So I haven't really had time to read your emails all the way or respond to them because it's been a very busy day here in the office. I was surprised when I looked up at the clock and it was 6 already! So I didn't email today, but I wanted to atleast include some things that need to be said.
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS JESSIE!!!!!!!!!!!!
woooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone and their dogs knew that you would succeed, and I personally love you and am proud to call you my sister. I know the rest of the fam feels the exact same way :) YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Second, I just want the family to know that I sustain and support President Hicken in every way possible. He is a man called of God and I am 100% loyal to him. Just because it was tough a bit to adjust to his style and sustain every decision he makes, I have quickly come to see how inspired he is. I have also learned the lesson that we do NOT criticize the Lord's anointed. God called him, so who am I to disagree with a decision he makes? As his assistant I will give my counsel and opinion, then when he makes the decision, I will support it as if I made it myself because he has the keys from the Lord, given to him under the hand of Jeffrey R. Holland last month. So I just wanted it to be very very clear that I sustain and support President Hicken in every way. Besides that, he is coming to be a very good friend of mine. I love him and his wife and they are great people who have given ALOT to the Lord. They really dropped everything and came to serve here in Kenya. Great people and i love them :)
Third, I love you guys ALOT! Not finding faults in my past companions as Elder Mulondo has helped me to do has opened my eyes. I am seeing all the good my past companions did for me. They were wonderful and I thank the Lord for them and their help to me. Without any one of them I wouldn't have an attribute that I now have. I have a testimony of speaking good of people. I'm not trying to brag, but since the day Elder Mulondo and I talked about it, I haven't talked bad of my companion once. I mention that because it is possible for all of us IF we exercise serious will power and reliance on the Lord through prayer and scripture study. I don't mean any of this in a prideful way, because there are a billion things i can work on, and in the world i'm just another person. But i know that God loves me as His son, and that the Lord loves me as His own brother. I know it is way more important to help others than help myself, and i hope i can do that better. I love you guys sooooo much and I am always happy to be in your family. Let's stay positive :)
We're taking off to Eldoret tomorrow and we'l be back on Thursday, so i will try to email then. Love you all times infinity and beyond. You guys bring me the greatest happiness I feel :)
Love always, Conrad
An African Heart
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Hungry, Happy, and...... uh...... Mundivagant
haHA! How many of you ACTUALLY know what mundivagant means??? Yeah i didn't either. In fact, i'm a dirty cheater. I got on Thesaurus.com and looked up synonyms for "traveling". So yeah, mundivagant means that you are traveling a lot.
In other news, I'm starving right now and a little bit... uh. Getting a new mission president is a toughie. But i think new mission president or not, being an Assistant has lessons to teach. One big one, for example, is humility and sustaining your leaders. As an Assistant, President Hicken told us, we are similar to a counsellor. We give counsel, we advise, and when he makes a decision (whether in line with our counsel or not) we go with it and support it as if it is our own. HOLY PIG DOG STINKIN TWINKIE ROASTING PILLOW FIGHTING HASH SLINGING MASH FLINGING TRASH SINGING RASH BRINGING SASH DINGING GOOBERS BATMAN!!!!!!! EASIER SAID THAN DONE!!!!!!!!!!!
(a few deep breaths later)
Sustaining a decision that you do not agree with is an acquired skill. And i am learning it. It is something quite amazing about the Church, and when it is not there, nothing could get done because a decision could rarely be made unanimously. So yes, that is what my life basically consists of right now. But i love and sustain President and Sister Hicken with all my heart, I love and sustain my companion, and most of all i love the Lord and i'm so thankful that He understands me. I need to do my scripture study for today too, thanks for reminding me.
So we got back from Der Al Shazam and Arusha and we are leaving tomorrow to take off to Eastern Kenya. Pretty excited for that! From the sound of things, we will be flying to all the places in the mission instead of driving from now on because President Hicken doesn't like driving. COOL! I'm ok with that for sure. Although airports are a pain, driving 8+ hours is a bigger pain. But this time we are driving so keep us in your prayers please!!
Dar es Salaam was nice and humid, as always. But it was actually not that bad... it's "winter" there, meaning it is below 80 degrees. The conference was nice and short, we role played, and President interviewed TONS of people. He is spending a long time so he can get to know people. President also took us to a fancy shmancy restaurant on the Dar coast. It was SO cool. It was night so the shore pics aren't good. And when you look at the pictures and see something hanging out of my companion's mouth, that is a fish head. He ordered an entire fish. They brought the whole thing and he devoured it. Yup, Africa for sure. Arusha was also nice, but polar opposite weather wise. COLD!!!!! I actually used 2 blankets for the first time in 19 months. And it was about that time that i realized, ".........I'm gonna die when i go home." So it was nice knowing you, but as soon as i step off the plane, i'm dead. In Arusha we got a lift to Church from some smoking, raggae listening guy we flagged down. HA! Don't worry, there were 6 of us and 1 of him, so when he tried to rob us we beat him to a pulp and took his clothes. hahaha joking, he was super nice. When we got off the truck, i even invited him to church next Sunday :) in Swahili :D "Wiki jayo, umekaribishwa kanisani!"
So now that we're back in Nairobi, we're just in the office. Ugh...... do i miss teaching the Gospel? 1000000% Do i miss tracting and contacting? I used to dislike contacting alot so i never thought i would, but i do. And from the sound of it, President Hicken may keep me here in the office up until i finish my mission. But don't think that i am murmuring. I love whatever calling the Lord allows me to have. I am SO thankful to be here in the office. I am seeing what it will be like to come home and have to adjust. I am also learning so many skills that will come in extremely handy in professional life and people skills that i am thankful for. AND, President Hicken is always willing to pass on wisdom and advice and it is wonderful. I am very thankful for the chance to serve. I love my mission with all my heart, and i pray sincerely that I can do all that the Lord would have me do. Love you all times infinity and beyond! You are the cat's pajamas!!!!!!
With love forever, Elder Schneider 2, the Sequel
In other news, I'm starving right now and a little bit... uh. Getting a new mission president is a toughie. But i think new mission president or not, being an Assistant has lessons to teach. One big one, for example, is humility and sustaining your leaders. As an Assistant, President Hicken told us, we are similar to a counsellor. We give counsel, we advise, and when he makes a decision (whether in line with our counsel or not) we go with it and support it as if it is our own. HOLY PIG DOG STINKIN TWINKIE ROASTING PILLOW FIGHTING HASH SLINGING MASH FLINGING TRASH SINGING RASH BRINGING SASH DINGING GOOBERS BATMAN!!!!!!! EASIER SAID THAN DONE!!!!!!!!!!!
(a few deep breaths later)
Sustaining a decision that you do not agree with is an acquired skill. And i am learning it. It is something quite amazing about the Church, and when it is not there, nothing could get done because a decision could rarely be made unanimously. So yes, that is what my life basically consists of right now. But i love and sustain President and Sister Hicken with all my heart, I love and sustain my companion, and most of all i love the Lord and i'm so thankful that He understands me. I need to do my scripture study for today too, thanks for reminding me.
So we got back from Der Al Shazam and Arusha and we are leaving tomorrow to take off to Eastern Kenya. Pretty excited for that! From the sound of things, we will be flying to all the places in the mission instead of driving from now on because President Hicken doesn't like driving. COOL! I'm ok with that for sure. Although airports are a pain, driving 8+ hours is a bigger pain. But this time we are driving so keep us in your prayers please!!
Dar es Salaam was nice and humid, as always. But it was actually not that bad... it's "winter" there, meaning it is below 80 degrees. The conference was nice and short, we role played, and President interviewed TONS of people. He is spending a long time so he can get to know people. President also took us to a fancy shmancy restaurant on the Dar coast. It was SO cool. It was night so the shore pics aren't good. And when you look at the pictures and see something hanging out of my companion's mouth, that is a fish head. He ordered an entire fish. They brought the whole thing and he devoured it. Yup, Africa for sure. Arusha was also nice, but polar opposite weather wise. COLD!!!!! I actually used 2 blankets for the first time in 19 months. And it was about that time that i realized, ".........I'm gonna die when i go home." So it was nice knowing you, but as soon as i step off the plane, i'm dead. In Arusha we got a lift to Church from some smoking, raggae listening guy we flagged down. HA! Don't worry, there were 6 of us and 1 of him, so when he tried to rob us we beat him to a pulp and took his clothes. hahaha joking, he was super nice. When we got off the truck, i even invited him to church next Sunday :) in Swahili :D "Wiki jayo, umekaribishwa kanisani!"
So now that we're back in Nairobi, we're just in the office. Ugh...... do i miss teaching the Gospel? 1000000% Do i miss tracting and contacting? I used to dislike contacting alot so i never thought i would, but i do. And from the sound of it, President Hicken may keep me here in the office up until i finish my mission. But don't think that i am murmuring. I love whatever calling the Lord allows me to have. I am SO thankful to be here in the office. I am seeing what it will be like to come home and have to adjust. I am also learning so many skills that will come in extremely handy in professional life and people skills that i am thankful for. AND, President Hicken is always willing to pass on wisdom and advice and it is wonderful. I am very thankful for the chance to serve. I love my mission with all my heart, and i pray sincerely that I can do all that the Lord would have me do. Love you all times infinity and beyond! You are the cat's pajamas!!!!!!
With love forever, Elder Schneider 2, the Sequel
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Sea Biscuit, Ocean Cookie, Lake Doughnut...
Synonyms for the same heroic horse......
Alrighty then. I told you all in your individual emails that i would be telling you more about what's happening. Well, I shall now attempt to do so! Unless i get distracted or duty calls or "duty calls", if you know what i mean.
President Broadbent left on Sunday evening. We wanted to take him to the airport, but he had the Olsens take him instead and made us stay. It was a very tearful goodbye, but President and Sister Broadbent have served faithfully in one of the most demanding callings in the Church that i have EVER seen. Mission president is no joke, no joke at all.
That was Sunday night, and then Monday morning hit, and we picked up President Hicken bright and early from the mission home. We are his chauffeurs for the next week or so, and boy howdy, they are SCARED of my driving. I've gotten a little "better" at driving since being in Nairobi. I told Dad the truth, that we practice Darwinism on the Kenyan roads. And I'm the top of the food chain, buddy! BOOM! AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' ON ME!!! NO SIR!!!!!!! YOU WANNA CUT ME OFF??? I'LL CUT OFF YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR ANIMALS, YOUR MOTHER, AND EVERYONE YOU'VE EVER KNOWN AND LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (war cry) WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So yeah they were scared as I showed them how to drive. But they have to get used to so much that driving is at the bottom right now. We have spent the past few days getting all used to the office and the new stuff. Ugh.... it's a bit strenuous and stressful, but we're getting there :) and we can TOTALLY see the Lord's help in all this :) He is amazing :)
So this month is going to be insanity. Next week we are taking off to Dar Es Salaam again, staying there for about 3 days. And you KNOW I'm gonna eat some Chips mayai kuku nusu baby! (it's like, french fries, with eggs cracked over them, plus half a chicken. How many calories, one may ask? IT'S OFF THE CHARTS!!!!!!) From Dar we fly to Arusha, the former capital of TZ. We will spend 2 or 3 days there and then get back to Nairobi. Then 3 days after we get back we drive to Chyulu, stay 2 days, drive to Mombasa, stay 3 days and come back. That week, we are in Nairobi (phew!) and the weekend we have a branch conference in Kilili. Then 2 days later we drive to Eldoret and stay there for a good 4 days or so, then we come home. By that time it will be the 1st of August or something. Basically from next week, ain't never a down moment. So if you don't get a long email for a month or so, just know that i love you all alot, (insert British accent) i'm just busier than a tea shop in ruddy ole' London, wot wot! (cease accent)
In other news, today is the best day of the whole year (almost) - the 4th of July. And actually, on a serious note, i want to say how thankful I am for America. There is simply no place on Earth that i would want to live more than America. It is indeed the land of opportunity. If you disagree, you've never been to a foreign country. If you have you've never been to a 3rd world country. 3rd world or not though, America is a blessed place. I can honestly testify that God has blessed and protected and prospered that land. It is a special place and a hallowed place. The restoration of the Lord's Gospel AND the Master's second coming have been/will be there (respectively), and that's because the Father has seen to it that America would be a place of freedom and opportunity! I love America with all my heart. I am completely loyal to Her constitution and Her Declaration of Independence. I support and uphold the laws. I support and sustain the President, whoever he may be, just as the 12th article of faith states that we do. I LOVE our country and always will :) celebrate hard for me, i'll catch the American spirit next year with you. But i'll be darned if i don't listen to the National Anthem and America the Beautiful and say the Pledge of Allegiance tonight! AMERICA!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and tonight President Hicken is taking us to Spurr's to buy us unlimited BBQ ribs. OH DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With a never-ending spring of love flowing from my aortic valve,
Conradski!
Alrighty then. I told you all in your individual emails that i would be telling you more about what's happening. Well, I shall now attempt to do so! Unless i get distracted or duty calls or "duty calls", if you know what i mean.
President Broadbent left on Sunday evening. We wanted to take him to the airport, but he had the Olsens take him instead and made us stay. It was a very tearful goodbye, but President and Sister Broadbent have served faithfully in one of the most demanding callings in the Church that i have EVER seen. Mission president is no joke, no joke at all.
That was Sunday night, and then Monday morning hit, and we picked up President Hicken bright and early from the mission home. We are his chauffeurs for the next week or so, and boy howdy, they are SCARED of my driving. I've gotten a little "better" at driving since being in Nairobi. I told Dad the truth, that we practice Darwinism on the Kenyan roads. And I'm the top of the food chain, buddy! BOOM! AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' ON ME!!! NO SIR!!!!!!! YOU WANNA CUT ME OFF??? I'LL CUT OFF YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR ANIMALS, YOUR MOTHER, AND EVERYONE YOU'VE EVER KNOWN AND LOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (war cry) WAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So yeah they were scared as I showed them how to drive. But they have to get used to so much that driving is at the bottom right now. We have spent the past few days getting all used to the office and the new stuff. Ugh.... it's a bit strenuous and stressful, but we're getting there :) and we can TOTALLY see the Lord's help in all this :) He is amazing :)
So this month is going to be insanity. Next week we are taking off to Dar Es Salaam again, staying there for about 3 days. And you KNOW I'm gonna eat some Chips mayai kuku nusu baby! (it's like, french fries, with eggs cracked over them, plus half a chicken. How many calories, one may ask? IT'S OFF THE CHARTS!!!!!!) From Dar we fly to Arusha, the former capital of TZ. We will spend 2 or 3 days there and then get back to Nairobi. Then 3 days after we get back we drive to Chyulu, stay 2 days, drive to Mombasa, stay 3 days and come back. That week, we are in Nairobi (phew!) and the weekend we have a branch conference in Kilili. Then 2 days later we drive to Eldoret and stay there for a good 4 days or so, then we come home. By that time it will be the 1st of August or something. Basically from next week, ain't never a down moment. So if you don't get a long email for a month or so, just know that i love you all alot, (insert British accent) i'm just busier than a tea shop in ruddy ole' London, wot wot! (cease accent)
In other news, today is the best day of the whole year (almost) - the 4th of July. And actually, on a serious note, i want to say how thankful I am for America. There is simply no place on Earth that i would want to live more than America. It is indeed the land of opportunity. If you disagree, you've never been to a foreign country. If you have you've never been to a 3rd world country. 3rd world or not though, America is a blessed place. I can honestly testify that God has blessed and protected and prospered that land. It is a special place and a hallowed place. The restoration of the Lord's Gospel AND the Master's second coming have been/will be there (respectively), and that's because the Father has seen to it that America would be a place of freedom and opportunity! I love America with all my heart. I am completely loyal to Her constitution and Her Declaration of Independence. I support and uphold the laws. I support and sustain the President, whoever he may be, just as the 12th article of faith states that we do. I LOVE our country and always will :) celebrate hard for me, i'll catch the American spirit next year with you. But i'll be darned if i don't listen to the National Anthem and America the Beautiful and say the Pledge of Allegiance tonight! AMERICA!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and tonight President Hicken is taking us to Spurr's to buy us unlimited BBQ ribs. OH DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With a never-ending spring of love flowing from my aortic valve,
Conradski!
New Mission President
PRESIDENT HICKEN IS HERE! WE ARE TAKING PRESIDENT BROADBENT HOME TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but i'm not really that nervous. In fact, i feel kinda just... normal. Blessings from a loving Father in Heaven for sure. Here we go, Schneiders... next big mission adventure, about to take off. I'll send pictures next time i have the chance. Love you all times infinity :)
Elder Schneider
Elder Schneider
Truth!
Truth - a knowledge of things as they were, as they are, and as they will be.
Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize to which mortals or Gods can aspire. Go search in the depths where it glittering lies, or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies: 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire.
I just had a solemn and wonderful study on the law of chastity, and it led me to study truth. A knowledge of truth (which in itself is a knowledge of eternal reality) will lead us to study the word of God DAILY, pray many times each day, have faith in Jesus Christ, and repent often. Truth is a safeguard when we understand and apply it! A knowledge of truth helps me to know that my thoughts, actions, and desires have been, are, and will be focused on eternal rewards, not temporal or lustful or worldly rewards.
Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, for the limits of time to step over. Though the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst, TRUTH, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Eternal, unchanged, evermore.
Love you all eternally. Keep the eternal perspective and the truth of eternities will distill upon you.
With love, Conrad
Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize to which mortals or Gods can aspire. Go search in the depths where it glittering lies, or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies: 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire.
I just had a solemn and wonderful study on the law of chastity, and it led me to study truth. A knowledge of truth (which in itself is a knowledge of eternal reality) will lead us to study the word of God DAILY, pray many times each day, have faith in Jesus Christ, and repent often. Truth is a safeguard when we understand and apply it! A knowledge of truth helps me to know that my thoughts, actions, and desires have been, are, and will be focused on eternal rewards, not temporal or lustful or worldly rewards.
Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first, for the limits of time to step over. Though the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst, TRUTH, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Eternal, unchanged, evermore.
Love you all eternally. Keep the eternal perspective and the truth of eternities will distill upon you.
With love, Conrad
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