Gonna Have a Son...

Ry Fianakaviana,

Tamatave is still great! I'm as tired as can be, but at least the bedbugs haven't been biting for the last couple weeks. It was a blast to spend time with President Foote, the spiritual BFG. He rivals Dad with his story-telling ability. He told about the amazing and stressful process that goes into building a temple--he built the Reno Temple, and he told an inspiring story of flying a plane essentially blind with no hood, being battered by glass and freezing wind.

Turns out, I'll be training this next transfer due to the "death" of Elder Price (finishing his mission this transfer). Elder Price was an awesome companion--easy-going and hardworking. I still don't know who my trainee is or where he's from, but I'm going down to Antananarivo on Wednesday to pick him up. I'm trying to think of some strategies to weird him out the first couple days. Maybe when I wake up, I'll cockadoodledoo and tickle him a bit. Then, I'll cook him the most disgusting breakfast I can. 

Price, Price, Price

Impoverished kids standing on a pile of trash as happy as can be.

Elder Price and I went one last walk on the beach to reminisce about his mission.

We had 5 baptisms this last Saturday. Two were the kids of a recent convert, and the other 3 were our most diligent investigator family. The dad is getting baptized in 2 weeks because his mom unexpectedly died last week, so he's in the countryside. My shirt is soaking wet because I forgot to pack a second shirt, heh! I had the opportunity to confirm the two kids of the recent converts yesterday.

Playing chess with some Chinese-Malagasies (I lost and threw the chess board over)

That Price Thang: 

You'd think the man was old, but he worked way hard with me in his last weeks. He didn't really mind not visiting old investigators and members to say goodbye. He was good with being a normal missionary 'til the end. 

This following quote might be easily found on the internet; even so, he said it to Sister Foote, and it quickly became extremely awkward.

Last Elder Price Quote: "On a scale of 1 to America, how free are you tonight?"

Malagasy Morsel of the Week - Mikisam-Body:

Mikisaka --> to creep

Vody --> butt (bad word when referring to a person)

When you put these two words together, you get 'mikisam-body,' which means to 'scoot on your butt.' I don't know why a missionary would need to know these words, but I've been using a lot in lessons for some odd reason. In one lesson, I gave the example that Satan is just scootin' on his bum, trying to grab our legs, and we can literally step right over him. Horrible example, but whatever; they liked it.

Stories for Next Week

-Yaya

-President Paul's

Love you all so much!

Elder Soper