Memorable Moments In Mada

Hello,
The same old missionary work has been going on, but also there were a couple of weird things that happened.

-During a lesson there was a Malagasy Soap Opera going on in the background. It looked like it was filmed and written by 12 year olds. It was very bad.
-Today we went to  The Croc Farm. We threw a chicken in the cage and watched it get destroyed.
-I also held a Lemurs hand and fed it nuts.

-While waiting to meet up with a member a random man walked up to us. He claimed to be a Prophet of God. It was pretty fun  talking to him.
-While Elder Band and I were walking to an appointment a guy spit on my face, then he ran away.
-When we arrived at one of our times the investigator was really busy because his pig was giving birth. The sad part was it gave premature still birth. He showed us the whole thing.

Those were all the memorable moments from the week. It was a really good week though.

I finally feel like I am able to connect and communicate with my investigators. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest thing we can have and live in our lives. I am very grateful to see all the love and blessings God has for all of his children here in Madagascar. I love this Country and the opportunity to live one of the weirdest lifestyles ever.
Thanks for all the love and support from home.
Love,
Elder Allen

We Cannot Wait Around

Dear America,

I heard the news.

Madagascar is still doing good. This week Elder Band and I have been bringing some members to come teach with us. During a lesson the member asked our investigator where he works, he told him that he is still looking for a job. The member told him of some good places to find jobs and even some openings that he knows of. The investigator said that he was waiting for God to guide him to a new job. The member told him that maybe God sent him to tell him of those job openings. The investigator did not agree with him.

The Malagasy people are so funny and weird sometimes... All the time. After that lesson, the member told us that if he is going to wait for God to show him everything that he needs to do then he will never do anything.

This reminds me of a story in the Book of Mormon. The Brother of Jared had a problem. He needed to find a way to light up the inside of his boats during their journey across the sea. Instead of just asking God to tell him what he should do he offered a solution, but still with the intent of needing God's help. He asked God to touch the stones and make them light up. God was more than happy to help.

That is how we need to live. We cannot wait around waiting for God to do stuff for us. We need to work, and find the solutions to our own problems. If we do our part and do all that we can do first, then God will handle the rest if we ask.

Love,
Elder Allen

P.S. I have a sweet guitar in my apartment so I get to play guitar everyday.  I haven't found a piano yet.  There is an electronic one at the church, but they take the cord when no one is using it.

"Bagoas" Sam in Mada

Hello,
This week was transfer week. We have two new guys in our house. Elder Bingham is from Utah, he has been in Mada as long as my companion, Elder Band. Then we also got a brand new trainee in the house. Elder Smith is from Texas. That is all the new news. I gave myself a haircut the other day, then had Elder Bingham clean up what I screwed up on. It looks more like it did when I went into the MTC.

Today is Halloween! I am way bummed though because they don't celebrate it here in Madagascar. And I am not allowed to dress up.

Our lessons are going great. We are beginning to see some progress with our investigators. I am slowly beginning to understand people a little better, so I have been playing around with talking to strangers in Malagasy a little more. Before I would just stand there not knowing what to say or even how to say anything.

No funny stories from this week, it was a pretty regular week. I had an old lady hit on me though. She called me "bagoas" which means handsome. I thought that was nice.

Also after a lesson a guy kissed my hand, which means he really appreciates me. I think our message really touched his heart. He also sang to me. like a whole song, it was like 2 min. long. It was awesome. He might have been a little drunk.

Madagascar is doing good. How is life back in America?
Thanks for the love and support.
Elder Allen

Elder Mccrary just went home i only knew him for one day but he was really cool 

Elder Tangarasi lived in my house last transfer but just went home as well. 

Elder Maluleka is the zone leader that i go on splits with all the time.
(he was the umbrella story guy.)

Weird Things Have Happened

Hi,

Some weird things have happened this week. First off the work is coming along great. I am learning how to teach and lead most of our lessons, but I am still not very good at understanding people yet.

I saw everyone in my MTC district this week because we had to do VISA stuff, so that was fun. I got to go on a split with my old comp. and my new one. All three of us taught together, it was fun.

I saw a mini running with the bulls this week. We were just walking down a calm path and all of a sudden we looked up. Whenever a Rugby team wins they purchase a bull and run with it down the streets, then they kill it and eat it that night.

Another time during the week we were just walking and a drunk guy was having a hard time walking so I grabbed his arm and helped him stand. When I looked down at his hands and Ii noticed he had two thumbs. This man had six fingers on both hands.

Funny Story 1: I was in a lesson with a fairly new investigator who is a dad with a young son. During our lesson I started getting a little distracted because I noticed their little cat on the window. The guy's son was sneaking up on the cat and when he got close he put his right hand against the cat's neck and the window. My first thought was, that is probably uncomfortable for the cat. But then in about 5 sec. the little kid started punching his cat in the face with his left hand. I started laughing during the lesson. But then concealed it very quickly. I was the only one that could see this happening. I thought he was going to beat it to death. He then grabbed his tow truck and started driving it over the cats body. This kid was destroying this poor cat. Elder Band asked me after the lesson why I kept giggling. I guess I did not hide it very well.

Funny Story 2: One night Elder Band and I were making bread when all of a sudden we heard a loud noise outside our front door. We have a set of stairs in front of our door so I made the joke that our neighbor probably just fell down the stairs. Then we heard a loud moan. Shorlyt after the loud moan, someone ran full speed into our door almost breaking in. They tried a couple of times. Elder Band ran and locked the door while I grabbed the broom ready to fight. But after a couple of attempts of breaking in we heard another noise that sounded like he fell down the stairs again. This dude was drunk and at the wrong house. He kept falling down the stairs and trying to get into his house . He left shortly after. We think he was probably our neighbor coming home drunk and tried getting into the wrong door.

That was my week.
Thanks for all the love and support while I am here.
Love,
Elder Allen

Interviews with President

"Walking through the poopy water"

Adventures in Mada

Hello,
This week has been pretty cool. I gave a blessing to one of the members in my ward. She was sick and her husband has not yet received the priesthood so they asked my companion and I to give her one. I had to do my part in English though because I am not too skilled yet.

 Also we have been meeting some really cool people that are very interested in the gospel. I am pretty excited to keep teaching them about the gospel and talk with them about God. My ward is pretty cool.  The coolest part is when the investigators come.  I have so many investigators.  I got 22 new investigators just last week.

No need to worry about my health anymore, I am all good now. I am becoming quite the cook lately. I cook all the time and I am getting really creative.  I make breakfast burritos with homemade tortillas, and banana bread that tastes really good. But I miss Mom's cooking so much ha, ha. I love American Food and candy.

The Rainy Season is upon us. The other day I was on a split with Elder Maluleka. We were walking down the streets of Swasonseht which is like a huge market that sells anything you could imagine. We were heading to our next appointment that was like 20 min. away and all of a sudden we started hearing something behind us that was getting louder and louder. We just stopped and I made the comment that the sound seemed like it was chasing us. Then out of no where it was raining buckets and hail the size of marbles. Had to take shelter in a near by store. We stayed there until the owner kicked everyone out. We decided that we were still going to try and finish the day and meet the people we planned to. Elder Maluleka and I were forced to walk in shin deep poop water on the streets. We were laughing the whole way to our next appointment. When we got there the guy was not there. When Elder Maluleka heard this he looked at me and faked cried really loud in front of this family of Malagasies that thought he was really crying. I was just laughing at our misfortune really hard. We tried going to two other people after that and they both dogged us. We almost just decided to go home at this point because we were dripping soaked and walking in poop every where... But we didn't. We went to our last scheduled family and finally got in. It was a very awesome and spiritual. They gave us their umbrella which was very nice of them.

Funny story: After that lesson we had to pee really bad, it was about 8:30 at night and we just ran over to a parking lot across the street. After my comp finished I went while he held the umbrella. At that moment a guy comes walking over and stands right in front of us. He was like the security guy of this parking lot. I just kept going while he said, tsy mety! which means, not okay! i really had to go so I just kept going until I was finished. It was funny because he was standing right in front of me yelling this looking right at my thing while Elder Malulaka was holding an umbrella for me. We were laughing so hard and just left right after I was done.

Good week.  I try to make every day of my mission fun.  I was called to Mada for a reason.  It gives me so much variety and change while doing such a repetitive thing.  Mada makes every day a new experience and I am so grateful for that.  I love it here.  I think at my year mark I am going to switch over to studying French.  A lot of the missionaries are doing that so we can go to the French speaking islands.  As I am getting better at this language the more fun and exciting teaching people becomes.  I can share more and more everyday what the spirit wants me to say.

Love ,
Elder Allen

P.S.
I also found a real cool skate park in the city of Tana.

Learning New Traditions in Madagascar

Hello,
Not a lot happened this week because I had to stay at home most of the days or come home early from headaches but even so there is still stuff to tell you because I am living in Madagascar.

On Saturday I went to a Famadihana which is a weird tradition here where they dig up their dead ancestors and dance with their bones above their heads. Then they wrap the body in cloth and rebury them. We were invited by a member who had a little baby son pass away five years ago and every five years they hold these Famadihanas. It was heartbreaking to see the mom cry as she saw her little babies body after five years in the ground but every one in Madagascar treats it like a celebration. I am eternally grateful that families are forever.

Most people drink for events and holidays so us being the only white guys caused many drunks to approach us and even try to pick pocket us but we were careful so it was all good. At the end of that day I saw a bunch of the drunk relatives get in a crazy fist fight and people just kept joining. That was fun to watch. Then we drove back in a taxi be which is a van bus thing. That was a good day.

General Conference is not until next Sunday for me. We get to watch it in English at the mission office so that is pretty cool.

I hope you guys are doing good back home. Thank you everyone who writes me, I am very grateful for the love.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen

Elder Allen and Band inAmpifiloha

Hi everyone,  
Just wanted to let you know that Sam made it safe and sound.  I am enclosing a couple of pictures with the group email, but if you want to see all of the pictures he sends they will be on his blog every week.  You can see his blog at eldersammyallen.blogspot.com.

Thanks for all of the love and support and prayers in his behalf.

Jenn

Dear Family and Friends,

First off I have to type on a french keyboard so my emails might sound a little special until i get used to it. Also I actually don't get a lot of time to email each week so sorry if they are short, I wish I could write a lot. There is a lot to tell you.

The flights were very long, I slept the whole way on each flight. I was the only person whose bag did not make it. That is why I am frowning in one picture. So I went without it for a few days, but I have it now so don't worry.

The drive to the mission home was crazy. I thought we would crash every 10 seconds, because there are like no laws here. Everyone just does what they want.

Madagascar is not even considered a third world country, it is still in the developing country category. So it is very poor, very crazy, and very unorganized. I saw a dead dog and a guy pooping next to it on the side of the road on that drive. Also a box of free babies just on the side of the road. That was sad to see. There are a lot of things here that are heart breaking but I am going to keep this email positive.

 

Madagascar is beautiful, and crazy looking. People every where. It kind of looks like a mix of Rio and China I would imagine.

My companion is Elder Band. He is a great teacher of the language and the gospel. He is from West Virginia. There are six of us in our apartment. Our apartment is nice for Mada. I fill my bottle with filtered water from the apartment every morning and drink it throughout the day. The average day is: study in the morning and then go out teaching and meeting crazy people in Ampifiloha for the rest of the day. Ampifiloha, which is a suburb close by the city.  It is where I am serving. I walk everywhere. I am getting used to it now but the first couple of days I was exhausted.

The first lesson i taught was in a small wood house that is the size of a car. There was a family of like six living there. The house consisted of a bed and a table right next to the bed. There is trash and sewage rivers every where so there are little wooden bridges that you walk on to get from house to house. It is so cool looking. I need to take more pictures. Everyone here is like kind of racist towards white people. Every single person we walk by yells, "VASA" which means foreigner in like a harsh way. But if we just smile and start talking to them then they are the nicest people. Sometimes...

I can't understand almost anything yet so i just kind of follow my comp around and say hi to people. I feel like Indiana Jones here, walking around through weird alley ways in between poorly built homes stacked on top of each other. I am teaching lessons about Jesus by a candle light that keeps going out. The pictures I have are in the nice nice part of town where I live so you can't see what it looks like where I tract yet. I will take more pictures. We take these taxi things called taxi bes which are basically a big van that you jump onto and cram in, then jump off when you get to where you want. They are so sketchy. Everything here is sketchy though.

I am sorry that I can't write everyone and respond to everyone each time, but I will try to answer everyone's questions here in the group email. Please continue to write me because I like to read about home. I just don't have too much time to respond individually. Keep telling me about your lives and if any one is interested in mine they can read the group email.

Love you and miss you Mom, Dad, Jess, Tanner, and all other family and friends. I will write more details about lessons and stories next time. I just wanted  to get all the culture and first experience stuff out of the way.

Love,
Elder Allen

He Made It!!