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.)