Week 6 in Tamatave = 6 Months so far....

Manahoana Daholo!

I hope everyone had something crazy that happened during their week because nothing happened here! It was just the same old same old and we worked and worked and worked!

Elder Turner and I have been looking for a new missionary house because the one we live in right now is way expensive because of the electricity bill! To me it doesn't really make sense because a lot of the time we don't have power.....Oh well, we'll keep looking! We actually did find a massive one and it could be a potential!

I did go on a split with Elder Nelson who's from my MTC group!  Personally I thought I taught one of the better lessons that I've ever taught! We were teaching this guy named Willey who lives with his two other Frat Bros, haha! We tracted into them about a week ago and the first time we taught them Willey's two other friends were swearing and stuff during the lesson but Willey was really curious about our message! When I went back on Friday it was just Willey who was home (Thank goodness) and I asked him what he remembered from our first lesson! He said he remembered the story of Joseph Smith but he was just confused on why he became a prophet! I asked him if he had remembered what the Apostasy was and he had no clue! So, we had an hour long lesson on the Apostasy and he and I connected real well! He was also taking notes! Missionaries love it when they take notes!  Hopefully we can get somewhere with him!

Anyways that's about it! Really the only crazy thing this week was that Elder Godfrey found Oreos and just gave me one! My first Oreo in my months!!!! Haha, yep that's about it! Anyways, hope ya'll have a great week and I love you all!

Love,

Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Elder Stringfellow at the shores of the Indian Ocean

Elders Godfrey (Mtn. Crest Mustang) and Stringfellow (Bountiful Brave)

 

The Beaches of Tamatave

 

Week 5...The Hardest and Best Week So Far...

Manahona Daholo This week was honestly one of the hardest weeks of my mission, but also one of the most rewarding! To start off the week Elder Turner and I worked and worked and worked! I was dead dog tired by the end of the week but it was totally worth it! I also went on a split with Elder Andrianaivo who's a Malagasy and speaks absolutely no English!

I probably sound like a broken record by now but It seems that I always go on the splits with the Malagasies who know no English! Haha, I love it! I spoke hardly any English on Friday and it felt so good to somewhat have a basic understanding of Malagasy! I still have so far to go but I think I'm getting better!

 I wish I had some cool teaching experiences this week but I really don't! Teaching was actually really tough this week and we kind of slayed into some people! It was more to the affect of "If you don't want to uphold the commitments we give, then we'll have to stop coming because you're wasting our time! We can find a lot more people who want to learn and live this gospel so you have to make a choice right now whether or not you're going to change!" Yeah, stuff like that....

 WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! Yes, my first baptism! It was a long time coming but it finally happened! Saturday was such an amazing day but it was also a very difficult day....To start off, we arrived at the church at 1:00 for our 2:00 baptism. To my surprise, when I went to check the font there was no water in it! WHAT!?! Yeah, nobody from our Branch was there and the baptism started in an hour! To make matters worse they power was out.....when the powers out there's also no water! I WAS FREAKING OUT!!!! I went and found the guard of the church and I told him "I NEED LOTS OF WATER NOW!"

He took me to this emergency water barrel in the garage of the church and said I could use that! We got buckets and emptied that whole thing! I took us almost two hours to fill up the font and the baptism started way late! However, we got it done and now Bri and Sandy are members of the church!

The best thing about this whole ordeal was yesterday during sacrament meeting when Bri and Sandy received the gift of the Holy Ghost and became members! The spirit was felt so strongly and I will always remember that feeling!

That's about it for the week! It was hard but rewarding all at the same time! I love ya'll so much and that ya'll have a great week!

Tiako ianareo!

Love,
Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Elder Stringfellow...Indian Ocean

Split with Elder Andriannaivo

Baptismal Font

Ryan's First Baptism

Church Members

Elder Stringfellow and Elder Turner

A pose to remember him by

Malagasy beach goers

Week 4 in Tamatave...

Hey everyone!

Hope everything is going well back at home and that ya'll had a great week! The work this week went slow but we got so much done!

Bri and Sandy passed their baptism interviews! They will be getting baptized this Saturday and Elder Turner and I couldn't be more happy for them! They've been progressing very well and it was only a matter of time before we knew they would pass their interviews! Just keep your fingers crossed that everything works out this weekend!

To tell you the truth nothing really happend this week....just lots and lots of work! The language is a whole lot better than where I was five months ago and I'm talking a lot in lessons! I love teaching the first lesson "The Restoration." My favorite part about teaching it isn't necessarily about the work of Joseph Smith but about the work of Christ in his day! I love explaining that the same authority and church that Christ had is back here on earth! It's so cool to see how people react to that!

I don't think I've mentioned this but we actually teach a Malagasy who doesn't know Malagasy at all! I know right!?! His name is Christian and He moved to America when he was like 2 years old and lived there for 30 somewhat years! He lived in Washington D.C. and was a Barber but he decided to move back to Madagascar! For what reason, I don't know! He's so cool he just needs help in the gospel but we'll continue to work with him!

That's about it for the week! Sorry I don't have any cool stories but really we just worked this week! I also didn't really take pics this week! Sorry, I forgot but I think I might have a few I haven't sent home yet! Anyways, I love ya'll so much and that ya'll have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

The typical house in Tamatave, under construction...

The "sons of Elder Hein"

Week 3 in Tamatave...

Manahona Daholo!

HAPPY NEW YEARS! This week has been filled with work! Elder Turner and I set a goal to get at least 28 hours of work this week (the mission standard) and we pulled it off! It was hard with it being the new year and all and with our church time changing from 10:00 to 1:00 but we stilled did it!

Our investigators are all still doing great! Bri and Sandy are still set for January 17 and we checked up with them this week to see how they felt! They both said that they feel ready and I believe we won't have any problems with them!

Something really cool/weird happened at church yesterday! Elder Turner and I were just sitting there when all of the sudden Norbert walked in! WHAT!?! Yeah, Norbert was out here in Tamatave for work and decided to come to our church! He also took us to some of his non member friends and we got to teach a lesson with him! Haha, he's a crazy dude but I love him! No matter where he goes he's always sharing the gospel!

Other than that I really don't know what else there is! With it being New Years and all everybody was drunk! Haha, it's funny but sad at the same time trying to see a drunk dude stumble his way around the streets! Oh, well...only thing you can do I guess is preach the gospel!

Sorry that this weeks letter isn't as long as usual but nothing really did happen besides a lot of missionary work! I hope ya'll have a great week and that ya'll have some new perspectives for this new year! 

Love ya'll!
Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Exhausted Elder

Found a Chameleon

Purchased Toys