Überraschung!

Well this week started out pretty normal with our days being filled
with studies, talking to people on the streets, and the occasional
lesson thrown in there..... But on Friday morning everything changed!
On This particular Friday that I am speaking of we received a phone
call from the mission office informing us that Sunday night we would
be attending a surprise mission conference with.... Elder M. Russel
Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!
So yeah, after that call Saturday and Sunday seemed to drag on and on
until we finally arrived at the church where the conference would take
place.
When Elder Ballard came in he took the time to shake all of our hands
(252 of us) and to talk to all of us personally for just a few
seconds, He then went to the podium and continued to speak to us
about a variety of topics, the main one being our purpose as
missionaries and the challenge to be more than great missionaries but
also to be great teachers and eventually church leaders and parents.
He also came to give us some instructions about the recent terrorist
attacks in Paris, and what those mean for us as missionaries.
He taught us that that although being a missionary is hard, it is our
chance to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ and His everlasting
atonement, and that we should not be ashamed of that no matter what
happens.
He mainly came to just share his love with us and to cheer us up
and give us advice.
He also shared this scripture with us which will be the one that I'm going to
"ponderize" this week:
D&C 1: 19-20
19.The weak things of the world will come forth and break down the
mighty and the strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow
man, neither trust in the arm of flesh
20.but that every man might speak in the name of God the lord, even
the Savior of the world

And that is something I have learned on my mission! Because my mission
has been a very humbling experience up until this point. I know that
without my Savior I am weak, but with him and through him I can become
better, and I can help others to be better as well!

Thank you for everything
Love Elder Schmalz

A little tour of Berlin

This is Brandenburg Gate

This is the a Holocaust Memorial, for the people who died 

This is the Capital Building

And the coat I am wearing I got for 4 bucks in Poland! I am super thrifty now!

Week Seven in Frankfurt Order

Well life here in Frankfurt Oder has been pretty dang busy, but we did manage to find some time to send Elder Allen off to his new area, and for me to pick up my new companion, Elder Tingey!
Elder Tingey and I go way back..... Actually, all the way back to the MTC!
We actually sat a seat away from each other on our flight here. Elder Tingey is from Oklahoma and he studied for a year at BYU before the mission!

We are working pretty hard here in Frankfurt and hope to see some cool thing happening in the coming weeks:)

My scripture that I'm thinking a lot about this week is Deuteronomy 32:4

"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right he is."

I know that to be true! Our savior's ways are perfect. They may not always be easy, but they are perfect! It is only by doing things His way, that we may become perfect as well.

 

I've had a pretty good week and I hope to have another one!

Thank you for writing and for the prayers!

 

Love, Elder Schmalz

Wow!

So I am super sorry that I haven't written a good email in the last few weeks, but we have just been so busy!

We just had our  transfer calls and Elder Allen is getting transferred! I will be staying here in Frankfurt and I will be searching with Elder Tingey, more info on that next week!

But other than that, it has been a great week!

Winter!

Yeah winter is definitely coming! It's supposedly going to be a super cold winter, and it is crazy that it is my last winter here!

Still waiting to get to watch conference! The biggest hold up...lack of time and the internet. I still need to watch 1 1/2 sessions before I'm done and I can not wait. I really enjoyed Elder Christoffersons and Elder Ballards and of course some German pride with President Uchtdorfs!

 

The world really is such a beautiful place! This is half of one of the scriptures I have been ponderizing this week.

Alma 30:44 "yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

And I know with all of my heart that this statement is true! 

 

Well, I've been asked what has been going on lately.... and my days pretty much consist of meeting with less actives, searching for new investigators, and teaching the two cool investigators that we have:)

I'm loving my time here but I have definitely felt more effective as a missionary before.

This last Sunday we only had 4 members attend church...... So yeah it's a little hard.

 

I have been taking time to try to really master German. I have kind of plateaued when I became more fluent.... But I want to really be able to teach someone how to speak. So that requires a lot of work. Prayers would be really helpful in that area:)

 

I have also been asked what my birthday wishes and Christmas wishes are, and honestly... for birthday and Christmas......a jar of peanut butter would be nice, and I would love the opportunity to buy the fam some gifts. Also, at the moment, my clothes are dwindling, So maybe just a little cash in the pocket and some love and prayers, but if that's not possible I would love some notes from family and friends (hint hint:)

 

October Zone Training

 

Berlin Zone

Tag Der Deutschen Einheit

October 3rd 1990 is a day that is a very special day for the German
people, it is the day that should never be forgotten, and it is the day
hallowed by the words "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (Unity and
Justice and Freedom) because on this day the Berlin Wall fell and
Germany was once again a united people.
So as you can imagine this last Saturday was a very special day as
well, for it was the day marking 25 years of Unity, Justice, and
Freedom as a German people.
But we as missionaries had the opportunity to participate in another
historical moment!
That being the 185th general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints!
We as Latter Day Saints were able to come together from all around the
world and participate in the sustaining of a living prophet who is
called from God, and the Twelve Apostles.
We were able to come together and be spiritually nourished and
strengthened, we were able to receive heavenly council about our very
temporal and earthly problems, as well as hear strong testimonies
about our Savior, Jesus Christ and the restoration of His church and
gospel.

How cool is that!  And during the conference I know that for at least
two sessions, I am doing the same thing as the people I love and
care about!
So yeah, I had a really good week.
I would love to hear what you learned from conference!
Next weeks email will have what I learned. I haven't actually seen all
of them because we have to wait for translation:)
Have a great week!
 
Elder Schmalz

 

This is our tiny Egyptian member with his two lederhosened missionary bodyguards! We had the awesome opportunity to watch conference at his comfy house and it was so nice. Their only request in exchange for this comfy spot to watch conference... We had to wear our lederhosen! Done!