Elder Scott Weber's mission to Madagascar. Check back for weekly emails and pictures of Madagascar!

Alma 26:12 - Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

My last email!

April 27, 2015 Letter - Although Elder Weber is now home and officially Scott Weber again, I decided to finish my duty and post his last letter that came this past Monday.

Well, the time has come! I am coming home this week! It doesn't feel real at all, but its here.

So the biggest things that occured this week were preparing everything for transfers, getting some headway on big office projects, teaching a few lessons, and .... a departure interview.

So because there are 11 of us going home this week, President could not do all of the departure interviews on Tuesday and so we split them up over two days and 6 of us had our departure interview on Friday. Well I was part of it. It was a weird feeling being done. It does not feel like I will actually be home in a few days. People are always asking, "What does it feel like" and questions like that, and the answer is that it just feels normal. It just feels like time is ticking away ever the same. Maybe once I am on my way to the airport or something it will feel a little different, but for now it just feels natural and not very different. 

So these last few days are kinda crazy and up in the air about what is going on. So today has some special things planned and tomorrow will be more of the same and departure dinner and getting ready to go and then Wednesday morning hits and BAM its over just like that.

I truly know the importance of missionary work. These past two years have been full of miracles and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to come here and be a part of this great work! I know that our Savior lives, that is the greatest message of all that He lives, He loves us, and we are here to do His will and His work. Individually we are all weak and cannot do much, but when coupled with His stength and might, we can do all things. We all need to do our part, that is all He asks, He is not asking us to be more than He knows we can be. 

Well I will see you on Thursday. Its not that far away.
Elder Scott Weber


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Monday, April 20, 2015

Photos from 4/13/2015 Letter












Its coming fast!

Letter from 4/20

This was a great week, but the time moves so dang fast. This week went by in a blink of an eye.

This week we had the opportunity to go on two splits and also had the opportunity to get some things done in the office. Also we taught english class, taught some awesome lessons to some of our awesome investigators. We got fed by the Public Affairs couple on Tuesday and it was delicious. And then also President Adams went out to teach with us last night. We taught some great lessons to a recent convert and then to some great investigators. 

This week we are going to be busy in the office and there is also a bunch of things to get done in the area and just there is always things to be done. This is going to be a crazy last week.

It doesnt feel real that I will be home next week. I don't think it will be real until I actually end up on the plane, or maybe until I am in America again. But there are plenty of things to keep me busy here. Tomorrow we will spend most of the day in the office, specifically in President's Office, we have office meeting, MLS meeting, transfer meeting, and then other office work, english class, ASL with Jules, PMG class, and we are going to try and get all of that done by 7PM. So we will see how tomorrow and the rest of this weeks shapes out to be. 

Its really hard to find things to say these days.

Elder Weber 

Monday, April 13, 2015

Marathon to the end

I have a rather big problem. I leave Madagascar in 16 days, but there is a lot of work to get done in 16 days. I need to do a bunch of training for Elder Morley on a variety of different things to make sure that he can take over all of the many things that we do when I leave. And of course there are people to taught, many projects to work on, and it is just amazing what needs to be done. We are trying to do everything in our power to get this mission running as smooth as possible before the transition of a new mission president in a few months. There is just so much to get done however and its not easy. The new mission president is not going to have a clean slate to start with, but we are trying to get it as clean as possible. 

So this last week, we spent a lot of time in the office working on several big projects that are going on here in the office right now. I can explain a lot about that when I get home, its not worth trying to explain over email. Besides that we ended up teaching a good set of lessons, we also had the opportunity to go on splits on Saturday. That was a lot of fun and I got to see some members and people I baptized. 

So besides that, everyone keeps telling me that I am about to go home, which I already know, but its really weird. Time has flown by so fast, and I am realizing very quickly that the last of everything is coming really fast. 

I will try and send some pictures today of different things. Some pictures from Norbert's baptism, some of the other people that I have seen recently that I love.

Until next week.

Elder Weber 

Thursday, April 9, 2015

HAPPY EASTER!!

Letter from April 9, 2015 - Mom note:  I have two other letters that I haven't posted yet, but I thought I would post this and then catch up. 

It was a good week! A lot of things happened, but it was good! 

We were able to go and teach some this week.

But on Monday we had the Reunion Zone Leaders with us and we took them with us and we taught and had a good time. And then on Tuesday we had the MLC/

So the MLC started in the morning and went until about 3:30. It was a great meeting, we discussed a lot of things for the future of the mission. Lunch was great as always, they made Chicken Enchiladas which were ridiculously good. When the meeting was finished, we cleaned up and taught english class, and then we did ASL with Jules.

The rest of the week was really good as well. We made a visit with President Adams, we taught some lessons, did office work, and everything.

And then Saturday was the big day! 

We attended Norbert's baptism. It was a great service, very well attended, and everything was just great. Naturally, the water was brown, we had to use a fire hose and buckets to fill it up, along with the tap, and everything. But they got baptized, all four of them. I will try and send pictures next week, I need to get them from some other people, as they are on their cameras. There was probably between 200-250 people there. There were some great talks given that explained very well everything about the baptism and the church. We also got 25 referrals from people there that would like to learn more about the church. And then Sunday was a great day, great church time and everything.

So I hope you all enjoyed conference, we will be watching it in 3 weeks. My last weekend in Madagascar will be conference! What a way to go out!

Elder Weber 

Saturday, March 21, 2015

One transfer left

March 16 letter

Well. The big day just came. We are officially on day one of the last transfer. It is a weird feeling, and there are a lot of "lasts" coming up. 

This past week we were in Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa for splits and then for zone conferences. The zone conferences were exceptionally good and the week as a whole went better than last week. It was a little less frustrating. 

The zone conferences were my last zone conferences. No more for me. In the last 6 months I have had 12 zone conferences, but no more, I am finished. This last transfer is going to fly by.

My new companion is Elder Morley. He has been serving as a zone leader here in Tana. I am really excited to work with him. We will have an exciting 6 weeks.

This upcoming week is transfers, so until like Friday we are quite busy. And  then on Friday we are going to have a planning meeting with President, and then next week has some meetings lined up, and on the 31st we have a big MLC where we bring in all the zone leaders and Sister training leaders from all of provinces and islands and we will have a full day meeting with them. 

So the splits this last week were really good. Everyone was happy to participate and everyone learned a lot. I had the opportunity to work with several of the missionaries in Fianarantsoa and the missionaries in Ambositra. And then after the zone conferences we drove back. So we had a lot of time in the car this week and it was good. We also took the Ambositra elders to Anjoma, so I got to visit a new place where I haven't been before. So I have been everywhere in the mission except for Toliara and Mahajanga. And I don't think that is going to change before the end. 

So on Sunday we met with President and made a few transfer changes and then we had a soiree with Sister Manda, and then we got home and took stats and then called out the transfer news. So that is what my week was like.

So in Zone conference we talked a lot about integrity, planning, we watched Meet the Mormons (yes that means I have now seen it 6 times) and talked about hastening the work of salvation. We also had a module about teaching with questions to check for the understanding of our investigators. 

So this week I have lots of bus stops and airport trips and food from Sister Adams in my schedule. 

Well until next week.
Elder Weber 


ANTSIRABE!

Letter from March 9, 2015


Here I am writing you all from the land of Antsirabe!! We have been down here on splits for a few days and life is going great! We have had three great days of splits!

It brings back so many memories of serving here. I was able to visit some people for the last time and it will be crazy to see what the future holds in regards to me coming back to Madagascar.

I really cannot think of much to write this week, because I kinda feel not into things this morning. I feel like I am in another world.

But so this week we did a lot to prepare for our trip and then on Thursday we came down here and then we just did a bunch of splits. But I really don't see anything to write about.

I love my mission, I love the people, even when things come up that are a bit frustrating, you just keep going knowing that the Lord is in control and that He will provide. I have had an experience with that this week, but this is the Lord's work and He is in control. There is a good quote somewhere about how Satan can do nothing to stop the progression of the work of the Lord, and only people who can stop the progression, is ourselves. So as we focus on always progressing, we will help Him do His work.

Elder Bednar recently stated in an all africa conference that this is His work and He does the hastening. Our responsibility is to see if we will keep up with His hastening. The church here in Madagascar is new and it has a few growing pains, but He will provide the way, He always has and He always will.

I love you all!! Keep up the good work that you are doing back home! Try to always progress and be the person that the Lord would have you be. He lives and loves us. That is the greatest knowldege in the world. Love triumphs everything else.

Until next week!
Elder Weber



Saturday, March 7, 2015

March is here!

Mon 3/2/2015


Hello March! It has come fast for sure. 

 So this week we were still in Tamatave on Monday and Tuesday. We had some wonderful splits there and everything was great! And then on Wednesday we drove back to Tana. That took most of the day. Thurday was a great day! 

Thursday we got to attend the fisoratana of one of our investigators! That is her legal marriage. She has been investigating the church for over 9 years, and the only thing stopping her from baptism was the marriage. And so we have been working with her for a long time and we finally got the marriage done Thursday morning. I will send some pictures. And then after that we had to go to the airport which always takes a while. Then Thursday evening we started catching up a little on office work and preparing for the next three upcoming Zone conferences this week and next week. We also visited Nadia and talked to her about the marriage and the upcoming baptism. 

Friday we had office meeting in the morning and then we met with President regarding transfers. And then we did yet more office work. We did also teach some which was good.

Saturday - We had a nice baptismal service for Nadia and her daughter Mirana. It was a great baptism and everyone had a great experience. It was a day long awaited. And then later in the afternoon we attended the Adult Session of Stake Conference. Sunday we also attended the general session, both sessions were presided by Elder VanReenen who is an Area Seventy for the Africa Southeast Area. It was a good conference. I spent time reflecting on my mission and I realized that I have spent 15 months of my mission serving in this stake. I have served in 4 different areas inside of this stake. It was cool to look out over the audience and see all these people that I know from the areas in which I served and also to see all the investigators that I have taught from many of those areas now active members in the church. It was a very humbling experience and I realized just how much I am going to miss Madagascar. 

Mom asked for pictures and then asked about transfers. So I will explain a little bit about the whole transfer system for the mission. Mom Note: No pictures yet. :)

Missionaries report to the MTC on a Wednesday. We currently have missionaries attending Provo or Ghana and will be adding Johannsburg soon. And then that lines up exactly with our transfer dates here. We have a transfer every 6 weeks. And so for missionaries coming to the mission, they leave the MTC on Monday morning and arrive here Wednesday afternoon. For the missionaries that are already in the mission, they find out Sunday night about transfer news, that is, who is going where. And then the transfer moves are conducted normally Monday through Thursday, and we make a program telling everyone when they are going to be moving. And since we have long bus rides in this mission we have to plan it out well. Going to some places takes as much as 10 hours and so we have to figure out how to get everyone everywhere without leaving any missionaries stranded without a companion. Talk about fun logistics. So the assistants plan transfers with President over several weeks throughout the transfer and then missionaries wont find out until that Sunday. For example there is a transfer on the 18th of March. And so the missionaries in the MTC went there on February 4th. On the 16th they will leave the MTC. On the 15th, all the missionaries will know about the transfer. And so thats a little about how the transfers work. So the new missionaries show up on the Wednesday and then they get a nice dinner and some paperwork and stuff and then on Thursday they get trained and head to their new areas. 

So thats kinda how it works. And I will talk to you guys later!

Elder Weber 

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Zone Conferences, Flight Plans, and Tamatave

Feb 23, 2015 letter
It has been a very very full week. So starting off we got everything ready for the first zone conference which was Tuesday morning. So Tuesday we had the first zone conference which went wellish. So here are some of things we did in Zone conference.
We talked about integrity and proper use of Missionary Support Funds, we talked about teaching using questions and how commit-keeping is a preparation for covenant keeping. And Sister Adams brought a scripture chase for everyone. And then we also discussed Planning and effective planning for use of time and for teaching. Then we also had lunch, which is always good, and then we also talked about Hastening the work and how to work with Ward leaders, and then there was a small suprise which I cant say because half of the zones still havent had zone conference yet. But it was good, all three times we did it this week.
So Tuesday was zone conference until 4, then english class until 6, then ASL with Sister Turley and Jules, and then office work. Wednesday was studies in the morning, office meeting at 1, transfer meeting until about 4, and then office work, one lesson, and getting things ready for the zone conference on Thursday morning that lasted until 4 and then we had a bap interview and then prepared for Tamatave. Friday we drove all the way to Tamatave, made a few stops on the way. Saturday, you guessed it, Another Zone conference until about 4. And then I stayed around the church and went on a split with one of the zone leaders, Elder Bowler (yes the same elder bowler I trained so very long ago) and there were some meetings at the church. Yesterday I was on a split with the Mangarivotra elders and we had a fun day of work. We are continuing to go on splits here and then we will be returning to Tana a little later this week.

Also I got flight plans, which is cool, flying through Atlanta instead of having to go through London. And I get home in the morning instead of in the evening.
Tamatave is great. However it is rather hot and humid. But it hasnt been as bad as it could be, so I should be grateful for what I have.
So time is ticking down rather fast and its scary to think about what is left to do in this next little bit of time.

Elder Weber 

And the business and the travels begin

Letter from Feb 16, 2015

So this past week was rather busy doing a lot of different things for different reasons. And we also spent a lot of time getting ready for zone conferences. The first one is tomorrow already and it doesn't feel like it has been long enough since the last one. Well we are going to have one here tomorrow and on Thursday, and then on Friday we are headed off to Tamatave for a zone conference there and splits. So next week I will be writing from the land of Toamasina. We will be out there for P-day. 

So this past week we had Office meetings, and zone conference planning, and we had a surprise MLC on Saturday. We also did a lot of planning for the conferences. We also went shopping with some of the visa waiters to outfit them with the things that they need for a mission. Also we taught some really great lessons! We had a good number of investigators show up to church yesterday. It was really good to see.

So last night we had a fivoriana mpiara-monina randomly. So we pull into our gate, and the lady tenant from the top floor is there to lock the gate because there is a new lock. So she asked us to go to a meeting with all the tenants to talk about some stuff. So we meet in the 1er etage. So for us westerners the second floor. There are 5 floors in the building, and the missionaries take up both the 3rd and 4th floors. So we represented the two floors at the meeting. We then discussed a lot of different security issues, mostly revolving around the front big gate and the small door gate. So we got home at like 9 and then we get pulled into this meeting to talk about security for like 45 minutes. And so our phones kept going off with people trying to turn in stats. So some of the problems involved the car gate being left unlocked, and the gadana (padlock) was stolen yesterday. They are also concerned about people letting other people use keys and the security risks with that. Our house is not in the nicest neighborhood and so they are particular scared about security issues that may come up. So they are going to put on new locks and tighten up security, being much more diligent about all the locks being locked at all times. So it was an interesting meeting because we don't really communicate much with any of the other tenants, and we are the only white-people there, all the other tenants are malagasy. So occasionally they would look at the two of us and ask, do you understand? And we would confirm that we were understanding all of it very clearly. So that was our adventure last night. 

I also played piano for a ward conference yesterday. Not my ward, but a different one. They asked me to accompany the choir and then play all the songs for the conference. 

Time is ticking down. From now until the 15th of march, we are going to be so tired and so busy, that it is going to be interesting how fast this time is going to fly. 4 weeks of rather busy, organized, craziness. 

Well I think that is about all. There are some things about zone conference that I will tell you next week after it happens. It will be really good!

Next week again. But from Tamatave. 

Elder Weber 

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Ambohimanga / Transfers

Letter from Feb 9, 2015

So another week has flown by. And this one was transfer week. So it was crazy busy like normal. Airport trips and trips to bus stops, and new missionaries, and all of that. I'll share one crazy expereince for you all.

So Wednesday came and two new missionaries came. The one is a missionary here and the other one is a missionary for Reunion. They flew in on the flight to Mada and then they didnt want to let the one in because she didnt have a visa. However you can get a visa at the airport, but she didnt have a copy of her ticket out of the country, and so then we had to wait for a copy of the flight plan to come on the email in order for her to get a visa to get in the country. So they wanted to send her back to South Africa. Now obviously we didnt let that happen.

It was a good week, but I really don't know what to say. But we did go to Ambohimanga today, which is a lemur park I went to a long time ago. Ill send some pictures in a minute.

But we have been having a lot of fun with our two visa waiters that have been working with us. They are a blast! 

But other than that, not much news. We should have two baptisms within the next week and a half, we will see on that. It is depending on a marriage. 

Life is going really well, and I keep running out of things to write,

I saw another Dublin Ohio shirt this week, at the airport! This brings the total to four Dublin shirts I have seen here. I think the donation bins from Ohio all get sent here, because I see a lot of Ohio shirts here. Ohio State, Dublin, all sorts of things. But that is great!

I have also been very distracted while writing today. So I am sorry if nothing makes sense at all.

But there are pictures so you better be happy!


Elder Weber 

Monday, February 9, 2015

More Feb 9 Photos

And to make everyone jealous of the coolest mission in the world. A lot of pictures of ...... Lemurs.




More lemurs. Some really cute ones




And yet more lemurs. It was a fun day.






Photos from Feb 9 Letter

Dusty the Duster x2



Elder Randriamanampiherinaivo - Longest missionary name we have seen. Yes with a name like that, he has to be malagasy. (I can also spell it without looking at it)



The house across the street is being torn down because it was unsafe to live in or something. So malagasy demolition is with a shovel, taking out one brick at a time. 



Saturday, February 7, 2015

Letter from Sister Jessica Turley



Mom Comment - A while back - two worlds met.  A wonderful young lady that I met through work (Sister Jessica Turley) is serving a mission teaching the Gospel in American Sign Language. Elder Weber one week asked for ideas on helping a deaf member in Madagascar learn ASL so that he could go to the temple. Since then, Elder Weber and Sister Turley have been working together via Skype.  I thought you all would enjoy reading this whole letter, but the Skype part is in paragraph 3.

Week 9.2 (btw, I have a lot of people on the general list, if you don't actually want my general emails will you please email me telling me that? No offense taken at all, makes my life a lot easier :) 

Wow! What an amazing week! Just a brief overview for my digest readers: a plethora of new investigators, a new excitement on campus, amazing recent converts, branch fast, miracles!!! 

Ok so to start off, this week I got to Skype with the Zernas! The deaf couple in the Philippines that we taught in the MTC! They are both baptized now and we are doing the new member lessons with them. I was sooooo happy to see them again. I love being an ASL missionary! So many unique opportunities. We also got to skype with Jules, the member in Madagascar that we are teaching ASL so he can go to the temple. Jules is the sweetest man and he gets soooo excited when we skype. I was talking to his missionary, elder weber, and he explained that going to the temple is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the members there, and a huge effort. I felt so spoiled. I use to go twice a week! And yet this man gets to go once in his entire life... It really put into perspective for me how much responsibility we have, those of us with soooo many blessings and temples close by. With great blessings comes great responsibility. 

We met with Ivy again! She didn't come to church yesterday but she was there last week and that was huge! We talked about the Book of Mormon and read some of it with her so that she would feel more comfortable reading it on her own. I'm really excited to see her progress, we just have to be more persistent with her. I absolutely love her, she is so sweet! 

On Wednesday we got to go with Michai (recent convert) to the institute in Georgetown. Sooo much fun. It made me really trunky though. I miss being with other students in an institute class. So that was fun and Michai and I got to chat a lot on the metro and such, it was some much needed bff time :) 

Thursday was full of miracles! Michai, the most amazing recent convert, introduced us to about 7 of her friends who said they wanted to meet with us. So far we have met with three of them, and they all seem pretty solid. We had a lesson with Syretta, Shaneque, And April. They are all pretty open to it and Syretta is right there on the edge of being ready for baptism. She even accepted a conditional baptism! Which is huge!!! So we are really excited about that. We went to the basketball game on Saturday to support our investigator Zamica and to be more seen on campus and meet more people. Best finding activity we've probably ever done. We met so many people that said they wanted to meet with us and ran into a bunch of less actives, and had dinner with a huge group of non members and just talked about church stuff the whole time. It was the coolest thing ever!! Heavenly Father is truly hastening his work, and he has called the strongest people like Michai and Mark to help do it, they are so unashamed to share the gospel, they live their testimonies and share them often. It's an incredible example to me. 

On Friday we went to the temple. I had a really neat experience in the celestial room. As I entered I looked around and saw all of my sisters, and instead taking some personal time like I normally would, I had this prompting to go talk to as many of them as I could, even if it was just a quick hug or a wink and a smile, just something to let them know that I love them. So I did, and I sat down next to a few different sisters and I just had this overwhelming peace and a remembrance of a promise Heavenly Father made to me in the MTC while we were in the provo temple. I had been really struggling and seeking comfort and as I had been praying for it, the most distinct voice said to me "comfort my children and I will comfort you". And as I looked up I saw one of my sisters crying, so I went over to her and hugged her and we talked and as I did, I received the most amazing peace. And again, on Friday that all came back to me, and as I sat and talked with these different sisters, I was filled with peace and comfort, and an excitement to be serving them. 

I am so grateful for temples, and for the opportunity that we have to use them often, and to save our ancestors, and to have that time of peace and reflection, and closeness to our Heavenly Father. 

Yesterday was amazing! We had our Super Sunday, which means deaf members in the surrounding area, all come to the branch (most don't come every week because it's a 1-2 hour drive for some of them) and we had about 85 people there! Including two of marks non member friends!!! Tyler and Mike! They were super involved in the lessons and kept talking about how much they loved it here and wanted to come back! I'm so pumped :) And our branch fast was focused on finding ways to make our branch become a ward. So many bore their testimony about how excited they were for this and I think everyone caught sight of the movement of hastening the work. I am thrilled to see what happens in the next few months before I leave. 

This work is rolling forth with our without us, so let's hop on and do our part. This is why we are here at this time, this hastening of the work of salvation is our responsibility. Find ways to share your testimony in the day. When someone asks how your weekend was, tell them about church! Or if you went to the temple recently, or invite them to ward activities, or bring them a care package, or a cake, just be close and involved with the people around you and they will start asking questions. We have an incredible light that we need to let shine and bring people closer to Christ. 

I love you all so much. Seek missionary moments is week., if you pray for them, they will come :) 

Love, 
Sister Turley 




Thursday, February 5, 2015

February

Feb 2, 2015 Letter

Another month done. Time is really starting to kick into gear. And this upcoming transfer is going to fly by as well! Thats just part of life.

So this last week we were rather busy and we had OLC and MLC and ran to the airport to pick up a suitcase, and ran to the Antsirabe bus stop, and planned transfers, and taught a few lessons, and went on splits in Ambohimanarina. Norbert got married, threw a party, and more. So it was rather busy, and now it is transfers again. So this week is going to be full of running to the airport, and to the bus stops, and back to the airport, and more bus stops, and dinners, and lunches, and lots of normal craziness. That is what we do here, and so I am used to it. And now it is offical and I can tell everyone that I didnt get transfered and will be here another 6 weeks. And everyone knows that in 6 weeks I will be leaving the office. The reason they know that is because I will have been here for 6 months, and also I cannot stay because if I stay then Elder Payne and I would finish together and then they would have to white-wash the APs. Thats not going to happen, so everyone recongizes that I will be leaving in 6 weeks. But I don't have to wait 6 weeks to find out where I am going. I will get to know that one a lot sooner. :) 

But Norbert suprised his wife by marrying here. Yes I understand how weird that sounds, but it happened. He had her brother pick her up from work and bring her to the Commune, and then she walked into the office and Norbert and the offical person were standing there. And then they did a small marriage cerimony. So there was only like 8 people in attendance. She was so happy, because she had been pressuring him to do it for such a long time. She really wanted it, and so eventually he just did it, without all the pomp that he wanted. So it was a good thing. And then they threw a party with all of the family in the evening. Very fancy, very expensive party. 

OLC and MLC did well this week. We talked about some really good things. Everyone is doing pretty well. So hopefully as time goes on, everything keeps improving. Thats what we are hoping for at least. The new President has been announced for a while, but I don't think I ever told you about him. President Foote is his name, he is on the younger side. 54 years old, and he is from Reno! So that change will be heading this way in July. Long after I am not here anymore.

Good week. We also went to buy things to outfit some malagasy missionaries that do not have enough clothes and things to last a mission, so we are working on helping them out.

This week is going to be fun, I am excited for the food, It has been a while.

Until next week.
Dont count the weeks, its kinda scary how few are left. 
Elder Weber 


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Monday, January 5, 2015

2015!!

Monday Jan 5, 2015 Letter

Its a brand new year and looking forward to all of the excitement that is coming up!

The end to 2014 was pretty good. We got to teach some lessons and things. Watching the drunk people from our house was also rather enjoyable.

But this week was work as usual. The mission is so greats, but I feel like I dont have things to report on each week.

So Tuesday we did office work, taught english, and then we did a short skype with Sister Turley to help Jules learn english.

Then on Wednesday President Collins, the Johannesburg MTC President, and his wife visited Madagascar. We organized a small meeting for them with some current missionaries and returned missionaries to talk about their different experiences in the MTC to find out some things that could be improved on in their MTC. So there were representatives from the Johannesburg MTC, Ghana, and Provo. It was a good meeting and everyone was able to participate. Then in the afternoon and evening, we got some good work done. AKA we did a lot of tracking, and because it was New Years Eve, nobody let us in. But thats ok, it was a good day nevertheless.
Mom Note: MTC is Missionary Training Center.  The church has them all over the world and missionaries go to an MTC for 2-6 weeks to learn to teach the Gospel and to learn the language where they are serving if necessary.

Thursday we went on a split. I ended up in Ambohipo with Elder Tavo and Elder Armando. We had a good day, but it involved a lot of walking. A lot of walking. But they are doing well, and we got to teach some really good times. We also got fed three times that day, because it was the 1st, everyone had lots of food and was excited to share it with us.

Malagasy's do not have much money, but they go all out on the parties. They save up money just to have some good parties for Christmas and New Years. A lot of the people do it to get drunk, but not the members. 

So then on Friday we were back in our area working on some things. We had another good day, but it involved more contacting. Good day of hard work.

And then on Saturday we had another split. This time I ended up in Ambohimanarina 1. We had an excellent day of work. We taught english class in the morning and then in the afternoon got a full day of teaching in. I got to run into some old investigators that I had taught before and it was a good day. We worked hard and got a lot done.

And then on Sunday. So we now go to church at 1 instead of 10. And so it was a long day. So one really exciting thing that happened. Jules, the deaf member, bore his testimony in church, and he did it without a translator. He spoke it. It was mostly understandable. All of the members were amazed at what happened. So then they have assigned him to give the opening prayer next Sunday at church. So church went well and then we had a good rest of the day as well. Took some stats, and now its Monday again. Time just goes by so so fast. I cant believe its already the 5th.

Time keeps going, and the mission is reaching an end, but its going to a crazy marathon to the end.


Elder Weber