WEEK 85: PUMPED TO BE A MISSIONARY

  Hello!! Another week has flown by and it was an incredible week. We watch conference a week behind here and it was such a great conference. Probably one of the best ever. I learned so much!!  We truly have a prophet of God here. This is Jesus Christ's church and He is leading it through President Russell M. Nelson. 

  Last Wednesday we were busy in the morning.  We helped organize and coordinate transfers.  No one transferred in our threesome. It will be a great transfer!  After we got home we went to a really progressing investigator. We taught the Plan of Salvation and it was amazing. This guy had questions and concerns because a family member had passed away and the lesson brought him comfort.  We also had success and progress with other investigators.  Really exciting day. 

  On Thursday we found a new family.  They are very curious and very smart.  We are so excited to be able to teach them.  We found them by talking to them at like 8:45 P.M. on our way home and they said to come back the very next day.  The Lord is always directing and helping people to learn the truth.   Also I had a great experience where we were teaching an investigator and the Spirit was so strong and I just felt like I really understood what he was feeling and like I was in his shoes.  It made it so easy to teach and it just flowed. The Spirit is the real teacher. 

  On Friday we had a meeting at the mission home.  We got some good food and received even better inspiration and learned so many new things that we can apply in our area and in the zone. There are so many great things happening here.  So many miracles!!  We didn't get home till late but we were still able to teach one powerful lesson.  It's a part member that is going through some sicknesses and we shared a Book of Mormon verse and it just seemed to talk right to him. The Book of Mormon is so powerful.  

  Saturday was so amazing!!! The first day of conference.  I cant explain how awesome it was. I learned so many new things. Priesthood session was especially powerful for me. I learned a lot and it just got me pumped to be a missionary.  President Nelson is so cool and love what he did. I felt a spiritual confirmation that he is the prophet of God.  I loved Elder Bednar's talk about being meek. Lot's of good learning. I really felt like they were answering personal questions and being taught from on high.  After conference we went on splits with a member.  The work was good, double as effective.  We found new people and got lots done. 

  Sunday was amazing too.  We went to pick up a tatay to go to church and we thought he might say he was busy but he just came to the door and said lets go!  It was awesome.  We picked up another investigator close to him and went off to watch conference.  It was great for our investigators to see the conference center and learn from the prophets and apostles.  Another great conference.  I loved President Nelson's talk about revelation.  After the conference we were able to teach some good people.  This area is cool.  we found a member from Brigham city, Utah that lives here.  Very cool to talk to someone from America. 

   I hope you  all continue to study what was said in conference.  It came from the Lord and I know that we can all find answers to questions as we ready ponder and pray.  I had many things answered and I know it can happen to each of us. have a great week. 

Elder Snyder

WEEK 84: IT'S HOLY WEEK.. 2 COMPANIONS?

  This week was great.  We had a change happen in my companionship, we are now 3 in the companionship.   He is a Filipino coming from a California mission.  His mission is being dissolved and he will finish his mission here, it’s awesome.  We are seeing many many miracles. I hope you all had a great week.  It was holy week here. lots of people were on vacation but many many people were at home and remembering Jesus Christ and his Atonement. It was cool. 

   On Tuesday we taught this really great new investigator.   The spirit was so strong.  There are so many people that are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.   The lesson was great and he accepted a baptismal date, which was amazing.  So excited for what we are seeing in this area.  

   On Wednesday we had some exchanges and I was in a different area, but the day was still great.  I was able to learn a lot of new things.  Some things I learned were actually specific things I was trying to improve on, so it shows that the Lord can and will answer our prayers.  

   On Thursday we taught one of our progressing investigators. He is on fire and reading the Book of Mormon.  I can see how powerful of an effect the Book of Mormon has had on him.  We went to visit a less active and had a miracle happen.  His aunt is willing to be taught!  There are just so many people out there that are waiting to be found and taught.  

   On Friday we were able to find a new family. It was wonderful, people are just so receptive and even more so this week because of holy week.   We taught another fire investigator.   As she reads, comes to church,  and lives the commandments we have seen her just get happier.  The Gospel is the best.  

   On Saturday we had another miracle.   It being holy week, we had a better chance of finding some people at home (if they didn't go on vacation) because there was no work.  So we were able to find a tatay of a member and he is so interested.  He asks great questions and super sincere.  It was amazing and its super close to our house so its not hard to get there.   We went to the investigator where we speak English, it was a very very spiritual lesson.  They have lost a parent and the plan of salvation really touched them.  Especially the part about work for the dead, they loved that part.  It reminded me of how amazing that doctrine is, how important it is to go to the temple and prepare family names.    Then after that lesson they finally accepted a baptismal date!!!  We could really see the spirit working on them, such a great miracle.   Later that day we were finally able to contact a referral we had received.  He had been busy the first time we tried to contact him.   This guy is so awesome.  So thankful for all the amazing things that happened. 

   On Sunday we were fasting and I can testify that fasting and prayer works.  It really works!   We received a text right before we left for church,  if our investigator could travel with us there and he is the one who lives super close, so we gave him a ride and he had a great time at church.  He was planning on leaving early but ended up staying the whole time, which was also  Easter Sunday.  I just want to say how thankful I am that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and died for us.  Also, that I am super thankful and happy that he didn't just die but he lives and rose again and has now restored His church. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves each and every one of us and cares for us so much and is in the small details of our lives. I know He is our Redeemer and Savior and only through Him can we return. 

   Monday was good too.  We were able to extend another baptismal date!!!  Really saw some great progress this past week.  It’s been great working in a three some companionship. We have three brains working on things and the lessons are all so great.  I hope you all have a great week and remember how much Jesus Christ loves you. Also, keep reading the Book of Mormon and you will feel God's love. 

Elder Snyder

WEEK 83: ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DIED

  Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great week. 

  Last Tuesday we had zone conference. It was so great. Learned a lot and felt the Spirit. President and Sister Koster are so awesome and are definitely called of God. They are so inspiring.  After the conference we felt really pumped to use the Book of Mormon and so we used it immediately in our first appointment. It was so powerful. The verse brought the Spirit and taught with power. 

   On Wednesday I had exchanges with another elder, It was so great. I learned a lot. There are so many great missionaries here in this mission. This truly is the best mission ever.  We were able to find part members and less actives that have potential.  Also we were riding a jeep on a 2 lane road.   All of a sudden it died.  So me and my companion got off with 2 others and started pushing.  We push started it and kept going.  The best part was that because we stopped, there was no more traffic in front of us. Haha. 

  On Thursday we were able to find some new investigators and receive referrals.  Member referrals are so powerful and have way better results.  We are also starting to teach a great family. This family is so awesome and nice and we really feel excited for them as they read the Book of Mormon and learn about the Gospel. 

  On Friday we had some great lessons.  We have a new investigator that is so smart.  This investigator came from a return appointment that didn't work out.  The person we were supposed to see wasn't there but this person came out and is awesome. Just proves that its not rejection, its redirection.   Then we were able to teach one of our most progressing investigators.  Its cool to see her change.  She is happier as she learns about the gospel and reads the Book of Mormon. 

   On Friday we had a very busy day and a great day!!! We were able to help in a stake missionary devotional and do a proselyting activity with the youth.  It was a great success.  Then, after the activity we had a baptism!!!!!!!!!!  It was amazing.  The person baptized is awesome.  We all can see his change.   So grateful that we were able to see him be baptized into this church.  We were able to have many people attend and it was great.   There was an Easter activity where other churches were invited to sing.  It was great and we were able to meet many new people.  Such a great day.  

   Sunday was great too.  We had the confirmation and great classes.   We were able to find some new people to teach and meet some less actives.  So great to see people coming back to church.   We had a fire lesson with an investigator as he read the Book of Mormon.   If we have any problems or questions we just need to read that book and pray and God will help us. 

   This has been a great week. The Lord always provides. I hope you all have a great week.

Elder Snyder

WEEK 82: THEY SPEAK FRENCH AND ENGLISH

  Wow I can’t believe it’s already been another week.  The time is flying by and so many things are happening.  

  Last Tuesday we had a great day.  We were able to find some new people and teach some great lessons.   Me and my companions teaching style is coming together and the lessons are powerful, it’s so awesome.   We were able to also pick up an investigator that had been dropped a while back,  he is so fire.  We have to work around a tough schedule but the Spirit is so strong. God is preparing so many people to hear our message.   We almost got eaten by a really scary dog.  It's so close to breaking it’s leash. haha   The more the investigator progresses the more we will visit,   the closer the dog will get to breaking free.  Worth it   We went to an investigator that's from Cameroon.  Such a great lesson.  They  speak French and English so we taught in English.  It was a little weird to teach in English, but also very powerful.   We received a reral from temple square.   Very cool to see how the church works all the way across the world. 

     On Wednesday we interviewed someone  baptism, it went great.  We also experienced more tender mercies.      We were able to find a part member family in a maze of places and then after that we were able to find the referral from temple square.   We had some great little kids show us the way to the people we were looking for. 

   On Thursday there was another baptismal candidate we interviewed.    We were able to go back to our area and teach a member referral.   It was perfect, because it was the kapit bahay (neighbors) of the member so they have an easy fellow shipper.   We taught the investigator from  Cameroon again and it was such a fire lesson, the Spirit was so strong.  He said the closing prayer in French and even though I didn't understand it, it was probably one of the most sincere prayers I've ever heard. 

  On Friday we saw some great progression.  We were able to help and visit less actives and teach part members, then we visited some members that are so awesome.   They were just busting out referrals and were so excited.  I am so thankful for the members here , so awesome.  We had an investigator accept a baptismal date and we are so excited.  Many great things are happening here. 

  On Saturday we found some new people and had great lessons.   We are having some really spiritual lessons lately and it’s so cool to see these people develop testimonies and come closer to Christ. 

  On Sunday we also had many people progress.  I really saw the power of the Book of Mormon in our teaching.  Everyone that reads, progresses very fast.   We had some meetings with leaders to coordinate the work which was very effective.   We found a new family that we really have high hopes for.  This area is awesome and great things are happening.  I hope you all have a great week. Keep reading the Book of Mormon

Elder Snyder

WEEK 81: IF WE PUSH THROUGH THE HARD, THERE IS "GOOD" WAITING

This week was great, we saw progression and miracles happen. The Lord always provides. 

   Last Tuesday we had a great district meeting, this zone is so awesome.  The missionaries are on fire and working so hard and we are seeing many wonderful things happen here.  I had exchanges also.   The elder I went with was awesome and a great missionary. I was able to learn a lot from him.  We also were able to find part members which was amazing.   We had an interview and it all went good!

   On Wednesday we had to be at a meeting early in the morning, the travel was tiring but it was so worth it. The meeting was awesome.  I love learning from President and Sister Koster, they’re amazing.   We got punted all day and were having a hard day, but then our last appointment made it all better because our investigator accepted a baptismal date.  It made all the hardness and stress go away as it was replaced with excitement and happiness. 

   On Thursday we got punted again in the afternoon but at night we were able to find another part member who is pretty fire.  It just shows that there is good always waiting if we push through the hard.    We taught this new family that we are excited about.  They have a ton of questions, I mean a ton!   Their  questions are about everything, and they listen so well.   It’s  so fun to teach them and help them understand. 

   On Friday we were able to visit many great people.  One was a less active we met on the street.  We went back to him and taught his kabahays and him.  It was such a spiritual lesson.  It was so cool finding him.  He just came up to us and said he was a member.  When he found us we just got finished being punted.   The Lord has a plan for all of His children, no one is forgotten.  

    Saturday was awesome, full of many tender mercies.  First off we attended a baptism of some zone mates, it was wonderful.  The newly baptized people gave great testimonies which strengthened my testimony.    W went to a new investigator’s house, she has siblings that are members and relatives that have pretty high up callings.  She wants to be a member, it was a tender mercy we found her.   Later we were teaching another investigator that has many questions.  When he saw the Book of Mormon, his interest was really piqued.  The Book of Mormon is power, it’s so amazing.  I know it is true and its from God.  Then we were able to teach a progressing investigator and he is now living the word of wisdom!!  We were pumped!    We felt to talk to an investigator we haven't been back to in a few weeks.  It always seemed like she was hiding but turns out she just got sick and so did her kids.  She is willing to listen again, that was a tender mercy.  We were so happy.    It was kinda late but we had one more person we said we would go visit.   We had time, but we didn't want to bother them but felt we needed to go and it’s a good thing we did.  They welcomed us right in, they are fire.  They are looking for the truth.  They have a great story that shows the Lord prepares people.  So exciting and a great close to the day. We were so thankful and humbled because we saw many tender mercies and the Lord's hand in the work.  

   Sunday was great too.  We had many people come to church which  pumped us up because we had some less actives come back. We were so happy.  It’s good to see anybody come back.  Miracles are happening.  We went on splits in the afternoon, which turned out good.  We were able to visit a lot of people, it was a great week.  It helped me learn a lot and deepened my trust in the Lord.  I know that the Lord can do miracles for each and every one of us. I hope you all have a great week. 

Elder Snyder

My Companion from London,England

WEEK 80: MIRACLES WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF EACHOTHER

   This week was good. Learning the area and working hard. 

   Last Tuesday we had zone interviews. Our mission president came and did his regular interview with the zone and gave some training.   It was awesome. I learned so much. It just made me pumped to get out there and work. There are so many people being prepared  as a witness to that, we found a part member later that night who wants to be baptized. It was so amazing. We are so happy we found him. 

  Last Wednesday we had many miracles. 2 of them happened within 5 minutes of each other.  The first one was when we were contacting a referral,  when we got there the guy we were looking for wasn’t there but we were able to talk to his parents and turns out that this guys mom is the only non member of 10 siblings and is related to a stake president and she was asking how to be a member.   It was amazing.  We were blown away. The Lord provides.  Then after we met them we were walking and talked to another guy.  He was a member and has kids that aren’t members and we were able to set an appointment, it was so cool.  Even though  we were punted at the referral we were able to find other people.  We took it as, not rejection,  but redirection. 

   Thursday  we taught some good lessons and really saw some progression in others.  

   On Friday we had a meeting at the mission home, I learned so much.  The  delicious food was really good too.    We also were able to teach a member referral when we got home. Members are so necessary for the work.  The work needs members to roll forward at the pace we need.  I encourage everyone to just try to help one person be prepared to meet the missionaries.  We will see miracles by the members efforts.

   On Saturday we had a tiring day. We got  punted hard but still had some good lessons in the evening that replenished us. It’s so cool to see someone learning and coming unto Christ, helps get rid of the tired feeling.   

   Sunday was great.  We were fasting and felt the power of fasting.  We had many people come to church.  We were also able to teach other people that members referred.  It was a great lesson and  this referral's progression has skyrocketed because he has members helping him.   We taught other great lessons too.  The members are awesome here.  They are so supportive of missionary work, helping us and we can see the miracles happening.  I hope you all have a great week and I know the Lord will always provide and we can all see miracles in our lives. 

Elder Snyder

WEEK 79: NEW COMPANION FROM ENGLAND

   This week was awesome, lots happened. Many new changes and many miracles. I have been transferred and now in Bago Bantay ward. It is an amazing ward and the members are awesome. I'm super excited for this area. 

  Last Wednesday I arrived in my new area. My new companion is Elder Okuonghae. He's from London, England and he's the man. It’s going to be a great transfer.  It was a little weird being back in the city again but it will be great. It just means McDonald's is closer now.   When I got there we went to some appointments and then had an interview immediately , it was great. The person was ready and so smart.  We had an interview in our own area. A kid is getting baptized again in this area because  his records have been misplaced.

  On Thursday we had district meeting, it was so awesome. There are some great missionaries here,  very cool to meet them.  After district meeting we had some good appointments which was even better because the Bishop worked with us. This ward is so awesome and supportive.  

  On Friday we had a “fire” first lesson with a new investigator.  The Spirit was so strong and it flowed so well, this investigator has lots of potential.   Later in the day we had a miracle happen.  We saw this guy and said hi,  he replied,  hi back, so we turned around and talked to him.  He was so happy and nice and had questions and had always wanted to talk to the missionaries.  He invited us in and we were able to teach their whole family and they want us to come back.   It was amazing!!

   On Saturday we had another member work and we went to the house of this person we had talked to.  Turns out they are less actives and they’re part members.    It was another miracle and tender mercy.  Just shows how the Lord directs the work and looks after His children.  We then prepared in the afternoon for the baptism,  it was a great service and  had many investigators there.   So much potential in this area. 

   Sunday was great.  The ward was very welcoming and nice.  We had good coordination with them and were able to teach some good lessons.  I am very excited for what this week and this transfer have in store.  I hope you all have a great week. Stay positive.  Look for the tender mercies and keep pushing onward. 

  Elder Snyder