August 26, 2013

Hello family! 

Well how is it going for all y'all? It's going super good here. Let me just say that I love my mission. I really do learn something new every single day here. It's the best. This week I have learned a lot again, to put all my faith in the Lord. It's pretty cool to see how well the Lord will bless you, we just gotta open our hearts and receive it! But let's see, so this week I really wasn't in my area, it was kinda weird. We had TONS of meetings and splits with the District Leader. So yeah, oh also...transfers start tomorrow...and...yup! I'm training, again! haha, But this time like for real. Like not just finishing up training but like the full 12 weeks and a kid who doesn't know any Spanish training. It should be super fun, so that means I am staying in Cyprus for 2 more transfers, and let me tell you...I could not be more excited about that!!! It's so great! I LOVE this area and we are working so hard with all the members, and the members have shown us there love and support 100% right back at us! 

Well yes, my ward is awesome! Like this last week they did a Kermes, which is carnival in Spanish! Haha, so there was TONS of food and tons of games and activities! Y what is awesome is that it's right on the side of the road, so many random people came and talked to us about the church, it was really legit. It was a really good finding activity for the missionaries and the members to bring their friends. We had a legit time, we all took shifts that day so my companion and I were there for 2 hours then the other missionaries for other times so we all worked out well. 

It was actually super weird this last week because usually they do transfer leadership calls on a Wednesday night, and the rest of just transfer call on Saturday night, but it was different this time because we have a new president. Y he did it differently so we all got calls later than we were suppoed to! So the whole mission was freaking out for a long time! Haha, it was kinda funny. But yeah, We had a departing fireside last night for all the missionaries that are going to leave. It so weird to see that. Knowing that those missionaires are going home. Like home home. It's scary to think! One elder who is leaving was my first ZL y he is such an example to me. I remember talking to him my first transfer about when he would leave and he said, "oh yeah thats in about like a little over 6 months, I've got a ways to go." but now...it's here! Like time FLIES on a mission when you are having fun, this last transfer flew by!  Like none other and they just keep getting faster and faster! I love my misson, y it's cool because when you go back to all those firesides you see all the members and converts in your old areas, so I saw everyone from Cerritos! And let me just tell y'all that I LOVE the people here in California! They are simply the best ever! Wow I love them! haha 

Ok well it was a good week, I'll let you all know how my week goes, next week! Until then, stay safe and know that I love you! Thanks for all your love and support! Keep sendin that mail!! hahaha ok love yall! 

Bye!

Elder Schooff 

August 20, 2013

Ok family! 

What is up, how are y'all doing today? So I don't have too much time today, it has been SOOO busy but I'll make sure I sum up everything.

Well we went to the temple today and WOW I love the temple, so peaceful and wonderful to be in the house of God, so so cool. I really just learned so much more and loved how we went as a whole zone. The Temple in LA is huge! Haha I love it, after we went to Hollywood...haha the member who took us to the temple drove us through and we saw such cool stuff, it's crazy to think last time I was like 10 or 11! Wow, and now I'm here again as a missionary! haha, I love my mission.

Ok so well as y'all know transfers are almost over next week on Tuesday, we have no idea what is going to happen! But I know that it is in the will of the Lord and I will be happy with whatever! I have really tried to focus on a lot this week but really on the principle of time, like Elder utchdorf said, "LOVE is actaully spelt, T-I-M-E." I love that, because it's so true, so many people think that love is material or money, but it's all the personal time together we have, that's what the church really teaches that Love is all! It's so great.

This week we had a lot of success with my District. We had a carwash! For free with the elders of the english ward, there were 4 English and 4 Spanish and we had a great time, in the end we beat the record for member presents for a zone and the misson completely this week! It was so cool to see the wards come together and work hard to just serve the public!

Dad thanks so much for the pictures and the cookies! I LOVE them both so much, that means a lot that you did that for me and I really Love the pics of Mom. So much, it makes me love the Plan of Salvation so much more and a love for Mom on a more understanding level.

So this week my whole district got sick, I was first, then my companion and then the other elders! But it was fun to all be sick together trying to speak Spanish with our nasally noses! haha

This week I really learned that I just love to have fun on my mission! That when we fall, it's ok, getting back up is the process afterwards. We make mistakes in life to grow from them.

So also that one person we found that is ASL, well he is getting baptized on the 22nd of September! Cool! We gave him to the ASL elders in Anaheim and it was so so so cool to sit in and watch a lesson with them, it reminded me of you Connor Searing! haha, Hope you're doing good out there! It's so cool, that even though there are so many walls around and things to block people from hearing or knowing about the message of the restoration, it is promised that all ears and mouths shall hear and know of it, until the great work of Christ is done! Cool huh!

I love this area so much and I love all my recent coverts, seeing them progress still so so much after their baptism, it's the best and I have really grown a love for all of them! It's going to be hard if I have to leave, hope I don't.

So yes transfers are coming and calls are Saturday to see what will happen, I'll let you all know next Monday!

I wish I could write more but I have 0 time! I love you all and I'll talk to you next week!

Elder Schooff

August 12, 2013

Ok well another fun filled week on my mission! It's been a blast!

Let's start out with the craziness of what has happened! Well, on Tuesday we had something really interesting happen, we had an emergency transfer in my district. Our DL had to be transferred and he was with Jensen (the one Ashley knows) so now Elder Jensen is with another elder who has been out for 9 weeks, haha Yeah they are both so young in the mission! It's insane! Also just FYI next Pday I am going to the temple and it's on a Tuesday! Cool! I cannot wait!! I LOVE the temple, so so amazing.

We have had a pretty good week here, a TON of meetings with the whole mission. I love our Mission President, he truly was called here for a reason. I actually called him for an interview this last week and he was so willing and it was wonderful to just talk with him, and him listen to me, and what has just been going on. He really cares about all the missionaries in the whole mission and he really knows what he is doing.

We had a pretty good amount of success, and had some really cool new investigators! We really cracked down on finding and what would be good for that. We have really been trying just to really include in our service as missionaries, less active work and feed my sheep. And I have wonderful success.

This last week the ward was SO close to splitting! So close, but it didn't, it came within hours of splitting. It's because in our ward right now there are two missions. Anaheim and Long Beach missionaries, 6 on our side and 6 on theres. And our President and their new President don't like that, so they tried to figure it out and make it two branches instead. But it didn't happen, which I am glad about because the the ward shouldn't change for the mission, the mission should change for the ward. So whether Anaheim takes us or we take them I dunno, but it's going to happen soon. Dang.

Ok well, it's been a great week and I LOVED all y'alls emails and letters, thank you so much for all y'alls love! I'll talk to you again on next Tuesday!

Elder Schooff

August 5, 2013

Hello Family! 

How are y'all doing?! I just love this time of day for so many reasons. It's great. But let's see, also...I LOVE my mission. It's so funny and crazy to see how much you have to grow up and do the Will of the Lord. I love to be here serving God, Like what?! I'm helping God! How cool is that?! Even though I'm here trying to help Him, He is helping me more than I can even understand. haha, Sorry for that little rant but I love my mission. 

This week has been good, I will not lie it has been one of the tougher weeks of my mission. Only because we are not having the same success that we were having as we did last transfer. BUT, I know that this happens.

One thing I have really seen in this area is the love the members have for us, the missionaries. They will do anything to help us. It's so cool to see how much they love us. They will drop everything they are doing just to help us! Anything, like one time we called a member to come to a lesson and she came, then later we found out she canceled her doctors apt to come! We were stunned! Like I wouldn't even think about that! And she canceled it just to come to a lesson...that fell through. I was so overcome for love for the culture and these people. White people aren't as nice, I was on splits with the Zone Leader the other day and I was in an English area, and they are harsh people. They will just outspokenly be mean to you, I don't think I could handle it! So I LOVE Spanish too.

Well, this last week also, I finally got to see the famous Queen Mary! haha, And the Donut shops here are AMAZING and so cheep, Bryson did you ever get them!? Like the Cambodian donuts? 

Also some good news, but in a weird way. Our investigator, the mom of the two children we had baptized, now has a baptism date!! But, its on November 3rd. haha, So we are happy and she does have a legit reason for that time too, her mom was completely against her getting baptized but as time went on she warmed up, her mom lives in Mexico and our investigator called her one day and said that we wants to be baptized and the mom said OK, and I'll say the opening prayer at your baptism. So the mom is flying out in November to come. 

But now we are working with the Dad, so he will be able to baptize his wife! How cool would that be! The wife said she would LOVE that too. We will have to see what happens. 

Well family! I love you oh so much. Brad! Congrats on your marriage! That's so cool and I'm so happy for you, best wishes to y'all! Are you still going to BYUI?! AKA the best place in the world? haha Congrats! 

Well see y'all soon!

Much love,

Elder Schooff