An African Heart

An African Heart

Friday, December 7, 2012

Transfer and Zone Leader



So you wanna know where i am going huh? TOO BAD. Ok i will tell you. I am going to a place called Langata, in Nairobi. It is for BIG people. There is a mall near my area, still in my zone, called Junction Mall, and when i first went there, i walked into America. There are WHITE PEOPLE, and a KFC, and a place like Orange Leaf. Clothing shops, the biggest supermarket in Nairobi... AHHH!!! The Lord took me from a year in the boonies to the highest class of Kenya!!!! and, i am a zone leader! I cover 2 districts! I have 2 companionships of Elders, and 2 companionships of sisters i am over. I was a tad nervous, but not really. I am WAY excited for the challenge the Lord has given me now. Keep me in the prayers that i can be the zone leader that the Lord wants, ok? My new companion is Elder Omara from Uganda. I know him, and he rocks. A little quiet, but we will get along, i am sure.

As for Tanzania, not everybody goes there. But i have a feeling i may go there to finish my mission. We will see though. I would love to go there! If you go there, you speak only Swahili, so you learn it.

That is horrible with the Stake Conference thingy! Power goes out in Kenya just about daily. Sounds like Satan was having a grand ole' time tryin to interfere there! I hope you still felt the Spirit though. President Manwaring is awesome. I love that guy!

So for the money thing, you guys can let me know how much you put in ok? Tell Aunt JoAnne thank you for me please. And yeah, Nairobi has some cool stuff. I will get those sculptures for you from Steve Kyalo. did you know that he makes them? Cool, huh?!?!

Well Daddio, we had a huge baptismal service this week. Our companionship baptized 6, Elder Sarlo and his comp baptized one, and the Kyambeke elders also in this disctrict baptized 7. So FOURTEEN!!!! Amazing, isn't it? All but one from our area asked me to baptize them. And then all but 2 asked me to confirm them. Man i will miss these people. We love each other!! Did i tell you about what one nicknamed me? She said my Kamba name would be Mwendwa. It means He who is loved. Haha i was flattered! This area has done so much for me. I really got some good roots here. I thank God for my time in Kilungu, and i hope that someday maybe Ben or Dan could come here. It was dang tough, but totally worth it. I know that God and Jesus Christ are there and that when we ask for revelation, if we have made a choice and done all we can with our agency, he makes up the difference and helps us out. I want to serve Christ more fully and stay humble. I am planning on this mission helping me conquer my pride.

But, i love you tons dad. You are awesome, and now, i will email on Mondays i think. So get those emails a day earlier! I love you lots, and will talk to you in like... 20 days!!!! AHHH!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS SPONGEBOB!!!!!!

Love, Conrad

Friday, November 30, 2012

November 27, 2012


COME ON!!!!!!!!

It's not fair that Ben has a weights class!!!! He gets like, an hour and a half to work out, but we only get half an hour!!!!!!!!!! AHHH!!!!!! I don't care though, I will push harder and beat him. No matter how big he gets, i am still his older brother, and i am going to WHOOP him!!!!! YEAH!!!!!

And oh my goodness!! Daniel looks way too grown up! He does look like me too, but different in a way. More grown up than me for sure. Wow. Danny boy is going to be huge too. How tall and big and strong is he now?

So don't worry at all about the taco seasoning, no problems! I still have a ton of seasoning, so i won't be needing another one. You are a genius for putting that in there by the way. We use it for just about every other meal, sometimes more often. And i love the stuff in the box. I shared it with the other guys too. I sent Habibu and Douglas their stuff recently. It's at the office, and it will get to them soon. They will love it. Especially Habibu, he LOVES pistachios haha. I am excited for the Christmas box though! I trust you to put in good stuff. But if i can ask, no more necco wafers or smarties. hahaha they were fantastic, but... too much of a good thing is a bad thing right? ;) My umbrella is still doing wonderfully. I have only used it a few times. It is a bit of a pain to carry around, and you have to have both hands free when you walk the hills in the rain or you will fall. So i use it around home when it is raining, like when we go to the market or something in the rain. Other than that, all is well in Elder Schneider's supplies. I am planning on giving 4 or 5 shirts away when i leave Kilungu because there will be 5 men baptized who need white shirts. I have used 4 of the same shirts since the start of my mission, and since i will be going to the city, i better take out some clean ones. Which brings me to transfers!

The news comes this Saturday afternoon. Since last transfer time there were no transfers, there will most likely be this time. Elder Sarlo and i will probably be leaving Kilungu. He thinks i will go somewhere in Nairobi. I have no clue where i am going to go! But chances are very good that i will be gone from Kilungu. I will miss this place badly, but i am ready for a change too. Six months dealing with the issues and trials of a place is a long time. However, i know these people will miss me (not boasting), they told me haha! A member said my Kamba name would be "mwendwa". It is Kamba for "the loved one". haha!

As for the video, i will honestly try. I think it can definitely be possible if Sister Hall is up for it. In fact i am almost positive that i can do that. Because Sister Hall will be at the baptisms, and we could do it there in the chapel. I don't know if the other guys will be in it but we'll see. So i will try Momma :)

No you never told me Jessie is the Relief Society pianist! But that's wonderful. What a fun calling, just playing piano over and over!!!!! Maybe they'll call me to that when i get back. Then i can play piano AND get all the funny little Relief Society handouts all the women get! As for Kendra, you can write this:

"Dear Sister Hudman, Thanks again for all the wonderful counsel you gave me! You taught me SO WELL how to use the pedal, and guess what? I have been in the bush for a year and they only have keyboards - with no pedals. But hopefully i can remember how when i go to the city. But i love you and miss you, and i wouldn't mind a letter from you if you have time in your schedule.  Again - love you so much!!!! Love from Kenya, Elder Schneider"

Thanksgiving sounded awesome!!!!! For Thanksgiving i had.... some eggs..... and then at night i was fasting. So uh.... yeah not the traditional Thanksgiving. But the next night Elder Sarlo and I made burritos!!!!!! It was awesome, and that taco seasoning made it all possible :)

I will check on that book with President. I REALLY want it, but let me pass it by him first. And thanks for telling me about Reece! I miss that guy, teaching with him was a ton of fun and i miss it! Give him my love and ask him how long he will be in Idaho Falls, because i would love to write him a letter. Is he planning on serving a mission soon?

I DIDN'T KNOW COLTON GOT HIS CALL!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I am so flippin happy!!!!!!!! He is such a great guy, and i know he can make a fantastic Elder!! A mission will be the best thing he ever does. Can you tell him to email me? I would really like to talk to him before he gets out. WOO!! I am happy for him!!!!!

Well Mommy, expect exciting news and pictures next week. I am doing something like 8 interviews for baptism this week, going to 2 different areas to do so, and getting news about transfers. Yikes... big week :) I love you so much, and i know you love me Mom. Don't you know that i can never doubt my Momma's love? You could spit in my face and i would still think you love me! :) You are phenomenal always Mom, and i thank my Heavenly Father for you.

With eternal love from Kenya,
Conrad

November 27, 2012

Hey, PA!!!!!!!

Your Thanksgiving was probably better than mine. I had eggs for breakfast, then did missionary work, then went home sweaty and then fasted that night and the next day. So uh.... woot..... BUT! The next evening, Elder Sarlo and i made BURRITOS and it was the best thing i have eaten in Kenya. Because it wasn't Kenyan. It was Mexican!

That chicken killing soudns pretty intense. But not really. You know why? Because in Naitiri, they used to grab the chicken by the neck, swing it around, and snap the neck and at the same time decapitate it. Gulp... yup. That's what the locals told me. And they don't really know how to joke that well, so i am pretty positive they were serious. 

You want some stories? Ok well.... i actually have alot in my journal that i am going to send in some time. But i can give you one or two now. As for pictures, none this week but next week will be many. Or the week after if the internet is bad here.

So my companion and i were sitting in a restaurant after a weekly planning. this guy comes up and sits down and immediately i recognized him. It was a crazy dude we call the "secret of God" guy. It's cuz the first time we met him, he told us that he knows the secret of God, and it isn't in a rock or stick, it's alot bigger. We thanked him, and he kept talking about how he knows the secret of the Godfather! Elder Sarlo said, "You mean Al Pacino?" and he exclaimed "yes!!"  So anyway, he comes and sits next to us in the food place and proceeds to tell us how he is never going to die. He told us that death needs to be arrested so people wil stop dying. We heartily agreed with him hahahahaha. This is the same guy that said that Arabs were created by Satan and that Jesus was married to a woman named Spacegirl. Yeeeeahhhh...... 

Ok a Spiritual story is.... we taught the recent convert named Rhoda recently. We taught her about temples and what happens in there. It took long to get the point across with the language barrier. There are lots of hard words associated with temples. But when we finished she thought for a minute and said, "I want to get to that temple with my whole family." Now, we are teaching her children. Her husband is a member, but pretty passive. She is wanting us to teach and baptize her family so she can get to the temple though. We are immensely blessed to already have that blessing. And to have a temple. Yikes. Never forget that blessings we have.

I am also excited for Christmas!!! I don't know where i will be when we talk, because transfers are this coming Saturday. The news is at least, then the actual transfers are next week. I will let you know next Tuesday where i am going. 

I had a question too, is there such a movie as Bourne Legacy? Some guys here said there is, but i didn't think there was. Let me know ok? 

Other than that, stay beautiful. Yeah.... (Spongebob) Love you so much Dad. Expect a letter to the family from me soon. Very soon. Love you all so much! And you are my hero Dad. Get your hiking boots on. One year is a short time!

With love forever, Conrad

November 20, 2012


Awwwwww dangit Dad, sorry i forgot to tell you what i wanted in the box!!!!!!!! I was only going to add 3 things:
1. almond roca
2. chocolate
3. oreos
But maybe you guys could include that in the next one?

No i didn't see Steve Kyalo, but i did talk to him. We will meet when i get a chance to go to Nairobi. When Kenyans say "We'll meet", they mean presumably before the Second Coming. Haha, they are pretty wretched with time. And distance. If they tell you, "Oh, it's only one kilometer away!" You'll walk 3 or 4. If they tell you it is a few km, it is over 5. If they tell you it's far, then don't bother, cuz it's too far. One time a guy in Naitiri told us, "Yeah, the next town is only 500 metres away". Yeah well, it was over 3 km.

NEITEHR BEN OR MOM EMAILED ME TO TELL ME ABOUT THE PATRIARCHAL BLESSING!!!!!!!!!! I really wanna know but they forgot to email me. I guess i can hear next week tho. That is awesome about the Boise temple. I really wish i could have seen that! I bet it was a great experience. I love the prophet.

Sister Hall, a couple missionary here in Kilungu, recorded and sent my Christmas video this week! You gotta tell me if you get it. I told her to send it to you and Mom. Yes, i gave her your emails. So that should work out. Pretty exciting, huh? She kinda caught me off guard tho, so i didn't really know what to say. It's ok tho, none of it was staged, we just had fun and spoke!

Other than that, i love you Dad. Life is good, and Elder Munyoro and i are great. We are working well together, and i am happy! Oh yeah, the taco seasoning opened on the ride over, so everything is taco flavored. The smarties, necco wafers, craisins, shower loofa, deodorant, sheet music, everything. But i am cooking some pretty awesome stuff with it too!!! It smells like a mexican's home in our apartment building!!

Viva la Schneider familia!!!!! OLE!!!!!

Love you forever,
Conrad

Tuesday, November 13, 2012


Oh how i miss my dear sweet mother!!!!!

Hahaha you are a goofy and wonderful Momma. I love you so much!!!

So i am sitting in the cyber and the internet was down at most of the computers, which means that now, i have extremely little time. Like, ten minutes left hahaha!!! But anyways, i heard Eric Clapton's "You look wonderful tonight" and got a lil homesick of 3 things, in this order:
1. You and Dad dancing in the living room.
2. My sweet, sweet piano.
3. Jamming with my brothers!!!!

Anyways! Am i the worst son in the world? I FORGOT TO TELL YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DIDN'T I?!?!?!?!?!?! AHHHHHH!!!! I am so sorry Momma, i was totally thinking about you all week and i even told all the other Elders, and anyways, the point is i didn't forgot, i just kinda forgot to tell you! But i lvoe you, and you are the best Momma ever. :)

Ok good news - THE PACKAGE GOT HERE!!!!!! I was told it is in Nairobi, and i wil get it tomorrow. I guess there was a back-up in the postage. Cuz 2 other Elders in the district are getting theirs tomorrow as well, and theirs were delayed too. But the Christmas one shouldn't take as long, don't worry. Oh man mom... the time will start flying here soon. Do you realize i turn 11 months in 2 days?

Christmas package - I would love some more multi-vitamins so i can take one every day. Also, some garden gloves so i can work hard with less blisters. I can handle a jembe without getting too many blisters now though. I will demonstrate when i get home. You are a genius Mom, good sugestions. Also, are there such things as lemon altoids? If there are, can you include some for Elder Sarlo? That'd be good.

Other than that, i have done a lot of introspection lately, figuring out what kind of man i need and wat to be. Also thinking about what kind of man i must be in order to have a wife and family. Yeah, sounds nuts, but i need to start figuring these things out. I am trying to rely on the Lord and be faithful, seriously applying the Gospel. I need a firmer foundation, more than just testimony, but serious conversion. So keep me in your prayers that i may accomplish this thing :)

Love you infinity and beyond Mom. The Christmas video situation - pending. Hold on and i will let you know what's up next week. May or may not work.

With eternal love from Kenya,
Conrad your boy

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Baby Schneider Kivikivi

So just to be clear.  Mr. and Mrs. Kivikivi named their newborn son after Conrad.  Their baby's name is Schneider Kivikivi.  Conrad is not the father of Schneider Kivikivi!  Conrad helped ordain Leonard Kivikivi to the Melchizedek Priesthood, and he just loves and respects Conrad, so they did him this incredible, great honor.  Leah and I are so proud of the way Conrad has worked hard, and most of all, how he loves the people of Kenya.  We love them too and are grateful for the love they share with our son.
Dale

Photos

Baby Schneider KiviKivi and his Mother






















Monday, October 22, 2012

October 9 letter to Mom


Momma dear, whom i love alot, who birthed me, who now misses me, in Idaho,

HEY!!!! Wow that sounds like quite the trial time for Daddy. The Lord is definitely testing him i think. Read Mosiah 23:21-22. It is a super great scripture to explain why sometimes we go thru trials. It is not always a punishment or because we did something wrong. Rather, it is because there's something we need to learn or He just simply wants to build us! Ha, i do feel for Dad and you though. Don't fear, all will be well :)

I have not recieved the box yet, but it must be coming soon. The AP's will tell me when it gets to Nairobi. But guess who i saw in Nairobi? Habibu and Douglas both!!!!! I spent alot of time with Habibu. I love him so much!!! He is an awesome guy. I am excited to give stuff to him and Douglas when the box comes. Who knows! Maybe i can be in the same district as Habibu or Douglas again someday!

So i was thinking about something the other day. I was walking in a dirt path, actually in a valley in between some banana trees. And suddenly i stopped and looked around and was like - "Oh my goodness, i have lived in the bush of Kenya for almost a year!!!!" Did you EVER imagine i would be living in the African bush for a year straight preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Cuz i sure didn't! 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012


hahahaha holy crap man, that is one of the suckiest days i have ever heard of!!!! hahahaha as horrible as it is, it is totally funny movie material. Man, sorry about all that! Atleast you got to have a nature walk with Dave, right? haha man... well, the Lord must have been teaching you something during all of that huh? I bet you prayed your heart out!!!

This past week i saw Habibu at zone conference, and he is doing awesome! I love that guy so much. I also saw Douglas, and he too is doing fantastic! Few people understand him, but we had fun talking together and catching up a little bit.

Ok ready for this?

STORYTIME!!!!!
We were travelling back from zone conference, and we were in a matatu in a tiny town called Nunguni. Well suddenly i hear a knock on the window next to my seat. It is Christine, the wife of Leonard Kivikivi, one of the men who asked me to help ordain him to the Melchizedek Priesthood. She called me over to where some women were sitting. Me and Elder Munyoro went, and she had just delivered a baby boy that day!! Well he was healthy and strong. then she goes, "We named him after you. We named him Schneider." HAHAHAHA WHAT?!?!?!?!? THEY NAMED THEIR BABY AFTER ME!!!! So now our name will forever be here in Kenya!!!!! :D Even more than that, when one Kenyan does something like give a peculiar name like that, others will follow suit. Man, if Ben and Danny come here on a mission, they may find our name more than just on their name tags! hahahaha is that not totally awesome?!?! The tender mercies of the Lord, things we don't ask for, but things that happen because we demonstrate real and sincere and constant love to these brothers and sisters. I love these people so much Dad!!!

So basically the work is going awesome too. We were introduced to a whole entire family who are totally into the church!!! They all came to church on Sunday, except the Dad, who told us he couldn't come, but promised this week to come. WOO!!!! Next week we have 2 baptisms. And tons are going to follow. There are also 2 weeks left in this transfer, and most likely i will stay for six more weeks (1 more transfer). I am going to die when i have to leave here. But you know what? I am seriously going to be excited to get in my next area and gain the love of members. And investigators. The power of faith makes life and especially mission exciting. I have no fears! It is all in the Lord's hands :)

Love you forever Dad. I will keep you in my prayers for sure, and just know that your son is doing totally great here. I am safe, healthy, happy, and hopeful!!!! Be the same Dad, cuz God loves you so much. You are His precious son, as i am yours.

Love, Conraddio

This is the email I sent that Conrad is responding to:


Hey Son!
Sooooooo.....this last week David came up and we went hunting moose.  So Tuesday morning we took the 4-wheelers I borrowed from Jerrad Thompson and headed out at 4am.  We got up there before dawn and didn't see anything as the sun came up.  So we decided to get the ATV's and head up a trail.  Well the small one, a 250, wouldn't start so we decided to jump start it.  It didn’t work, sao we both got on the big ATV which is a 500, and started on the trails.  We didn't see anything so we went back to the car.  Then I remembered there is a fuse that probably got blown so I checked it and sure enough, was able to get the little ATV running!  So we drove around and went a few other places but didn't see anything.  Then we got to the canyon where we used to bear bait.  We got the atv's off and started up an awesome trail.  We were almost all the way around the trail when we came to a very steep part of the trail.  I was riding the small ATV cause David didn't have much experience with them and the bigger one was easier to drive.  So we got to this steep part and I stopped and looked it over.  I thought I could make it up.  So I tried and got about two thirds up and it lost power.  I rolled back down safely and decided to get a run at it.  Well I gunned it and made it to the top, which I then could see was not the top.  So the machine lost power so I jumped off so I could walk it up.  But I started slipping and losing control of the machine.   I stepped back down the hill and tried to move the front end sideways.  That's when I felt something ripping in the back of my knee at the top of my calf.  It hurt mucho.   We got the machine down and drove back to the car.  I was in a lot of pain and couldn't walk on my right leg.  David loaded everything up and we were all ready to go.  David got in and turned the key.   The dashboard went black.  Battery dead.  We didn't have cell reception so we unloaded the big ATV and I drove out to the highway to get cell reception.   I called Matt and told him to come get me.  We loaded up the atv's and unhooked the trailer so we could hook it up to Matts car and tow it back to Thompson's.   While we were waiting in the dark, we heard a bear "chuffing " in the trees nearby.  Well Matt finally got there and we hooked up the trailer and headed out.  I got hurt around 4pm.  It was now around 8pm.  We got to Thompson's and unloaded the atv's.   We discovered that the seat of the 500 had blown off on the way home.  Lost.  We unhooked the trailer and talked to Jerrad for a little bit.  Then I thought I better get to the emergency room.  It was now 10pm.  We got in Matt's suburban and he turns the key and....dead battery! !  I kid you not.  Jerrad gave us a jump and we finally got home at 10:30.  We got to the ER and of course waited for a while.  They x-rayed me to see if ligaments had torn bone fragments off my bone.  They hadn't thankfully.  And it wasn't my pcl ligament.  I had just torn calf muscle.  So I came home about 1am.  It has been tough to walk but it is getting better slowly.  Wow huh?
In other news, Ben and I drove down to priesthood session yesterday.   It was good.  I think I would rather just watch it at church.  Too many people, crowds, traffic, hassle.  You know how it was.  But it was good to be with Ben just us two.
Well dog, I love you.  You know how much.
Give yourself a hug from me.
Dad



Wednesday, September 19, 2012


Mother Dearest!

Whoooweee! What a change! I got a new companion named Elder Munyoro from Zimbabwe. He is a cool guy! He is an excellent teacher and together we feel that the area is really going to progress. I am excited to get to work with him.  I may be in Kilungu for 5 more weeks, or up until December 2. We won't know until mid-October though. I love this area Momma, and my heart is with these people here.

New phones huh? Sounds like you guys are receiving even MORE blessings! Yeah, definitely get Benny something hard core. Except he is growing up a bit, right? So his phone will probably undergo less pain. WITH CLAIRE?!?! Wow.... scary huh? Except they both have the highest of standards, so as long as they play it safe and smart, all will be well with those two. Aww... wittle Benny is getting more hormones!!!!!!!!

Poor Jessie... give her a big ole' hug for me and make sure she knows that her big (taller) brother will talk to her soon :) She can endure anything. With both her brother and best friend gone, God must surely be testing her at this time. She must  make sure she learns from these trials, and she will come out a true and able servant of the Lord for sure. Give her my love please.

And Danny too, what an awesome kid. He is unusually sharp for a kid his age. He has incredible potential as we know. Make sure you tell him i said that please. I love him so much too, and he will need lots of nourishment from the fam.

Ohhhhh lucky... you get to go to the temple!! I want to go sooo bad. Thanks for putting my name in the temple. I have faith that the blessings will come somehow. Maybe i won't even see them, but the Lord has always, always provided for me Mom. He has never left me alone when i needed Him. Even now, my heart is just full of love for the Lord. I am blessed far beyond what i deserve.

Is all good? All is fantastic. You know why? I am developing hope! Hope is basically optimism and faith combined! And wow, blessings are flowing from the development of this Christlike attribute! Please PLEASE Momma, go look up hope in Preach My Gospel, and discuss it with the family for Family Home Evening. If it is possible to have Jessie there when you discuss it, she could definitely use it as well. Hope will make life a thousand times happier! All becomes well if hope is developed. It goes hand in hand with patience, and Momma, we need hope in this world. We need hope in our fellow men, in our family's welfare, and mostly hope in Christ that He will make everything work. He will, and i testify in His holy name that He will make everything work. PLEASE go look that up and really mull it over. Ponder it and even search it out. Ether 12 helps as well, especially verses 4 and 32.

I am thankful for you Mom. You are amazing! I could never ask for a better Mother. The Zweifel's wrote me a letter and went on about how awesome our family is. In my reply letter i said, "DUH!!!!" hahaha just kidding. But they are right, you and Dad and the Lord have raised a family that is upright and honest and prosperous before Him. We all love our Heavenly King, and it is because of the example that you and Dad have set for us!

By the way, i got the letters from Great Harvest! It was really nice. And as for the box, i would also love some memory cards, some deodorant would be great, and if there's room past all the candy and other stuff, a pedometer. Just so i can see how much i walk each day.

By the way, Elder Semnonza is Elder Sarlo's new companion. He is my new friend and i love him! He is from Uganda and he is so funny and cool. AND, from the same ward as Habibu!

Well Mommy, you are my hero and i love you! Keep up the good fight! Expect some letters that i may need delivered. And some that won't need to be delivered :)

Love you forever,
Conrad

MORE BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD!!!!!!  Seriously tho, I will thank the Lord as well tonight for the awesome blessing. He loves us so much. I love Mosiah 2, especially verses 17 to about 25 i think. We are of the dust of the Earth but He loves us as His own. I love our Father in Heaven so much. There's so much more i could do for Him, and so much more i plan on doing for Him when i return home. I am excited to put God first, be tested and tried, and prove to Him that  i can put Him first.

Daddio, please give me information on how the weight loss is going. It is a serious desire and concern for me that you and Momma get in good shape. I will love you and Mother just the same either way, but i know that you want to feel better and i know that you can still do so much good for our family. And i want Dad to live to a ripe old age. I'm not trying to say you're gonna die anytime soon, but i just love you alot Dad, and i wanna climb mountains and do fun crazy stuff as us 4 boys together. All you gotta do is cut down the portions in the evening, eat less carbs before bed, and drink water too. It may be a little unpleasant for a bit, but it will go away when the results come. And from what Elder Gideon told me, they will come fairly quickly. Please Dad, i love you so much and you deserve to be even happier. I know you can do it. You are a super-Dad, and mom a super-Mom. I love you Daddio!

Well.... i am going to send a letter soon to the family. A BIG old letter. And probably seperate letters to each of you. I am happy Dad. Check up with Mom about "hope". I am happy and my life is just wonderful. Me and Elder Munyoro are seriously working to progress the area. My district loves me, and President Broadbent expresses deep appreciation for the things i do. Man, life is good no matter what Satan can throw at us. The work is like the stone in Daniel for sure! Onward, ever onward!

Love you forever,
Conrad

Tuesday, September 4, 2012


Momma!!!

You can call me boy even if I am 100 years old. If you happen to be living when i am that old then you have total license to call me boy. Because you, are my, MOTHERRRRR!!!!!
And i can't wait to snuggle :)

I love you Momma, and you have a connection with the Spirit as our mother that we as your children cannot match. The Spirit works with mothers like no others! Just know that you are doing what you are supposed to do. You will be rewarded Heavenly for the service you give and the sacrifices you make. That is an eternal principle. So keep it up, we all love you sooooooooooo much :) :) Especially me!!!

As for the river rafting, i am envying but also not envying. I will be excited to come do those things again, but i know that if i went to do them now, i would never live down the fact that i left while i was supposed to serve. I know you aren't asking me to leave, but i'm just saying. I want to be here, and there is nowhere i am going until i have served the full 2 years. This is where i'm needed and this is where i will stay. No questions in my mind :)

SPICES!! Ok we have garlic, black pepper, cayenne, and that's just about it. I would love some meat seasonings, that would make me happy. Also, I would like things that go with any meal. Like... well i will leave it up to Mommy. No matter how good i get at cooking out here, i can't come close to rivaling you. In fact i tell Elders all the time out here, "No meal here will compare to my Mom's cooking." They try and argue it, but i have never budged. Sometimes i reminisce about Thanksgiving and oh....... my stomach growls and i yearn for squash and brown sugar and marshmallows and broccoli with cheese and turkey and cranberry and taters and AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Ok..... gotta calm down. That feast is atleast a year and 4 months away. Can you tell i miss your cooking?

Besides all that Momma, we worked hard this week in the hills. We have some fantastic investigators that will be baptized. The branch president here told me that he is so thankful for our service and that he is so excited to see the branch growing. He is an amazing branch president and sacrifices a ton to do his duty. I love my district leader duties too!
The district is really strong and work gets done. I may get a new companion next week, transfers are coming. I will let you know next week what happens ok?

Love you forever Momma, All is well here :) And guess what? I will talk to you in less than 4 months! WOO!! Start the countdown. That is my one year mark too. Who said 2 years is long?! The only 3 material things i am missing are the temple, Mexican food, and pianos. But 2 years without them is worth the blessings coming to Kenyan and American alike :)
Love you Mom, you are my hero :)

Love, Conrad

Friday, August 24, 2012

From Elder Kagame


Hello dad how are you doing !!!
Long time is everything okay i just wanted to make sure you're doing okay because am worried about you . Well here all is well and we're still pushing on with the grate work that doesn't need payment because the reward is in heaven. How is mum and the rest of the family indeed i missed your wonderful mails and for sure i can't make it with out you help. Hope you visit to our grand mum was grate !! . Dad i want you to know that i miss you each and every single day but what makes me happy is that i always pray for you each and everyday before i go to bed and the spirit always testifies to me that all is well.
Dad i can't wait for your powerful mail this coming Monday .

Love you so much and send my greetings to the entire family.

Elder Kagame

To Dad


Daddio,
I am so jealous of the family vacation. Dang man, i really missed you all this week. This week tore by really fast though. Do you realize i hit my 8 month mark this past week? My mission is 1/3 over! Gosh... But i am glad Granny is well. Give her my love still. And as for her increasing age, all will be well Dad. You know that! And especially if she is cleaning and refining her life now, she will find eternities to be a happy prospect :)

hahahahahaha chicken drama!!! hahahahah dangit man that made me laugh big time. Chickens are everywhere here. and you know what i found a new love for? SCARING CHICKENS!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!! They flip out man. The term "Chicken!" for a scared person has taken a whole new face! Chickens... and drama... together... at night!

Do you know what i learned this week? I was studying and i concluded that i need to give everybody, especially these Kenyans, the benefit of a doubt. I need to, as the prophet counselled, look for the good and take compassionately the bad. I need to believe their claims to devotion to God, and treat them as such. Elder Arineitwe used to say something great. "If you treat people as they are, they will stay as they are. If you treat people as what you want them to become, they will become what they need to be." Great wisdom, huh? I learned to show compassion and give the benefit of a doubt. I am still striving, but slowly getting there. And you know what? Everytime i choose to, the love of the Savior fills my soul and i literally feel it :) It is a great change.

I lvoe you Daddio! Keep up the workout. Check out Mom's emails for the things i told her. Keep working out please! Dad, you are a good man, and i have learned all from you! I can't wait to climb that mountain when we are reunited. You're my hero Dad!

Love,
Elder Schneider
p.s. maybe no pics this week, short on time. Next week, double the amount! :)

From Elder Arineitwe



Dear,
Dad, You have already sent to me some thing more than a camera.
 Your love, prayers and constant reply to my emails. There is nothing l can ever compare to that. Indeed the Lord's commandments are to be obeyed. l have never received am email from home. some friends from my home ward wrote for the first two weeks and they stoped, even though l try to write to them. Yet even though you have never seen me you have kept writing to me. Even the brave need to feel loved and cared about. To me, l will still choose the right because l know it's Right. But l can not denay the fact that am human. Any way compared to this work, all that does not really take much of my time. Though some times l think about home, and cry. Why? Because when l go back home, l will take the Gospel there. l plan on doing family history, l plan on taking the restored gospel home. l know with out a doubt that the Lord has a work for me to do in the village back home.
Riruta is doing well. However, in East Africa as a whole, we are taking baby steps dropping traditions of the world and adopting the tradition of the church. That is mostly what we are dealing with here in Riruta. Growth comes slow in individuals, it's not like l used to think.
 l have a  very obedient companion, We have been companions for 13 days now. l have come to know that mission is helping me and others to come to Christ.  We live near the chapel. its about a 20 minutes walk.
Love, son.




Hello Elder Arineitwe Son,
So how is it going in Riruta?  I looked at the area on the satellite map.  I found the chapel on nyakinyua road.  Do you live next to that chapel?  Things are going good here.  We are going to visit my mother next week.  It will be good to see her.  Conrad was made District Leader in Kilungu area.  He likes that area a lot because it gets colder at night.  Probably it's more like Idaho temperatures at night.  I asked President Broadbent if it was okay to send you a camera and he said we cannot do that.  We cannot send big or more costly gifts.  But I asked if we could still send care packages, especially pistachios, and he said that would be fine.  So we will do that!  I wish we could provide you with a camera, but we will be obedient to the Mission President too.  I think about you many times during the week and pray for you.  I send my love and Priesthood blessings to you there so you are sustained and comforted and feel the warmth of the Spirit.  Stay strong and obedient.  We love you.  The Lord loves you.  May our Father in Heaven watch over you.
Love
Dad

Friday, July 27, 2012

Photos


























From Elder Arineitwe


Dear, Father,
Thank you for all that you have said. Thank you for planing to send to me a camera of my own, l honestly did not know how to start telling you that l need one, l thought that was much for me to ask. All is well and l feel loved at the reception of your email. thank you. l know that the Lord will not allow us to sink to the bottom, because He never did. Any ways this week us quite remarkable, We recently walked out of our flat and we did walk on our reft, then a feeling came,"walk to the right". then l told Elder Law. Lets shift to the right side of the road. Well , he never complained, He simply followed me. We did walk for a few steps and in flont of us was a man moving facing down with his hand on his mouth in a way of expressing solution seeking, We came closer, It was  Mr Lumuuli, Member of Naitiri branch, After all the greeting and every thing, He looked at us and said, "My son, my first born son has recently returned form Sudan( country on the North of Uganda). And he is cold. He is not the Evans l knew. Now he does not even want to come to church. His wife and children are my concern now". Then we looked at this old man sharing the concern in his heart to Young men as if he has gotten the right people to talk to about this matter. There was silence for a space of two minutes. Then we assured him that we will go and talk with him. Immediately his face was cheer full, he smiled as he bid us farewell, I did not understand why his face was cheer full, may be every one needs some one to talk to. Then this came to my mind, by An Apostle.(The laborers in the Vineyard)

"Which leads me to my third and last point. This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.


I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.


Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. “Come boldly [to] the throne of grace,”3 and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast “without money and without price”4 at the table of the Lord.


I especially make an appeal for husbands and fathers, priesthood bearers or prospective priesthood bearers, to, as Lehi said, “Awake! and arise from the dust … and be men.”5 Not always but often it is the men who choose not to answer the call to “come join the ranks.”6 Women and children frequently seem more willing. Brethren, step up. Do it for your sake. Do it for the sake of those who love you and are praying that you will respond. Do it for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid an unfathomable price for the future He wants you to have.


My beloved brothers and sisters, to those of you who have been blessed by the gospel for many years because you were fortunate enough to find it early, to those of you who have come to the gospel by stages and phases later, and to those of you—members and not yet members—who may still be hanging back, to each of you, one and all, I testify of the renewing power of God’s love and the miracle of His grace. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.


So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen". By Elder Jeffrey R Holland. General conference 2012. 

When we talked to Evans, we told him that he is part of the team and will ever be. His face was full of Joy and the miracle of the week is that he came to church.


Hey Daddio,

I am really glad that everything got to you safely! The Lord is merciful, and He loves our family. Seriously, God is so merciful and loving to our family. We need to be strict in keeping the statutes and judgments of the Lord because of all that He has done for us. And, of course, because we love Him :)

Thanks for the pictures Dad! I love them. It's great to see everybody and how you are all looking nowadays. Guess what Dad? I do 200 pushups every morning now, plus other upper body workouts. I HAVE to stay strong! And how is your workout stuff going? Because time is rapidly closing pops. And i wanna climb that mountain reeeeeeally badly.

I am glad to hear that people are caring for me back home! And you gotta send my hellos to them too. That Batman thing is crazy though. What a horrible thing man... not just crazy, Satan is everywhere. But he can't win, and he won't win. Jesus Christ made sure of that with the Atonement. The Saints are always going to be victorious! Not the football team but the actual meaning of Saints... except the football team is also very good huh?

And that Kenyan movie sounds really cool! [Editors Note:  Leah and I watched a film called "The First Grader" about an old Kenyan man who went to first grade to learn how to read.  Great show!  I highly recommend it} I would love to see it when i get home! I could probably point a few places out here and there! How recently was the movie made?

As for the work here, transfers are this week. I am fairly sure my companion and i are going to be staying though. We will see i guess, anything can happen if The Lord wants it to. ALEX WAS BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!! It was awesome. I have not been more happy for a convert than Alex. He is going to be a great help to the Lord's work.

Anyways, besides that, nothing new Daddio! I put 40 new pics on Walmart. And again i am so glad you got the journal and everything. If you have questions about any of it just email me ok? Love you Dad :) Christmas is just around the corner, huh? Be happy, and know that i am working hard to make you proud. Love you forever Dad.
Love,
Conrad


HOLY JALISCO'S BATMAN!!!!

I am so glad you got the pictures!! And i am glad you liked them!!!! Do i relly look like i am filling out? I do over 100 pushups plus other upper body workouts every morning except Sunday. Am i bigger than Ben? Cani still whoop him you think?

I got homesick there for a moment when you mentioned scout camp. And guess what? Mom sent a picture of Ben and Dan in a restaurant booth and i recognized that it was BIG JUD'S! COME ON GUYS! WHAT THE CRAMP DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!?!?!?!?! I'M DYING NOW!!!!!!..

I am glad you are still in contcat with both of them(Elder Arinieitwe and Elder Kagame.) They are both amazing guys. I am trying hard to keep in contact with them as well but it's difficult sometimes. but yes, keep it up with them ok? And guess what? For zone conference recently, i was asked by some elders to write an arrangement of Come, Come Ye Saints. I did, and everyone was flabbergasted! They loved it :) I saved it and all the other songs i have written out here so that i can  fine tune them (no pun intended!) when i get home.

Other than that, we gots a baptism this Saturday! Awesome man named Alex. He asked me to baptize him. I love him so much man, he is just such a sincere and sweet guy. He is ready for baptism. I love my mission Dad. It is building me in so many ways that i can't even comprehend! And you know what else? I am coming to see that the Atonement has a WAY  bigger role in our everyday lives than we see. Not just for the redemption from sin. For MUCH more. I will explain more if you want me to next time.

Really though... am i bigger than Ben? :)
Love ou forever Daddio. Tell Danny to email me too ok?
Love,
Elder Your Son Schneider

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

From Elder Kagame


Dear Father
Yes am doing great. For sure we live five minute walk to that large stradium and am always happy to go there on mondays to play with some guys that plays at the national team of Kenya,as you think for sure there is a lot of people here .Next week we're goming to have a zone conference and am going to meet conrad again so we will take some pictures and i will send some to you hope you will like them.Dad don't worry any player you will find i will appreciate and i am really happy to have you in my life you're such are blessing to me amnd i will always do my best to make you happy. Wow jessica she looks so smart and am sure she is doing grate even at school with that course of pre-veterinary science am sure god know our desires and i know he wil help her to persure that course an she will be blessed wirh a good job. It was good for Benjamin with his team to have that success but in order to be the best always he need to practice always because practice makes perfact.Daniel is gonna be a grate soccer player i can real feel it i know one day we will play together and i will make him the best player i America and everyone will screaming his name am so proud of him and i can't wait for that day .Yes i was named Douglas after a British guy who took care of me the hospital when i was you because i was pre mature being born before the exerct time of seven month pregnacy so he made me survive and after he gave me his name wow nice guessing dad. Yes i graduated from the university in bussiness administration and am planing to start a bussiness may be by God's will proberbly in Uganda because in Rwanda it's tough to start you own business.My sister is staying in Ethiopia and is married to guy from Pakstan though i don't get along with him because he made my sister to sale everything we had and they ran to pakstan and after wards they settled in Ethiopia and i bearly visit them but i hope they are doing grate. 
The snake was at the members house so when they killed it they called us to have a look and when we reached there my companion skined it and he said he was going to make a belt out of that skin but i left before he made a belt.Dad i love you so much take care and send my greetings to my beloved mum and Jessica plus my young brothers.

PHOTOS!!!!!!!