February 17

Hello everyone!

It was fun to learn about Matt's new companion.

Just a couple of reminders.  Anyone can e-mail Matt at matthew.schaelling@mylds.mail.net.  A few years ago there was a rule that only immediate family could e-mail missionaries, but anyone can now.  Also, as Matt mentioned a few weeks ago, the U.S. Postal Service won't forward their mail from the mission office in Farmington, NM anymore so we need to mail things directly to him now.  The Post Office assures us that their change-of address system will keep up with the missionaries transfers.  I will do my best to keep you up to date.

His current mailing address while he's in Steamboat, AZ is:

Elder Matthew Paul Schaelling
P.O. Box 681
Ganado, AZ  86505

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Mom,

Thank you very much! I'm glad that you guys got the photo of us just fine. His name is Elder Aguilera and he is from Houston, Texas but grew up in Chicago, Illinois until he was a senior in high school. He is Mexican and speaks fluent Spanish and his mission call was originally to the Brazil Belo Horinzonte Mission but he couldn't get his visa by the end of his MTC stay so he is here in Steamboat serving until he gets his visa. Visa waiters sometimes stay in the mission anywhere from 6 weeks to 9 or 12 months! He's enjoying Steamboat though, but he said it is a pretty big culture shock for him. It's also interesting because most of his church experience has been in a Spanish ward at home so he didn't even have a set of scriptures in English when I got him, only Spanish and Portuguese! He's an awesome guy and is very spiritual. So far we have been doing pretty well here in Steamboat! We found six new investigators this week which is a lot for such a tiny area. I've had a few really spiritual experiences this week: first, we met a new guy named Pat on Saturday. He is so awesome, and apparently his daughter is a member of the church out near Gallup. I've really been trying to learn how to follow the spirit as I guide the missionary work here in Steamboat, so I have been very seriously praying for revelation from Heavenly Father on what to do each day and one of the names I thought of was this guy with the last name of Begay. I couldn't even remember his first name and I've never met him but I felt like we should go see him, so later that day we drove to where he lives and the dirt road turn off to his house was locked and we almost didn't go, but then I remembered that there was a back road that went to his area about 3/4 of a mile down the highway. So we took that road and on our way we saw a hoghan with the door open and we stopped by and Pat invited us right in! He was so nice and Elder Aguilera and I truly taught with power and by the spirit. We used the Book of Mormon to address his concerns and it was just amazing to see how everything in relation to us finding him and teaching him was guided by the spirit. It is also a miracle because it is so hard to find adult males to teach here in Steamboat, because we can't meet with females or children without an adult male present. He is so cool and we have a return appointment on Tuesday! Our investigator Molly also brought two of her grandsons to church yesterday and they were the only youth there yesterday and we taught them the plan of salvation (one of them had lost his mom a few years before) and it was so awesome just to be teaching two young investigators for Sunday School and then we played hangman and one of the words I did was "baptism" and they both said they wanted to be baptized so we watched the Bible Video of Christ's Baptism and showed them the baptismal font! They are awesome kids. Lastly, this week I have truly gained strength from the scriptures. There have been moments when I am having struggles but it has been amazing how I'll turn to the Book of Mormon during my personal study and happen to find chapters that truly bring healing to my heart. That is one thing I am so grateful for that I am learning on my mission, is to learn how I can truly turn to the Lord to help me with any of my needs and problems! It's so interesting, before my mission if I was feeling down or something I would have watched a movie or gone somewhere on campus or gone out with some friends to eat or something, but now I am truly learning to turn to the Lord in all things that I do. It feels amazing, I must say. One other verse that really hit me was 1 Nephi 15:11. It was quoted and discussed in an article in the Ensign about shunning temptation and receiving revelation. What an awesome verse.

I can't believe I missed our Stake Conference with an apostle! When was the last time that happened for our stake? I can't remember a single time! Yah de lah! (That's a expression of exasperation in Navajo.) Oh well, someday I'll get to hear an apostle speak in person again. I can't wait for General Conference in just a month and a half! 

I love you all! Thank you so much for all the support. It always brightens my day whenever I hear from any of you back home.

With Love and Regards,

Elder Schaelling

February 10

My questions for Matt:
1) How did transfers affect you?
2) How are your investigators doing?
3) How many youth are there in your Branch?
4) What kind of jobs do the people in Steamboat have?
5) How long is the drive to Ganado where the Post Office is?

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Mom,

Sounds like you had quite the experience traveling! I can't imagine being stuck in airports for so long and having to do so much continual rescheduling to go help Jackie. I'm glad all turned out well in the end now and you did make it safely home. That's hilarious that Spencer rode the carousel 14 times in a row with another one for good measure! What an awesome kid. 

I am a little bummed I'm missing the Winter Olympics, I think I'm going to get into winter sports a little more when I get home. I want to get into skiing more. Russia sounds like an awesome place to have the Olympics, I've caught a glimpse of the events here and there as we stop by a handful of people's houses who have the games on. They look cool!

1) Elder Vicznesky is being moved to Fort Defiance and I am picking up a brand new missionary in the morning! President Batt called on Saturday morning to ask if I would be willing to train in Steamboat and I accepted the calling, I sure hope I can manage to keep the new elder and myself busy enough to help him adjust to missionary life here in the small community of Steamboat! We are driving up to Farmington in a couple of hours so we can spend the night up there because I have to pick him up at 7:15. I wont know his name until then when President Batt announces which trainee will go with which trainer/area. I'm excited! It should be a cool experience to be able to be with a brand new missionary.

2) Our investigators are doing pretty well! It is amazing to be in such a small branch/area but to still see how the Lord does prepare individuals to receive the gospel and it truly does build my testimony that the Lord is in all places -- even in little towns like Steamboat! We have a lot of people that are looking pretty promising, we just have to organize having Navajo speakers and male members with us for the lessons. I'll keep you guys updated!

3) There are four young men and three young women that are active or semi active, there are some others in the area that we are hoping to either reactivate or commit to be baptized! The main area that is lacking is the young adult age group, like 18 to 30 year olds. There are only two members that age that are active but unfortunately everyone else is either under 15 years old or over 40 pretty much. 

4) People all over the reservation usually work for the tribe or the schools or the variety of small stores and trading posts. Some areas have power plants or oil fields that people work at, but there's not really any too close to Steamboat. Most everyone is retired or just lives off the land and herds sheep.

5) Ganado is about a 25 minute drive or so.

Happy Valentine's day to you all! I love you all very much.

With Love and Regards,

Elder Schaelling

February 3

My questions:

1) Was Quentin's baptism able to happen yesterday as planned?

2) Do you have any requests or needs that you'd like me to send?

3) Will another Senior Couple come after Elder & Sister Patterson return home?

4) Dad's e-mail said you're doing the Insanity Exercise program which sounds very ambitious.  Do you do that in the church? 

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Mom,

I am so excited to hear that Asher Jacob Norris arrived safely! I liked Peter a lot, because he is such an awesome apostle, but Asher is one of the twelve tribes of Israel and Jacob is Israel's birth name! Pretty awesome biblical background on those if I do say so myself. Tell Jackie and Trevor and Spencer that I love them all very much and hope that it is all going well for them! Tell Jackie I just bought some basmati rice at Walmart today so I will be able to cook up the chicken tikka masala sometime soon. Your food has been helping me a lot too! Just remember, don't send me anything that isn't healthy. I have really be turning around my diet the past few weeks to genuinely healthy things (mostly eliminating any kind of corn syrup or enriched flour and staying toward whole grains and healthy fats). It feels great so far! Nevertheless, hurrah for Asher Jacob Norris!!! So good to hear that he has made it to the world. 

1) Yes, it went forward smoothly and was fantastic! It was delayed from 8 AM to 3 PM because his mom got stuck in Window Rock the night before as they were driving back from Gallup and the road from Window Rock to Steamboat was closed off because of a snow storm! We got more snow, but still isn't a ton. A lot of it just melted the next day, except for the snow in places where the sun can't really hit.

2) Not as of right now, we just went shopping in Gallup today so I am pretty set for now. Be careful with what everyone puts in packages, it seems like the Ganado post office might not be super careful, two of the glass cans in Jackie's package were busted and one of the Gossner's milk was a little busted, but everything has been recoverable so far. Thank you all so much for the love and support! I appreciate it soooooo much. 

3) I sure hope so! We haven't heard anything yet, I just emailed President Batt asking him if there is anything in the works for Steamboat yet. Senior couples sure are helpful for small little branches in areas like this, they really help people understand how church administration is generally run. I sure hope you and dad get the opportunity to serve a senior mission or even missions! 

4) Sure is ambitious, but I can feel it working even if it is miserable at times getting up between 5:30 and 5:45. We do it in the branch building.

By the way, the mission office told us today that they will no longer be able to forward mail from there to our field locations which will cause quite the hassle for us, unfortunately, but I guess USPS changed their policy concerning forwarded mail. So, you guys will have to send any mail to me at PO Box 681 Ganado, Arizona 86505 but don't send me anything between now and next Monday because transfer news is coming on Saturday. I can't imagine that I'll be moved, but you never know! The Lord sends people ever which way he needs them. Once I send confirmation next Monday that I am staying, you guys can resume to send me mail probably until about March 17th, which will be a week before the next transfer day. If mail goes to Farmington, then I will get it whenever my zone or district leader has the occasion to go there for a meeting and will bring mail home to us.

I love you all! Thank you so much for being so aware of me. God bless!

Elder Schaelling 

January 27

These are the questions Matt's answering:

1) What is the expiration of your epi pen, is it time for me to get you a new one?
2) That's cool that you and Elder V played a duet on the guitar for FHE a couple of weeks ago. Whose guitars did you use and how did it go?
3) You mentioned that you like the Toyota Tacoma a lot better than the Colorado truck, why is that?
4) A couple of weeks ago you said that Quentin, Molly and Zack had baptisms coming up. Have any been able to happen yet?
5) Is there a baptismal font in your church?
6) Is the Molly that spoke in such glowing terms about the Gospel helping her life at a funeral reception the same Molly that's scheduled to be baptized?
7) How are things going with the youth? That is great that you two are helping get the youth programs up and running there.
8) How long has Elder V been on his mission and in Steamboat?
9) How long have Elder & Sister Patterson been in Steamboat? How long is their mission? Will they serve the full length of their mission in Steamboat?

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Mom,

That's awesome that Lindsay got her mission call! Serving a mission is really such a great experience and has helped me understand the gospel on such a more deep and personal level. I know she'll have a great time and love serving the Lord! Tell her "God speed!" for me! Thank you so much for all the food, I got your last package today and the Campell's Soup Go pack things look SO AWESOME. Thank you so much!

1) I think it isn't until like April or May or June 2015, so I should be in pretty good shape. I'll double check later and  let you know if I need a new one anytime soon!

2) It was lots of fun! We used Peter Yazzie's guitars, he's the branch president and he is such a cool guy. I'll always remember him whenever I think of Steamboat I'll think of him and how committed he is to the church and testifying of the gospel in all things that he does!

3) The Tacoma drives a lot better than the Colorado, has a better turning radius, has a nicer interior, and has a touch screen for the entertainment and a USB slot for flashdrives so you can listen to music off of them.

4) Quentin will be baptized this Saturday, Zach is shooting for February 8th, and Molly isn't on date anymore. She's missed the past two weeks of church. She said she is sick, but I really hope we can get in this week and that she'll continue to progress within the gospel!

5) Yes, there is a small one in our church which is lucky for us.

6) Yes, it's the same Molly! I'll hopefully have more information on her progress in the gospel next week.

7) Things are going pretty well. There is a lot of work to be done but we think we have found a Scoutmaster! We found out that to be a Scoutmaster  for an LDS sponsored troop you don't have to be a member and we have an awesome investigator who has been coming to church for the past year or more but still  isn't baptized because of a marriage issue who we are hoping to get him to work with the scouts!

8) Elder V hits 11 months today and has been in Steamboat for 5 months so far. 

9) The Pattersons have been in Steamboat their entire mission, so for 4 months so far and their mission is only 6 months long. They will go home at the end of March. Senior couples don't usually get moved around, they serve in the same place for their entire missions in every case I've heard so far!

Oh my goodness! That's crazy that Jackie might be having her baby sometime this week! I can't wait to hear what's going on next  Monday! Tell her that I love her and  I sure hope all goes well and let me  know when they finally decide on a name!!!

I need to get going  but I love  you all and hope you have a great week!!! Thank  you all so  much for all you guys do for me, GOD SPEED!!!

With Love and Regards,

Elder Schaelling