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