The Week

Dear Family,

I hope that your week was filled with just as much excitement as mine was.  I was thinking a lot about you all this week cause I knew that summer was coming to a close and that some of the families health was not doing so hot.  So you were all on my mind a little more this week.  Let me tell you about my week, it was awesome!

So, Monday through Thursday we worked with Elder Tavo.  His comp transferred out and so we were in a trio with him.  He is from the island called vanuatu.  Pretty crazy place. We had a great time with him as we taught lots of times and visited lots of great people.  Things started to get crazy on Thursday night. 

We got home from work and I was greeted by a huge hug from Elder Morley and Elder Yeagley!! The APs drove all of the elders to thier areas.  So there were about 20 elders that piled into our house.  3 or 4 of them were brand new right out of the MTC.  One of them is living with us.  That night I stayed up till about 12 and just chatted with Elder Godfrey who I worked with in Tamatave and Elder Stringfellow who is training in our house.  Love those guys.  The next morning, Elder Stringfellow was supposed to take the elders to the bus stop so they could finish thier journey down to fianarantsoa, but he was so so sick.  Luckily I had my international drivers license with me. I drove the elders to the bus stop and got them off with the APs. 

Friday, I wanted the new trainee to get out to work, so I stayed home with string while his trainee, becker, went out with obioma.  I made rolls, studied in my scriptures... pretty boring day. 

New thing that we have been dealing with all weekend was the Manandona elders.  Thats elder Yeagley.  Well they have a truck to take them to thier area which is a 30 minute drive from where they live.  Elder Yeagley does not have a license... so I have had to take them down and pick them up every day.  Been real fun.  (read with sarcasm) 

Sunday was probably one of the best sundays I have had in country.  We picked up that amazing family, Michel and Tina and they came to church with us.  They loved it.  We had 13 investigators total at church which was just a blessing! 

I continue to love my mission with all my heart.  I am learning so  much from everything that I do!  I love you all very much.   Here are some of the pictures I took. 

All my Love

Elder Herrin

That was the district before the really tall guy went home.  Elder Tavo is the short black one

This is Michel and Tina... The best

Elder Obioma and I are chefs... fish tacos.  TO DIE FOR!!

Me by the door of our investigators house... a house for midgets

Elder Obioma playing with kids...

That Transfer went Quick

Dear Family,

How are we all doing this week?  From what I read in your email, it looks like things are going well.  Summer seems to be treating you all very well.  As long as you are all happy and healthy.  I pray for you each and every day.  I hope you know that.  My week was just amazing, as if all the other weeks were not. 
This week, the work went so well.  For our companionship study this week, we decided to study about fasting.  We read in Isaiah 58.  So much that I didnt understand, but thats when a companion like Elder Obioma comes in handy.  I also was in the process of  making a test during studies, but I will get to that later.  Studies were just great this week.

As for the actual proselyting part of things, just the best.  We taught a total of 33 times, but that means nothing to me.  We could have taught one time, and as long as that time helped someone, then it was a successful week.  But we had some of the most amazing times this week.  I must share one of those experiences. 

On Saturday night we went to teach Michel and Tina.  I think that I have talked about them before.  But we went and we had planned to talk about baptism, the 1st ordinace of the gospel.  When we invited them to be baptized earlier, they hesitated, but after some thought, accepted.  We went in wanting to really explain the "why" of needing to be baptized.  We read in FF 20 about the correct way to be baptized.  We shared the baptismal covenant.  And they just asked great questions.  "What about baptism for small children?"  We turned to Moronia and read in ch. 8 and we shared examples that just made sense to them.  The coolest thing happened as we were about to leave.  Michel (the father) said that he wanted to share testimony that he knew that the gospel that we were sharing and teaching was true.  He told us that he has seen a change in his life, and in the life of his family.  His wife then cut in and told us what she was feeling through story.  She told us that when Sundays rolled around the two of them used to fight cause he was catholic and she was Lutheran.  Nothing ever got done she said.  Then she said that they fight no more and she knew that it was because of the teaching that we brought to her family.  I mean, you should be crying as you read this.  It was just amazing.  The spirit was so strong.  They gave us a bowl of rice to share after the prayer (of what little they had).  Just amazing.  Times like that make the work of the Lord worth the 2 years. 

Immediately after that time, we went to a members house who had a daughter that was recently baptized.  Last week I gave them some homework to read (alma 17-19) and said that there would be a test.  Sort of joking around as I said that, the 4 girls started jumping for joy when I said that.  So, I spent all week making a test for them.  None of them passed.  It was so funny to watch the mother try and take the test without looking back to the scriptures for help.  It was really fun.  Next week it is articles of faith that they all need to know. 

I am so so so grateful to be serving here.  I love this area and I love the companion that I am serving along side.  I know that this is the work of the Lord and that his gospel can bless us all.  I love you all.  I love being a missionary!

Elder Herrin

Pictures next week!  My comp messed up, forgive him!

Just Solid

Dear Family,

How are we all doin this week?  Have we recovered from the parties from the 4th of July?  It sounds like everyones 4th was just awesome, I cant wait to party with you all on the 4th next year.  I had just a solid week of preaching the gospel.  And no week would be complete without some fun mada surprises!

This week Elder Obioma and I worked real hard.  At the end of the week, we had taught 31 lessons and had 31 hours of total proselyting time.  We started off the week great.  We found some new people to teach.  We had member help with us too.  Ranjato is his name and his family actually made the back cover of the July 2015 Liahona.  Ranjato served a mission in South Africa and is fluent in english, so it was fun to teach with him. On wednesday, we had a zone meeting where elder obioma gave a great lesson about setting goals and becoming better people.  Elder Mumford, an elder who is in the same house with me (who also goes home in a week) bore his testimony and began to cry.  It hit him, that this is it.  It was a cool meeting, cause after elder obioma and I made lunch for the zone.  They were all impressed.  I went on a split with elder mumford that day and got to know him.  He is such a great missionary.  The rest of the week went just as well as the beginning of the week. 

On Saturday morning... the craziest thing happened.  But, unfortunately, I am not going to tell you about it.  At 2 in the morning, my companion and I went to the home of an investigator to witness a "fomba gas"  I would love to tell you about it, but I could not put it into words.  It is the CRAZIEST thing I have seen in Mada yet.  It will be epic when you see the video I got. sorry.

On Sunday, yet another surprise hit us.  Brother Aldous (my MTC teacher) showed up to the church!!  I was ecstatic to give him a hug. He will be here for 2 weeks.  He has extrememly long jesus hair but he has still got the malagasy.  He actually came and helped us teach on sunday.  On sunday we also made a stop to the hospital cause one of our members is sick.  I had the opportunity to give her a blessing.  Her name is:  Nomenjanahary Voahirana Dina Hasana Zoeline.  Yaa that was fun to say.  I felt so blessed that I had the preisthood and worthy to use it. 

I love you all so much.  SMILE.  never forget that!  I love being a missionary!

Elder Herrin

The way malagasys dry clothes

A couple of real cute kids.  Moroni is one of thier names

Brother Aldous and I

Too Much for One Title

Dear Family,

How are you all doing?  How was the wondrful 4th of July?  It looks like you all had a bunch of fun.  I can only imagine what it was like in the states.  I hope that you are all smiling.  The other day I shared a little spiritial thought about that scripture that says spiritually minded is life eternal.  SMILE.  Love that.  It has definitely helped me on my mission.  This week was just insane, let me tell you!

This week was Krusty Krab Pizza Week.  On Monday, we spent our entire day making pizzas, for every single evening.  I will attach some of the pictures from that lovely tasteful adventure.  We ended up with like 12 pizzas in the freezer, quite a site.  Then we had a soiree with a returned missionary in the branch... rice!!  Woohoo!  Hahaha. 

The week went well in terms of teaching.  I have a funny story to share.  We have been teaching this less active family that was baptized in 2009.  They are a really great family and are just humble. We had just shared the message of the restoration of the gospel and I was saying the closing prayer.  While I was praying, one of the many chickens that were running around on the floor jumped up onto my lap.  You can bet that it kind of through me off.  But the spirit of the Lord prevailed.  Hahaha, I heard my comp kind of chuckle because it startled me so much, but I continued to pray, with my eyes open, just to make sure no more funny business was gonna happen. 

There was also a lesson that was just so great, I have to share it.  We have taught this family for about 2 weeks now, so maybe been in thier house 3 times.  We were teaching about the plan os salvation and the things that we need to do here in this life in order to return to live with God.  Baptism.  My companion kind of openly just asked them if they would be willing to follow Jesus Christs example, and be baptized with the correct authority on the earth.  Like all malagasys, they kinda were shocked, and responded with, "efa vita batisa izahay"  Which is we are already baptized.  At that point, my companion and I just beautifully constructed two testimony's with the help of scriptures to help them understand the need of the baptism again.  I also shared that we did not force anyone into baptism, but we shared that we know this must be done in order for happiness to join the family.  It was great when the mother just kinda said, well im in.  And the husband followed suit. 

Soo, we got a new mission president also.  On Saturday night as we were headed to our last lesson, we got a call from the AP's saying that they were on thier way down to Antsirabe that moment with President Foote to come meet the zone.  The dude is just a huge ball of joy.  He is like the happiest man alive.  He wants to have so much fun and just "set the place on fire" according to his words.  I think he is going to be a lot of fun. 

Just a last note.  Do not eat overdue food.  It will DESTROY you.  I almost thought that for one moment I was going to be that Elder to join the poop your pants club as I slept.  But I held tight, literally.  Still clean.

Anyway, I love you all so much.  I thank you for all the support and prayers.  They are felt here in Madagascar.  I love being a missionary!

ELder Herrin