Happy New Years!

Mauri n te ririki ae boou!

I hope everyone is enjoying their last few hours of 2017. We're enjoying 2018 on this side of the world. Not too much has changed. All the members in our ward are having a campout to celebrate Christmas and New Years. They started Friday night and are going until Tuesday. We've been able to stop in here and there and see how everyone's doing. They're having a lot of fun it seems like with lots of food and games.

This past week was amazing. We just had a baptism on Saturday. Maiango, and her daughter Augustina got baptized. They are so awesome and have such strong testimonies in the gospel. I love them so much. Maiango shared with us what really changed her. She told us how she always hated the Mormons and was really strong in the Kiribati Protestant Church. Her first husband passed away just after getting baptized many years ago, and she was distraught. For many years she wouldn't have anything to do with the LDS Church. Her son, Tiibeti, a member, told his mom that they could be sealed in the temple for eternity with her past husband, but she didn't believe him. Tiibeti later left on a mission for England and came back earlier this year. He was eventually able to convince his mom to start taking lessons. They were in Eita when they started taking lessons and Tiibeti was very proactive about making sure they got fellowshipped there. After their first lesson they moved to Ambo. They were so busy with stuff in the Eita ward that we didn't really get to start lessoning with them until a few weeks ago. They were solid from the start. Maiango said her heart really changed when she received a confirmation that she could see her husband again. They continued no problems with lessons, Tiibeti helping Maiango and Augustina to really know the material and make sure they were reading and such. It was such a blessing to be able to see them change so much in just a few weeks. They radiate now with so much joy. I'm so happy to have seen them get baptized. I love them so much and am so happy for them.

It such a blessing to be able to preach a truth that no other church in the world can claim: that families can be together forever. I know with all my heart that I can see my family again after this life and that we can be together for eternity. I'm especially grateful to be able to share that message with the people of Kiribati.

I tatangiringkami! Have a happy New Years!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Pretend lesson with Maiango and Augustina (taken by Tiibeti)

 A Christmas party for our dinner

 A double layer devil's chocolate cake that Elder Dale and I made for the baptismal service. It was sooo good, and I'm sure it was the best thing Kiribati people have ever tasted

Elder Dale and I with Maiango and Augustina at their baptism

Merry Christmas!!

Mauri everyone and Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has had a nice Christmas! Things have been going great out here. Elder Dale and I have been keeping extremely busy working in our area. We have two baptisms coming up this Saturday, M'aiango and her daughter Augustina. They are way solid and I've really enjoyed teaching them. It's practically been like teaching members since M'aiango's son is a return-missionary. They know the gospel so well and have such a strong testimony in it. I love them so much and am continually impressed by the progress they've made.

I was also impressed with an investigator we have named Bieeta. He's currently working on quitting smoking and really wants to get baptized. Out of the blue, he told us that he set a goal for himself to quit smoking by January 1st and has been praying for help to meet that goal. Most people have to be given a goal, so I found that extremely impressive. It also reminded me of the importance of goal setting and how God will help us achieve those goals if we ask Him. As missionaries, we are constantly setting goals for new investigators and such. It's easy to forget that God can help us reach our goals, even if it seems like we have no control. I've really enjoyed working with Bieeta. He loves lessoning with us.

I had a great Christmas. We all came out to Moroni High School and were blessed to have the senior couples prepare an amazing lunch for us. I was also privileged to Skype my family today and I was so happy to see them. It was hard keeping myself from using Kiribati words they didn't understand haha.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas! I tatangiringkami! Remember the true meaning of Christmas!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 We got some major flooding this past from a ton of rain overnight

 A pig peeking over it's stall

 A rat stuck in the bottom of our truck. Not sure how it got there...

Cinnamon rolls we made for breakfast at our house

Busy Christmas Season

Mauri kain abau! Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. Even though I'm a missionary working 24/7, I can still feel the Christmas spirit. It's such a wonderful time of year. So much joy and thanksgiving. I'm especially grateful to be able to spend this Christmas season bringing others closer to Christ, the true spirit of Christmas.

This week has gone very well. Work has been picking up in Ambo. We've got so many amazing investigators right now and I love them all so much. We've been working with the ward to get the truck to drive every Sunday picking people up from Ambo, so hopefully we'll start seeing more of our investigators at church. We have quite a few baptisms scheduled for the coming weeks, so here's hoping.

We have some amazing investigators, M'aiango and her 11-year old daughter Augstina, who I just love to teach. Not only is it because they have such an intense desire to learn, but M'aiango also has a return missionary son, Tiibeti, who helps as well. Tiibeti knows how the lessons work, so before our next visit, he prepares them so they basically know everything before we teach them. They are such great people and I can't wait to see them enter the waters of baptism.

Have a Merry Christmas season! I hope at least some of you get a white Christmas because I know I won't be getting one haha. I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Korere's and Tekanuea's family that we had dinner with this past week

 Departing missionaries in our District

 A Tarawa sunset with its trashy beaches also visible

Elder Miller (he was an Assistant to the President who also stayed in our house) 

who just headed home today

Great Progress This Week

Mauri everyone!

Hope everyone has been enjoying the colder weather. Things have been going well out here in the middle of the pacific. We've been staying very busy and have seen some excellent progress lately.

Yesterday on Sunday, we found out the truck didn't drive down to Ambo to pick up members since the driver went to Marshall Islands for vacation. We were very disappointed, thinking we wouldn't have any investigators show up. You can imagine our surprise when we saw two of our investigators, a mother and her daughter, show up walking. Keep in mind Ambo it's about a 30 minute walk from the chapel and that's a long distance for Kiribati people. They are so awesome and we are looking forward to seeing them baptized in the coming weeks.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season and remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you all for everything! I tatangiringkami! Tekeraoi ami tai n te Kiritimati!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 The warnings for a chinese block stacking toy called "Wise Toy". Gotta love chinese translations

 A breadfruit tree next to our chapel that is overloaded with breadfruit

 The Tarawa West Stake Center where we meet for church every Sunday

The apartment we stay in. No one currently lives in the upper floor

Mini Zone Conference and New Companion

Mauri!

This week has been a great and busy (as always) week. We had a mini Zone Conference this past Wednesday, mainly so departing missionaries this transfer (6 weeks) would get a chance to bear their testimonies before leaving. We basically had a review of what we learned in the Mission Tour and how to apply it. Good things to remember. The Book of Mormon is the most important conversion tool we have and we should never be afraid to share it with anyone. The Assistants also presented a PowerPoint for Year-To-Date Totals which, because circumstances allowed, I was able to help make. I helped make the number for the total number of baptisms for the year come out of a Christmas present box. President Larkin was impressed. It felt good being able to help out again using my computer knowledge, which is something I don't get to use very much in this mission.

My companion, Elder Rowsell, flew out to Abemama this past Friday. Elder Dale is my new companion and also District Leader. He's from Arizona. This is his first time serving in Tarawa, so I'm helping him adjust to a more modern life.

Not much else to add. I've been reading in The Infinite Atonement lately, and excellent book discussing the power of Christ's Atonement. I recently read how His Atonement has to power to bring peace of mind. Many people sometimes fall into the trap of believing their sins will never be forgiven, or that we've gone just beyond the scope of Christ's reach, but when we truly understand the power of His Atonement, we can know that any sin can be forgiven if we turn our hearts to Him. He loves us infinitely and will always beckon us towards Him with outstretched arms.

Hope you all have a merry Christmas season! I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Elder Rowsell and I wearing Captain America shirts, one of which he got from his girlfriend

 An old World War 2 artifact

 Cool sunset picture

Elder Dale and I waiting in the internet cafe

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mauri Everyone!

I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving! I had an amazing Thanksgiving out here in Kiribati. Our district (consisting of missionaries serving from the town of Ambo to the town of Bairiki) came together Thursday evening for a Thanksgiving dinner together. Everyone pitched in food and it turned out great. We had gone on a hunt on Tarawa trying to find as much Thanksgivingy white people food on Tarawa as we could, and we managed to have turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, watermelon, stuffing, Oreos, apple cobbler, and spaghetti. It was sooo good!

I also had a great birthday. The other elders in my apartment got a white people cake for me and some ice cream.

Also rather random, but while we were out working, a member who just got back from Fiji was driving by and gave Elder Rowsell and I cheeseburgers to sample. He's starting up a cheeseburger shop in Bairiki, so that's way exciting.

Work has been going well here in Ambo. Just got word that my companion Elder Rowsell will be getting transferred to Abemama this Friday and Elder Dale will be my new companion and the new District Leader.

Not much else to report for now. Thank you all so much for everything! I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Birthday breakfast of grilled nutella sandwiches

 Me with my birthday cake

 Our thanksgiving dinner

The cheeseburger

Thank you everyone!

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! It's hard to believe I'm no longer a teenager. Where has the time gone?

This past week has been good. Extremely busy, especially since we decided to start packing in our days more with lessons. The only problem was my bicycle got a flat tire and we had no wrench in the house to fix it. Let me just say we did a lot of walking. Luckily our area isn't too large, so it wasn't too bad. Everything worked out otherwise. We got one wrench that was a cheap chinese product and bent. We finally got a big sturdy wrench from a member yesterday and were able to patch up my tire yesterday. Unfortunately, now both of our bikes have flat tires again, so we might have to wait for new tubes this time. No worries, though. The work will always continue on.

Thanksgiving is coming up and I bet you're all excited. Our district is have a Thanksgiving dinner together and we're all pitching in for food. We're bringing as much good I-Matang (white people) food as we can, so it's going to be way good.

Not much else to report on. Have a happy Thanksgiving. I guess next week Christmas season will be starting for some people (I'm one of those people). Crazy.

Thank you so much for everything! I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Our dinner with one of our investigators. Little did she know it's set up a lot like a date

Rain cloud by the shore

Mission Tour

Mauri kain Amerika!

It's been a great week as always. It was especially great having a mission tour this past Thursday. All the missionaries from Christmas and Outer Islands came out for it. Elder Ardern of the Area Seventy and his wife came for the mission tour. We all came together for a conference where they taught us. They did an excellent job and gave some very insightful advice for working as a missionary.

At one point, while teaching about the importance of the Book of Mormon as a conversion tool, he asked the Assistants to pick to 'seasoned' missionaries to come up. Of course Elder Miller and Elder Barker picked Elder Rowsell and I (we all live in the same house, along with the West Zone Leaders; it's a lot of fun). We ended up having to teach about the Book of Mormon to Elder Ardern in front of all the other missionaries. It was a little rough having to do it in English, since I of course have never taught in that language before. It went pretty well though, and it was kind of fun getting put on the spot like that.

Something really sad happened a week or so ago. One of our investigators, Taani, passed away after overexerting himself at a ward exercise activity. He had been taking lessons with the missionaries for a while. He had just had a big change of heart, too, a week before passing away. No doubt he is being taught on the other side. We were able to help decorate his grave with flowers for a service.

We also had another baptism this past week. He's a 13-year old boy named Kansam. He and his brother (who is a fully active return missionary) live with their aunt and uncle's family. It was great to be able to see him make his baptismal covenant with his Heavenly Father.

Not much else to report on. Hope everything is going well out there in America. Don't forget your daily scripture study in the Book of Mormon! It really makes a difference.

Thank you all for everything! I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Taani's grave

 Intake picture after the mission tour conference

 Us with Kansam and his brother who performed the baptism

Clouds

Mission Tour Coming Up!

Mauri Everyone!

This past week has been a very busy but awesome week. One of our investigators, Tokataake, got baptized this past Saturday, which was way exciting. His wife was less-active before, but they're now both way strong in the church. Tokataake will be a great addition to the ward.

We've also go a Mission Tour coming up this Thursday. An area seventy will be coming out for it. Everyone from Kiritimati and outer islands are coming in, so it should be a lot of fun. What'll be interesting, though, is that the area 70 is supposed to be checking all of our apartments, and with 12 elders staying in our house right now, it'll be a miracle if the apartment is still standing by the time he checks it.

Not much else to report on. We have some more baptisms scheduled for this month, so hopefully all goes well with that.

I tatangiringkami! Thank you for everything!

Pictures

 Was a witness for the marriage of one of Tokataake with his wife (they had been living together but never married. An extremely common problem in Kiribati)

 Tokataake's baptism (the one in the baptismal suit on the right is Tokataake)

Our daily commute going from our house in Banraeba to our area of Ambo

Great Week (I've run out of cool subject titles...)

Mauri kain Amerika!

This past week has been great as always and extremely busy. It just blew by so fast, I'm worried how fast the rest of the mission is going to go by.

We had a cool experience a few days ago where Elder Rowsell and I were headed to a lesson, and someone on the street ask where we were heading. He said he wanted lessons and to meet him at his house sometime. We found out he had taken lessons in Butaritari almost ten years ago. He had never gotten baptized, but his wife did. He seems pretty solid. It's pretty awesome when the Lord just hands you people that are ready, though that usually not how it happens haha.

A mission tour is coming up with a member of the seventy coming, and all the missionaries are going to be flying into Tarawa starting this week, so that'll be fun. Our house is going to be packed...

Thank you all for everything! Remember your daily prayer and scripture study! I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

Our investigator, Borita, who just recently flew back to his home island of Nikunau

(sorry I wasn't good about taking pictures this week.........)

Doing Great in Ambo

Mauri!

Things are going great here in Ambo! We've been getting a lot of work done. One of our investigators, Borita, a very nice old man who is an amazing investigator, will sadly be moving back to his home island of Nikunau. He will be a great addition to the small unit in Nikunau.

We had Stake Conference this past Sunday. It was pretty good. A member of the Seventy, Elder Sinjoux, came and spoke. From what I heard, it was a good conference. The kids in the back were really loud, so I wasn't able to hear much. He did make some good points though about helping people stay in the church and keep our testimonies.

We also had another Zone Conference this past Wednesday. Lots of good training and such about not being afraid to open your mouth. It was a good reminder for me to know that despite my weaknesses, the Lord will help make up for what I can't do myself, and I can become stronger because of it.

Think that's all for this week. Thank you all for everything! I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Our Hawaiian Pizza Stew that we made (spam, canned pineapple, canned tomatoes, 

onions, and pieces of toast). It was WAY good!

 Goodbye party for Elder and Sister Olson

Me with Elder Lutz, who is leaving in a few weeks, and Elder Timothy

One Year on Kiribati! - Teuana te Riririki iaon Kiribati!

Mauri kain Amerika!

Things have been going great here in Ambo! Extremely busy. We have a sizeable investigator pool, most of them rather new, so it'll probably be a little bit before we start seeing baptisms. This week is zone conference, which should be fun.

It's been a rather quick transition moving to Ambo. I know that Lord has helped me adjust despite the sudden move. It also helps that my living conditions have improved. We now have air conditioning, washing machines, and a hot shower. It's also nice living with other missionaries that know how to work hard (West Zone Leaders and Assistants to the President). Transfers are this week and I'm staying in Ambo. I look forward to furthering the work in this area with Elder Rowsell.

Last week I hit one year on Kiribati! (Elder Rowsell as well since he's in my intake.) It's incredible seeing how much I've grown in the past year as a missionary and as a person. I learned so much, and yet I still have a lot to learn. These next 10 months are going to go by so fast, but I'm excited for what they will hold and what I'll learn in that time. Being a missionary has never been easy. It's a lot of hard work. But what I've gained from this experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

I guess I might as well share my testimony in Kiribati since I've reached one year:

I kan tibwawa au koaua bwa I kakoaua bwa te Ekaretia aei e boni koaua. I kakoaua bwa te Atua ao Iesu Kristo a boni maiu. A tatangirira ni kabane. Iesu Kristo e bon ara tia kamaiu. I kakoaua bwa Ana Boki Moomon e boni koaua. I a tia n wareki, ao I a tia n tataroakina, I ataia ma nanou ni kabane bwa e boni koaua. I kakoaua bwa Iotebwa Timiti bon ana burabeti te Atua. Ana Ekaretia Iesu Kristo e kaokaki rinanona. I kakoaua nabe bwa Thomas S. Monson bon ana burabeti te Atua, ao ngkana ti ongo ana taeka teuai, ti bon ongo ana taeka te Atua. I kan kaotia bwa I tatangiringkami. Ao aio au koaua n aran ara Tia Kamaiu ae Iesu Kristo, Amen.

Kam rarabwa! I tatangiringkami! Tekeraoi ngkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Our whiteboard in our house, my companion is the District Leader

 World Post Day banner at the post office in Bairiki

Our one year anniversary / Fiji Day dinner

General Conference Week!

Mauri everyone!

This past week was a great week, especially with being able to watch general conference. Probably one of the best conferences I've been to. There were so many amazing talks. I was especially touched in the end when Elder Anderson read from Elder Hales' prepared talk at the end of conference. Definitely a conference to remember.

Things have been going well in Ambo. We've been picking up some more investigators in hopes of reaching our baptismal goal. One of our investigators, Borita, is amazing. He's from Nikunau and is such a great guy. He truly has an open heart and I can't wait for further lessons with him.

Also found out on LDS.org that Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price finally got translated into Kiribati!! Now we just have to wait until they start getting printed. They are at least available online for now.

Sorry, time got away from me again. Life is so much busier when you're not on an outer island. Hope everyone is doing well! I tangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Emergency Transfers!

Sorry this email is going to be short again...but I'm doing great! I just got emergency transferred today to Ambo, Tarawa to take the place of an elder who went home temporarily due to medical reasons. I'm now companions with Elder Rowsell, who was with me at the same time in the MTC.

It was really sad leaving Buota under such short notice. I didn't even get to say good-bye to anyone. I really loved the people there. But that's just the life of a missionary. Things like that will happen, and you just have to push through and deal with it. I'm excited for the opportunity, though, to be able to work in a new area with new people.

I tangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Had a baby named after me (okay, its just his middle name, but I still think it's cool)

 Our fridge in Buota. "Only the essentials" as they said

 Group picture with all the elders staying with me in the Buota house

Sorry...out of time

Sorry not much time left to email today. But know that I'm doing great!

Work has been going well. Still working on getting our investigators to church. We also had a branch party this past Saturday, but because it didn't end up starting until 9pm, the time missionaries are supposed to return to their apartments, we didn't get to attend. Tai ni Kiribati (island time) can be a pain sometimes haha.

I've also found out that it's very likely I'll be training when the new intake comes in a few weeks from now, so wish me luck! I'll definitely be working hard to prepare myself for that.

I tangiringkami! Sorry I didn't have time to share more...

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 -Attend the baptism for the other elders staying at our house

 Walking because we only have two bicycles. 

We have Elder visiting for a few days from Abaiang

 Picture of our house from the outside

 The Man Cave, a small room where we keep our fridge, our only small sofa, and dresser

My First Zone Conference

Mauri!

This past week has over all been pretty great. Last Wednesday I was able to attend my first zone conference, which is kinda funny since I'm already over halfway through my mission. It was a really great experience, though. I learned a ton and really enjoyed it. Basically the overall highlight was how important it was to have the Spirit with you as a missionary. Everything leads back to having the Spirit. If you don't strive to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, you're not really going to get anywhere. The Spirit is essential to having a lasting conversion. No one should be deprived of that opportunity.

We also had a bunch of new Elders come in from the MTC. I haven't been assigned to train a new elder yet, but probably will be in the coming transfers as more and more missionaries come in. It'll be a challenge, but I know I'll definitely grow a lot from it.

Not really much else to highlight from this past week. We've been working hard and currently have a large investigator pool. Hopefully we'll be able to get some ready for baptism soon.

I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 At the end of Zone Conference. Missionaries that will be leaving before the next Zone Conference

 Our house flag. The wind kinda blew it into our ceiling fan...

Random selfie