New Year (last weeks letter)

Dear Family,

What a week it has been here on my side of the world.  Last week I was emailing from the Indian Ocean and tonight I am writing from the office.  Both great places, but one just had a really good view.  We really enjoyed that trip and getting to visit with the missionaries and members.  But we had to get back at it in Tana this week.  Big things are happinen'! 

We got back to the office to find a number of patients that were being treated by our mission nurse.  We brought one back from Tamatave with us just to be treated.  We went straight to her house to get the sicklies some soup.  Because I happened to be there, we were able to partake of the great tasting chicken soup.  The next day was a big day.  We had a new missionary coming in!  Just one. 
We got to the airport that day.  We got caught in some really bad traffic and showed up about 10 minutes after the plane landed.  That wasnt too bad because he still had to go through customs and what not before we were able to get our hands on him.  We saw him standing tall in the customs like, about six and a half feet of white body tall.  Straight from Idaho!  He got through and we saw him looking for his luggage.  And then he looked some more.  And just a little bit more.  By this time, I sent my comp in to go and help him.  Yes, the airports security let us in to go help him.  Turns out, that his luggage did not come.  SHOCKER!  ohh Air Madagascar.  Elder Thompson is gonna be a great Elder.  He was so happy to be here and he just could not comprehend all that went on in this insane country as we drove him to the office.  It was a special circumstance this day too, because... President Foote was not there.  He was on another island saying goodbye to one of the senior couples and welcoming their replacements.  Soo, Elder Covey and I played the role of President and Sister Foote.  I think we did a superb job.  We got to the office and got a really cool picture to send to his parents telling them that their son made it safe and sound (and without his bags) to Madagsikara. 

I had a couple of days this week to sit and contemplate about the rest of my mission.  What I want to do, accomplish, see... things like that.  I realized that because I am in the calling that I am serving in, I dont get to see and feel the Holy Ghost as much as I used to.   I also noticed that there were some things that I was doing that were "poking" at the whisperings of the Spirit.  The only reason that I noticed these things was because I was reading a talk (you can call it that).  It was given by a mission president in Florida some time ago and its called "Project Purification".  My companion had it sent to him and I happened to stumble upon it this week.  I loved what it had to say.  As I put myself in the story and tried to apply what the President taught, I noticed that there was great room for improvement.  I took the advice and teachings and have already started to notice the change in myself.  Small things like slang and sarcastic comments can really drive the spirit away.  I will attach the talk if you would like to read it.  I suggest trying it, it would be worth your while. 

The next couple of days were spent being tried and tested.  I was at the airport everyday either taking or picking someone up for transfers.  Every time we tried to get Elder Thompson's baggage.  We got one piece without any trouble.  The next times that we went, we were there for a long time waiting for someone who wasnt even coming.  They wouldnt let us take the bag until a man checked to make sure that we didnt have a gun in the bag.  There is only ONE man that can do that they said.  And he was busy... so we used up all the patience that we had in that one day.  Hahaha.  It is something that I will look back and laugh at.  I just feel bad for Elder Thompson cause he is still missing an entire suit case.  Trooper he is. 

Church was great today.  I have been translating for Jules every week.  He is the recent convert that is deaf.  I am slowly but surely getting better at sign language.  The talks today were on obedience and how important it is to be exactly obedient.  Jules liked to tell me how true the teachings were that he was seeing so I only had to translate half of the talk cause he talked the other half. 

Life is great.  I could not be any happier.  Things are going well.  I am happy, healthy, and feel like nothing could be better than this... well it cant.  Thank you so much for all the prayers and love that were sent my way.  They are felt.  Have a great week.  I love being a missionary!

All my love,

Elder Herrin

Elder Thompson and the crew