This week was full of great experiences...

Salamo O!

      This week was full of great experiences, couple o' lows, but a lot of highs! I don't have too much time this week to email, but I'll make sure to cover everything either today or next week.

Fitsapana Sarotra

• Elder Schnoor and I have learned to love our progressing investigators so much. It's honestly kind of odd because it's our teachers acting as the investigators. That's been my favorite part about the training in the MTC. Our teachers have really helped us learn to love our investigators through praying for them earnestly and creating thoughtful lesson plans. As a result of this, Elder Schnoor and I want very specific lesson plans for each investigator because we want them to progress as fast as possible, but we have different ideas very often. I like asking more questions, but his methods work well too. It takes a while to come to an agreement every time. Still, our lessons have worked out great this week!

Zavatra Tsara dia Tsara

• To be completely honest, I thought Elder Schnoor and I were way behind in the language this whole time. Our teacher finally evaluated us to give us an idea of where we're at yesterday. And to our surprise, he said that we were progressing faster than most Malagasy missionaries! Wut. It's definitely because we're in a class of two rather than the usual 4-6 for Malagasy. Still, it was extremely relieving to hear.
• The MTC gave us an opportunity to teach a lesson over Skype with a native member in Madagascar. It was amazing! We actually could sort of barely understand her! Her name was Navofaly, and she was about 35 years old. She had the whitest teeth I have ever seen and kept laughing while saying, "Wooooh." Our lesson was basically asking her what her favorite BoM story was and giving her a commitment to find one really valuable referral for a missionary there, kinda disjointed, but it worked out! That was great experience that makes me even more excited to get out there and teach!
• This next story is the result of the MTC food and my inability to process it correctly. During our most recent TRC (Teaching Resource Center) lesson with RM's that went to Madagascar, I made an odd mistake... I was talking about the importance of testimony with them when I involuntarily let out a lil' toot. For some reason, the RM's didn't notice, but Elder Schnoor definitely did (he held in a laugh). So, I kept going on about testimony, but I turned towards Elder Schnoor and winked. He burst out laughing and had to leave the room. I pretended like I didn't know what was going on, and the RM's seemed really confused. Eventually, he came back and explained the whole thing, and we had a good laugh.
• 'Twas my birthday last Sunday. It actually turned out to be a great birthday! First, all the packages and letters from you guys were amazing! Packages are really fun to get at the MTC. Later, after a great devotional, we had President Burgess come to our devotional review, whoa. He fell asleep haha! Last, someone told everybody it was my birthday, and everybody broke the rules and started singing Happy Birthday to me. This was actually one of my favorite experiences because I've grown so close to some of the Tongans, and their voices are so rich and smooth. It's ear-candy, holy cow.
• Elder Schnoor and I were made the zone leaders for this last week, not too much we can do in only one week, but it's a fun opportunity! We were mostly called because we're the oldest district, but I really feel we can still magnify our calling in such a short amount of time. In addition, it helped to motivate us to be much more exactly obedient and to be good examples to the rest of the zone. It's actually easier than being a district leader for some reason, heheheh.

     Sorry, we got out of the Temple late, so we don't have as much time to finish off our emails. I'm not able to respond to everybody individually, but I read 'em all! I really love all the information everyone sends me! but I'll give my future self some work. Here are the stories I missed:

• Elder Palmer German Song feat. Elder Moala and Toupou*
• Elder Palmer Dancing*
• Haitian Elder Snoring
• First Mission Haircut
• Many Small and Big Spiritual Experiences
• Elder Moala and Our Funny Arguments
•    "         "        "      "       "     Scenarios We Act Out*

*=especially funny

Fantatro fa amin'ny alalan'ny fanakaikiana an'i Jesoa Kristy sy Andriamanitra dia afaka faly isika. Nanome antsika Andriamanitra ny fomba no ianaranantsika momba ny fampiananaran'i Jesoa Kristy amin'ny soratra masina, ny Baiboly sy ny Bokin'i Mormona. Fantatro fa raha hamaky ireo soratra masina ireo isan'andro isika dia hitahy antsika Andriamanitra. Koa, rehefa mivavaka aho, tsapako ny fahatsapana fohy sy ny fahamarinana amin'ny alalan'ny Fanahy Masina. 

Love you lots!

Elder Soper