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