Hello,
This last week was the end of the Transfer. Elder Olsen left to Tana last Saturday, so I was on splits going around with the other Elders in my house for the weekend. My new companion is Elder Beeson. He was in my MTC group so it should be fun. He is from Missouri. I am still the district leader for this area.
It was Madagascar's Independence Day yesterday so for the past three days we have had a curfew to be home before 6 every night. The Malagasies go crazy on holidays. Yesterday there was not much we could do because every business was closed, so we just played soccer all morning on the beach, and then played games at the other missionaries' house until 6. There have been big festivals, concerts, and fairs here so we walked through those and then ate at a good restaurant too. It was a fun/chill P-day.
There have been a lot of holidays during this last transfer, so a lot of people did not come to church every week, especially investigators, which sucked. We plan on working pretty hard this transfer to turn things around. We are going to have to do a lot of finding at the moment.
I will hit my year mark this transfer. August 3 is when I went into the MTC. But Sept. 14th was when I first came to Madagascar. But I will most likely be coming home next year in the middle of July. So no matter how you look at it, I have one year left!
This mission is still going great!!
Next Week,
Elder Allen
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017
Q&A with Elder Allen
Sam didn't send a group email today. But he chatted with Scott and I for a second and then sent some pictures.Here are some highlights of our conversation:
What did you do today for P-day?
"We played soccer again with the same kids, we had ice cream, we made banana bread for a soiree, and now we are cybering."
Is the weather cooling off now?
"I do not think it could ever be cold in Madagascar. But I am used to the weather now so it is not hot, just warm all the time."
Are you finding new investigators?
"I am finding new people to teach every week here, but they are not always the most diligent."
That was about it from Sam today.
Sounds like he had a busy P-day and not much time to cyber!
Monday, June 12, 2017
A Gifted Tie
Hello,
This week all the AP (Assistants to the President) missionaries are staying up here in Tamatave with us. We have been going on splits with them a lot. We have four APs in our mission and they are all up here. Two of them are going to stay until the end of the transfer when they actually die (go home). They are in my companion's same group.
Last Sunday was the District Meeting for all of the Branches here in Tamatave. President gave a really great talk to strengthen the Branches. His Translator did not fully understand his thought and humor so none of the Malagasies would laugh when he made a joke. It is pretty hard to transfer English thoughts into Malagasy. I cant even think of the English translation for some things I say in Malagasy, because sometimes there is not one. Malagasy thought is completely different. It has actually made my English sound a little weird sometimes because I think of things to say the way a Malagasy would say them.
On Saturday we all played soccer behind the church with some kids in our Branch. We basically played soccer in a cyclone. It rained so hard on us during the game. It was really fun though so no problem. We played more soccer this morning and I am so sore. It's all good.
Have a good week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
This week all the AP (Assistants to the President) missionaries are staying up here in Tamatave with us. We have been going on splits with them a lot. We have four APs in our mission and they are all up here. Two of them are going to stay until the end of the transfer when they actually die (go home). They are in my companion's same group.
Last Sunday was the District Meeting for all of the Branches here in Tamatave. President gave a really great talk to strengthen the Branches. His Translator did not fully understand his thought and humor so none of the Malagasies would laugh when he made a joke. It is pretty hard to transfer English thoughts into Malagasy. I cant even think of the English translation for some things I say in Malagasy, because sometimes there is not one. Malagasy thought is completely different. It has actually made my English sound a little weird sometimes because I think of things to say the way a Malagasy would say them.
On Saturday we all played soccer behind the church with some kids in our Branch. We basically played soccer in a cyclone. It rained so hard on us during the game. It was really fun though so no problem. We played more soccer this morning and I am so sore. It's all good.
Have a good week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
This is Dmb Stephane. He is a member of the branch in Tamatave and he works with the missionaries and is in charge of the branch and district missionaries too. Sam gave him that tie.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Building relationships
Hello,
This week we have been doing a lot of work with the members and getting to know them better. It has made it so we eat at their houses every week. Building relationships with them gives you free food and referrals for new investigators.
Yesterday we went to the beach and played soccer there with a bunch of Malagasy kids. I have not run in a long time... they wrecked us.
A lot of weird things happened last Thursday. During a lesson, I was giving the opening prayer when the little boy of the investigator started to choke on something and then throw it up. For some reason at that moment I thought it was the funniest thing ever so I burst out laughing and could not even finish my prayer it was so bad. Every one started laughing with me though so it was okay. I thought it was funny because no one stopped praying to help him during my prayer, they just sat waiting until Iwas done. So we all just listened to this kid dying together.
That was the last lesson of that night so we got a Puss (bike taxi) home. We fought for the price of 500 Ar home and he accepted it. He was way drunk and it was really funny talking to him as he drove us home. When we arrived I gave him 500 Ar and he was like, "hey man this is not okay where is the rest?" He would not let us just walk away so we had to explain to him that he already accepted that price. Also other Malagasies feel obligated to stop and ask what the problem is. My comp. Just said a word that means, he is trying to take advantage of us. They all laughed when they heard it. They chatted with the Puss driver and we just walked away. It was such a weird night.
That was my week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
This week we have been doing a lot of work with the members and getting to know them better. It has made it so we eat at their houses every week. Building relationships with them gives you free food and referrals for new investigators.
Yesterday we went to the beach and played soccer there with a bunch of Malagasy kids. I have not run in a long time... they wrecked us.
A lot of weird things happened last Thursday. During a lesson, I was giving the opening prayer when the little boy of the investigator started to choke on something and then throw it up. For some reason at that moment I thought it was the funniest thing ever so I burst out laughing and could not even finish my prayer it was so bad. Every one started laughing with me though so it was okay. I thought it was funny because no one stopped praying to help him during my prayer, they just sat waiting until Iwas done. So we all just listened to this kid dying together.
That was the last lesson of that night so we got a Puss (bike taxi) home. We fought for the price of 500 Ar home and he accepted it. He was way drunk and it was really funny talking to him as he drove us home. When we arrived I gave him 500 Ar and he was like, "hey man this is not okay where is the rest?" He would not let us just walk away so we had to explain to him that he already accepted that price. Also other Malagasies feel obligated to stop and ask what the problem is. My comp. Just said a word that means, he is trying to take advantage of us. They all laughed when they heard it. They chatted with the Puss driver and we just walked away. It was such a weird night.
That was my week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
Monday, May 29, 2017
I am Going to Learn A Lot
This has been a good week for the area of Ambolomadinika. We have been finding alot of cool little families that seem pretty interested in our message.
I am going to learn alot this transfer because i am with a companion that is dying at the end of it. He is a very experienced missionary and really good at the language. I am also a District leader which requires me to conduct meetings, share a lesson, and take reports once a week. I also have to do Baptism Interviews for the missionarys in my district.
Funny Story: The other day my companion and i were talking to our Investigator outside of his house/hut when a chicken completely covered in poop came running out from underneath the house. It must have jumped into a poop bucket in the back. It was way funny to watch the Malagasies notice it, freak out, and then chase it. It smelled way bad.
Nothing much new has happened this week other than that.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
Jessica's wedding to come... Sam was there in spirit and in a cardboard cut out... :)
I am going to learn alot this transfer because i am with a companion that is dying at the end of it. He is a very experienced missionary and really good at the language. I am also a District leader which requires me to conduct meetings, share a lesson, and take reports once a week. I also have to do Baptism Interviews for the missionarys in my district.
Funny Story: The other day my companion and i were talking to our Investigator outside of his house/hut when a chicken completely covered in poop came running out from underneath the house. It must have jumped into a poop bucket in the back. It was way funny to watch the Malagasies notice it, freak out, and then chase it. It smelled way bad.
Nothing much new has happened this week other than that.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
Jessica's wedding to come... Sam was there in spirit and in a cardboard cut out... :)
Monday, May 22, 2017
"Don't have a limited view of your potential."
Hi everyone,
The new transfer has begun in Madagascar. We got to see President Foote up here in Tamatave for a Zone Conference. It is always good to see him and feel his spirit. Also I am the new District Leader here in Tamatave for my house. My new companion is Elder Olsen. He is from Pleasant Grove. I knew him from my last area and he is great.
I have been thinking a lot about our potentials as sons and daughters of God. I heard a quote from this last Zone Conference that said, "Don't have a limited view of your potential." I find this statement very applicable to everyone. I know that everyone has a potential bigger than they could even comprehend. This gospel is all centered on the purpose of helping us become like our Heavenly Father who is all knowing and perfect. It is very important to first understand our potential and then second strive to achieve it. The key to this is humility and diligence. If we are humble we can see that there is need for improvement and a possibility to be better. Then, we must work hard to reach that status. This can be applied to anything in our lives that we want to achieve. But the biggest and most important one to strive for is being a disciple of Christ. It is not easy sometimes to reach that potential but it surely is one of the things we can all see is need for improvement in our lives. Christ surely was perfect. No one here on earth is perfect but everyone should realize that it is there potential and we can strive to become like Him.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
The new transfer has begun in Madagascar. We got to see President Foote up here in Tamatave for a Zone Conference. It is always good to see him and feel his spirit. Also I am the new District Leader here in Tamatave for my house. My new companion is Elder Olsen. He is from Pleasant Grove. I knew him from my last area and he is great.
I have been thinking a lot about our potentials as sons and daughters of God. I heard a quote from this last Zone Conference that said, "Don't have a limited view of your potential." I find this statement very applicable to everyone. I know that everyone has a potential bigger than they could even comprehend. This gospel is all centered on the purpose of helping us become like our Heavenly Father who is all knowing and perfect. It is very important to first understand our potential and then second strive to achieve it. The key to this is humility and diligence. If we are humble we can see that there is need for improvement and a possibility to be better. Then, we must work hard to reach that status. This can be applied to anything in our lives that we want to achieve. But the biggest and most important one to strive for is being a disciple of Christ. It is not easy sometimes to reach that potential but it surely is one of the things we can all see is need for improvement in our lives. Christ surely was perfect. No one here on earth is perfect but everyone should realize that it is there potential and we can strive to become like Him.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
Monday, May 15, 2017
I Can Feel His Love
Hello,
This week has been wonderful and hard at the same time. I got to speak to my family on Skype which was great.
Also the end of the transfer for us has come and my Companion Elder Wilson is heading to Tana. I am staying in Tamatave and Elder Todd Olsen is coming up to me. It is his last transfer so I am killing him here in Ambolomadinika. I will probably need to stay for another transfer to show the next guy the area. I love this area though so it is all good. I also lived with Elder Olsen before in my last house so this transfer should be great.
My area is doing pretty good right now. We just had some baptisms so we are kind of in a phase of searching for and finding new investigators. Although, the branch here is really strong and full of really spiritual people.
I have a testimony that there is a God, and that he loves us very much. I know that because I can feel his love and know that every one else can as well when they follow his will. Faith is one of the most important aspects of the Gospel. It is actually the first Principle of it. If you do not have Faith then nothing else matters. There are many people that believe that Faith is believing in things that we cannot know are true. That is false. Faith is a hope for things that are not seen however are true. Also Faith is truly related to a seed. It becomes nothing and sometimes dies if you do not nurture it. If we do not give faith in God a chance and follow it, then we will surely lose it. I know that this is true, I have experienced it myself. It is not good enough to have a simple belief on its own. We must act upon it. I can surely testify that if anyone has a desire to know whether there is a loving Heavenly Father and that he continues to guide his children here on earth today, then you need to try and obey all of his commandments and apply all the principles of the Gospel in your life. Until we do so, we will continue to have doubt and be unsure. But as soon as we do so we will instantly feel the power of his holy spirit in our lives and will not be able to deny the answer that we receive.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
This week has been wonderful and hard at the same time. I got to speak to my family on Skype which was great.
Also the end of the transfer for us has come and my Companion Elder Wilson is heading to Tana. I am staying in Tamatave and Elder Todd Olsen is coming up to me. It is his last transfer so I am killing him here in Ambolomadinika. I will probably need to stay for another transfer to show the next guy the area. I love this area though so it is all good. I also lived with Elder Olsen before in my last house so this transfer should be great.
My area is doing pretty good right now. We just had some baptisms so we are kind of in a phase of searching for and finding new investigators. Although, the branch here is really strong and full of really spiritual people.
I have a testimony that there is a God, and that he loves us very much. I know that because I can feel his love and know that every one else can as well when they follow his will. Faith is one of the most important aspects of the Gospel. It is actually the first Principle of it. If you do not have Faith then nothing else matters. There are many people that believe that Faith is believing in things that we cannot know are true. That is false. Faith is a hope for things that are not seen however are true. Also Faith is truly related to a seed. It becomes nothing and sometimes dies if you do not nurture it. If we do not give faith in God a chance and follow it, then we will surely lose it. I know that this is true, I have experienced it myself. It is not good enough to have a simple belief on its own. We must act upon it. I can surely testify that if anyone has a desire to know whether there is a loving Heavenly Father and that he continues to guide his children here on earth today, then you need to try and obey all of his commandments and apply all the principles of the Gospel in your life. Until we do so, we will continue to have doubt and be unsure. But as soon as we do so we will instantly feel the power of his holy spirit in our lives and will not be able to deny the answer that we receive.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen
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