Majunga is an amazing area!

Ry Fianakaviana,

Majunga is an amazing area! A lot of the missionaries here in Madagascar want to be sent here, so I'm grateful.

This first week, we decided to visit a lot of members, share spiritual thoughts and give them an idea of what their goals should be with going to the temple, home teaching and helping us with missionary work. The members have a vision of what the branch could be but don't know the first step due to the church being really young here. I already love the branch here!

Sweatin' Like a Pig:

It is so flippin' hot. Right as we get out the house, I can feel the sweat dripping down my back and chest. We have to drink at least a gallon of water a day to stay in our natural Schwarzenegger forms. It's especially tough when we sit down in a house with a tin roof and walls, cooking us alive. We bought these straw fans that help a ton during lessons. We also received permission to wear hats, but I'm not sure what kind is appropriate, so I might wait a bit before buying one.

Kruger vs. Demented Girl:

After our first lesson, we were on this broad, dusty path when all of the sudden, a little 14 year-old girl came running out cackling. With a deranged smile of few teeth, drool all over her face and a tattered black dress, is was a frightening image, and Elder Kruger started freaking out. She approached us doing this very clever crab-like movement, shuffling back and forth with her arms outstretched, blocking us from moving forward. In addition to her highly-specialized shuffle, she had a severe lazy eye that unfairly widened her field of vision.

In order to get past her, she demanded 500 ariary (about 15 cents), but as missionaries, we're never allowed to give out money. So, I simply juked her out, faking one way, did my trademark spinmove and ran the other. But Kruger, on the other hand, was too unnerved to even get near to her. When she would approach him, he kick up his legs and darted like a startled cat. It was so funny to watch because it was a 100 kilo elephant versus a 25 kilo mouse. Eventually, after about 5 minutes, Elder Kruger and I lost her on a back path.

Elder Kruger continued to be jumpy throughout the day. His foot got caught on a piece of plastic rope lying in the dust. He kicked it away as hard as he could and squealed, "Ah! Ah! Snake!" But then was immediately embarrassed as he realized what it was and kept walking like nothing happened.

At about 4 o' clock, we were teaching a lesson to a family we just tracted into (Big Buff Bub is the name we gave him), and she burst through the front door crying for 500 ariary. Elder Kruger jumped up almost knocking over the table while the Big Buff Bub's wife sweeped her outside. I laughed so hard that whole day.

Ranaivosoa Pierre:

This guy's name sounds like Soper heh.

Stories for Next Week:

-Jean Pierre

-Earth and Heaven's Connection

Love you all so much!

Elder Soper