2/28/2022
I had an amazing opportunity to go to the temple this week. I go to the Boise temple in this area. It was so beautiful. It looks small but seems bigger on the inside. I loved the layout of this temple and the artwork! I was able to do sealings for the first time! The missionaries got to be the children and the few couple missionaries were the parents/ Couples. That was an amazing experience. I felt so much peace and joy sitting in there knowing that families in heaven that have been waiting are rejoicing together because there work is done. Such a special thought and spiritual filling day.
On Thursday this week I hit my 3 week mark of being in the field. Because of this we had a progress meeting were I got to see all the missionaries I came to my mission with. President and Sister Nyguaard shared some amazing insights. President Nyguaard said this, “Its not about the number of people you baptize or teach, but it is about the number of grandkids that are sealed in the temple.” This really touched me and many other missionaries as well. (The spirit was so strong) Our mission is lifelong and right now, it is preparing me to be the best mother I can be. He also said, ” In the scriptures it doesn’t say pray. Dont just pray to the lord but call upon him, cry unto him, open up to him..” I love this because it’s true. I find myself repeating my prayers with less meaning sometimes. We need to call upon the lord everyday with sincere hearts. Lastly, We separated from our trainers for a section of this meeting. In this section we were asked the question, “What surprised you most about the mission?” I was called on to share some thoughts and I shared that I am surprised about the amount of growth I have seen in myself. I can not believe the strength I have received by turning to the scriptures and the true sincere desire I have to read them. I didn’t think I would ever feel a true desire to study them, I thought I would simply study them because I know they are true and that’s what I was asked to do. It’s sure surprising to see the growth people have when they go into it with Heavenly help. I know that if you all will truly read your scriptures everyday you too will be able to someday feel the way I have this week.
We made cute little baggies full of homemade cookies to deliver to certain families we felt needed them. We got all bundled up and headed out on our bikes. This day was full of snow and we knew it was cold. I promise I was dressed very warm, but we got to two houses before we couldn’t continue on because it was so cold. Sister Schmidts hands were so dry and cold they started bleeding. Why do I share this? Because I got to meet a person who is never home and doesn’t answer calls or texts. Heavenly Father knew it was cold. We knew it was cold. The last thing we wanted to go was go out and freeze but we did it. We will be blessed for the sacrifices we make. This is in everything. Heavenly Father will always recognize your efforts, even if you don’t see the blessings right away.
On Friday we changed our plans to help this non member family move. We knew they were going to need help moving but we were not given much notice. Thankfully my sweet district was able to come and help us as well. It was a big and dirty project. This house was so cluttered and so dirty we were gagging at some points. That being said I really enjoyed the time we could spend helping this family. We spent about 5 hours there. At one point Adrianna (the mom) asked us to clean this bathroom. It was gross! I however took of my hoodie in hopes of saving my clothes and jumped right in. Sister Schdmit said, “Boy I’m glad you are my companion you are willing to do the worst of the worst without hesitation” I cleaned the toilet lol. I thought it was super sweet of her to say and mean it. We work well together and she is pretty willing also, but it meant a lot to me that she said that.
Some funny moments are: ( Sister Schdmit wrote this part.. enjoy)We were cleaning out their fridge and freezer full of food. Adrianna (Thaddeus’ wife) asked us to throw out anything that was open and pack anything unused. Well, while cleaning Sister howick found a bottle and asked what it was. I told her it was alcohol and it was half gone so we chucked it in the garbage. Afterwards we went to take the trash bags to the dumpster, but on the way out we passed by Adrianna who suddenly started yelling and chasing after us. She told us to stop and when we did she used her nail to cut open the side of the bag grabbed the bottle of alcohol “If Thaddeus lost this, he’d be very sad.” She stated before running back inside. Guys, I was so close to ridding someone of one less bottle of alcohol but some how she had x-ray vision 
maybe next time I’ll be more successful.
The last funny thing I’d like to share from this service experience is this. We cleaned out this little boys room and got everything out except for this huge cat tree. It was extremely tall and quite wide.. especially for a cat. We were asked to take it out to the moving truck. I grabbed one side and of course Sister Schmidt took the safe side.. as we began the process if tilting this huge cat tower there began the rain. Rain of cat food. There was cat food poured in one of the tops of this cat tower, but we couldn’t see that. I started laughing and yelling, tilt it back up! Long story short I had cat food all over me, inside my clothes and in my hair. Gross 
Sister Schmidt, Elder Steven’s and I had a good laugh and a rough time fitting this big thing through the door. It took all 3 of us. Super funny.
We had a mini meeting with the Sister Training Leaders. They told us we were going to pray and find a scripture we feel the other person sitting across from us needed. I was so nervous! I had 3 minutes to find a scripture based of off I how felt, for Sister Oliphant. I don’t know how but I turned to a verse that stood out to me and I was able to relate it to her. My scripture was not perfect and I stumbled on my words but I know the spirit was the teacher. It was amazing to feel the spirit and practice teaching from our hearts through the scriptures. It reminded me of how important it is to exercize faith. This was a hard exercise for me. It’s not always going to be easy to turn to the right things but I know Heavens got our back and will help us. I really like this quote I read this week, “We are never alone in our efforts to create unity.” I know if we are trying to do the right thing He will take care of the rest. We are never alone. Even when it is hard.
Members are the kindest people ever. We had one of our dinner appointments cancel on us last minute because his daughter had to be taken to the hospital. It was no big deal at all, we are capable of cooking dinner for ourselves. However, Sister Schmidt felt she needed to ask this certain family about dinner. They told us they love to help the missionaries and to call for dinner anytime. They were so sweet. We went over and had tacos with their family with hardly any notice. We had a super fun time. I really felt at home in their house. They reminded me of my family 
. It was good to be able to laugh and be ourselves with this family. Looking back on this experience I felt like I was supposed to be with that family that night. These last few days have been hard! I needed them and I needed a break from the world. I was laughing so hard at the dad because he kept making super funny side comments and Sister Schmidt accidentally roasted the dad
. We all laughed together. It was a good night.
Sunday was as busy as usual. We didn’t get home from all of our meetings until about 7:30. Crazy! I love meeting with the wards on Sunday though. We had the opportunity to teach a section of a program called, It’s Gr8 to be 8. We got to teach a section of the sacrament and baptism. It’s so amazing and the greatest blessing we get to partake of the sacrament each week. It went well and the sweet Spirit was so strong with these 7 year Olds and their parents. The bishop ended the meeting with some powerfully simple words. He held up the white jumpsuit in his hands and he said, “This is the path to perfection. Right here. This is symbolic of our desire to be perfect and continue on this perfect path.” It reminded me of something Present Nyguaard taught me, that we can be perfect because we can repent everyday. We can be perfected through the gospel of Jesus Christ and his atonement. Bishop then shared this scripture 1 Nephi 10:19 (read sometime) and talk about the mysteries of God. Sometimes we don’t know, we don’t know we need the things of the gospel. Sometimes we are given promptings and we don’t know the reason behind them. We don’t know, that’s the mysteries of God. His overall message was to be aware of those prompting and remember them. We are given them for a reason even if it doesn’t make sense at that moment.(Sorry this is confusing to try and reexplain) This lesson was made for 7 year Olds but I learned a lot. Our gospel is so simple!
These last few days have been rougher for me. We have been so busy! Busy is good though. We have put forth a lot of effort in visits, contacting and fellowshiping this week. We haven’t seen much success from our efforts and that was a little discouraging this week. I know that our efforts do count! I am always getting compliments of how positive I am, I try to see the good in everyday and I am grateful for that. We are not always going to the results right away but together we can press forward with joy. I love you all so much. 
Pictures ( they uploaded backwards)
-Tempe
-cookies
-us trying to warm up after freezing
-service
