Week 1 in Tamatave...

Hey everyone!

I can't believe I've already been out in Tamatave for a week! Tamatave is nothing like Tana! There are very few cars and a lot less people. Not to mention the humidity here is at about 90 percent everyday with the Temp. usually being at 95 degrees! It's hot!!!! We also very rarely have power....we might only have it for a few hours everyday and when we don't the house gets very hot! Two days ago we peaked at 95 degrees inside the house! Even though it's hot and humid I still love it here! I honestly feel like I'm on some island in the middle of nowhere and it's so cool! We teach people in little beach huts and it just blows my mind every time I go into one! This place is so cool!

Now about my new comp. Elder Turner, He's awesome! He's such a great missionary and I know that he and I are going to get Ankirihiry going! He's been out a year and knows the way how to be an effective missionary! We are going to tear it up out here and I can't wait to see what we do!

My new area Ankirihiry is so cool! We have a really cool branch with some really cool members! I don't know everyone yet but I will over time! We have three really cool progressing investigators right now: Bri, Sandy, and Jonathan! They are all progressing very well and I'll keep you updated on them! The geographical aspect is cool too! It's just sand paths with huts lining the sides! We have such a cool area and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Now concerning Skype! I can't believe it's already Christmas! Elder Turner and I are planning on coming to the Cyber on Christmas morning at about 8 Madagascar time! It should be pretty close to 10 pm Mountain Standard day on Christmas Eve when we skype! So sorry but that's the only time we can come on Christmas! If that doesn't work we'll just try again the next day! Hope that doesn't ruin anything but that's probably when it's going to happen!

That's about it for the week! I hope you all have an awesome Christmas and that you all remember the true meaning behind it! I love ya'll so much and Tratran' ny Krismasy!

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

NEW AREA

MORE OF NEW AREA



Transfered.....To the Beach!

Hey Everyone!

Boy do I have some crazy news for ya'll! This last week was transfer week and it turns out that I'm leaving Ambohimanarina here and Tana and I'm heading out to an area called Tamatav!!!!! Tamatav is on the East coast of Madagascar and is the second biggest city here in Madagascar! It's about 8 or 9 hours outside of Tana buy taxi bus and it's a bike riding area! My new companion will be Elder Turner who is already out there and I can't wait! Most importantly I'm going to the beach!!! 

We were able to ask him a few questions about the transfer and here is his response:

I leave tomorrow at 5:00 pm and I will be getting there by taxi bus which is about the size of an airport shuttle! I should be arriving in Tamatave at about 2:00 am.  I'll be traveling with Elder Nelson, Elder Hull, and Elder Bowler.  We are all going to Tamatave but I'll be working in an area called Ankirihiry! There are only 9 elders out in Tamatave and all I really know is that the work is really good, it's hot, and everyone who goes there loves it!  Its a Bike Area and They'll have a bike for me out there! The best cyber in country is actually out in Tamatav so it should be really good! 

Well, that's the big news for the week but I still got a lot more to talk about! Tuesday we had Zone Conference and it was amazing! The AP's and President and Sister Adams did such an amazing job and I learned a lot! They spoke on Pride, Repentance, and Gossip! It was done so well and was so spiritual! Plus at the end we got Sister Adam's cooking! All in all, Tuesday was such a great day! 

The rest of the week we just worked! It was really hard knowing that I probably won't be seeing any of these people anytime soon and I started saying my goodbyes!

I got so many pictures of so many incredible people here in Ambohimanarina and I'm going to miss them a lot! We had so many progressing investigators who are so prepared for baptism it's crazy! They now have a special place in my heart and I'll always remember them! That's really about it for the week! We just visited people all week because we knew at least one of us was leaving and it turned out to be me!

I'm so pumped to go out to Tamatav and I've heard so many great things about it, but Ambohimanarina will always be in my heart!   The people I've met and the friends I've made can only be described as an incredible blessing in my life! The church still has a long ways to go here in Mada but it is continuing to grow through these amazing people!

I love them so much and I don't want to leave them but I have too! I know that the Lord knows me and knows where I need to be and That's Tamatav! I can't wait to get out there and create new experiences with other Malagasies! I know that I'll love Tamatav! 

I hope ya'll have a great week and that you're preparing for Christmas! Only 10 more days until I can see ya'll and talk with ya'll! I love ya'll so much and Tratra ny Krismasy!

Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEEK

Some "Stripling Warriors"

Last photo of "Tana" for a while

Investigators Tsimangiki and Sava

. Investigators Yanta, Flavien, and Sylvie

. Investigators Yanta, Flavien, and Sylvie w/ Elder Hein

Branch Mission Leader Fr. Tojo

The big three! Branch Mission Leader, Branch President and Branch Clerk

Norbert's Family

Elder Stringbean with a duck

Elder Hein, Norbert, Elder Stringfellow

Elder Stringfellow with Norbert and Family

Some of the Ward Members

Most diligent member in Madagascar Fr. Solofo and family

 

Tratra ny Krismasy!!

(NOTE) Ryan's parents sent him a Christmas package on October 24th.  It didn't contain much as we were limited to 4 lbs., but we did our best to give him some of the comforts of home.  One of the presents was a blanket that had 80 + digital images of Ryan's life and our family printed on it.  Ryan received his package yesterday at the mission home and he opened it up.  He was allowed by his mission president to send a quick email home telling everyone he received it....Here is his response...

Hey everyone,

Elder Hein and I are in the Cyber right now typing up area reports for the zone and we have permission to send home a note saying we got our Christmas packages! Don't worry, I'm not being maditra (naughty) or anything sending this home when it's not P-day! I hope you don't get mad at me but I couldn't wait to open it! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE BLANKET! That is literally the best Christmas gift I have ever received and I can't thank you enough! Oh, and the American food was also really nice! Anyways, thank you so much again for the package! I love you all! Tratra ny Krismasy!!

Love,

Elder Stringfellow

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

 

Got the Package

\

Opened the Package

Upcoming Transfers...

Hey Everyone!

Tratra ny Krismasy! I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Even though it's summer here and is still really hot you can still feel the Christmas spirit! In two weeks I get to Skype with most of ya'll and I can't wait! Now on to the week!

This week was a crazy week and I have a lot of really cool stories. To start off on Tuesday Elder Hein and I taught the poorest family we've been to so far....They live in a one room house with no electricity or running water. They have a dirt floor and the only two things in the house were a twin bed for the parents and a candle sitting on the window ledge. All seven kids sleep on the dirt floor and they only have one set of clothing. It literally broke my heart when I walked in. It's really humbling being here in Mada and seeing the poverty all around. I'm just really grateful for what I have and were I live. If you get the chance please read the talk by Elder Holland that he gave in this last conference. It has changed my life!

Sorry to start off with a sad story but I got some better ones! Yanta, Flavien, and Sylvie all passed their baptism interviews! They'll be getting baptized on Dec. 20! Either Elder Hein or I wont be here but it's all good! Personally, I think Elder Hein will leave and become AP but we'll wait and see, haha!

I also went on another split with Elder Rasafamandimby. He still speaks no English but this time I was able to talk with him a lot more! It was a really good split other than we got caught in the rain and all the streets and rice patties flooded. Just walking down the street I had water up to my mid calf! Haha, we got super wet but It was such a good experience!

Our stats this week were through the roof! Our district of three companionships alone had 60 lessons taught! It was a really tough week and we came home dead every night but it was so worth it!

That's about it for the week! Tomorrow we have Zone Conference and I can't wait! It's my last week with Elder Hein and we're going to kill it. I'm super bummed that we're almost done working together but I'm finally done with the training program! The mission just keeps getting faster and faster each week! I don't have a lot of pics this week just because we were so busy but next week I should have a lot because we will be getting pics with investigators and members! I love you all so much and I hope ya'll have a great week!

Love,

Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Their Area

Elder Cooley and Elder Stringfellow (Both Bountiful Braves) 
Ryan is not Sunburned just red faced from running home at night, according to him.

Their Area Again

Wild Life

Elder Hein, Elder Hein's Trainer, Elder Srtringfellow



Thanksgiving Success...

Hey Everyone!

I can't believe it's already December! Today marks my two month mark here in country and I can't believe it. This week was such an incredible week with it being Thanksgiving and all and I can't wait to tell you about it.

First off, on Tuesday I went on a split with Elder Cooley in his area!  The split was awesome! It was super nice to have somebody from your own hometown to work with! Elder Cooley is doing great and his progressing in the language. We honestly talked the whole day and it was really cool to here some of his stories. Elder Cooley is one heck of a missionary and I love him so much!
 
Thursday was THANKSGIVING! Our house went all out and we had a killer Thanksgiving! We killed our Turkey in the morning and then went out and worked all day! We came home and cut up the Turkey with some vegetables and threw it in the oven for about two hours. While it was cooking we made cream corn, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and brownies! It was for sure one of my most memorable Thanksgivings! I got pics so I'll send them home!
 
The rest of the week Elder Hein and I worked our tail's off! We ended the week with 27 hours of work with 22 lessons! That's the best week we've had so far. Right now we are teaching a lot of new people and we contacted into a professional soccer player from Nigeria who is playing here in Mada. He's a baller! He's had a really rough time here in Mada but he thinks he still has a shot at going big. We shared a little spiritual thought with him the other day and it was amazing.

The really cool thing about it is that we teach him in English! Not going to lie but it's a little weird teaching in English and I much rather prefer Malagasy. Hopefully he continues to learn from us and that he accepts our message!

I have good news about our investigators! Yanta and Flavien want to get baptized before either Elder Hein or I leaves. We're pushing for Dec. 13 and if they get baptized on that day that means that the 11 year old girl, Sylvie, who lives with them will get baptized too!

Tsimangiki and Sava fixed their papers and are going to go pick up the last one today so they too could get baptized on Dec. 13. Norbert is Norbert! He and his family are doing great and they can't wait to get baptized in January! Oh, the church still isn't finished but hopefully we start going there this month!

 
That's about it for the week! It was such an amazing week! With it being Thanksgiving it made me really realize what I'm thankful for! I am especially thankful for my family and friends. I don't know where I would be without them right now but I'm glad with where I'm at. Ya'll mean the world to me and I hope ya'll had an amazing Thanksgiving!

Only 25 more days till Christmas! I don't know where I'll be or who I'll be with but I'll make sure to Skype with ya'll. I love ya'll so much and have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Found a Chameleon

Rainforest

Rainbow 1

Rainbow 2

The Turkey

The Turkey Crew

Pre-Chop



Happy Missionary

Turkey Dinner

The Table Setting

Sitting down for dinner

 

Poop Balls used for Fire

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hey Everyone!

This week marks our 3 month mark here on the mission! Time is flying by and the weeks just feel shorter and shorter! It's been one crazy week but I sure did enjoy it! To start off I went on another split this week and I got to lead it again in our area! I went with Elder Cyusa who is from Rawanda! He's a baller! Luckily he knew English but he doesn't know any Malagasy! I got to speak the whole day in Malagasy and I really know a lot more than what I thought I knew! Probably the best split I've been on so far and tomorrow I'm going on a split with Elder Cooley! I'm sure the two boys from Bountiful are going to have fun tomorrow!

The news about our baptisms on Nov. 29 isn't looking too good....Tsimangiki and Sava still don't have all their papers but they should be getting them soon! Elder Hein figured out their problem and hopefully it doesn't take too long! As of right now we don't have any baptisms for Nov. 29 but hopefully we'll have a couple in Dec. Sylvie, who we just started teaching is an 11 year girl who lives with Yanta and Flavien and I bet she gets baptized in Dec. Gina is still uncertain if she should be baptized right now but I think she will be in Dec. so keep your fingers crossed! Right now Elder Hein and I tract a lot and we are teaching a lot of new people! Oh, and Norbert is doing great! He was super exited to show us his new background on his phone which was a picture of the savior! Such a baller! I can't wait till he gets baptized even if I'm in a different area!
 

This weekend we had Stake Conference! It was really boring and I don't really know what was going on but we did get some really good/funny pictures of us in our suits! I'll make sure to send them home!  Church still isn't finished as of right now but rumor has it that it was finished yesterday! Elder Hein and I have been in there a hundred times and it looks finished so keep your fingers crossed!

Well, it's Thanksgiving this week and to start off the week right we had a Turkey Bowl! Lot's of fun I can't wait for Thanksgiving mainly because we have a Turkey living in the garage and we're going to kill it and eat it on Thursday! Super Pumped!

That's about it for the week! I got a ton of pics and I'll send them home! I think about and pray for ya'll everyday and I hope for the best! I love ya'll so much and I hope ya'll have a great week!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Love

Elder Stringfellow

MADA PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Rice Fields

More Rice Fields

A Dog

Spider in Tree

Spider Up Close - Ryan said it was as big as his face

Elder Stringfellow

Wearing a suit and climbing on the roof

Sitting on the roof wearing a suit

Deep Thoughts

Future Bishopric

Still wearing suits

GQ'ing it

Turkey Bowl for P-Day

Best Week So Far...

Hey Everyone!

It's been one of the best weeks here in Country so far! To start off the week on Tuesday night we had to say goodbye to Elder Koplin's comp, Elder Rasakamandimby. It was really hard to say goodbye to him because we all got so close to him but he's going to go kill it out in Antsirabe!

Wednesday! Probably the best day I've had in the mission so far! Because Elder Rasakamandimby left Elder Koplin got to come on a split with Elder Hein and I. We had so much fun!!! We had to jump accross some polluted streams and we got some pretty funny videos! We also have some really good pics and I'll make sure to send them home! That night Elder Koplin got his new comp, Elder Razazarohavana. He is a Baller! He and Elder Koplin are going to get their area going and I can't wait to see what stats they pull!

The rest of the week we just worked but Elder Hein and I pulled the best stats we've had so far! There were a lot of highs to this week but their was also a few lows. The biggest low was with our investigators Yanta and Flavien. They're completely fine and they have their marriage papers and they are completely prepared for baptism. The only thing the have to do know is sign one of their marriage paper but they want to have a party when they sign it and Yanta wants her dad to be there. Only problem is that he lives 14 hours away and probably can't afford the trip until January. So, along with Norbert and his family they wont be getting baptized until January which stinks because either Elder Hein or I wont be here because of the upcoming transfer. Tsimangiki and Sava are our only hope for getting baptized on Nov. 29. We should know buy this week if everything is in order so keep your fingers crossed.

The church still isn't finished but we might have stake conference their this week which I'm super pumped about! All that's left is water and electricity and then the church will be ready. I know I've said this a lot but OUR CHURCH IS WAY TO SMALL! We really need this church finished because once it is our branch will become a ward!

I don't really know what's left to talk about. I'm doing really good and I'm really beginning to love the Malagasy people! They aren't the nicest people at first but once they realize that these two white dudes don't speak French they turn into the nicest people in the world! To tell you the truth the mission just feels like it's flying by right now! I can't believe I'm at my 3 month mark! Honestly the fastest three months of my life! I love being a missionary and I love being here in Madagascar! It's not always easy to adjust to life here but it's well worth the experience! Thank you so much for all the prayers that you give for the missionaries. I really can feel them influence my work! I love you all so much and I can't wait to tell you about this next week!

Love,

Elder Stringfellow

PHOTOS/VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

Elder Koplin and Elder Stringfellow

Soccer Field Where the Missionaries Play

Elder Koplin and Elder Hein