April 2023

 April has come and gone!

The weather definitely eased up. The trees didn't really wake up and blossom til the last week in April but we had some sunny days! and enough cold days (I guess thankfully since that means we didn't get flooded with the mountain snow).What a relief it is for me to look outside and see green grass or walk outside without freezing! Savanna did some fun spring nails for me and Jared bought me some new outfits for the office. I feel like a new woman this month! Jared too, he broke down and got some cheaters (reading glasses) for his aging farsighted issue.  

We had our Annual Barrett Family easter egg hunt at my house on April 8th which was so much fun. Everyone of my siblings living in the area participated and I was so happy all day celebrating the special holiday of Christ's resurrection with all of them. Karli Sue made two cute cakes, the weather was perfect, and I was totally wiped out after doin gall that work haha. In a good way. On actual Sunday Fiora came up and McKay got to snap a quick family photo.  

We also celebrated Jesse's second oldest Bourne's birthday on April 16th. I just love every opportunity I can get to spend some time with my cute nieces and nephews. I convinced Jesse and Kelsy to go out to the movies later that week so Jared and I could get out of the house in the evening. We saw Dungeons and Dragons and loved it. 

Changes are in the air! McKay found a job doing inventory in a warehouse which is temporary because he was accepted toa  jewelry smithing trade school in Portland OR starting in August. So! Savanna and McKay will be moving this summer to spend four months in OR and get him started on his trade of choice so he is able to find a good apprenticeship in working with stones and precious metals. Trying to savor the time we have with the Garvin's while we still have them as tenants in our basement apartment.

Fiora is doing amazing as a solo girl in Ogden. She is preparing to travel on a work visa to New Zealand in August and has come down to visit a couple a times this month. I always love to see her and feed her and spend some quality time laughing with her. Savanna and McKay graciously share their hammocks so we can enjoy the spring weather.

Weston served valiantly in Jaguarao but just this week got transferred to another area so he is headed for some change as well. Oh how I miss him but love to talk to him every week and see how he is loving and serving and growing. I will add some mission pictures and his email at the end as usual. 

In April we were able to start construction on our barn project for our hobby farm in Lindon. It has always been the plan to save up for a barn first get the animals situated and then save up to build a house we can live out the rest of our days. Jared has been belaboring and thinking day and night over this barn, but its coming together well and we are so excited for the final project. Below are some pictures of the progress, can't wait 'til it's done! So blessed by Jared's hard work and God's blessings. 

April 17 2023 Opa pessoal, tudo bem? Como é que vocês estão? It's me, Elder Schauers! Last week was a week! It started off with a lovely division in Pelotus, my first time serving outside of Jaguarão and Arroio Grande! The two district leaders in my zone, including my comp Elder Cabral, had a meeting up in Porto Alegre last week, and we figured the best option while they were there would be to do a division with the other Elder who's comp is a DL, Elder Nascimento! He's an awesome guy from northern Brazil, and he's constantly laughing or has a smile on his face. He always has a great attitude for missionary work. We made a lot of progress together during the division and even met a couple from Jagurão who we're hoping to get back in contact with. I guess I should also mention that it's finally starting to get COLD here. The air is getting pretty frisky and we're starting to whip out the sweaters. Definitely a change of pace. I imagine the opposite is happening up in the States? Anyways we've heard from pretty much everyone how miserable the winters here can get so be sure to pray for us hehe. Another cool highlight: We had this pretty awesome annual youth devotional with the ward, and my comp and I had the chance to help out the youth sing their youth theme song for this year with our instruments. It was truly epic. Other than that, it was a pretty normal week all in all. But I do feel like the lessons are starting to mean a lot more. My Portuguese has finally gotten to a point where I can express the true feelings I have in my heart for this gospel and to where I really feel the spirit working through me. It's one of the biggest blessings to see how all the continued effort from the last six months has been paying off. One lesson in particular while we were teaching the Restoration, as we'd done hundreds of times, I gave my testimony while the feeling of the spirit was especially strong. By the end I couldn't even recall the words I'd said. I truly felt like I was being used as an instrument in God's hands with the words of the spirit. This is one of the promises God gives us if we just trust him to do his part, and it's one of the coolest experiences you can have as a missionary. That's all I got! I know I always say it but I can't thank you all enough for all the support and love I've constantly been receiving throughout this journey. I am truly blessed. Tchau for now!