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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I would rather be ashes than dust!
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.
- Jack London
Mazatoa!
Elder Schnoor
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| My friends. (girl in back had her face traditionally painted, so beautiful) |
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| Elder Schnoor is in heaven with the bugs and wildlife. My original nature boy. |
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| Bull Wrestling. |
So good to hear of your experiences Elder Schnoor and see pictures of the people whom you know.
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