Two Chefs in Training, One Goal.

Dear Family,

How are we doing this week?  I hope that we are doing well, happy, and healthy.  You are all constantly in my prayers for those things to come to fruition.  I hope and pray for the well being of all of you.  There is one thing that I can tell you, if you were eating the food that I was cooking, you would be healthier.

Elder Obioma and I have been on this massive drive to learn to cook.  Do I still suck, yaa.  But, am I better than when I got here, ohhh ya!  I will tell you all about my week and the meals that we cooked up to keep us going. 

Tuesday was not as great of a Tuesday as it was last week, in terms of the work.  We only taught a couple of times and got dogged quite a few times.  However, dinner was to die for. We made whats called fry-bread stew.  My companion makes this really good dough, and then he fries it in oil.  I make the stew.  We chop up potatoes, add a can of carrots and peas and with some seasonings it turns out so so so good.  With the fry bread it just is awesome.  We also whipped up some fruit salad. 

Wednesday was the same in terms of the week.  Except, there was one lesson that was just so so cool.  We taught this new family.   Their names are Michel and Tina.  We had taught them the Restoration and we came to their house on Wednesday to share about the Book Of Mormon.  They recieved the message and the Book with open arms.  Literally we asked if they had any questions, and the mother responded with "Raha te-hamaky ity boky ity, dia aiza no ividianay izany?" Which means, if we want to read this book, then where do we buy it?  What every missionary wants to hear.  That night was great.  For dinner we made spaghetti with sauce.  But the perfect touch was the chicked that we prepared that morning.  We seasoned the meat and then I breaded it.  It tasted like chicken from a 5 star restaraunt.  You see what I did there?  Hahaha. 

Thursday and Friday were crazy.  It was the Madagasikara National Independance Day.  It consists of two days.  Thursday night was fireworks and kids walking around with lights.  And Friday was where the families all get together and eat rice.  Well, we ate better than they did.  For dinner on Thursday, we marinated the meat again and put it inside of our grilled cheese sandwiches.  I mean, it was just mouth watering.  It was dangerous the food that we were making cause it made me just want to focus only on cooking.  Friday we made a mashed potato mix thingy.  We added peas and sauce to this wonderful tasty mix of potatoes and goodness.  Saturday was a funny day.  I just wanna tell you how good of a companionship I have.

We got home and we had a little bit more time than usual.  We did a couple of things.  One, we wanted to see who was better at sports in general.  I told him that there wasnt anything that he could beat me in.  So, we had a duel.  First game was a game of hand eye coordination.  Goal was to throw a small ball and make it land on the floor of the competitors side.  I won that game, of course.  So, then he took me outside and said lets go.  We lined up ten yards apart.  Tackle.  Big black man.  Small white kid.  Yaa he won that one... then we went inside and well, we decided to act.  He would give me scene scenarios and I would get into a roll and just go with it.  The best one was a gf/bf who is struggling.  I was the gf (by coin flip) and he was the bf.  I was trying to tell him that it would be better if we split.  We were doing really well until the other two elders in the house started to bust up when ELder Obioma yelled, "I can carry us on my shoulders sweetie!"  Hahahahah.  We died laughing. 

I am loving the work of the Lord right now!  I love my companion, and I love the blessings that I get to see every day!  Here are some of the pictures. 


I love you all so much.  I love being a missionary

Elder Herrin

Obioma and I cooking with the missionary couple trying to look like brock and his american missionaries!

Old man smithers that we talked to.

Obioma giving "dona's" to some of the kids we teach

The Fry-Bread Stew... tooo good for you

Me with that really big family we teach

Mihazakazaka ny fotoana...

Dear Family,

You know, I hope that you all had just as great a week as I did.  I hope that you felt the warm love from our Heavenly Father, that you used the wonderful gift that the atonement has to offer, and that you helped someone in need.  I know that if you can do those things, your lives will be blessed.  Like I said in the title of the email, TIME IS RUNNING!

This week just flew by and I didnt even get a chance to breath.  I wowed my comp last monday by baking up some tasty brownies.  They were pretty good if I dont say so myself.  Then we were back to the grind, the work of the Lord that is. 

Tuesday and Wednesday, Elder Obioma and I were just seeing and feeling the work of the Lord here.  We were talking to so many wonderful people that were ready to recieve the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was just amazing.  Those two days, we only had a couple people of drop us, and when that happened, we were getting in to other houses that were just awesome. 

Thursday was great as well.  We were fed by the missionary couple that works down here in Antsirabe.  It was so good.  The day was just as flavorful as the food.  We contacted a man named Henry who was just so prepared by our Heavenly Father to hear our message.  He told us that he knew there was a reason that we came to his door that day.  Such a testimony builder that was.  That night we got fed, AGAIN, by our District President.  Two times in one day, can you believe that Brock?  haha. 

Friday and Saturday didnt stop.  We had the opportunity to teach a JW... quite an interesting lesson, but we invited him to pray about the message that we shared.  I hope he goes through with it. 

Sunday didnt go quite as well in terms of the work, but it was full of surprises.  Elder Obioma and I were headed down a small path to find one of the less active members.  As we were headed down the path, our less active was running up the path.  We stopped him to ask if he could learn, but he quickly told us that something was happening up the hill. So we followed to see what all the people were gathering for.  We saw nothing.  We saw a guy blowing a whistle and that was it.  As we started to turn away, I noticed a little "hole" and in it were three women.  I walked up to get a better view of what they were doing.  Never before have my eyes witnessed the birth of a baby.  That was until Sunday.  I saw a lost woman, crouched over with a small child, still connected to the ambilical chord, laying on the cold cold dirt.  I could not believe my eyes.  Elder Obioma and I walked away, and as we did, Elder Obioma said to me, "When my wife gives birth, I am not going to be anywhere near it!"  We both shared a good laugh as we continued on with the days work.

Thank you all for your prayers.  I feel them each and every day.  I love you all so much.  I love being a missionary!

All my Love

Elder Herrin

No pictures this week.  The cyber is a little messed up!

Back To the COLD!

Dear Family,

How are you all doing this week?  It was so good to hear from mom again and have her tell me all about the adventures that you had.  I am so excited for Rhet and Maci to do that Trek thing and I am also way stoked to find out how the NBA finals play out!  I hope that you are all doing well, healthy and are smiling.  We live a wonderful life!

Sooo, this week was one for the books! I got transfers on Sunday night and left Tamatave on Tuesday morning.  It was a really long trip.  The bus broke down about a half hour in and we had to wait for another bus to come pick us up.  We left at 7 ish and got to Tana at 5:30... Long trip.  That night was so fun. I said goodbye to Elder Hein as he has finished his mission.  He was someone that I really looked to as a role model on the mission.  And we had a "sleepover" with all of the coolest missionaries.  Elder Davis being one of them.  So good to see him again...

Wednesday morning, we got on another bus and headed down to Antsirabe.  I got there and took a shower, then got to work.  No rest for the missionaries here.  My new companions name is Elder Obioma.  He is a 6'4 black guy.  Yes, I had to include that he was black because he wouldnt be elder obioma if he wasnt black.  He is awesome!  24 years old, convert to the church, and just knows what he is doing on the mission.  He is one of those people that is driven, who wants to work hard, to do whats right.  With all of that being said, my life has changed!  I workout with him every morning... well I try. My body is more sore that it was on a friday night game after Escalon.  I eat at home for every meal.  I am learning to cook.  And I am learning to work hard.  Its amazing what one black man can do for a white man.  Thanks Martin Luther King Jr.  Anyway, Antsirabe is awesome.  I just wanna share a couple of stories with you.

In the Antsirabe Branch there are sooo many returned missionaries.  One of them happens to be ex. sis. Zanarisoa.  She was in my district when I was training... We walked into their home for one of the two soiree's that we have and I heard the words, "Papa!" come out of her mouth.  I was shocked to find her sitting in the house.  It was so nice to sit and talk to her though.  I can actually speak malagasy now.  In terms of the work.  ITs going great. 
This week we found a lot of time to tract.  That was because a lot of people dropped us.  It happened all week.  Then Sunday rolled around.  We had two times in a row with "newer" investigators.  At the end of the restoration of the gospel lesson, I invited them to be baptized.  They both responded with yes and a testimony of how they had been waiting for something like that to happen.  It was so cool.  I am going to love it here, and if I dont freeze to death, I will turn this place into Zion!   I love being a missionary!

All my Love

Elder Herrin

The best family in Tamatave.  Fr. Christophe and his wife and kids.

The bus trip down to Tana...

The one and only Elder Obioma doing some contacting

More Goodbyes

Dear Family,

How are you all doing this week?  First week of summer, summer, summer.  A dip in the pool, a trip to the spa, endless days in my chaise, the whole world according to moi!  Ohh man, Maci was the only one that probably got that.  So, hows sports?  I hear that the warriors-cavs series is just insane.  Ohh man do I miss it!  Life in madagascar is just not slowing down.  Elder Herrin is, once again, moving areas!

I got transferred to Antsirabe!! It is the farmyy part of madagascar.  That means they have really good food for dirt cheap!  That means rice patties.  That means lots of fun.  It is also the coldest place in Madagascar right now, that should be really not fun since I am pretty zatra to the hot hot hot.  So let me tell you of the happenings this week.  Pretty eventful. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were great days.  We taught a total of ten lessons during those two days and were helping two of our investigators prepare for their baptism that they had on Saturday.  One lesson inparticular went to well.  We taught one of those investigators preparing for baptism about the temple.  We taught about the ordinances that we have to opportunity to  in them.  Oh the spirit was so strong as we testifies of the blessings we can recieve from doing temple work.  I miss the temple.  GO, if you have the chance. 

Wednesday and Thursday were quite good as well.  We met with our branch president to go over things for the baptism and after the meeting, he asked if he could help us teach.  I gladly said "yes please please" as we dont have member help often.  He is a baller!  We taught a family and our branch president like killed it in the lesson.  He was so nice to have.  Then I realized he was a returned missionary!  Still ballin!

Friday was a pretty slow day. 

Saturday was Baptism/Basketball day!!  Sooo, in Tamatave right now, there is a huge basketball tournament going on.  Its the "pros" of madagascar playing in a tournament trying to earn a spot on the national team.  One of the malagasy missionaries who is in tamatave right now actually played on the national team before the mission.  So he knew all about the tournament.  Now Elder Herrin knew that he had to teach English at the church at 12 and then the baptism was directly after that.  That meant that I had time in the morning to attend the basketball games.  That also meant that I gave permission for the other elders in the zone to attend as well.  I kinda felt a little bad that we were going during our studies, but come on.  Basketball. 

Baptism went great.  Everyone showed up and things went relatively smoothly.  Nohing really goes smooth as butter here in Madagscar.  I will send some pictures.  Sunday rained all day long, non stop.  Not fun to work in. 

I love you all so much and hope that you are having a great summer so far.  Remember, You can do what you want to do, when you do what youre supposed to do.  Nice.

Elder Herrin

This is a picture of Elder Razakamandimby blowing up a "balloon".  The elders thought that putting these around their feet would keep the water out.  DIdint work.

This week's update

Dear Family,

How are you all doing this week!?  I hope that graduation was fun and exciting.  I hope that you all enjoyed the thrills of the NBA playoffs.  And, I also hope and pray that you are happy and healthy.  "Because Im happpppy, come along, if you feel happy!!"  I hope that your summer looks great, I know that my winter looks awesome. 

So this week was great.  We started off the week great.  But, I have yet another emberassing story to tell.  So on monday night... My companion had returned home to our living quarters and were playing a card game before the other elders had returned home.  We decided that we would play one more game and then go to bed.  As we said that, we heard a small sound come from the kitched.  I figured it was just another lizard (as that it was it usually is).  We finished up the game and i went into the kitchen to brush my teeth (that is the only place with clean water) and I heard something moving in a box we had stored under the microwave.  So, elder herrin being elder herrin, he called for his companion to check it out.  Elder Trujillo walked in and I told him to look in the box.  He, realizing how freaked out I was, grabbed a broom to look and not use his hands.  He tilted the box to see inside and all he saw was something furry.  It was too dark to see.  So he called for me to get him a flash light.  We flashed the light on the box and a RAT the size of a gatorade bottle jumped out of the box and started to run....  This happened and I freaked out.  I screamed for like 5 minutes straight.  We didnt want it to leave the room, so we shut the door and tried to trap it.  I was still sceaming, so loud that a neighbor was frantically banging on the door thinking that something really bad was happening... well there was.  The other elders were still not home... so it was up to Trujillo and I to kill the rat.  We had him  in a corner... but we didnt exactly know where. We were pokin bags of rice and moving this and that.  We probably stood there for 10 minutes before I decided to start moving things. As I moved the microwave, out came ole Johnny!  I freaked again.  He had no where to go, but we had no idea how to kill him.  I grabbed a stick and Trujillo grabbed a pole.  As Johnny started for the door we got into position.  The elders were getting home and they heard me screaming so they ran upstairs and watched from the window as i shouted to not open the door.  I stood back as Trujillo started to swing his pole, furiously.  He was swinging back and forth hitting both the trash can and the oven.  He connected on a swing and Johnny layed limp.  we gave the pole to the malagasy to finish the job... we lit him on fire after that, just to make sure he was not gonna come back... oh good times. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were great teaching days.  We got a lot done and were really making some good progress with our investigators.  On Thursday we had a zone meeting where elder trujillo and I talked about becoming the 4th missionary!  its froma talk given by an old man in 2002.  Its an amazing talk for missionaries and just pushes you to be better and better.  We taught a new family this week who has aleady learned twice from different sets of missionaries.  We hope that he will be ready this time to enter the waters of baptism.  Friday was a little rough as I fell asleep during our studies and didnt wake up until 3... I guess i was just really tired.  We went out to work after that and taught some great times.  We met Alex (who is gettin baptized on Saturday) and we had a little soiree with him.  I made moms or gmas chocolate cookies and they turned out awesome! I love cooking, well, baking.  This week my companion and I made mexican food for a couple meals.  It took forever, but boy was it good. 

We end every week with a meal at Pres. Pauls.  He is the District President here in Tamatave.  He feeds all 10 missionaries every Sunday night.  Such a nice man.  And SUCH GOOD food.  Last night we had cotelette with beans as the laoka. 

I love you all so much.  I feel so blessed to be serving here.  I know that this truly is the Lords work. 

Elder Herrin 

Elder Trujillo, Stringfellow, and I

Cross eyed maybe

Us at Pres. Pauls

The RAT

The mexican food that Trujillo made

Playin Ball