Picture Day!!

We recieved a letter and pictures today... Here they are! ENJOY!

Hey family, I hope you enjoy these pictures. I have many more, I will send a cd full of them home soon. I love you all so very much. I have the best parents, Mom and Dad. I have the best brother, Vic. The three best sisters ever Ashlee, Brittany and Lindsay. Thank you all so much for everything. Things here are going good we are going to invite a couple to be baptized soon. I went to their wedding my first day here and we were witnesses., camera men, and we sang a hymn. Yeah... professionals! I am so thankful for this gospel. I know it's true every word. I seriously feel like I am the luckiest person alive, to think I have the best family! I was wondering if someone would make me a little recipe book of quick simple dishes to make! I would really appreciate it. Remember to read your book of mormon and it will bless you. LoveElder Schmidt



This totally looks like a post card doesn't it! Yup...I got a Nicon Camera. I love to take my photographs Ha ha Just a bridge next to the apartment.
This is the dirt stare street cause everyone just drinks their tea and give us a dirt stare. Every once in a while you will hear someone yell...Mormon. I love walking down this street.
This is another postcard picture. I love it! It's very beautiful here in Frigourge
Me and Elder O'Rourke. I like this picture. We took this on our picture p-day
Little Ville in the hills of Switzerland on our way to the cheese factory

This is the Saint Nicholas Cathedral; right next to our apartment

07/28/08 New P-Day!!!

Bronson's new P-day is on Mondays now instead of Wednesday. Here is the email Bronson sent!!

Hey everyone, how are things in America… I bet really free… huh ha! ha! Believe it or not, that joke was kinda funny to me. Things in Fribourg are going well but this week, was so very hard. We would plan for something, and it would go completely opposite. We had so many tomber vous, that means someone missed rendezvous, or no shows. It’s hard because we take time to prepare specifically for the person, and they just shine us like our time doesn’t matter. All the amis we had, that we felt where strong, are dropping like flies. This week has been so so hard.

I have been looking in the Book of Mormon for answers, to what I can do better. I have found many answers. I need to be like the sons of Mosiah. When I read about them, I substitute the word Lamanite for Swiss. I know that might be harsh; I just do it to the ones that apply. Like they lay hold upon their riches, and they are a hardened people. Yet the sons of Mosiah desired that they should know this message, they couldn’t bear the thought of having someone being cast off. It did not come without a price, they suffered many afflictions and pains; fatigue hunger and spiritual pains. But they always fasted and prayed that they might receive a portion of the spirit to teach. I can do better at that end of it. I swear nothing is as bad as having someone you feel like is getting it, just say I really don’t want to know. It’s like what …... you don’t want to know why you chose to come here. I have to rely on my Heavenly Father to help me more. I myself cannot convert anyone, only the spirit.

On another note, I took directions from a guy the other day and got to where we needed to go… pretty cool. I still have much practice with the French language. Oh I wanted to encourage all who have temple recommends, to go to the temple. I miss it so much, I know that it will bless you, you have an opportunity to move the work forward.

I had the opportunity to play ping pong yesterday. The two things they have everywhere here, is football fields and ping pong tables. We walked up this little tiny ally (that we could barely fit in), and there was this little opening with a ping pong table… it made me laugh.

What else has been going on here, we have to go shopping today. Have I told you about the shopping carts? The back wheels swivel too, its so annoying, its impossible to turn the cart. I thought I would share that with you.

That is so cool that you got a fire pit. That made me smile to just imagine it. I swear, where did I hear this saying: the lord has to bring us down to lift us higher. I swear that’s so true.

Have you gone boating this year, I hope you have. I swear everyday we have a warm day here, I am like…. this is boating weather. I am curious to see what the new zone looks like ha ha. Hopefully they are cool.

Did Elder Williams call you guys? He is going back home and he said he would call and say hi for me. Well my time is up. I better get going. I love you all so very much.

The church is true, I know it.
Love
Elder Schmidt

07/23/08 Writing Home

Family,
Hey, how are you all doing! I hope things are going great back home. I seriously hate these computers, they aren't very good. Well, this week has been great! I had the opportunity to give my first blessing the other day; it was amazing. I was so scared; I didn't know what to say. When I started the words where, just there. I wrote this big long e mail, but then I think it got erased. I should have just sent it, but what can you do. So even though this might be short, I at least had the time this week to write, it was just messed up. I didn't get to write last week because I only had 10 min. So transfers where yesterday, and everyone in the zone got transferred, except me and my comp. Its ok though, cause I feel like I just barley got here. I really want to commit this couple to be baptized and I have to be here, to do that. I might get to play tennis today with a less active; that would be awesome. I guess we will see. If not then next week. I swear missions make you appreciate home more and family more. I cant wait until I can write again next week; it will be longer than this, I promise. Thanks for all your prayers.
Love you Elder Schmidt

(This is Fivel who obviously hasn't gone west... YUCK)

Pictures in Switzerland

I found a few pictures of the Fribourg Switzerland area that Bronson is serving in. I thought I would post a few of the pictures so everyone would have an idea of where he is living!!

07/09/08** Updates from Switzerland

Hey how is everything going back home? It's going good here. We had exchanges this week with the Yverdone Elders. I was put with Elder Williams, he is so cool. We got so much work done in one day you wouldn't believe it. He was totally normal like me and he only has two more weeks left. Well today we are going to go and check out some cheese factory it should be pretty cool. Oh did I mention I got us every where we needed to go yesterday ha ha. We have nearly stopped the mice problem we filled the holes with that foam stuff, hopefully that holdes them off for a while at least until I leave I hate those nasty things. Elder O'Rourke said to me you're the cleanest Elder I have ever met... yeah mom you heard it. I have learned to hate messes. I can't think if it's dirty. Lets see what else has happend this week... Oh yeah i spent my fourth of July teaching little Swiss kids the National Anthem in English it was awesome. We started the day of with the pledge of aligence and then sang the star spangled banner ha ha. One of the members put out an american flag for us hanging out his window. Oh and we mowed a lawn. I swear you can't see how well we live there until you have to live somewhere else like here where there are alot of immigrants that work so hard to make a living and then they invite you in and offer us stuff that they don't even have, I love these people. We made rice crispy treats for everyone because they are not even known here its cool. Well I best be going. I love you all.
Elder Schmidt

07/02/08 Emailing Home!

Hey Everyone.
How are things going back home? Things are going great. We took this P-day as a day to celebrate our freedon with the exception of Elder Turner, he is from London ha ha. We started it of by meeting in Newchatel and getting a game of American football going it was glorious, + we had old glory laying out on the grass AKA American flag blanket ha ha. We ended it of by having hotdogs it was awesome... I was quarter back most of the game and we did good. I passed a good week and it was fast. So I looked at those pics Ash sent me and Paisley is so dang cute and Gavin looks awesome as usual. Looks like you got to break the 5th wheel in I hope. So here is my miracle for the week. I had to take a trip to Anncy for my legality trip. it's in France too. It was a long train ride. and we ended up missing a couple buses, it was turning out to be a rough day. Oh and that day we where doing a mission fast or I should say it ended that day. So we where pretty hungry. Everything went extremely smooth and I actually got my legal certificate thing that day. We went to this little super marchete and bought a ton of junk food we went to the gar and waited for the train and we decided to sit down on some steps and we totally stuffed our faced. One french man called un rich pigs in french. Of course we offered him some food that made him more mad. Then this man walked passed me and so I was like bonjour cava and he turned and said cava mercy then he was struggling to find the words to say in french mind you my comp is still pounding food down and is noticing I'm talking. Then I asked the guy do you speak english and he said yes I was like yes ha ha, then he said I have to catch a train I am going back home but I will be back for my studies and I want to hear what you have to say. Both me and Elder O'Rourke gave him this look like what just happened.... did some one just ask to see us and hear our message ( the church of jesus christ) normally we are the ones asking.. Then we scrabled to get his name and number, he then had to leave really quick we shook his hand and he ran off. It hit us that everything that went wrong like us missing our buses and running way late was so that we would be on those stairs when that guy (Penny) walked down the stairs. It says in preach my gospel that God will place people in our way and that was confirmed to me after this experiance. This is so cool because this never happens here. What else has been going on. Oh the launguage is getting slowly better I can comprendre much better. I can't expect to become fluent over night, but every day I work on it. Some people whose doors we knock on say you have a lot of courage, and it makes me feel better. Well I love you all very much I will write you later.
I love you.
ELDER SCHMIDT.

Leave comments if you'd like!!!

Feel free to leave a comment for Bronson. I'm sure at some point he will be able to look on the website and see what you have written!! This will be up for him when he gets home too so he will be able to see what people have written to him. Again thanks for your support and prayers for Bronson.

Another update from Bronson!!!

This is the email we got from Bronson last Wednesday!! We should be getting another one soon!! So check back for an update!!

Hey it's Wednesday this is my P-day. Things are going good here. church is totally different here we have about 25 people in the branch its wierd I had to pass the saint scen ha ha sacrement. In priesthood I almost fall asleep from trying to translate everything. The past two weeks have flown bye and I have walked more than I think I ever have. I will never complain about going shopping with you Mom ha ha. Oh. I am supposed to tell you if you mail a package to write: Missionary Supplies on it because some of the boxes have been being snatched when they say things like candy. They tell us to just have our family mail everything to the mission home because there is a better chance of us getting it. I recieved a letter in the mail today from Grandma Price today it was really nice, plus all the wonderful letters I got on email today. Thanks. What else.. I had to teach the lesson in family home evening the other day we hold it in the tiny building, I should say church with 1 big room and 3 small rooms. It's cool though the members are really nice. their is a big portion of people here that speak German. I swear its hard having the last name Schmidt because people just start talking to you in dutch tres scarry ha ha. As far as the speaking French goes. I am learning, but it's really hard because you have to congegate everything into the right tensem, but it's coming along. Thanks so so much for the prayers I need them more than you know. These people dont live like we do at all. They dress, speak, look, different. I cant wait till that glorious day when the wheels touch down on that glorious place we call America... GOD BLESS AMERICA ha ha but for now I have to learn to love these people. I am having some great experiences everyday where I know the Lord is helping us. The food here is ok. I thought it was going to be much better but all I have had now is my companions cooking :( ha ha. We have only had one mangervous ha ha thats what we call a eating apointment. it was good. I miss just being like I'm hungry what will I have, and getting what I wanted.... thanks Mom and Dad for that. Here its like well if I eat that then what are we going to have for dinner. Right now I am feeling kinda like a robot but im sure it gets better. It is so hot here right now its like 100 degrees im just taking a guess because they use celsius here, once again God Bless America ha ha. My companion is from Pennsylvania some place maybe by Ty that would be cool. You know how they said Switzerland is supposed to be very clean... they lied ha ha. Its wierd to think I will be living here for a while. I can totally see how it would be a cool place to visit but absolutly nobody likes us here. The other day some guy slammed the door so dang hard I felt a shockwave and then what ever was hanging on the door fell off, but dont worry I dont take that too hard just go to the next one so they can shake their finger at you and and make that noise like where you put your tounge on the back of your teath and suck in, it makes a clicking noise. My companion was right once you start understanding what they are saying too you its hard to keep that smile on your face. I swear I have never been so busy in my entire life. We are always going somewhere. I did want all of you to know that my testimony has grown so much this past two weeks just too see how unhappy people are and then rejecting the chance to be happy. I know that what we are teaching is true its the word of God, and its hard because you just think to yourself listen to me, you will be so much happier if you do. This is not just a book we take around trying to get people to be apart of our church to make it bigger or better, this book The Book of Mormon will tell you what you need to do to get back home and it will answer all your questions, and I know this because it has for me. I'm not just telling you this because I have been told to tell people this, I am telling you this because I know it will help you come closer to the lord. Missions are hard but I know that what we are doing is so very important and if I can just get that one person to listen to me then it will all be worth it. I have never done anything like this before in my life. It's phisically tiring emotionally tiring and spiritually, if that makes sense. Everyone always walks passed us and says they dont have time well the whole reason we are here, earth is a time for men to prepare to meet god. I thank you all so much for all that you do for me I have the best support system ever. I love you Mom and dad I miss you. I love you Vic, Ash, Brit and Lin. I have learned so much from you all in my life.
love your little bro
Elder Schmidt

06/18/09** Email from Bronson

Before I start this letter I have to let you know that this keyboard is messed up the y and the z are changed so its throwing me off way bad on my typing skills. Things have been going good here, I don't have a minute to myself it's just work work work. We are doing ALOT OF FINDING HERE IN FRIBOURG SWITZERLAND. So many people here are either Catholic or they are Muslim, and they don't even want to think about changing. It's totally funny to me when they start yelling at me because im like, lady i have no clue what your saying, but I can share a simple message with them. When it comes to comprehension I get about every third word, So its pretty difficult. My companion doesn't really know what it is like for me because apparently he was way good in the MTC, so sometimes he gives me that look like are you kidding me you don't get this. That's a bit frustrating, but I think it will pay off good for me in the end because I can listen and pick up stuff that he says and learn how to say it. My companions name is Elder O`Rourke. He is 6'7, way tall so I look like I am little kid trying to keep up with his parents walking behind him. He keeps asking why don't you walk next to me and i think to myself I would have to be in a slight jog to keep up with you. I have never walked so much in my whole life. The second day we where here we missed like every bus so we had to walk everywhere and I swear it felt like it was up hill both ways. I should be able to do the Iron Man when I get home ha ha. While everyone else is panting I will be crossing the finish line in my suit and tie not even breaking a sweat. I can't believe no one wrote me an e mail this whole week except Shane. I was looking foreward to reading them oh well their is always next week. This keyboard has aribic on it i think ha ha. What have you all been up to? I hope fun stuff. We got a new ami de l`eglise or investigator the other day, his name is Claude. He seemed really interested in what we where teaching him. We are going to teach him the plan of salvation tonight i think. My companion is pretty cool, I think I can learn alot from him, but he is totally different than me. I need to find a way to become friends with him. The lifestyle here is so different than back home no fast food. Everything is way old we live right next to a Cathedral it's cool looking, but it's so differen't when you know your going to be living here. I think that it would be a cool place to visit and see the sites, but all I have going through my head right now is learn the launguage so i can talk to these people. I will send pictures as soon as I can I dont know if my comp will allow that. I swear he must be omish because anything electrical he doesn't like. I am hiding the video camera till next transfer I think because he would make me send it home. I guess he has a different mind set than me. Ok I better stop complaining, but you're all I have to vent too so sorry. It's so weird, like little 2 and 3 year olds know more than me it's kinda funny (insert exclamation point here) they don't have them on these keyboards. Our goal in this transfer is to get 1 baptism, I think we can get it done. We have had alot of cool experiences here. For example my comp lost the phone so we said a prayer that we would find it, we had to walk to the pay phone and while he was talking on the phone I decided I would contact this lady, she said she would talk more with us after she made a phone call so at this point we where out past curfew and while we where waiting a bus pulled up and this familly we where talking to popped out and said you left your phone at my house, so that was cool and we ended up getting the other ladies number i contacted to teach her. I probably sounded terrible in French but at least I tried right, and the lord ended up blessing us. A lot of things have happened like that, pretty cool though. I swear we get some of the wierdest looks from people, they think we are the teignmon jehovas or jehova whitness, and a lot of people think that we are the police. This one kid strarted screaming and hid from us he kept saying police police i kinda laughed. I guess in the paper here they wrote that all that stuff that went on with all those kids back in the United States (in Texas) they wrote that it was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so people think we are perverts too ha ha. We have to clear that up like every contact. All in all it really makes my day when that one person listens to us and is interested after getting shut down like 100 times. I just say to myself, ok your not ready yet, or its not me your rejecting your rejecting your Savoir, it's sad but at least we tried. Missionary work is so hard i didn't realize it was right there in the title the whole time WORK. I am so tired at the end of the day I think I dont know how I am going to have the strength to do another day but then we do. Oh most of the buildings we port are huge apartment buildings with no elevators so that means we have to walk all the way up them. Well my companion is giving me the eye so I better get going. I love you all so very much and thanks for all the support you give me love Elder Schmidt.

New address for Bronson

Here's Bronson's new address! I will update it whenever he is transfered... there is a spot for "contact information" on the right where his address will always be!! I checked and the postage is 0.94 to Switzerland for letters!!!

Elder Schmidt
Les Missionnaires
10, rue des Bouchers
CH-1700 Fribourg
Switzerland

He has arrived! Serving in Fribourg Switzerland!!!

We recieved an email from Bronson's mission President, President and Sister Peterson. He writes..

Dear Schmidt Family,
We are writing you to inform you that Elder Schmidt has arrived safely in Geneva and is now in his first area in Fribourg, Switzerland with his trainer Elder O’Rourke.
We will try to take good care of this great son of yours. Weekly we hear from them through letters, and every three weeks we see them in either personal interviews or in a Zone conference training session. In between, we try to keep in touch with phone calls -- especially with our newest missionaries in the work. More important than all these efforts, we join our prayers with yours for these dear young people morning, noon, and night. We have learned that our Heavenly Father protects and guides the missionaries in a truly miraculous way as they strive to be obedient and faithful.
President and Sister Peterson,Switzerland Geneva Mission

Bronson is now in Switzerland!!

Well Bronson is officially in Switzerland. He left on the 9th and his plane in SLC was delayed which caused them to miss his connecting flight in Chicago which happened to be the last flight to London until the following night at 7pm. So they had to stay at La Quinta and we ordered them pizza. We got to talk to Bronson for a while, he was speaking a lot of french and he seems really happy! They hadn't eaten all day Bronson even said we might as well have fasted today, so to top it off we had pizza delivered to them... OUTSIDE FOOD besides treats!! ha ha!! They were all so happy to get it! The next day his flight left at 7pm and he arrived in London and called Mom and Dad at 4am our time (8 hour difference) this was the last "see ya later" until Christmas! We know that Bronson will do great! He is such a great guy, he said he is nervous about speaking the launguage but he'll be fine!!! Keep him in your prayers!! I will update his new address once we find out what it is!!! Definately keep the letters coming, he mentioned a few times how greatful he is for all the letters that he has recieved! Thanks to everyone for the support!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane!!!

Bronson is leaving for Switzerland today. He leaves the SL Airport and will fly to Chicago, that flight will take a couple of hours and then from Chicago he'll go to London, and has a few hour layover there and then off to Switzerland! We were all able to talk to him while at the SL Airport (Thanks to 3 way calling!!) It was so great to hear Bronson's voice!! He is speaking french really well! He was having us ask him questions and he would answer them! It was awesome! We sure wish him the best on his long travels! I'll update more when we talk to him again in Chicago and then in London.

Been a while

Its been a while since I've updated this. Bronson has written several times!! Quite impressive actually, I don't know how he finds the time to write so much but we are so thankful and consider each letter a jack pot!!
Bronson will be leaving to Switzerland in 20 days! Yikes! I can't believe its coming up that close! He is learning a lot and is always studying, he has mentioned several times that he goes to bed thinking about how to teach in french or going over words, sentences discussions etc.
Bronson was able to bless the sacrament in French last week! How exciting for him!! Hard work sure does pay off!!
He still isn't super fond of the food there, and is very thankful for the packages that have been sent! He says missionaries love getting "outside food."
In a letter written home to Dad, Bronson wrote about how Dad was the best companion ever, too bad he had to get transfered. Super sweet letter to his best friend!! I know Dad is super proud of Bronson and the missionary that he is striving to be!
Gavin even got lucky enough to get a letter from Elder Uncle Bronson!!! He was super excited that Bronson remembered to write him. Gavin prays for Bronson to learn the language every night.
We are all so proud of Bronson and all the hard work he is putting forth to become a great missionary to the people of Switzerland. He is a great example to our family and his friends!!
Please keep writing Bronson as the letters brighten his day!! Addresses are still the same for now!!

WE GOT PICTURES!!!

Bronson sent home his camera card with pictures of him from the MTC here are some of the pictures! ***if you click on the pictures they will come up larger for you!!!***

Bronson's Bed

His Desk

Companions

Elder Schmidt

Books and Missonary tags





Elders at the Provo Temple









Getting a package!!

The famous self portrait!!!

Mailing a Package!!

I was just thinking about getting my package mailed off to Bronson and I thought I would make a quick entry of mailing him a package! I know they brighten his day and he loves getting "outside food"!!

We've been mailing his packages in the flat rate boxes that you can get at the post office. To send them to him at the MTC is $8.95 ***However I did send him a package and I mailed it as if it were just a regular package not a flat rate box and it happened to be less, so check both ways!! Thanks for all the support in writing Bronson he is sure "popular" with getting so many letters and I know he really appreciates them!!

Bronson's address is still the same:

Elder Bronson Dane Schmidt

MTC Mailbox #82

SWI-GEN 06/09

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, UT 84604-1793

Just a little update from Bronson in a letter he wrote home!! Please keep him in your prayers and all other missionaries!!

Thanks so much for the package, I really really appreciate it you wouldn't believe what things brighten your day like anything does because we have no contact to the outside world!! So we always crave "outside food"! You should hear our conversations, we talk about how our shirts fir or just random things like what kind of watches we have!
French is coming along I am practicing congegations and if I think real hard about a sentence I can put it together.
We went to the Temple today, it was awesome. I think it refueled my spirit. I love the celestial room its amazing, I just prayed the whole time.
I swear you all keep my popular because I get letters everyday! THANKS!!

Another Letter Home

Elder Schmidt wrote home again, here is what he wrote to us:



The MTC is just like you said, long days fast weeks. I love the spirit here, I keep telling myself when else have I had the time to study the Gospel all day, its awesome! Today me and my comp Elder Johnson taught the first lesson to some volenteers it was a good experience for me. The spirit was strong when we testified to them about the Le Livre de Mormon (Book of Mormon) it was awesome but humbling at the same time. We have much to work on! I swear when they say this is hard work, they mean it! By the end of the day we have a million things on our minds, mainly the gospel and french, but it is almost like there aren't enough hours in a day to learn it all and when you go to bed you think about how to teach better or how to pray/testify in french. It kinda feels like the days blend together but they work us so hard because they want us to explode with knowledge in the mission field. The new missionaries came in today. We all felt like pro's to them because they all looked like "what is going on" and I could totally relate, they are in for a rough 1st week but truth is days are long but the week flew by.

A day in the life of Elder Schmidt

Bronson wrote about what his days are like at the MTC he writes...

This is so much different than I thought it would be! Its go go go. We start the day at 6 am and end at 9pm. We wake up at take showers, get ready, go and read the Book of Mormon then go to breakfast, come back have like five hours of class, eat lunch go back to class then we go to a Big Group meeting, come back to class, then 1 hour of personal study and 1 hour of companion Study and then 1 hour of language study. Its hard sitting in one spot all day, but I'm learning a lot. The french is kinda hard but I am working on it. I have learned how to say a prayer in French already and I am excited about that. Elder Johnson is my companion he came with me to San Francisco so we know eachother a bit, he is a quiet guy.

Bronson said he will be taking pictures so he can send the card home. He asks that we pray for him and the other missionaries. He still hasn't had the chance to use the computer but will write when he gets it set up.

Bronson's First Letter Home!!

04/09/2008
Dear Mom and Dad,

I just wanted you to know I'm doing all right, this is a very different experience for me, but, I know its the right thing for me to do. Mom and dad you have been the best parents a kid could ever have. I love you so much more than you will ever know. You two are my greatest blessing, never forget that, the "Best Parents Ever". All the Elders have been very nice to us "newbies", our zone leaders are very nice and have shown us around the grounds. The food is not very good but I guess we should get used to it. All I know is this first week is going to be hard. I am so tired and worn out and it's only 10:30. Please write me a lot your words will be comforting. I love all of you. Tell Ash, Lin, Brit, Vic I love them so much. I would like to give you my testimony that I really do know this church is true. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of god and that he was foreordained to restore the gospel to the world. I love this church and know that this work needs to be done.

I love you all.
Elder Schmidt

Entering the MTC

I thought we would create a way for Bronson's family and friends to keep updated on how he is doing and what is going on in his mission. This will be updated as soon as any updates are recieved!!

Bronson recieved his mission call in December and has been called to serve in the Geneva Switzerland mission. His family took him to the MTC in Provo Utah yesterday April 9th. He will be learning the French language and will be in the MTC until June. Please keep him in your prayers as well as all of the other missionaries! We are so proud of Bronson and the great example that he has been to so many. We are sure he will be a great missionary and will be able to spread the gospel to those who have been waiting to hear it from him