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