Subway Surfers

Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Birthday, Christmas, Quanza, Easter, Flag Day, Spring Cleaning Day, Tax Day, ect. everyone!!!!!

This week has been excellent!

I was able to go to the Manhattan Temple on Tuesday! It was such an amazing experience! We all rode the subway from Rego Park, Queens into Manhattan. That was tons of fun. I sat down next to a super nice man from the Philippines. We talked a lot about his job and his church and his family. I was able to teach him about the Book of Mormon and he asked if he could have one! I gave him my Book of Mormon and he thanked me for talking with him. He also said that he knows that these kind of meetings are not a coincidence and that God had arranged for us to meet that day. Super cool! If I had never opened my mouth and said hello, I would have never had that conversation with him. On the way back from the temple, I felt like I should talk with a younger looking man. I went and sat down by him in the back of the subway car and started talking with him. He asked why I was dressed in a suit, so we talked a little bit about the temple. I was able to teach him the Restoration and give him a Book of Mormon. When I got up and went back to the front to talk with more people, I glanced back to see him already reading the Book of Mormon! I smiled, and a woman that had overheard my conversation with the young man waved me over. She said that she wanted that book, too! She said that this was the first time that she had ever heard about Joseph Smith and really wanted to learn more. We talked about the Restoration of the Gospel and she accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon as well! I had prayed that morning to be able to touch someone's life on the way to or from the temple, and Heavenly Father helped me to affect the lives of many that day. All three people that accepted the Book of Mormon from me said that they felt this was something they needed at this time in their lives. Heavenly Father is SO real and has a plan for each of His children! 

We had interviews with President Reynolds on Friday. Wow, do I love that man! He has been such an amazing influence in my life over the past 7 months. Anyway, we talked about a bunch of stuff. Mainly, he told me that he plans to keep me in Plainview for another transfer. He feels that it isn't fair to me to blind two elders into my pool that I have been building since I got here. So, he is going to get me another companion for next transfer. Well, at least that is the plan for now. Sometimes, Heavenly Father randomly sends you some place unexpected.

So, we had to postpone Chris and Nadia's baptism for a couple weeks. They are doing very well and are still looking forward to being baptized in the near future. 

I think that is about it for this week :) have an amazing week! 

I love you all!

Elder Snell

Josh joined us for a lesson with Shirley, and we felt a picture was appropriate for the occassion. 

Callahan Beach in Smithtown

For the Temple is A House of God

Hello, Friends :)

This week has been fantastic! Lots of great things and tons of progress with the ward and with our investigators.

Chris and Nadia had their baptismal interviews yesterday and are now ready to be baptized on Saturday! Whoo! I am so excited for them! It has been such an amazing experience to be able to watch how applying the Gospel has truly changed their lives for the better. Their very natures have changed over the past 6 months that I have been working with them. It is hard to describe the joy I feel for them from witnessing the Atonement of Jesus Christ work within their own lives. I can't wait for their baptism!

Frances and Bruce are doing extremely well! They are just cruising along with their family history so they can be ready for the temple. We are planning on going to do Baptisms for the Dead with them on March 4. They are so excited, and I can't wait to be able to go to the temple with them for their first time ever!

Casandra and Len are less-active members who have come to church for the past couple weeks. Awesome! Casandra is mostly deaf and can only communicate with American Sigh Language. We have had my former companion, Elder Robison, Facetime her during Sacrament Meeting. During the last 2 hours of church (Gospel Principles and Relief Society) I have been "interpreting" for her. It is so much fun to be able to practice what Elder Robison taught me! I am no where near being good at ASL, but I can have a little bit of a conversation and can understand/answer Casandra's questions. It has been tons of fun!

Richard and Renanta are doing wonderfully! They love the Book of Mormon and are finding so much peace and joy from reading it as well as praying together regularly. They are going back to Florida for a couple weeks, so we will try to have lessons over Facebook video chat or Facetime. I love being able to use technology for missionary work! It helps a lot. 

Elder Casares told me that I occasionally talk in my sleep... apparently, I taught an entire lesson about prayer the other night. Just thought it was funny and that I would share with you all. 

I am going to the temple for my 6 month mark today! HOORAY! So, I probably won't have much time to respond to emails today. I still love you all and hope you have had an amazing week!

I love and pray for you all!

Love ya!

Elder Snell

I bought a polaroid camer! :) No regrets at all!!!

We got $7.95 for recycling 159 water bottles :)

Here is a potato that one of our less-active is growing on her stove

TEMPLE TRIP!!!

True Love Comes From The Heart Into a Plastic Bag

Hello, Friends!!!

This has been a most excellent week! Great things have happened, are
happening, and are going to happen!

First off, Chris & Nadia are doing very well! They have been
investigating the church for 5 years now, and they are finally ready
to take their first step! They are scheduled for baptism on February
25 and they are so excited. I am super excited as well! I started
working with Chris and Nadia when I got here in August. They have come
such a long way, and they truly are happier.

Richard and Renanta are still doing pretty well. We taught them the
Law of Chastity this week. They still want to continue meeting with
us, so I take that as a great sign! They are both still really excited
to continue working toward their baptisms and eventually to the
TEMPLE! I love the temple so much! I can't wait until I get to go in a
couple weeks!

Nicole is making great progress! She finally came to church this week!
YAY! She had a great time and loved being there. Elder McCleary and
Elder Casares had an investigator who wanted to go to Gospel Doctrines
class, so Brother Mansuetto became my temporary companion during
church so I could go to Gospel Principles class. There was no teacher
in Gospel Principles, so I got to teach! I love having the opportunity
to teach whenever I can! Brother Mansuetto also helped out a lot in
class.

We finally had a snowstorm this week. It wasn't too much, but we had a
great time shoveling driveways!

Also, we were able to donate blood today! It was super fun being able
to talk to the nurses about the gospel while they stick you with
pointy needles and steal the juice inside of you that helps you live!
One of the people that was working at the blood donation center went
to the Hartford Temple open house, so we had a lot to talk about!
Another on of the nurses has a friend who is Mormon, so she had a few
questions for us as well. Super fun stuff!

Well, I'm not really sure what else you all might want to know from my
emails...or if anyone really reads these hahaha. If not, this is great
therapy for me regardless!

I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day! If there
is ever anything I can do for you, PLEASE let me know! I'm not just
saying that. I mean it!

LOVE YA!
Elder Snell

Preaching My Gospel, [Three By Three]

Good Morning, Friends!

My goodness, this week has been an interesting one. I have learned a
lot about myself this week. I am really enjoying serving in the
Plainview ward! It is going to be a sad day when I get transferred
from here. I love the people here so much.

So, here is the rundown of my super hectic week :)

Monday
   About two weeks ago, we knocked into Brian. We taught him the
Restoration and left him with a Book of Mormon. He agreed with
everything we talked about and said he would really like to read the
book. Since he has some medical things he has to take care of
regularly, he asked us to come back in two weeks. We came back
(Monday) and he had read the entire Book of Mormon, prayed about it,
and believes that it is true! Due to his medical stuff, he can only
come to church every other week. He will be at church this coming
Sunday. Super cool guy!

Tuesday
   Not much really happened. Super strong spirit in district meeting,
though, while everyone took a turn explaining why they came on a
mission.

Wednesday
   This was the day where the week took an interesting turn. We visited
Gary, Dio, Sister Macagnone in the hospital, and the Mansuetto's for
lunch. Elder Flora has been having a rough time and has some family
problems at home. He decided that he needs to go home, so President
got him a plane ticket for Thursday... I texted the District and asked
them to meet us at the church to say goodbye to Elder Flora. President
called me Wednesday night and informed me that I will be moved into a
trio with Elder McCleary and Elder Casares. Crazy!

Thursday
   Elder Flora and I went to Rego, Queens in the morning to meet
President and Sister Reynolds to go to the airport. It was sad to see
Elder Flora go, but I know he needs to be apart of what is happening
at home. President took me to the mission home where Elder McCleary
and Elder Casares picked me up. We immediately went out to teach a few
lessons we had planned for that day. They didn't have a bed for me yet
at their apartment, so I spent the night on the floor haha :)

Friday-Sunday
   Busy, Busy, Busy! I love being busy! Since we had to combine both
teaching pools in the area, we have been teaching so many lessons. We
have to drive A LOT because we now cover the entire area instead of
splitting the area between two companionship. On Saturday, we moved
all the rest of my stuff from my apartment in Melville to their
apartment in Levittown. It is much smaller, but we are still alive
haha. Richard & Renanta are doing so well! They love the gospel so
much and are already experiencing so many miracles in their lives. I
can literally see a difference in them from the first time I met them.
They are so much happier!

That's about it for this week. The trio is a lot of fun, but is still
taking some getting used to. I am so grateful for this gospel and the
knowledge that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and knows us
perfectly! I love you all and hope that you have had an amazing week!

Love ya!
Elder Snell

Good Morning, Friends!

My goodness, this week has been an interesting one. I have learned a
lot about myself this week. I am really enjoying serving in the
Plainview ward! It is going to be a sad day when I get transferred
from here. I love the people here so much.

So, here is the rundown of my super hectic week :)

Monday
   About two weeks ago, we knocked into Brian. We taught him the
Restoration and left him with a Book of Mormon. He agreed with
everything we talked about and said he would really like to read the
book. Since he has some medical things he has to take care of
regularly, he asked us to come back in two weeks. We came back
(Monday) and he had read the entire Book of Mormon, prayed about it,
and believes that it is true! Due to his medical stuff, he can only
come to church every other week. He will be at church this coming
Sunday. Super cool guy!

Tuesday
   Not much really happened. Super strong spirit in district meeting,
though, while everyone took a turn explaining why they came on a
mission.

Wednesday
   This was the day where the week took an interesting turn. We visited
Gary, Dio, Sister Macagnone in the hospital, and the Mansuetto's for
lunch. Elder Flora has been having a rough time and has some family
problems at home. He decided that he needs to go home, so President
got him a plane ticket for Thursday... I texted the District and asked
them to meet us at the church to say goodbye to Elder Flora. President
called me Wednesday night and informed me that I will be moved into a
trio with Elder McCleary and Elder Casares. Crazy!

Thursday
   Elder Flora and I went to Rego, Queens in the morning to meet
President and Sister Reynolds to go to the airport. It was sad to see
Elder Flora go, but I know he needs to be apart of what is happening
at home. President took me to the mission home where Elder McCleary
and Elder Casares picked me up. We immediately went out to teach a few
lessons we had planned for that day. They didn't have a bed for me yet
at their apartment, so I spent the night on the floor haha :)

Friday-Sunday
   Busy, Busy, Busy! I love being busy! Since we had to combine both
teaching pools in the area, we have been teaching so many lessons. We
have to drive A LOT because we now cover the entire area instead of
splitting the area between two companionship. On Saturday, we moved
all the rest of my stuff from my apartment in Melville to their
apartment in Levittown. It is much smaller, but we are still alive
haha. Richard & Renanta are doing so well! They love the gospel so
much and are already experiencing so many miracles in their lives. I
can literally see a difference in them from the first time I met them.
They are so much happier!

That's about it for this week. The trio is a lot of fun, but is still
taking some getting used to. I am so grateful for this gospel and the
knowledge that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and knows us
perfectly! I love you all and hope that you have had an amazing week!

Love ya!
Elder Snell





Last District Gathering with Elder Flora :(


Ward Mission Leader, Brother Hallaran


Irma baked a cake for us, ha ha


Elder McCleary took a power nap at Irma's house






Lisa's dog, Taco (Elder McCleary and Elder Casares's Investigator).