December 19

Its actually feeling like Christmas!! Unlike last year. Yesterday we sung the Malagasy version of 'Far, Far, Away on Judea's Plain'. That has become one of my favorite Christmas songs. We also stopped by a less active whose wife isn't a member and they were putting up Christmas decorations! 

The announcement of Christ's birth has been on my mind a lot lately. I love sharing Luke 2 and 3 Nephi 1:13 with people. Those are probably some of the happiest verses in all of the scriptures.

So this morning the missionaries  had a Christmas party! It was fun. We had a big pancake breakfast and then a few spiritual thoughts about Christmas. Sister Foote took a lot of pictures and videos. you probably can see them on her Instagram. (Katie show the ones with me in it to Mom for me.)

We also had a small gift exchange. I think I topped all gag gifts ever!! I brought a live chicken! It was pretty good, everyone loved it. It ended up getting stolen 3 times. The last Elder to get it was an Elder from Vano ato (an island nation in the south pacific). I'm pretty sure his plan is to kill it and eat it for Christmas. I also ripped my pants while playing a game, but Sis Tanner( she and her husband were in the MTC with me and are humanitarian missionaries here) fixed it up for me right there. That was really nice.

Saturday we went to a vita soratra and it was really neat. Its the wedding according to the law, similar to how the French do it.

Yesterday we got caught in the rain and our area got flooded, we had to wade through some really gross water. When I got home I just got straight in the shower clothes and all. My shoes are still drying out.

So word of the week is midongy which means to pout. I love you!!

December 12

It sounds like Christmas is in full swing!! In English class on Saturday we talked about Christmas and we translated "Santa Clause is coming to town" into Malagasy. I miss Christmas music!! There are only two Malagasy Christmas hymns in our hymnbook "Silent Night" and "Far Far Away on Judeas Plains." But we haven't sung them yet in church because I'm pretty sure they are waiting to sing them on Christmas. (It looks like my new comp may be giving his first talk in Malagasy on Christmas!)

So I'm now working in Anjanahary, It is pretty close to the center of Tana and there are a lot of people, I'm used to working a little farther out closer to fresh air. Wesley came home loving the city, but I must say I still love Ambanivoatra! I loved living in the mountains. A cool part about my new ward though is that a lot of the people here knew Wesley. 3 or 4 of them actually served their missions here in Mada and knew Wes. In fact our DMP was Wesley's mission companion. To be honest though I kind of miss Ambohipo. I got way close with a lot of the members there, and really learned to like the area. Oh well, I'm sure I'll love Anjanahary too.

So we actually had a really awesome experience this week. On Saturday we stopped and were talking to a family that was selling bed frames. While we were talking to them a random guy came up and asked us if we could come to his house and teach him. So we did. He is in the midst of a very hard trial and has turned to alcohol and cigarettes (he wasn't drunk when he talked to us though). He said that he wanted to come back to Christ, and asked when church was. We told him and taught him a little about the atonement. He said he was going to come to church on Sunday. He actually came!!! ... and well, I'm really excited for him

I love you!! Word of the week is Alina Masina which means holy night in Malagasy. (It's actually night holy, but yeah.)

Elder Beeson and I found some Christmas stuff in our apt, so that is the extent of our Christmas decorations.

December 5

I got some more letters this week! I'm now up to 56. Thank you mom for the letters. I read every single one, and thanks Dad for the emails. How is Bro Ellsworth doing? I'm hoping to send an email today to Orson and Spencer.

The rainy season has begun. It rained Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Most of those days I got soaked. Saturday and Sunday it didn't rain. Luckily it doesn't rain all day every day, it usually rains in the afternoon and evenings. Sometimes it will only last 30 minutes and other times it lasts 12 hours. I wish I could take a picture of the rain here. Rain in California doesn't even come close. Roads and paths literally turn into rivers. I've started wearing sandals every day because my shoes were always soaked. However, I'll have to go back to real shoes for a bit because I hurt my toe playing basketball this morning and I don't want it to get infected.

Thursday we helped a sister in our ward who had to re-plaster the inside of her house because it was falling apart. We helped remove the old stuff (its more like concrete than plaster) and learned how to throw the new stuff on. It was fun, but much harder than people make it look.

Got transfer news yesterday. After 7 months of being in Ambohipo, I'm headed to Anjanahary (Still here in Tana). My new comp was actually Elder Jackson's comp in the MTC. His name is Elder Beeson and he from America but not from UT.

Hopefully I'll know more about when I can skype next week! I cant believe its already December! It feels a lot like Christmas last year, hot and not a whole lot like Christmas. Oh well, this is the last one I'm missing. On the bright side we have already started singing Christmas songs in church!! (... granted they are in French and I don't understand the words.) I'm way excited to call though.

Well word of the week is miandry which means to wait.

November 28

Well the rain is coming. (actually its already here. it is raining as I type this.) ... more about that later. I'll start at the beginning of the week.

So Tuesday, Elder Jackson went on a split with an elder that had been here in Mada for only four weeks in our area. I was a little worried, but they did great! They got some new investigators. (However one of them is going to France in a week. That was a new one. Usually they are moving to the countryside and we never see them again.) Jackson and I probably only have another week or so together and I'm pretty excited for him to lead the area, though I think he might still be a little apprehensive. Its been lots of fun seeing him progress, especially when it comes to learning Malagasy.

While they were working in Ambohipo, I went with another elder in Manakambahiny (Wesley's favorite ward). We taught a guy that had been taught years before; apparently he started talking to the missionaries there and invited them to teach him again. Wesley used to teach them and they remembered him. That was pretty cool. They recognized his picture when I showed it to them.

Well, Thanksgiving wasn't really Thanksgiving. I did get my Christmas package this week so of course I opened it and had some mac and cheese and smarties. I figured it was the closest thing to turkey and stuffing. I've got some pictures I'll hopefully be able to send.

Saturday we went out to the countryside (not too far) and played soccer. One of our investigators - James - came!! He is way cool and should be getting baptized in early January! Our first lesson with him he told us he was nervous about changing churches because his family wouldn't accept it, He also told us that his work might keep him from going to church on Sundays or even send him out to the countryside, but as of right now he is excited to be baptized no matter how his family feels and he got a new job this week. I'm excited for him!! (He also told a member at soccer that he wants to serve a mission.) Hopefully, everything works out!!

Sunday was the primary program!! That is always my favorite Sunday. We had 5 investigators there and I think they all enjoyed it. A lot of the songs were in French, so I didn't understand them all. I recognized the tunes at least. I don't think there is any sound sweeter than a bunch of children singing primary songs, no matter what language.

So this week I was reading the scriptures. I just started the Book of Mormon over again and I was reading in 1 Nephi 14. verses 12 and 14 kind of hit me. They talk about the saints being few in the latter days but spread all over all the earth. I'd say that is pretty true.

Back to the rain. we got soaked early in the week and then last night we got soaked again. We were leaving a house. and it wasn't raining - but right before we left they told us the rain was coming. We walked out of the house and it still wasn't even sprinkling, however, you could literally hear the rain pouring as it hit buildings and then all of the sudden it was here and we were soaked.

Well word of the week is miandry which means to wait.

November 21

November 21, 2016

I went to a croc farm today and there is a new elder named Elder Smith. I want to be his companion!

Well I'm all better now. but this week was mostly spent in the house either because of me or my companion.

On a bright note I did finish the Book of Mormon again!! It only took me like 5 months this time. I still love the Book of Mormon. I wish I could convince everyone in the world to read it from cover to cover and pray about it - and once they've done that, I want them to do it again!!!

I've decided to focus my reading this next time around by looking for every reference of Christ, and mark it. I'm doing this in conjunction with a study of the four gospels I've started recently. I'm going through them together chronologically. (I'm following the harmony of the gospels section in the bible dictionary.) I hope this helps bring me closer to Christ. An apostle or prophet recently said we come to know Christ when we learn and study about him! (... at least I think someone did.)

So Saturday and Sunday were practically our only days actually working. We taught some neat lessons. There are a few people that we are working with that I think will be able to get baptized in the beginning of January. pray for them!

Well I love you!! I'm excited to call at Christmas!! Have a great thanksgiving!!! I probably won't be doing anything special.

Word of the week is fankistrahana which means gratitude

November 14

November 14, 2016

Sorry, this email is gonna be pretty short. I'm a little bit sick today. This whole week has been a little tough, and it ended with me getting sick. We did have a great zone conference this week which was nice. I heard about Trump winning. Was that a surprise? I love you!

Word of the week is kibo which means stomach.

November 7

November 7, 2016

That is so cool you got to go do sealings! I miss the temple. It's nearly been a whole year since I've been to one. Being so far away from a temple has made me realize how precious they are. Our Stake President here is a doctor and pretty well off. They have a car. He and his wife save up and every four years they get to go to the temple. Most people, however, get to go once maybe twice in their life if they serve a mission. When I tell them I live less than an hour away from one they often exclaim their jealousy and tell me that they would go everyday if they were that close. There is a family in our ward that is getting really close to going to the temple. They are currently in the process of getting their passports! There is a another couple that Wesley knows, Ravaka and Valisoa. He might only know Ravaka. I think Valisoa was on a mission when he served here. They are planing on getting married in December and have already been saving up and aren't going to have a very big wedding with a big party in order to be able to go to the temple right away!

How long have Cynthia and Mark been investigating in the Crestline ward? [More than 16 years since before our family moved there.] I thought Tahiana (one of our recent converts) was pretty long at 11 years. Most people didn't even know he wasn't a member. He is doing really great though. He already has a calling as the young men's secretary and has been helping us teach a couple of our investigators. He is also currently applying the recent teaching he received from the bishop and stake president about "dating". I'm hoping he gets married and goes to the temple before I go home.

So this week we taught a couple named Mia and Eugene, They are wonderful people and have an adorable seven year old daughter who is always so excited to see us (Granted, she only knows French). So Eugene has a pretty unique situation. He is one of the few people in Madagascar who doesn't know if there is a God. Normally, I just sort of assume people here believe in God and Christ because Eugene is only the second person I've met here (other than Muslims) who doesn't believe in Christ. When I told the ward council about him they were all surprised. Malagasies are amazing!! They have so much faith in God. On a taxibe this morning I overheard a couple of ladies talking about the gospel. Madagascar is probably one of the easiest places to talk about religion which is nice as a missionary.

We had a new investigator this week who we had talked to on the street before. He first heard about our church by reading a French book about the history of America. I don't think the book's writer got it right because he had some false ideas. The lesson went well. At the end he said he was going to be hard to convince to switch churches because he was born and raised Catholic, However, he said he would read the Book of Mormon. I'm pretty excited for our next lesson! The Book of Mormon can change anybody's mind if they read and pray with a sincere heart,

I'm excited for the elections to finally happen! For the last few months people everywhere will stop in the street and ask us if we want Clinton or Trump. Some Malagasies want Clinton, but others ask me if America would really elect a women president. I'm excited to know who wins. Good luck voting! I wish I could.

Well I love you! Word of the week is mifidy which means to choose. It also means to vote here. Another way to say it is misafidy.

October 31

October 31, 2016

Sorry last weeks email was so short. Sometimes life on the mission feels like every week is the same. I have gotten your letters through 52 as of this week. I also got Avery's letter from Virginia which was great!! I love getting letters. Sorry I haven't written one in awhile. I do want Aunt Tana's oatmeal cookie recipe. I really like that one. I'm way excited to talk to you guys at Christmas! I would love it if we could all read our patriarchal blessings like we did when I got mine! Also I'd like help trying to figure out how to read our ancestor's patriarchal blessings. The only things I think I really want is smarties, mac and cheese, and life savers. Other than that I'm pretty satisfied with the food here.

So this past week Elder Jackson got way sick Thursday and Friday. So we didn't go out. He pretty much just slept.  I got to read my scriptures a lot. I'm now done with Helaman! Which means I get to read 3rd Nephi. Which is in my eyes probably the most important book in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is truly a testament of Christ.  Something I've been trying to focus on lately in my studies and actions is coming to know Chirst more. I'm embarking on a study of Christ's life based on the bible dictionary section entitled "Harmony of the Gospel". I've barely begun, and already I am learning a lot.

So even though Jackson was sick we had a really great end to our week. Saturday and Sunday we got to teach a lot of people who we really have a lot of hope for. Unfortunately, a plague of this week has been people leaving for Ambanivoatra (the countryside) where there is no church. There isn't really much we can do about it. We can't teach and baptize people who won't have the structure of the church to help them keep their covenants. I am very eager for the day when the church reaches every town and village here in Mada. I think the hardest thing I've ever had to tell someone is that they can't get baptized because they will be leaving the area where the church is.

Lastly, I've got some good news. I've gained 5 kilos!! I didn't know it was possible, but I have found a way to gain weight here in Mada! Granted I'm still like 10 kilos less than I was when I got here.

Well that's all I got for this week. I love you all. Word of the week is mandoa, which means to throw up or to pay. Not to be confused with mandoka which means to paint, (I've mixed those up before.)

October 24

October 24, 2016

Another week! Not much happened this week. It was a pretty good week though. I've hit my half way mark here in Madagascar, and it is kind of a weird feeling. I feel pretty new, yet Madagascar just seems so normal. I love you all! Sorry it's such a short email.

Word of the week is mampineso which means to give false hope.
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October 17

October 17, 2016

So in case you didn't know, in Madagascar there is a tradition of smashing eggs on people's heads and then dumping flour all over them on their birthday.  Wednesday morning we got a call from Sister Foote. She wanted to wish Elder Jordan a happy birthday. Luckily, he was in the shower. He hadn't told us it was his birthday. Needless to say we got him really good as he came out of the bathroom. He had to turn around and go right back in.

Fast forward to my birthday yesterday. Sister Atafita (one of the missionaries serving here in Ambohipo) cracked an egg on my head as we were leaving Sunday school. Luckily, carpet doesn't really exist here so it wasn't too hard to clean up. Then last night when Tambula and Jordan came home I was sitting on the couch and Tambula just cracked a couple eggs on my head and then proceeded with the flour. It is a fun tradition. It's weird to think I'm no longer a teenager. I'm a full two decades old.

So Saturday the sisters had three baptisms. We got to go. I was there when all three of them began taking the lessons. Two of them were kids of a less active member who we helped come back to church. Their grandpa was able to baptize them. It was way neat to see.

I realized on Saturday how much Heavenly Father is in charge. It has been neat being a tool in His hands, but I have absolutely nothing to boast of. I can only boast in my God, the one true and living God.

On Sunday, our bishop talked about tithing settlement. I am very grateful to have been able to go to the bishop every year, and see my whole family declare that they are full tithe payers. It is amazing the blessings that come when you pay a full tithe.

I learned how to make mofo gasy this week. It's really hard, but I love it so much.

Rainy season is on its way. Saturday it was pouring during the baptism. I also tried to make refried beans out of kidney beans, not the grossest thing I've eaten.

 

Word of the week is atody which means egg.

October 10

October 10, 2016

It has been another good week. We have been blessed with a lot of new investigators. Hopefully, they can now start progressing.

There is one couple we are really excited for named Charlin and Zarasoa. (Have I told you I love Malagasy names! I think my favorite is Mamy, pronounced as mommy, it can be used for a guy or girl and literally means sweet.) We have taught them a couple times at this point. They still have a lot of questions and still don't seem to understand some principles, but I know they are feeling the power of the Book of Mormon. Charlin (the husband) told us that when he is reading it he doesn't want to stop even to eat (sounded a lot like Parley P. Pratt). Unfortunately, he works on Sundays and his wife (Zarasoa) will be going out to the countryside in a few weeks for a month or two. Hopefully, they will still be able to find a way to progress.  So teaching them and sharing a few of the conference talks made me think about how much I love the Book of Mormon. It truly is the foundation of my testimony. Without it I would be so lost and confused. I am grateful that we read it everyday together as a family. If we hadn't I might not have the testimony of it that I do. It has become a source of comfort and strength for me during the trying times. Because of it I know that Christ lived and atoned for our sins. I wish everyone in the world, but especially here in Madagascar, would read it, ponder about it, and ask God if it's true!

I went on an exchange with an elder this week who is almost done with training. He is really starting to grasp a lot of things and will soon be ready to lead his area on his own. I'm excited to see Elder Jackson continue to progress toward that. He is already a lot better at Malagasy than when he first got here. It's amazing to look back and see progression occur since it is often hard to tell in the moment.

Conference was wonderful as expected. We got to watch all but the Sunday morning session in English which was nice. I felt like all they really talked about was missionary work, but that might just be because that is all I do all day everyday. It is exciting to be a part of a great cause.

Well word of the week is boky which means book, (A lot of Malagasy words are just French or English words with a Malagasy pronunciation--mostly french words).

October 3

October 3, 2016

It's been another pretty great week. Over the last 2 weeks we have found a total of 23 new investigators which has been cool.  Three of them came to church yesterday!! We also have been seeing some less active member progress, and some of them came to church yesterday!!! I have a very optimistic outlook right now. Elder Jackson is still new and sometimes hesitant to speak in Malagasy as new missionaries often are (myself very much included in that). He is trying and is continually doing better. He is great when it comes to finding people through English class! Which is something I've always struggled with. It is a good thing I got sent to Madagascar because white people scare me, and it's much easier for me to talk about the gospel in Malagasy than in English.

So, in case you didn't know there are 18 different dialects of Malagasy. Luckily the one spoken here in Tana is also considered the national dialect and most people understand it. However, this week we taught a few people who didn't, and I felt like I WAS BACK IN TAMATAVE. I understood hardly anything. Long story short, that lesson didn't go anywhere.

I'm excited for general conference!! Hopefully, I'll be able to watch it in English. At the very least I'll get to see it in Malagasy, though there is nothing like hearing the word of god in the language of your heart. I hope that all of you loved conference. I loved April's, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to read the talks from it again because we have only gotten the conference Ensign in Malagasy.

Today I learned how to play cricket!! It is similar to baseball but a bit different--pretty fun though. However, only the elders from South Africa had any idea how to play. The rest of us seemed to catch on pretty quick.

Fun fact of the week, Elder Jackson says I snore like a horse!!

I got the package, thanks!! And letters through 48!! Pretty much every other elder was jealous because I got 16 letters this week!!


So for my Christmas package, the 4 other elders I live with and I have been talking and I think I've decided that there are only two things I really want, Kraft mac and cheese and smarties,

Also, I was wondering if I could get Aunt Tana's chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe.

Finally, I was hoping, mom, you could help figure out how to get our ancestors patriarchal blessings. I think you can, and I think that would be really neat.

Word of the week is mapilendalenda. Elder Jackson actually taught me this word. It literally means to make drool!!!

September 26

September 26, 2016

It has been a good week. Kind of hard training, but my comp is pretty fun. Hopefully, I'll be able to help him grow as much and as quick as possible. Learning a language is difficult. Especially when they teach you Malagasy in the MTC, and then you come here to Mada and have to learn a ton of French words in order to communicate effectively.

So hopefully I'll start having lots of pics again. My comp is new and still finds everything kind of crazy. At one point we were talking about taxis here and having to bargain for the price. He asked me why we have to bargain when there is a little electronic tracker thingamabob. I looked at him for a few seconds and then he said, "Of course we are in Madagascar. They don't have those here do they?" I just nodded my head. Madagascar taxis are some of the greatest adventures! It's amazing how they can keep them running. Many use an old water bottle as a gas tank.

We helped some of our investigators move on Saturday and then Sunday we went and taught them with one of our recent converts named Tahiana, one of the greatest lessons ever. They tried to give us money to buy juice or something but we said absolutely not. Helping people is what we do. I feel like their hearts were softened, and I have a lot of hope for them. They were hesitant to accept a baptism date, but they promised to come to church this coming Sunday. They seemed to understand that if the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith is a prophet and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church here on earth that has the authority to complete God's work, such as doing baptisms. That is a concept that has been very hard for me to help Malagasies understand throughout my mission. (We also had a drunk guy tell us he was a prophet, that happens quite a bit here.)

It is starting to get hot here in Madagascar. I'm not looking forward to December when it will get super hot again. On the bright side I won't be in Tamatave, one of the hottest places in Mada.

Word of the week is mifindra trano. Mifindra means to move and trano means house. It's how you say someone is moving.

September 19

September 19, 2016
It has been a great week. Thursday, I got my "son" or trainee. His name is Elder Jackson and from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a pretty cool guy. We are having fun together. It's fun seeing him because it reminds me of when I came into country. It will be cool to see him progress! In the meantime, I'm going to have to do a lot of explaining.

Friday, I got pink eye. So I went and got some drops from a pharmacy. Medicine here in Mada is very inexpensive compared to America. 

That brings us to Sunday. We had stake conference, and it was way cool. Elder Stanley G. Ellis of the seventy was there. He called seven random people up to give talks. It was fun. He also gave a great talk. Basically, God has a plan for us, and we need to not follow our own plans when they conflict with God's plan. Really fun story-- Since Elder Ellis doesn't know Malagasy there was a translator. At one point Elder Ellis said, "inspired message", and the translator just said, "Hafatra", which means message, and then Elder Ellis leaned over and asked him if he said inspired message. The translator repeated, "Hafatra avy andanitra", which means inspired message.


Well word of the week is fanafody which means medicine.

(DMP stands for ward mission leader in French. Something like directeur mission paroissiale or director of mission parrish.)

September 12

September 12, 2016

So my sore throat has cleared up. I took some antibiotics.

Last week we taught a lesson to a recent convert family that has been struggling with church attendance as of late. They are very "sahirana" which is kind of a hard word to explain, but it basically means they are very poor. We brought with us our Ward Mission President and his wife. It was probably one of the best lessons I've had here on my mission. Our Ward Mission President and his wife shared their personal experience of learning the importance of sacrifice. He was baptized as a young man but was inactive for years. He married his wife who at the time wasn't a member. Somewhere along the line she got baptized.  However, they still weren't very mazoto members. During that time they were very poor. Probably poorer than most Americans can even understand until they see it. They didn't even have enough money to buy rice. Well one Sunday the bishop (who is now the stake patriarch, he is a great guy!) talked about tithing. After church my Ward Mission President's wife and my Ward Mission President talked with each other and decided to pay tithing and save up to buy their passports so they could go to the temple. Within weeks blessings started coming. They shortly began  receiving a steady income and in 2013 they went to the temple as a family. I just want to share that the Gospel works! Heavenly father keeps his promises to his children. We simply need to have faith and keep his commandments!! I think the recent convert family felt the spirit very strongly, and they have come to church the last two weeks!!

Also got some transfer news. Elder Ncoyo is gonna be leaving, and I'll be getting a new companion straight from the Provo MTC.  As I write this he is probably getting ready to head to the SLC airport.

Well, that is my life summed up.

My Ward Mission President and his family have an adorable little kid and is another family I've gotten really close her in Ambohipo.

Word of the week is Filizantsara which means the gospel. More literally it translates to the good announcement! Another way to say the gospel is vaovao mahafaly, which means the happy news!! 

September 5

September 5, 2016

It looks like I might have strep throat. Hopefully, I get better over the next few days.

I'm on some antibiotics. I love you all!! Sorry, I am not writing much this week. 

Word of the week is matory which means to sleep. Something I did a lot of yesterday and will do more as soon as I get home today!

I love you!!

August 29

August 29, 2016

It has been a week full of ups and downs. We are still spending most of our time trying to find people to teach which is hard some days. Though I'm very optimistic right now. At the beginning of this week I had been feeling kind of down and discouraged. However, Friday morning during personal study I read some encouraging scriptures that had previously helped me back when I was having a hard time in the MTC, and they worked like magic it seemed. Almost immediately I felt comforted and encouraged. I know it was the Holy Ghost.
I can't express how much I've come to love the scriptures particularly the Book of Mormon. It is the foundation of my testimony and a friend when I need it.

On Wednesday there were three wild bulls running around Ambohipo. It was quite the commotion. Lots of people were chasing after them, specifically kids. But every time they stopped or changed directions everybody would scatter to try and get away. I assume some people finally caught them because they aren't running around anymore, and I also didn't hear of anyone getting hurt. I thought it was kind of funny though, because back in Sabotsy Namehana you see cows everyday walking in the street, and it's not a big deal. Apparently those are domestic and the ones on Wednesday are from somewhere on the western side of Madagascar.

Saturday we went out with a bunch of members from multiple wards to the countryside and  helped fix up a school. I spent the whole morning fixing part of the ceiling that had fallen down because I was the tallest person there and could reach the ceiling with just a stool and didn't need a ladder. It was a way neat experience. It was a very last minute organized activity, but it turned out great. I'm starting to realize that anytime there is an organized service project here they just call it Mormon helping hands.

Tahiana is one of our recent converts.

Tahiana came to church on and off for 11 years and had never learned from the missionaries until Deklerk and I started teaching him. He is practically the best recent convert ever. As our Bishop said "It was his time." It is amazing how the Lord prepares people to accept the gospel.

So today we played soccer and I scored two goals. We were playing against one of the wards here (but Malagasies are all pretty good at soccer)! I'm pretty proud of myself. I also bought a camera for 412,920 Ariary today. It took 42 bills!

Well, word of the week  is milaolao tanana which is how you say to fidget here. Literally milaolao means to play and tanana means hands,

August 22

August 22, 2016

This week and has been up and down--just another week of being a missionary. Nothing really special to share. The Lord definitely shows us our weaknesses. Every time I think I'm starting to get good at something (such as Malagasy) I'm reminded just how much I don't know. However, it's a comfort to know that Heavenly Father can use imperfect people to accomplish his work. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said a few years ago  "Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work."

Well, that's all I got for the week.

Word of the week is tonga lahafitra which means perfect. Literally, it means to come far. However, you can also use the word tanteraka which means complete. 

August 15

August 15, 2016

It wasn't the easiest week of my mission, but it ended on a good note. We had a baptism on Saturday! Baptisms are wonderful experiences. I was originally going to baptize a young women named Rasiarisoa Faratina Christine and Elder Ncoyo was going to baptized a 20 year old guy named Randriajafitombo Donah Lidot, but we switched because Elder Ncoyo had trouble saying his name. I love Malagasy names! They are so long and are often intermixed with French and English names and so hard to say. Even Malagasies sometimes have a hard time saying each other's names. I've gotten pretty good at saying them though. The key is to sound it out one letter at a time.

Other than then the baptism not a whole lot happened this week. We are spending a lot of time right now trying to find new investigators. Many of the ones we had live in what is now the sister's area. Which is a little sad for me because I really loved teaching a lot of them.

On a fun note, we played soccer with our ward on Saturday and almost found a new investigator through it! However as the story goes he didn't actually show up to church on Sunday.

Word of the week is anarana which means name.

The last pic is where we get our haircut.