I'm in Nikunau!

Just a quick update letting you all know that I'm in Nikunau now! I
just arrived this morning. All I have to say is that it is very much
the outer island life. My companion is Elder Baker and he's awesome.
He's also a huge Disney fan. The internet is being really slow today,
so I'll have to update you with more information another time.

Thank you all! I tangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Finally got a baptism!

Mauri!

It's going to be a very sad but exciting last week here in Butaritari. Several families have wanted to hold farewell dinners for me, and there's also one planned for the entire unit the night before I leave. Though it should be fun, it's also going to make it harder to leave.

We finally got a baptism this past Saturday! Elder Osborne and I originally started teaching Teniiti shortly before we left. By the time she was getting close to baptism, school started, so she was always busy and we could never find time to see her. When we first started teaching her, she asked us how quickly she could be baptized, so she was really determined to join the church from the beginning. But the time finally came, and it was amazing seeing the joy on her face.

Yesterday was my last Sunday here, so I took some group pictures with those whom I would be seeing for the last time. The feeling of leaving a second home is just starting to kick in, so hopefully I'm not too much of a mess by the end of the week haha.

Not really much else to report on. My next email should be chock full of new and exciting stuff, so look forward to that. You can also look forward to seeing my new haircut from this morning, because I kinda messed up...

Thank you for all your love and support! I tangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 A WWII memorial in front of the one of the Butaritari primary schools.

 The statue of the memorial

 Teniiti and I just after her baptism

Group picture with the members in Kuma (pronounced koo-meh)

Two Words: ICE CREAM!

The subject title pretty much sums up how great these past two weeks were.

So last week, as shipment of ice cream came in, and we were able to buy some twice for two of our dinners. You can see my sheer joy in the attached photo. One carton cost us $16, but it was totally worth it.

Also another new interesting food item to add to my list is eel. It tastes really good, but there's so many bones that it makes it really tough to eat.

Yesterday was also fun because I helped teach Elder Bataua how to use a clutch for the first time. I had figured if I were to get transferred, someone needed to be able to drive the motorcycle to Kuma every Sunday. We stopped at a stretch of road where no people or houses were at. He was rightfully nervous, but he picked it up very quickly.

I also just found out today that I'm getting transferred the end of this month, but I don't know where to, yet. It's been a great time in Butaritari with lots of great people. Time has gone by REALLY fast, and I'm thankful that that time was spent serving the Lord. One thing I've gained that I wish I had before my mission is confidence, not only in myself, but also in the Lord. Heavenly Father knows us each perfectly and knows what is best for us. As long as remain worthy to hear the promptings of the Spirit, the Lord will always be right by our side. Never once has our Father ever said, "Whoops, didn't mean to let that happen." God knows our eternal potential, and if we follow His will, we can reach it.

Thank you for all your support! I tangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

 Me with a 9 year old boy named Taiketi (ty-kess)

 Me with our beloved ice cream

 A bunch of the members in the back of the truck on the way back from out combined church meeting in Kuma

Some member 'sledding' down a bwabwai (paw-pie) hill