May 29, 2017 - I got to baptize a 17 yr old named Max!!

Max's baptism!

Well, a pretty good week. Not as many investigators came to church as hoped, but oh well. Hopefully next week. But we did have a baptism! I got to baptize a 17 yr old named Max!! It was neat!

My comp, district, and zone!

We didn't end up going out to the lake because the mission president came down with the APs to do a zone conference, well I don't know if you can call it a zone conference. It was just my companion and I. We aren't really part of a district or a zone. It was neat though, afterwards president payed for lunch.

Word of the week is mivezivezy which means to go back and forth. it is a fun word to say.

My comp's mom may have sent the wrong balloons for his birthday :)

I love you!! Sorry for the short emails but I'm having trouble thinking of things to write about. Missionary life is pretty similar from day to day.

 

(May 14 Mother's Day) & May 22 - Ambositra is absolutely beautiful.

5/18/2017 - We had a great talk with Corey last week for Mother's Day!

5/22/17 -Ambositra is absolutely beautiful. My pictures just don't do it justice. I've really enjoyed my time since I've been here. Elder Christensen and I are getting along great and we met a lot of people this week that we are really excited for. We also got 3 referrals from the same family which was exciting.

This morning we went on a hike up to the top of a nearby hill/mountain and it was absolutely stunning!! The branch here is fairly small - which brings challenges - but it is also neat. That is all I can really think about! I love you all! 

Word of the week is miakatra which means to go up.

Will hopefully be able to email next week, but we are going out to a really cool lake and well we will see! I love you!!

May 8, 2017 - A long walk to the Branch that Mom & Dad visited w/ Wesley

Its been a pretty interesting week.

Tuesday we went to a branch in the middle of nowhere. Literally you stand at the church and you don't even see 5 houses. A lot of the members remembered Wesley and Mom and Dad. (Its the one you walked into the hills to get to.)

Wednesday we went out to another branch, but not quite as far out. 

 

The couple who rides their bike to church every week.

Thursday we visited a couple that is over an hour bike ride from the church. He is 83 years old and shares a bike with his wife and every week they ride over an hour and a Half to get to church.

Friday - Today I've been helping Translate for something called Operation Smile. It is a nonprofit charity that sends plastic surgeons to places to fix cleft palates. Over 500 people came and around 150 were selected to receive surgery. I've been helping translate for the doctors and nurses and such. Its been an interesting experience. Its hard to see people with such deformities, It was neat to be able to help some -though not all could be helped.

Well that has been my life this week in Antsirabe, Sort of a layover for me, Tomorrow I'm heading to Ambohistra where I think I will spend the rest of my mission - but we shall see.

Last day on a bike! Back to walking in my next area.

I'm still not sure exactly when I'll be skyping for Mother's Day since I'll be in a different city next week. My plan right now is to get to the cyber there as early Monday morning as I can, I don't know exactly when that will be, hopefully around 8 my time. If plans change I'll try and let you know.

Word of the week is lanilany which means palate. (Be grateful for one, because it sure makes life difficult if you don't have one.)

I love you all!!!! I'm excited to talk to all of you next week!!!

May 1, 2017 - Antsirabe (3 hrs South) to Ambohistra (another 3 hrs South)

The sky is beautiful here!

So, its been a bit of a crazy week.

It started off with a really bad haircut on Monday. The guy made me look like Spock, but, oh well, in another week or so it will be normal.

Tuesday Morning I found out that Thursday morning I would be going to Antsirabe (A city 3-4 hours south of Tana. Wesley worked here at the end of his mission, but in a different  Branch. Well after waiting in a Taxibe and a beautiful 4 hour drive here, I am now in Antsirabe. There are 3 branches in the city and 3 branches in the surrounding countryside. I am working in a branch called Mahazoarivo. My comp and I are the only elders here right now, but there are two sets of sisters. Because the surrounding branches don't have missionaries, my comp and I  get to go visit them on occasion. I was super excited to come here to Antsitrabe. It is really beautiful!! A lot less crowded than Tana which is way nice!

Riana

Happy Note: Two of my investigators in Anjanhary passed their baptismal interviews on Thursday! Riana and Arlain, I'll send a picture of them. I'm sad I missed their baptism by only a week and a half. Riana was one of my favorite investigators to ever teach. He was truly prepared and it was amazing to see Arlain progress and start applying the gospel in his life. He was able to overcome a smoking problem that he hadn't ever been able to before.

I still don't know anything about my call for Mother's Day. My plan is to call Monday morning my time like we are used to.

Arlain

My stay here in Antsirabe will be rather short. A week from tomorrow I'll be heading down to Ambohistra which is a small city another three hours south of Antsirabe, and that is where I will probably finish out my mission. You all need to be ready to tell me any souvenirs because I'm going to buy them all shortly after Mother's Day.

I got all of Mom's letters through 75!! Is there a package on the way? (You mentioned preparing one, but never said whether you sent it.)

I love you all!!! Word of the week is Sira which means salt. Fun fact: sira mamy means sugar, literally sweet salt.