Saying goodbye to Elder McCormick - good friend from MTC group
Elder Wilson at the mission home
Saying Goodbye to Elder Wilson, a very dear friend and companion
Last Day in Mada in the mission home
Plane in Mada
Getting on the plane in Mada
sitting alone in the Paris airport
Hello,
The mission here in California is very different but I am slowly getting in the swing of things. I still have a hope to get sent back to Madagascar though. I write my old mission President often and that is the goal as soon as it is possible.
The work here goes a lot different . Knocking doors is a whole new experience. American Culture is a little rude when it comes to visitors. People in Madagascar are a lot friendlier and enjoy talking to visitors.
Also, a lot of people do not understand what "No Soliciting" really means. We walked up to an open garage the other day and as soon as the man saw us he just says, "Oh don't bother me with that crap!" and then he walked inside. Another time we met a guy who did not believe in a God at all so I gave him a pamphlet and then encouraged him to try praying to God. He then asked me if I would try praying to Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. I just told him that I would try if he would try praying
to God. He refused and then called me stupid... i am just trying to have fun with it.
1 Samuel 16:7 King James Version (KJV) 7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Some cool things about working in California are the members. We are fed almost every night. Also a lot of people in the ward have cool jobs. My Bishop is one of the four original animators that works for Disney. He still does the old style drawing animation for them when it is used. He worked on Aladdin and Hercules. One of his kids as a baby was what he based baby Hercules off of. Another guy is an artist for shows like King of the Hill and Futurama. It was fun chatting with them about those things. I am still meeting the ward and hope to find more people with cool jobs and stories like that.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
New Apartment and companions in California - Elder House and Bergeron
New apartment in California
dinner the first night in California with some members in the ward. (This just so happened to be a friend of our cousin Taylor, so she sent Jenn this picture that night. One Jenn considers a TENDER MERCY!)
Trying on new clothes in California ???
Trunk of Treat with members - he looks very handsome in his new clothes
Hi,
Just in case you haven't heard, the Bubonic Plague has gotten too bad for us to stay in Madagascar so the church evacuated the entire mission this week and reassigned us all to new missions. I have been reassigned to the California, San Fernando Mission. It is a temporary assignment, but I only have 9 months left so this may be where I finish my mission. We all have hopes of possibly returning to Madagascar by February or March, but not sure that will happen.
This is my first real day in California. It has been a long flight coming from Mada to South Africa then to Paris and then coming from Salt Lake to California. It was hard to stop in Salt Lake. It felt like i was coming home, but instead of seeing my family, I had to get on a fourth flight to Cali. It has been a hard couple of days preparing to leave one of the greatest places in the world!!
We have had restrictions placed on us as missionary and we knew this could be a possibility, but we never really thought it would happen. President Foote tried really hard to keep us there but keep us safe. He is an incredible man.
On Wednesday we were put on lock down, which meant we couldn't leave our apartment.
On Thursday we got the call that we were being evacuated and leaving Madagascar after being told not to leave the house for two days. We were told to pack quickly and not to tell anyone we were leaving. I packed up and then got taken straight to the airport on Thursday with my baggage. I ended up not getting on the plane though because I had an expired visa. They detained me until we could show proof I was legal in their country. So I stayed in the mission home until Saturday. Until then we just stayed in the mission office watching people leave little by little. It was so hard. Everyone was getting reassigned to new missions and having to evacuate. Sister Foote was so sad, she felt like she was losing all of her kids. It was a sad experience and I do not recommend it. Some people went to La Reunion with Pres. Foote, some went to Zambia, some went to South Africa, a few of us came to California, and some went to Arizona. My trainee went to St. George. Even though we are all over the world, the First Presidency said we will always be "Madagascar missionaries!"
I did not leave Madagascar until Saturday the 21st of October at 3:00.
I got to watch some movies on the long flights over to America. I am pretty caught up with movies now except I held off on Star Wars. I am still adjusting to the new life style and culture here in California, it is literally the opposite of Mada. I will miss Madagascar a lot especially Pres. Foote. My new mission area is Solemint California that is apart of the San Fernando Mission. My companions are an Elder House and an Elder Bergeron. This morning I had to throw out some of my old beat up clothes and go buy some new ones. I got some new pants and shoes that the mission is going to pay for. My old ones were not acceptable, especially my gray shirts.
I am still pretty sad at the moment about the change. I had to just drop and leave all of my Investigators and members back in Ambohibao. I didn't get to say good bye. I had a couple of families that were supposed to get baptized last Saturday but now they are not. I am not sure what happened when we didn't show up. It all just kind of sucks. I hope as time goes on I will adapt more and find a purpose here in California.
I keep being reminded of the recent talk in the last General Conference that said, "Do you have the faith not to be saved?" Sometimes we pray for things that we want and when we do not get what we want our faith decreases. That talk was all about submitting yourself to Gods will and having the faith that whether you get what you prayed for or not God has a plan for you that is for your benefit. It makes me think about my faith in God's plan for me as a missionary. Whether I have the faith in his plan for me here in California or not. I prayed a lot to hopefully one day get to go back to Mada but I think i just need to have the faith not to be saved. I know God has a plan for me here. I will continue to work hard and hopefully one day find the reason that I came here.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
My mom sent me these thoughts and it made me feel a little better. These are thoughts from a dad of one of the Elders in my mission in Madagascar. (Elder Snow's Dad) It helped me see a new perspective and realize that this needed to happen:
"Just random thoughts on all of this: (1) the Mada missionaries need to be encouraged to SYL (study your language) with each other as much as possible, especially with the newer elders who are going to be missing the language immersion experience they would usually get. Some, if not all, of them WILL be returning to Madagascar and they'll need to be able to hit the ground running when they do. (2) I think some people (myself included at first) thought this evacuation was premature. Then I thought about the disaster it would be if they waited until the situation was more serious. Several neighboring countries were already talking about imposing restrictions on inbound travel from Madagascar. How do you evacuate the missionaries once that happens? Also, the kinds of things missionaries do every day (going door-to-door, meeting and speaking with large numbers of strangers) are exactly the kinds of things you cannot do when you're dealing with an epidemic of a 100% fatal, airborne disease. And what if a missionary did get sick or even worse, helped spread the disease? As disappointed as we all are, it's pretty easy to see the wisdom in this decision. (3) The Lord has proven himself to be a master of backup plans, and he has one for this. All of those investigators and members will be provided for and we need to trust in him. He KNEW this would happen and the pieces are in place for the work to go forward and the elect will not be lost. (4) Our sons are capable and strong young men who are going through this because the Lord knows they can handle it. It's tough, but part of the mission experience is to find out what you're capable of doing in partnership with the Lord. This is one of those great unique opportunities. (5) Everyone needs to read Elder Bednar's talk from the April 2017 Priesthood Session of General Conference https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/called-to-the-work?lang=eng. It's been quoted below, and it's perfectly inspired, comforting, and timely."
Dear Brother and Sister Allen,
Elder Allen arrived today in the Great California San Fernando Mission. President Henrie and I are excited he is here. Elder Allen has received his companion and has been assigned to his first area. All is well. We look forward to serving with your son as we join with him in the great purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ.
In addition, we would invite you to follow the Great California San Fernando Mission on our Facebook page. You can find us on Facebook at CASF Mission 2015-2018. Check in often to see pictures of our mission activities.
Thank you for raising a righteous son who is willing to consecrate himself to serving the Lord. We will take good care of him.
Love,
Sister Henrie
Hello Elder and Sister Allen,
This is Sister Wilson from the CFSM office. It was great to see your son, Elder Allen last night. He looked great considering all he has been through.
Our mission is a driving/bike mission. We need a DMV record for him. If you could get that and either email or mail it to our office that would be very helpful. Also we have temporarily provided a bike for him. If he could buy a helmet and bike lock that would be helpful as well.
If you have any questions please contact me at our mission office.
661-288-1614
Text sent to Jenn from a member in the Paris airport
Not sure if you got the email, but here is the message from your son again just in case. -
Hi Mom this is your boy Elder Allen. I met some nice members who are letting me use their phone to contact you. I am being transferred to California and I should be calling you guys when I get there. I love you guys.
He is taking it well, he was happy and ready for his next adventure. He was very disappointed to leave the families he was working with and the mission. He was very hopeful of returning maybe by March. We met him at the Paris airport, he had been traveling for a couple of days and they weren̢۪t allowed to tell anyone they were leaving. He had 10 people scheduled to be baptized yesterday and he has no idea what happened with their baptism. He was flying to SLC and then he thought his mission would be San Fernando. Got to go we are on our next flight. Wish you the best.
This is a copy of his temporary reassignment that we received from Bishop on Friday Oct. 20
Subject: Temporary Assignment: Allen, Samuel Tucker #583438
Please see the attached notice below concerning changes for the following missionary:
Called to the Work By Elder David A. Bednar Of the Quorum of the Twelve ApostlesAn assignment to labor in a specific
An assignment to labor in a specific place is essential and important but secondary to a call to the work.
President Monson, we are thrilled to hear your voice and to receive your instruction. We love you, we sustain you, and we ever pray for you.
I pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost as we consider together principles pertaining to the great work of preaching the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
Called to Serve and Assigned to Labor
Every year tens of thousands of young men and young women, and many senior couples, eagerly anticipate receiving a special letter from Salt Lake City. The content of the letter affects forever the person to whom it is addressed, as well as family members and a great number of other people. Upon arrival, the envelope may be opened neatly and patiently or ripped apart excitedly and with great haste. Reading this special letter is an experience never to be forgotten.
The letter is signed by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the first two sentences read as follows: “You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the ______ Mission.”
Please note that the first sentence is a call to serve as a full-time missionary in the Lord’s restored Church. The second sentence indicates an assignment to labor in a specific place and mission. The important distinction expressed in these two sentences is essential for all of us to understand.
In the culture of the Church, we often talk of being called to serve in a country such as Argentina, Poland, Korea, or the United States. But a missionary is not called to a place; rather, he or she is called to serve. As the Lord declared through the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829, “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work.”
Each mission call and assignment, or a later reassignment, is the result of revelation through the Lord’s servants. A call to the work comes from God through the President of the Church. An assignment to one of the more than 400 missions presently operating around the world comes from God through a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, acting with the authorization of the Lord’s living prophet. The spiritual gifts of prophecy and revelation attend all mission calls and assignments.
Section 80 of the Doctrine and Covenants is a record of a mission call to Stephen Burnett extended by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1832. Studying this call to Brother Burnett can help us to (1) understand more clearly the distinction between being “called to the work” as a missionary and “assigned to labor” in a particular place and (2) appreciate more completely our individual and divinely appointed responsibility to proclaim the gospel.
Verse 1 of this section is a call to serve: “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Stephen Burnett: Go ye, go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice.”3
Interestingly, verse 2 informs Brother Burnett about his assigned missionary companion: “And inasmuch as you desire a companion, I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith.”
Verse 3 indicates where these two missionaries are to labor: “Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss.”5
I do not believe that the phrase “it mattereth not” as used by the Lord in this scripture suggests that He does not care where His servants labor. In fact, He cares deeply. But because the work of preaching the gospel is the Lord’s work, He inspires, guides, and directs His authorized servants. As missionaries strive to be ever more worthy and capable instruments in His hands and do their best to fulfill faithfully their duties, then with His help they “cannot go amiss”—wherever they serve. Perhaps one of the lessons the Savior is teaching us in this revelation is that an assignment to labor in a specific place is essential and important but secondary to a call to the work.
The next verse highlights important qualifications for all missionaries: “Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true.”6
The final verse reminds Brother Burnett and all of us from whom a call to serve truly comes: “Behold, this is the will of him who hath called you, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Overcoming Misunderstanding
Some of you may be asking yourselves why I have chosen to discuss in a priesthood session of general conference this seemingly obvious distinction between being called to the work and assigned to labor. My answer to this question is quite straightforward: my experience has taught me that these principles are not well understood by many members of the Church.
The single greatest reason for addressing this matter is what I have learned over time about the concern, the worry, and even the guilt felt by many missionaries who for various reasons were reassigned to a different field of labor during their time of service. Such reassignments sometimes are necessary because of events and circumstances such as physical accidents and injuries, delays and challenges in obtaining visas, political instability, creating and staffing new missions, or the evolving and ever-changing needs around the world in the work of proclaiming the gospel.8
When a missionary is reassigned to a different field of labor, the process is precisely the same as for the initial assignment. Members of the Quorum of the Twelve seek inspiration and guidance in making all such reassignments.
I recently spoke with a faithful man who shared with me the deepest feelings of his heart. In a meeting, I had just explained the difference between being called to the work and assigned to labor. This good brother shook my hand and with tears in his eyes said to me, “The things you helped me learn today have lifted a burden from my shoulders that I have carried for more than 30 years. As a young missionary, I was initially assigned to a field of labor in South America. But I was unable to obtain a visa, so my assignment was changed to the United States. All these years I have wondered why I was unable to serve in the place to which I had been called. Now I know I was called to the work and not to a place. I cannot tell you how much this understanding has helped me.”
My heart ached for this good man. As I have taught these basic principles throughout the world, countless individuals have expressed privately to me the same sentiment as the man I just described. I am addressing this subject today because not a single member of this Church should carry an unnecessary burden of misunderstanding, uncertainty, anguish, or guilt about an assignment to labor.
“Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss.”9 As you ponder the words of this scripture and open your heart, I hope and pray you will invite the Holy Ghost to carry deep into your soul the understanding, the healing, and the restoring you may need.
One additional reason I have felt impressed to discuss this topic is my personal experience assigning missionaries over many years. For the Twelve, nothing affirms the reality of ongoing latter-day revelation more powerfully than seeking to discern the Lord’s will as we fulfill our responsibility to assign missionaries to their respective fields of labor. I witness that the Savior knows and is mindful of each of us one by one and name by name.
Preparing for a Call to the Work
I now want to discuss briefly a fundamental but frequently overlooked aspect of preparing for a call to the work.
Three interrelated words define a pattern of preparation and progression for sons of God: priesthood, temple, mission. Sometimes as parents, friends, and Church members, we focus so extensively upon missionary preparation for young men that we may neglect to a degree the other vital steps along the covenant pathway that must be fulfilled before beginning full-time missionary service. Working as a missionary certainly is one but not the only important building block in the process of creating a strong foundation for a lifetime of spiritual growth and service. Priesthood and temple blessings, both of which precede arriving in an assigned field of labor, also are necessary to fortify and strengthen us spiritually throughout our entire lives.
Young men, as you fulfill your duties in and honor the Aaronic Priesthood, or lesser priesthood, you are preparing to receive and magnify the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood, or higher priesthood.10 Personal worthiness is the single most important requirement for receiving the higher priesthood. A lifetime of selfless priesthood service lies before you. Prepare now by frequently rendering meaningful service. Please learn to love being and remaining worthy. Be worthy. Stay worthy.
After receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and a call to serve, a young man can be armed with power11 through the covenants and ordinances of the holy temple. Going to the temple and having the spirit of the temple go through you precedes effective service as a full-time missionary. Personal worthiness is the single most important requirement for receiving the blessings of the temple for you young men and for all members of the Church. As you live in accordance with gospel standards, you can enter the house of the Lord and participate in sacred ordinances throughout your teenage years. Your love for and understanding of temple ordinances will strengthen and bless you throughout your life. Please learn to love being and remaining worthy. Be worthy. Stay worthy.
Many young men and young women already hold a current limited-use temple recommend. As Aaronic Priesthood holders, you are finding your own family names and performing baptisms and confirmations for your family members in the temple. Maintaining your temple recommend demonstrates your worthiness, and serving others in the temple is an important part of preparing for the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Young men, each of you is a missionary now. All around you, every day, are friends and neighbors “who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”12 As you are directed by the Spirit, you can share a thought, an invitation, a text or tweet that will introduce your friends to the truths of the restored gospel. You need not and should not wait for your official call to become anxiously engaged in missionary work.
As priesthood, temple, and mission blessings are gathered “together in one … in Christ”13 and synergistically interact in the heart, mind, and soul of a young missionary, he can qualify for the work.14 His capacity is increased to fulfill the responsibility to represent authoritatively the Lord Jesus Christ. The spiritually potent combination of honoring priesthood and temple covenants, receiving “the power of godliness”15 through priesthood ordinances,16 serving selflessly, and proclaiming the everlasting gospel to God’s children enables a young man to become “firm and steadfast in the faith”17 and “rooted and built up in [Christ].”18
In our homes and at church, we should give balanced emphasis to all three elements of the Lord’s pattern of preparation and progression for faithful sons of God: priesthood, temple, mission. All three require us to love being and remaining worthy. Be worthy. Stay worthy.
Promise and Testimony
My beloved brethren, I promise that the spiritual gift of revelation will attend your call to the work of proclaiming the gospel and your assignment to a specific field or fields of labor. As you diligently prepare now through selfless priesthood and temple service, your witness of the Lord’s living reality will be strengthened. Love for Him and His work will fill your heart. As you learn to love being worthy, you will become a mighty instrument in the hands of the Lord to bless and serve many people.
Joyfully, I witness that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, live. To be engaged in Their service is one of the greatest blessings we can ever receive. I so testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
Mormon Missionaries Evacuated because of Madagascar Plague
An outbreak of pneumonic and bubonic plague has forced evacuation of nearly 80 Mormon missionaries from the southeastern African island nation of Madagascar.
LDS Church officials stressed Thursday that the evacuation was precautionary and that none of the missionaries had shown signs of the deadly disease.
“Missionaries serving on the island of Madagascar are in the process of being transferred out of this area or temporarily reassigned to other missions,” the Utah-based faith stated in a news release.
The evacuation involved only Mormon missionaries on the main island, not those serving on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion, which administratively are also within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Madagascar Antananarivo Mission.
Of the 79 evacuated missionaries, 69 will be either relocated or reassigned to yet-to-be-determined missions. Ten missionaries near the end of their service will return home.
“Ensuring the health and safety of our missionaries is our top priority,” the statement noted. “ In recent weeks, measures have been taken to reduce risk to missionaries, including providing them with prescription medication to help prevent plague and asking them to remain in their apartments.”
Missionaries’ families have been kept apprised of the situation. It was not immediately known if any of them were from Utah.
According to the World Health Organization, as of Tuesday 849 suspected or confirmed plague cases had been reported in Madagascar. Nearly 40 health care workers treating the sick also had contracted plague since the outbreak was first noted Aug. 1.
Sixty-seven people had died from the disease, WHO reported.
Madagascar is well-acquainted with plague. WHO officials say the usual pattern is for cases to spike between September and April along the island’s rural plateau. this latest outbreak broke into urban areas, including the capital, Antananarivo, and the port of Toamasina.
The LDS Church currently lists 11,340 members and 39 congregations in Madagascar, a nation of 23 million people. It was not known Thursday morning if any of them had become infected with or died from plague, church spokesman Eric Hawkins said.
LDS Church fortunes have gone through cycles of both growth and stagnation in Madagascar, according to independent Mormon demographics researcher Matthew Martinich, and currently conversions are in a “slow phase.”
“Growth in Madagascar has really ebbed and flowed since the church was established there initially about 25 years ago,” he said Thursday. “At times, growth has been among the most rapid the church has seen in Africa and, at times, it’s been among the slowest.”
Martinich added that “political instability, poverty, converts joining the church for secondary gain and leadership development have been major challenges for growth.”
ClickHEREto read actual article from the Salt Lake Tribune
Due to the recent outbreak of the plague in Madagascar, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve in Salt Lake City have asked for the evacuation of the missionaries from the island. Those currently serving in Madagascar will be re-assigned in the next several days. Additionally, those missionaries who were scheduled to return home between now and January 7 will be released. Missionaries serving in Reunion and Mauritius will remain.​ We love and appreciate so much their faithful service and we sincerely thank them for their inspiring work in Madagascar. It is with difficulty that we let them go, but we know they go with our Heavenly Father's blessings.
Please be patient as we process the missionaries into their new assignments.
We would ask you to please wait for your missionary to contact you announcing his/her new assignment. We are working with great zeal along with the Area Authorities and the Mission Department in Salt Lake to make this transition move quickly and smoothly
Again we feel to tell you what remarkable missionaries we have here. It is with hopeful hearts that we move forward in the work of the Lord. Please share in our hope and prayers as well as your good words of council and uplift to help your missionary through the needed changes. We look forward to an expected return to Madagascar in the future and ask for your prayers for the missionaries and the wonderful people of Madagascar.
With Much Gratitude,
Raymon D. Foote
Mission President
Madagascar Antananarivo Mission
Note from Mom:
**Many of you have asked for an update on the Bubonic Plague Epidemic in Madagascar right now. Some of you have seen the news or have heard about it. It is pretty bad. Sam says it seems to be getting worse before it is getting better. I have received letters from the mission president every week. I have included them on Sam's blog if you are interested. The President has asked us to join the mission in a Special Fast this coming Sunday Oct. 22 on behalf of the people of Madagascar, the missionaries and the work. If you aren't able to fast with us, just send some extra prayers their way.
I talked to Sam this morning. He is good! He is frustrated and bored and wants to get out and work. There are many restrictions right now on the missionaries. It is a scary place to be and they can't do the things they are used to and that frustrates them. There is a whole group of missionaries in the MTC right now waiting to go. Sam said he thinks they will keep them here in the states until they get things under control. They are definitely aware of our concerns and doing everything they can to keep our missionaries safe and protected! Thanks for your concern!! Jenn
Hello,
There is not much more news about our situation here with the plague, except for the people living in my house are now leaving to go work in Ambositra. That is a province in Mada that is in the middle of nowhere. I am staying here in Ambohibao inside of Tana. There are not many missionaries here anymore. I am doing okay. The whole lifestyle here at the moment gets really boring and I am going a little bit crazy but I am doing fine. The work goes on when it can because of the many restrictions. It still is not as bad as the missionaries in Russia have it so i feel a little blessed for that. We actually have baptisms coming up soon in about a week or two. We are pretty excited about that. There are no recorded problems in this area with the plague so it is still okay for us to be here. We can still visit our fixed scheduled times that are not too sketchy looking houses. We have good work days and also really open days where there is nothing to do. I like to be busy!
There were a couple of crazy things that happened this week. The first is one night walking home from work we witnessed a huge car crash. A car slammed into the back of a parked Semi. When it hit i looked over and right at that moment a guy fell out of his side door and I am pretty sure that he was dead. A week later we were walking out to one of our areas that is pretty far away from our house when I heard a lady yell, "it is because of the Plague!" I looked up and saw on the sidewalk a teenage boy laying dead on the ground. A stranger was moving his body over to the side of the road while that lady was running away plugging her nose. That was a little downer at the beginning of the day.
Life here has become a little crazier but we are still trying our hardest to continue our purpose. "Jesus is our friend not just a trend."
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
Dear Parents,
Hello from the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission!
New information concerning the plague in Madagascar. The plague along with other diseases are ever present in this country. We would again ask you to encourage your missionary to take their Doxycycline faithfully. Doxycycline is an effective deterrent to the plague as well as many other illnesses. It is so important to be faithful in taking the medicine.
We continue to keep an accurate update from local government, World Health Organization, the Area Authorities from South Africa as well as our Area Medical Adviser in South Africa, local doctors, and the epidemiologist from Salt Lake City. We have moved the Missionaries from areas that are known to have had confirmed cases of plague. They are not riding on public transportation, they have been asked to not go into less clean areas, English classes have been cancelled until further notice, public meetings and large gatherings are not to take place in Antananarivo, They have been issued masks to be worn in public such as stores, and they have been educated on symptoms as well as what to do if they become ill.
If situations change we will act quickly to ensure the safety and protection of the missionaries.
We have been made aware that some of you did not receive the first update for which we apologize. We are trying to keep you informed to the best of our ability. We are multitasking with many responsibilities and will do all we can to help you with your concerns. Would you please confirm that you have received this email?
We know that this is a bit unsettling for you to hear news of these matters and to be far from those you care so much for.
We will be holding a special Fast on October 22, this will include our mission , two stakes two districts and all of our branches, We will fast for the people of Madagascar, the missionaries, as well as the ongoing missionary work here for which these great elders and sisters want to move forward with. We would certainly invite you to join with us to ask for Heaven's help in this effort. Your love and support and prayers will be a great uplift to your missionary and all of us.
We love these missionaries. Their health and welfare are ever on our minds. We would like to assure you that we are all working hard to keep everyone healthy and well informed by working closely with the missionaries on preventative measures.
This is a tremendous opportunity to grow in unity and obedience as this mission confronts this obstacle.
Raymon D. Foote
President Madagascar Antananarivo Mission
My email is a day late because my new comp was really sick yesterday and I had to stay home with him, so I didn't get a P-day to get to the Cyber. But he is all good today so I had a little bit of time to email.
Madagascar has become a little weirder for us missionaries. The Bubonic Plague is getting pretty bad so it has restricted us from doing a lot of work. We can only visit the people we already had for fixed programs. We also have to just walk really far everyday because we cannot take a bus. We have two other missionaries living with us now because they were evacuated from their area because of the Plague. It gives us time to make good meals though so that has been great. We have been eating like kings lately.
General Conference was really good this year. I really got a lot from all of the talks. One thing that I particularly noticed was the importance of just being a positive generous person. Also, gaining from hard things. Life can be a hard stressful thing or it can be an amazing experience full of joy. It all just depends on our attitudes and focus. If we learn to put Christ at the center of our lives and look outward in order to bless others then we can receive that joy. Sometimes we are not in a situation or place to gain or receive for ourselves but to give and help others. We are not just receivers and takers. We are to be used to bless the lives of others. God can use us to do marvelous things and to benefit someone else, but it requires us to allow him to do that. That is why we must put Christ at the center of our lives.
Hello once again from the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission. The work is progressing because of the constant love and diligence of the missionaries. We continue to marvel at the faithful, positive elders and sisters you have shared with us and the people of Madagascar.
We are sending you another update on the information we have received about the outbreak of the bubonic plague here in country and the precautions that the mission is taking to insure the safety of your missionary. We are monitoring the situation closely.
First, we have instructed the missionaries to not go door-to-door contacting in the areas of concern at this time. Secondly, we are stressing the importance of taking Doxycycline, and ensure you that they are, with the exception of a few who are unable to for other health reasons. In addition, all missionaries are instructed to keep their homes clean, wash their hands often, and to not ride on public transit.
We have moved missionaries from areas close to areas that have had known cases of the bubonic plague. We have relocated them to outlying communities until the health situation subsides.
A new era is beginning. I am training a perfectly healthy boy named Elder Howell from Texas. It is a new experience training a new missionary. It is hard, it requires much focus and lots of encouragement. He has been doing really good with the language. Learning little by little. I think he is still adjusting to Madagascar. It really is a different place. He seems to enjoy it though so that is good.I am also the district leader for this area.
I am excited for General Conference this weekend. It is always one of the most inspiring things for a missionary in the field.
I have sent some photos of Elder Wilson and i when he gave me a hair cut at a Malagasy Place.
There is also a photo of a Journal that i wrote in for a member. I drew an Ugly Goblin and then put my face over the head. You lift up my face in order to see the Goblin.
Fun Fact: I am working in an area where Scotty George once worked. Scotty George lives in my Ward back home, he has a page filled up in that same Journal.
