Madagascar, April 2012

April 30, 2012

Akoriaby Sha!

Dear Elder(haha get it, Elder=Older) Family,

The wildlife adventure was way cool. And yeah, I'm getting a little bit tan now, it's still hot here in mahajanga, but because there was a little bit of breeze this morning, a lot of the people got there biggest jackets out this morning and put them on haha. There's only three areas here in Madagascar that do not have to wear out suits each Sunday during the winter months(here, that is the months that don't have an "R" in the name of the month), and my areas one of them ha! This week was lots of fun having President Donnelly and his wife here with us for half of the week. We found a new house that we're going to move into at the end of the month, we'll see if I'm still here at that point. When you're with President, you get good food! So that was one of the other nice things about having them here. And also with Elder ---- moving, I became the district leader here. It doesn't really add any responsibility to me though, which is nice and just fine with me. All it adds to my responsibility is doing splits with the other elders in my district, leading district meetings, and taking care of pouch(the districts money for various things we need). Also, there will still be baptisms on my birthday, but not from my area, but from my old area here in mahajanga. The people that were supposed to get baptised this Saturday in my area aren't ready just yet, but they will be soon.

But WOW, three packages?! What did you guys send me haha? I guess I'll see soon! And yes, parents can come to the mission reunion in South Africa in 2020! Come with me! And I don't think the croc's are really protected here at all, but I haven't seen them hunted at all either. I liked hearing about Uncle ----'s new cowboy boots and hat, it sounds like he's probably looking like a stud now! I'm glad to hear all of the great news from guys! Thanks a lot for the email, and all the other information you gave me, and for the picture of bentely haha!

I need to go, but I hope you guys have a great week and that your shoulder heals quickly and that Brother ---- can figure out what's wrong with it.

I love you guys for eternity,

                       Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again

April 23, 2012

Salamalama jabe!

This week was great! We worked really hard and had a baptism. And then
President came yesterday, and today we went on our wild wildlife
adventure with him and the AP's, and it was one of the AP's birthdays
today so we had lots of fun! We didn't get to see any crocs, but we
did see lots and lots rare birds, like the "paradise fligh catcher",
and other birds like that, lemurs, snakes, and a huge canyon, that
used to be filled with ocean water, but over the years, the tectonic
plates have shifted, and the water receded way away, and the wind has
deteriorated the canyon into a really really cool looking valley. It
was very hot today, but still lots of fun.
        So -----'s replacement elder came, and guess what, he's the
only other elder in the mission from florida. He's a great elder, that
likes to work hard, loves the work, and is great at the language.
       I don't have much time at all today sorry, because we got in so
late from the wild wildlife adventure. But I almost forgot, our
Mission President and his wife live in South Africa and in 2020
they're going to have a big mission reunion there and set up this huge
safari trip for all of us. I don't know if I'll be able to go at that
time, but we'll see when the time comes around. But it sounded like an
amazing trip that I hope I'll be able to make in the future.
        But that's not good that your shoulders hurting you mom. I'll
keep praying for you that you'll feel better, and that you guys we'll
be able to accomplish all the work that you need to while your in
utah, and that grandpa will figure out what he needs to do in order to
feel better.
        The things that I'd like in my package though are:

some more instant potato packets, lots of candy, and surprise good food, 

another good book,some more face medicine(for in the future), a cool pair 

of shorts from pacsun with a matching cool shirt :), the peanut butter, and some kool
aid drink packets or crystal light. And that's all I can think of, but
if you guys think of anything else I might like, feel free to throw it
in haha! Thanks so much for that though.
I love you guys so much and for eternity,
Elder Waters
God be with you till we meet again

Could you give ----'s family a call for me and see how they're
doing, and -----? Thanks a lot if you can, and if you don't have time
to do that, it's ok, I still love you guys bunches ha!

April 16, 2012

Hey YOUNG AMAZING family!

This week was great! We had some great spirit led lessons this last
week! It's great to feel the Spirit working through you and then
seeing the results of a lesson led by the Spirit. But thanks for
remembering when my birthday is, and for reminding me when mothers day
is. I still don't know all the things that I would like in my birthday
package yet, but throughout the week I'll think about it and tell you
next week! I hope that's fine with your schedule, because I really
don't know what I want just yet. And I don't have much time to think
to much about it right now. But a few things that I think I would
want, would be some peanut butter, and also some more socks, 

and maybe another pair of cool basketball shorts. But that's all 

I can think of right now, but next week I'll tell you all the things 

I'd like.
        So -----'s going to do summer sales again? He liked it that
much from last year? And I actually didn't hear that comment by the
apostle about, "have fun translating that", but I bet that was Elder
Nelson haha! All the elders in Tana watched it in english, but we got
to watch it in malagasy, and that was just fine with me because I
liked being able to watch it with all my investigators and the branch.
It was a great conference weekend here in mahajanga. Hey, how is
----, -----, & ------? And yeah dad, you can tell Elder
----- that I know Elder ----. He came to the country the same
day my kid did, and so I got to meet him when he first got to the
country. He's a really cool guy, so yeah, I can tell him hi for Elder
-----.
But that's all I have time for this week. I've tried for the last hour
and half before sending this email to try to send pictures, but it
wouldn't work. So sorry, but you still won't have any pictures for a
little bit longer. Also President Donnelly is going to be visiting us
here this Sunday and on monday were going to go on a trip with him to
a zoo out in the wild that has crocidiles, snakes, lemurs, and all
kinds of endangered animals and animals that are only found here in
madagascar. So that should be lots of fun and I'll be taking lots of
pictures, don't worry! I'll let you know next week how it goes.

I love you all,
          Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again

April 8, 2012

Oh my dear old(jk) family,

I'm happy again to hear that you're all happy! I'm also happy because things are going well here. We are tired because we did work very hard this last week again, but we're happy because of the kind of work that we get to do. I'm way thankful for the opportunity to serve a mission. I learn so much, and am able help others while I'm at it. But speaking of thanks, mom it's funny that you said that you often wonder why you've been so blessed because of the kids that you have, but that's funny because your kids think the same thing about our parents. It's true. I often wonder why I've been so blessed to be able to be in this family. We are a pretty rockin family. I like us. :)
But answers to your questions: We do have hymns in malagasy. Not all of them, but a lot of them. One of everyone's favorites here is, Homba anao hatrany anie ny Ray, or , God be with you till we meet again. It's very often that we sing that song here. And speaking of being away from people, Elder ----, my friend since the beginning of my mission just got transferred from here to Tana, to work with President Donnelly in the office. It was a surprise transfer news, and a surprise to us as well because he only has 1 month left in his mission and no transfer news' were scheduled for another couple weeks, so we thought he'd be staying here. But he left this morning, after being informed friday night that he was getting transferred. It'll be a long time before we see each other again, but we'll definitely be good friends when I get back to America as well. Him and I very much alike, and so we would argue often haha, but it would never last, we've always been really close to each other since the beginning of my mission. I'll see him again though in the future.
And answers to other questions: There were baptisms this last saturday. There were two. One I taught while I was with Elder ----, and the other has been an investigator for a year, and has been ready for his baptism for a long time, but because of marriage problems he couldn't get baptized, but now he is. :) 
But that's about it. I hope you guys have another great week and I'll talk to you next week again! Our branch will watch conference this weekend in malagasy. Last time I watched it in malagasy, I was only in the country a couple months at the time and I kind of understood it, but this time I'm at my 8 month mark in the country and we'll see how much more I understand haha. Oh, and question...when is mothers day? That's all.

Love for eternity,
                       Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again

April 2, 2012

Hey fam,

Thanks for the updates and the pictures! I'm glad that you guys got to go to conference and had such a great time as well! We'll probably watch conference here in malagasy in about 2 or 3 weeks. I am not feeling sick at all anymore but we are definitely coming in tired at the end of each day from all the work we're getting to do!
This week was great! Like I said before, we're working really hard here and hoping to see more results soon. This is gonna be a short letter this week, but I'm glad that everything's going so well with you guys and that ----'s movin' on well.
But I got to go. Have a great extra week in utah!
Love you all for eternity,
Elder Waters
God be with you till we meet again  
P.S. I got the package on Saturday. Thank you very much for all the stuff that was in there. And that was a very sneaky way to hide the debit card, I almost forgot that it was supposed to come in that package. But when I remembered, my first guess was inside the axe packaging. I guessed right, but well done with the hiding of the card, and the picking of the shirts, and snacks, and smells haha!
 Love you

March 26, 2012

 Dear Elderly and Sisterly family members,

I love you guys! My week was great! And it sounds like you guys had a great week as well! I had my baptism this last saturday as you guys had your big party, so we all partied together at that time! 

It's sounds like you guys had a really really fun week. I'm glad that it all worked out well! I already told ---- in his email that his birthday is the same as President Brigham Young and that's why he had the courage to do what he did last week. It sure was bold and courageous for him to do what he did! 

Well I loved my week! I don't really have any stories for you, and I don't have much time. But I sure do love you guys, and guys sure are good lookin! And I'm loving my mission as well! My companion and I are working hard and searching for lots of new investigators at this time so we can find more people that are ready to accept this message and find really happiness and peace in their lives! I'll update you more next week!

I loved everyone's letters! Thanks for sending them!

Love you all for eternity,

Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again

P.S. Everytime that I've showed my picture book of our family pictures with my investigators and members, they think that your gorgeous mom, and everyone loves -----'s hair, each and every single color she's done with ha! They always comment, that we look like a really happy family because of the choices that we've made in our lives to follow the Gospel! I'm thankful that mom and dad are courageous examples for us to live the Gospel and now we see that some of it's passed down to us kids because ---- was able to use some of that courage this last week!  Anyways, love you more, bye!

March 19, 2012

Hey family!!

      It's nice to hear from you again! And it's nice to be able to let you know about my week again. It's sounds like you guys have a fun week ahead of you and that you've already been able to experience some of it throughout this last week! 

Wow, so we do see another reason that being tall is not a good thing at times. Charging per inch for the poster board of me, at least I'm not tall in the mid-section! ;) I have realized here, that not being able to get any shoes whatsoever here in this country is one of those other problems for tall people. They litteraly do not make any shoes or sandals my size in this country haha! They are not a tall friendly country. They laugh at you as you walk with your companion that is half your height, they build things here so low purposely so that you'll hit so much as your throat on it, they shove 30 people into a bus that is the size of a van, and they don't even make any shoes big enough that would fit your feet even if you didn't have toes. Haha jk, I love this country, and I love being tall in it! 

But about your question dad, our saturday and sunday was white with baptisms. We had 7 people get baptised. It was pretty awesome. And we'll be having more get baptised this saturday at about the same time as ----'s wedding reception because of the 12 hour time difference. Also, we are still teaching my companions brother and his family. He's not being very dilligent but his family is progressing well. But we'll keep working on him! 

I'm glad you liked my last joke in the last email mom, I thought you would! ;) Also, I'm glad to hear that Brother ------'s cancer is in remission. That is an amazing story. I'm also glad to hear that Brother ---- is doing ok now. I hope and pray he heals fast and well. And tell ---- and -----, and ---- and ---- congrats on their new baby and grandbaby and that I love them! Also, mom, I'm glad I don't have to wear makeup like you each day because, I too cry often during lessons, but I don't have worry about mascara smearing like you do haha! :~) (that's a smeary mascara face)

      Well, here's a story from my last week that I'd like to share with you guys. It's copied and pasted from what I sent to my mission president:

     -"From tuesday night to friday morning I was sick and was not able to work because I had a 103 F fever. But the times that me and my companion were able to do were great and inspirational.

One of the stories from the times that we were able to do was: tuesday, when my companion and I went out to work for that day, we went searching for the home of our first time. Well, because the only times we had been to the investigators house before was when it was dark at night and it was really far off the main road, we ended up having to search for the house. We searched and asked around in order to find her house for an hour and a half, during this time I was already feeling really sick with a fever, and a headache, and body pains but after trying and trying we did not find her house and went home because of my sickness. But yesterday, Sunday, we tried to go there again, and as we came to a crosspoint, where we had for 4 ways to pick from to go, someone walked by and we asked if she knew the lady we were looking for and where she lived. Well she didn't, but she tried to direct us to ask somebody else, by saying, "Go ask someone up there, they'll know." Well after giving our thanks to her, I said to my companion and the two members that were working with us, "Let's follow her directions, and ask the person upstairs(Heavenly Father) that knows, since we don't, where we should go." Well we prayed, stood up, picked a path and walked, and the first house we came to, was our investigators. It was a really good experience that my companion, our helpers, and I really appreciated and that strengthened our testimonies of prayer. 

The reason I even thought about praying at that time, was because of all of the articles in the liahona that I have read about the missionaries that don't know where to go, and then they pray, and then they magically find their way. 

Well, I followed their example, and now I know as well, that we should look heavenward before looking elsewhere for help. And then we can cut our seaching down from an hour and thirty minutes and not finding it, down to five minutes and actually find the thing we are searching for haha."

I had a great week last week, and I'll try to make this one the same! You guys have a great week as well, and I look forward to hearing all about the events of this week next monday. 

I love you all for eternity,

Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again

March 12, 2012

Wow!!! 

What a great letter this week! Lots of good news, nice surprises, and lots of words from people that I love! You guys are da bomb! There was a girl in our ward here named Dah, and us, the missionaries, wrote her a birthday card, and I said, "You are dah bomb dah!" But the truth is, you guys are really da(the) bomb indrindra(ultimate), when you guys blow up, the results are lots and lots of really awesome words to hear from lots and lots of awesome people! So thanks, thanks for being an awesome bomb!! ;)

The trip there and back to Tana was nice and uneventful, but the actual reason that we went there, the conference with Elder Soares, was great and we learned lots and lots about how we can be better missionaries and how we can do our work better. I got a picture with Elder Suarez, so when I send pictures next time, I'll send that picture as well. And dad, don't worry, your pictures will come, someday, in the future, maybe next week or the week after that haha! I'm just joking, I'll try to send them soon! ;)

-----: Thanks for your words ----. I love you too man, and I hope you and dad are being safe and aren't hitting too many people in the faces during volleyball. 

-----: I've lost a lot of my smarts so far, since I've started my mission, but just to show that I haven't lost it all: I was able to calculate during my trip last week to Tana a usual 12 hour trip.  How much longer in the trip we had before reaching tana, by using my stopwatch, the spedometer, and the average speed our driver was driving haha! I hope you can appreciate that! ;) And I do not appreciate you telling me about the delicious chocolate cake that you made, because it really was almost a "killer cake" because it was killing me that I couldn't have it haha jk! ;) Love you!

----: I love you too!

----: I'm not sure how tall I am now since I don't have anything to measure myself with, but I would like to know, how tall are you now?! Are you going to be taller than me by the time I get back haha?! Love you! Oh, and my stinky feet are good ;)

------: I'm glad that you're doing well in school! Keep up the hard work! :) I love you!

----: Being in a third world country is awesome, although I'm sure it's a lot different than your time in a third world country considering the situation I am in while I'm here ha! And the mosquitoes are, thank goodness, not bad at all here. But the parasites are ha! Man power, and out, love you man!

----: ----!!! ----!!! ----!!!

(The tune of the song) It's your birthday and you can cry if you want to, cry if you want to, cry if you want to! I would cry too if I had a big belly like you hahaha! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Don't worry though, I'm sure you look good fat! ;) And I'd be very happy to be your date for -----wedding, if only you can turn down all the other offers that I know that a hot-mama like yourself would have! I love you lots and lots and lots for eternity -----! Happy Birthday!!! :D

Hey dad, I probably could've had some crocs boots made really cheap for you here if you would have asked! When we came out of our house a few weeks ago, there was crocidile skin just laying out in the dump, and since we teach a shoe repairman, I'm sure he would have made it for 10,000 Ar/5dollars. Is that about the same price you got your croc boots for haha? Jk, I'm happy that you finally got your croc boots that you've been longing for for so long, and I'm sure they look way good on your nice long legs! ;)

Thanks for sharing that story about what Sis.---- shared in Relief Society. I don't remember that specific event, but I do remember giving her hugs after Sacrament meeting every week ha. 

It sounds like you guys had a great week though, full of lots and lots of fun stuff! I'm happy to hear that! People ask me all the time here, if I'm sad to be away from you guys and not be back in florida. And I always tell them, "NO!" Haha, I love you guys but I know where I want to be right now, and I know I'll have the opportunity to join in on all of your fun times again in the soon future! :)

Oh, and my feet aren't too itchy. I only have a little fungus on my feet, BUT, they don't smell anymore! I like the fungus now more than the smell before ha! 

But my areas going good and my companion is still amazing! This work should be full of lot of work and hopefully some baptisms at the end of the week! 

Have a great time in Utah and have a good time at the wedding! Thanks for sending the package! 

I love you guys for eternity,

Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again.

P.S.:

Love you guys!!!

February 5, 2012

Hey Family!

Another week down. This is crazy to realize how fast my mission's going, that I'm serving my mission in madagascar, and even bigger- that I'm even on my mission. I love all those facts except for the 1st one, that one's kind of a yo-yo, that means so-so in malagasy ha! But in reality, I'm so thankful to be where I am right now, serving a mission. I'm learning so much and feeling myself grow more and more in all ways(except for my stomach I think) always! 

So, another cyclone came through here this last week and brought lots and lots of rain, and in my area where there is already always water and mud, it became water up to our knees, and mud up to our calves. So we went barefoot(carrying our shoes in our hands) and with rolled up pant legs for most of the week. And I found out later that there are little worm parasites that like to be in that water when its dirty, so we'll see in the future if I got em. :) The symptoms are really, really, really itchy feet, so hopefully I don't get that ha! Oh well if I do.

Well, in response to your questions: I have still been enjoying the fact that they have two great pizza places here in mahajanga, each of the workers there know who we are, and when we call in and order, and they ask us who the order is for and where we live, all we have to say is, "It's the missionaries" haha. I have also still been playing lots of basketball and having lots of fun with that each monday.  I don't think I've gained any weight since I've been here and I don't think I've lost any either. But I do think how hot it is here, has a big effect on the weight and condition of the people here in mahajanga. It's very rare, when we're walking around the streets on a hot day and everyone else has their shirts off, to see a guy that doesn't have an 8-pack haha. But for me, I still haven't gotten the 8-pack, or the blackness, but I still think I look pretty good ha. ;) Also, my companion is really short. I'll send you a picture next week to show you the difference in our heights. It's pretty hilarious! And he does like to sing like his dad. And his english is progressing. He's a really hard worker and a good example for me. And we do still teach his brother every few days. 

Well, I'll close with this statement in order to show how much I agree with what you said mom... I know that God knows all things, and that even when we think we need or would like one thing, God knows what we really need to bring us happiness, peace, and put us in the place we need to be in life, and I know that if we just follow the Gospel and trust in his knowledge, by enduring through our trials and not just giving up when it gets hard, that he will bless us with those things that he knows that we need in order to grow closer to him, and become a better person, and more like Christ. I know that to be true, and even though it is hard to endure at times, I know that it's worth it and that we will be so much happier and more blessed for our efforts to do so.

Also, this week we're going to Tana to go to a meeting with a member of a quorum of the 70 that's coming to speak to the mission. I'm pretty excited for the meeting but not too much for the bus trip haha. But it'll be worth it! :)

Well that's all for the this week! Have a great week getting ready to go to Utah. And question: is there going to be a life-size poster board of me at the wedding? I'm not neccessarily requesting one haha, I just want to know if there is going to be one! :) 

Well, I love you all for eternity!

Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again

February 27, 2012

Hey family,
I don't have very much time today, but I still have enough time to
tell you that I love you and that things are going great here. My
companion's amazing and the work is hard and good! We had 20
investigators from my area at church yesterday and 27 from the other
area here in mahajanga(before Elder ---- and I got my kids, both of
the areas were combined), so this branch's sacrament hall is now
overflowing with people. And there were also 2 baptisms of people that
---- and I taught when we were together this last saturday.
It's great to hear that things are going great for you all as well.
And it's also great to hear that ---- is still looking good and
healthy, that the freezer is still stocked up with pizza, that ----
is waiting for his mission call, and that ----- is getting the
Melchizedek Priesthood. I'm also glad to hear about all of the
blessings you all have received throughout this last week.  But that's 

about all I have for this week. Oh, and very
nice newspaper article. In fact, how is the presidential election
going?
Anyways, I love you all for eternity,
Elder Waters
God be with you till we meet again

February 20, 2012

Hey Family!!!
It's great to hear all of this great news about you guys! Things are
going good here in mahajanga, madagascar as well! The cyclone didn't
really hit us at all. We got a little bit of rain and wind but that is
all. There is still a nice breeze, which is a very nice thing to have
here in hot mahajanga! My companion and I are still getting along
great and the area is improving very nicely. And I don't know if I
told you this last week or not, but my companion's father is a famous
singer here in madagascar, so a lot of the time when he introduces
himself, people ask him if he's the son of the singer and he's kind of
shy about it, but he says yes. His father left his family when he was
a little little kid though, but he still stayed in contact with him
throughout his life. He's also a twin, but his twin died when he was 4
from food poisoning. He's a really short guy with a sweet spirit, a
strong testimony, and he has the
funniest laugh.
Answers to your questions:
The typhoid girl is completely healed now, and desiring to learn more
about the gospel. We had 15 investigators at church this week from my
area, which was double from last weeks 7. The dumbo boy is just like
me when I was a kid because he has big ears, and yes because he loves
to make everyone laugh and he's crazy. He comes from a really great
family. His sisters played and sang a primary song in our last soiree
because when there mother was alive she always loved hearing them sing
the primary songs, and it reminded me of you, mom, and how much you
and love primary songs. And I'm glad you were able to look at some of
the mormon ads the other night, those are great. The charge that was
on the visa card was from me. And from my research that I've done, I
do need a visa debit card not mastercard. And what are shoe
driers(like how do they work, I know their purpose obviously haha)?
And I don't know the exact date of when ---- brothers mission ends
but I do know that it's some time during this month. Very exciting for
them! I'm sure they're very happy, so I'm happy for them as well! :)
And I'm very very very happy and excited for ---- and -----!
Wohoooooo!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna be an uncle!!!! Congrats on becoming a
grandma and grandpa as well mom and dad! And congrats ---- and -----
on becoming parents!
Well that's really all I have for this week. I'm loving my mission and
am happy for all the great things that are going on in your lives as
well!
Love for eternity,
Elder Waters
God be with you till we meet again

February 13, 2012

Well......................WOW!!!

This week has been a week of miracles, and it sounds like that for both of us! First off, Happy Birthday Big Papa, throw your hands in the air and wave them everywhere, and second Happy Valentines Day, and third, I have a new companion, I'm training! And not just the normal kind of training, teaching a english speaking elder from america on the language, about the country, about how to teach lessons, but I'm training a malagasy. That means I don't have to train him at the language, well at least the language we'll be teaching in. He knows close to no english, which is just find with me because that means I get to practice my malagasy nonstop all day, and get headaches sometimes. 

Elder ----- is still working here as well. But he has a kid as well now who is from fiji, he speaks pretty good english and is hilarious. He's 24 and recent convert of 2 years. My companion is also 24 but has been a member for 8 years. He's great, and I've already seen the reason that he was sent here to mahabibo(that means almond), mahajanga to work with me. We've already had lots of cool exeriences together. He's about half my height haha. But he's a really good guy and ready to work hard and be a really good missionary. I have also been happily surprised that my malagasy has magically picked up since the time I got him as my companion. I can now explain basically anything I want, in a roundabout way at times, in malagasy. I know that that is a blessing from God. 

The area that I'm working in, is kind of far away from our house, it's about a 30 minute walk. And it's kind of like I'm whitewashing it. Whitewashing is when a companionship goes into an area that neither of them were trained on. I'm only kind of whitewashing it though because ---- did show me a little bit of the area and the investigators while we together, but most of the time was spent in his area on his investigators. The reason it wasn't his area before was because the elder that I replaced, worked it with a mini for two months, but when I came, he wasn't able to train me on it, but ----- and I worked there a few times while we together. He has a great area with a lot of great investigators, but so do I, I just get to do lots of tracting for the first time during my mission haha. Its not too bad at all though. Works picking up quickly. We only had 7 investigators from my area at church yesterday, but we look forward to seeing that number grow each week. The branch is also growing a lot. I believe when I first came here, attendance was 114, but the count for this week was 132. This branch is awesome, and its nice to actually be able to talk to people now and understand them haha.

In response to your questions, I'm feeling better now, my stomachs calmed down a little bit ha. Also, about the debit card, I don't know if a mastercard will work here, but I'll check it out throughout the week and email you about it next week. I ending up doing just fine last month on money, and I actually leftover, and this month I'm doing just fine as well, but the extra money would be good if I want to get souvenirs while I'm here. We haven't moved into a new apartment yet because we haven't found one, but we are still looking. And in response to the young women's question about the fish eyes staring at me as I ate the head, the eyes were plucked out before I ate the head. And by the way, I'm sorry that you two feel like you've eaten one too many fish heads. I can feel your pain there! ;) 

I also, like the idea about the white speedo dad. I think that would be no problem(or maybe just a lot ha). I'm glad that dad's talk went well though. I can definitely see myself 27 years down the road too, giving a talk about the restoration and remembering the times during my mission when I would teach about it. That's great that you guy's had such a great, and busy weekend. And that so many great things are happening for you guys. Keep working hard like I know you're doing, and I know that God will keep blessing you. And thanks for that story mom, I got goosebumps when I heard it as well. Nice Christlike work! :)

So like I said, I've seen lots of miracles this week, and a lot of them came after hard work, perseverence, and prayer. One experience, was on the bus ride to tana over wednesday night. I was able to give the Book of Mormon to one man, a pamphlet to another, and share a scripture from the Book of Mormon with everyone on the bus. And then on the way back on friday morning, our bus looked nice on the outside but was ratsy be(very bad) on the inside, motor area. The bus broke down constantly throughout the ride, which gave us plenty of time to share the gospel with others on the bus we waited for it to be fixed while we were in the middle of nowhere, and also throughout the 16 hour bus ride(from 8 in the morning- to 12 at night). And the next experience was saturday afternoon, when my companion and I went to teach our very lesson together and his very first lesson of his mission. We were sitting in the house of family of half members and and half nonmembers and when my companion introduced himself, they said, there's another "ramafadrahona" who lives right next door, let me go get him. Well, come to find out, it was his brother who he had met before in his life and didn't even know of. And his brother's about 40, he has a family, and one of his daughters is already a member, and now he wants to learn about the church as well. That is a miracle right there! That one experience shows the reason he was called to serve, first, here in madagascar, and second in mahabibo, mahajanga. Amazingly crazingly amazing. And then to cap that saturday off, we went to a soiree of one members family. And in that family, the oldest girl is very active, and the seminary teacher, and in the leadership for the young womens, the other girl is very active in the church and very knowledgeble at the gospel, a younger boy who reminds me of me at his age, and he has big ears, so I called him dumbo and explained to him that that was my nickname when I was a kid, there's another boy, a cousin of the family that lives with them, 16 or so, who was baptized about 2 months ago, a little girl, and the father, who was a very active member at one point in his life and very intelligent, he works for the red cross, but at that point, he had not attended church for a very long time. Well we taught them a lesson on commandments, the reason they exist, and why we should keep them. Well, the next day was church, and guess what, he came!!! It was very nice to see and his family was very happy to have him there with them. The next miracle, happened(I'm running out of time by the way haha, theres just so many miracles that have happened in just the last 4 days) was we able to first, catch, and second, teach a father of a recent convert who the missionary's couldn't really ever catch and when they did he didn't really care about the message. But my companion and I sat with him out on his porch and just talked to him and had a heart to heart, and he accepted to come to church this next sunday and to read the pamphlet we gave him and to apply it's teaching in the back about praying about the message in that pamphlet. It was really good, because after we left him, we went across the grass to his fathers house who's already a member to teach him, and as we were teaching him, I could see out the door, the man that we had taught before, cracked open the pamphlet and started reading it and read it throughout the time that we were at his fathers house. The next experience, was our next time we went to. We went to the house of an eternigator, someone who learns for forever but takes for forever to get baptized. She hadn't been baptized yet because she wasn't married legally to her husband, and her husband was never home, meaning 3 months out of the year. But he's here this month and we were able to get them committed to married and getting all of their papers prepared for their wedding. The woman was able to call her family that still lives in her hometown during that time on my phone, and get them to get her copia(remember my story of traveling far in the mountains back in fianarantsoa to get a copia) and send it to her over bus. This was important because there are no missionaries that work up there that could get the copia, which you have to have to get married, for her. But the family said they will take care of it this tuesday and send it to her. And when she's married, she can finally get baptized. And now, the final story, We also gave a blessing to a daughter of a less-active member's daughter yesterday. The daughter had had typhoid fever for the past month and had been very sick and not able to walk around because she would get dizzy when she stood up. The mother had not attended church for the last month until yesterday morning in order to ask us to give her daughter a blessing. The daughter had learned from the missionaries before but was never baptized. As we walked in the daughter was laying on the bed. And as we sat down and spoke with the mom and the daughter before the blessing, we explained a little bit about the Priesthood, and about how we felt as though there was a purpose for her daughter's sickness, and that if they showed their faith the girl would be healed. We also shared with the daughter and mother that through these hard times they can have peace through the Gospel. After we finished giving her the blessing, set up a return appointment, and the daughter said the closing prayer, we got up to walk out, and the daughter was actually able to walk us out of the house and down to the end of the street, which her mother was saying before the lesson, that that was very difficult for her to do. I felt like there was a purpose to her sickness, it helped her mother return to church and the daughter begin to want to learn from the missionaries. And I saw the miracle of the blessing and of my obedience over the past few weeks.

Those our all of my stories from my past wonderful week. I'm loving my mission and loving hearing that things are going well for you all as well. Happy Birthday again dad! Love you lots!

I love you all for eternity,

Elder Waters, Mahabibo, Mahajanga

God be with you till we meet again

February 6, 2012

Hey family,

another week down and the mission keeps getting better and better. This last saturday after being sick for 3 days, I got to do my first baptism for someone in the ocean(and it was nice this time because it wasn't raining) with a beautiful sunset and sailboats in the background. It was beautiful! I'm excited to continue to be able to baptisms in the ocean(and swim around afterwards jk) because its so pretty. You asked how many investigators we had at church and if it was raining...well it wasn't raining and there were 26 investigators at church this sunday and 122 people in attendance. The work is going good here even when were sick and can't work a full schedule. I really give a lot of the credit for the success of this branch to the members. I got to attend a branch council meeting with yesterday and I saw that each section of the branch is working hard at their calling and trying hard to help this branch grow. This branch is greatttt(tony the tiger)! 

That's all my news from this last week. But in response to the things you talked about in your email: I'm glad to hear that you had an entertaining karaokiast sitting at your table during the cruise! Was he singing at the table, or at the shows ha? How was your foot during the cruise? Were you able to dance the night away each night? ;) That's good to hear that -- and --- are getting along well ha! ;) Thanks for all of the other good news as well. Please tell me how this Sunday goes, and how clean the floors are after the sock hop dance. Thanks for working on the debit card, that'll be great to have because I'm seeing a lot of great souvenirs here.:) I'll brainstorm this week and get back to you next week about the things I want in the package. One thing that I can think of right now that I need though is the face medicine. A couple packs of the face medicine would nice to have, not to look good for the girls, but just so that people will be willing to let me in the doors a little bit easier haha! ;)

Oh and also, there's this little thing on this computer that keeps shocking me, it's not really powerful but it's pretty shocking each time it shocks me haha! I just thought I'd share that little tidbit of info with you all because it reminded me that I'm in MADAGASCAR and I thought I'd remind you of that as well haha! I love it, it's so crazy each time I realize it!

Well, I hope you all have a great week! And I look forward to hearing from you next week. :)

Love for eternity,

Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again 

January 30, 2012

Hey Fianakaviako!!

It's great to hear from you and great to be able to share how great my week in Mahajanga, Madagascar was as well! After finishing emailing last week, and when Elder -- and I were walking back home, we began talking, and we began talking seriously about our goals for our companionship and our goals for the mahajanga branch, and we decided that we were going to take this branch and our work and rule keeping to a whole new level and to go the extra mile in our work here. And one of the specific goals is to split the branch before --- goes home in may through our hard work. And so far, we have definitely followed through with our commitments and we have worked and worked and worked and gone the extra mile, and have kept the rules. In 4 days full work and and 3 quarter days, we taught about 48 times, which is about twice the normal amount of lessons I taught in a full week in fianarantsoa. Half the reason we taught so many more times in those 4 days was because we went out at 8 and didn't come back at 12 to do our studies, but we came back at like 2, 2:30 and would have to leave by 3:30 to go back out to work till 9 at night, so we were working 12 hour days and only getting an hour for lunch and studies and other things of that sort. But we did realize that we need to at least have 2 full hours set apart to get our studying in and a good lunch for now on. But that has been the attitude of Elder ----'s and my work this last week, working hard hard hard.

So, answers to your questions: we did not find a new house yet, but I have gotten naturally used to ducking underneath every door I go under even if it is tall enough. And about fish taste, my second fish dinner was much better. I don't know how they cooked it, but it tasted way good, so good that I even ate the fish head(just so I can say that I did of course, but I really did). I took a big bite right out of its head and just chewed down on the bones in my mouth and almost threw up when I realized what I was doing but the only thing that stopped me was saying allowed to everything, "mmmmm, this taste really good" because it actually did, I just couldn't believe that I was eating fish head ha! Also, while on the note of eating new things, when president came in to town this weekend, he took us out to eat and I got duck with mango's on top and a really sweet honey sauce with potato saute, and I'd have to say, that was one of the best meals I have ever had in this country. It was sooo scrumptious and expensive, but it's ok because my mission president said anything on the menu was fine for us to get and he would pay for it. :) Also, my credit card does work, you just can't use credit cards at many places and I didn't want to take money off of it at the bank. But the reason I was out of money so early this last month was because I still had some of my money in my backpack and when I finally unpacked after emailing you guys on monday I found it, my money. So I ended up doing just fine with money this last week. But I don't want to have to worry about money when I finally find a souvenier that I want to get and then not have enough money for the rest of the month. It's not an emergency for money with me. I will be ok. I would just feel a lot more comfortable throughout the month with a little bit more spending money. The best debit card to get would probably be Visa though. Thanks for working on that though. And about other questions: My head is still attached, like I said before, my body is naturally getting adjusted to ducking when I go under a door. New missionaries should be coming in 2 weeks. And I think I will be training one of them. The area is great though, there are lots of investigators and we had 19 investigators at church yesterday which is a lot more than normal, and that was even with it being a rainy day, so I'm excited to see how many investigators come this next sunday. The branch had about 113 people in attendence this yesterday. Like I mentioned earlier, the President and his wife, and the AP's came this last weekend, but it was great. We had a lot of good times together and a lot of good food. I sure do have an amazing mission president! You guys should order his book, it was a best-seller in Africa. And dad, we walk everywhere, no bikes anymore. 

I actually have to get going though. But here's a cool experience that happened this last weekend that I emailed to --- earlier so I'll just copy and paste it to you guys.:

"But according to your other question about cool stories, there are lots, and almost too many to want to share them all, but I'll just share some cool recent ones.

So the mission is amazing just to start off. I should take a journal of all the things, I just hate writing so it's hard ha. But maybe I can make that one of my goals, writing in my journal each day. I need to do that because it seems like miracles and amazing stories happen each day. One cool experience that happened recently would have to be, this last Saturday. This last saturday we had a baptism, and baptisms in my new area, mahajanga, are always done in the ocean, but this saturday it decided to rain(not unusual for this time of the year in madagascar). Are mission president had actually flown up that morning to take care of some things up here in mahajanga, and to have a conference with my companion and I. So we had our opening meeting at the church with the talks and songs, and prayers, and then we left for the 10 minute walk to the beach. And on the way to the beach, my companion and I saw some people who we really really needed to see, the parents of one of our investigators who wants to be baptised, but her parents won't let her, because according to their words, "we're catholic, are parents were catholic, and we'll always be catholic." But we had been trying for a while to be able to sit down with them and talk to them about the baptism of their daughter, who is already 18, legal age to be baptised on her own choice, but we were never able to find them before or get ahold of them. But as we walked and talked with them, we were able to set up an appointment with the parents and talk to them a little bit about here desire to be baptised. That was a miracle in itself, just being able to see the parents and set a time up with them, but then the story continues. We continued on down to the beach and as we were getting close, the rain started to pour down. But there was a member who lived on the beach who we were able to hide underneath the shelter for for a little bit until the rain stopped out of the middle of nowhere, we walked down there, and as we walked down on this beautiful beach, there was a beautiful ray of sunshine just shooting through the clouds. And it reminded me of the baptism of Jesus when the dove descended from above and God was smiling down from above. It was really cool. We got her baptised, went back up to the beachhouse and as we did, it started rain again. That was a way cool experience to me because I felt like the rain was stopped and ray of sunshine shined through just for that baptism, and then as soon as the baptism was done, the rain started pouring down again. 

That was just a little miracle to me that I probably would not have thought about or cared about before my mission, but I feel like I'm starting to recognize the small blessings and gifts from God in my life a little bit better. Maybe that's my little advice for you in this email, is: look for the little blessings in your life and the little increases in your testimony and then you'll be able to feel God's love for you a lot more and recognize that he's there for you and wants you to be happy."

Well I love you all!

Love for eternity,

Elder Waters

God be with you till we meet again