Staying put but with a new companion

Hello Family!

So it was transfers this last week and I didn't leave! YAY! But sadly, Sister Fia left, but my new companion is Sister BOYD! She is from Maryland and I lived with her when I was in Riverside. I probably told you all about her and she is amazing! I never thought we would have the chance to be companions, but I am soooo excited! She is a hard worker and she is just a ball of energy and love. We are excited for the work that is going on in the area and know that miracles with continue. I was really sad to see Sister Fia leave, but I know that she will be great with SIster Larsen, who was my MTC companion. :) Sister Fia and Sister Larsen are going to do wonderful things in Corona! Hopefully Sister Fia will be able to come back to some of the baptisms coming up as well!

Life in Jurupa is going well. :) We are seeing lots of miracles and we are excited for all that is in store. Sister Fia and I had three mini-missionaries are Saturday for the day. Let me tell you about one miracle that we saw. I was out with one sister  and we didn't have much success getting in anywhere, but we had a referral to contact. Well this referral was (get ready for this one): Our homeshare's (Monica) daughter's (Alisha) husband's (Brandon) parents. Anyway, we went to the house and it turned out that Alisha and Brandon were actually there, which was perfect! Absolutely a miracle! Brandon is not a member and Alisha is. Brandon has investigated the Church on and off for years. We offered to leave a Harvesting Blessing with them and they accepted. We left a blessing with them and I knew that it was for Brandon, just as much for his parents. We invited Brandon to be baptized and he declined, but it was a good visit nonetheless. It was a miracle that we were there. We went back to our homeshares right after that and told her about it. She talked to her daughter and found out that she was already back home and that they were only there for a short time. It was absolutely the Lord's timing.

We have been so blessed as missionaries. I love this work sooo much! I am excited for all that is ahead.

We have an investigator named Amy, who is on date for March 3rd and she is progressing well. She came to Church again this past week and we are so excited for her. :) Hilda is on date for March 10th and Hannah as well. We are just going to keep working hard!

Congratulations Geoff on BYU-I! Amber's home! I am excited for her!

I know this is the Lord's work! I am so blessed to be a part of it. We talked about Christ-like attributes today in our District Meeting and I am excited to focus on a different attribute of my Savior, Jesus Christ for these next weeks. I have grown in my knowledge and testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and loves us so much. He is aware of our lives and all that we are doing. I know that He can heal us spiritually, emotional, physically. 

I love you all! Have an amazing week! Talk to you soon!

Sister Gretchen Schillemat

This is a picture of Sister Boyd and I four or five months ago at the temple. :)

Gretchen and Sister Gonzales, who often comes along with the sister missionaries.

Life is good!

Family!

So excited for Danielle! That is definitely an amazing blessing! I can't wait to see pictures of the baptism. :) I will keep her in my prayers as she continues to take the lessons.

This week was a good week. We taught 20 lessons, which was sooo exciting! Finally. I feel like we are trying to all we can and are more on top of it than in other areas, but it has been a atruggle to get our lessons. It was really exciting to teach so much last week.

We met with a new family this last week. It is three generations in one house. The daughter, Amy, mom, Charlene, and grandma, Pat living together. Well Charlene and Pat are both members of the Church but have been less active for a long time. Amy is not a member, but is so excited about the gospel. We met on Wednesday and Amy was just so excited to be learning. She told us she wants to come to church and she was there on Sunday, for all three hours. She seemed to really enjoy it as well. We are teaching her again on Wednesday and are excited for her.

Life is good as a missionary! I am happy. :)

One thing that I was reading this morning was in Helaman 12. It talks about not setting at naught the guidance and counsel of the Lord. How often in life, do we think that we know what is best for us? Or we want certain things and don't seek the guidance of the Lord? I know that as we seek the Lord's guidance and truly follow it, we are blessed in all things. I know that His plan for us will always bless us, where our plan for ourselves is not guaranteed. I know that the Lord lives and loves us.

Thanks for all you do and all your love. Happy Valentine's Day. :)

Love you,

Sister Gretchen Schillemat

Ether 12:27

Hello Family,

 

This past week was an interesting one. We had a not so good week for lessons, but here is the highlights.

 

We are teaching Hannah, the girlfriend of a member. She is doing soo well! She is on date for February 17th and came to all of Church yesterday. We are really excited for her!

 

We also continued to teach a family of four this week. We gave them a harvesting blessing a little over a week ago and we had a really good lesson with them. They all could feel the Spirit and were grateful for our visit. We are excited for what is to come.

 

I loved Peder's email today. That was just what I needed to hear. Sometimes we do feel like we are always failing and that we are kind of alone. But we are never alone. We always have the Savior, Jesus Christ, our loving Father in Heaven, and the Holy Ghost. I am so thankful for that. This past week we had one lesson that didn't go as we, I should say, as I, expected. We were on splits that night, so after the lesson I felt like I had really failed. That whole night and the following day it was really bothering me. And I think this was an opportunity for me to learn and to grow. I didn't depend on the Spirit like I should have. I didn't prepare for that lesson like I should have. Although, I wish it didn't have to go that way, I am grateful for that experience because it was an opportunity for me to really change what I am doing to be more prepared in lessons. It was an opportunity for me to see my weaknesses and depend of the Lord more, so that they can become strengths. I am hoping and praying that the next lesson with that family will be more filled with the Spirit and that I will be a better conduit for the Spirit.

 

Missions are hard. But they are the best time of our lives. I am so thankful to be serving a mission. I am so thankful for the people that I meet and the people that I come in contact with. I love this work. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. This is His work.

 

Thank you for your love and support! I love you all! Geoff, Congratulations on being an eagle scout!

Love you all!

Sister Gretchen Schillemat

Gretchen's good week! One of many....

Family!

 

This week was full of miracles and I feel so blessed. As I wrote last week, we prayed for a family and we ended up teaching two new families this past week. One was the one that I wrote about last week. The other was a Harvesting Blessing that we had on Saturday night. That was really a miracle. We were tracting just a few houses and we had no success, again until the last house. The Lord often works that way. :) Then we knocked on the door of this house and they let us in. They told us that we had already talked to them at a gas station a couple of weeks ago, so they knew who we are. We offered to give a Harvesting Blessing and they gladly accepted. After we offered the blessing, one of the two daughters was crying. The mother was explaining her feelings and it was truly the Spirit. We invited them to be baptized, but the father was not very open to that. But we asked if we could come back on Sunday and they agreed. We came back again and had a lesson with them. They have not committed to baptism, mostly because of the father, but we are going to meet with them again this week. The daughter, who is a senior in high school, has a spark in her eye, and you can tell the Spirit is working with her. It may not be the father who is baptized, but his children are feeling and recognizing the Spirit. We are so excited for this family! 

We also had Hannah, who we started teaching last week, commit to be baptized. We taught the Plan of Salvation on Wednesday and after the lesson, Hannah said, "So I didn't give you a clear answer about being baptized on February 17th. But I want you to know I accept the goal." :) We were so excited and are seeing the Spirit work in her. :)

Then Sister Fia, while we were on splits, went and taught the Montiel family. The wife committed to be baptized on February 17th along with one of her sons, who is 8 years old. The father received the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday as well. :) We are so excited for this whole family! They are progressing so well and we feel so blessed to be a part of this great work. 

 

Life is good here in Riverside! I love this work and I am so happy to hear all is going well with you! Poul and Mom, who are doing wonderful things as missionaries. I want to keep hearing about Danielle and how she is progressing. :) Poul, where'd you meet her? Is she from Keene? Fill me in a little more on that. I am so excited for her to be reading the Book of Mormon and feeling the Spirit of the Restored Gospel. This truly is the Savior's Church. I know it without a doubt. I know that The Book of Mormon is true. I love to read it! 

 

I love this work. I love serving the Lord. We had multi-zones this past week and it was just what I needed. It was sadly my last multi-zone conference, which is unbelievable to me. Time is going too quickly. I loved the conference though. President Smart emphasized that we need truly act on the feelings that we had at the conference. He compared it to investigators who feel good at lessons, but don't act on the things that are shared. We may have felt good at multi-zones, but if we don't act then it doesn't help us progress. I am excited to act on the things that we learned and reviewed at multi-zones. 

 

Thank you so much for all you love and support. I feel your prayers every day. Thank you for all you do! I love you!

Sister Gretchen Schillemat 

A week of miracles again!

Family!

It is always such a treat to hear from you and I look forward to emailing you every week. I am sorry that I have been soo bad at getting hand-written letters out! Andrea and Roland, I hope you had a wonderful anniversary! (a little late...)

So first off, the miracle of the morning. Sister Fia and I prayed this morning and have been praying for the past couple of days that we would be able to find a family to teach. About a half an hour after we prayed this morning to begin our companionship studies, we received a referral on our phone for a family that another set of missionaries had taught. Then we received a phone call from one of the senior sisters that went to the lesson. She said that the family was prepared and receptive to the Gospel. We are so excited and grateful for the answer to this prayer. I know without a doubt that the Lord hears and answers our prayers. I know that no matter how small it is, that if we pray, the Lord will bless us with an answer. It may not be when we expect, but he will hear and answer our prayers. :) I will keep you updated on this family! 

We also taught another girl last night named Hannah, who were are super excited about. She is dating a member of our ward and has come to Church a couple of times already. The Spirit was wonderful at the lesson last night and although she didn't accept the date for baptism yet, we know that Lord will hear and answer her prayers and she will be ready for that date if she reads and prays. We have another lesson with her tomorrow and we are really excited to be teaching her. 

Randy was confirmed this Sunday, which was wonderful! Then an 8 year old, Zach, who we taught was baptized. :) It was such a great baptism. We also had another Part-Member Family come to the baptism and they all enjoyed it. We are excited for their family as well. 

The work is truly moving along in this area. I know that the Lord is hearing and answering my prayers every day. I know that He is aware of my desires and as we are obedient, we are blessed with our righteous desires. This is a great work. 

I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Sister Schillemat

This is Ollie, a recent convert. She reminds me soo much of Grandma Haehnel and she even calls us her granddaughters. :) 

Randy got baptized!

Family!

 

This week was really great, but like Peder we too had a lot of cancellations. But all is well! Randy was baptized! Randy was just wonderful and it was a great baptism. He said two days before his baptism, "It had abeen coming for a long time, but the time wasn't right." Now was the time for Randy. He had just been beaming over the last week. Sunday came and he stayed for all three hours, which was wonderful! We were so excited to have him there. Then he came back to the church for his baptism at 4:00. He said that he was so nervous that he couldn't button his shirt at home. We assured him all would be well. :)

The baptism went really smoothly, except for Randy hitting his head to pull the plug to the font. He came back from changing with a bandaid on the cut from the hit. But Randy is tough and it didn't really phase him.

The Spirit was wonderful as we closed with "How Great Thou Art." It was a wonderful baptism. :)

The picture is: Me, Sister Fia, Randy, and Brother Hernandez from our ward. Brother Hernandez and Randy went to high school together over 40 years ago. Very cool!

 

We also moved out of our apartment today into a homeshare. We are soo excited! We are staying with a wonderful woman in our ward boundaries and are excited to be in a home. Our apartment wasn't too "homey", so this is an improvement. :) We are really excited to be there!

 

The work is moving along. We had two part-member family come to church on Sunday for the first time! It was wonderful! We were so glad to see them all there. We also had another mini-missionary with us this week. Sister Castro was wonderful. She had an amazing Spirit and Spanish is her first language so she helped us out a lot! We were able to talk to a lot of people and be much more effective. Wonderful week. But a lot of appointments seemed to fall through. But such as missionary work. It seems like we have one good week and then a harder one, but I know if we are just doing our best, the Lord is pleased. I just keep trying to work hard and do all I can. Sometimes it is hard, but then I remember this is the Lord's time, not mine. This is where he wants me to be. This is his work and I must do my best.

 

I love being a missionary. I am so thankful! I love you all and know this is the Lord's work! Have a wonderful, safe week! Love you!

Sister Gretchen Schillemat

A Good Start to the New Year

Family!

 

This week was escpecially wonderful! We had a lot of great lessons and we worked hard and saw miracles.

This past week was one of the best weeks that we have had and one of the fastest as well. We had Sister Morris, a mini-missionary, with us and it was a wonderful opportunity for us to go out and get more contacts and make more visits.
Randy, who is on date for this Sunday, January 13th, is just doing so well. We saw him nearly every day and had amazing visits with him. We fasted with him on Sunday for him to stop drinking coffee. As we started our fast with him on Saturday night he was glowing. You could see the Light of Christ radiating from him. We started our fast and he was just so happy. We told him that for baptism, he needs to not drink any coffee for the week before his baptism (and after). After we said that, he replied, "Well, I guess I just drank my last cup today."
Then he came to church and it was fast and testimony meeting. He really enjoyed it. When we came to end our fast with him after church, he said that he felt like one lady who bore her testimony. She said when she met the missionaries, she wanted to be baptized right away. Randy said that is what he felt like. He wanted to be baptized today! It has been truly amazing to see the Spirit work in Randy. He has truly changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know also that when it is the Lord's time, all will work out. Randy has been taught for years, but this was his time and the Lord's time.
Randy is certainly my ultimate highlight for the week.

But we just had a really good week. We taught the most lessons since we been in Jurupa, which was great since it was the holiday. We also had some really great lessons. We are teaching another guy named Jonathan. He was also taught in the past, but next was baptized. He is 21 years old and is really striving to follow Jesus Christ. We had three lessons with him last week. Two of them were with members, which was great. The second lesson was with a recent convert, who comes from the exact same background as Jonathan, so it was perfect. The third lesson was with a pre-missionary and a return missionary of about 3 weeks, which was also great because they were the same age. I have a strong testimony of the importance of members, They truly are the way to see investigators progress towards baptism.

 

Our New years eve was full of activities because we couldn't proselyte that evening. We hiked Mt. Rubidoux in the morning (Thats my fourth time...), went out to lunch as a zone, and then played volleyball that night. It was fun, but I really like proselyting. It was almost too much for me. haha I can only hang out for so long. I was exhausted by the end of the day and ready to get back to normal. I loved the holidays, but as a missionary, I am ready for the normal schedule again. :)

 

I truly love this work. It has been wonderful to see miracles and see the Lord's hand in this work. I am excited for this upcoming transfer. Sister Fia and I aren't going anywhere! :) Nearly every companionship (except Sister Fia and I and one other) are getting changed this transfer. We are excited for all the work here!

 

Well, I love you all soo much! This is going to be a great year! I am so thankful to be serving here and to have the opportunity to serve the Lord. This is the true Church! I know it. :)

 

Love you!

Sister Gretchen Schillemat