WEEK 6 : CONTINUED- ARRIVED IN PHILIPPINES! MISSIONARY WORK IN THE AIR..

   We get this time to email right now and the next email I send will be from the field so I'm sure I will have cooler stuff to say.  I'm glad I made it to China too. It was such a long flight. 14 hours!! It was ok though. I was able to watch Jungle Book (we got permission to watch Disney movies) and play some games on the screen and the best part was that I was able to give away a book of mormon to a guy named Pier (no idea how to spell it. Its pronounced pee-air) from Denmark.  He was so cool and it wasnt my smoothest but he accepted which was cool. I hope he actually reads it so he can see the change it will have on his life. 
    We got to the Philippines ok and got through immigration and got our stuff. After we exchanged some money and got our ride to the MTC.  The roads are crazy here! people do whatever the heck they want to. It seems like theres no rules.  This one guy was eating a sandwich while weaving while riding a bike which was cool of him but dangerous. The traffic is crazy.  But we eventually got to the MTC and had dinner and they talked to us for a little bit. We're only here a short time but it will be cool. We get to go out proselyting tomorrow which will be scary but exciting. I hope I can keep up with the Tagalog. We get to go to bed a little early tonight because they know we have jet lag.  I'll email again soon from the field and with pictures.

Pagmamahal

Elder Snyder

WEEK 6 : MTC - HEADING OUT TO THE MISSION FIELD!!

   So since Thursday not a lot happened except for preparing to leave. I'm already all packed and ready to go. I cant wait until Wednesday when we get to leave even though it will be a super long flight. We leave september 28 and get there on the 30th. Its going to be rough but so awesome to finally be there.  We saw brother West for the last time yesterday. He was such a great teacher and I'm so thankful for him. He helped us so much spiritually and with Tagalog.  He taught us how to handle jeepneys (basically the filipino bus) and an elder in my district received a ton of cash from his mom in filipino money. When I say a ton I mean a ton. I don't know why she sent it but thats not the point. So Brother West was pretending to drive and we had to pass up money (money that brother West brought) and give it to him so when he wasn't looking we passed up the 20000 pesos (about 450 dollars) and his reaction was so funny. He was so surprised and it was priceless. Its hard to explain but he didn't expect someone to just have this wad of cash. It was awesome. Our last day with Brother Atoigue is today and I'm going to miss him so much too. He's from Guam and so he looks Filipino and he was our first investigator so we thought he was a true Filipino. He has been such a great teacher and so awesome. He's about as tall as a Filipino which means I will be so tall there for once in my life.  
   The MTC is really awesome but I'm ready to leave and be able to teach the people of the Philippines.  The Lord has really helped me here and I know He will help me in the Philippines where it will be even harder.  I love you all and miss you.  Thanks for all the packages and letters. I know you want to know, my district stayed undefeated until we left.

Elder Snyder

Brother Atoigue

Good Friends

We are ready

Super Jase

We are excited

Friend from H.S. 

Friends from H.S. 

Friend from H.S. 

WEEK 5 : MTC - LEAVING EARLY

Hello everyone.
     This week has gone by so fast because I'm so excited. We got our travel plans! Its going to be a long flight and we get to jump 2 days into the future so that's pretty cool. I'll make sure to let you know if anything cool happens in the future. The 3 in a row streak of apostle speakers ended but it was OK because we had Elder Clayton speak of the presidency of the seventy. Every time we have a devotional I feel the Spirit so strong and want to go out and teach the Gospel right then.  Elder and Sister Clayton taught us some great things about serving and working hard and making sure we realize our purpose and do our part to bring others unto Christ. The more I learn to rely on the Savior the more I learn about missionary work.  It is such an important work and I'm so thankful I have the opportunity to serve. I'm very excited and nervous to actually leave next Wednesday. Its going to be so intense arriving into a new culture. I'd say I'm more excited than nervous though.  The MTC is just the same and I'm ready to go teach people the Gospel even if my Tagalog isn't amazing. I'm learning so much still and improving everyday which is good.  

    My district has still been dominating other districts in kickball. We are still undefeated. We have a solid group of athletic guys. Its so fun and I'm going to miss them but half of my district is going to Quezon City so I'll probably  see them again.  Also here at the MTC we teach members over Skype and its really hard. Its hard because it lags. Tagalog is hard enough but when you only get every third word its even harder but we pushed through and just did our best to teach by the Spirit and it was a good lesson. Also, it was so awesome today at the temple because I saw President Beeson!(Stake President) I love him so much and it was so nice to talk with him. Other than that nothing new happened. My next email will be from the Philippines and then it will get more exciting. I love and miss you all. Remember that all things are possible through Christ and that He loves each and every one of us. He wants us all to come unto Him. Alma 26 is an awesome chapter and I bet most people have read it but I encourage you to read it again because there is always something new to learn from the scriptures. Gusto ko pumunta sa pilipinas at mahal ko ang tagalog! Alam ko po na totoo ang simbahan at totoong propeta si joseph smith at isinalin ni joseph smith ang aklat ni mormon sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos. Ang Aklat ni Mormon ay salita ng Diyos. Mahal ko nila. Ingat po.

Pagmamahal

Elder Snyder

WEEK 4 : MTC - TAGALOG FOR SPANISH?

     So this week was an amazing week!  We had the opportunity to hear from THREE apostles!  When it rains it pours I guess.  We had Elder Christoffersen two Tuesdays ago and then Elder Ballard on  Sunday and then Elder Cook this last Tuesday. Its so cool when everyone stands up when they enter and the Spirit enters with them. So cool.  They all spoke on missionary work and being better and what we can do as missionaries. After they speak I always feel the Spirit so strong and feel ready to go baptize all of the Philippines.  This is a marvelous work that brings happiness to others. Elder Cook talked about loving everyone and I've noticed that when I serve and love others it makes everything better and Elder Cook's testimony of the Savior was amazing. His word choice and the power with which he delivered it, was fantastic.  Elder Ballard talked about having a good attitude and being happy on our mission and the importance of working hard. He also reminded us of the authority and power we have to declare the gospel as representatives of Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful that they could speak to us and uplift us. 

      Tagalog is coming along a lot better.  Its starting to not seem as made up anymore. When I first got here it seemed like there were no rules but now I'm understanding it so much better and teaching is way better.  I leave to the Philippines in less than 2 weeks and I know I'm trying my hardest with the language and preparing but I already know its going to be a humbling experience. Not just with the language but for life.  So when I first got to the MTC I kept mixing up Spanish with Tagalog but I talked to this lady that spoke Spanish this week and I kept mixing up Tagalog for Spanish so that's a good sign hopefully.  My district has also been playing the other districts in kickball and so far we are undefeated. My district is awesome and I couldn't have asked for better Elders to be around me.  I've been able to see a ton of friends here which is always fun.  The time is going by so fast and I love this work even if its hard sometimes, but its meant to challenge us and make us better. Always remember the Lord is there to help you.  Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.  Such a great and powerful phrase. Sa pamamagitan ng pagbabayad-sala ni Jesucristo magiging mas mabuti. I love you all and miss you. (Mahal ko sila!)

Ingat po,

Elder Snyder

I found a place to hang this hammock

Look, I'm in a cocoon

Lord of the Rings cartoon, "You shall not pass"

I like my drawing

Good Friend

Quick Selfie

Kickball Competition in Progress

The Boys from H.S.

Everyone has to do it

WEEK 3 : MTC - NO LONGER "NEWBIES"

    Hello everyone! The MTC is awesome.  We are now the veteran Tagalog speakers here at the MTC.  The other guys left yesterday and the newbies came yesterday.  I can see the shock in their eyes of what they're about to do.  We're professionals now I guess. The time has been going by way faster.  It feels like I just wrote home yesterday. Tagalog is still really hard and seems partially made up but I'm understanding so much now. Teaching in Tagalog isn't as hard, its still hard though.  
    Our investigator Jomar and Ronald are progressing nicely especially because we can say more and more in Tagalog.  The devotionals this week were phenomenal! The Sunday devotional was Chad Lewis who gave us great advice and shared awesome mission stories.  He made sure we knew not to waste a single minute of our mission.  Its all about hard work. Tuesday devotional was even better.  Elder Christofferson showed up and it was broadcast to the MTC's throughout the world.  He is called of God and is an apostle of God.  His testimony and witness is so strong and I know the church is true.  I'm so happy we have apostles and prophets today.  He spoke of repentance in missionary work.  It is so important for missionaries to teach it but also important for everyone to remember. We need to be constantly striving to be better and turning towards God. Elder Christofferson said that it is better to be trusted than to be loved.  Its great advice and requires some thought but I know it to be true.  He also said something grandpa has been saying to me for a while. He said "be the kind of missionary so the mission president can send you anywhere and know you can be trusted."  Really powerful.  I'm so happy to be serving a mission.  Also my district is awesome. We got our teacher to teach us all kinds of funny things. The whole experience here is awesome! Hard, but awesome.  I love everyone and miss you all.  

Elder Snyder

Tagalog brothers

WEEK 2 : MTC - BED BUGS?

    The MTC is way better now.  This last week has been awesome and hard.  Its hard learning the language because its so weird but I love learning how to say new things. Teaching is getting better in Tagalog.  Teaching is actually fun and I'm so excited to be able to teach real investigators in the Philippines.  They are going to be so awesome.  The room next to mine got bed bugs which was weird and freaky but my bed is safe for now.  Hopefully it will stay that way.  My district is awesome. We've all become such good friends in such a short amount of time.  I guess thats what happens when you're basically always together.  We had a great Sunday devotional and  Tuesday devotional. I always look forward to them.  They are so spiritually uplifting and comforting and motivate you to work even harder. Richard J. Maynes spoke on Tuesday about missionary work and it was awesome.  He talked about the worth of one soul and how much missionary work can bless me but especially the people I will teach.  The MTC is just the same old schedule so there's not a lot of new stuff that happens here.  The temple was great as always and we ate lunch at the temple after the session and it was heavenly.  So good.  It is always great to have real food.      Our teachers names are Brother West and Brother Atoigue. (AH-TOY-GWEE) he is so funny and they're both great teachers. In one week we'll be the most senior Tagalog speaking missionaries at the MTC so that will  be cool.  There's no way I could learn Tagalog as fast as I am without help from the Lord.  There's no other way. I'm nowhere close to as good as I was with spanish and spanish words keeping popping into my head but it'll pass.  Its funny when I'm teaching I'll want to say something and not know how and accidently start saying it in Spanish and then have to backtrack and start over. Everyone here is awesome and it is such a spiritual place even if it does work you to death. Also I'm a  professional with throwing sun chips like a ninja star. No big deal.​  ​I'm so happy to be here and I hope everyone has a great week.  

Elder Snyder