"Remer"/Happy New Year's!

Happy New Years Everybody!

It was a pretty typical week, we went to a wedding and that was a lot of fun, the only photo I took was of my buddy Daniel, I usually talk with the little kids in Ewe because they don't speak french yet 90% of the time. But when I talked to him he just looked confused and then in English told me he didn't understand. Which confused me. He then explained his family was from Nigeria. Anyway adorable kid that I played with all of Saturday. The rest of this email isn't really important so you can just stop here, or scroll to the photos. So since I'll be missing all of the movies this year I thought I would just pitch my movie idea to you guys.

I know that Creed II came out a while back and that got me thinking. If Adonis Creed can have an off shoot boxing movie in the Rocky Film Universe; why can't I? So the film would obviously be titled Remer. The story would go a little like this: A young missionary living in Togo starts boxing with his Tahitian companion as a workout every morning and realizes his apt ability in the ring. He slowly starts fighting in underground fights in West Africa going by the name "Maladroit". Climbing his way to the top by beating men, voodoo priests and lions he is scouted out by Sylvester Stalone. After beating his own battle with cancer, Stalone is looking for the next big challenge of his career he decides to make "Maladroit" the next heavy-weight champion of the world. After some cool training montages with lions, savannas, Book of Mormons, and Baptisms; Stalone convinces Elder "Maladroit" Remer to take a shot at the reigning champion "Le Diable". He trains everyday by reading scriptures for 2 hours after he works out, spends most of the day walking under the African sun in 95+ degree heat, speaks to the natives often.. in French. The fight lasts for two years.

Basically I'm just saying my mission would make a dope movie. So if anyone knows the guys who made "The Saratov Approach", "Freetown" or those movies just slide em this idea.
Hope you guys all have a great New Year's and a great week.

Elder Remer

1994 Popular Culture

Merry Christmas everybody! This week had a slow start for us here in Togo. The legislative elections here on Thursday propagated violent protests that resulted in a couple casualties. We were not allowed to leave our apartment until Saturday; which sounds like it should be a fun Christmas Break but it was mostly just boring being in the same tiny apartment for those couple of days.

On a slightly happier note I found myself to be Tim Allen in the 1994 Classic "The Santa Clause". While I did not accidentally kill Santa Clause and put on his coat legally binding him to become Santa I might as well have. We work with the local church leaders here regularly during the week and we were tasked with buying a Papa Noel costume for the branch primary party. Gladly, I bought the costume and brought it to church on Sunday like they had asked. While handing it to the lady in charge she looked at me confused, with befuddlement in her eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"I got the suit like you guys asked"
"Yes, I see that but you know you have to uh.."
"Oh sorry, did you guys ask us to get something else?"
"No Elder Remer, look all of the kids know that Papa Noel is a white man.. so"
And just like that I was found to be legally obligated to wear the Santa Costume for the Branch party; because I was the only white guy. It was really fun to hand out all the gifts and EVERYONE wanted to take a picture with a real white Santa. To conclude with another 1994 popular culture reference, The Notorious B.I.G. said in his song (Big Poppa) "I love it when you call me Big Poppa" and I feel like I can relate to that as I loved it when they called me Big Poppa Noel.

On a slightly more serious note, let's not forget why we celebrate Christmas- the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."(Matthew 1:21) He came and paid for our sins. Because of him we now have the opportunity to gain eternal life. And that was the ultimate gift.
I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas this week!

Elder Remer

Tailored

Sometimes you just find people that are tailored to live the gospel. One of the last people that Niutupuivaha and I taught just happened to be a tailor that was tailored to living a Christ like life. His name is Daniel and #1 He's a fantastic tailor #2 He has a paralyzed arm from an accident he was in #3 That's why #1 is super cool. Taking him to church was by far the easiest teaching experience we've had so far. Anyway he got baptized yesterday so just wanted to share that.

The other attached photo is of me, Niutupuivaha, Schofield and all of the people we've gotten close to while living in Adidogome. Sad to leave but Agoe seems nice too, they actually have a paved road nearby so that's a considerable step up. It's been interesting to be in a apartment with 3 guys who only speak french.

Anyway hope you guys all have a great week!
Elder Remer

Christmas, Calls and Carnivals

So this week we had our Christmas party for the missionaries who are currently in Togo. A bunch of missionaries did musical numbers, I felt it would be better for everyone if they did not have to hear me so I abstained from the choir. We ate food together and that was basically it.

We got our transfer calls on Saturday. I will be leaving Adidogome, as they are shutting down the sector. I will be going to Agoe and working with a Tahittian named LeGall. In my appartment there will be another Tahitian and Ivorian. They all only speak french so expect more typos as my english will not be used at all. Niutupuivaha will be going back to Benin and will be a Zone Leader.

So La Froire was nothing like I expected, it honestly felt like a carnival. There were a ton of food stands with overpriced food, people selling cheap plastic things for way more than they're worth, and a ton of people. It was pretty fun.

Hope you guys have a great week.

Elder Remer

Oh WELL

So the first picture is of Nuitupuivaha and I taking showers using the drainage pipe during a rainstorm. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do when the power is out due to the protests concerning the president here.

Second and third pictures are of a well at a members house that we decided to do pull ups over while we were there for dinner just to entertain everyone.

Sending this one a little early today because this afternoon we are going with the older mission couple here (Canadian), (Also they don't speak any English which just blows my mind that they could grow up their entire lives in Canada and only know french just a side note tho) okay but we are going with them to a traveling market that is in Togo this week called "Le Froid" which just means the cold so whoever named that sure has a sense of humor.

Hope you guys have a great week!
Elder Remer