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!!