Preparing to Leave Mada

Last Day to Explore

last email

You are all invited to Sam's Homecoming on Sunday July 29 at 9 am at 1440 Raddon Drive in Sandy!!  Brunch at our house right after!!

Sam returns home Thursday July 19 at 10 am!!  (He has requested Cafe Rio and a thick, peanut butter, chocolate, banana ice cream shake!)

Thanks for all of your love and support!

Hello,

This is most likely my last group email. Next week I will be exploring Mada before my return. I have a couple of days left here in Fort D. I will be leaving on Saturday to head up to Tana. I will stay in Tana for my last Sunday and then there are just three days left of preparing to go home, saying goodbyes, and having last interviews.

Living here in Madagascar has changed me a lot. I have learned many lessons on my mission that have been preparing me for my life ahead.

This has been a great week!  I am trying to stay focused and enjoy the last bit of time I have here.  I have been working hard these last few weeks trying to make them count.  The work here just keeps going. It has been weird giving people baptismal dates for after I leave. It has been even weirder setting up return appointments that I won't be present at.

Just the other day we ran into an old investigator that we stopped visiting because our schedule was too full and she was not committing too much at the time. We decided to set up a new appointment with her. We taught her about The Restoration again and emphasized all the aspects of Christ's church that were lost and are now restored in the church today. At the end of the lesson she just told us, "I know that last time we met I didn't want to be baptized for a year, but now i just want to become a member of Christ's church. What do I need to do in order for that to happen?" I was thrown way off guard and just started getting excited telling her that we will help her accomplish that. Those are the bittersweet moments as you near the end of a mission. I won't be here to help her with that process but other missionaries will.  I really hope to find out in the next month or so that the people I am finding and teaching now got baptized.  That would be way cool.  I have no doubt that they will be, but I will keep in touch with the future missionaries.

I am so excited to get started in life!  I will see you all very soon!
Sincerely,
Elder Allen

A Baptism and a Pday Trip

Sam will be home: 

Thurs. July 19 at 10:15 am.
 
His HOMECOMING will be:
Sunday July 29 at 9:00 am
at 1440 E. Raddon Dr. in Sandy.
Food at our house after!!

July 3: Sorry I didn't email on Monday. We went on another little trip that took all of our time from emailing. I sent some pictures of the place we went.

Also we had baptisms, it was great. Mirella, Thony, and Bridget.

**Sam has been taking full advantage of his last few P-days and going on lots of adventures. 

 He has sent lots of pictures but hasn't had time to email.  

*His very loved Mission President and mission mom went home on Saturday after serving in Madagascar for 3 years.

Adventures in a Boat

 

We took a boat ride to a cool mountain range and beach called Efahatra. 

That trip is why I did not have time to write a big group email.

Saying Goodbye to President and Sister Foote

***It is official! I received Sam's flight plans this morning.  

He will be home on Thursday July 19 at 10:14 am.  

His homecoming will be Sunday July 29 at 9 am 

with food at our house after!  

Hello,

Great week with President Foote! We had our last zone conference with the Footes. It was really sad saying goodbye to them. They have been the greatest thing about this mission.

On Thursday they arrived in Fort D. Friday morning President showed up at our house to drop off my package from my mom. He thought he would meet with us, study together a little bit, and have some interviews... Then we told him that we usually played soccer on the beach on Fridays. He hurried home to change into some shorts and then we met the other missionaries at the beach.

Saturday we had the conference and learned a lot. Seeing as how it was the last Conference with him and for most of us here in Fort D. we talked with him all day long getting deep doctrinal questions answered and advice for life. President Foote has definetly taught me a lot about what kind of person I want to be; for myself and for others around me.

This morning at 3:00 a.m. we woke up and hiked Peak St. Louie to see the sun rise on the horizon. It was freezing cold at the top of the mountain and I was the only one that had brought a blanket so we all cuddled and shared it.

Next week.
Sincerely,
Elder Allen