The 27th of Feb is for sure the date that I'm going home! It is so
close and it is kind of scary but if that is the date that I need to go
home then I'll go.
Our New year's wasn't very
exciting, we just went with the other two missionaries in our house to a
dinner appointment at a member's house. It was really fun! The family
has been members for a while now. They have four sons and three
daughters. One of the sons is already married with four kids, and one of
the daughters is married with one kid. But the next oldest daughter
just turned in her papers and the next oldest son is still preparing but
close. They are gonna bring a lot of people to Christ. They are such a
fun family, they laugh and joke around a lot.
Thursday we had district meeting and then right after me
and Elder Waters took a one hour bus ride to a place called Saradroa. It
is a little group here in Madagascar. The bus we took there was THE
smallest bus I've been on my whole entire mission! It had the driver
with the two passengers up there and then it went back only three rows
instead of the usual four or five. Elder Waters and I got shoved in the
back because we were the last ones there. But the second to last row's
seat was broken so it leaned back a little, and the end of the car
leaned inwards a little as some do. And to top it all off, we had stuff
put under and around our feet so we couldn't move them at all. It had to
be one of the most claustrophobic times on my mission!!!! And saying
that after I've been here for a good amount of time is saying something.
But we lived through it so all is well right? Me and Elder Waters only
had time for a couple times. We taught this almost deaf grandpa. Elder
Waters was yelling right into his ear and he could barely hear
sometimes. Then we taught the mom of the group president there. She
could still hear so it was a less stressful time. After that we went
over and had corn on the cob with some members. Here in Antsirabe, they
farm a lot of corn and potatoes. So there are no complaints here. It's a
lot better than having pig fat with the skin and little patches of hair
still on it. And then at the end of the corn eating we had to depart
and head back to Antsirabe. We stood by the road and flagged down any
car we could get because we were literally by nothing else. So it took a
couple minutes until an actual bus going back stopped for us. It was
nice because this bus had only three people and was bigger than the one
we took there. We also took some sweet pics. The ones on photobucket are
just some of them.
Friday was pretty normal, we have been teaching some
less-active families lately. We can't make a really solid program here
with investigators because we are always doing zone leader stuff so we
just go visit less-actives or members when we can. But anyway, we had
one time where this member took us over to her house to teach her two
daughters who are in their twenties or thirties because they have never
gone to church or done anything religious their whole life. So we got
there and just waiting for the daughter to come down the stairs. It took
a little bit for them to come and I was a little confused why. Then one
of the daughters walks in with something one her foot. It looked like
a cloth was wrapped around one of her middle toes, I couldn't really
tell because it was getting dark and they didn't have electricity or any
candles. So she put her foot on the table and kept on wincing in pain
(I still don't know what it is) So we started talking with the mom and
the daughters and the member that was with us. They were saying
something but I couldn't understand them and I was partially distracted
by the mystery thing on her foot. Well they went on to say that she got
an infection two years ago and they didn't do anything about it because
it didn't hurt. But this past year it has started to really hurt and
grow alot. And then it clicked! What I thought to be the cloth was the
growth from the infection! I have to say that the smell from it was not
pleasant. They said that this past year it has been hurting way bad. And
you definitely could tell because she didn't stop wincing from the pain
once during the time we were there. Just imagine having to deal with
that for a year! What I'm guessing and is probably the reason because
it's the reason for many things in this country is that they don't have
enough money to get the infection removed. It is really sad because she
can't work and get money for her kid but has to sit inside the house all
day and do nothing. It made me very grateful for the medical advances
we have, and also just how clean our country is compared to a third
world country. Hopefully they can get some money to take care of that.
Saturday we went to a place called Chez Billy. Chez
is pronounced "shay" by the way. It is a hotel/restaurant. Before I went
there I said "chez billy's" in a western accent because it sounded like
a hick name. But when I went there it wasn't really western at all. The
owner is really fun and loud. The two out of three servers are "rasta"
which means they have dreadlocks, or just have the whole Bob Marley
thing going on. But they make amazing steak there. That is the one thing
missionaries have gotten there for at least a couple years now. There
are some businesses here that have made some cash off of the
missionaries over the years just because it is the only constant thing
in this country. So that meal was very delicious.
On Sunday, I went on exchanges with the Elders in
Manandona, to do some baptismal interviews. It was nice cuz they have a
car. Their area is four little branches so they need the car to get to
all the far away places. First we headed to the Manandona branch which
is about a thirty minute drive which is about 50 kilometers and spent
sacrament meeting there. There was a member that prayed to Jesus at the
beginning of sacrament meeting. And that same member got up to bear his
testimony and was telling another member that they need to repent for
the bad words that were said to him. Luckily no names were said. But as
you can see there are still some areas that need some work.
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| Riding with Elder Moore to Manandona |
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| On the way to Manandona |
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| Right outside the church in Manandona |
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| The river in Manandona they use to baptize in. |
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| Outside the church in Manandona |
After
sacrament meeting we headed to another branch called Besoa. Which was
about three of four miles back and another two miles off the main road.
We actually had to stop and walk half the way because there was a
sketchy bridge we didn't think could hold the truck. So after we crossed
the bridge and went over a short hill we came to a part of land that
was just full of rice patties. I'm telling you right now that I'm gonna
be the best on the balance beam when I get back! We went and walked on
the less than one foot wide paths that were separating the rice patties.
It is a lot easier to balance on something when your life depends on
it. Ok maybe not your whole life but at least my dry clothes life as we
know it. No worries because we all made it across safely. When we got
there it was a humble 28 people at church in a one room building. It was
fast and testimony meeting so when we walked in late the group
president made us two missionaries and the member get up and bear our
testimony. After their sacrament meeting was over I went and interviewed
the one young man. He was actually taught by his friend all the lessons
and knew everything really well. Almost the best that I've seen
actually. His friend just got his mission call to New Zealand! That's
the first Malagasy I've heard go there. He was really excited, he is
going to the Provo MTC on the 29th of Jan. I was thinking about visiting
him in the MTC after I get home. Cuz he'll still be there until the
29th of March. But we'll see.
After church was over we headed back to Antsirabe.
We just went on split with the Manandona Elders in our area because it
was already three o'clock and they can't go out into their area late at
night. So we split up and sometimes went all four of us missionaries to
teach some people. And at the end of the night we went over to Madelines
(the big family with kids going on missions) again too for another
dinner appointment.
And that was the week! I hope that you guys enjoyed
your own because I sure enjoyed mine here! Remember to always read your
scriptures everyday. They are a huge blessing to us, don't take them for
granted. Just imagine what knowledge you wouldn't have if you weren't
part of this church. It helps me to always to be grateful for everything
we have.
I love you all, talk to ya next week!
Elder Walker
Questions:
1. You said your companion is in the group after you so
did you know him in the MTC? No
because they go in one after another, they don't overlap. I left June
6th and he got there the 8th.
2. I had to laugh about Elder Waters being the tallest missionary in the mission. Have you been taller than any of your companions? I'm sorry I couldn't contribute more tall genes to your makeup!
I was taller than my mini missionary (who was malagasy) other
than that I think I was the same as Elder Landon, my first trainee.
3. Is there anyone in your zone that you see that I would know?
I don't know anyone who says they are in Antsirabe, Ambositra,
Fianarantsoa or Toliara are in my zone. I don't think you know anyone
besides the secret friends you make on Missionary moms that I don't know
about.
4. Where is Elder Wilson right now?
He
moved up to Tana the same transfer I moved down here, after being in
Fort Dauphin for Seven maybe even eight months. He was in Fianarantsoa
for four months and then went staright to Fort D. So he hasn't been in
Tana for a LONG time.
