Church growth - April 16, 2012

This was a wonderful week! We had the four baptisms as planned. Three women and a little boy. They are going to be awesome additions to the church here.

This week we've had some awesome times. We extended baptismal dates to two crucial families and they accepted! One family has this dad that is mister intimidation. He is super dark, tall, low voice, teases you a lot and gets things done. He is super scary the first time you meet him but once you start teaching him he turns into this different person. He gets all quiet. He listens really well and is really humble. We asked him and his wife if they would get baptized on the 26th of May. They were both a little hesitant but accepted it as a goal to reach. They are both awesome. The mom is super nice and basically a "Mormon mom" without the church. She is so ready but a little scared because of past experiences in other churches. I can't wait until they get baptized!

We also have this other family that is huge! They live in this "lot" which usually four or five different families live in but this is just one big family from the grandpa down to the grandkids living together. We first contacted the oldest of the kids and taught him a first. Then we taught him and his wife. And then we taught their whole family! Which is about 25 maybe a little more if you count the really little kids running around. We taught them a second and just loved it. The next lesson we taught them about baptism and of course asked them to be baptized on the 26th of May. They said that they have already been baptized by immersion so they didn't have to do it again. Then after that we re-taught authority and talked about if you don't get baptized by the spirit you are not done. Then they said that they will do that but they don't need the baptism of water. It was a little while until I said "you need to do baptism AGAIN" Then they understood and were totally willing. Another side note, we went to give them another Book of Mormon because there is a lot of them and when we got there, they showed us another tattered Book of Mormon. I just stared at them for about 20 seconds wondering where or how they got it. They asked if it was the same Book of Mormon that we gave them the first time. We asked them where they got it and they said they got it from this lady in Betsingilo (an area where we teach some people) We threw out some names but they couldn't remember who it was. So we just left wondering who the mystery missionary was.



On Saturday we had the wonderful baptism. One of the recent converts was going to do the baptism of his grandchild. Me thinking that he would wear a white shirt to the baptism like he always does to church did not bring an extra white shirt for him. Well... he decided to switch things up and wear a blue shirt to the baptism. I was panicking on what to do and it just came down to me and him switching shirts. So I sported a nice blue shirt for the baptism. I have to say I looked pretty snazzy. The baptism went well and I got to cool off with a half wet shirt for a few minutes. Also the grandpa and two of his sons of the big family came to the baptism! It was so cool to see them.



Brad's new baptism shirt?

On Sunday we had all the talks planned, people to do the talks, we even went early to sweep the church and set up the sacrament and chairs so everyone could sit down and feel the spirit. At nine o'clock when church was supposed to start, there were only five people! It was the worst its ever been! But like usual we waited until nine thirty for everyone to come. People slowly started to come. And by 9:35, 89 people were at church!!! It is the biggest it’s ever been! All of the huge family came, investigators who we have been teaching for a while came for the first time and almost all the members came too! It was so packed that they just told a bunch of kids to play out in the yard to make room for the adults. They even took some little primary chairs to sit on because we ran out. As a total we had 27 investigators! That’s the most I've ever had. I am so thankful for the many miracles that happened this week.

Well that seems to be all the news that I'm willing to type. I love you guys and pray for you everyday. Please pray for me too.

Love,

Elder Walker

One Down, One to Go - April 10, 2012

Hello Family! We meet once again. Sorry for the late email, everything was shut down yesterday for Passover. Apparently the way to celebrate Christ's suffering and Resurrection is through a week long party. It seems like Malagasys have a different way of doing everything. It's going to be weird going back to America where everything makes sense.

This week was pretty good. Lots of teaching and such. Every day I read and study the scriptures I see more and more of God's love for us. It makes me so happy. That's what keeps me going through the mission. When times get tough. When you see someone you've been teaching for a long time just stop progressing and don't want to learn anymore, it's saddening. But God is always there for us. He is always there to comfort us when we need him.

Right now we haven't been baptizing a lot of people, because we don't just want to baptize anyone and then have them go inactive. It is very crucial to have a good foundation for the church here in Toliara as it is starting up. But this Saturday we have four people getting baptized. They are going to be a good addition to the church here.There are some really solid investigators that are going to be awesome members soon. Some of them are super far away from the church, so hopefully they will be even more excited to come to church when they don't have to walk for two hours or so. The people here in Madagascar are really diligent. Sometimes I feel like the long time members of
the church start to get prideful in some way and start to slack off in some areas. We see it all the time in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. We need to be careful and be sure to stay humble before the
Lord. We cannot justify any sin. And also to remember to pray daily. Prayer doesn't just bring blessings because we ask for them, they come because we are following a commandment, also it reminds us of what is expected of us. We need to be sure to not make vain repetitions. We need to be thoughtful in every prayer. That is what keeps a latter-day saint true and faithful to the Lord.

We have some really cool people preparing for baptism right now. One is a family that me and Roney started teaching. They are super awesome. At first the father with his two twin boys (future
missionaries) came to church. They love to sing the hymns. But then we kind of "challenged" the mom to come to church and she did! I was so happy to see her when she walked in. The funny thing is, is that she is friends with one of our longest members here. She will be a great example for her. Right now we are working on them getting baptized. The paperwork system is really frustrating. They don't use any computers, just typewriters. They don't even have filing cabinets, just stacks of old, weak paper tied together by year. Hopefully we can get it done before their baptism.

This last Monday was "Monday Passover" (If the holiday lands on a Sunday, they have a Monday party too...) And since the cyber was closed along with everything else we had a lot of time to hang out with some members. So we went with some members to the beach to throw the football around. We got there and turns out that everyone else in Toliara decided to do the same thing for their day off of work. It was really funny to try and teach some Malagasys how to play American Football. Turns out, I have no idea how to teach football in Malagasy. All in all, it was a good day.

All the people at the beach!

Now the bad part was that we had to walk there and back, and it was actually a really far walk. So by the end of the day our feet were really tired from walking there, playing football and walking back, all in bare feet or sandals. The next day my legs, calves, feet, back, sides were all sore. I didn't know I had so many muscles that could get so sore. I feel like a fifty year old or something :) ALSO, I forgot to put on sunscreen... I haven't put on sunscreen once while I have been here in Madagascar and now my body decides to betray me! My calves, feet, arms, neck and face were all sunburned.  It is not fun to wear a dress shirt with a burnt neck, but hey you reap what you sow.

The result of my fun in the sun.

Well it was a very good first year of the mission, hopefully its an even better second year. Please keep praying for me and sending me dear elders and what not. I love all of you and wish that you work hard to reach that Celestial Kingdom.

My year mark breakfast.

My favorite new shirt.

So this Friday I'll be out for a year! That is just crazy. It is cool to see the changes that have happened in just a year's time. I'm so grateful for the blessings that I have received during that time. 

Not much to report this week. I also have to hurry because me and Fryer are making pizza. Monday, we got a new investigator family. We first contacted the mom and daughter while walking. We shared a little bit of our message and gave them the first pamphlet to read. We went over to their house and turns out, they read the whole thing. They said that they don't reject our church, they are just not going to change... doesn't make sense to me some of the things Malagasys say. Well me and Fryer started teaching them anyway and by the time we were about to leave, the father walked in and was so surprised to see two white guys wearing the exact same clothes. He was so aminated and wanted to learn more, so what did we do, we started over and taught him. It was good because the rest of the family was helping us teach. We answered a few of the important questions they had and he was really interested to learn more. Let's hope they will change faiths. I think the mother said that they weren't going to change because she didn't want to go against her husband. Which is good if we get him convinced that this is the true church. They are such a fun family, we are going to teach them again this week. 

 



Short ceremony, lots of food and dancing



On Saturday we went on splits with two members. I went with Fryer's old mini [missionary] and Fryer went with a recent convert. Turns out the recent convert is already a pro at teaching. He wasn't shy at all. He's 19 and might go on a mission if he has enough money to buy clothes and stuff. Later that day we went to a Malagasy wedding.  There was a ton of people there! On one side is the wife's family and on the other the groom's side of the family. Once the couple is sitting at the front table, the grandpas from both sides talk money. They talk about who is going to pay for what and other stuff that I'm not sure about. I guess it is kinda like an unwritten contract., just having everyone as a witness. After that the groom takes water and rubs it on all the older men's chests on the bride's side of the family. We asked a couple people what that meant and even they didn't know. haha! Then they do the actual ceremony and "marry" them. Once all that is over the party begins. They break out all the soda and start the music. It was pretty fun to see more Malagasy culture. 

Sunday, was just a little stressful. Our group leader left town to visit some cousins and said that he might (which here means probably not) be at church. We weren't too worried because we had two other Melchizedek priesthood holders to lead church. So we called them and turns out that they are both gone too! So on Saturday we called our group leader back and told him that there were no leaders here so he drove back and made it in time for church. We could have led it but it just would have been a little sketchy. It was fast and testimony meeting this week so we all had the privilege to hear people's testimony. This one investigator started to walk up, and we were a little worried beause he got up last time and was just a little too "passionate". So Fryer told him the proper way to bear your testimony when he was at his house. But turns out that it didn't really sink in. Again he was just a little too "passionate" about his conversion to the gospel. Then in Sunday School we learned about Tithing and Fast offerings. Which can be a touchy subject when people here don't earn a lot. Especially when they only fish and don't get money just the food they eat. But we got through it and it was a good time at church.

So that is the update of the week. Remember to pray and study the conference messages. 

Love,

Elder Walker

Questions:

1. Did you get to listen to conference? If not, when do you and will it be in English? No tana will get it in a couple weeks and then we will get it a little after that.

2. If I send a recording can you save our voice recordings to your digital recorder? I'll try next week, I didn't bring it with me.

3. What do you and Elder Fryer do for p-day? Usually sit around in the house,  cook something. Its just too hot outside.

4. What are your plans for the rest of today? Make pizza

5. How are you doing with getting investigators? very well, it's just getting them to come to church.

6. How is your little group doing? Growing? RIght now we are just solidifying the recent converts and members. But we should have a baptism 14th of April.

Malagasy soccer ball -made up of plastic bags and string.

 

Baby and the rain! - March 26, 2012

Woohoo! Man he is a big boy! Was Melissa just amazed that she lived through that?! Haha! It probably came from Brian's side of the family.

Well enough of this baby talk, let's move back to me. I had a pretty good week. Fryer and I have become the one-two punch of Toliara. We have become one. I love working with him. It's going to be hard with the next person that comes here. Its just so fun with Fryer and we get along so well. 

Not much to say other than we teach a lot. We always ride up next to people on our bikes and say "Hi! Where are you going? We would like to teach you about the truth. Would you like to learn from us? When are you free?" And we have a new investigator just like that! Finding is really easy here but getting the strong people in the church is the hard part. We don't want to baptize someone and then have them go inactive after a month. We usually have our investigators teach us back the lessons if they truly want to be baptized. You would be surprised to see the true desire in people's hearts, especially when they teach the lesson almost perfectly. We are already getting member missionaries before they are even baptized! Its awesome! We have some really close investigators that are about to be baptized soon. I hope they stay strong. 

This week we had a huge rainstorm! It looked like waterfalls coming off the roofs of the houses.

People were actually taking showers under them. In the more center part of the city the water came up to our knees. We were riding through the deep water and we tried to go up onto the curb where it wasn't as deep. But the tricky thing was that the water was above the curb also, so we couldn't see it. Fryer got lucky on where to lift up his front tire, but as for me... "missed it by that much!" I lifted too soon and I landed halfway on/off the curb and fell off. I got my feet under me and didn't fall all the way into the water. But as for the rest of the day I had soaked shoes and pants. But to look on the bright side, I didn't have worry about getting my shoes or pants wet after that. 

So we have this recent convert. Her name is Lux, she is seventeen and has just a ton of energy. We asked her to give a spiritual thought the next time we came over. When we went over she started to read the first chapter in the Book of Mormon. Me and Fryer thought about stopping her after verse 10 but didn't really want to throw her off her groove. So she finally finished and then started to pick out certain verses and taught about them. She was teaching, testifying, and committing. She basically taught a whole lesson by accident. We were just amazed how well she did. We commended her for her amazing lesson and then clarified more what a spiritual thought was. She is definitely going to be some kind of a teacher later. She's awesome!

There's more good stuff but not enough time. Me and Fryer need to eat, so that means goodbye. Just remember that the Lord is with you and always watches over you. So don't forget to pray. Ask in faith and ye shall receive. Test it out. I DARE YOU! 

Love,

Elder Walker

Tug of war

Exciting - March 19, 2012

I almost getting too excited as you guys sometimes see and this is one of those moments. Natalie having a girl, Melissa having her boy sometime this week! Going to Disneyland when I get back with the whole family! My lil' heart can barely take it! I would definitely love to go to Disneyland when I get back (when would it be, because I might want to see Olex's homecoming. If we can work that out, that would be great. But if it's not possible then its fine.)

Dani playing rugby?! That is really intimidating! I'm just used to wrestling Fryer's mini on Pdays. But Dani... I don't know about that, I'll have to watch what I say to her from now on. Don't tell her to be safe before the game you might jynx it and she might break her collar bone or something and have to get surgery...

Zone conf. was for the whole zone. Toliara was technically supposed to go to the Antsirabe zone conf. But we went by plane up to Tana so we just stayed there. I don't know how many missionaries were at zone conf. but there are about 70 missionaries in the whole mission. Hopefully we will start to get more missionaries each group because we definitely need them here. The work just doesn't stop growing. Our zone leader is in Antsirabe, they actually haven't told Fryer and I who is district leader though. I guess it doesn't matter if you're just a district of two...

MTC

9 months later

Well we are not contacting a ton because as we found out by this last week we are about 10 or so times short than we should be. We just can't fit it into the day. But we need to focus on more fathers than anyone else at this early stage of the church here. We really need leaders and we need them fast! Right now me and Fryer are looking for a new church building because the one we have now is
five times too small. Someone is coming from South Africa to look at couple areas church buildings to see which one to get. Right now me and Fryer have a couple houses but we are going to keep looking. It really doesn't matter where or what it is as long as it is bigger in any way and doesn't have a huge long muddy path going to it. I'm sure our attendance will go up when it is easier to see and easier to get to.
 

Brad's three areas

So as you guys know, the two areas in Toliara got put together, so now there is just me and Fryer here. We had a ton of people to teach and didn't even get to all of them. It is really hard to take a pause on some people because they are just so fun to teach but we are really looking for leadership right now to lead the church. It seems that me and Fryer are already good at teaching with each other. With me and Roney we didn't click as fast as me and Fryer. I don't know who to talk about because I just gained more than double my original investigators, so I'll just say that there were a lot of really wonderful times where I felt the spirit. And that is not a generic statement. It is amazing how much you can feel the spirit in one day while teaching the gospel. It feels really good when you bear your testimony, you feel the spirit and you can also tell that they feel it too. Sometimes you can get a look of surprise on their face or a big old smile when they feel the Holy Ghost. It is really rewarding when you see stuff like that. Its what keeps us going with energy. It's sometimes really tough to go out at 10 in the morning for the fourth day in a row to teach but when we get there and start teaching it makes it all worth it. I don't know about other people but I wish I wasn't so quick to forget. Just like the people in the Book of Mormon, they were quick to forget the blessings from God. When reading it seems silly how fast it could happen but it is defifnitely possible. So remember, don't be so quick to forget the blessings from God. The wonderful feelings you get when you follow them. It can be hard sometimes but always remember that you will be blessed when you follow the commandments of the Lord.

I love all of you and hope that everyone keeps the commandments when it's the hardest to.

Love,
Elder Walker

Traveling - March 12, 2012

So we had Zone conference this week and it was so good! On Thursday, we took a plane to Fort Dauphin and then up to Tana. That was really nice and Fort Dauphin is really really pretty. Lots of mountains and really clean city, clean beaches. It is a place for tourists so I guess it would have to be clean. On Friday we had zone conference, Elder Soares of the Seventy spoke. He taught about if you have faith, repent, do good works, and pray continually you will know the mysteries of God and receive a ton of blessings. He is a really good teacher. He was so fun to talk to and learn from. On Saturday, me and Fryer left for Toliara in a taxi. Remember, this is not like a New York taxi where it is a comfy five-seater, this is a van where they fit four people to a row and your knees are crammed up against the seat in front of you. Me and Fryer took the nine hour, windy road, up and down mountains to Fianirantsoa. Stayed the night there and then took the eleven hour ride to Toliara. Not the best trip I've ever been on but it was definitely an adventure!

While in Tana, I got to pick up my packages!!! I loved everything that was in them!! The letters were awesome and the pictures... I love the pictures!!! Thank you so much! Thank you to all the moms, that was a nice surprise! Also, I think I'll be good on deodorant. I still haven't used up the ones I originally packed at home and then G&G Walker sent a couple in their Christmas package so I'll be good for the rest for the mission. Another nice surprise is that I got a package from Goff. He sent a big package full of candy and food mixes to me Fryer and Wilson. He also sent a couple packages to a couple other missionaries too. He is super nice and an awesome friend. 

So we had transfer news last night. Roney stayed in Tana when we went up for zone conference and Fryer had a mini. But transfer news was  that our two areas are being combined and now Fryer and me are companions once again. Taking on Toliara all by ourselves! It is going to be tough but we will learn a lot so I'm excited, and a little nervous. So it is going to be just the two of us here. I hope that no one forgets about us haha!

I know I always forget to say thank you to all the people that send DearElders to me but I just want to let all you know that I love them.  And Miranda, you sent Stephen's DearElder to my mission, the people in the office have been asking everyone if they knew a Stephen Harper and then I randomly saw it on the desk and was so confused for about ten seconds. Every time I picture seeing myself for those ten seconds I make myself laugh, haha! So thank you to all who have sent me DearElders and letters I will try to be better at responding.

Brad is in the middle row, second from right.

That’s the quick news for the week, be good everyone!

Love,
Elder Walker

No I didn't get to see the Hartmans, but they are coming soon, President didn't tell me when though.

Long month - March 5, 2012

It seemed like February was forever long. Is it ironic or coincidental if it is actually the shortest month? I don't know when to use ironic, I feel like I'm getting dumber here haha!

It just sounds like an adventure back home. Lots of stuff happening. I don't know if I could handle it. I've been trying to get better at taking pictures of investigators. I think I am going to start taking a lot more this next year. This first year I only have 700+ pictures with a couple videos, and I can still take 1400 pictures on this one card.

This week was pretty dang good as usual. We sometimes don't get a lot of teaching in because we have to deal with the new church building, setting up the baptismal font, fixing stuff in the house, all sorts of stuff. On Friday, when me and Roney went to set up the baptismal font for Saturday, a huge rain storm just popped out of nowhere while riding our bikes and we both got soaked before we could find shelter. I hate having my planner all warped! I don't think I have a planner that's not. There have been cyclones just roaming around these past couple of weeks but they never come in to the island, at least not to Toliara. Fryer's Mini missionary always gets excited because he thinks he won’t have to work because of the cyclone. But then it never comes, just the normal big rain storms.

This past week Roney and I have been definitely teaching with boldness. Sometimes Malagasys don't quite connect things in their head or they don't understand it sometimes so you just have to tell them straight to their face, that they are not going to the Celestial

Kingdom if they don't get baptized again with the proper authority. The more I teach this gospel the more I realize how important it is. There is no messing around in missionary work!

So we got some new news for zone conference. We are actually going by plane to Tana and having Zone conference up there. And then after it is done then Me and Fryer are going back down in a bus like last time. BUT Roney is staying up in Tana before he leaves with Elder Hansen. So I am going to be companionless for about five days or so. I will be going in a trio with fryer and his Mini for those days. So me and Roney only have Five more days together before we split. He was an awesome comp and taught me a lot. Up there I will pick up my package that is now here it actually got here a couple weeks ago but they didn't want to send it down when we were just coming up.

So that is the scoop on this past week, I love you guys and hope that you have fun in the snow.

Love,

Elder Walker

1. How long before you think you can move into your new church building? The shortest would be four months because of the other contract. But it is still not for sure that we will get this building that we are looking at.

2. How long has Elder Roney been there and when does he go home? He has been here for five almost six months and he is leaving here on Thursday with us and then leaving Mada on March 14^th.

3. How often do you do service? I mean as an assignment? There are no assignments here, it’s just when people ask or when we ask to do it for them. People don't want white people doing free work for them. Not because they don't like us it’s because they like us too much, that they don't want us to work for them.

4. What does it take to become a branch? You just need at least three Melchizedek priesthood holders and just enough members. I don't know the exact amount but we might become a branch when we get close to 80 members, I don't know. Right now we got to 45 members in five months. So maybe another five months or less depending on member help.