Don't Just Go Through the Motions

Hola family and friends!

How are you all?

I had a crazy week. It was good, some parts lame, but overall, a great learning experience!

To start off, we had a zone activity in ConCon! We ate at Subway (which is a million times better in America) and playing some soccer (like always lol). 

Chile played Colombia this week in soccer! Chile was winning until the very end! We heard the cheers and everything while we were walking outside. They ended up tying! 

We had a zone conference this week that was good! Loved it!

Hna Wilma made me Minestrone soup, cuz she knows italian food is my fav. What a sweetheart.

We found out Luisa the one who had a baptismal date, has short term memory loss. We were beginning to wonder! After teaching her about God for half an hour, we asked her to say the closing prayer, and she turned to us and said, "Wait, you guys believe in God, right?" haha. So that was fun. 

I have been reading the November 2012 Liahona...aka October 2012 general conference. IT IS AMAZING! I love all the talks. All of them.

So -  news on the Rojas family. Francisco (the dad) is officially in jail. For 40 days. We always knew he was bipolar, but we didnt know it was that serious! He apparently drank some alcohol, and it all snowballed from there. In the end, Carolina went to the police and they came and got him. He put up a fight and even tried to grab a police officer's gun, but he is now safely in jail. Carolina is fine. She has been very calm lately, and told us that it was the gospel that has been keeping her sane. She reads the Liahonas and the scriptures all the time. She came to church with all four kids this week! They have a baptismal date and are doing great. She says shes putting all this about Francisco into the Lord's hands. She is amazing. We even taught her about not worshipping false images (she has a big virgin Mary statue in her house) and she said she'd have to work on that one slowly. But, next time we come over, she is gone from the table and in her place there are our pamphlets, pass along cards, and pictures that we have given her. :) The kids also love singing "Soy un hijo de Dios" (I Am A Child of God) and even have it memorized! It is so cool working with this family. I love them!

I had intercambios this week (exchanges), which didnt really go according to my liking, but it was a good learning experience and I am looking forward to the future with a positive outlook. :)

  Everyone, the end will eventually come, whether it be the end of a trial, or even the end of this life. And the end will always be the easy part! All you  have to do is cross the finish line! The JOURNEY is the part that is the most difficult. And it just so happens that the journey is where we must find JOY. Where we must do everything in our power to deserve the title of winner once the end does come, and we cross that finish line. And only the true winners are the ones that accomplished the task and had fun doing it! SO, everyone, do your best always, and find joy in the journey. :) Dont just go through the motions! Theres gotta be a reason for everything you do.... :)

LOVE YOU ALL! Enjoy your week!

Hermana Amy Schrader

Conferencia General!!!

Heyyy people!

So, CONFERENCE was awesome, right?!??!?!!

I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

But first, lemme talk about this week.

We had interviews with Presidente! It went really well. He was happy and smiling as usual, which made me even more happy and smiling. :) He said to me, "You're one of the hermanas that has never given me a worry. Thank you!" He also told me that my new comp lately looks brighter and happier than she has all her mission! When he asked her in her interviewed why that was, she told him it was because of her new comp! Aka.... me. Awww! Yay I love making people happy.

I told him about the Rojas family and he told me to put a fecha with them so I told him Id do it that night. So he told me to call him later that night and tell him how it went! So I did. We put a fecha and we called Presidente! HAha. It was really cool. He was happy.

We have a new ZL! And guess what. My 3 favorite Elders are in a trio together! Isnt that awesome!!! Love them. In a very appropriate way. :)

Hmmmm well I would tell you more details about the week but I just realized I dont have much time. Sooo!

The big news! I dont know if its been posted on facebook yet, but hopefully it has! MILO is engaged! :):):):):) And he's back in RECREO! I am so happy to see him again!

General Conference, like I said before, was incredible! I watched it at the Viña stake center with all the other gringo missonaries. :) We had a blast together!

Alright, so, favorite lines from the conference(they're not word for word):

-We need each other!

-It's not about what you've done or where you've gone. It's about what you're willing to do, and where you're willing to go!

-We respect those who honestly search the truth.

-DOUBT YOUR DOUBT BEFORE YOU DOUBT YOUR FAITH

-Your moral authority is vital. Dont let outside sources bring that down.

-God's love for you is always there, whether you're sad or happy, whether you deserve it or not. It's simply always there.

-Hope is never lost! If the bitter cup doesn't pass, drink it, and be strong.

-Make the decision to do what Christ has asked us to do. 

-He knows His sheep. His sheep know His voice. His voice is US: YOU: ME. And His sheep will recognize it.

-You dont have to be persuasive or outgoing. Love is all you need!

-I gave him to you because I know you would and could love him, no matter what he did.

-Dont be a moral coward.

-Standing in holy places isnt always easy or comfortable, but it's worth it.

-You must become the rock that the river cannot wash away.

-Repentance isnt a punishment. It is a hope filled path to a glorious future.

-Dont wait for trials to come to get closer to Him.

-If you ever come across anything that causes you to questionyour faith, LOOK UP.

-You're never too young to learn, never too old to change. 

-Decisions determine destiny.

-You will have a personal interview with Christ one day. BE PREPARED.

And I loved how the last song of the last session was my FAVORITE HYMN! Abide with Me, Tis Eventide.

LOVE IT.

LOVE YOU GUYS!

Enjoy your week!

I miss you all!

Hermana Amy Schrader

Good Old Recreo

Heyyy everyone!

Cambios were this past Wednesday! I am still in Recreo Alto, Viña Oeste. :) 

BUT I have a new companion! Her name is Hermana Paicely, and she is from St. George, Utah! She has the exact same time in the mission as me, she entered the MTC on December 19th too. :) She is 22, just like me, and she went to the University of Utah and then to Dixie. She is half African American, half Samoan, and shes awesome! We are gonna be a great team, I can just see it. 

But yeah! So this is my 4th transfer in Recreo. And i still love it to bits. 

Hmmm not much else to say really. Im sick! Again. Haha but its not so bad.

I am officially a Chilena! I got my ID from the Registro Civil. Legit.

We have a new district leader, Elder Gutierrez. Hes cool. :) Hes from Argentina.

Milo comes back this Saturday I think! We shall see. He might still be our mission leader but who knows.

The Rojas family hasnt been doing so well. Carolina's mom died, so they have been busy with the funeral and stuff for that.

Milena is awesome! She told us that she has been keeping the Word of Wisdom and that she feels a lot more free now. :) She also said she loves Joseph Smith's story and she said its probably her favorite. She told us that she feels that the church is true! She is awesome. We cant wait to see her again! 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD! The big 25th! The Silver Anniversary! I have the best parents in the world and I am so glad that they show a good example for me of how a marriage should be.

Thank you Mom and Dad!

Ok everyone, are you just SO EXCITED for General Conference! I AM!!!!! This is like going on vacation for us! Yesss!!!!

Enjoy everyone! I will say  more next week!

I love you all! Enjoy!

Miss you!

Hermana Amy Schrader

HALFWAY Mark...

Hello everyone!

Last Wednesday was my halfway mark! The 11th! Crazyness, right?

And there is a week left until transfers! Transfers are the 25th! I have been in Recreo with Hna Hanks for 3 transfers! And we are loving it! We will see what happens next week!

This Wednesday is the 18th of September! THe Independence Day of Chile! People are gonna be partyin it up down here! 

Chile played Spain in soccer! Spain is the world champion right now, and CHile was winning the whole game...until the last couple minutes, when they tied. So. Interesting. Bring it on Alaena. :)

The Rojas family! News! THeir baptism is scheduled for the 29th of September - we are so excited! Lets just hope and pray that they go to church every sunday before that!

We taught them this week, and when we entered their house, instead of the usual atmosphere of chaos and fighting, it was calm! And happy! And they were all smiling! THe church helped them find a job and they are a lot more chill. We taught them the Sabbath Day and they were talking about how they usually go out to eat on sunday at McDonalds and fight a lot. But then they said that from now on they are going to go to nice places like parks and stuff, and Francisco talked about loving his family and about how grateful he was to have them. The whole time he had his arm around Carolina and kept kissing her on the forehead as we taught. Ah so cute. At the end of the lesson, we all kneeled in a circle and held hands, and little 9 year old Martina prayed! It was precious. Carolina and her daughters came to church on Sunday, and it was great. :)

One of our investigators, Javier, who is like 60, is super awesome, and is like a long lost great uncle of mine! Haha we joke a lot and get along well. Hes a super smart guy and has always disputed religion. But when we share messages, he actually listens and agrees with what we say. We wrote our testimonies and a letter in a Book of Mormon for him and gave it to him as a gift. The next time he saw us, he genuinely thanked us for the gift and for the kind words. We had a lunch appt with him and his mom, a member. At the end when we shared a message he had a lot of doctrinal questions and doubts on whether or not God even exists. But we shared scriptures and about the temple. And after I explained something, he just sat there silently for a minute and said, "Hm. They trained you well at that CCM (MTC)." 

Nancy the less active came to church too! She was really happy that we had visited her and made her feel welcome. We also taught a little old grandma that is a member and it felt just like I was with my grandma, listening to stories and sitting by her bed while she showed us family pictures. Oh so adorable. :)

I am currently reading Jesus the Christ, which is a highly entertaining read, and very intelligently written. Its like my Harry Potter book on the mission! haha.

Little Blanca, the old lady with Alzheimers, told us that she loved us this week. :) Made my heart melt.

I learned a cool lesson this week - a breakthrough, you could say. I just wanna share that with you guys. I was thinking about the mission and about how much every second means, and about helping others. You could apply that to your life. Dont BS your way through life! Dont just get by. Go above and beyond, and always try your best. This life is the only chance you get! In the words of Dumbledore, Use it well.

We really are our own worst enemies. Dont look at yourself that way. Look at yourself the way Good sees you - with unconditional love, endless potential, and a grand plan. :)

"Fear not, little flock, do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." (D&C 6:34,36)

I love you all! Have a great week!

Miss you!

Hermana Amy Schrader