Ry Fianakaviana,

First, some pictures:

On Thursday, I went out with Elder Stringfellow to his area, Manandona, which looks exactly like the scenery in countryside Utah. What the heck?! I ain't here to see a stupid familiar hills n' tree! C'mon. It was actually an amazing split. It was nice to work with somebody where the conversation flowed the whole day. The day flew by, and I didn't realize how hard we worked. 

• Let My People Go:

While walking on a bridge over a poop river, a woman yelled at us, "Give us Jesus!" So we were like, "Yeah, sure, here we come." As we walk into the house, we noticed there was a few too many dozen pictures of Christ on the walls. We learned this family prays with this church called "Let My People Go!" Their church meetings consist of speaking in tongues, reading only Moses' books, screaming, seizing up, writhing on the floor and refreshments. I can't deny I'm a little interested. When we began to teach them, they kept raising their hands up to the sky, yelling, "My Jesus!" and doing some odd krump moves. I'm assuming it was to signify their appreciation of our message, not sure. Hey, they were kind people.

• "Misy Devoly:"

We were teaching a 60 year-old recent convert named Gabriel--who just received the Melchizedek Priesthood--outside on a few rice sacks next to his prize rooster that he tied up to a stake in the ground. The lesson was going great (describing that alcohol is not okay to drink on holidays and Mosiah chapter 5) until a gruff, mean-looking rooster strutted over from an adjacent yard up to the rooster tied up to the stake. After some tense banter and squawks, they went at it. Stringfellow was sitting right next to them as a flurry of beeks, feathers and talons flew up right next to his face--one of the funniest faces of pure terror I've ever seen on someone. Gabriel yelled, "Misy devoly! Mivoaka!" or "There is devils! Get out!" Eventually, the roosters came to their senses, said sorry and we went back to teaching.

• Malagasy Nugget for the Week - Fisaorana (Gratitude):

To say, "You're welcome," it's "Tsisy fisaorana," which means 'no gratitude.' I was pondering in my brain, heart and a couple organs about the amount of blessings I take for granted. Yesterday, I met a lady whose baby has water in its heart. Normally, a parent would do anything to surgically repair their child's ailment, but this women doesn't have enough money--doesn't help that her husband left her. Slowly, her child is dying while she imagines what it would be like to be born into different circumstances; yet somehow, she's grateful for the life she has in her dirty, 20 square foot house working 24/7 washing other poor people's clothes for little to no money. What am I grateful for? Man, I hate writing what I'm grateful for, way boring. But, I'm a missionary, so I've got a lot to be grateful, and I need to recognize my blessings every once in a while.

What I'm grateful for:

I got a decent $1 haircut just barely.

A random Malagasy complimented my chin, didn't know I had a nice chin.

My stomach doesn't have problems right now.

My companion.

How much we laugh together.

Knees.

Malagasy is fun to speak and read.

It's not brutally cold like last P-Day.

I have time to read my parents' emails.

Iti Yogurt.

Food.

I have clothes that fit. The guy sitting next to me has tight clothes; he looks uncomfy.

Great mission president.

Thomas S. Monson.

The Malagasy dictionary.

Fanasan'ny Tompo.

The members here in Madagascar.

The investigators that seriously consider what we're saying.

Less-active families that try to change.

Amazing family.

Awesome dad.

Awesome mom.

Awesome older sister.

Lame older brother. jk

Awesome younger sister.

Babies.

My jacket.

The weird things that have happened to me.

Madagascar.

People that are genuine.

Rice.

Eggs, of course.

Bugboy 2000.

Education. 

Stories for Next Week:

-Teaching a Clown

-Split w/ Elder Cyusa

-Lake Tritriva

I had a great week! Elder Andriantinarisoa is doing way better now. He and I have finally hit our groove. There's a chance he will get transferred away this next week. Hohitantsika! Have a great week! Mandra-pihaonantsika indray!

Love,

Erdr Spr