Happy 20th Birthday!

Manahoana Daholo e!

Ny ankamaroan'ny zavatra izay nitranga taminay tamin' izao herinandro izao dia nitranga tany Manandona na ny faritra faharoa iasanay. Izay no mahatonga ny hoe, "FORT DONA" amin'ny lohatenin' ity email ity.

First off, Thank you so much to those who sent the Brithday wishes. It really does mean a lot!

Secondly, we had another packed week. Elder Cyusa and I have literally been running around like chickens with our heads cut off but we somehow seem to get everything done that needs to get done. This week we spent a lot of our time in a small town called Manandona. It's about 20 km south of Antsirabe and President Foote has asked Elder Cyusa and I to start working out there at least twice a week. So, every Tuesday and Friday we head down to do as much as we can with the coolest Branch Presidednt ever, President Ony! He cares so much about the Branch out there and he tries to do his best even though he's probably not even out of his 20's. He is an amazing guy and I love working with him.

Anyways, this week we didn't have as many crazy adventures as last week but we did have one that happened last Friday. Elder Cyusa and I had just arrived in Manandona and we were heading out to a cluster of houses down in a small valley when all the sudden we received an unexpected phone call from the sisters. We answered and Sister Maduna informed us that her companion, Sister Rasoanarina, needed to go to the dentist because she was experincing complications from a procedure she had done prior to her coming down here to Antsirabe. Elder Cyusa and I rushed back to Antsirabe because the poor sisters, as well as us, had no idea where the dentist was. Well, we eventually found it and Sister Rasoanarina got her tooth fixed. It was kind of hectic but we got it all figured out.

Anyways, that's about all I got for adventures this week. We do have one investigator right now who is progressing very well. His name is Bruno and he is so dilligent when it comes to following committments and coming to church. He plays basketball with us every Monday and it's safe to say that he and all the missionaries down here are good friends. He and his wife want to get baptized so bad but the only problem is that he needs to finish off a prior divorce he had with his last wife and he and his wife now need to become legally married. When all that is said and done he'll be baptized. It could take a while but hopefully we get it all figured out before I come home. He's way cool and I love teaching him and his family.

Well, that's it for the week. I love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Crazy Busy

Dia ahoana isika jiaby e! Tena Nandreraka be mihitsy ny herinandro lasa vao teo. Vao tonga ny misionera vavy tamin'ny talata ary tamin'ny omaly maraina nivavaka tany Ambositra izahay niaraka tamin'ny Filohan'ny Distrika sy ny Aps. 

 This week was crazy! Elder Cyusa and I have been going none stop for the past week and we are loving every second of it. 

It all started Tuesday with the arrival of the sisters. All four of them are way cool and we're so happy to have them in the zone. Two of them are from here in Madagascar and the other two are from South Africa. From what I can tell they're all ready to work as both companionship's will be white-washing their areas. Elder Cyusa and I also had the opportunity on Tuesday to work in a small town about 20km outside of Anstirabe called Manandona. We worked with the Branch President and we went and visited a whole bunch of less actives which was pretty fun. Anyways, that was my Tuesday. 

On Wednesday, the AP's came down and started doing splits with all the companionship's. It's always great to have them down and we've been having lot's of fun with them. 

Thursday rolled around and it was just a normal day. On Friday, we worked again out in Manandona and I was lucky enough to go on a split with Elder Glazier. He and I had tons of fun working together and it was nice to catch up with him. Saturday, I went on a split with Elder Covey and we literally tracted for like 5 hours. We got into 3 lessons but our last lesson, unfortunately, kicked us out, ha ha. It was a good split and I had lots of fun with Elder Covey. 

And finally, yesterday we drove down to Ambositra with the AP's and District president to attend church. Ambositra is about 2 hours outside of Antsirabe and the drive down was real pretty. We attend a sacrament meeting that only had 45 people attend but it was very spiritual and I feel like the branch down there is doing pretty well. Well, that was my week. 

It was pretty crazy but we got a lot done. I love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week. 

 Love
Elder Stringfellow 

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Cleaning the Sister's House....

Manahoana Daholo e!

Tena be asa be za sy namako tamin'ny herinandro teo. Nampianatra be dia be izahay sady nanatrika fotoam-bavaka anikroa tamin'ny omaly.

This last week was busy! Elder Cyusa and I had a lot on our plate but I think we got everything done that needed to get done.

We had missionaries transferring to and from Antsirabe on Tuesday which was fun. Almost everyone is settled in, we just have to wait for the sisters to get down this week.

Speaking of the sisters, the house down here that they're supposed to live was wrecked and Elder Cyusa and I had to find some people to clean this last Friday. We got it all clean and ready for the sisters who should be coming either today or tomorrow.

After we got the house all cleaned, Elder Cyusa and I had lunch with the Senior couple who's down here, the Pascaud's. They're from France and speak absolutely zero English. Let's just say it was a little awkward as a just sat there because I was the only one who didn't speak French.

Sunday eventually rolled around and Elder Cyusa and I had the opportunity to attend our own sacrament meeting and the sacrament meeting in Andranomanelatra. It was a busy Sunday but it was a great way to spend it.

Anyways, that's about all I got this week. Sorry, my letter's not as long as it usually is...I'll try and fill ya in more next week. Love ya'll so much and I hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder Stringfellow

Sorry....I can't get pics to work.

Mothers Day

NOTE - Our family was able to SKYPE with Ryan for nearly 5 hours on Sunday.  It wasn't the best connection but it was sure fun to see and talk to him.  He is doing awesome!

Elder Sam Stringfellow, Elder Ryan Stringfellow and Sydnee Stringfellow

This was the best Mothers Day Gift Ever!

Ryan getting to talk to his best friend ever...Taylor Gulbransen

 Here is Elder Stringfellow rattling off in some Malagasy language.

Here is a segment on email conversation from some pictures he sent home late on Sunday night.

"Okay, for those who want to know where I got transferred to I'm back down in Antsirabe! My new companion is Elder Cyusa, who is from Rawanda, and he and I will be the Zone Leaders down here. We'll have the opportunity to work with all the branches down here especially the 5 that are outside of the city. We'll be traveling a lot but Elder Cyusa and I are super excited to be here in Antsirabe working together!"

Anyways, love you all and I hope everyone has a great week!

 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Elder Cooley and Elder Stringfellow's last night together

Elder Stringfellow and Elder Godfrey

 

2nd to Last Transfer....

Akory aby e!

Nahazo vaovao tamin'ny heriny izahay fa samy mifindra faritra za sy Elder Cooley. Elder Cooley dia efa lasa tany Mahajanga ary za dia tokony hifindra amin' izao herin-andro izao.

Hey everyone! How's everyone doing? This week was pretty crazy due to some unexpected transfer news but everything is still going great!  Elder Cooley and I are no longer together because he just recently left to Mahajanga and I will also be leaving this week. Yep, Ampefiloha no longer has 4 missionaries. Kind of sad but I knew it was going to happen. Anyways, President Foote has sworn me to secrecy to not tell anyone where I'm going until next week, so I guess ya'll will have to wait until then haha. I will tell you this though; It's not here in Tana, I've already worked there, and I'll still be a Zone Leader. I honestly can't wait to get to get to my new area and hopefully I'll be heading there this Wednesday. I'll let ya'll know where it is when we skype this weekend.

Okay, that's the big news. The rest of the week was absolutely crazy mainly because I still don't have a companion. I've literally been going rogue for the past couple of days and It's been quite interesting. On Thursday, I worked a little bit with Elder Schroedter and Elder Basset who are now the two main Ampefiloha Elders and boy do they work their tells off. They taught 43 lessons this week and 26 of those lessons where with Father Lead Families. I was absolutely blown away yesterday when I worked with them again because we taught a grand total of 11 lessons in one day. Those two plain and simply know how to work and there is no doubt in my mind that Ampefiloha is in good hands.

On Friday, I was able to go on a split With Elder Price and his companion, Elder Lingani, in their area which is called Ampitatafika.  It was an awesome split mainly because Elder Price is such a spiritual giant and I can always feel the spirit when I'm working with him. He's a great missionary and I can't wait to hear about what he does in the last two transfers of his mission.

On Saturday, I went on another split with Elder Morse and Elder Kunkel in their area of Mahamasina to conduct three baptismal interviews for them. All three of them passed and one actually had an incredible story of how she was able to overcome her problem with drinking coffee. She's been off for over a month now and she promised me she wouldn't drink it anymore. I firmly believe that she won't and I know she'll hold faithful until the end. It was a great split and I'm very happy for the Mahamasina Elders.

Well, that's about all I got for this week. It's been a crazy week and I feel like it's just going to get crazier but I like it that way and I'll fully embrace it. I love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder Stringfellow

P.S. Happy Birthday to my awesome dad who became just a little older this past Saturday! Haha, love you! Also, Happy Birthday to my Great Grandpa Perkins on Wednesday. I sure do love ya Gramps!

P.S.S. - It has been confirmed that Elder Stringfellow will be released from his mission (depart for home) on August 3rd, 2016 and will be home on August 4th.