is from Italy and he has been overseeing the
construction of the Rome Italy temple and talked a little bit about
that.  We also taught Evelin this week and we actually taught her about the 

word of wisdom and the law of chastity
(kind of an awkward lesson every time) but it went really well. She
accepted it all and she talks to us about her desire to know if Joseph
Smith was a prophet and if the Book of Mormon is true. It was
fantastic because you could just feel her sincerity and you could see
it in her eyes.
When we first started teaching her she was really shy and just a closed
off person....but she has changed so much, she is smiling and she talks
to everyone at church, it is really just a blessing to have seen
people (even though I have seen very many) let the gospel make a
change in their lives even in small things like smiling more often or
being happy:)

I can not believe that Sophie has graduated high school....I feel like
it was yesterday that I graduated high school....but in reality that
was 2 years ago and I'm actually approaching the ripe age of 21!
I also can't believe that next year Gray could go on a mission!
Sometimes I miss the time when we were all little. But then I remember
that growth and progression are essential in our Heavenly Fathers plan
for us. All I know is that I'm so thankful that he does have a plan
for us and that we aren't just leading a pointless existence on a rock
that is orbiting a star. I'm so grateful for the truths that we know.

Last district meeting in this transfer, and saying goodbye to Elder Horrocks who is indeed not dead, just going home!

After a hard day of missionary work, sometimes you just pass out!

All sorts of service. Makes me happy :)

Hamburg P-day

We live 20 minutes by train from Hamburg and it's technically in our area so we like to go into the big city for P-day sometimes.

Two Years

This week marks the two year mark since I opened my mission call.....

THAT IS CRAZY!

I remember opening that and being filled with excitement but also being really nervous to learn a new language, and to be away from my home for so long, and to teach people to gospel!

But now I've been away from home for quite a long time, and my worries mainly revolve around distinguishing what language I'm actually thinking in, and teaching has become one of my favorite things...... seriously who would have thought?!

As these thoughts have been running through my head this week, I am always reminded of how I couldn't have made it this far with out the power of prayer! I can tell you right now that without prayer I never would have learned German or would have never been comfortable teaching people. Without prayer I wouldn't have been able to be away from home for so long.

During my studies this week I found these two quotes:

"It is better in prayer to have heart without words, than words without heart"- Mahatma Gandhi

and

“I long have been impressed with the truth that meaningful prayer requires both holy communication and consecrated work.  Blessings require some effort on our part before we can obtain them…  We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of prayer, after we say “amen” by acting upon the things we have expressed to Heavenly Father.” ~Elder David A. Bednar,

I'm so grateful for Prayer. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had to see prayers in action and to see that our Heavenly Father really does hear and answers prayers. I am also grateful that Heavenly Father doesn't just give me what I ask for, but He instead gives me what He knows is best.

Thank you so much for your prayers on my behalf, and thank you for your emails!

Love Elder Schmalz

Hello My Friends!

Well this week I've had the great opportunity to ponder how fantastic the gospel is!

This period of pondering was not only brought on by being a missionary and  the fantastic Talks that we heard in General Conference, but was also by assisting the Youth here in Pinneberg!

As some of you may know (but most of you don't, due to my inconsistency in keeping you updated)

I was called to serve as the Sunday school teacher for the youth between the ages of 14-18.

This calling has come to be something that I am super grateful for! I am always amazed by how much I learn or am reminded of when I am technically called to be the instructor. I am so grateful for things that I am learning!

Yesterday we received our transfer calls and sadly Elder Partridge's time here in Pinneberg is up. I will be getting a new companion (more about that next week).

But yes, thank you so much for your emails and your prayers!

Love Elder Schmalz

A quick update

I am doing pretty well here in Pinneberg. I'm really enjoying myself, and I love it!

This week I learned how to make dumplings from a Chinese new convert
which made for a lot of fun.

I absolutely loved conference, I haven't been able to watch the Sunday
afternoon session yet but I'm very excited to watch it next Sunday.

Today I went on a harbor tour with Elder Winkel

District pictures

March Zone Training Meeting

Neumünster Zone

Easter in Pinneberg!

So this week was Great!
Nothing really that exciting actually happened this week, just the normal missionary work that I have learned to love so much!
So that means:
Service
Walking for hours
Teaching about our Savior
Riding buses and trains
Studying
and last but not least,
Church

But yeah, we had a great week!

The Easter holiday is one of my favorite times of year. Almost everything in one way or another points towards Christ and his Atonement. Whether it be flowers blooming or the sun rising, everything gives testimony of that time when the Savior waged war against death and sin and came out victorious. Because he did this amazing thing we may all live again with our families forever and with our Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for our Savior and his Atonement. I am so grateful that I have been blessed with the knowledge of His existence and accomplishments. I love Him and His gospel. And I love being His servant here in Germany!

Thank you for your prayers and your emails and letters.

Love Elder Schmalz

P.S. make sure to prepare yourselves to hear from the prophets of God this coming weekend!

P-Day Bowling!

Candid Picture of me at Soccer this Week...

Well as you can see by this "super accurate" picture of me...  

I pretty much crushed it at soccer this week... 

In all reality I was still really really bad, but there was some definite improvement from my last week of FAILING! 

  

We also crushed it at missionary work here in Pinneberg this week!

Next week we are going to be soooo busy it isn't even funny! We will be running from appointment to appointment all week, and it is actually the busiest I've been on my mission and for that I am so grateful!

  

I don't have very much time this week to do emails due to our busy schedule but what I can do is recommend these two websites that are super awesome!

https://www.mormon.org/easter/virtual-hallelujah-choir

https://www.mormon.org/easter

Thank you so much for your prayers and your emails!

Have a fantastic week!

Love Elder "Messi" Schmalz

Spring has sprung!

Zone training meeting with my awesome trainer, Elder Bretzing!

Pinneberg Week #1

First and foremost I arrived in Pinneberg after 5 hours of train travel in safety!

My companion here in Pinneberg is Elder Partridge. He has been on his mission for about a year now, and he seems like a great missionary so far, and I am excited to be working with him.

Pinneberg is a really small city, but the ward here is actually one of the bigger wards that I've seen on my mission with a solid 60 members....and let me tell you, they are REALLY good at soccer, and I am not.....so lets just say that both my body and my pride are sore at the moment....but we get to play soccer once a week with the elders quorum so hopefully I will get a little better.

In the investigator department we are seriously lacking. We have no one to teach so we will be doing a lot of finding this week. Hopefully we will find someone who will want to accept the gospel.

We are meeting with quite a few less actives and new converts in the area and helping them, so we do have someone to help right now, but we need to find some new people.

I'm doing pretty good. Just adjusting to a new area and a new companion.

Thank you for the prayers and all the support!

Love, Elder Schmalz