This week was hot! It has not rained in a while so its really hard to cool down. But Elder Evans said that in the rainy season, it can rain for a week straight, constantly without stopping! Can't wait! It seems like if any Malagasy feels the slightest breeze or is not close to overheating, then they throw on a coat and a blanket while we are teaching them. And me and Elder Evans are just dripping with sweat, wishing they will turn on their fan or open their curtain for a door so a draft can come in! I am going to be freezing when I move back to Utah! If it goes below 70 or 75 it actually does start to feel cold.
This week we had a helping hands activity with our district. The branches split up and our branch fixed up a house that I still don't know what it was used for, something with the government... But I'll send some pictures of the activity.
  |
| Elder Evans and Brad - companions. Don't you love Brad's eyes? |
This next Saturday, we were supossed to have at least three baptisms but none of them came to church, or don't know who Joseph Smith is after having three lessons dedicated to just him... There is a saying here in Mada, "Not all cows that go to sleep at the same time, wake up at the same time" meaning, everyone learns at a different pace. They have some weird sayings here. I'll tell you some next week if I remember to write them down.
How do you say "Elder" in Malagasy? Eldera? It's just a made up word. They usually don't even say Elder they just say our last name or misioneras or vazaha (which is kind of rude if its an investigator or member that says it).
Take me through your typical day. I'm curious. A typical day in Madagascar: Wake up, eat, study, get ready for the day. Sometimes we have appointments at ten or eleven, but we come back for lunch. Go back out at one or two, usually have appoinments every hour until eight. If not, we don't street contact in Tamatave because we are on bikes and it is just weird if you suddenly jump off your bike and start talking to someone. It sometimes scares them and they run away, Apparently I can be very surprising... Anyways, we just stop at a "lot", its just a piece of land with five to however many shacks in it. So we just walk up and ask if anyone wants any help, they laugh awkardly because we are white, they let us in and they take some stools out of their house for everyone to sit on and we just start teaching. That's how it goes in Tamatave but in Tana they street contact because they are walking. But usually its random people that walk in to investigators' houses while we are teaching them and then we start teaching that person too. Also member referrals, referrals from other missionaries when they find someone that lives in our area. So that's what a typical day is.
This couple is so awesome! They have been to the temple and are so nice. They are like my parents away from home, don't worry, no one can replace you guys but they always feed us and I can tell that they still love each other so much. They do have one up on you guys because they have given us two referrals, and you haven't... The fact that I wasn't on a mission when I was with you or you don't live in Madadgascar has nothing to do with it.
Like I said last week, the finding part can be really easy if you want it to be. If you go out intending to tract, then the Lord will put someone in your path before you have a chance to tract and then you have a new investigator. But if you don't, then you will find yourself out of investigators pretty quick.
Well I am in Alma 13 or 14 now - somewhere around there and it is talking about Ammon and the sons of Mosiah and Alma with Amulek. Lots of missionary miracles happen with them. It is amazing how much courage they had. The faith they had in the power of God, how much desire they had for the church. I hope that I can be like them someday. It definitely takes a lot of courage to go on a mission but some of the things that they did were simply amazing! So take courage everyone! And have faith in God continually, however or whatever way you think or show your faith, DO IT!
Love,
Elder Walker
1 comment:
What a great letter!!! it is so exciting to hear such great things!
T
Post a Comment