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