Splitting the Area...

Dear Family and Friends,

It's official that Elder Stromberg and I will be splitting the area, both training and trying to effectively zone lead at the same time. In the past weeks, we were silent about the split because we were both terrified. Eventually, we both spoke up about how we want the area to be split, but neither of us could be satisfied. After what seemed like a "final" decision, either him or I would reveal that they didn't like the split. Each area is full of wonderful investigators, and neither of us could give some of them up. It was like ripping off fresh bandaids, putting them back on, ripping it off again and then getting punched in the groin. To solve the dilemma, we ended up trading investigators like cards, each one on the verge of tears as team stars like Vincent and Hanitra was transferred to Elder Stromberg and Sarobidy was given to Elder Soper.

Finally, we're both satisfied, and the split is even. Now, I have three more months on my mission, and I intend to make the most of it!

Elder Lesch

Fell in a poopy gutter...

Delicious spicy chutney

Gospel Principles Model

Everybody in the Relief Society was convinced I was in the Gospel Principles book after they had a lesson based on Chapter 14: Priesthood Organization. The title picture shows three priests, one kneeling in the middle doing to the sacrament prayer. Apparently, the Relief Society was in a civil war, some swearing that I was the priest on the far left while the other said it looked nothing like me. They went so far as to take me and Elder Stromberg from our Elders Quorum and call us into the Relief Society room in order to compare me and the picture just to prove it was me haha. Too bad it wasn't me. I hated seeing how disappointed Sr. Fanja was, a little, toothless lady that was the leader of the group claiming I was a Gospel Principle model.

Stake Conference

All of the surrounding wards and their missionaries attended our church building for the stake conference. I'm so glad it was held at our church building. We had 22 investigators! If all goes right, we should have 4 baptisms in the next two weeks. And eventually, many more in the next 3 months.

A highlight from the stake conference was this one RM's invitation he gave during his talk. He asked everybody to close their eyes (most everybody did), think about a loved one that is not a member and make a plan of how to bring the missionaries over to teach them. The way he led up to the invitation was wonderful, sharing a touching story about his dad finally accepting the gospel that left most everybody in tears. Afterwards, we had 4 people promptly run up to us eagerly promising they would have someone for us to teach the very next Sunday. Awesome!

Love you all!

--

Elder Soper

Madagascar Antananarivo Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints