This is a week Alright.

So Elder Shamanga from Zambia is my new Companion. He's pretty legit and Is super chill. He doesn't know the area at all nor can he drive so I'm leading until he gets all this down. he's 7 months on mission and Loved his last area.

So this week I nearly ripped my hair out. First, one of our people that's being baptized this Sunday was robbed at gunpoint..... We rushed over and gave a priesthood blessing. She's fine, just super shaken up about it. Please, I don't want to give the name but please pray for her.

Next, it was appointment after appointment. It was super busy going here and there and driving all over with Elder Shamanga not knowing anyone I did all the talking and yo I feel like I'm incharge of the two branches... Something isn't right if that's the case.

Anyhow, it was quite a busy week this week. I think I just added 5 years to how I look.... But still looking good in a sweater, that's a fact.

So I also stated wearing my retainer again and I will tell you if you haven't worn a retainer in 9 months and you start again.... just don't. It hurt so bad I wanted to cry. If I actually cried myself to sleep, you'll never know. But please: Listen to your Elders.

You can stop laughing now.

Anyhow, so more about the week. We met a dis-fellowship woman named Debra who has a very broken british accent. I say that because most people here speak with a African accent that i can't describe and she does not. that's because she used to travel a lot and was raised by Africans people. It's very weird but none the less she was funny and wants us to come back so she can bake for us. YES!!!!!!!

The longer I'm here in South Africa the more I wish America was like here. people are nice, food is good. Pap exists. It's just so different yet I love it so much. I've learned to love the people and I've learned the Gospel so well.

My advise to you is if at first there's something that seems so difficult, take a look at how much you have to do. Seems like a lot, right? Now take a look back at how far you've come. You have come pretty far in life, right? Now ask yourself:

Am I going to throw away all that I've done because this is too hard?

If the answer is yes, I feel sorry for you. If that answer is no, then just Endure a little more. You'll make it. That's a Schnepf Promise.

-Elder Schnepf

Once Upon A Time, My Trainer Is Leaving...

...and yeah, transfers are tomorrow. Elder Eki will not be my companion come tomorrow morning. He's done his job as my trainer, it's time for Elder Shamanga to come see how he did. I'll miss Elder Eki's Spaghetti, but for the most part I think it's just time to become a non-greeny Elder. I'll see him again, he goes home next year July.

And I currently am a tad/lot sick. Turns out I get sick every time it becomes winter, no matter what part of the world I am in. That being said, I'm a-ok to go out and teach. Don't worry, I'm a trooper.

So no pictures this week because the cord I use is in elder Eki's suitcase... Time to by one for myself. 

So speaking of pictures, I was in the most Ghetto hospital I have ever seen. I won't say it's name, but I will say if I need medical care..... well Heaven is a nice place. Me and Elder Eki were there to go visit a member who was admitted. He has had a sickness for over 2 months now and this second hospital trip finally pushed everything out of his system. We visited him and had an Amazing lesson on Priesthood. Then I shaved his beard. apparently I have become a barber now because I know how to cut my hair, so says elder Eki.... and I do a pretty good job if I say so myself... (And with that statement it looks like I'm ready to get a sjambok of the Spirit).

Speaking of that word, so You can go look up what a Sjambok is, but just know apparently children here fear that word/action.... and I know say that Elder Holland has the Priesthood Key to sjambok.

Other than that, it was a nice week. Elder Eki gave his farewell talk to one of the branches, we ate at the Dladla's, visited everyone and took pictures with them. It was a nice Sunday.

It seems that the longer I'm here the more I forget about thingsat home until monday. I guess that's a good thing. I love receiving emails, but I guess I just like hearing from everyone more.

Anyhow, Tuesday I'll have a new companion, so I'll tell you all about him next week.

Elder Candland: Congratulations. I can't wait to hear more from you. (Shout out to him).

Hambe kahle

or

Stay well

-Elder Parker T Schnepf

SO a Miracle Happened.

This week's email from Elder Schnepf! Today is his 100th day of being on his mission!! He's also getting really good and sending pictures!!

First, I want to welcome my MTC district group to this email. Whether you guys like it or not, I finally added you to my weekly update to the world.

So on Saturday I was watching conference with Elder Reid in Etwatwa because we were on exchanges. I'll tell you, Conference blew me away. But during it, Sister Bale had asked me and Elder Reid to bless her 4 yr old son, Moses, before she took him to the health clinic. He had a huge lump on his abdomen and he wasn't feeling well at all. So Elder Reid anointed and I blessed, then she hurried off to take him to the health clinic. Later that day we visited the family and she was praising us. By the time she had gotten to the clinic, Moses was fine. He had no lump, and was running around like the crazy 4 year old he was. It was the first miracle I was apart of this mission.

Earlier during the week I went on exchanges with the Zone leader Named Elder Nicotra from Italy. He played with my camera, so I'm emailing his pictures home. Always remember to delete your pictures before you give the camera back, kids... anyway He's 28 believe it or not and goes home on tuesday... His time here is up. He can't wait to get back to his nast- i mean, *delightful* Italian cheese (It sounds disgusting...). Reason I mention him at all is because he is a powerful missionary and we had a blast on Tuesday-Wednesday from watching and laughing at the district to eating at the King of Kings place: Burger King. Seriously, way better than in America.

We gave lessons to alot of members that day, and they all loved him becasue he's a spicy Italian with a personality to match. He's awesome.

Tomorrow Elder Eki is going to be making a Lasagna that he always talks about, so I'll email on it next week.

Taxi's still suck. I trimmed my bangs again. I look Dang Good in a sweater. Nothing new really.

If you are struggling with money and you are paying your tithing, pay a generous fast offering. Seriously, if I, a missionary, can eat like a king by paying that, you can do so much better with it.

New report next week.

-Elder Schnepf

My Companion Busted The Toilet Seat In Half.

We got more pictures this week!

So the title says it all. I woke up one morning, went to do some business, the second I put weight on it it cracked clean in half.... Then he blamed me for using a cracked toilet seat... I'm 60kg's and he's over a 100 kg's.... It was broken and he put it back together.... Yep.

Besides that, I got to replace a toilet seat. It was a pain. Took an hour to pry the old one off, clean the living daylight out of the toilet, then put the new one on. Yeah.....

On another note, my address for letters is:

Private Bag X4

Ansfrere
1711

South Africa

Wesley Castro, Shout out to you for reminding me to put it here.

Shout Out to my buddy, Elder Thwaits for getting Called to Tennessee! Yeah, I have connections. I hear stuff. Don't be surprised.

Anyhow, I brought the wrong card with me for pictures, so you can have the one where I show off how I look when i cut my hair. Did it on Saturday morning. I used scissors on my bangs, but clippers on the rest. My mamma taught me well if I do say so myself.

So fast and Testimony meeting is now my Favourite meeting. It's like I get up to talk and words just come out. I haven't written a talk ever since, I just trust that I've read enough and a General Conference talk comes out. Speaking of which, I'll see that next week so wait for my comments on it.

Let Brother Sanders know as well that this Cambria Soldier is proudly wearing his shirt every Monday.

Africa is incredible though. The township people are nice, Suburbs are a nightmare for a missionary, and drivers are almost as scary as a new york Cab driver... Almost.

For the area, Etwatwa, we have three people on date for baptism on May 1st, long after transfers. We'll see what happens then.

anyhow, so here's a few pictures because I finally found a way to send them quickly.

This feels like home now, and I can't wait to get back to it.

-Elder Schnepf

So A Lot Happened.

Here's the email from this week! And our Elder sent us some pictures, too! Enjoy!!

I got 2 flat tires in the same day... yay. But it was really cool.

After me and Elder Eki left our area at 9pm, I was driving and noticed that the car was pulling to the left. I figured we needed to get the car aligned, so I kept going. As I began to speed up, a voice IN MY HEART told me to slow down. I obeyed and then I heard the CLUMP, CLUPM pf the shredded tire hitting the road. That was super cool that I heard that. I even got to use the skill my dad taught me on how to change a tire... Shout out to my pop.

So that's a cool story, right? Well I popped another tire 1 K from our home... Yeah, I borrowed Michael Kimble's luck for a night. We had to borrow Benoni's tire as we were stranded.

Next, we did some yard work for about 4 hours digging a water canal for sis Maebela. Yeah, nothing special there.

The highlight of the week was when we drove to Secunda from Benoni. that drive was super long and I hated it. It's an hour and half from where we live... we drove there andback twice in one day to pick up elders for Zone meeting.... Joy. 

Not too much to say, but here's some pictures to prove I'm still alive and well.

Stay strong back home

-Elder Schnepf

...I Baptized Two Kids on Sunday.

Sorry for the late post!! This is his email from last week, enjoy!

First off I wanna talk about the rain in south Africa. Cultural. Celebration. Level. Of. Wetness. My rain proof jacket was soaked. Yeah, it was awesome.

So once upon a time me and Elder Eki were filling up the Baptism font. I testify and let heaven be my witness as I say we did not crack the pipe.... but heaven also testifies that we 100% broke it off. Not my fault. you can't prove anything. However, me and Elder Eki did some engineering that would have made Nick Thwaits proud of me: We shoved a hose over the piper and it fit perfectly.

And that brings me to the fact I baptized two people on Sunday. Jabo Bale and Matepelo Maloto. a 10 year old and a 9 year old. the water was so cold but I put on the fake face and said it wasn't' that bad.... then they seemed to be super cold after wards. I got to wear all white and I felt amazing wearing white again.

Also, so last monday we played doge-ball with 4 Elders. It was super fun to avoid a volley ball being thrown at me by people who could wrestle bears. Because of how small and fast I was they couldn't really hit me.... but when they did. EISH.

Then we played 2v2 basket ball. I still got some skills even though we lost by one point. Just saying.

Oh, so the awesome mission bag I bought from that place in mesa is a piece of junk. The zipper broke, the strap broke, and the shoulder pad ripped. However, I can say I have never been more proud of myself than to be able to learn how to sow a button hole, strap, and fix a rip on my mission. Pretty soon I think I'll be able to tailor my own suit.

Know that I am doing well, that milk here expires months after it's boxed, and that I am buying so many spices in preparation of the leave of my trainer. I am Alive, doing well, and I haven't died yet. As a fellow missionary once told me:

Stay alive, stay awesome, stay frosty. Elder Peterson, I'm gonna do just that.

-Elder Parker T Schnepf.

PS

Shout out to Nick Thwaits. Taught me how to fix broken stuff in a way no one else could have.

And Here's Another Week Gone By

Here's another email from our Elder. This had to be edited a lot because he is learning Zulu; and for those of you who have learned a second language, then you understand how hard it is to spell in English when learning that other language!

Yeesh, it seems that weeks fly by. I email, and then it's like I email again.

Anyhow, so Hi. How's everyone been? It's fun being here.

On Sunday I gave a talk in same sacrament that I was asked to give 2 hours before the meeting. It was the first talk I gave with no paper to use as a guideline. The Spirit used me like a speaker as I addressed everyone about charity, My favourite topic. It was awesome to hear words not your own come to you and see the light fill in peoples eyes.

I also was able to confirm Lizzy Ratshisu, a new member of the Church, on Sunday. It was awesome, I messed up 2 times in front of 39 people! But it shows that everyone messes up, right?

So I saw someone get hit by a taxi. It sucked, because I literally was not allowed to do anything to help this man as he laid there twitching.... California Drivers and Utah drivers are saints compared to the devils on the road here. I testify of that.

Also, I never mentioned that the McDonald's here has a share box that feds a family of 5 for less that $12 (or ONE Elder Lefthand. That guy is not human). And McDonald's here is just as sucky as it is back home. I don't go often, but I had to try it to say I did.

In order to be able to relate with the people here, I must learn Zulu. It's not easy, nor is it like anything back home, but I've got a Zulu Book of Mormon and a lot of time (A whole HOUR) to read every morning. You watch me come home being able to speak like a real south African, because I already can click pretty well.

Stay safe everyone. Make sure you appreciate your family too.

Elder Schnepf

P.S. It seems Grandpa Burke still has some things to say to me because I received a Priesthood manual from the 80's from past missionaries. As I read through it, H. Burke Peterson had a very good insight about how to use your priesthood on your family... I can't tell you how long I stared at that page in disbelief.