June 13, 2011 E-Mail

Finally some pictures!  I think this is Rodi's baptism.

My mind isn't functioning to well so I can't really think of everything that happened this week. First off, we went to visit Anabel and she told us how she had received an answer to her prayers.  That was really cool.  She had been praying that her son-in-law would find work. So he went out and started to look. Then then the next day he came home and told her he had found work. And he has gone a long time without work. We are still working with her husband Juan, he just has some bad addictions that control his life. But we have had a few really good lessons with him and he is thinking about being baptized. So please be praying for him!
Rodi was baptized this past Saturday. It was awesome. Then he was confirmed yesterday. I was able to baptize him and the Branch President confirmed him. In his confirmation it talked a lot about serving a mission if he has the desire. He acts like we wants to, and he will be receiving the priesthood next week. He is such an awesome kid. I'm really grateful for the opportunity that I had to meet him and to work with him.  He will continue to strengthen his testimony and be a super strong member.  I can't remember if I have mentioned Ruben or not, but his son is a member of the church just not very active right now. Well we have been teaching Ruben and he wants to get baptized. He was supposed to get baptized next Saturday but wasn't able to come to church yeseterday. So we gave him the goal to be baptized on July 2nd. But he too will need a lot of prayers. So please pray for him!!! So many great things are happening in our area. And little by little I see my spanish improving. I still have so far to go but I've had a few people lately tell me that they thought spanish was my first language.  That made me feel pretty good. Then I'm immediately humbled when I try to say something and I can't. But I have really seen God's help with the language. It has been great.
Every Thursday morning we go to the bishops house for breakfast and correlation. This past Thursday we pulled up and his dog was going insane. I'm not sure what kind she is but she's a little smaller than Kimber.  Well what happened was she was eating a round bone and she forced it up around her bottom jaw and over her teeth and she couldn't get it off. Her whole jaw had swollen. So the bishop tried ripping it off but couldn't.  Well he also has another dog who is a great dane who probably is about my size. He looks like a pony. And the problem is that the big dog will kill any other dog when they are in pain just to put them out of there misery. So my job was to control the big guy. It was very interesting. He tried to eat me a couple of time but we had some good bonding time and I found his sweet spot right by his back leg. I had to do that while the bishop zip tied the legs together and the jaw on the little dog and ground the bone off with a grinder. It was one heck of an experience.  Other than that not much happened. I had a district leader training in Moses Lake on Tuesday then we had another training there on Wednesday for new missionaries and trainers. So we really didn't spend a ton of time in our own area. But the Lord still blessed us.
I'm so grateful for the gospel. Yesterday I was translating a talk and the lady was saying how we are here in this world, but as members of the church we are different than the world, well at least we should be. We should hold ourselves at a higher standard. And as we do so we are blessed. I've really been thinking about commandments and rules and stuff like that. They are only there to help us be better people. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the teachings that it contains. I love you all so much and thanks for all you do!!

Elder Schvaneveldt

June 6, 2011 E-Mail

It was a good week this week. Really not to much happened. We did have one crazy story. We are working with a young couple right now and we had an appointment with them on Friday at 6. Well the girl texted us around 6 and told us that her boyfriend still hadn't come home from work. And he usually gets off at 2. So we told her to text us when he got home and we would go down and visit them. Well we never heard from her. So we texted her that night and asked if he came home and she said no. So the next morning we texted her to try and set up an appointment and she said he still hadn't come home. So she started to get really worried and practically texted us the whole day because she didn't know what to do. Well around 6 on Saturday night she texted us and told us to come down because he was home and she was going to be kicking him out and he would need help moving his stuff out. So we went by and got the fellowshipper who goes and visits them with us because we didn't really know what kind of situation it would be. Well they live all the way at the bottom of a dirt road and as we were driving down the dirt road we saw some guy laying in the middle of the road and another guy was giving him cpr. Well it was the boyfriend and the girls dad that was giving him cpr. So we hurried and parked and ran up to them and he wasn't breathing. A few minutes later he started to breath and the ambulance and everything showed up. I guess he got nervous when he got back home because he saw the girl and her dad so he grabbed his dogs and started walking up the road. So they got in the car to go get him and just saw him fall on his face. It looked like he had a seizure. We don't know what happend but they hauled him off in the ambulance. Then we went to leave after everyone had left and we got stuck in our car. Because we parked a little bit in a ditch and there was a ton of gravel and the dirt was really soft. So someone driving by had to pull us out. By that point it had been a really crazy day. Then Sunday morning we woke up and had a text that said he had been using meth and drinking alcohol. It was just really crazy because he seemed to be doing so well when we were teaching him. But last night he text us and told us how he really wants to change his life and was asking if we would still be willing to help him. So we are going to go and see them today. It just really opened my eyes on how the commandments and the gospel bless our lives. Of course we are still going to go through hard times, but we are just so much happier and better off when we do what God wants us to do. It also made me realize that some times God gives us certain trials to help us be stronger in the end. I think this was a big eye opening experience for him that lead him to want to change. We went and visited another guy who was baptized not long ago and he had a similiar story. His wife had been a member for about 6 years but he didn't really believe in God and liked to drink. Well one night he was drinking and rolled his car. He realized that was an experience that God gave to him to help change his life. He was then baptized and has never been happier. I know that the gospel truly can bless us if we follow the counsel from the scriptures and modern day prophets.

We should be having another baptism this upcoming Saturday for Rode. He came to church yesterday for his third time and the craziest part is that he came alone. His family members who are members of the church couldn't make it. I called him yesterday morning and he said he wasn't going to be able to make it because his shoulder hurt. He works at a potato factory and lifts sacks of potatoes all day. So we were sort of bummed and thought he wouldn't make it, but he came. So we are looking forward to next Saturday. It's getting a little tough to find people who can come to church because working is really picking up. Dad asked what kinds of trees and stuff are around here. Well there are a ton of grapes, cherries, apples, and apricots. There are also a lot of potato fields, alfalfa, timothy, wheat, onion, corn, and peas. It's pretty much pure farm country. There is also asparagus. That one is tough because they work 7 days a week and rough hours. And as soon as that ends the cherry picking starts. And that will go 7 days a week for however long it will take. The weather hasn't been real good so the farmers are all a little upset. But the last few days it's really warmed up. That has pretty much been my week here. I love what I'm doing and I love sharing the gospel with those who don't have it. It truly has helped me to receive a testimony that this is the true church. I'm so grateful for all of you and your love and support. Have a great week!

Love Elder Schvaneveldt

May 31, 2011 E-Mail

It's been a really good week so far!! Saturday morning we had a baptism. And she was confirmed on Sunday. It was so awesome. We went to her house on Sunday to see how she was doing. Well she told us that when she was confirmed she just felt warm and could feel something like shaking inside of her. It was definately the feelings of the Holy Ghost. I had the opportunity to baptize her, and when she came up out of the water she was just so happy. She almost looked like a completely different person. It's amazing what the gospel can do for people's lives.

We had another little miracle happen too. She had her interview on Thursday night. Well Thursday afternoon a member called me up to see if we wanted to go eat with them and I told him sure as long as there was going to be a non-member there. So he said yeah Rode will be there. So we went over and the member who called wasn't even there, but his wife and brother-in-law were there. So we ate dinner then we started to teach a lesson. Rode was supposed to be baptized a while back but hadn't come to church. Well recently he has come twice. And something just told me to go through the baptismal interview questions with him and invite him to have an interview that night. So I did and he accepted. We didn't think he would really show up for his interview, but he showed up like 15 minutes early and so he will shortly be baptized. He still needs to come to church again. And the good news is that I get to stay in Mattawa for another transfer so hopefully I will see it all happen! I will be staying with the same companion for another transfer.
One day we were out knocking doors in the middle of nowhere and we came across a cherry orchard. So we went back into it and found a little trailer. So we were talking to the people then all of a sudden this really loud noise went off and scared me half to death because it was really close. Well I thought it was a gun. It turns out they put like air cannons in the orchards and they shoot off every so often to scare of the birds. it about made me wet my pants.
The mission has really been focusing on talking to everyone and asking everyone for referals. A couple of weeks ago we met this hispanic problem and she just started dumping all of her problems on us. She just went on and on for like 45 minutes about her son and going to court and everything. Well when she was done I asked if she knew anyone else we could go visit who was really going through a hard time. And she said sure you can go visit my niece Alma. So we went down the road and found Alma. She told us to come back a week later. So we went back a week later and she let us right in. She's a 20 year old girl who has a 2 year old baby girl. She also began to tell us her life story. It made me realize that when people recognize us as God's servants, that they trust us with stuff like that. Well this girl just broke down and started crying. It was a very spiritual experience. You could feel the spirit so strong. Then we taught her a good lesson and she invited us to come back.
That was about it for this past week. It was a good one. I love this gospel and I'm so grateful for all he blessings it can bring to anyones lives. I was reading in Luke about the Prodigal Son and it just made me realize that we are all children of God and he loves us no matter what we have done. We can also be completely clean of all of our sins through our Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for everything and for all of the love and support! I love you all!!!

May 23, 2011 E-Mail

Sorry I am so slow in posting this!

Not to much happened this week.  It was a good week though.  Annabel is still preparing to be baptized this next Saturday.  We are really excited for that.  I was in Royal City on exchanges because I had to go do a baptismal interview and my companion went over and saw her and taught her about tithing and she just agreed and said sure I'll do it.  It's so awesome to see people like her who have that faith to make changes in there lives.  Another couple we are working with is trying to get married so they can live the law of chastity.  But you have to have id to get a marriage license.  And that's a problem right now.  So we are helping them out with everything we can.  They aren't sure about baptism yet, but if they live all of the commandments then the Holy Ghost will testify the truth to them and tell them they need to get baptized.  Each time they come to church they seem to like it a little bit more.  We had an awesome family home evening with them last Monday at the Bishops house and we are going again tonight with them.  The ward here is awesome at fellowshipping new people and we have an awesome Bishop and Ward Mission Leader.
Just as Weston's e-mail said, we have been dealing with the same problem.  Everyone we were talking to said that the world was going to end on May 21st.  So whoever made that one up probably feels pretty dumb right now.  We have had question after question about it.  And everyone who has been asking us believes in the Bible and it says that only God knows when the world is going to end.  I'm getting pretty sick of the topic.  It was really bad about a year ago too because that's when the movie 2012 came out.  So I'm glad that the 21st has passed and that we are all still alive.
I had a little experience yesterday with the spirit.  Sometimes investigators come to church, they pull in the parking lot, then they turn around and leave because they don't feel comfortable coming into the church.  Well yesterday we were in our gospel principles class and I felt like I should go outside to the parking lot and call some people.  Well I'm learning to not ignore promptings like that.  So I got up and went out with my companion and started calling some investigators and less actives to tell them they could still make it to sacrament meeting.  Well no one answered.  So we started going back inside and one of them called back.  So I answered and talked to him for a minute and he told me he was going to try and make it to sacrament meeting.  And in the mean time another investigator pulled up.  I don't know why, but for some reason I just think we were supposed to be in that parking lot when the investigator got there.  It's just sort of cool to see how the spirit works.  It wasn't a loud voice or anything that told me to go out and make the phone calls.  I just felt like I should.  So I did and we were able to meet the investigators outside and take them in to there classes.  It was a cool little experience.  That's about it for this week.  Transfers are next week already!  I'm hoping I get to stay here in Mattawa.  I really like it.  It's a great place.  But I have loved all of my areas.  I know that this church is true.  I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that it can communicate with us.  We just need to be willing and available to listen.  To many times we get drowned out by the things of the world.  Serving a mission has been the greatest opportunity for me to gain a testimony.  I'm so grateful for all of you and your love and support.  Have a great week!
Love Elder Schvaneveldt

May 16, 2011 E-Mail

It's been a busy p-day so far. We actually moved houses this morning. We are now living in a house with a young couple, and they are just tending the house because the owners are on a mission in New Zealand. It's a sweet house. So that's some exciting news.

It's been sort of a spiritually draining week this past week. We have ran into quite a few people who are having problems with immigration. And it's usually the kids that are having the problems because they commit the crimes and get thrown in jail then get deported. Well the kids that are getting deported were brought here by there parents when they were only like 5 years old. So they don't even know anything about Mexico or anyone there. So all the families just worry that there kids are going to get killed by the drug cartels. So it's really a sad thing to have to listen. Also a guy who is older that we are working with is having some issues. He is an awesome guy and has a wife here and three little kids. He is worried that he might have to go back to Mexico. So enough of the sad stuff and on to the good stuff. Annabel accepted a date to be baptized and it's in two weeks on the 28th of May! She has off and on investigated the church for like 20 years. We had a few really good lessons with her this week and the first one was in a members home. Well this member had lost her husband not to long ago and we were teaching the plan of salvation. Well Juan and Annabel lost a child about 21 years ago, so that really hit them hard. It was an awesome experience. Then another time we were just over visiting them and reading from 1 Nephi chapter 5. It doesn't talk about baptism at all. But for some reason I felt very prompted to invite her to be baptized. She immediately accepted. Then she told us that it was something that she was wanting to do and she had already talked to her family about it. So that is the goal that she has right now. She is such an awesome lady. We went and visited her yesterday and she told us how she just really wanted this foundation for her life right now and for her grandkids. She regrets not helping her own children but knows that she can still set a good example and also help the grandkids. So she is doing great.
Johnathan and Tianna are still doing really well too. We went by and saw them this past week and they had read like 5 chapters in the Book of Mormon since our previous visit. Well that hardly ever happens so it was cool to see that. Then we taught them in a members home this last week and tonight we are taking them to the bishops home to teach them there. We are really starting to see things pick up.
Last Monday we had a good opportunity. Our Bishop here owns a dairy and occasionally he has to kill a cow if they get hurt or something. So he had a ton of beef. Like 1,800 pounds or something like that. Well he just followed us around in his car to different homes to give out the beef. It was really awesome to see people's faces when someone does an act of charity like that. We were talking about charity yesterday in Elder's Quorumn and it made me think of that experience. Then someone spoke up and said the greatest example of charity other than our Savior is missionaries. It just made me realize how blessed I truly am to have this chance to help out for two years. It truly is not a sacrifice but a blessing. I love the work and love what I'm doing and seeing changes in peoples lives. I know that the work of God is the most important work that we could be involved with! I love this gosepl and I know it's true. I love you all and thanks for all your support. Have a great week!!

Love Elder Schvaneveldt

May 2, 2011 E-mail

Not a whole lot new happened this week. Annabel came to church yesterday and she is sincerely praying to know if she needs to be baptized. So we are pretty excited about what is happening with her. She is the nicest lady ever.  As far as Estel goes, we lost contact with her. I think she started working a lot. So we are going to continue trying to catch up with her. Hopefully we will be able to.


This week a member invited us over to eat, and in order to eat with members during the week there has to be a non member present. So we called her and told her that she had to invite someone who wasn't a member. Well that was very easier for her because here there are usually 3 or 4 families that live in one house. So she just got the roommate to come out. Well her roommates name is Lucy. She had met with missionaries a little bit in the past, like 6 years ago, and had even gone to church a couple of times. While we were eating dinner she started to ask the questions that the plan of salvation answers, for example, where do we go after this life. So we were able to answer her questions We went back to see her yesterday and taught her the whole plan of salvation and she seemed to love it. Her questions were all golden questions. The problem is, she is going to have a baby sometime within this week. So we left her with the pamphlets on the lessons to read and told her we would keep checking on her. I'm really excited about her and to see what happens. And the member she lives with is a great example to her and has a strong testimony.

We had another very good but dissapointing lesson this past week. It was with a guy named Benjamin. I can't remember if I told you about him or not. He is from Mexico and comes up all alone for half of the year to work. He lives in a very run down concrete shack type thing. Well we have taught him a few times and it went pretty well. Then we went back to see him on Saturday and he had read a bunch of the Book of Mormon and said he wants to be baptized he just needs a little more time. Then he told us that he got a new job and would be moving Sunday to Yakima. So he was progressing very well then moved yesterday. That's happened to me a few times. But I'm going to keep in contact with him and send the missionaries in that mission to go visit him and he will for sure be baptized in the future. So it's still very exciting because the seed is planted.

That's about it for the week. We are allowed to do skype on Mother's day. And we are allowed to talk 45 minutes maximum is what we were told. So we are trying to find a members home we can go to. I'm not really sure what time it will be at. Probably between 2:00 and 4:00 our time here. We are in church until 1:30 but I'm not sure what time our dinner appointment will feed us. So I will just have a member call you sometime between 2:00 and 4:00 to let you know. I hope that works. At least with skype I will get to see Tydan!

I'm so grateful for all that you do for me! I love you all! I'm grateful for this gospel and the many blessings I have received from it. I know that this is God's true church here on the earth today. I know that the plan of salvation is real. If we live the gospel then we will be able to be exalted and live with eachother forever! I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice. I know he died for all of us! I hope you all have a great week.

Love Elder Schvaneveldt

April 25, 2011 E-Mail

My new companions name is Elder Igleski. He is from Gilbert, Arizona. And he's a great missionary. He reminds me a lot of Sam. So we are having a lot of fun and getting a lot of work done. It's been a little tough this past week because I have been pretty sick with a sore throat and a cough. But there was no way I was sitting at home trying to recover on his first week in the field. So we went out and still got a lot done. I might have to take a long nap today but that's okay. I was getting pretty worried the other day because I almost lost my voice during like 3 lessons. Well they were all in Spanish and my companion doesn't speak any Spanish yet. So my Spanish has been forced to improve a little bit. So by the time those lessons were over I felt like I had been yelling. But we made it through the week and it all paid off.


Estel is still doing really well. She didn't make it to church yesterday because she had to go to Kennewick. She loved church last week and she has been reading from the book of Mormon.  We also picked up teaching Saul a little bit again. You probably remember me talking about him. Well he has another baptismal date for the 28th of May. Elder Igleski invited him last night to be baptized on that day and he accepted. We just need to get him to come to church. I know he will love it if he gets there. He just needs to get there. But he is doing a really good job at reading from the book of Mormon. He is reading it in English and is understanding pretty much everything. Which is crazy because his Spanish is better than his English.

We had the opportunity to give an investigator a blessing this past week. It was a really good experience. His name is Juan and he is a recovering alcoholic. We were able to explain what a blessing was then give him one. It was a strong spiritual experience. We taught them a lesson then gave him a blessing then said a closing prayer. Well right before we left he asked if he could say a prayer. It was probably one of the most humble prayers I have ever heard and all he said was God thank you for the blessing. It was great to feel the spirit that was there.

Yesterday we had a great Easter. We went to church and listened to some great talks about the Savior then we went to a big family dinner. They fed us ham and king salmon. It was an awesome dinner. It was just so strange to eat American food again! But it was really good. They took really good care of us. Then we went out and taught some lessons.

I forgot to tell you, last week after we e-mailed or ward mission leader took us out to lunch. Well we went to a Mexican place here called La Popular that has really good food. Well a lady we are teaching was working there so she gave us some menudo. So I can officially say I have eaten menudo. It wasn't to bad. It just felt like I was eating a rubber band. And it smelt like crap. But it wasn't to bad. It's definitely not something I would eat for pleasure. But I would do it if I had to.

This week my testimony was strengthened in how the gospel truly does bless us.  I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life and the blessings I personally have received from it. I know it can truly bless all those who are willing to listen. And that's why I'm here today. To share this great information with everyone. Because it truly does bring a peace and happiness into our lives! I love you all so much and am so grateful for your support. Have a great week!!!