Tis the end of March

Another week, another month, man, does time fly.

This week was another great week, as has been every week on my mission.

Transfers are coming around the corner, which is a little scary, because I will not want to leave, which is a very real possibility. 

This week I had the opportunity to go on three splits. The first to Andranomanelatra, the second to Manadona, and the third was in my own area with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Eppich. They were all very good experiences, but I wont bore you with the details. 

This week is going to be a week of hard work. We are going to work hard to try and push for a large attendance this next Sunday. We will be having branch conference, (yes I know next week is general conference, but not for us, we have to wait until april 26,27) so we would like to have a large attendance for the conference. 

Work is going well, we are not teaching as much as we have been in recent weeks, but we are doing well. We are going to really start trying to help some more people prepare for baptism. we have a lot of really good investigators that have different problems that are delaying their baptisms. So we are trying to help them overcome those variety of problems.

I cant think of much to talk about so ill talk about the pics I am sending today. The first three are from a soiree that the branch holds each Sunday in a varying location for members, investigators, less actives, and everyone to meet together and share a little message and food. Yesterday we had some bread and tea which was really good. Its called veromanitra. It smells and tastes like fruit loops. So good!! 

Also I am sending some souvienor pictures. The first is a t-shirt, no biggie there. The second is a Joseph Smith Wood carving. Yes that is made 100% out of wood. It is incredibly nice. It is one of my favorite souvenirs thus far. And on the bottom it says, "Ary raha misy hianareo try manam-pahendrena, aoka izy hangataka amin'Andriamanitra." Jakoba 1:5 The translation being "If any of ye lack wisdom, let him ask of God." James 1:5

The third souvenir is not mine. A missionary had it made with the seals and logos of the three cities in which he worked. That also is made completely out of wood. That background is a white wood. Zoom in and look at the detail. INCREDIBLE!!

And then the last set of pics is two sunsets and some friends that are members in Manadona, the place of the split on Thursday. 

Keep on the keeping on.

BTW, if anyone is sending a package soon, I realized I would kill for a box of pop-tarts, and some other good quality american stuff. I am working on being healthier though, but an american treat once and a while wouldnt kill me. I am pretty good about when I get junk from America not eating it all at once. But no pressure. Maybe its just my stomach speaking, cause I am pretty dang hungry right now.

Also, if anyone wants any custom paintings done, next week I would need to order them, they really arent that expensive when you think in dollars. Let me know. You can always google for pictures as well. Dad, I'm not sure if you have any from vacations you want done.

Elder Weber

Zone Conference

We had a great week this week, but not if you look at the stats. It was a real downer in that category, but there were a lot of ups.

On Thursday we had an opportunity to eat lunch with Elder and Sister Todd. First off, Elder Todd says hi to you dad, but the lunch meeting was very productive. We were able to discuss the progress of this branch and things that could be done better. We also had the opportunity to help him with a project. We also got to read a case file that they made for a new building here in Antsirabe. They are looking to build a nice District/Stake center here in Antsirabe, really close to the church. They land is already purchased but they are still discussing the actual building of the building. But it was a very good case, and we shall see if we can get this building built soon.

On Saturday we had Zone Conference, which was extremely exciting and we heard and learned alot of different things. It was very inspiring and it always encourages me to be a better missionary. I will take the things we learned and try to apply it to my work here and in my life. There is so many resources that we have to help bring souls unto our Heavenly Father.

I must admit, speaking English can be hard, it is pretty hard to speak 100 percent in English and to not mix the languages. When speaking to missionaries it is no problem, but when speaking with President or Sister Adams, or the Todd's that is when I have to try and only speak English, but it is really hard. Translating is also hard, english to Malagasy is easier than the other way, but when the Todds and the Adams come to church, I have to translate for them.

Anyways, life is good. Life is great. Life is wonderful.

Elder Weber 

10 months and so many miracles

Letter from March 17, 2014

 

So this last Saturday I officially celebrated 10 months on a mission, very soon I will be singing the praises of 1 year serving a mission. Its not that far away. Life is so great serving a mission, serving Him.

Life is so happy, and there is nothing I receive more happiness from than seeing miracles in the lives of these people here in Madagascar. 

I am so happy to hear that people think that I have lost weight. I have not yet seen it in myself but we shall see.

I love teaching people about the fullness of the gospel that has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. It blesses lives.

A sad story this past week. Yesterday we had a random lady show up to church with two young children. She talked to us, and we found out that she has been living on the street with her two kids. She was carrying a small grocery bag, and that was all the possessions they owned. They had very obviously not bathed in an extremely long time. She had heard that if she came to church with us that she could receive help. I referred her to the branch president and we will see what we can do. Unfortunately, the church cannot just give money to these people, because if we do, then all of a sudden, everyone in the country is demanding money from the church. It is really unfortunate, but it is the way things must go right now. There is a lot of people here that hear about our church, and that tell others that this is the place to go. It is really sad to see what these people go through.

The one thing that continues to shock me is the difference in the money. The dollar is so so so so strong compared to the ariary. With a single dollar a person could buy so much. People say that most malagasy people live off of two dollars a day or less.

This morning we went to a mountain in Manadona and we hiked a waterfall. I have some good pictures for us all today. It was really good. It was a lot of fun, lots of good times spent together here in Madagascar and here in Antsirabe. This week we have a zone conference on Saturday, and some other cool things coming up. More on all of that next week. 

We are all servants in the Lord's vineyard, working to reap the harvest, we all need to serve the Lord and work hard to bring the results of the Lord's vineyard. It is a blessing to wake up every morning and serve in the vineyard.

The Lord blessing me everyday!

Elder Weber