WEEK 83; Mpamboly coco! Wrong Clara-April Fools President Foote!

Another great one! So today we had the zone activity, but it wasn't just our zone. It was a Tana combined activity so we had three zones. We found this nice indoor place and played volleyball and soccer for two hours. It was a huge change from playing on the dirt field haha.

This week we did not watch conference as we are waiting for the translation but we will watch it this next week. We are getting everyone stoked about listening to the words of a living prophet! 

A couple of changes this week. We usually work in this area called Ambohinjanahary every Tuesday and Saturday but the work is kind of slowing down there so we are changing our schedule to open up a new area called Ampatolampy that is closer to the church in hopes of getting more luck and meeting new people. 

Investigators still are doing great. Sadly we haven't taught Liva and Tahiry in a while as Liva is in Fianarantsoa working right now and she is busy with work and the kids. But hopefully he will come back soon and they will get back on track. Johnny told us he and his family would be coming to church this week but sadly didn't come again. We have a new families coming to church again after a couple of years and they are on track to be baptized. Still a little hesitant about the church but they seem to like being there. And, Caroline comes to church with her daughter and they want to get baptized but she is not yet married according to the law so we are waiting on that. 

So, a weird thing happened over this past week. Last week on Sunday we were going to go to Clara, Kiky, and Odette house. While we were walking, we got a call from "Clara" saying they couldn't learn that day. So we turned away and went and found another program. Then on Thursday we went and visited them and they were mad at us for not coming on Sunday! So we told them Clara called us, yet she denied calling us. Lets just say everyone was confused that day. We just assumed that it was someone else who happened to be named Clara and happened to be taking the lessons. So then this last Sunday we were out working and we got a call from "Clara" saying that they couldn't learn anymore and that we shouldn't go to their house anymore. It was way strange as they came to church that day and seemed to be having a good time. So I asked the lady if it was really Clara and if she was the mother to Michaela (her daughters name). The lady said yes and that we can't come anymore. So of course that didn't sit right with us and we went over to their house. We knocked and they let us in as normal. I asked Clara if she called us and she said no. Then we told them the whole story of what happened and they said that it is someone from Clara's old church who was quite angry when she left. The person was calling us claiming to be Clara and telling us she couldn't learn anymore in an attempt to get us to stop going over there. Well, better luck next time. 

Besides that, we had a great week. We had dinner with Lalaina last night (the guy on the moped with us last week) and it was wayyyy good. Fried rice and chicken. Not your typical Malagasy food. And he made us ice cream haha. Other news is Elder Lake and I are officially addicted to mentos, the fruit ones. 

Oh and we got President Foote with an April fools joke! We told him we accidently hired a realitor to show us houses and now she wants five million ariary. (3000 ariary to a dollar) Right as he started freaking out we told him it was an April fools joke. Then he got us back. He said, "you guys want some early transfer news?" we said yeah of course! He said "April fools boys!" 

Sippin cokes and eating PIZZA with Elder Lake

                                    

Volleyball with Elders wrestling in the middle of it!

 

WEEK 82 Legendary team of Lake, Bowen, and Lalaina!!!

Another great one!

So this week we had some great times. This Tuesday we had an MCL with President Foote. Discussed some things about the mission and what we could do to be more productive. Then after that we went out and taught a family that Elder Lesch and I tracted into while we were on splits. we talked to them and they said they almost didn't let us in because they thought we were J Dubs, common thing here in Madagascar. We had a great talk with them about the church and they said they would love to get a Book of Mormon. Sadly we couldn't teach Liva and Tahiry because of their child being sick and they were at the doctors for a while. 

Then on Wednesday we tried changing our schedule and going out to work in the morning. We taught a family that came to church this last week. Turns out they used to come to church but then they moved. Shortly after that the church was built where it is now, they didn't know for many years it was LDS, but now they do know and they are coming again. So we went out in the morning on Wednesday and on Friday to teach them and then tract.  Sadly we didn't get too much luck in the morning so we will probably return to the usual schedule of working in the afternoon and night time. 

On Thursday we had an awesome zone meeting where we talked about using time wisely, a good skill to have. We also talked about accountability. We mainly focused on chapter 8 in Preach my Gospel. One thing that we have seen with the new change in key investigators is a stronger desire for the work and more love for the people. We are no longer counting lessons, but we are spending the time to get the people to come closer to Christ. A huge change in the work has been seen by us and a lot more excitement for the work.

Then on Sunday we had a cool experience. We went to a time at around 8:00. They weren't there but their neighbors said they should be back soon so we waited. We were sitting outside their house when one of the neighbors saw us and invited us inside to sit down. We talked to her and apparently she was contacted by the missionaries a little while ago but couldn't be taught because no man was available to be present. Luckily she lives right next to a member family so we set up a time to teach her with the family. Even though the people didn't show up, we were right where we were needed. 

Well this week looks to be a good one. We have a zone activity coming up here so you will see some pics from that. But for now here are the pics of the legendary team of Lake Bowen and Lalaina!!!

WEEK 81 COWABUNGA BRO-Elder Lake - church is true!

Hey everyone! So this email will probably be a little shorter! Sadly I got a little sick this week and that hindered the work but this week was still awesome!

On Tuesday I went on splits with Elder Lesch, South African. Awesome dude just out of training. We had some awsesome lessons that we tracted into. Sadly they weren't there for their return times this Saturday but we will try and stop by again on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday I got sick due to some bad meat (that's what I think it was). It tasted good going down but didn't want to stay... yeah so then on Thursday we got the news that Elder Tshetu is getting emergency transfered and I got ELDER LAKE! So Elder Lake and I have been having a great time so far. 

On Sunday we had  a bunch of investigators show up to church. Liva and Tahiry showed up and also our other awesome family. Both on track to be baptized this next month. Then we went out and had some awesome lessons, even though the last one the lady tried to turn it into a bible bash. No no we didn't bash with her but shared the message and mainly focused on the family. Still was a great lesson according to us and we came out with stronger testimonies so successful as always haha. 

Today we went and played soccer and sadly the Elders lost... 

And tomorow we look forward to an mlc with President Foote.  

Mission keeps flying by! But it has been great and only gets better. Teaching lessons where people try to oppose only strengthens my knowledge of the truthfulness of Joseph Smith restoring Christ's church. I love this mission and I know this church is true. 

Pics of the ninja warrior path and us in a taxi going to soccer.

 

Elder Bowen