A Letter & Invitation from the Mission Office

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

Sister Boyle
Mission Medical Advisor

Twenty to Church

**We got  letter from the mission president that there is the Bubonic Plague in Tamatave, which is Sam's last area he was in. They have pulled all of the missionaries out of that area for now.  Luckily Sam is back in Tana doing great.  But I did get on his case to take his Doxycyline!!!  Always an adventure!!  Thanks for all of the love, prayers, and support!    Jenn

Hello,

There is nothing too new this week except that the work has been getting better. We had over 20 investigators at church this week and it was the first time for about five of them. Five regulars did not show up so the newbies made up for it. Next week if all goes well then we could possibly have 30 investigators at church. That would be the dream. We have been getting more and more investigators from the family of diligent investigators. They tell their families about the church and then they ask if they can learn from the missionaries as well. It has been pretty cool. We also have a Baptism this Saturday for Pascal.

These are some photos of Elder Monson's and my own suit that we just had made. It was about 110,000 Ar to make one. That is like 40 dollars.

Something new from this week is that last Monday while on a bus I was talking with the guy next to me who seemed to know a lot about the church. I got his address and then we went to talk with him that next day. When we got there he pulled out all the standard works and opened them up. He had every page full of marks and cross references. Every single line was highlighted in a different color. He went off about our church and how he knows it is true and started to rant on about all of his studies. He wants to go to America and share his studies of the Bible, The Book of Mormon, D&C, and the Pearl of Great Price with the Prophet. He is a pretty passionate guy and I felt bad telling him that I could not pay for his trip there.

That is the week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen

Greetings from President Foote

Dear Parents,

Greetings from the Madagascar Antanarivo Mission.
We are continually blessed to be able to work with such tremendous Elders and Sisters in this Mission.
Recently, there have been incidents of the bubonic plague in a few of the communities in Madagascar.  We are taking every precaution to insure the safety of each Missionary.​
As a precautionary measure, we have temporarily moved the Elders in Toamasina (Tamatave) to Antananarivo.  All other missionaries remain in their assigned areas.
All Missionaries are required to take doxycycline each day and for thirty days after their return home, as a preventative measure for malaria but also is prevenative for many other diseases, including bubonic plague. It is very important for them to take this medication. We would ask you to encourage your missionary to be obedient in this matter.
We reiterate that these moves are precautionary.  The missionaries are safe and we have measures in place to keep them safe.  
Please continue to pray for your missionaries and for the Malagasy people  and the great work that is going on here

Sincerely
Raymon D. Foote
President, Madagascar Antananarivo Mission