Hey Momma Waters,
Tsisy vaovao(Nothings new) you say that even when there's a lot vaovao. Vaovao aminareo(what's new with you all, even though you just told me)? haha It sounds like you've had a very long but good week, just like me. This copied and pasted email to my mission president should explain some of it:
"I have had a great, very interesting, and growing last few weeks. Challenges and triumphs, I've had em all, but I've seen that either way my life is going, the way to continue to have those triumphs and the way to overcome the challenges is by hard work, continuing to rely on the Lord in all things, and whatever comes my way, I must love it and take it as a chance to grow. I'm not neccessarily asking for you to send me to the hardest area with the hardest companion in the mission haha, but I know if that's what happens then there's a reason for it and if I endure it well then I'll grow from it and learn how to help others in the future.
It was very interesting when I got the transfer news that I would be losing Elder Rakotoniaina and receiving a mini. Because according to my thoughts and everyone elses in the house, we thought that I would have been with a mini-malagasy, who had only been a member since September 24, for a whole month before the next transfer. So I had the choice to either complain about how I'm not prepared for this, how I'm not mahay(skilled) enough yet, how that's way too much responsibility for me, or I could think the way that I had been teaching all my investigators the previous week to think. When challenges come into our lives, don't fear, don't stay at home and cry when you should go to church, but to endure them well, by leaning on Christ, through scripture study, and praying for the Lord's guidance, and then not only if we do these things, we'll come out "ok", we'll actually come out stronger than before. More prepared to help others when they receive the same kind of trials. I chose after a little bit of thought and prayer to choose the latter. To endure this trial well. I believed that if I leaned on Christ, and strived to work my hardest with the mini then everything would be ok, and that I'd actually come out stronger in the language and in my testimony of trials. In the meantime, I would strive my hardest to prepare this recent convert, who's 18 years old, for his mission.
I realized a few days later, that that was a good thing to take that attitude instead of the other because I would've looked really dumb 1st off, and 2nd, I was able to grow my testimony about trials and helping others, and 3rd, we were still able to teach some amazing people some great lessons before I found out that I'd be receiving my new companion. Because of that experience and many others, I know that all things that come into our lives will strengthen us, if, we take them on with the right attitude and endure them well.
That was my letter to my mission president, but it applies to the things that you all need to know about what's new in my life. My last companion got transferred to Tana and I was set up to be with a mini missionary until next transfer news.
So, information about investigators and the branch here: We had 32 investigators at church this Sunday(it was weird but good, that we had a lot of different investigators than normal there), there were 220 people at church this last Sunday, a big jump from a 120 or so that were there the first Sunday I was here in Fianarantsoa. They're going to split the branch on Dec. 3rd-5th, I'm excited to see how that goes. Then they'll probably make the Fianarantsoa district of 4 a zone soon, with 8 or so, which is very exciting. Especially if I get to stay here for that because that means I'll be in the best area in the mission for about 3 more months. Dadanaivo is now on 2nd Nephi 25 in the Book Of Mormon and he says that he doesn't leave his home in the morning or go to sleep each night before reading the Book Of Mormon. His baptisimal date is now set for Dec.10th and his boys and their families should be soon to follow. I did finally see lemurs, last Monday. It was sooooo coooool, and there were so many. It was all out in the nature too, not just at a zoo. I got a few good pictures, and we plan to return soon again so that we can get some even better pictures and see some more cool things there. That's about all that I can think of that's new in the area here.
So answers to your questions and responses to things that you talked about:
That's cool that you and granny got to go to the art painting class together. I love granny, and I want to get her a Christmas present of art painting supplies but it wouldn't be too smart to buy the malagasy version here and ship them over there, so for Christmas could you all some painting supplies for granny and then in two years, I'll pay you back haha? :)
And that's sad to hear about ________. He was a great guy. It is good to have the knowldedge we do have about what happens after this life. I'll be praying for his family and ____, and for __________ as well. Malagasy's don't celebrate Thanksgiving but missionaries still do, kind of. Last year, they had the whole day off to cook and eat great food and celebrate thanksgiving. But this year, we have to pay for all the food ourselves and we don't get a day off for it. That doesn't bother me too much. I'm not really too worried about celebrating big parties when I have a greater purpose here. We'll still have good food that day, just not the whole day off. And I'm glad you got off the computer before your face fell into the keyboard, I don't want that for you ha. ;) Also, I've been thinking a lot lately about how I would like to be able to pay for half of my mission because I've realized from talks from apostles before and from thinking about it myself, that paying for my own mission would bring blessings to my life and to my mission. We can talk more about that next week though. But just to let you know, that is a really big desire that I have.
And for the things that I would like in the package, sorry if there's a lot:
1 Hardback English Book Of Mormon,
American pens,
pizza,
2 Church movies, The Testament, and one of your choice, besides Legacy, we already have that haha,
more pictures of everyone,
if possible, a letter from each person in the family, and from ____, if not possible handwritten, a printed email is no problem :),
a good book,
gum,
cd's,
2 pairs of shoestrings,
a flashlight or the tiny circular batteries for the flashlight I already have from the ______,
and 2 things of Dallas Roberts green tree hairstuff, it's in a green container, and I got it at the haircut place that _____ friend, works at thats right next to tucanos.
And I think that's all! I understand if I don't get all of that stuff, but that's all the stuff that I need and want! :) Oh, and also, a usb port, 8Gb if possible. It's 42000 Ar here which is 21dollars(4 days money for us), so if it's cheaper here, I'll just get it here and just sacrifice for it. But if you could in the next email, tell me if you got one for me in the package or if I should just get one here, that would be great!
I love you very very much and for eternity mom,
Elder Waters
God be with you till we meet again
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