Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Hello,

This has been a good week getting to know Bazari Be better. The members are awesome here, they help us a lot. We have a lot of cool investigators too. The other day we went and taught a guy named Allison. He wanted to go around and teach with us through out the day. We thought why not? So he spent the rest of the day with us. We went around teaching things that we have not even taught him yet. It was cool and killed two birds with one stone.

I sent a bunch of pictures of children attacking me at church. At first i thought it was cute but then I shortly realized how dangerous of a situation I let myself get into... They wrecked me.

Last night our AC was dripping so we decided to turn it off and just open the windows and doors to let in a breeze. After I finished eating my bowl of chili i started heading to the kitchen so I could wash it. On the way I looked up and watched a giant rat walk in and go behind the fridge. He walked right through the front door and entered our domain. I shouted at the other Elders to weapon up. We all took our places and started guiding the rat violently towards the front door. I never knew that rats could jump... That thing was fighting back like Splinter from The Ninja Turtles. We finally overcame the rat and got it out the front door. 

That is how the week went.

Sincerely,

Elder Allen

Conference & Beliefs

Hi,

We have received transfer news early. I will be leaving the area I am currently in and move to another area in Fort Dauphin called Bazari be. It will be sad leaving all the people I have been teaching and preparing for baptism but I am grateful for the opportunity to stay here in Fort Dauphin. The other missionaries will take care of Tanambao. We work hard where ever we are.  

My new companions name is Elder Jakins. He is from the same MTC group as me so this next transfer will be sweet.  He also likes to bake, so I will eat lots of zucchini bread.

General Conference was really good. The new Prophet is a great guy, he is full of love and very inspiring. One of my favorite statements from conference was, "How can we help others the most? Teach them about their identity (being a child of God). Then the nature of God (loving heavenly Father). As we come to understand who we truly are we look at the world different and strive to be better people. As we understand the character of God we begin to trust him more, follow him more, and love him more. It makes all the difference."

(watching General Conference)

I heard a crazy story from some people we are teaching. Malagasies literally believe things like this... There was a man from Tana (the main city in Mada). He was married and had kids. Every so often his work would send him to a Province called Toliara to take care of business. While he was there he cheated on his wife with another women. When it was time for him to return to Tana his mistress was angry and gave him something to make him fall asleep. The next day he did not think much of it and went on his way. When he arrived back in Tana he then realized that his (filahiana) was gone. That caused him to return to Toliara to go find his (filahiana). When he returned he saw it sitting in a jar at his mistresses house. He begged for it back. He explained that he needed it because he had a wife and kids back home. She was finally convinced to give it back. Except she transformed his (filahiana) into a snake. From that day forth he had to place some meat on his leg everyday so that the snake would not eat his thigh... True story. This was a friend of a cousin of an uncle of one of our investigators that had that happen to him. 

Every single Malagasy also believes that mermaids are real. Whether they are poor or rich. Live in the country side or in the city. They all believe in mermaids and claim that they know someone who has seen them. I have yet to meet a person who has seen them himself. Hopefully one day I will.

Have a good week.

Sincerely,

Elder Allen

Saying Goodbye to Elder Shelby

Beach day

view from the house