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

Work going great in Buota

Mauri Everyone!

Sorry I didn't have a chance to send a group email last week. It's been good here. Very busy. But I finally have time to explain more about where I am and everything.

I work in Buota, toward the northern end of Tarawa, with Elder Lutz from Utah. Our area also covers Abatao and Tabetuea, which we only visit on Tuesdays and Fridays since we have to cross some water to get there, and we have more work in Buota. When it's low tide, we walk through knee-high water and carry our bicycles to get to Abatao and Tabetuea. For high tide, we have to pay a canoe to carry us and our bikes over.

I've enjoyed working here with Elder Lutz. We've gotten some good work done and have some solid investigators right now. One of them, Timea, has already gotten through half the Book of Mormon in just a couple weeks. We invited him to church last Sunday, but wasn't able to make it. We saw him later in the week on his motorcycle, and in front of a bunch people non-members, apologized to us that him and his family weren't able to make it to church that Sunday, but would be there the following Sunday. It's so great having investigators who understand the importance of fearing God more than man. That's probably the problem most Kiribati people have, is being to afraid of other people. It's always important to remember that it doesn't really matter what other people think of you. What really matters is what your Heavenly Father thinks of you. He's the one you should really be trying to impress.

Transfers are coming up this week, and...I'm staying with Elder Lutz in Buota. I'm excited to be working another transfer here with Elder Lutz.

I think that's everything I have to share for now. I tatangiringkami!

Elder Schoeny

Pictures

The majority of the members back in Nikunau

Baptism pictures with Elder Lutz from several weeks ago

A bridge we have to cross to get between Abatao and Tabiteuea 

when the tide is too high