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

The Obstacle Called MARRIAGE

Hi!

This week I  don't have a lot of time to write. It is Easter and on holidays everything closes here.

This last Sunday we had a new investigator family come to church for the first time. We are getting so many new investigators and almost all of them come to church. It is great. The only sad thing is that they all need to be married in order to be baptized. It is great that they are diligent and coming to church, it is just sad when we give them the goal of being baptized and the obstacle of legal marriage just stops them. Our 3 baptisms that were scheduled for this week were pushed back because they weren't quite ready.  The day before the interview he told us that he wasn't legally married.  He kind of lied to us earlier because he really wanted to be baptized.  Good thing he told us, because that would have been bad finding our after the baptism that he wasn't legally married yet.  We are starting to build a plan to help all of theses people get married as soon as possible.

Remember when the water heater exploded and flooded our house... This time it was the washing machine... The house flooded again and we had to stay up all night mopping and scooping water into the shower. That was a couple of days ago.  We are in the process of getting a new house. We have been moving stuff, but it still isn't ready to live in yet.  We will be installing water filters soon and then getting furniture.  By the next transfer we should be completely moved in.  Hopefully we will be sleeping there by next week.

Elder Shelby and I went to a soiree (dinner) at a member's house on Saturday and they fed us Shark. It tastes like regular fish with no bones. It's pretty good.  Today were are having a picnic at the beach and fishing with some cool investigators and missionaries.

That is all I have for this week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen

Our new House

6 Elders in the back of a truck

A First for Ft. D

Interview with President Foote

Hello everybody,

This week we had the First District Conference ever created here in Fort Dauphin. The Leadership was changed and a lot of guys are getting the Melchezidek priesthood. It was cool to be there and see it all happen. Pres, Foote came up to conduct the Conference.  It has been great having him here.

Funny thing is, on the Saturday prior to the conference we came home after working and saw two elders sitting at the table drinking juice. We asked what was wrong. but with in a couple of seconds we realized that the entire house was flooded. Our water heater had exploded while we were gone and it had filled up the house with water.

We stayed up late pushing the water towards the bathroom while other Elders were scooping it into the shower drain. That was pretty lame and caused our water to be cut the night before the conference.  We should be getting a new water heater today.  Now we really need a new house that isn't broken.  We are still trying to work out the logistics of that.

Spiritual note: During a lesson the other day Elder Shelby started bearing his testimony right as Disney's Moana started blasting... it intensified the spirit in the room. Disney was inspired by God.

Sincerely,
Elder Allen

Teaching English Classes

First District Conference in Ft. Dauphin

Sam on beach for p-day

Cool pic of Ft. Dauphin

Elder Shelby Asleep

Getting the Swing of Things but Still Hope to Go Back

Leaving Madagascar because of the Plague:

Warning sign about symptoms of the Plague

Goodbye lunch with Mada Missionaries.  

Saying goodbye to Elder Blatter. (MTC group)

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