I found Gary, Played in the Rain, Rode a Carabao, and RATS!

Maayong aga tanan. I don't even know where to start. This week was kinda just an adventure the whole time. Being a missionary is so fun! Like I've never had so much fun and been so happy in my life. Legit. Like I got to ride a carabao, eat fried bananas, play in the rain, and I FOUND GARY!!!(he's been hiding from me outside)

Sister Schimbeck riding a carabao

Oh but guys I almost forgot, so its raining you know and I'm just enjoying myself in the rain and was telling Julan and Sister Molejon how fun being a missionary is and then a rat ran right across my feet!! It was so traumatizing. It was the heaviest rat ever and its little claws and tail were so cold! Ew. But anyways every week I'm here I just fall more in love with the Philippines and the people(:

Gary

Eating fried banana (Jacey didn't tell us this little cutie's name) 

So we're in the finding process right now. Its so hard. We're teaching a man that is like a freak with the bible, has the whole thing memorized! He also reads a King James version so we can use the footnotes to take him to the Book of Mormon and oh its so fun. I love this verse I found in my personal study. "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them. Unto men this is impossible: but with Go all things are possible." Matt 19:26. I really love the bible. And this gospel. Its so true. It comforts me in the most needed times. I wish I would've been converted to the gospel sooner so I could've felt this joy always!! Oh but I have it now and I have the opportunity to help others experience conversion too(: I love being a missionary! Halong kamo! Palangga ko kamo!

Sister Schimbeck

Selfies from the Computer Cafe

More Selfies....

.....Even more

Heres a papaya. It was not delicious. 

Rule 32: Enjoy the Little Things:...... (Zombieland)

Hello everyone! Lovely week here in the Philippines(: much better than last week! We had our mission tour and Elder Ardern of the 70, our area president came to give us a training and observe our mission. So I just have to brag about my mission here for a second okay, we just became the number one baptizing mission in the world!!

Elder Ian S. Ardern of the Seventy and Sister Ardern
with Sister and President Lopez

His training was so inspired too, I love these men that we have in the church to lead us. So missionary work is very routine, same thing everyday. So I tried to look for the little things (rule 32) like brownies!! I made brownies in our little toaster oven(: My new magic pen(: (it can erase. Sometimes I just write to erase) And the little miracles I get to witness everyday as a missionary(: (Heavenly Father is so aware of us)

Our baptisms this week were miracle baptisms too. Sister Stephanie Jain(:

Baptism ni Stephanie(:

she was supposed to be baptized with her family September 27 but last minute decided not to because she's shy. And she is, so shy! And she has always been a rebel so this change was hard for her but her testimony after her baptism was so powerful, she truly converted. This gospel saved her!

Baptism ni Marivic(:

And Sister Marivic(: she has been an investigator since January and she had many baptismal dates but just could stop her coffee and smoking. Satan was working so hard on her to not get baptized because she has such a powerful testimony. But yeah she overcome those and got baptized(: All these little miracles are so worth the hard times of being a missionary. I love this work so much. I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father. And I love being a missionary! Halong kamo!

Sister S(wag)chimbeck

A nice text from the AP's 

Sugar cane fields everywhere here in Sagay

My companions always fall asleep on bus rides 

A huge tuko at the Jain's house!! 

Arriving at Zone Tour/Training

Long Week, New Companion and Baptisms

Hey everyone!! So this week has been longest week ever. But like my new companion is the sweetest thing I have ever met, she's so sweet it almost bugs me but it doesn't really because she's so sweet. Yeah so along with it being the longest week it was the most stressful. Leading an area is hard. But wow I've grown so much from it! But guys I've spoke more Hiligaynon this week than I have my whole mission. ITS SO FUN! And they love it, like I'm still horrible but they love it. I love them, they get me through these long days. And mangos. 

Elvie and Mae's baptism! Brother Jolan got to baptize them(: 

Our baptisms this week! Elvie and Mae Sierra(: Wife and daughter of brother Roldan who got baptized October 18. Elvie was a golden investigator. She was so prepared and ready to receive this gospel!! Mae has been a little bit tougher, missionaries started teaching her in July but shes just never been interested and said she was always too busy, until we taught eternal families! She cried and cried and then everything changed for her she took out her earrings and stopped drinking coffee the next day! Oh I love that family. Jimmy and Arlene(: mom and dad of Sister Jemma Rose that got baptized on October 18 too. I really wanted them to be baptized as a family but I saw over these past few weeks that it was better for Jemma to get baptized first. Brother Jimmy's testimony grew so much from it! Sister Arlene is golden too, the first time she went to church they taught about tithing and when we went to visit her the next day she asked if she could pay her tithing! The baptism was so stressful.

Jimmy and Arlene's baptism! Brother Jolan got to baptize them(:

So we get there and there's no baptism clothes, the font is locked, and our baptism records are missing. I really didn't think that they were going to get baptized that day. It was 4:45 by then when the service was supposed to start at 4 and no one would reply to our texts or calls but finally bishop showed up to save the day! And it was the most spiritual baptismal service(: 

My faith has really been tested this week. I wondered if I could really do this. I doubted myself and my decision. "Now when our hearts were depressed and we were about to turn back behold the Lord comforted us, bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give unto you success." Alma 26:27, I read this in my personal study on a day where I was questioning a lot of stuff and I was instantly comforted. If faith isn't tested it will not grow. I'm so thankful for my relationship with my Heavenly Father and that I can feel His love everyday. I'm so grateful for this time to serve Him!! I love being a missionary!! 

Me and my batch mates! We're all in the same zone(:

Sister Schimbeck

I'm a real missionary now!

So I'm officially done with my training, just a normal missionary now! And we also had transfers so I'm leading my area. Its chill. We got the call last night now its all new. I kinda was freaking out a little bit. But it will be okay because I have my Heaven Father to watch over me and my new companion is Sister Molejon, she is so sweet!! She is 27 and has been out for 11 months, she is so great(: oh and three of my batch mates are in my zone now too so that's kinda fun(: Okay. Guys, they don't celebrate Halloween here. I carried around candy with me to give out to the kids but none of them were dressed up or anything :/ I mean they would still take the candy but it wasn't the same, they wouldn't even say trick or treat to me.

Sagay Zone Oct. 2014

President Lopez With Sister Schimbeck
and other Sisters from Sagay Zone

 We had zone conference Tuesday and it was so great. I have the bestest most wise mission President. He is perfectly funny and spiritual at the same time. He makes my spirit so happy! So it rained like really hard this week for two days straight and I guess its because there was a typhoon. It was supposed to hit us but went right around us. Heavenly Father is truly looking over us! I can see His hand in my life and the lives in my investigators more and more everyday! I'm so thankful for this time to be a missionary for Him

and be apart of His amazing work! I love being a missionary and I love you all! Keep it real!

Good bye Sister Cruz! Thanks for everything.