WEEK 13: TRANSFERS ARE HERE... I'M STAYING, GETTING NEW COMPANION

  So last Monday we taught a new investigator named Carlos Calvo, who is a member referral. member referrals are awesome and help so much. I encourage everyone to help the missionaries as much as possible. It was a good lesson. Our number of progressing investigators is growing. I'm so thankful to the Lord for helping us.  
    I had to get some pants sewed and the member didn't want to have us pay but when we shook hands we gave her some money. It was funny. Like a sneaky deal and she was like ano ba iyan? It was funny. 
    Tuesday we taught Leonard. He told us of his cool experience with prayer about the Book of Mormon. He said he had been praying for a couple weeks but really only prayed the right way when he was with us. He said when he was at home he prayed like the Catholics do. This particular night he tried it the right way with true intent and he got chills and felt so happy and good. It was so cool to hear him tell us about it. He is really becoming converted and getting so ready for his baptism.  
    Wednesday we had such great weather that felt so nice. The sun was out, there was a slight breeze and it wasn't too hot.  We had a good full day of teaching progressing investigators and new people. There's so many people here. Our  area is huge. Then as we were returning there was this British guy that's living here that wanted to talk to us and we had talked before so we were like why not. He was cool. But as we got in he started trying to bible bash. I wanted to so bad but I didn't. It wouldn't have done any good. We listened and just tried to get to know him. As we left we found out that he was a famous boxer. His name is Paul Huggins. He's cool but doesn't believe all the right things.  He has the coolest accent though. 
    Thursday we had zone interviews, which went well.  President Koster is so awesome. Hes always so happy and helping and teaching us.  We taught some good people later that day. We are teaching a family named bato bato which translates to rock rock. haha its funny.  I'm loving my area and am loving the work more and more even though its hard work.  
    We had a huge tender mercy on Friday, we found a family of 8. Its a classic filipino family. the whole family is living in one little place. We've found families like this but their not always all interested. This was awesome because they were all interested. So awesome. The Lord blesses us greatly, if we are patient.  
    I had exchanges with elder forsberg on Saturday,he was with me in the MTC. It was cool to go out with him. Two white guys preaching the gospel in Tagalog. It was fun.  I taught the restoration that day better than I ever have in Tagalog. The gift of tongues is real.  Members are still taking pictures with me and stuff. Its kinda funny. Its still weird to have people recognizing me everywhere. Our investigator, Gomar passed his baptismal interview.  We had a lot of investigators at church which was awesome.  I will be the one baptizing Gomar. I'm so excited. Its awesome. I'm so happy he's decided to be baptized. He's so humble and changed. 
    I had exchanges with elder baldemore again. we taught some good lessons. this one lesson was so funny. we taught at a members house with an old tatay and nanay member. we turned to the tatay to ask him to share an experience and he just started reading randomly out of the Book of Mormon. I almost lost it. I kept a straight face though. It was so funny and then later in the lesson he just got up and went to the corner and peed. Filipino houses are small so the CR is just in the corner sometimes. It was so funny but I seemed to be the only one so I kept it in. Just another cultural thing I guess.     It was a good week. This morning we got the transfer assignments. I will be staying but I will get a new companion. I'm nervous to lead the area because its so big and I'm still kinda new but I'll be alright. The Lord knows I can do it. It will be a good experience. I love you all.  Keep working hard and trust in the Lord always. He knows whats best. He has a plan that's perfect. Being a missionary and always teaching the lessons reminds me of how important simple truths are. If you are having a hard time I encourage you to study the plan of salvation and think about how the plan is perfect and how much our Heavenly Father loves us. That's it. Until next week. 

Elder Snyder

Balut that I ate

My District

WEEK 12 : EVERYONE IS STARING AT ME....

     On Tuesday we had a service project. It was nice. We got the whole district involved. It was really fun. This lady was moving about a quarter mile away and so we helped her carry everything from one little apartment to another on the third floor.  I've never had to move someone without a truck. It was harder but nice because we had everyone there. always feels great to serve.  I also had exchanges with elder Baldemore on Tuesday. I have a lot of exchanges because Elder Enari is district leader. Its okay. Kinda hard cause I like staying in my area. Its always so nice when I get to come back to my area.  I usually leave my area but this time Elder Baldemore came to my area for exchanges. I had to lead the area. Luckily we found everything in the maze of houses here. It was good. We taught some good lessons.  
    On Wednesday Elder Enari and I contacted a referral from headquarters. She wanted a book of mormon but said shes recovering from an injury right now so we will visit her again when shes all better. We got a referral from a sister in our ward and we visited them on Wednesday as well.  It was awesome because it was a family. We found a new family which is so awesome. The problem with a lot of Filipinos is getting a return appointment when they're available. They're not always reliable on the return appointment even if they really do have a desire to hear the gospel.  My umbrella broke already so I bought one for 100 piso. That's about 2 dollars here. most everything is so cheap but because of that we aren't living like kings. Still need to budget because they adjust our support accordingly.  
    On Thursday I had exchanges with elder Pagador.  The Philippines city is fun because its a maze and there's so many side streets that lead to compounds full of people.  We walked along a wall of a canal that was like 10 feet up. It wasn't us being dumb. It was the actual way/sidewalk that people used. It was made for people to walk along. So funny. The city organization is so random so it can be hard to know where you're going and very easy to get lost.  That night Elder George made doughnuts. He made them from scratch. They were so good! I ate so many. He's from the cook islands. His doughnuts are legendary. 
    On Friday we worked hard and taught some lessons and were able to give a blessing. Its always a very cool experience. The priesthood really is the power of God and we need to always be worthy to use it to bless others. Friday was also the day the TV episode came out. I was so nervous. There was a preview released on YouTube that a member showed me. It looked good. I still haven't even seen the final product but I hear about it from everyone. Its crazy.       So on Saturday people would recognize me and do double takes.  They would even stop to take pictures, haha that was a new experience. I guess it was good. It made me feel better because I didn't want to make a fool out of myself.  Everyone was calling me an artist. haha the Flipinos are so funny. I love them so much. I was also on exchanges with elder Espana. I went on a lot of exchanges this week because the filming messed up the schedule.  It was a good day. We found a family in elder Espana's area. They're so cool. It will be good. I'm excited for them even though they're not in my area.  One thing about the Filipinos is that they love their music. They just blast it all the time. They blast it in jeeps and in their houses and its so funny when they do videoke.  They turn it up all the way and don't care who hears them even when they're bad at singing haha. 
   On Sunday I saw my first glimpse of a cock fight. We just walked by one and I saw this guy throw his dead,bleeding rooster in the water off of the path. He was angry and the roosters blood was everywhere. Its intense.  Church was crazy because almost every member wanted to talk to me about the interview. So many people taking pictures of me. haha even bishops of other wards. I hope it really inspires our ward to help us out. They've been helping a lot even before that so now we will get a ton of referrals and work with them a lot.  We taught great lessons too. We taught Roberto who is progressing and reading the book of mormon. We're going to give him a baptismal date next visit. We also taught the Batobato family who is so awesome, so receptive and kind.  They accepted a baptismal date. I'm so grateful we found them. 
   Our area had to be built from almost nothing. we were patient and worked hard and I can see the Lord blessing us with people he has prepared and helping us. Our area is awesome.  We taught Jomar who was actually a former investigator,  he had been taught everything but didn't have a testimony. We began teaching him again on exchanges with elder Baldemor, we reviewed the restoration and I invited him to read and pray about the book of mormon and then on our visit yesterday he says he knows its all true and we were able to move his baptismal date from December to November. It will be in about 2 weeks. We can feel the power of his testimony and how the gospel changes lives. It made me so happy. I'm so happy for him and thankful.  

   Its weird how everyone knows me. But we're going to use it for finding. Its a great missionary tool. I'm glad I had the opportunity.  The Lord really knows what we need and what we can handle. In the interview my Tagalog wasn't amazing but after I've felt way more comfortable making mistakes in Tagalog and speaking to people. It really helped me progress as a missionary. I'm so thankful.  In the video we didn't really go to the poor parts but when we do see the super poor people I feel so humble. It really makes me appreciate everything I have and makes me want to help them and share the gospel so it can bless their lives.  Its awesome here. I'm  almost done with my first transfer.  I love you all. Keep working hard and remember that Jesus is the Christ and He is always there to strengthen us and help us.

Elder Snyder

WEEK 11: I GOT MIC'D UP, I PHONES, DRIVE A CAR...

   So last p day we were getting haircuts and president called us.  Elder Enari answered and was talking to him. Thats when President told us that we were going to be on TV and he had prayed and choose us. I didn't really believe Elder Enari. I didn't believe him until he mentioned it in a prayer before we went out to work that night. Then I knew it was for real and I was so confused. All we knew was that we were going to be on tv and to report to the mission home the next day. 
   So Tuesday I was out of my comfort zone. We were at public affairs and they were briefing us and teaching us a little about media and stuff. It was me, Elder Enari and two sisters.  We were all foreigner companionships. After they briefed us we met the crew and got to eat a good lunch. We're in the city now. There was a restaurant and I ordered a pulled pork grilled cheese. It was so good!  Then we went back to the MTC. I just can't seem to get out of there completly haha. They had us simulate sending email and doing laundry and stuff. They wanted to see what missionary life was like for the foreigners learning Tagalog. So we would simulate everything. Eveything was so staged. We thought they were going to follow us proselyting on wednesday but they threw us a curveball and changed it to Tuesday night. That was stressful.We were able to make an appointment with a recent convert and they were ok with the cameras being there.  So we went back to our area.  We did a quick language study for the cameras. Its so hard to focus with the lights in your face and the camera zooming in on you. Its also so weird.The last thing I expected on my mission.  After that we went out to the appointment and as we walked there we tried talking to people on the streets but they are so distracted by the lights and cameras that they don't talk much.  So we got to the appointment and taught about the temple and it was actually a pretty good lesson. Presidnet was with us and his Tagalog is awesome and hes so good at speaking. It was cool to spend the whole day with President. He is so awesome. 
   On Wednesday we reported to the mission home again in the morning. Lots of traveling this week.  We got breakfast there. It was so good.That made two days in a row with breakfast at the mission home.  We then went to the area office again. So today I was so nervous because the night before they said I was the focus and I would be the only one interviewed. A bit scary, actually a lot.  I was nervous and stressed but wanted to do my best. I tried my best.  So after we waited for the host to show up (apparently hes pretty famous here. people stop him to take pictures with him) we went and started the interview. They even put a mic on me and everything, so professional.  It was supposed to be casual so we walked around and showed him a dorm and simulated a language class at the MTC. They always want me to say something cause I have the mic. Theres just always cameras everywhere and its hard and made me nervous,  then the sit down interview. I was told to be casual and be myself and so I did my best in Tagalog even though it was so hard. My mind was all over the place at the beginning. Everyone was watching. They had a bunch of cameras and president koster was there along with public affairs and the president of the MTC.  It was insane and they're all watching and say be yourself. Pretty hard haha.  They interviewed about missionary life and my life before and generalities. I did my best.  The guy was pretty cool.  We then went to the same restaurant for lunch and I got another good sandwich. We ate good which was nice.  Then I got to meet the whole area presidency! they are all so cool and it was a great experience to meet them.  It was a stressful day when my companion and I got home so we enjoyed some oreos together haha.
    Thursday was the last day of filming They arrived at 9 am. they filmed all day. they had us pretend to get up and get ready and cook and wash dishes. Everything was so staged. Kinda funny and weird to do. They filmed us doing a personal study. I made sure to study the restoration in PMG so hopefully its on camera.  Like always theres cameras in my face.  they then filmed us tracting. It was alright because it was in the day and there was no crazy bright lights from the cameras.  they put a mic on me and only me. That made me nervous. So i had to lead the speaking and everything. It was hard but I tried my best. Elder Enari has been awesome and helped a ton.  They had me buy a street food I hadn't had yet so I just went for it. Luckily it tasted good. I had this drink that I don't know the name of and quail eggs. It was good. Everything is ok to eat. There was nothing bad in them.  Then they wanted to simulate what my life was before the misson. Everything I did and will do is approved by the president. So we got a couple more white missionaries and we played some 21. I won which was a relief haha. It was way fun. They also gave us iphones and pretended to use them and they had me login into my facebook and scroll through. (president approved it) i haven't checked facebook for like 8 months and I had messages but I didn't check them.  They even had me do a fake call to mom. Pretty funny. The craziest thing is that I got to drive. President approved it so it was ok. I had my American license so it was still legal. We went out and I drove. Such a cool opportunity, not many missionaries do that here. the roads are crazy but we went on some easier ones. It was so cool but still weird cause lots of people just do what they want.  It was a good experience even if it was hard. I'm grateful for it. 
  Friday was back to normal. We met an American but he wasnt interested and we taught some good lessons.  I feel more confident after being with the cameras. I feel better talking to people which is a blessing.  There was this kid on Saturday that had really bad burns on his legs. He had saved his siblings from a gas fire. We gave him a blessing. It was such a cool experience. Reminds me to always be worthy to exericise my priesthood.  I'm glad we can help people.  Sunday was good except we taught a really hard lesson where this guy was bashing on Joseph Smith. Really tested my patience but we did ok. Important to always listen to the spirit to see what people need.  So all in all it was a really weird and interesting week with awesome opportunities and stories. Another great week of missionary work even if it was hard because I don't love the spotlight. Always press forward and trust in the Lord. He has a plan for all of us.

Love

Elder Snyder

WEEK 10 : SURPRISE ! I'M GOING TO BE ON TV?

   You'll never believe what I'm doing right now. Later on Monday night President Koster called Elder Enari and I and said we were going to be on a news program that wants to do a documentary on foreigners learning Tagalog. They are going to follow us around and see what its like doing missionary work.  Its really crazy and its hard to speak Tagalog with all the cameras. We're going to be sikat (famous). Its really crazy and seems super random.  Its cool though. We got to go to the mission home again and see President and his wife. They're so cool and helping us out. Right now we're doing a tour of the MTC here in Manila and what happens at an MTC. They wanted us to simulate an email but President being the cool guy he is said that we could actually email you guys. Theres literally a camera right next to me right now filming my face as I email. Its weird, but we got to eat good food and I hope it will lead to referrals. I got to see some people from the Provo MTC that came 3 weeks after me. Its so weird. I'm going to be on T.V. here in the Philippines. I think it will be put on youtube too. 
   They're going to interview us and follow us to appointments which makes things hard because we have to make sure its ok and we don't want to overwhelm our investigators so maybe we will just visit less actives. Its all happening so fast and we haven't had much time to plan for anything because we found out last night and we didn't have all the info last night but we're doing it and I'm doing my best to speak Tagalog. I'm trying to blow their minds with my 3 weeks of Tagalog.  Tagalog is very hard to speak but I can do it with the Lord's help. I've already seen Him helping me today. I've said a few sentences with ease and understood some but I'm nowhere close to fluent but it will come with hard work and diligence. So like I said you will be able to see this and see me. It should be good and you can laugh at my Tagalog. I've been here 3 weeks and Elder Enari has been here 9 months and the other sisters they are interviewing have been here 15 months. I got to go now.  I'm happy to be here teaching and helping people come unto Christ.

Love,

Elder Snyder

Here is a picture of Balut, Yes that is a duck fetus

WEEK 10 : CHRISTMAS ALREADY?

     Its already Christmas here, its so funny. The people start putting up Christmas trees and playing Christmas songs on the radio. they love it here. Back in America people get annoyed if the songs are played before thanksgiving but here they start in September which is so funny.  
    We've been teaching a less active family and they know what they need to do but they're just not doing it. We're doing our best to motivate them and help them realize that the gospel blesses families. I've seen it here. The members that are poor are so much happier than others that have more, and there are some really poor members. They live in huts on the edge of the city. its dirty and full of bugs and stuff and the city is just straight concrete. they are so densely packed. its crazy. There was this one lady we taught whose whole house was smaller than my room at home, very humbling. The majority of people here are so poor and living so humbly. I'm thankful that I can buy some things but it really is different and not the same.  I had exchanges with elder Peihopa on Tuesday and we worked hard and I learned a lot but I really love working in my own area.  
    On Wednesday all of our first four appointments worked out and we taught great lessons. We first taught Rochelle. She's thirteen and lives with members while her mom lives in the province and is a member and wants her to be baptized. She's progressing towards baptism and is on track which makes me excited.  We then taught Jedd Laderas, who is so smart and remembers basically everything we teach. Its just important he gains that witness from the spirit even if he knows all the doctrine. He needs a testimony of the restoration.  We then taught leanoard, who is so cool. He is progessing so fast and I can see his testimony growing which is exciting. Our next appointment was with Roberto, he is a tailor. he works all day and can barely feed his kids. he has to take out a loan to feed them and then work to pay it off. I really want to help him but I'm only 18 and don't have the experience but I do have the gospel so I'm praying to know what he needs. 
     Our day had a rotten turn to things,  the san tiana family said to not teach them anymore. it was sad.  It got better because there were these kids in the street that passed me a basketball so I dribbled and passed with them a bit. I put them through the spin cycle and taught them how to do no look passes. It was so fun to bring out my skills with  the kids here, its nice to practice my Tagalog with them.  
    Thursday was trainer trainee meeting and I got to see my batch from the MTC again which was fun. We stayed after and did service and then there was a taco bell because we're in downtown Quezon for the meeting. It was a nice taste of the border which  was so good, tender mercy.  We then gave sister silvoza a blessing later that night. it was a cool experience.     
    Friday we taught jojo. We were finally able to get him. he feels so alone and needs this gospel so bad. We're gonna help him. He is really open with us and I think he is starting to see the importance of the gospel and how it can help him.  
    Saturday was so cool.  We taught Rochelle again with a member. It's so nice having members present and I invite everyone to try to work with the missionaries. It helps so much and provides another powerful testimony. Please everyone, be member missionaries.             We went to the Fernandez family and taught the tatay. His family is members but he isnt and he is gonna get baptized. I already know it. he was really receptive. Then later we found two people. One was an old tatay and he wants to hear more and another is a guy living alone. we walked past him and then like 10 steps later my companion and I both had this feeling that we should go back and so we did and he let us in and we taught him.  It was a cool experience. He's a prime candidate and the Lord guided us to him. So cool.  
   The crowning moment this week was I ate balut on Sunday. It was like a rite of passage to becoming a Filipino. It's weird but doesn't taste too bad. It made the members house we were at so happy, blew their mind. They thought, a white kid eating balut? ano ba iyan? we had a good amount of investigators at church and I can see the area changing before my eyes. Its so cool. I'm excited and getting more used to things. My advice is to always be diligent and do our best to come to know Jesus Christ. He can and will help us with everything and I've seen it happen to me and the people here. I love you all.

Elder Snyder

WEEK 9: COCKROACHES , DOGS, AND CHICKENS

Hello everyone. 
    This week was another good week with lots of hard work and craziness. We are still trying to find more investigators like always but are grateful for the ones we have to teach. We are teaching 3 people right now and they're progressing pretty good. Here in the Philippines they have to live the word of wisdom and go to church for four consecutive weeks to be baptized. That makes all baptisms at least one month out. The dates for our investigators are all in November. I'm excited and want to keep finding but I think teaching is more fun. 
   Even though Tagalog is hard I feel better now when teaching. I realize making mistakes is part of the process and so I just go for it and hope the Spirit will do the translating for them. Teaching is crazy because there's just chickens and cockroaches and dogs and all sorts of animals to distract.  Not every lesson has all of those but usually at least one type of  distraction. Even the traffic when we're in a house that's close to the road. Its either so loud here or quiet. lots of people say they're "busy" which is frustrating. I went on exchanges on Thursday and it was cool.  There's a lot of awesome members here. We're trying to work with them and then missionary work will take off. 
   Last Monday we had an FHE appointment with an investigator but ten minutes before we arrived there was a brownout and apparently our investigator had left to go somewhere that had electricity.  It stunk but we still had a good FHE and shared about the light of Christ seeing that there was no electricity.  Filipinos are so funny. They do the  funniest things.  They're happy.  some people have very little but are still happy. its humbling. On Sunday because of the storm, church was cancelled because we have to travel far because the chapel close is being renovated. We taught an investigator in the morning and then helped take the sacrament to a lot of members. It was so cool and I liked being able to serve the members. I don't have a lot of time but the church is true and Heavenly Father is aware of our individual problems and situations. We just need to pray to Him in Faith. Love you all.   
   A few pictures at the airport on our way to Manila , Philippines. 

Elder Snyder

Disney is everywhere

Enjoyed some Mickey D's in Hong Kong

Picture of all of us going to Manila

Gotta have my hammock

View from our apartment

WEEK 8: NOT IN AMERICA ANYMORE

   Holy cow its been crazy. Being in the field is so much different and way harder. It feels like everyday is so long but we are definitely working hard. Its just my companion and I in our area. Its so big and we have a ton of work to do.  We're working with members, less actives and finding and teaching investigators. We are basically rebuilding it from nothing. Its really hard but we're organized and have a good vision for the area and through faith we can do it! 
   So the Manila MTC wasn't much compared to actually going out. The Philippines roads are crazy. The roads seem like theres no rules but everything still runs smoothly. We ride jeepneys (like a medium size bus with lots of people on them, even on top) and trikes but mostly jeepneys because trikes are more expensive.  The food is weird and takes some getting used to but I think i'm slowly getting there. I still have to eat baloot though. I'm scared to eat it.(Fifteen or Sixteen-day fertilized chicken egg) Its creepy.  I had some intestine problems the first little bit but its starting to get better now. Not as bad. I was so tired and had a headache and have been trying to drink tons of water. I think I'm still adjusting to missionary life. Its hard here because its just us and its hot and I'm not used to it. Its a good area though. We're going to do great things! Our ward is awesome and I'm doing my best to remember all their names but theres so many.  We've taught a lot and are working hard to activate people and find. Its hard work.  I'm definitely not in America anymore. Its crazy. The people are poor here. In the city theres some really poor people and some better off people but its still humbling and I've only been here less than a week. Our apartment is nice though. Its in a nice safe part which is nice but we have to go without some luxuries.  Theres also cold showers and no A/C but we use fans. Its better than nothing. I'm serving in Taguig and my companion is elder Enari. We're both foreigners which is unusual. Hes from Australia. He's been out 9 months. His Tagalog is really good. He helps me out. Tagalog is ridiculous here. I understand some but its so different and spoken so fast and I do my best to follow along and teach. Its testing me mentally to stay focused all day and trying constantly to figure out what people are saying. Its rough but I'll get through.
     We've had cool experiences of finding. Yesterday we were walking and I just stopped and talked to this tatay and then after neither my companion or I could understand a word he said we looked to his daughter standing there and she talked to us and then pointed us to some guys standing across the street and we taught them and hopefully they'll be there when we get back. We also found another family that was interested and then he had us teach his brother right after who lived next door. It was cool.  Its a hard adjustment but its ok. Its where the Lord needs me. Conference was cool and I really enjoyed it. The members are always feeding us. Its crazy. Its not just the members though. We walk into a home and they offer us drinks and food, without fail.  When we're proselyting we're basically never hungry. Its rude to refuse so we have to judge the situtation and eat the food.  Everything is really cheap here compared to America.  Enjoy the pictures.

Pagmamahal
Elder Snyder

My second MTC experience

The Newbies / Greenies

This is the tunnel from the MTC to the Temple

Mr. Spider in the tunnel to the Temple

Manila Temple

My first missionary think / study station

My Trainer, Elder Enari