All is Well...5 Weeks Left

Salama Daholo e!

Vao lasa niakatra tany Antananarivo Elder Cyusa tamin'ny Alarobia teo ary voatonga koa tam' izay ny namako vaovao, Elder Francom. Tena milay be izy ary efa tiako be izy! Saika adinoko koa fa nisy ny fetim-pirenena malagasy nandritra ny roa andro lasa ary tena karotana be le izy.

My new companion is finally here! Elder Francom is his name for those who don't know and he's awesome! He's from Kaysville Utah and he's been out here in the mission field for about 10 or 11 months now. He and I already get along very well and it was awesome to start working with him this last week. I'm super excited that he'll be my last companion to finish off the mission and I can't wait to work my tail off with him this last transfer.

Anyways, this last week was a terrible teaching week....Madagascar had it's "fetim-pirenena,"or nation holiday, on the 25 and 26 this past week and it was absolutely crazy. It's honestly just another excuse for Malagasies to go crazy and get drunk and it really hurts the program when everyone is drinking and having a party. We actually had to set curfews the last couple of nights at 6:00pm because sometimes things can get out of hand during the "fetim-pirenena." Don't worry, everything is all good and we should be back to a normal week this week.

Well, that's all I really got for this week. Bruno and his family are still doing well and there making plans to get the divorce and their legal marriage figured out. Keep them in your prayers as Bruno is trying to find some money so he can go to Tana to talk to his ex-wife and get divorced legally. It's kind of a sticky situation but I'm hopeful that it'll all work out. Love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder Stringfellow

Pics:

1.My last district

2. Our hotel in Ambositra

3.Manandona

4. Francom

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Last Transfer...6 Weeks Left

Karakory ma!

Tamin'ny sabotsy teo nankany Ambositra niaraka tamin' i Filoha Foote sy ny Fianakaviany za sy Elder Godfrey mba hamangy ny sampana tany.

This week was insane! It seemed like there was so much going on that we couldn't get done everything that we needed to do but some how we were able to figure it all out in the end. Between zone conference, going to Ambositra with the Foote's, and receiving transfer news there has been absolute zero down time which has been awesome. It sounds weird but I like staying busy. You feel more accomplished at the end of the day and when you wake up in the morning you're ready to go a 100 mph again.

Anyways, y'all probably want to know how zone conference went. Well, it was awesome and the Foote's are amazing people. The main topic of our zone conference was how to become a full-time, full-purpose missionary. President Foote gave some amazing counsel on how we need to stop thinking that we're too inadequate to do this work which was something that I really needed to hear. Sometimes I feel inadequate about myself whether it's with the language or with my teaching ability, but I'm starting to realize that the only thing required of me is my effort. President Foote really hit hard on that which I liked a lot. He also went over certain attributes that  we can develop so that we can become a better full-time, full-purpose missionaries. All in all, it was a great zone conference and I enjoyed it a lot.

On Saturday, Elder Godfrey and I had the opportunity to go with President Foote and his family to visit the branch out in Ambositra which is about two hours away from Antsirabe.  It was fun to have a little road trip with the Foote's and it was a whole lot of fun to stay in a hotel room with Elder Godfrey. We translated for the Foote's on Sunday during church which was kind of hard mainly because I had to try and translate President Foote's talk from English to Malagasy. I already know I did a crappy job but it's in the past and out of my control now. Anyways, it was a whole lot of fun to spend the weekend with the Foote's.

Okay, y'all probably want to know how transfer news went down. Well, I'm staying here in Antsirabe but I am getting a new companion. His name is Elder Francom and I'm way excited for him to come down. I already know who he is and he'll be a great last companion to have. It's crazy to think that it's already my last transfer in the mission but I'm way excited that it'll be spent with Elder Francom.

Well, that's all I got this week. I don't have my camera right now but I'll try and send some pics latter.

Love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder Stringfellow

Manandona waterfall

Nandreraka be mihitsy ny herinandro lasa....

Man, this last week was super busy. Between splits, dealing with pouch, and a whole lot of other things I'm pretty worn down. It's literally been non stop from 6:30 am to 9:00 pm everyday and Elder Cyusa and I are dead dog tired. We got a lot of things on our plate, but, even though we're super busy, I couldn't be happier. I'm slowly starting to learn that the more time you spend towards this work rather than towards yourself is nothing but a great blessing for my companion and I. It's not easy trying to juggle things around but we sure love doing it and we couldn't be happier.

This week I felt like we ran a lot of errands and that's probably the last thing y'all want to hear about, so I'm just going skip to what happened yesterday. Yesterday, Elder Cyusa, the District President, his wife, the District Relief Society President, and I all traveled out to Andranomanelatra to visit the branch out there. It was such an awesome way to spend the Sabbath day back in the old branch were I used to work. I love all the members out there so much and I love seeing them every time I head out there. They definitely have a place in my heart and I think it's safe to say that I'll be visiting them quite a few more times before I head home here soon. Ah, I love them so much!

Yesterday we also had the opportunity to teach Bruno and his family again. We taught about baptism and extended a baptismal date to them for July 30. Bruno still has to get divorced from his previous wife and legally married to his current wife before he and his family can get baptized which might be a little bit of an obstacle...He's already told us that he's going to be making a trip to the capital here soon to see if his ex-wife will sign the divorce papers, and hopefully she does. When all that is said and done, he and his wife will get vita soratra, or, in other words, become legally married. Pray and cross your fingers that every thing works out for Bruno as he is trying to prepare for his baptism.

Well, that's all I got this week. I love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week!

Love, Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

The Blue Toaster is Back

Manahoana Daholo e!

Nanao fifanakalozana be dia be niaraka tamin'ny misionera rehetra tamin'ny herinandro lasa za sy Elder Cyusa.

Man this week was awesome. Elder Cyusa and I conducted lots of splits with most of the missionaries here in Antsirabe and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

On Tuesday, I worked with Elder Kissi. Elder Kissi is originally from Ghana and he might be one of the funniest missionaries I've ever meet. He and I headed out to Manandona where we visited the small village of Be Soa with the Manandona Branch President. It was so much fun and the village of Be Soa is a way cool place. I literally felt like I was walking through the Shire from Lord of the Rings.

On Wednesday, I worked with Elder Tainter. Elder Tainter is a really cool guy and he is a great missionary. He knows how to work hard while having fun at the same time. I really liked my split with Elder Tainter and hopefully I'll have the opportunity to work with him again.

On Thursday, I worked with Elder Wilmont. Elder Wilmont is from South Africa and he is currently Elder Godfrey's companion. Our whole program literally fell through throughout the day but it didn't phase Elder Wilmont and I. We still found good use of our time. I really liked the split that he and I had.

On Fridiay, I worked with Elder Godfrey. He and I headed out to Manandona where we had a really fun day with the Branch President. It was a really good day and I really wish that he and I could be companions. Yep, I love him that much haha.

Sunday eventually rolled around and Elder Cyusa and I visited the Sarodroa Branch with the District President and his wife. Surprisingly, all the members out there remembered me from last year and it was awesome to see them again. Sarodroa is such an awesome branch and I love all the members out there. I'm really humbled in the fact that they remembered me and I can't wait to visit them again next month. Oh, and by the way, all the members out there just absolutely love Brother Bingham and they keep asking me when he's coming back haha.

The last thing I want to share is something that happened to us last night. We were visiting Bruno and his family and we had a really good lesson on Faith and Repentance. Throughout the lesson Elder Cyusa and I learned that one of Bruno's daughters, Finoana, was pretty sick and I eventually noticed her laying restlessly on the bed. This overwhelming feeling that she needed blessing started to build up in my chest and after saying a silent prayer I received the confirming YES that she needed a blessing. Bruno and his wife allowed us to give the blessing so Elder Cyusa anointed here with oil and I had the privelage of giving her the actual blessing. It was a very spiritual moment and I really hope and pray that little Finoana gets better. She seemed to be in quite a bit of pain and there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord wanted us to bless here. I don't think I've ever received such a definite prompting from the spirit than what I felt last night and I'm so thankful that we were put in the position to help her and her family.

Well, that's all I got this week. I love you all so much and I hope everyone has a great week.

Love, Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK