April 24 - Easter videos

Yep, everything was closed last week because it was the Monday after Easter. Literally more things were open on Easter than were on Monday. Easter Monday is easily one of the biggest holidays in Madagascar. Most people go out and spend the day in the countryside.

Easter was neat. During the last hour of church we watched the church's Prince of Peace video. It was in French so I didn't really understand much. But I just watched it in English.

We have been teaching members in our ward how to make tacos, Its been a lot of fun. The only thing I really wish existed here is refried beans! Definitely looking forward to having a bean and cheese burrito.

We have a couple investigators that are really close to Baptism. Should be happening on May 6th. One of our investigators named Rova won't be able to catch that date though. Her husband is a member and they need to get legally married before she can get baptized but his mother doesn't want them to. If you could pray for them that would be nice.

Word of the week is manazatra which means practice - and tsaramaso which means beans

I love you!!!

April 17 - Easter Monday (no email)

Dear Parents,

As yesterday was Easter Monday, some of the missionaries were not able to email you as there were no cyber café’s that were open, so no need to be worried.

The missionaries will either try and email today or otherwise will email next Monday.

Regards

The Office Elders

(Elder Wilmot & Elder Van Zyl)

Madagascar Antananarivo Office Elders

2010704@ldschurch.org

Cell 261-34-49-180-76

April 10 - General Conference! Vakio ny Bokin'i Mormona isanandro!!

Conference was great!!! Truly a spiritual feast. I want to repeat President Monson's words:

    If you are not currently reading the Book of Mormon everyday, Please do!!!!

The rest of the week was pretty normal. My trainer, Elder Monsen, goes home on Wednesday. I'm going to miss that guy. He has become one of my best friends on my mission. But at least he is from Salt Lake so I will see him after the mission, unlike a lot of the elders here from South Africa or other places around the world.

Transfers are out and I'm staying here with Elder Jordan, which I'm glad about, He and I have been getting along really well. He loves airplanes, probbably even more than I do. We are getting a couple new housemates which will be nice.

I love you all!! I hope life is treating you well. Word of the week is Vakio! That is command form of read. Vakio ny Bokin'i Mormona isanandro!!

General Conference Notes:

I really felt and learned a lot from conference this weekend so I thought I'd share some of it with you.

I felt like there were couple of topics that were talked a lot about. They were the plan of salvation, the holy ghost, and the importance of doing the small and simple things (i.e. daily scripture study and prayer). I plan to study those topics in the coming months as well as refocus on my study of Jesus Christ.

Things I learned or relearned:

1. Don't disregard the counsel of your Bishop. -Joseph Brough

2. Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. -President Thomas S. Monson quoting Joseph B. Wirthlin

3. The most important calling in the church is the one you hold right now. -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

4. Sister Jay Jones gave a wonderful talk on how parents can help raise their kids to be sin resistant. She also discussed the importance of preparing them to make covenants. As I listened to that talk I felt that it was very applicable to teaching people who are investigating the church.

5. Don't look around up, look up! -Elder Hoon Hwan Choi

6. Trust in the Lord and whatever he asks you to do, Do it!! -Elder Whitney L Clayton

7. How can you know God? A. Prayer  B.Scripture study C. Doing God's will. (I don't remember who taught this one.)

8.The key to teaching as the savior taught is to live as the savior lived. -Elder Benjamin D. Hoyos

Things I felt:

1. During the very first talk, given by president Henry B Eyring, I immediately felt the spirit and it was incredibly strong. I appreciated his teaching about the plan of salvation and family history work.

2.Everyone will have times when they must stand alone, we all need a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, because through the holy ghost he is the only one that can help us during those times.

3. During a talk by Elder Valeri V. Cordon I felt an incredible amount of gratitude and appreciation for my parents. I have been born of goodly parents.

4.I know I have a Heavenly Father who lives and loves me. Every single person that has ever lived here on earth or that ever will live here is a son or daughter of God and has the potential to become like him.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn from living apostles and prophets!

April 3 - Birth Certificates :( :)

How was General Conference? We will watch it this next Saturday and Sunday! I'm really excited! That is way cool there is going to be a temple in Kenya! That is one of the few countries that there is a direct flight to from Madagascar!

Elder Smithson, Elder Smith, Elder Smith, Sister Smith

Have fun skiing! I miss snow. It has been another hot week. In fact, that is about all there is to say about this week. A bit of a rough week. Our investigator who was hoping to get baptized on the 15th might not catch it and he might not get baptized until May. If you could keep him in your prayers. On the bright side though, one of the part member families we have been working with got their birth certificates this week and have scheduled there legal marriage, so the wife will be catching her baptismal date for May 6! It is neat seeing people progress, but sometimes its hard to see people not. I wish I could make things work somehow, but that would frustrate God's plan for his children. Really, all we do is try and help, but everyone has to make the decision themselves to be a disciple of Christ.

I love you all!! Word of the week is fakam-panahy which means temptation.

(Sorry this is short, but I don't have a lot of time today. I love you all!)