tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72570156553965808892024-03-13T13:40:50.884-07:00Called to Serve - MadagascarAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-86430714260275102362016-06-13T16:22:00.000-07:002016-06-13T16:32:12.548-07:00May 23, 2016 ~ Pictures!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fANSaeUC3XQ/V185VwkipMI/AAAAAAAAAUA/hjuZ0a-0_swI8umoCwkMMkWMNOTfnRfhgCLcB/s1600/DSCN1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fANSaeUC3XQ/V185VwkipMI/AAAAAAAAAUA/hjuZ0a-0_swI8umoCwkMMkWMNOTfnRfhgCLcB/s640/DSCN1877.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's a picture of Elder Obioma and I <br />in a member's house!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCPoE-iufPY/V185WuOo3-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/STTCtn1sME0T7uxxH7XajBvTMvyTwp_eACLcB/s1600/DSCN1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YCPoE-iufPY/V185WuOo3-I/AAAAAAAAAUM/STTCtn1sME0T7uxxH7XajBvTMvyTwp_eACLcB/s640/DSCN1895.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I made that!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7G0QXfCZU0/V186C1pXCdI/AAAAAAAAAUY/-aloyjBPsMY345lkXDiFQz2A_zmxBdiEwCLcB/s1600/DSCN1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7G0QXfCZU0/V186C1pXCdI/AAAAAAAAAUY/-aloyjBPsMY345lkXDiFQz2A_zmxBdiEwCLcB/s640/DSCN1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll own a Land Rover Defender some day</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4s-9Okj5Go/V186DAs6M0I/AAAAAAAAAUg/_auV5aFijroaep2da3m7e0nDHpkMsRpcACLcB/s1600/DSCN1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4s-9Okj5Go/V186DAs6M0I/AAAAAAAAAUg/_auV5aFijroaep2da3m7e0nDHpkMsRpcACLcB/s640/DSCN1952.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I LOVE DOGS</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">AND LITTLE KIDS</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xdzZo8loso/V186DFtEdKI/AAAAAAAAAUc/Rt8hdmqzWFsd8kYxR3Cjqn1j0NYlGVroQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7xdzZo8loso/V186DFtEdKI/AAAAAAAAAUc/Rt8hdmqzWFsd8kYxR3Cjqn1j0NYlGVroQCLcB/s640/DSCN1947.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ip3qVE6-5vA/V186rJWCXnI/AAAAAAAAAUw/f6aZqFzmVUcH3ZlgH3kWtfGnrDxyiqRaACLcB/s1600/DSCN1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ip3qVE6-5vA/V186rJWCXnI/AAAAAAAAAUw/f6aZqFzmVUcH3ZlgH3kWtfGnrDxyiqRaACLcB/s640/DSCN1960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAXJQtT1APE/V186tmZVQZI/AAAAAAAAAU4/NslbUVsj7dczzorQWNZ3w3dKOZptRKniACLcB/s1600/DSCN1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAXJQtT1APE/V186tmZVQZI/AAAAAAAAAU4/NslbUVsj7dczzorQWNZ3w3dKOZptRKniACLcB/s640/DSCN1978.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">At a soiree</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKpNsULuSbU/V186t85j0sI/AAAAAAAAAU8/qQQouUBTKIcrZvJcjxjgpkjXatgY3licgCLcB/s1600/DSCN1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKpNsULuSbU/V186t85j0sI/AAAAAAAAAU8/qQQouUBTKIcrZvJcjxjgpkjXatgY3licgCLcB/s640/DSCN1982.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bloody beautiful people</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A73LhNPzwJk/V19B_2CXbgI/AAAAAAAAAWE/rYrUFhW9RqYZ1vXlBhE3nK87-p5nbKWrACLcB/s1600/RSCN1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A73LhNPzwJk/V19B_2CXbgI/AAAAAAAAAWE/rYrUFhW9RqYZ1vXlBhE3nK87-p5nbKWrACLcB/s640/RSCN1899.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I LOVE DOGS!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tvGNiSQ1COw/V187SSOQglI/AAAAAAAAAV4/v2e9k3yRrz4CIw-V7Ax0-XiYDd3rgOcygCKgB/s1600/DSCN1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tvGNiSQ1COw/V187SSOQglI/AAAAAAAAAV4/v2e9k3yRrz4CIw-V7Ax0-XiYDd3rgOcygCKgB/s640/DSCN1986.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Future APs"</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO3rdkDEioI/V19CHT7OAJI/AAAAAAAAAWM/N9faOgUh9ZkxV76EWtNfzRzixKfnizXVQCLcB/s1600/RSCN1929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO3rdkDEioI/V19CHT7OAJI/AAAAAAAAAWM/N9faOgUh9ZkxV76EWtNfzRzixKfnizXVQCLcB/s640/RSCN1929.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's so cold here, I had to buy a hoodie. This costed $3</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-45422657927728673342016-06-13T15:43:00.002-07:002016-06-13T15:46:02.822-07:00May 17, 2016 ~ Yummy snacks!<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I've learned a lot about how to deal with life through my experiences here. Perhaps more important than that is the fact that I've learned what is actually important in life and what isn't. It's my personal philosophy that a troubled soul is the fruit of a complicated life. Life can be simple and hard, but it can never be simple and troubling as long as you keep things in perspective. I'm determined to lead a simple but fulfilling life. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Something else that I've learned about myself is that I've fallen in love with people since being here. No, I haven't found my future spouse. I've fallen in love with people as in the human race. I love learning people's stories and helping them write the next chapter. I think that's why I enjoy books and movies and things like that. There's so much to be learned from the way someone lives and how they have lived, what their motivations are, and what their dreams for the future tell about them. I can already tell that I'll be different when I get home because I appreciate those sorts of things more. I'm determined to make my life a story worth telling, not because I will have been famous and important or influential, but because I lived my life the way I intended to live it: according to the simple values I have.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Nelson and I are doing well, getting along good and working hard. We've been focusing on finding new families to teach because we baptized most of the other people we were teaching. We only teach recent converts a couple times a week.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I can't wait to watch movies and stuff with all of you when I get back. Haha you'll have to start keeping a list of the things I miss.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's my advice for you this week. </span><i><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: x-large;">There's an African proverb that says, "If there's no demon within, the demons outside can do no harm." </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">When life gets hard, take a step back from everything and focus on what's inside of you. We're held accountable for how we act and how we represent ourselves and that's it. If you scrutinize yourself and believe there is nothing more you can do for any given situation, then let everything roll off your back. If there's something you can improve on (there normally is), focus on improving that.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love you all very much! Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IEnGtdFnxso/V18wIeIIX2I/AAAAAAAAASI/TOdWM-m-swYW9c26zNWop7dgBNB5lj2sgCLcB/s1600/DSCN0452-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IEnGtdFnxso/V18wIeIIX2I/AAAAAAAAASI/TOdWM-m-swYW9c26zNWop7dgBNB5lj2sgCLcB/s640/DSCN0452-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Randrianavalona made us snacks. <br />Yum... Thanks bud...</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Xd2B6LAdlE/V18yE7mBg-I/AAAAAAAAAT0/WeO-kA1XnDUe8g-LQowm0eDL5xdDYVQqACKgB/s1600/DSCN1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Xd2B6LAdlE/V18yE7mBg-I/AAAAAAAAAT0/WeO-kA1XnDUe8g-LQowm0eDL5xdDYVQqACKgB/s640/DSCN1851.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-WkoX80MH0/V18w2yUuOYI/AAAAAAAAASc/LLhLez0EiOgxq5E20_cc4w8LDo8B9anmgCLcB/s1600/DSCN1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-WkoX80MH0/V18w2yUuOYI/AAAAAAAAASc/LLhLez0EiOgxq5E20_cc4w8LDo8B9anmgCLcB/s640/DSCN1730.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lizard</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFuJiPoWzAo/V18xe8EbxhI/AAAAAAAAAS4/inTkCsrGasA546_WkL4dX7xW9AHzzLIiQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFuJiPoWzAo/V18xe8EbxhI/AAAAAAAAAS4/inTkCsrGasA546_WkL4dX7xW9AHzzLIiQCLcB/s640/DSCN1827.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beside Masina Maria</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_sTZe-x5MA0/V18yJNqGjVI/AAAAAAAAATM/YXnuxFeY1j469QIJyxfxbZ6DsB23VNuKQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_sTZe-x5MA0/V18yJNqGjVI/AAAAAAAAATM/YXnuxFeY1j469QIJyxfxbZ6DsB23VNuKQCLcB/s640/DSCN1865.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Massive species of duck called a dokotra</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CE_tMV3JHFY/V18yJ0bQbNI/AAAAAAAAATU/AvxsG_mF7F40hmwLGv3zhDwGYgimYPnoQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CE_tMV3JHFY/V18yJ0bQbNI/AAAAAAAAATU/AvxsG_mF7F40hmwLGv3zhDwGYgimYPnoQCLcB/s640/DSCN1867.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the ducks look like dinosaurs here</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKHumfikIs0/V18yWN8XL-I/AAAAAAAAATs/TtrSRRjtmIcHcKZhFmHf-U_hsVDeyzD4QCLcB/s1600/DSCN1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKHumfikIs0/V18yWN8XL-I/AAAAAAAAATs/TtrSRRjtmIcHcKZhFmHf-U_hsVDeyzD4QCLcB/s640/DSCN1869.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I miss Copper</span><br />
<div style="-webkit-user-select: none; display: inline; font-size: 12px;">
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="x-redundant-cluster-toggle://0" style="font-size: 10px; text-decoration: none;"><b>See More</b> from Tyler Todd Schnoor</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-23933036775379219482016-06-13T14:56:00.000-07:002016-06-13T15:04:09.656-07:00May 9, 2016 ~ New companion Elder Nelson<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guys!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved talking to three of you today. I loved to see that you are still happy and healthy. Makes me want to work hard and make you proud! Here are some pictures. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ygdYDAuAzYg/V18hlt2PHvI/AAAAAAAAAPk/hdlNt3VYDTo8BTqVVvu3IscvGuAC1tE5ACLcB/s1600/DSCN0415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ygdYDAuAzYg/V18hlt2PHvI/AAAAAAAAAPk/hdlNt3VYDTo8BTqVVvu3IscvGuAC1tE5ACLcB/s640/DSCN0415.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was such a treat to talk to Tyler on Mothers Day, even if it was about 2 in the morning for us. We love that his new companion Elder Nelson took a picture of us visiting on their end in Madagascar. <br />I also love that Alain hangs out with them all the time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-rwaSpk-CI/V18d6OoXyPI/AAAAAAAAAPM/gAW4ZoJ9EywhI7a8mTvC4cZTBP30ygiUwCKgB/s1600/DSCN1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-rwaSpk-CI/V18d6OoXyPI/AAAAAAAAAPM/gAW4ZoJ9EywhI7a8mTvC4cZTBP30ygiUwCKgB/s640/DSCN1637.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">In that baptism picture is me, Richard Gabriel, Elder Razafimandimby, Marchelline, Honorine, Eliane, Pierrot, Aina and Elder Obioma.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> (picture taken just before Elder Obioma left for home)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qi4G7uCunE/V18d5cTUc3I/AAAAAAAAAOs/6STBjnPt3x4McnODxdp1SiFeZLhIA6UTACLcB/s1600/DSCN1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qi4G7uCunE/V18d5cTUc3I/AAAAAAAAAOs/6STBjnPt3x4McnODxdp1SiFeZLhIA6UTACLcB/s640/DSCN1806.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Nelson and me. Hiking on p-day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-onlc25MjBTk/V18hmBsQozI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kw5L-nZw1S4OjjWr51uCvsIDlO9tXK7QQCKgB/s1600/DSCN0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-onlc25MjBTk/V18hmBsQozI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kw5L-nZw1S4OjjWr51uCvsIDlO9tXK7QQCKgB/s640/DSCN0427.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The hike with Angelo and Elder Nelson.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MnM2rbK5_Fk/V18hmL0iJ-I/AAAAAAAAARQ/rMOPhM2DqPsj2YPLvB_QW81dRsVuC9_NgCKgB/s1600/DSCN0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MnM2rbK5_Fk/V18hmL0iJ-I/AAAAAAAAARQ/rMOPhM2DqPsj2YPLvB_QW81dRsVuC9_NgCKgB/s640/DSCN0432.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The view.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1mWbXdYxvM/V18hmR0lB4I/AAAAAAAAARQ/LrBBPxTFr1IBcR0gQCcfGTK37YbXIdpEwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0447.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1mWbXdYxvM/V18hmR0lB4I/AAAAAAAAARQ/LrBBPxTFr1IBcR0gQCcfGTK37YbXIdpEwCKgB/s640/DSCN0447.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Smd_0qwA20E/V18hlwHinWI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oCUt7rtq_UEbN4dpdzBva0fLNDRpJUtHACKgB/s1600/DSCN0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Smd_0qwA20E/V18hlwHinWI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oCUt7rtq_UEbN4dpdzBva0fLNDRpJUtHACKgB/s640/DSCN0424.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sweet kids.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IVNyigfj7uA/V18hlmW_70I/AAAAAAAAARQ/ZCxwsIAE-yIlJGvQa2SZXbgGKakOF1NKQCKgB/s1600/DSCN0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IVNyigfj7uA/V18hlmW_70I/AAAAAAAAARQ/ZCxwsIAE-yIlJGvQa2SZXbgGKakOF1NKQCKgB/s640/DSCN0422.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The streets.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghzMN9cpoVM/V18eIMrQ2eI/AAAAAAAAAPE/4fL_RpPiS6cTE86dj_2TDdey3lxkYTrsACLcB/s1600/DSCN1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ghzMN9cpoVM/V18eIMrQ2eI/AAAAAAAAAPE/4fL_RpPiS6cTE86dj_2TDdey3lxkYTrsACLcB/s640/DSCN1812.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor really loves this backpack. Enough that it got a sunlight solo pic, haha.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
4<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUTBLHZRvmo/V18hm6vvVTI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oWa3TrHSxp0hUjCekn86hafBDwrUuHSIgCKgB/s1600/DSCN0464.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUTBLHZRvmo/V18hm6vvVTI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oWa3TrHSxp0hUjCekn86hafBDwrUuHSIgCKgB/s640/DSCN0464.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5R2SvY8OuAw/V18hnGNfDgI/AAAAAAAAARQ/fuBKJww32KIU_my2RDHCktbdGipn0eRNwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5R2SvY8OuAw/V18hnGNfDgI/AAAAAAAAARQ/fuBKJww32KIU_my2RDHCktbdGipn0eRNwCKgB/s640/DSCN0465.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Making bricks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N11-vo08Ryk/V18hnRmHxGI/AAAAAAAAARQ/zf0f-rk2fZcb5C090c9vWAsPUgQNMMShwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N11-vo08Ryk/V18hnRmHxGI/AAAAAAAAARQ/zf0f-rk2fZcb5C090c9vWAsPUgQNMMShwCKgB/s640/DSCN0467.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A little different version of Christianity.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZufpC7xn-bo/V18hm94sf5I/AAAAAAAAARQ/tdU6_1EYdccDMYajMrlfUkMH6Z26wp14gCKgB/s1600/DSCN0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZufpC7xn-bo/V18hm94sf5I/AAAAAAAAARQ/tdU6_1EYdccDMYajMrlfUkMH6Z26wp14gCKgB/s640/DSCN0462.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A little precarious.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQyi36MTyPI/V18hlPELf0I/AAAAAAAAARQ/2tsflD5EIXwNUX8L6piqFUmlhfzhun7HwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQyi36MTyPI/V18hlPELf0I/AAAAAAAAARQ/2tsflD5EIXwNUX8L6piqFUmlhfzhun7HwCKgB/s640/DSCN0410.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Nelson with a family.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcOiJJeyT-Q/V18hlBhqtHI/AAAAAAAAARQ/s32D84sGswEw12gQelwUBz80pjjWtG7xwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NcOiJJeyT-Q/V18hlBhqtHI/AAAAAAAAARQ/s32D84sGswEw12gQelwUBz80pjjWtG7xwCKgB/s640/DSCN0387.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pierrots bunnies.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOtGU2wPYRo/V18hlfGT69I/AAAAAAAAARY/CfSz5hSBxlEJBp_NVkFyFKyWTk561ZgZgCKgB/s1600/DSCN0413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOtGU2wPYRo/V18hlfGT69I/AAAAAAAAARY/CfSz5hSBxlEJBp_NVkFyFKyWTk561ZgZgCKgB/s640/DSCN0413.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXZk8jiIeAI/V18tiE-3A5I/AAAAAAAAARg/VQGZBaJ9Fpk2eVRJVqWa-SCapCtlHbuBACLcB/s1600/RSCN1623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VXZk8jiIeAI/V18tiE-3A5I/AAAAAAAAARg/VQGZBaJ9Fpk2eVRJVqWa-SCapCtlHbuBACLcB/s640/RSCN1623.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful people. Inside and out.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCqjMHR0pNc/V18hlEejq4I/AAAAAAAAARQ/QV0mieZHBXsIQ7RlhhG55GWy9bnDDFbcQCKgB/s1600/DSCN0383.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCqjMHR0pNc/V18hlEejq4I/AAAAAAAAARQ/QV0mieZHBXsIQ7RlhhG55GWy9bnDDFbcQCKgB/s640/DSCN0383.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOHZC2CbbGM/V18hmlaezXI/AAAAAAAAARQ/gby-g50P7oEA8NzbOpd3m8NtKIL3lOGSwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOHZC2CbbGM/V18hmlaezXI/AAAAAAAAARQ/gby-g50P7oEA8NzbOpd3m8NtKIL3lOGSwCKgB/s640/DSCN0459.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love that Elder Nelson gets all the day to day pictures.<br />So thankful for companions.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zY9hOQGBOB8/V18hnbh0c7I/AAAAAAAAARQ/_Hw_ToN5_hsG8JJYM3_8FdABBeSGynv0ACKgB/s1600/DSCN0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zY9hOQGBOB8/V18hnbh0c7I/AAAAAAAAARQ/_Hw_ToN5_hsG8JJYM3_8FdABBeSGynv0ACKgB/s640/DSCN0468.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AVsMb2Qa7RE/V18hnu7rlxI/AAAAAAAAARQ/gbhl5cN4Neot6iplibSOpo5JWnEymeciwCKgB/s1600/DSCN0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AVsMb2Qa7RE/V18hnu7rlxI/AAAAAAAAARQ/gbhl5cN4Neot6iplibSOpo5JWnEymeciwCKgB/s640/DSCN0469.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1kkkRo6vg0I/V18hnsC0N_I/AAAAAAAAARQ/svyqOgfWQsc6Rz98H2ckq_-V_qG-rcZUQCKgB/s1600/DSCN0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1kkkRo6vg0I/V18hnsC0N_I/AAAAAAAAARQ/svyqOgfWQsc6Rz98H2ckq_-V_qG-rcZUQCKgB/s640/DSCN0470.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor loves every living thing.<br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-81650807954933223402016-05-02T22:38:00.002-07:002016-05-02T22:39:48.621-07:00May 2, 2016 ~ On my own.<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Surprise!! I'm still in Fianarantsoa. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Plans changed and I'm staying here while he goes to Tana and then Antsirabe then Tana then home. It's just me and the Malagasy Elders in the apartment until my new companion gets here (don't know who it will be or when he'll get here).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm here with Rapa at the cyber who will be my temporary member help/companion untill the new guy gets here. I won't be speaking any English until he arrives. This is kind of Elder Schnoor's trial by fire week. No fall backs at all. I have to keep working and hold stuff together. Time to separate the men from the boys I suppose. Hopefully I don't need to go too many days without a companion. It's hilarious, Rapa is basically Danny's long lost twin.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">5 of our investigators were baptized this last Saturday! I got to baptize Eliane, one of Marcel's daughters who is about my age actually. It was an amazing experience. I'll let you know more and send pictures next Monday. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Love you all, get well soon Joey! They sell pinned butterflies and moths at one place here, I'm going to get a case at some point.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">PS. Rapa and I are going to a place called Tanana Ambony today. It's kind of like Old Fianarantsoa. Should have some great pictures for you next week!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-30909231152374575142016-05-02T22:35:00.002-07:002016-05-02T22:35:46.412-07:00April 28, 2016 ~ Last week in Fianarantsoa with Elder Obioma<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Hey! </span><a href="http://myldsmail.net/" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Myldsmail.net</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> has been acting really strange. Couldn't email yesterday so we decided to shoot off an email to our families to let you know that we're doing well. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Don't have much time to go into detail, but know that we're still working hard. We have 5 baptisms scheduled for this Saturday (none last Saturday). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">It's our last week serving in Fianarantsoa together. We're heading to Tana on Monday and we'll head to Antsirabe after and then back to Tana. It'll be crazy but lots of fun. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Elder Obioma and I are both pretty sad that it's the end. I could serve my entire mission with him here in Fianarantsoa and be perfectly content. I'm glad I at least get to stay here in Fian. Haha my poor next companion. I can't help but think that it can only get worse from here. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I'm sure my next companion will be great. I probably won't be able to email next week with all the travel, so don't worry about me. Love you all!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-39132177905300914382016-05-02T22:29:00.002-07:002016-05-02T22:41:20.612-07:00April 18, 2016 ~ General Conference<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guys!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another beautiful week in Madagascar (though it has actually been a little chilly). I'm going to talk about my week before addressing stuff from your email.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Poor Pierrot. 10 out of his 11 newest born bunnies died. He can't figure out why. It's kind of funny, I pray for his rabbits before I go to bed haha. He has another litter on the way and I'm hopeful. I want him to succeed because if he starts to make enough money he'll be able to provide a good enough life for his daughter to come live with him. Ugh, and we broke his bed. Again. We all sit on his bed during the lessons and it keeps collapsing. The struggles of being a giant in Madagascar. I wish I could tell you about all of the investigators we teach, but I just don't have enough time.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm trying to enjoy my last little bit of time with Elder Obioma. We just get along so well. We crack up everyday and just have a great time. We also work like the world is ending tomorrow and try to be exactly obedient. The combination makes for a very solid companionship. Time is flying.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday and the day before we got to watch conference! In poorly translated Malagasy! Haha sometimes the translators can't keep up with the talk and the people here get an awful translation. It was a little crazy actually. This is by far the most responsibility I've ever had. On top of trying to teach a branch presidency how to run a branch, we had to coordinate the delivery of the burned copies of general conference, bring all of the chairs and the box tv down from the top two floors of the church to the basement, bring the pews up to the middle floor, set up the amp, tell everyone what times the conference would be watched at, etc. Missionaries still pretty much run the church in some parts of Madagascar and we don't have any fallback. We're 10-12 hours from the church office by taxi-be so it's kind of up to us. Oh and here's the kicker. The APs who burned the disks accidentally cut off the last portions of the sessions, so we were scrambling around trying to get new copies burned at tiny computer shops. We couldn't do it so our branches had a fairly abrupt end to each session of conference and about one and a half less talks per session. Oh well. Good thing Malagasies are laid back. I'm not complaining about having responsibility either. It's an aspect of my mission that is very unique and obviously something God want's me to develop.<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love that you're building an ant farm Joey! Remember to find a queen!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love the talk that you attached. The purpose of this life is to become greater than the natural state of man. In essence, to progress to the point of Godship in order to prepare to live in that state. If we take that purpose and apply it to daily life, we realize that if we aren't moving forward, we are acting contrary to God's will. Progress is a divine process. We have to be pretty bold when we extend commitments. For example, we invited a family (a very poor family, with 3 children and another on the way) to look for new work (their boss won't let them have sundays off). At first I felt guilty about extending that commitment. I thought "what kind of church would ask a family to risk their welfare for a church meeting?". As I thought more I realized that those sorts of invitations are not an indication of a false church, but are an testament of true religion. Any progress toward God is righteous action and will be rewarded.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our church meetings are the typical 3 hour block. We teach one hour of it in gospel principles.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We drink mostly water but soda and juice are definitely available. Real juice is pretty expensive for missionary budget so we get powdered stuff that we add to water. It's actually pretty good! There's almost no canned pop here, everything is either in plastic or glass bottles (I love the glass bottles). They also use real cane sugar in the pop here so it's way better. Every once in a while we'll grab a coca cola or something on the way to a lesson. They also have this soda called bonbon anglais here which is great.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love all of you so much! You're in my prayers! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUuH50smR9E/Vyg2PUF4_eI/AAAAAAAAAOY/mQu_hLXYIlMPb4KFqOAA_E-zGei4Ea2LwCKgB/s1600/DSCN1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUuH50smR9E/Vyg2PUF4_eI/AAAAAAAAAOY/mQu_hLXYIlMPb4KFqOAA_E-zGei4Ea2LwCKgB/s640/DSCN1541.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the difference between an unused and a used filter. That's why you don't drink the tapwater kids.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bq36Gkt_Kcw/Vyg2OMkSueI/AAAAAAAAAOU/1vR_Or4-HXMajtmAXLC8Hi3gmnJyPCj9ACKgB/s1600/DSCN1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bq36Gkt_Kcw/Vyg2OMkSueI/AAAAAAAAAOU/1vR_Or4-HXMajtmAXLC8Hi3gmnJyPCj9ACKgB/s640/DSCN1537.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our little general conference.</span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-52263690155298650922016-05-02T22:15:00.002-07:002016-05-02T22:43:37.722-07:00April 11, 2016 ~ Malagasy Haircut<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guys!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Great to hear about life back home! I definitely miss all of you! Whenever I get here and sit down at the computer, I realize how much happens in a week! I can't write about all of it, but I'll try to get a few important things down. It's crazy how fast time seems to go on a mission when you forget yourself and go to work.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So a little background on the church in Fianarantsoa. Years ago, the missionaries had a pretty good program set up in this city. A branch or two were pretty steady. Then the branch presidency decided to steal money from the church. It led to a massive amount of people leaving the church, excommunications, etc. Bad stuff. Anyway, the church is now basically back to the point it was before and going strong although there are still a lot of really new members. Haha our entire branch presidency is made up of recent converts! Poor guys... Can you imagine that happening at home? On top of that, we were talking to the Branch President the other day (we go and teach him about the responsibilities of his calling, how to lead, etc.) and he told us that he hadn't been taught the lessons again after his family was baptized! Our branch president has received half the teaching of everyone else in the branch! So we started teaching the lessons to him and his family. It's kind of funny to see the branch president have moments where he's like "oooooooh that's what that means" during pretty basic gospel discussions. Him and his presidency are so diligent and faithful, I really look up to them.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have another recent convert that we teach who lives out in a little farming community named Jean de Dieu. If there is a person in this world who perfectly personifies the character of Winnie the Pooh, we found him. He is the most lovable, round Malagasy I know. One of my favourite things about him is that he has two jobs. The first is he delivers babies. He's also a masseuse. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that all of the kids know about me who live around his house, and whenever I start walking across the rice-paddies they start to gather on the other side screaming "ELDAH SHNOOAH!". I normally play around with them a little and take a couple pictures with them. Sometimes when we teach I can't fit inside Frere de Dieu's house, so I sit out in the doorway on a tiny stool and like 10 kids come and gather around me in the doorway and listen to the lesson.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I just want to take a little time and say I love Malagasies. Can you start scouting one out for me to marry when I get back? First of all, they are the most beautiful people on Earth. Perfect skin, perfect skin tone, no make-up (don't need/can't afford it), age with grace, and they live to about million years old. And they work until the day they die. They are a simple, wholesome and happy people. They don't sweat the small things. Money isn't the center of their universe. Their diet consists of basically the exact model that our best nutritionists in the west have come up with. A little meat, lots of vegetables, natural, fresh foods. I could go on for days. If you have any specific questions about local life here, ask away. I feel like I'm starting to grasp what life is for the natives.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are very busy right now, which is great. I wouldn't have it any other way. Brothers: If you are called on a mission to a place where you don't get cars, and if you are working like you should, it is going to be a workout everyday. Haha especially if you have a 25 almost 26 year old basketball superstar as your companion. We have a lot of people with baptismal dates, it's going to be very cool if they all pull through. We have baptisms scheduled for the 23 (Pierrot is one of those, ugh I love that man) and 30 of April and the 14 and 28 of May. And multiple people for each of those days. That's a lot of lessons to teach and a fair amount of pressure on our schedule, especially because we walk everywhere and we are in charge of half of the second largest city in Madagascar. Oh, and we're also trying to teach our branch presidency and every other recent convert a couple times a week.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, this is the end of Elder Obioma's mission. It's so sad. He gets sad every time he is reminded that it's coming to an end. We're in the last 4 weeks now of our companionship and his mission. Time flies. The last week is going to be really crazy because we're going to be travelling to Tana for his farewell dinner with President Foote and then going to Antsirabe because he want's to visit the family we visited before (remember the girl that started weeping because she loves him so much, he promised her that he'd return one last time before he left) and then we'll return to Tana for his flight out. Then I'll return here with my new companion!! Yikes. I'm just hoping for a nice, obedient, clean one. Hopefully one that's good at Malagasy.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I got my first Malagasy haircut. Sigh... The poor barber looked at me, kind of shrugged in a confused way and then gave me a buzz and a line up. YES I SAID LINE UP. HEAR THAT DANNY!? Yeah they don't cut many white people's hair here. Elder Obioma said I look really scary and compared me to Eminem. He calls me b rabbit now. Sigh...</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I was thinking that maybe because dad's the YM president now I could send a little snippet of advice for the YM that he could read every Sunday? I don't know, tell me what you think. Missions are such amazing things, I want all of them to serve. My advice for this week would be to start reading Preach My Gospel!! Seriously dad, whenever you can, teach out of it during Youth lessons.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for sending me a quote in your email! I love that sort of thing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't gotten your package yet, maybe it'll be at the office when we head to Tana in a few weeks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love you all so much. Can't wait to watch that documentary with you when I get back and tell you all about this beautiful place.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>"In the tribulations and sufferings of mortality there is a divine ministry which only the godless soul can wholly fail to discern."</i></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i> -James E. Talmage</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MMQa8aMvEPg/VygvFgGKoJI/AAAAAAAAANA/dJ7K55eT8vYRJwEje08RHGrhu5UXO32YwCLcB/s1600/DSCN1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MMQa8aMvEPg/VygvFgGKoJI/AAAAAAAAANA/dJ7K55eT8vYRJwEje08RHGrhu5UXO32YwCLcB/s640/DSCN1140.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bull Wrestling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3oTzmjdNbE/VygvBTlYWsI/AAAAAAAAAM8/7pEjtPeNqFIzLFq30XZzWmzeX7x0Sug1QCLcB/s1600/DSCN1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3oTzmjdNbE/VygvBTlYWsI/AAAAAAAAAM8/7pEjtPeNqFIzLFq30XZzWmzeX7x0Sug1QCLcB/s640/DSCN1322.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Fans</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-leKbp713fJQ/VygvF_-V8wI/AAAAAAAAANE/yjLJx-0wt3k-dpItjb82uwZtn_EtJAYigCLcB/s1600/DSCN1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-leKbp713fJQ/VygvF_-V8wI/AAAAAAAAANE/yjLJx-0wt3k-dpItjb82uwZtn_EtJAYigCLcB/s640/DSCN1334.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">We woke up early and went hiking as our workout one day when it was really foggy.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3W8Wb30PUU/VygvsjAzXWI/AAAAAAAAANI/YxZTTgH-hkQn-5klzsqyr-Bc0779B4uagCLcB/s1600/DSCN1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B3W8Wb30PUU/VygvsjAzXWI/AAAAAAAAANI/YxZTTgH-hkQn-5klzsqyr-Bc0779B4uagCLcB/s640/DSCN1341.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Beautiful.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxuVGWIYvFI/Vygvv6tM9rI/AAAAAAAAANM/iSGuPWW0fsM5uNGTYKM471gUxipIJgwPgCLcB/s1600/DSCN1356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxuVGWIYvFI/Vygvv6tM9rI/AAAAAAAAANM/iSGuPWW0fsM5uNGTYKM471gUxipIJgwPgCLcB/s640/DSCN1356.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">We found this massive spider. It was so sick. <br />You guys would have loved it.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VaQUw2mZpvM/VygvxbsJduI/AAAAAAAAANU/Dh7UUfLT3EovYTFu9puIU7-UwI9Tmq7vACLcB/s1600/DSCN1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VaQUw2mZpvM/VygvxbsJduI/AAAAAAAAANU/Dh7UUfLT3EovYTFu9puIU7-UwI9Tmq7vACLcB/s640/DSCN1357.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just awesome.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd4-bb4VplU/VygwXaiGC8I/AAAAAAAAANc/yMgtTlsHt6wYh9uG7KTc5OxUmz3KQz2dQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd4-bb4VplU/VygwXaiGC8I/AAAAAAAAANc/yMgtTlsHt6wYh9uG7KTc5OxUmz3KQz2dQCLcB/s640/DSCN1386.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Possibly my favourite picture in existence of me.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PyFJpStkIg/VygwcwPI1NI/AAAAAAAAANk/wxDboYypwJQOX3-BUQXXOBjc4oz5RS8KQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PyFJpStkIg/VygwcwPI1NI/AAAAAAAAANk/wxDboYypwJQOX3-BUQXXOBjc4oz5RS8KQCLcB/s640/DSCN1387.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;">The real spiderman.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HvPlPk3cIgw/VygwdZh3llI/AAAAAAAAANo/YJhHmAvaaSQwEUFSv7-z64BhyDD9tPn1wCLcB/s1600/DSCN1424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HvPlPk3cIgw/VygwdZh3llI/AAAAAAAAANo/YJhHmAvaaSQwEUFSv7-z64BhyDD9tPn1wCLcB/s640/DSCN1424.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rano Mafana</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQr2XPaiZgA/VygxCj1ufRI/AAAAAAAAANw/PNfX7g3rqnQETIzjLxLj6P3DmXwFtQPjgCLcB/s1600/DSCN1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQr2XPaiZgA/VygxCj1ufRI/AAAAAAAAANw/PNfX7g3rqnQETIzjLxLj6P3DmXwFtQPjgCLcB/s640/DSCN1447.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rano Mafana</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sO1yT-JVteU/VygxL4tpJ1I/AAAAAAAAAN4/L8rJKGOBiasNubu_5TF7pZWWKk6-Sy-DQCLcB/s1600/DSCN1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sO1yT-JVteU/VygxL4tpJ1I/AAAAAAAAAN4/L8rJKGOBiasNubu_5TF7pZWWKk6-Sy-DQCLcB/s640/DSCN1500.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWDUYJim7Y8/VygxLE29juI/AAAAAAAAAN0/gi9rE4CleD4lRwvbwdJOhKLnMJR1mOBBACLcB/s1600/DSCN1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lWDUYJim7Y8/VygxLE29juI/AAAAAAAAAN0/gi9rE4CleD4lRwvbwdJOhKLnMJR1mOBBACLcB/s640/DSCN1502.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lemurs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gvkBlHlE9F0/VygxYWQqA-I/AAAAAAAAAOA/_sGZ7b45H78ilG7Si1fh3cFChZFSb08HgCLcB/s1600/DSCN1506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gvkBlHlE9F0/VygxYWQqA-I/AAAAAAAAAOA/_sGZ7b45H78ilG7Si1fh3cFChZFSb08HgCLcB/s640/DSCN1506.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-9131218963730727412016-05-02T21:40:00.000-07:002016-05-02T21:42:07.475-07:00April 4, 2016 ~ Rainforest Adventure<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We just got back from Rano Mafana and we figured we could slip into the Cyber to shoot our families an update.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Everything is going well! We've found some really amazing families in the main area we're trying to build up. It's amazing how much I've grown to love these people. It kind of makes it harder being a vazaha. I don't feel like an American in Madagascar anymore, I feel like a Malagasy who's really awful at the language. That probably sounds dumb. Like it's weird for me to see white people now. It's a weird thing to say, but I wish I was Malagasy, or at least black. Every other person on the street stares at me and half of them crack a joke for their friends. I don't know, it'll help when I'm good at Malagasy too. What I'm trying to say is that I don't want there to be any barriers between these people and me. I want to be their friend because I look up to them so much.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had a dream where my mission was over haha. I was all depressed in the dream and then I woke up and said "whew, I'm still in Mad". My mission is the hardest thing I've ever done. Physically, mentally, emotionally. In every way. But that's also what makes it so great. That's what is making me a better person.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today was kind of crazy, but I'm definitely glad I got to experience it. We woke up at about 5:00am and got on a taxi be. They crammed it full. There are about 15 seats in the average taxi be, and it doesn't seat those 15 comfortably. We had about 20 people in there. But the ride to Rano Mafana is only about an hour and a half so it wasn't too bad. So we get there and step out of the bus and we're in a rainforest. Like straight out of a nature documentary! It was kind of surreal. We already knew that we couldn't use the trails in the park without a guide so we brought some personal funds and started talking to the people. They told us it was going to cost 55 000 Ar per person plus a guide fee! We had been told by someone in Fianarantsoa that it would cost maybe 15 000 at the most. Haha we came to realize that they have an offical price for Malagasies and an official price for everyone else. Pretty sure that's racism? Haha jk. It cost's 2 000 Ar if you're Malagasy. So basically we didn't have enough money. So my companion and I were like "HAH, FINE!" and we started walking back to Fianarantsoa. Then when we were far enough away we ducked into the rainforest and started bushwacking. We got the real experience of the rainforest. It was cool but I'm sure you can see a lot more of the forest using the trails with a guide. So once we had had our fun we started trying to hitch hike back to Fianarantsoa (this was our plan all along). There were a lot of full vehicles. We walked for about 2 hours haha. I would have thought that was ridiculous before my mission. We actually saw some lemurs while we were walking!!! It was amazing. The way they jump from tree to tree is incredible. After we walked for a long time we realized we needed a little help so we said a prayer. A few cars later God sent a big ol pick up truck with some nice seats in the back that was willing to bring us back to Fianarantsoa for 20 000Ar. We got out of the truck and walked right to the cyber and here I am, safe and sound.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One more thing that I love about Madagascar is how modest people are. When girls want to impress guys here, they put their nicest clothes on, they don't start taking off clothes. It's an old fashioned way of doing things, and in my opinion far more attractive.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I miss my brothers big time. I didn't realize how much time I spent with them until I left. I love you all and can't wait to take all of my brothers out to do some fun stuff when I get back. I'm learning a lot about what really matters in life.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, just a thought I had. Remember to let your mistakes build you up. If you are walking toward a light, a shadow is cast behind you. The shadow you cast reminds you where you stand. You can look back at that shadow and see where you've been, and therefore where you're going. The most important part is to make sure that you don't lose track of where that light is in your life. Your mistakes can only improve you when you leave them behind you and move toward light.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love you all like crazy.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;">PS Sorry, no pictures today, I'll send a bunch of good ones next week. And apologize to everyone on the blog AGAIN. I only sent one email to my family again this week.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-73356683502178868242016-04-03T18:39:00.001-07:002016-04-03T18:40:15.618-07:00March 28th, 2016 ~ Easter Week<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sorry guys it's another group email cause I'm short on time. Love you all! I'll try to hit you up personally next time!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, this week has been great, just like every other week. Life is always great if you look at it from the right angle. It was kind of cool, President and Sister Foote visited us a couple times at the apartment this week! They took the senior missionaries serving in Fianarantsoa to Tuliar (right on the ocean) before they leave to go home. They're actually from Madagascar so home is just in Tana. The second time they came we fed everyone at our apartment. A total of 8 people! Hah! In our tiny little kitchen! But we rose to the task and my companion graced me with his superb cooking knowledge and skill. We made frybread (a lot of it, we had leftovers), chili, and homemade guacamole. All with fresh ingredients that we buy from farmers every week. That's one thing that is so amazing about this place. Everything we buy (other than a few packaged things) are grown in country (most of the time just outside the city). I love going to the market and buying groceries. That's something you miss out on big time when you just go on vacation to a place. These people are amazing, and you don't get to know them unless you live among them. More on that later. Anyways, we fed President Foote and his wife and the APs and a couple other Elders being transferred and ourselves. My cooking skills have improved considerably. I can't wait to cook for you and my friends when I return.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay I want to write a little bit about a kid (he's my age, I don't know why I feel like I have the authority to call him kid) who's about to leave on his mission from our branch. He's going to Ivory Coast speaking French. His name is Nanova and he's the one who bound my books for me. I was happy to pay him because all of the money is going to his mission. The really amazing things about him are the things I found out a little bit ago though. He's the only member in his family, and his family is very anti-Mormon. He's been beaten pretty bad when he goes to church or they see him with the missionaries. His family sends people to spy on him so he can't help us teach much. His family doesn't even know that he's leaving on a mission. He's just going to leave for the Africa MTC tomorrow and not come back. He has some of the most amazing faith I've ever seen. Someday I want to be that type of person. We planned a little farewell for him that a bunch of the youth went to. It helps me a lot to know what we are capable of. When my life seems hard, it just isn't in comparison. Nanova will have to do the same work I'm doing, but with no support from home and no surety that there's even a place for him when he returns. Even still, a mission is the best thing for him. For him to come back and be fluent in French will be much more beneficial to him than working for a little money for two years. It's also going to be the best two years of his life so far.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Pierrot has been coming to church every week. I love that man. He told us that he's a little embarrassed when he doesn't have dress clothes to wear so I gave him one of my shirts and Elder Obioma gave him a tie. He looked so ballin' (as Elder Obioma would say) on Sunday haha.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We went and watched bull wrestling today right before coming here. Insane. Those people are just insane. Buuut it is pretty entertaining to watch. Didn't see anyone die, but it pretty much goes on for the whole day so there's still a good chance. Did see one of the guy's arms get gored a little. He was okay though. It's crazy, like the entire city shows up. Nothing to celebrate the resurrection of Christ like getting drunk and watching men try to wrestle bulls. Haha glad we have the real meaning.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember during the Easter season to take advantage of the gifts we've been given. This world was designed with the purpose of helping us to progress. Don't forget that. Don't make choices that would restrict the type of person you could become, and don't neglect making decisions that lead to growth because of fear or laziness. Christ has enabled an eternal potential for all of us.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>I would rather be ashes than dust!</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>The function of man is to live, not to exist.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>I shall use my time.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i> - Jack London</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEmHJG-Fy4A/VwHEhROStbI/AAAAAAAAAMo/fL8lHVqj-HMIkYIy7TAxcTXPvY8lgPGOA/s1600/DSCN1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEmHJG-Fy4A/VwHEhROStbI/AAAAAAAAAMo/fL8lHVqj-HMIkYIy7TAxcTXPvY8lgPGOA/s640/DSCN1023.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My friends. <br />(girl in back had her face traditionally painted, so beautiful)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2aPs7APae8/VwHEeV8YOII/AAAAAAAAAMk/ZK8Ie2PCzsEkRvk-SxdswNclG05jLe4Zg/s1600/DSCN1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z2aPs7APae8/VwHEeV8YOII/AAAAAAAAAMk/ZK8Ie2PCzsEkRvk-SxdswNclG05jLe4Zg/s640/DSCN1049.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor is in heaven with the bugs and wildlife.<br /> My original nature boy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo2_yESuhEc/VwHEiERd0_I/AAAAAAAAAMs/MV8dr6nxbosvjr8VqQC3X9EQiZdUEaaOw/s1600/DSCN1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo2_yESuhEc/VwHEiERd0_I/AAAAAAAAAMs/MV8dr6nxbosvjr8VqQC3X9EQiZdUEaaOw/s640/DSCN1166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bull Wrestling.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-77694640422393252962016-03-24T09:15:00.000-07:002016-03-24T09:18:48.484-07:00March 22, 2016 ~ Marcel and Rapa Baptized<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guys!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">What a crazy week! Sorry about not sending an email yesterday, I didn't have time. It's going to be a short one today. But here's the scoop.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We got a call on Friday that we needed to be in Tana on Monday again for me to renew my visa (sign some papers, get my fingerprints and a picture taken). That meant another 12 hours on a taxi be both ways. Ugh. We left on Sunday early in the morning, got to Tana in the evening (we got a sprinter!! Woohoo!) and ate dinner with the senior missionaries serving here. Hah! We thought that us Elders live like kings here! The senior missionaries' apartments are beautiful! I got to meet the Tanners (the ones from Alberta). Really cool people. This is their second mission, they've already served one in Ethiopia. There are few places poorer than Madagascar, but that's one of them. We slept at the AP's apartment and then left early in the morning for the government building. The stuff I had to do took about 10 minutes, but an Elder from Tahiti and an Elder from Rwanda had problems with their visas that took about 2 hours. So we waited. Then we headed to a shoprite, got some food and went to the bus station, where they bought us a taxi be back to Fianarantsoa (another sprinter!!!). The problem was that the taxi bes don't leave until they're pretty much packed with people, otherwise it isn't worth the gas money. We got to the station at 1 and left at about 7ish at night. A lot of waiting. Then we rode on the scariest pitch black taxi ride of my life. You thought the ride to the long-ji (China) rice terraces was bad? Hah! Anyways, we got home about an hour ago, dropped our stuff off, we're at the cyber now, then we're going to grab groceries, work out, plan and head out for another day of work. THIS COMPANIONSHIP DOES NOT REST. #HASTENINGTHEWORK #EMBARK #AINTNORESTFORTHERIGHTEOUS. Sorry I'm running on about two hours of sleep. Not easy to sleep on a taxi be. Sorry I don't want to be negative or complain. We're really doing pretty well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now for the important stuff. Marcel and Rapa were baptized on Saturday! They're some of the coolest people I know. I love them so much and am so glad for what they've overcome. It's so cool to watch people as they realize the blessings of living a life that's full of purpose. They realize now that there's a way to live their lives that makes them and their families happier, and I love that I got to play a part in that. It's interesting to think about the symbolism of baptism. Being reborn, being cleansed, beginning anew. What a </span><span style="font-size: large;">hopeful and inspiring thing. How could one look at a family and say "they'd be better off if they were addicted to cigarettes" or "they'd be better off if they didn't believe they could see dead family members again" or "they'd be better off if they didn't believe that there exists a God who loves and cares about them"?</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Easter is just around the corner here! It's a week long celebration in Madagascar. I'm so grateful for the atonement. </span><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">"True love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves." (Jeffrey R. Holland).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our plan is to go to Rano Mafana not this upcoming Monday but the Monday after. This Monday we're going to see this event that they put on in the valley beside our house. Basically they put a man in a pen with a bull and the man wrestles the bull. Whaaaaa? It's pretty humane for the bull, but supposedly people die all the time doing it! Then they just drag them off and bring in the next contender. Welcome to Madagascar Elder.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved hearing about your week! I miss road trips in the RV haha. I'm sorry to everyone who I didn't write this week, I think I'm only going to get to my family. I love you!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N9--gNsxRr4/VvQRXQQU6FI/AAAAAAAAAMA/a-QURzDJKvkVHtaYnsHgfgO0QAuhL7S6g/s1600/DSCN0788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N9--gNsxRr4/VvQRXQQU6FI/AAAAAAAAAMA/a-QURzDJKvkVHtaYnsHgfgO0QAuhL7S6g/s640/DSCN0788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Big ol lulu</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8i6-Nk3aQU/VvQRXQvevUI/AAAAAAAAAME/ZZbacUPGlU8dOj94l74fQ0dMRMh5CPO9g/s1600/DSCN0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8i6-Nk3aQU/VvQRXQvevUI/AAAAAAAAAME/ZZbacUPGlU8dOj94l74fQ0dMRMh5CPO9g/s640/DSCN0790.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luciana is possibly the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGM1atNLQlA/VvQRVwR8zAI/AAAAAAAAAL8/xV9LwW2dJpk-p17ZPeZdoXnnvq8PnEu9w/s1600/DSCN0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGM1atNLQlA/VvQRVwR8zAI/AAAAAAAAAL8/xV9LwW2dJpk-p17ZPeZdoXnnvq8PnEu9w/s640/DSCN0847.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Big Beetle<br /></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-18682471708960753552016-03-24T08:59:00.000-07:002016-03-24T09:01:58.712-07:00March 14, 2016 ~ Loving the Work<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fianakaviana,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is Monday once again! I've been here for FOUR WEEKS! ONE MONTH! That's 1/24th of my mission gone! NO WAIT... THE MTC!!? THAT'S ABOUT 1/12 OF MY MISSION GONE! I can't believe how time flies here... I need to get effective in my mission language ASAP.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ugh, aside from mourning how fast this is already flying by, here are my thoughts.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">First off, we went on a hike last PDay which I really enjoyed. We got 3 locals (Alain, Angelo and Rapa) to guide us to a great path too. I believe that's where a lot of my pictures will be from this week. I'm going to let the pictures do the talking. I love those three. So diligent, even though a couple of them have next to nothing. Angelo is a natural teacher especially for being a convert of less than a year and I've considered giving him my plaque and making him Elder Obioma's companion haha. Alain is a total crack-up. He has a girlfriend in Tana and on the day of the hike he told us he needed 200Ar to call her (remember that 3000Ar is about 1.00USD). We aren't allowed to give money to anyone so we looked around on the ground for a while. Never found any. It was so tempting to just give him the money. She's a member and a good influence so we try to encourage them haha.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We started teaching Rapa's mom (Doloris) as well. She's great and Rapa gets so excited when she accepts things. Really cool to watch. We brought over a member named Jaquelline to her lesson who is a total crack-up. She also went to school with Doloris and used to beat her up funnily enough.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We taught a Malagasy family who has a car and who aren't taxi drivers!! They have a house with 2 floors!!! The father is a banker and it was reeeaaaally weird to sit in their house. Almost felt like I was home again.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay I have to tell you something funny about our zone conference with Elder Hamilton. After the actual teaching and learning we were all mingling after lunch. Elder Obioma (who is black remember) was called over to Elder Hamilton and his wife. They started talking and then Sister Hamilton looked at him and said, "I am so amazed at how American you sound!". BAHAHA! What was she thinking!? I guess she just assumed he was Malagasy. He looked at her awkwardly and said, "Well... I am, so..." When he told me about it I think I laughed for an hour.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember how I mentioned Pierot last week? He came to church this week! Ugh I love that man. It's amazing how much you can come to care about someone in a month. It's beautiful to see his eyes light up when we talk about him being able to see his wife again someday. He has a baptismal date set for the 16th of April.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Rapa and Marcel are being baptized this Saturday! I'm so psyched for them.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We found some people while we were contacting who had been taught while they lived in Antsirabe but stopped when they moved here. They have a marked up BOM and everything haha. We were really focusing on being where God needed us that day too. Funny how that works.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We went to a wedding ceremony for Marcel (people need to be civilly married before baptism). The guy is amazing. He needed his birth certificate to be married so he hopped on his bike and rode to his town of birth. It was hours and hours of biking on awful roads, but he was perfectly happy to do it. Weddings are definitely different here. Four couples were being married at once and it's basically just signing a paper in front of a judge. Man I love it when Malagasies get dressed up though. The women typically look pretty put together, but the men seem to just go for whatever strikes them as "dressed up" that day. For example, Marcel wore a tie with pictures of mice and cheese on it to his wedding. HE HAS OTHER TIES TOO! He just felt like it I guess. I know poverty plays a part, but I still find it hilarious. I'll attach pictures.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Obioma and I planned an activity where we got a whole bunch of members to line the street and talk to people and give them tours of the church. We also got President Foote to bring a whole bunch of BOM to the zone conference for us to give out. It's so cool to see members so enthusiastic. They are honestly so much more diligent here than we are at home. I'm determined to live like them my entire life.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a message to my brothers and anyone soon to be a missionary. The happiest missionaries are the obedient ones. Don't let yourself be tricked into thinking that missionaries who go home earlier than you or wake up later or mess around all day have any more fun than you. The greatest feeling in the world is seeing one of the people you teach change their life for the better, or seeing their eyes light up when they realize that they can see their loved ones again. If anyone says anything otherwise then they shouldn't be on a mission. During our activity there were 2 men and a boy pushing a wooden cart loaded with stuff up the hill in front of the church. I jumped in and pushed the cart to the top and just doing that gave me a high. </span><span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">"The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired." (Hinckley)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay one last funny story. We were trying to get into this little community with a gate around it. There was a little Chinese woman guarding it. I don't know the family that we were trying to get in to teach, but Elder Obioma couldn't remember their name. So we knock on the gate and ask the lady to let us in. She asks what their name is (trying to make sure we actually know them I guess). So Elder Obioma tells them that he can't remember, but that they're Sinoa (Chinese). So then the lady says (and she's getting worked up and aggressive at this point) "Avy aiza ny Sinoa!?". This translates exactly to "Where is the Chinese family from!?" (she's quizzing us!) Elder Obioma's like "Where do you think the Sinoa is from!! If you're Malagasy you're from Madagascar, so if you're Chinese you're from...". There was a pause and then the lady refused to let us in. Oh man I laughed so hard after.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so happy to hear about life at home. Keep plugging along. Make sure you're doing the little things. Have personal and family scripture study, family home evening, pray together often. You can't go wrong if you do those things, I promise. Lives improve in all ways when people know what they're purpose is.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so psyched for Taylor. If you can, track down his email for me.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let him (Danny) know that I love him. I'm so ready to be a better brother to him when I get home. I think I'm learning how to do that more and more everyday now. Encourage him to live the gospel. Everything else should be secondary to that.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Tell the boys (especially Ryan) that I love them and miss them. I didn't think I'd miss my brothers this much.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's so cool that Dad is going to be YM president! He'll be great. Just put your heart into it and it'll go well.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, in two weeks Elder Obioma and I are going to spend some personal money and go to a place called Rano Mafana (look it up, I'm sure there are some cool pictures). It's basically a rainforest with a hot springs (which we will not be using) and a whole bunch of wildlife (including lemurs!!!). The problem is that we won't be able to email that day. In order to catch a taxi be there and be back at 6pm in time to do some work, we won't have time to email. Figured I'd give you a heads up. Next Monday I'm going to send a postcard though!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Well I love and miss you all. Enjoy the pictures and stay awesome 'til I get back. (Remember that you can always send me pictures as well!)</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqfa572wAj8/VvQKhLqHh-I/AAAAAAAAALo/WxivhWfrWfQ91VOsyFuS1eKHzX55z2ryQ/s1600/DSCN0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqfa572wAj8/VvQKhLqHh-I/AAAAAAAAALo/WxivhWfrWfQ91VOsyFuS1eKHzX55z2ryQ/s640/DSCN0643.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Old Fianarantsoa</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nN_WU-7WnCE/VvNUAl0f9cI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/GqzwrdvE2Zk9W0sYQQkZrYuBMF0a9iLBA/s1600/DSCN0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nN_WU-7WnCE/VvNUAl0f9cI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/GqzwrdvE2Zk9W0sYQQkZrYuBMF0a9iLBA/s640/DSCN0659.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My City</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12px; text-align: start;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReAKTjNmCoI/VvNUCM9hpsI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/AiV9SKMl5sw_suD6VZFUpSiD88A5Y_hmQ/s1600/DSCN0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReAKTjNmCoI/VvNUCM9hpsI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/AiV9SKMl5sw_suD6VZFUpSiD88A5Y_hmQ/s640/DSCN0662.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alain, Angelo, Rapa</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2Rheui_cC8/VvNVlZ2bEfI/AAAAAAAAAKg/S7Fs5I4N7yM6jy7a5N9h4MrNljObyhVxw/s1600/DSCN0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m2Rheui_cC8/VvNVlZ2bEfI/AAAAAAAAAKg/S7Fs5I4N7yM6jy7a5N9h4MrNljObyhVxw/s640/DSCN0707.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alain, Angelo, Rapa</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_P1NW3baEV0/VvNUrPGr9tI/AAAAAAAAAKA/xmxKFrrNs2ouRj-hXCayuJedpX3_26Xwg/s1600/DSCN0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_P1NW3baEV0/VvNUrPGr9tI/AAAAAAAAAKA/xmxKFrrNs2ouRj-hXCayuJedpX3_26Xwg/s640/DSCN0665.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some cool bugs</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lI5sNjQuBis/VvNVb58LtoI/AAAAAAAAAKc/QC58qtoFJIAnZ4L01lo_px-K2l6opzbjw/s1600/DSCN0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lI5sNjQuBis/VvNVb58LtoI/AAAAAAAAAKc/QC58qtoFJIAnZ4L01lo_px-K2l6opzbjw/s640/DSCN0688.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Some cool bugs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1f_OwypBsk/VvNUsdfKkjI/AAAAAAAAAKE/n4IcmILirbcalS-fNwYiz2SRBPn0ZA1JA/s1600/DSCN0667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1f_OwypBsk/VvNUsdfKkjI/AAAAAAAAAKE/n4IcmILirbcalS-fNwYiz2SRBPn0ZA1JA/s640/DSCN0667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some cool bugs</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wP4IEb3MuD4/VvNUvwlBNSI/AAAAAAAAAKI/akdr0zahldsXcxGmmmDehc7ig75lszKeA/s1600/DSCN0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wP4IEb3MuD4/VvNUvwlBNSI/AAAAAAAAAKI/akdr0zahldsXcxGmmmDehc7ig75lszKeA/s640/DSCN0670.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Found a snake!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkN33Eic1JU/VvNVZ5sNVBI/AAAAAAAAAKU/nC3M41QpA1EccmGyxoHJVudLoCFv6hh3g/s1600/DSCN0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkN33Eic1JU/VvNVZ5sNVBI/AAAAAAAAAKU/nC3M41QpA1EccmGyxoHJVudLoCFv6hh3g/s640/DSCN0675.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Malagasies hate snakes, and they took of running as soon as I picked it up haha. Then I chased them.</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8nnaJrAq9-Y/VvNVbCx-pyI/AAAAAAAAAKY/ngXo2xmlA_sjX6S8FB09OBIS1I15S-rDw/s1600/DSCN0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8nnaJrAq9-Y/VvNVbCx-pyI/AAAAAAAAAKY/ngXo2xmlA_sjX6S8FB09OBIS1I15S-rDw/s640/DSCN0694.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">BEAUTIFUL. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTvYjJJTedk/VvNWCM3odsI/AAAAAAAAAKk/R7zdWvQgUBkLNKwGR76EQaPHDvBAm7TXQ/s1600/DSCN0709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTvYjJJTedk/VvNWCM3odsI/AAAAAAAAAKk/R7zdWvQgUBkLNKwGR76EQaPHDvBAm7TXQ/s640/DSCN0709.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Masina Maria</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WxAWMBh67OI/VvNWIu30ikI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Yl4Wmfx2pfU75_t_6dQ6TCTsna8eP9wyg/s1600/DSCN0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WxAWMBh67OI/VvNWIu30ikI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Yl4Wmfx2pfU75_t_6dQ6TCTsna8eP9wyg/s640/DSCN0717.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">CHAMELEON</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-om9CQnqFlFA/VvNXD5SBaQI/AAAAAAAAALI/M2Zfwr8DSUUKLCPTsaj_iuJoHZPRoHXzA/s1600/RSCN0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-om9CQnqFlFA/VvNXD5SBaQI/AAAAAAAAALI/M2Zfwr8DSUUKLCPTsaj_iuJoHZPRoHXzA/s640/RSCN0749.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">CHAMELEON</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JhU2Ad3UEOE/VvNWXQe8twI/AAAAAAAAAKw/eHPCFiU0x4EPS7HOQsImYT0XTCs4ZIfAg/s1600/DSCN0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JhU2Ad3UEOE/VvNWXQe8twI/AAAAAAAAAKw/eHPCFiU0x4EPS7HOQsImYT0XTCs4ZIfAg/s640/DSCN0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">CHAMELEON</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cTvkVoksfa0/VvNWzuOjtkI/AAAAAAAAAK4/5LCqGnptfIkvh3BimaCz1ZOOn5ust6nuQ/s1600/DSCN0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cTvkVoksfa0/VvNWzuOjtkI/AAAAAAAAAK4/5LCqGnptfIkvh3BimaCz1ZOOn5ust6nuQ/s640/DSCN0735.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Found a friend! (love the Canada jacket)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUkh3wzBea4/VvNW3SqRC7I/AAAAAAAAAK8/fgRnZucjrfUU7CSuPj6-EyIq2sg72iCdA/s1600/DSCN0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUkh3wzBea4/VvNW3SqRC7I/AAAAAAAAAK8/fgRnZucjrfUU7CSuPj6-EyIq2sg72iCdA/s640/DSCN0745.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Made a box of KD!!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTxUNTD_Z7U/VvNW_mn4opI/AAAAAAAAALE/oXfdeVxL-IsU5C5gQ7BzSHgJSSu9tqaCg/s1600/DSCN0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTxUNTD_Z7U/VvNW_mn4opI/AAAAAAAAALE/oXfdeVxL-IsU5C5gQ7BzSHgJSSu9tqaCg/s640/DSCN0755.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marcel</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oSsHFjTyO2I/VvQJ89MbA8I/AAAAAAAAALg/jd9_syAFq4sfROi-2dJ6-jix6NoqhGNcw/s1600/DSCN0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oSsHFjTyO2I/VvQJ89MbA8I/AAAAAAAAALg/jd9_syAFq4sfROi-2dJ6-jix6NoqhGNcw/s640/DSCN0759.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wedding crew</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aywPWcZhtI/VvNW4OUFBJI/AAAAAAAAALA/Y1tZV_qKVDEEcYnlMRLgddzdRynQEUN-g/s1600/RSCN0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aywPWcZhtI/VvNW4OUFBJI/AAAAAAAAALA/Y1tZV_qKVDEEcYnlMRLgddzdRynQEUN-g/s640/RSCN0711.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Frog</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3fJyRt9aFw/VvQJw8f4pGI/AAAAAAAAALc/6rEEqgfrr3g3-1KYMbS0R1LAW5ozbvIJg/s1600/RSCN0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3fJyRt9aFw/VvQJw8f4pGI/AAAAAAAAALc/6rEEqgfrr3g3-1KYMbS0R1LAW5ozbvIJg/s640/RSCN0766.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">These little guys are everywhere</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-61047191035663975442016-03-23T19:26:00.000-07:002016-03-27T19:14:00.682-07:00March 7, 2016 ~ First Zone Conference<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fianakaviana!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guys! So happy to get an email from you, I love hearing about life at home, even though it seems like a different world. Last week on PDay we took the guys that help us teach all the time out to pizza (which is not even close to American pizza haha but still tastes good). An awards show was playing on the tv (I think it might have been the oscars?) and I looked over at it, saw the gaudy stage with about a million lights on it and thought "that's disgusting, how wasteful". Then I remembered that that's the region of the world I'm from. It was the weirdest feeling. It was like in the Hunger Games watching the Capitol from District 12. Same thing with white people. I'll see a white person and be like "ugh another French guy here to get a girlfriend". And then I'll have to remind myself that I'm white. Reaaaaally weird being one of the only only vazahas here.<br /><br />Okay I've figured out that the best way to write my weekly email to you is by going through my journal. So here goes.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One really difficult thing I've found here is the fact that men will control women's freedom. We've already spoken to two women who say that they would love to be baptized and come to church but that their husband won't allow it (in one case he beats her pretty bad). It's just one of those things that I didn't expect to have to deal with on my mission. All we can do is tell them to have faith and that God will provide a way in this life or somehow after.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sooooo big news from this week: we had a zone conference! Haha they actually almost forgot to tell us in Fianarantsoa about it! We got a call about it the day before we had to leave haha! It was in Antsirabe, which is about an 8 hour "taxi-be" ride to the north (a taxi-be is basically halfway between a bus and a van). Ugh. Not a fan of the taxi be. Because Elder Obioma is basically a giant, I got stuck with the middle seat there and back. Hahaha there's literally no foot room so I had to put my feet basically up above my waist. Plus the roads are awful. We think we have bad potholes in Edmonton... Antsirabe is pretty cool. It's like Fianarantsoa except for lower population, flatter, a lot cleaner and more spread out. The zone conference was great. Awesome to hear from a general authority (Elder Hamilton of the Seventy is in charge of the southern african missions) and meet a bunch of the other guys in our general area (even though Fian isn't part of an actual zone).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What was the coolest was getting to meet some families who Elder Obioma taught when he worked in Antsirabe. He's so well-liked everywhere we go. President Foote definitely set me up for success when he made him my trainer. It was the most amazing thing. As we were walking (a long walk I might add) to one of the family's houses Elder Obioma told me about how one of the daughters in the family is his favourite girl in Madagascar. We snuck up to the house and surprised the family. This little girl instantly started bawling when she saw my companion and ran into his arms. She cried for a good part of the night and didn't leave his arms for our entire stay. WHO IS MY TRAINER!? It was so cool to see a perfect example of the type of missionary/person I want to be. I'll attach some pictures of that visit.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Haha so right before we left Antsirabe we ran to the Shoprite and grabbed some stuff we can't buy in Fianarantsoa. We brought 8 boxes of cereal back to our area. Bloody vazahas. The funny part is that milk is pretty much impossible to find in Mad so we have to mix condensed milk with water.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We came back to our area and worked really hard on applying the principles we learned at zone conference and instantly saw a difference. I've really started to care about the people we teach. For example there's this one ooooold man we teach named Pierot. He lives in a small shack that isn't much bigger than his cage for his rabbits (he's a rabbit farmer). He lives alone and is extremely poor. He keeps trying to come to church but his boss/landlord keeps telling him to stay home and work while they go to church. I wanted to march up to his boss's house and sock him honestly. But he has great faith so I'm sure it will all work out.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Native's keep telling me I'm mahay at Malagasy. I don't want to brag or anything cause I still have a reaaaally long way to go, but the other missionaries in Antsirabe complemented me and told me I'm doing better than they were when they started. I've calculated and I should be able to be functionally fluent by the end of my 12 weeks with Elder Obioma (who is very mahay by the way).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday it rained a ton. Hah. I thought those other storms were cyclones. That was a cyclone. We had to wade to get around (THE MISSIONARIES STOP FOR NOTHING)! It was funny, the natives were taking videos on their phones of the crazy missionaries who wouldn't just wait for the rain to stop. We got some good pictures of that.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so glad to hear that Aunt Alethia is doing well, she'll stay in my prayers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are about 72 people who attend the south branch in Fianarantsoa. A really solid number for Mad, and still growing.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Guess what Joey, the hot sauce here is SO EXPENSIVE! They sell a little bottle of tobasco sauce at the supermarche and it costs 12 000 Ar! which is actually only 4 dollars but outrageously expensive for here. Good luck on your talk!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We're super blessed here and we have a washing machine in the appartment. That's basically unheard of in Madagascar. Most people wash stuff in rivers or basins of rain or other water. I feel kind of guilty for how well we live here in comparison sometimes. Like I haven't met a single person back home that is poorer than a single Malagasy I've met here. Okay maybe other than homeless people. Even still. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad that Matthew's sugery went well. Send him my best. I love hearing about how activities are going.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay I think that's all for today, I hope you like the pictures I send. </span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">I love this place and I love this work. I've never felt more exhausted, fulfilled or proud of myself.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember that:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">"The more you sweat in times of peace, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">the less you bleed in times of war." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;">-Churchill.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa Fianakaviana!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc-jv3S6Ob4/VvNMHRdLqdI/AAAAAAAAAI4/QoYJ2jvthQgaOSNiqDiAeVtRRb_UrL3dQ/s1600/DSCN0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc-jv3S6Ob4/VvNMHRdLqdI/AAAAAAAAAI4/QoYJ2jvthQgaOSNiqDiAeVtRRb_UrL3dQ/s640/DSCN0537.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Found a praying mantis/walking stick thing!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1S62LYJgPew/VvNMGFwLhnI/AAAAAAAAAIw/faN14PV0dhkLJBw-IsMjxyCse9M7JWFSg/s1600/DSCN0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1S62LYJgPew/VvNMGFwLhnI/AAAAAAAAAIw/faN14PV0dhkLJBw-IsMjxyCse9M7JWFSg/s640/DSCN0539.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Antsirabe</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NOpmbnGTaNg/VvNMG_VTr0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/5nLgKBJCvbM26GyOX_DZxrllJBshbelBQ/s1600/DSCN0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NOpmbnGTaNg/VvNMG_VTr0I/AAAAAAAAAI0/5nLgKBJCvbM26GyOX_DZxrllJBshbelBQ/s640/DSCN0547.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Obioma and the little girl</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1y9_9--8Oo/VvNMymamXbI/AAAAAAAAAI8/mxpq7BHaYWYQUeVHGxgvXv_M7sGzvxjsw/s1600/DSCN0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1y9_9--8Oo/VvNMymamXbI/AAAAAAAAAI8/mxpq7BHaYWYQUeVHGxgvXv_M7sGzvxjsw/s640/DSCN0554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nI4zKvE1bVA/VvNMy6HQTgI/AAAAAAAAAJA/WXRpS0UY-sgDehmGRny6VsiNJrtINvTaw/s1600/DSCN0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nI4zKvE1bVA/VvNMy6HQTgI/AAAAAAAAAJA/WXRpS0UY-sgDehmGRny6VsiNJrtINvTaw/s640/DSCN0559.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9_LK3A_kr8/VvNMz5HgNgI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GoZcQepmlR08LsCsAgB7V1mxjuqSXMbcw/s1600/DSCN0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q9_LK3A_kr8/VvNMz5HgNgI/AAAAAAAAAJE/GoZcQepmlR08LsCsAgB7V1mxjuqSXMbcw/s640/DSCN0570.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I made a friend!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IsQAITnbwEA/VvNNfrscC4I/AAAAAAAAAJM/iXL4A2GiohkBgLVSkUBq1Pv6LGRBpy_Dw/s1600/DSCN0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IsQAITnbwEA/VvNNfrscC4I/AAAAAAAAAJM/iXL4A2GiohkBgLVSkUBq1Pv6LGRBpy_Dw/s640/DSCN0596.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">How men settle things.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA6DB0wzOiw/VvNNgUQQ6NI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/hCx3YsEBRSUfN5jGK65yAbmGP3Qy8VUGQ/s1600/DSCN0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA6DB0wzOiw/VvNNgUQQ6NI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/hCx3YsEBRSUfN5jGK65yAbmGP3Qy8VUGQ/s640/DSCN0604.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">At least I wasn't on that taxi-be.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOXZw1M-tW4/VvNNgrvdmYI/AAAAAAAAAJU/N5i2TIGnRQwGgWZgpsAM7OKpiR3oFHjTg/s1600/DSCN0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOXZw1M-tW4/VvNNgrvdmYI/AAAAAAAAAJU/N5i2TIGnRQwGgWZgpsAM7OKpiR3oFHjTg/s640/DSCN0616.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flooding</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg2Te5THGh8/VvNOGdFUL_I/AAAAAAAAAJY/7k0Zj1yp01ESBMkukWAz8PlmdVWsw6oUA/s1600/DSCN0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pg2Te5THGh8/VvNOGdFUL_I/AAAAAAAAAJY/7k0Zj1yp01ESBMkukWAz8PlmdVWsw6oUA/s640/DSCN0619.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">My signature "its raining face"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23e6Xeua_QY/VvNOMrRWxmI/AAAAAAAAAJg/3fzYIi8enhwEi733SXrtmo-MjgppEEyFg/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23e6Xeua_QY/VvNOMrRWxmI/AAAAAAAAAJg/3fzYIi8enhwEi733SXrtmo-MjgppEEyFg/s640/DSCN0628.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crazy vazaha</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOzYBjFx630/VvNOMq_Z3yI/AAAAAAAAAJc/ySv-GFMri00k27YpR_Jvx7SCJ0JSuSZ8A/s1600/DSCN0637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOzYBjFx630/VvNOMq_Z3yI/AAAAAAAAAJc/ySv-GFMri00k27YpR_Jvx7SCJ0JSuSZ8A/s640/DSCN0637.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Malagasy pothole</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJW6AzC8jUE/VviTRR1he2I/AAAAAAAAAMU/mHF_AFYv83wg3j8G0z_BFjmfiWK-dav1w/s1600/DSCN0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJW6AzC8jUE/VviTRR1he2I/AAAAAAAAAMU/mHF_AFYv83wg3j8G0z_BFjmfiWK-dav1w/s640/DSCN0640.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got my scriptures, dictionary and Jesus the Christ bound by a kid who's raising money to serve a mission!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-59955987164629295642016-03-23T16:15:00.001-07:002016-03-23T16:26:18.980-07:00February 29, 2016 ~ So happy.<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ry Fianakaiana,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey guys! I'm excited to tell you a little more about what Fianarantsoa is like!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">First off I'd like to say that this is the best mission in the world. Not the most fun, not the most comfortable, or the easiest, but the best. Nothing we do here is easy. Dinner appt? Alright, let's hike through the jungle in a cyclone to go eat some rice with a family. Oh look at that, I just bit into a rock. But man I love it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our mission is extremely unique, because we're basically doing the missionary work that was done in the first 100 years of the churches existence. There are four Elders in a city of millions (Elder Obioma and I take the Southern half) and we don't have anyone checking up on us. We could honestly go off and party all day and no one would ever know. We report stats to the APs and write a letter to the MP weekly but other than that, it's us in this city. We decide what work needs to be done and what needs we will meet during the day and I'm learning a lot from it. Our bikes are broken, so we walk until we can find someone to fix our bikes. Haha it's real life here. Most everyone here is Christian but when we ask about doctrine, a lot of people are very confused about what that actually means. When we go contacting, we hike into an area and just start talking to people. People are carrying drinking water up a hill from a well? We help them and we're on our way. I love how we aren't some organization here to build a school or something. We live here. We love the people, so we help the people. I love how singular our purpose is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have one investigator named Patrick (or Rapa in Malgasy) and he reminds me so much of Danny, haha it's great. He pokes fun at me and I poke fun at him. It's weird, it kind of makes me feel closer to home when we teach him.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The members here are amazing. Imagine the most committed member you know back home, well I've met a lot of those. Here, if you're a member you're a member and you help the missionaries. The YM are especially great. I'll attach a picture of the guys we work with. There's one named Alain, and he helps us everyday for hours. He wants to serve a mission so bad and honestly, I think his time is better spent with us, preparing to serve and learning English than at school. You're very valuable if you can speak fluent English or French (more than just "Bonjour vazahe!" because everyone seems to know that haha).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had one pretty hard experience this week. A great member in our branch named Valolona called us and asked us to give a blessing to her brother (a non-member) in the hospital. Didn't look good when we got there. We blessed him and everyone thanked us. He died early the next morning. They think that someone poisoned his drink or something. Crazy. It's hard to have a person that you blessed die. We went to his "fahorina" which is a Malagasy tradition where everyone comes and talks to the family of the deceased with the body in the middle of the room. There are special phrases that are supposed to be said and stuff. I didn't catch a lot of it. You guys should look them up, they're pretty interesting. Death isn't as big of a deal here in Madagascar. There's just a lot more of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I still love English class. I wish I could send you a video. We teach them an English pop song every week and we all sing it. This week was Sam Smith haha. Ugh they're all crack-ups. There was this one guy who was asking us how to say all of these romantic things and we died laughing. I'm pretty sure his only goal for learning English is to find an American girlfriend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay. One big culture thing I have to get used to fast. Breastfeeding. Like I can be teaching a woman and baby, and we're knee to knee because their house is about 6'x6' and with no warning she'll just start wipping stuff off. All of a sudden the book I'm reading from becomes really interesting and I just try to either make eye contact or no contact. Haha when I got up to bear my testimony on my first Sunday the first person I looked at in the congregation was a woman breastfeeding. Welcome to Madagascar Elder.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday Elder Obioma and I had "date night". We made these great sandwiches with homemade bread and potatoes and all this other good stuff and sat out on our balcony overlooking the hillside of Fianarantsoa and talked. It was great. I love him. He's the perfect trainer for me. He pushes me really hard and is really diligent about obedience. He's quite a bit older at 25 and very mature. We was converted to the church at 18. He wants to be a painter when he gets back and he's reeeaeaaaaally good at basketball. He's half native-american half african, 6 foot 3 and in wicked shape (he's also very diligent about working out). Honestly, I think I might be in the best shape of my life here. With all of the exercise we get plus the workouts it's a lot. Thank goodness Elder Obioma is also a good cook and is teaching me well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;">I honestly am way less ill here than I was at the MTC. My companion doesn't trust the street food here and neither do I. Trust me. Mom you would be gagging constantly hahaha. We mostly make our own food with all of the Malagasy ingredients. It's worth that time spent preparing because we don't have to take time off to recover from eating street food. The Malagasy food is good, but very plain normally. Rice or pasta with some meet and a fruit or vegetable. OH THE FRUIT IS INCREDIBLE HERE</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">woops didn't mean to send that haha. But yeah the fruit is soooo good. The bananas are incredible, we eat them all the time and with everything. It's nice because we don't have to bleach them because they are inside of a peel and protected.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: helvetica;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We see the other Malagasy Elders quite a bit because we share a kitchen (they live in the top floor of our apartment and we have the bottom) but we don't do tons with them. We work all the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Tell Danny that I'm proud of him and his good grades. Everything will be just fine, trust me. I love all of you so much. I pray for you, keep me in your prayers.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: x-large;"><i>"A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog when you are just as hungry as the dog."</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><i>-Jack London</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tHvCIc6Oxkk/VvMZEN1QktI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/vAA0KdcwzWsCAxP6OQwwXYD-NM91mT8XQ/s1600/DSCN0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tHvCIc6Oxkk/VvMZEN1QktI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/vAA0KdcwzWsCAxP6OQwwXYD-NM91mT8XQ/s640/DSCN0452.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Did someone order a strapping young shepherd who also teaches about the gospel? </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG277wKgOR0/VvMbYtYeyRI/AAAAAAAAAII/JW0xowxChOsUtsyfzgImH9dLcH7VjRIAg/s1600/RSCN0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG277wKgOR0/VvMbYtYeyRI/AAAAAAAAAII/JW0xowxChOsUtsyfzgImH9dLcH7VjRIAg/s640/RSCN0455.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Oh Madagascar did.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;">(I love this boys sense of humour)</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4riwhDBvbiM/VvMapVdlWQI/AAAAAAAAAHs/DoJW7h4-64kju0rWlBQVDWipXIHAxYq6Q/s1600/DSCN0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4riwhDBvbiM/VvMapVdlWQI/AAAAAAAAAHs/DoJW7h4-64kju0rWlBQVDWipXIHAxYq6Q/s640/DSCN0400.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anjelo, Alain and Rapa. I love these guys.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The two on the left are preparing to serve </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">and Rapa is an investigator.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaW13VlgoVk/VvMZ9QIPIFI/AAAAAAAAAHY/l88peKpNR88tQxz9Mm6hK0MCSAN76um6A/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaW13VlgoVk/VvMZ9QIPIFI/AAAAAAAAAHY/l88peKpNR88tQxz9Mm6hK0MCSAN76um6A/s640/DSCN0300.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those same chameleons from last time. Or "tanala"</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2LyQ3GJi_0/VvMaqLEHZfI/AAAAAAAAAHw/C9wyGoECldwOF3k9KWBuEpCBjID5GT1NQ/s1600/DSCN0419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2LyQ3GJi_0/VvMaqLEHZfI/AAAAAAAAAHw/C9wyGoECldwOF3k9KWBuEpCBjID5GT1NQ/s640/DSCN0419.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tiny gecko I found in the appt</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6zytjWhi-E/VvMbMCsabzI/AAAAAAAAAH4/QTJ210PieWkZSCayL-ubnBVYyZwzqUEkg/s1600/DSCN0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6zytjWhi-E/VvMbMCsabzI/AAAAAAAAAH4/QTJ210PieWkZSCayL-ubnBVYyZwzqUEkg/s640/DSCN0474.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are some big spiders here 💚</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEf9OOuud04/VvMZ-nSbP_I/AAAAAAAAAHc/cysztYWJjWkDMjbT4M06G5ghCNW4bSciA/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEf9OOuud04/VvMZ-nSbP_I/AAAAAAAAAHc/cysztYWJjWkDMjbT4M06G5ghCNW4bSciA/s640/DSCN0328.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These same Malagasy kids come and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">dance for us every time we see them.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRi_q0Oy920/VvMZ-i_GRZI/AAAAAAAAAHg/9kZQAH_iRKoQnQ0_WEaH1sPA2CKgUmQRg/s1600/DSCN0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRi_q0Oy920/VvMZ-i_GRZI/AAAAAAAAAHg/9kZQAH_iRKoQnQ0_WEaH1sPA2CKgUmQRg/s640/DSCN0339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are some of the most adorable little kids you've ever seen. Look at that girl's smile. Ugh.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--KI3o6mg_DY/VvMbUO0skhI/AAAAAAAAAIA/DW1c7irphP0AQKMomjXrn5vyP28-O2aNg/s1600/DSCN0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--KI3o6mg_DY/VvMbUO0skhI/AAAAAAAAAIA/DW1c7irphP0AQKMomjXrn5vyP28-O2aNg/s640/DSCN0485.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cute kid.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMSocLVYpPY/VvMbTK9hIwI/AAAAAAAAAH8/GMQ4bi1pQI81kShQBUr_Wji70sLe-uK3Q/s1600/DSCN0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CMSocLVYpPY/VvMbTK9hIwI/AAAAAAAAAH8/GMQ4bi1pQI81kShQBUr_Wji70sLe-uK3Q/s640/DSCN0493.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay I found this weird mole. It has porcupine quills. It stabbed me. Can you find out whether I'm going to die an awful painful death soon? What is it?</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLInHyJWenI/VvMcJMFVUXI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/JmNlBb6mw0M9caCAhpg9DPbJ_w1oZtXlg/s1600/DSCN0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLInHyJWenI/VvMcJMFVUXI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/JmNlBb6mw0M9caCAhpg9DPbJ_w1oZtXlg/s640/DSCN0496.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course I picked it up. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I checked and he won't die. Its a Lowland Streaked Tenrec)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixo-CYP39rw/VvMciwBQZJI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YUaiO7L8g3cmNi2NMhTie9y-dzKZq3qOg/s1600/DSCN0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixo-CYP39rw/VvMciwBQZJI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YUaiO7L8g3cmNi2NMhTie9y-dzKZq3qOg/s640/DSCN0396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The chapel</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcOZ8ZcihAM/VvMakJIkvRI/AAAAAAAAAHo/1y8axe4OVj8uR-Q9rznSN89Qt95_TE1Hg/s1600/DSCN0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcOZ8ZcihAM/VvMakJIkvRI/AAAAAAAAAHo/1y8axe4OVj8uR-Q9rznSN89Qt95_TE1Hg/s640/DSCN0385.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: "helvetica"; text-align: start;">The rain is crazy here.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-66536394784680006292016-02-28T15:45:00.000-08:002016-03-23T13:18:53.630-07:00February 22, 2016 ~ First area is Fianaranstoa and companion is Elder Obioma.<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fianakaviana!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay my typing may suck a little because this is an awful old computer with a bad connection in an internet cafe. Also, the keyboard is different here and the keys are all in the wrong spots.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love it here!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to have to break it up into days because so much has happened that I would like to share.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Arrival-Friday</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I got here and was warmly welcomed by President and Sister Foote. They're awesome! It's kind of weird, they're a combination of traits from you <my parents> and Sophie's parents. Its okay I love all 4 people so they're great.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">haha the power just went out. thank goodness google saves drafts. I swear I just saw a woman trading bananas to use the cpu. Welcome to Madagascar Elder.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyways, my leaders are great, the mission home/mission office/one of the chapels is very cool. A very nice building for Mad. It's a few storeys high so it has a great view. I also got to meet the APs Elder Covvy and Glazier. They're great too. I stayed at their apartment with Elder Soper until I left for my area. I'm assigned to <and currently serving in> Fianarantsoa! But more on that later. I got to go out with my new companion Elder Obioma to one of his old areas in Antanarivo before we left. Tana is amazing. I think the best way to describe it is Rio in Brazil but poorer. It's a sprawling city where people build shacks wherever they can find room and with whatever materials they can find. It is very poor and very dirty. It's really heartbreaking to see kids sometimes. The people are very happy though. Honestly some of the most witty people I know are Malagasies. We visited one woman who lives in a shack in a neighbourhood of shacks set in a pit of mud. She's always wanted to be baptized but her husband beats her if she tries. Oh she also has deformed feet and walks on crutches. The people are amazing. We visited another family who live in an 8' x 5' "house" which is basically a closet of a bigger house that you can enter into from the outside. We went inside and the little girl who is adorable by the way opens this big bottle of nail polish remover and almost killed us all with the fumes. Haha it was funny after the fact.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On Friday we were driven to Fianarantsoa by one of the mission's drivers. Ugh. I don't want to talk about it. 11 hours of the windiest, worst potholed streets you can imagine. And our driver wasn't slowing down for anything. Beautiful scenery of Rice Paddies and country though. This place is unreal.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fianarantsoa is amazing. It is the second biggest city in Mad. It's a lot like Tana but set in the mountains, cleaner and more spread out. I love it here. We honestly live like kings compared to the Malagasies. We have toilets and running water (still can't drink it but it's nice to be able to wash things). I didn't get any pictures of our apartment but I'll send some next time. There are 4 missionaries in Fianarantsoa (one for the north and one for the south branches). I stand out here. The other companionship is two Malagasies and my companion is African-American. I hear "vazahe" (vah-zah which is basically a rude term for white person) about a hundred times a day. A lot of these people can count the number of caucasians they've seen on their fingers so I'm definitely a weird sight. Malagasies don't really like white people because they're strongly connected to French colonial times, which the Malagasies understandably didn't appreciate. They think it's really hilarious to go up to me and say "bonjour" really sarcastically and I just kind of smile and say salama o. It's kind of demeaning and annoying honestly, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Makes me glad I have a 6'3" black companion haha. It's not a particularly safe place for white people, but as long as we follow mission rules and stay with our<img height="16" id="7fhs98ntlyyg" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /><img height="16" id="3i00sh53hbo6" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /> companions we're safe. The mission takes good care of us.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The work is very cool here. It is a very teaching oriented mission. I teach about the gospel, I teach English (every saturday and it's my favourite thing so far, they asked us what boycott and imperious meant and we're like where are you learning these words!?) and I teach people to read. We just generally try to improve the quality of people's lives and I love it. We can't bring people out of poverty, but we can do things that are even better.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We got swarmed by a bunch of kids working in the area we're focusing on and <i>it was amazing. okay the italics are an accident and i don't know how to turn them off and i don't have much time. I wish I could send the video of them dancing and singing for us.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Not going to lie, this mission feels like it's going to be extremely difficult. We walk a million km a day, two days we've been soaked by cyclones and had to walk home in the pitch black, but I can also already tell that this is the sort of stuff that makes one into a man. I love these people and I love living among them. I can't wait til I can relate to them more, joke around in Malagasy and convey how much I want to be their friend.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm sorry, that's all the time I have. I'll send more information next week. I love you all and miss you.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgEmqasPW3A/VtN-P9Jp3dI/AAAAAAAAAE8/uuk5W3Jddl0/s1600/DSCN0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgEmqasPW3A/VtN-P9Jp3dI/AAAAAAAAAE8/uuk5W3Jddl0/s640/DSCN0288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor in Antananarivo, Madagascar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDo6OhlQzFk/VtN_6Rg-TgI/AAAAAAAAAFc/eJuZNiGAIDk/s1600/DSCN0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDo6OhlQzFk/VtN_6Rg-TgI/AAAAAAAAAFc/eJuZNiGAIDk/s640/DSCN0271.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The streets of Antananarivo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ1Ksjs7t7g/VtN-7CzBohI/AAAAAAAAAFE/5DT0v--VKkw/s1600/DSCN0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ1Ksjs7t7g/VtN-7CzBohI/AAAAAAAAAFE/5DT0v--VKkw/s640/DSCN0326.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adorable Malagasy children. (Fianaranstoa)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PT0_jcNh1HY/VtN_Q9KlBqI/AAAAAAAAAFM/42M0efCX-18/s1600/DSCN0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PT0_jcNh1HY/VtN_Q9KlBqI/AAAAAAAAAFM/42M0efCX-18/s640/DSCN0374.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor is actually standing, <br />the children love to build stilts to play. (Fianaranstoa)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANvkxK3yr8Y/VtN-muH03mI/AAAAAAAAAFA/8d0jaRMlaMw/s1600/DSCN0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANvkxK3yr8Y/VtN-muH03mI/AAAAAAAAAFA/8d0jaRMlaMw/s640/DSCN0304.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor found a chameleon, he's pretty stoked! (Fianaranstoa)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWMTQEnLVOs/VtN_jLvPJCI/AAAAAAAAAFU/PLr-9I508nE/s1600/DSCN0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWMTQEnLVOs/VtN_jLvPJCI/AAAAAAAAAFU/PLr-9I508nE/s640/DSCN0379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor and his new companion Elder Obioma (who he loves) after Elder Schnoors first cyclone. A little wet!!<br />The faces say it all, Elder Schnoor isn't sure what hit him and Elder Obioma thinks its pretty funny! Love it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-38561677799579922072016-02-17T11:03:00.000-08:002016-03-23T13:18:43.335-07:00February 17, 2016 ~ After over 50 hours of travel Elder Schnoor has arrived in Madagascar. Our hearts are full.<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Brother and Sister Schnoor-<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We wanted to let you know Elder Schnoor arrived in the Madagascar, Antananarivo Mission safely this afternoon. I have attached a photo of him taken with President and Sister Foote at the mission home. We have been looking forward to his arrival and are delighted to have him serving with us. As Sister Foote travels around the mission she takes photos of the missionaries and posts them on Instagram. You can follow her at momfoote.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I promise we will take good care of your son.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 18pt;">Sister Woolley<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Madagascar Antananarivo Mission Secretary</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-475129280468242212016-02-17T11:02:00.000-08:002016-02-17T11:23:20.050-08:00President and Sister Foote<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDdv__gYFJk/VsTDVZRkUHI/AAAAAAAAAEo/VLmDIOejXr8/s1600/Elder%2BSchnoor.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDdv__gYFJk/VsTDVZRkUHI/AAAAAAAAAEo/VLmDIOejXr8/s640/Elder%2BSchnoor.jpg" width="480" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-47912804571485754062016-02-17T10:57:00.002-08:002016-02-17T11:32:41.267-08:00Elder Schnoor, Elder Emor and Elder Soper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIw3ooBzPlw/VsTCoiviDBI/AAAAAAAAAEg/A1tl5KHsgyw/s1600/RSCN0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AIw3ooBzPlw/VsTCoiviDBI/AAAAAAAAAEg/A1tl5KHsgyw/s640/RSCN0177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Okay actually I want to give you a little more of a backstory on that picture of Elder Soper, Emor and I. Elder Emor is from an island called Chuuk. He's about 5'4" but he's got a lot of bark and a lot of bite. He barely speaks any English but is learning Marshallese. He left a few days ago. We got to know him pretty well actually. One day he came into our res asking for a sewing kit in broken English. Because I have a rather wonderful sewing kit (thanks to Mom and Grandma) I told him hey don't worry about it man, just drop off your stuff that needs sewing and I'll do it for you (I've done it for a few elders, it's a good way to get to know them). This Micronesian gangster (he actually is a gangster, he has the tattoos for his gang all over his arms and he jokingly let Elder Moala join the gang before he left) was so appreciative, but all he knew how to say was "thank you brother" and he gave me a hug. He bore his testimony before he left and, though it was in simple English, you could tell he meant it. He got really frustrated sometimes and was a frustrating companion for those that he was assigned to, but this guy truly believes in the gospel. I was glad to get to know him and I can't wait to get to know more people like him in Mad.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-22264920251374954812016-02-17T10:52:00.001-08:002016-03-23T13:19:54.336-07:00February 12, 2016 ~ Last letter from the MTC!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Friends and Family,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alright guys, in the interest of time I'm doing a group email. Sorry, I don't like to do it this way but that's just how it's going to work out this time (and probably a few other times).</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I leave on Monday! I'm so excited to begin serving the people of Madagascar! My Malagasy isn't great, but I'll be able to get by until I learn by immersion. I've loved the MTC and I've learned so much about my purpose as a missionary, the type of missionary and person I want to be and how to teach. Through learning Malagasy I've begun to love the people of Madagascar and I can't wait to meet them. I will miss all of you at home (and those of you serving missions around the world) more than I can express in this email, but my focus for the next 23 months will be serving the Malagasy people. Thank you so much for your support to get me here, I'm so glad that I made the choice to serve.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember that there is a danger in the word "someday" when it means "not today" (Eyering). My challenge to all of you is to think about who you would like to be and then become that person. No excuses. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next time I write you, it'll be from beautiful Madagascar! But first I have over 50 hours of travel ahead of me...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mazatoa!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. I like this picture because I think Elder Soper looks like a missionary version of Uncle Sam (note the waving US flag in the background)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For my thought today I want you guys to study John 6. I'll share verses 66-68.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<div class="" id="para65" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-family: palatino, 'palatino linotype', pahoran, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a class="" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7257015655396580889" name="66" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span class="" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">66 </span><span class="" id="chunk650001" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">¶From </span><span class="" id="chunk650002" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that </span><span class="" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">time</span><span class="" id="chunk650004" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> many </span><span class="" id="chunk650005" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span class="" id="chunk650006" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">his </span><span class="" id="chunk650007" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">disciples</span><span class="" id="chunk650008" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> went </span><span class="" id="chunk650009" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">back, </span><span class="" id="chunk650010" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span class="" id="chunk650011" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">walked</span><span class="" id="chunk650012" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> no </span><span class="" id="chunk650013" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">more </span><span class="" id="chunk650014" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with </span><span class="" id="chunk650015" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">him.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="" id="para66" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-family: palatino, 'palatino linotype', pahoran, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a class="" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7257015655396580889" name="67" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span class="" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">67 </span><span class="" id="chunk660001" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then </span><span class="" id="chunk660002" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">said </span><span class="" id="chunk660003" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus </span><span class="" id="chunk660004" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">unto </span><span class="" id="chunk660005" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span class="" id="chunk660006" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">twelve, </span><span class="" id="chunk660007" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Will </span><span class="" id="chunk660008" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ye </span><span class="" id="chunk660009" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">also </span><span class="" id="chunk660010" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">go </span><span class="" id="chunk660011" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">away?</span></i></span></div>
<div class="" id="para67" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-family: palatino, 'palatino linotype', pahoran, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><a class="" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7257015655396580889" name="68" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span class="" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">68 </span><span class="" id="chunk670001" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then </span><span class="" id="chunk670002" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Simon </span><span class="" id="chunk670003" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Peter </span><span class="" id="chunk670004" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">answered </span><span class="" id="chunk670005" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">him, </span><span class="" id="chunk670006" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lord, </span><span class="" id="chunk670007" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to </span><span class="" id="chunk670008" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">whom </span><span class="" id="chunk670009" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shall </span><span class="" id="chunk670010" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">we </span><span class="" id="chunk670011" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">go? </span><span class="" id="chunk670012" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">thou </span><span class="" id="chunk670013" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hast </span><span class="" id="chunk670014" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span class="" id="chunk670015" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">words</span><span class="" id="chunk670016" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> of </span><span class="" id="chunk670017" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">eternal </span><span class="" id="chunk670018" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">life.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="" id="para67" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-family: palatino, 'palatino linotype', pahoran, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 25.2px; margin-bottom: 26px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="" style="background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember that our gospel is the most important thing in our lives. We shouldn't go a day without thinking about our ultimate purposes in life multiple times a day. You are responding to the Lord's question "Will ye also go away?" in the way that you live your lives. Simon Peter understood life well when he responded. He kept the big picture in mind. The apostles realized that no matter what happened to them in this life, the most worthwhile thing for them to do was to follow the Saviour. We can and should come to that same conclusion.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-3780213999516816762016-02-07T15:56:00.002-08:002016-03-23T13:20:35.096-07:00February 5, 2016 ~ MTC <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFSX1BpH9ss/VrfZk1GJpRI/AAAAAAAAAEU/o3tzxaMrYdQ/s1600/DSCN0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFSX1BpH9ss/VrfZk1GJpRI/AAAAAAAAAEU/o3tzxaMrYdQ/s640/DSCN0050.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We love that they have a lemur on the back of his church manual!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ynHdVSoWIpo/VrfXuvzStgI/AAAAAAAAAEA/nnlpjrpSIGA/s640/DSCN0134.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Soper and Elder Schnoor ~ We love he has a companion who is challenging Tylers personal space. :)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vEYqq7Df-xc/VrfYGKVKl6I/AAAAAAAAAEI/4U_QHPKhIss/s1600/DSCN0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vEYqq7Df-xc/VrfYGKVKl6I/AAAAAAAAAEI/4U_QHPKhIss/s640/DSCN0138.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor and The Island District. (can you find him?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Moala (who is going to Tonga) is 6'8 and stole Tylers camera to get a great shot</span><br />
<br />
.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-65048446489203372932016-02-07T15:38:00.000-08:002016-03-23T13:21:47.469-07:00February 5, 2016 ~ Package arrived!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;">Fianakaviana</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;">,</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">THE PACKAGE WAS SO AWESOME! </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll tell you what, the way to a Polynesian's heart is through sharing a bag of hamburger flavoured potato chips. Haha I could barely carry that box back to the residence but it was so worth it. Thank you so much! Everything is so great and I'm sharing it all (although I have to hide the unopened stuff now haha). The first day everyone left our room saying "Canada is sick man, I'ma find me a Canadian girl" hahaha it was great. I'm now kind of known as the Canadian and I love it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You'll never go back after putting the Glerups on your feet.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's so nice that the Gibbs are thinking about me! I loved being Brother Gibbs' home-teaching companion and being in Asia's seminary class. They're great. Tell them I'm doing great and that I can feel the love all the way at the MTC.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large;">Oh let Madelyn and anyone else who's planning on serving soon know how to contact me if they have any questions. It was really useful for me to talk to Rocco and Braden and Branden before I left and I'd love to attest to how great it is being a missionary (yes I realize I'm still at the MTC).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's so cool about getting to thin out some coyotes, and maybe getting a foot in the door for deer season. I miss fishing and camping and stuff even though it's only been like a month. There are a lot of Utah kids here who don't do any of that stuff. I'm going a little stir crazy. Our teachers keep telling us stories about Mad (supposedly we're going to be walking all the time) and it sounds pretty appealing right now.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay on to my week.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We got to do our first Skype TRC session! We skyped a member from Madagascar and talked to her for half an hour in Malagasy. Navofaly (NAH-FAH-LEE) was her name I believe. She was so nice and smiled all the time. She explained stuff that we didn't quite catch the first time she said it. It was just cool to actually meet a Malagasy! We talked about favourite ny Bokin'i Mormona stories and how we should share our fijoro ho vavalombelona (testimonies). Our language skills are improving faster and faster and our teachers say that we're ahead of the curve (sure doesn't feel like it sometimes).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay so Elder Soper lost his retainer (or Elder Timotao (sp.?) stole it or something - it's a long story haha) so we went off campus twice to an orthodontist. The orthodontists here are like theme parks!!! It was honestly Hawaiian themed! They had two x-boxes (don't worry we didn't use them), we sat in beach chairs, they had half of a Jeep to play in for the kids in the lobby, they sold candy and snacks and they give missionaries free slurpees after (which were actually really good!). What is this magical place called Utah!? Oh and the lady that fitted Elder Soper's retainer was like a supermodel too so all around a good orthodontist visit.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sacrament meetings are really cool at the MTC. It's the only sacrament meeting where you can go and not have anyone on their phone, no babies crying or kids fussing. It's really cool to be able to just focus on the sacrament and feeling the spirit. It's also really cool to hear missionaries give talks in the language they're learning. We all have to prepare talks on a specific topic beforehand and then they choose someone but you don't know if you're chosen before they call your name. Haha I've been pretty lucky so far. It's all good if I get called though. Elder Soper will be the only one who can understand what I'm saying so I can pretty much talk about whatever I want.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So some information that I've gotten since coming here. Madagascar doesn't require us to have a visa before entering the country, but as soon as we get there they start the process of getting it all sorted out. It's kind of nice to know that my visa can't really be delayed, so I can't be sent to somewhere other than Mad.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I heard from a little bird that there aren't any more missionaries heading to MAD-ANT for 20 weeks! That's a pretty long gap compared to other missions. It's a rare calling. That means we'll be the "greenies" for a long time.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been singing in the MTC choir (most of the zone joins because all the Polynesians love to sing) and it's quite an experience to sing with all the other missionaries. We've sung Joseph Smith's First Prayer, Remember the Lillies, Hurrah for Israel and Precious Saviour, Dear Redeemer. That last one was my favourite. Try to find a video of the MTC choir singing it.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for the card and picture from Brady. They're taped up beside my mirror right now. I love that sort of stuff.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay to end this off I want to talk a little bit about Matthew Cowley. The building that has our classroom in it is named after him and he's a pretty inspiring figure. He was called to New Zealand in the Maori language in the early 1900's. He proceeded to go out into a field by himself in New Zealand (they didn't have companions back then), fast all day, and study a English-Maori dictionary and scriptures everyday for three weeks. When he came out people said he spoke the language fluently and he was able to teach the gospel. People like that are unheard of today, but I don't think that's because they don't exist. I believe that if we have enough faith and diligence, we can overcome anything. I want so badly to be a missionary like Matthew Cowley and I'm determined to have the diligence necessary to get me there. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-61978793756553239612016-02-07T15:30:00.000-08:002016-03-23T13:25:37.516-07:00January 29, 2016<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Dear Family,</span><br />
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This week was good! Difficult, but good. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">First off, our Fijian district left. It was really hard to say goodbye to a lot of them. There were about 9 of them and we had gotten really close with all of them. Especially Elders Hamon and Simiskey. They're going to be great missionaries and Fiji is lucky to have them. Our room is so empty now. Haha we have 6 beds (3 bunks) for only Elder Soper and I. We even got a whole bunch of new missionaries in the zone (a bunch of Fijians and some ASL Elders and Sisters) and none of them got placed in our room. So lonely.... haha. It's cool to have some American Sign Language missionaries but they probably feel so out of place. They're the only ones who aren't going to an island (they're all serving in the states) or learning an island language. They're probably weirded out by all the hugging too haha.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We had our first TRC lesson. It's basically an opportunity (typically) to speak to volunteers who are native speakers of the language. In our case, we teach RM who went to Madagascar. It's really cool even though there don't exist any natives to talk to. Whoa that's weird, I just structured that sentence kind of like a Malagasy sentence. Maybe there's hope for me yet! .</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because the Fijians left, we engaged in the tradition of singing a hymn in each of the languages in the zone. The Tongan one is sick. The Tongans can sing. And all of their songs are so epic. The spirit's always strong when we sing as a zone.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ugh I've been struggling a little bit with speaking French by accident sometimes. And sometimes I think the phrase in French and then translate it to Malagasy in my head. Yeah, not helpful. I'm getting better at thinking in Malagasy though.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I got to host this week! Hosting is just when you welcome the new arrivals to the MTC (like they get out of their car and you stand there as they get 2 minutes to hug their parents and you have to tear them away) and then show them to get their study materials and residence key and show them to their classroom. It's cool. You're able to be a good first impression of the MTC for some pretty shaken up Elders and Sisters. We're doing it again this week.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I learned some new things about Madagascar! Supposedly the kids are all scared of white people (greeeeeeaaaaaat). Our teachers told us stories of kids literally running away from them in swarms when they'd walk around. I guess I need to work on how threatening my demeanour is before I get there haha. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, our ability to email might be pretty sketchy. The teachers said they could email "sometimes". What exactly does that mean? I don't know. They were speaking Malagasy. Supposedly the power is unreliable and can be really unreliable depending on where you are. I might be sending some nicely handwritten letters.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay I'm going to try to answer all the questions. I got most of the Elder's "dotnets" (email addresses) so I'll be able to communicate with them. Having a companion with me all the time can be weird and frustrating, but it's also kind of cool. I think my people skills are improving. Probably because I interact with people 24/7 now. Yikes. I'm keeping in touch with a lot of my friends. Aaron, Sophie, Emily, Katelyn, Rocco, Branden and others. I love getting messages. Apologize for my short responses to them, limited time to respond is rough. There are thousands of missionaries at a time at the MTC. It's crazy busy here. You could probably find a stat on a church website. I haven't gained any weight. But I'm actually probably getting in better shape from the daily exercise and Elder Jumonville's workouts haha. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay I'm just going to end this off with a couple thoughts.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">First off, for the first time in my life I've realized that I'm no longer smart enough to coast. I'm not saying that to "gas" myself (learned that term from Danny), but it's true. Like I didn't really have to throw everything I had at school or violin or sports or anything. I could have, but I wasn't motivated or focused enough. Missionary work is different. The only way to be effective at this work is to be devoted to this work. Right now the people of Madagascar come before anything in my life, and that's kind of cool.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Second off, I've realized that there is no one in the world who couldn't benefit from our message. Everyone wants to be carried "beyond the vale of sorrow" (Alma 37:45). There's only one way to do that effectively and eternally.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love all of you so much. I miss all of you. Keep the missionaries in your prayers!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. Sorry, no pictures this week. I'll send some next week.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-49608312860706763062016-01-29T13:49:00.000-08:002016-03-23T13:27:15.520-07:00January 22, 2016 ~ Loving the MTC<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Manahoana Fianakaviana!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm having the time of my life here. I can't believe I've already been here about 2 and a half weeks! My departure date is Feb. 15. THAT MEANS I'M ALMOST HALFWAY THROUGH MY TIME AT THE MTC. The last few days, I've been thinking about the time I've been gone and it actually made me sad, but I was sad because I thought of how much closer I was to having to end my mission! I love the people here (especially the island zone), I love the atmosphere here, I just love being a missionary. I think what I love about it the most is the sense of purpose I feel. I feel like I'm part of something bigger than me, that I can make a difference. I mean, I feel like the people of Madagascar can actually use me, you know? Like at home, the UofA doesn't NEED me, the Canadian Forces don't NEED me, Atmosphere doesn't NEED me, but the people of Mad NEED to hear our message. I know that you guys love me and all that, but you get my point right? It kind of feels like the MTC is a throwback to basic training for WW2. We're all training for one essential purpose, we are all kind of brothers in arms, and no one sits there texting or playing games on their phone all day. It really is amazing how many friends you can make if you just talk to people. I don't miss all the distraction at home. I miss the distractions but not the distraction haha. Does that make any sense?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so about my week. Elder _____ from our district (supposed to go to Florida speaking Haitian Creole) went home to Kansas early this morning. It kind of hit me hard. I loved him. Him and Elder Duvinston were probably the people who we hung out with the most. He struggled because he didn't really have a testimony before he came, and I guess he couldn't gain one quick enough. He said that he's never felt the spirit before. He said he came on a mission because of the pressure he felt from his younger sister who looked up to him. I felt for him a little on the younger sibling front. I just hope he doesn't regret going home for the rest of his life. I'm sure he'll be fine. Could you guys pray for him for me?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Simiskey and Elder Hamon (from Texas and Australia, both heading to Fiji and are our residence mates and zone leaders) are leaving on Monday for their missions. I'm going to miss them and the rest of the Fijian Elders and Sisters. It's hard to get so close to these guys, learn their stories and what they've had to overcome to get here and then watch them leave. They're the best examples to Elder Soper and I, and we're going to strive to be just like them. They're also hilarious. I die laughing like 50 times a day here</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alright so the language. Here's what I find difficult about the language:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- What I talked about before about the vocab being so similar</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- The fact that there are active (I eat the apple), passive (the apple is eaten), and circumstantial (under the tree I eat the apple) verbs. Depending on the type, the verb is completely different, and for passive verbs there is no way to convert from active. Essentially I have to memorize 3 times the amount of verbs as English has. Oh command verbs are different too. Make that 4.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Pronunciation. You know how if I took off the last letter of every word in a sentence you could probably still understand what I was writing? Even if I spoke that way too? Well that's standard in Malagasy. Most of the time, instead of pronouncing the last letter, you kind of blow out air and make the shape with your mouth to say the letter.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We are getting better though. We can teach the first lesson pretty well now, and our grammar and sentence structure is improving. I still struggle a bit with vocab. Bloody Elder Soper and his photographic memory. I'm just kidding, we complete each other pretty well.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for passing along Fitzner's email! It was so good to hear from him and see him at the MTC. Any chance you could send me his email address? He gave me some nibs (the long kind) and I shared them with the zone and they went crazy. They'd definitely appreciate some more if you could send any haha.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-27825279115307142692016-01-15T12:25:00.000-08:002016-03-23T13:28:08.685-07:00January 15, 2016 ~ MTC<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Manahoana!</span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Hey guys! The MTC is still bloody awesome. If I was Elder Hamon I would say "Heaps of awesome". Okay I don't have tons of time so I'm going to try and go through the answers to questions and stuff I want to say.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> First off, the DearElders are so great. Honestly they brighten up my day a ton. Don't worry about sending too many, Elder Soper's family is in Orem like 20 minutes away so they send him like 800 packages a day haha. I'm curious about the delay, I got your most recent one yesterday. When did you send it? Elder Soper and I check the mail twice a day as part of our district leader responsibilities. Maybe could you put a post on the blog asking people to send DearElders instead of emails if possible? It really is handy to be able to read them beforehand and I don't think I'll be able to respond to everyone because of how many emails I got (life of a rock star).</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The address for mailing to the MTC should be in the packet that I left behind. If you wouldn't mind sending a couple things. You were totally right about having "chill" pants for PDay. I'm sorry haha. But could you send my red joggers? If Danny hasn't claimed them already haha. Only if it isn't too expensive. Also, could you send me a picture of the South Africa temple? The one that will be closest to my mission. I want to be able to look at that temple as a goal, the way my investigators will.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm getting a lot to eat. I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my life. I eat like 3 of the meal portions per meal. it's good food though, I can't believe some people complain about it. There are some things you have to avoid because they're made out of like pure sodium or pure lard but other than that it's solid. Plus we get ice cream on Wednesdays. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> My Branch President and his wife (my mission mom and dad) are really amazing people. They care for all of us and tell us that they love us every time they see us.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm not going to lie. The language is really difficult. Especially this last little while. It's been pretty humbling. Especially having Elder Soper as a companion. I'm a pretty good concept learner, but I struggle with pure memorization of vocab. Elder Soper on the other hand, can cram about a billion words that he's only heard once and remember them. Seriously. It's going well though. My teachers are so great. Brother Christansen and Brother Evans. Brother Evans has been acting the part of investigator since we got here but now he's actually doing some of the teaching. He was a pretty intimidating guy to teach.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I can tell that he was a powerful missionary. Same goes for Brother Christansen (sorry not sure if that's spelled right). They're both so cool. The toughest thing for me is that all of the words sound so similar. Like all of the words pretty much go consonant, vowel, consonant, vowel, etc. and all of the present tense verbs start with the same letter. Basically it makes for a lot of vocab that's hard to distinguish between. I'm so grateful for the challenge and opportunity though. It's good to push myself again.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I've gotten to know my district really well too now, and we're all pretty good friends. Other than Soper and I, everyone in the district is speaking Haitian Creole and serving in Florida or New York.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I loved getting all of the messages from all of you. Keep sending me stuff like that. I don't have time to respond individually right now, but I will eventually. I love all of you.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> To end this off I wanted to share something that Brother Evans told us. God gave up 1/3 of his children to uphold agency in his plan. It would be such an insult to him to try and charm people into joining the church. We should also keep this in mind when we get frustrated with other people's decisions. That's the way God wanted it to be, and in the end, it will come down to each of us and God, and only our own choices will matter.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love all of you so much. Elder Schnoor</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hx7Gu60xV8/VplTm97wSkI/AAAAAAAAADk/rfWUazDQbuM/s1600/DSCN0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hx7Gu60xV8/VplTm97wSkI/AAAAAAAAADk/rfWUazDQbuM/s640/DSCN0035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Schnoor and Elder Soper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMzTqQSZbiI/VplUfLJP2GI/AAAAAAAAADw/xXXAbs5yZF0/s1600/DSCN0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMzTqQSZbiI/VplUfLJP2GI/AAAAAAAAADw/xXXAbs5yZF0/s640/DSCN0013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not an easy language!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBa7gAN-VVc/VplTGhhm1bI/AAAAAAAAADM/ynpmhCDfWt8/s1600/DSCN0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBa7gAN-VVc/VplTGhhm1bI/AAAAAAAAADM/ynpmhCDfWt8/s640/DSCN0008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder Soper and Elder Schnoor<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You can write Elder Schnoor during the week and they will print it off for him to read that day at:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">www.dearelder.com</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unit 10</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Departure date for Madagascar February 15th</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257015655396580889.post-54355733414866503342016-01-09T19:05:00.001-08:002016-03-23T13:29:47.315-07:00January 8, 2016 ~ Pure Happiness.<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: large; line-height: normal;">Manahoana Fianakaviana!</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The MTC is everything I expected and more! I better start from the beginning though so I don't forget anything. The flights were good. Fairly uneventful. Like I said on the phone, the first one I was in the row behind first class (lots of foot room) and the seat beside me was empty! After I got to Salt Lake I received my bags without trouble and headed to the shuttle kiosk. This is where I met Elder Castro. Poor guy had no idea what was going on, so we got him a spot on the shuttle to the MTC. He is from Portugal and is going to serve in the New York, New York Mission speaking Portuguese! Really cool guy, and really nice for having gone 2 days without sleep and having the airline lose his bags in Pittsburgh. One more Elder joined us in the shuttle. Elder Samuela (not certain if that's spelled correctly) from Australia. Big Maori guy from Australia. He's heading to the Japan, Kobe mission, speaking Japanese. Really cool guy as well. We survived the shuttle ride (barely). Our driver was crazy. Like if Scrooge and the Grinch had a child... Yeah. But we made it. We arrived at about 12:30AM and they fed us a bit before sending us three off to a temporary room with some other early arrivals. It was neat because all of us in that room were going to different places and were from different places. There aren't many places in the world where you can meet so many outstanding young people that share the same values. Obviously there are a few iffy Elders, but for the most part I look up to everyone around me. Especially those in my branch, which I'll talk about next. On the 6th we were able to meet our teacher (Brother Christansen). He's so great. Really look up to him as well. He's a RM from Mad and attends BYU now as well as working for the MTC. He's studying medicine. My companion also arrived. And guess what!? It's the kid who found me on instagram! Elder Soper is his name. From Orem, Utah. Oh and get this, we're the only one's heading to Mad or learning Malagasy! We get a 1:2 teacher to student ratio! I wasn't expecting such a small class, but it really does help while learning. The teacher will only speak Malagasy to us, so it can be frustrating, but we pray for the gift of tongues every day and night and it helps. I'd like to invite you guys to do that for us as well, pray for us to have the spirit help while we learn and receive the gift of tongues. It really is the only way we'll be ready in 6 weeks. Anyways, about the branch. It's just the best. We're like the island branch. We have all of the Elders going to Fiji, Samoa, Marshall Islands, and the people learning Haitian Creole (although they're going to the US to teach). Everyone here is either Polynesian or now acts like a Polynesian. Everyone's always hugging and telling each other how much they love each other and just about everyone told us when we met them that anything that is theirs is ours as well. They're all amazing, will be fantastic missionaries and inspire me to be a great missionary as well. Our residence (room) has four Elders in it. Elder Simiskey, Elder Hamon, Elder Soper and I. I guess they decided to group all the white elders in our district together haha. Elder S is from Utah and Elder H is from Australia and they're both heading to Fiji in a couple weeks. They're also our Zone Leaders. Elder Soper was just called to be District Leader as well (which means I basically have to do all of the same things because we're always together) and I was called as the Senior Companion. Anyways, I love the people here. I love my companion even though he insists on stopping at every single water fountain. I love The Islanders even though when they hug me they pick me up and spin me around. I love and am grateful for Elder Simiskey and Elder Hamon even though they both snore. I can feel their power when they teach, that's the point I want to reach. To be able to teach with power. The language is daunting, even discouraging at times. It's frustrating because I can't always teach the way I would like to because of the language barrier. Tomorrow we teach our first official lesson. Elder Soper and I are both freaking out a little bit. We just had what has been probably the most spiritual experience so far. This batch of Fijian Elders are leaving, so (as per tradition) we all got together and sang a hymn from each of our languages. The Tongan one was amazing. So powerful, even though we didn't understand/remember what all of the words meant. Our schedules are packed. This work and the people I am working with make me so happy, so don't worry about me. I can already tell this will be the best two years of my life. I'll keep all of you in my prayers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With Love,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Elder Schnoor</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. You can just post this whole letter to the blog. Don't have time to write anything separately.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: large;">P.P.S. I'll try to send pictures next Friday (P day), I need to get someone to show me how.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13211550617624136983noreply@blogger.com1