Email this week 4/6/2010

Here is Bug's email home this week.. I thought you would all like an update. He is not allowed to have anyone but immediate family use his email but, we posted an address below for you to send letters.

Hey,
Tell everyone that I said thankyou so much for all of the emails. Even though I can only respond to you it is really good to hear from all of you. Ya it is crazy that the relief society presidents name is *****. God works in mysterious ways huh? She has us over for dinner every monday night. Last night we went on splits and went to her house. The other elder I went with was Elder **** from the MTC. So we were still pretty new at Malagasy. Well when they got there, she asked us to give her son a blessing. I am scared giving blessings in English let alone Malagasy. So I was very nervous. I felt alittle bad because the blessing was in half english half Malagasy. But I know that they felt the spirit just as strong as I did. What was crazy though was the power of blessings. As soon as I started giving the blessing. Immediately he started throwing up. EVERY WHERE!!! I think someone on the other side didnt want the priesthood blessing, because he was throwing up all over me. I got the impression to just keep going though. So I would wait till he could catch his breath, and continue, and pause again when he started to throw up again. What is cool though, is as soon as I finished saying the blessing, he stopped throwing up. He seemed perfectly fine. It was crazy cool. I was so shocked at how quickly the blessing was working.
There is some crazy cool people here. We have a lady who is about 50 years old. WHich is pretty old for a Malagasy, and she wanted to go on a mission too. But she didnt have the money, nor could she leave her family. So her and another woman in the ward went out trackting, to go and find referrals for us. I am so amazed at this people. We also set two more baptism dates. They are two girls by the name of **, and ***. If all goes right *** will be in the picture I send in the next email right after this. Their brother is amazing. He cannot walk because he is crippled. So he rides this bike that you peddle with your hands, like five miles to church every sunday. I cannot believe the faith of this people, and I thought that it was hard for us to go to church. They literally have to make church an all day event.
So sorry that I didnt email yesterday, Because of Easter they all take monday off and celibrate with their families. So nothing was open. So we couldnt go to any cyber cafes. So alittle bit about the culture here. haha oh boy there is a lot. Ummm. ok so we ride everywhere in what we call taxi bes. It is almost the size of an suv, or a hippies 70 van. Well they cram about 30-35 people in these vans. haha There is no such think as a social bubble here. Hahaha We were in one that was so crammed we had people hanging out the doors hanging on for dear life. Haha and the driver was driving on the wrong side of the road and when a car would come he would just drive on the sidewalk. There were people scrammbling for their lifes, and I was praying for my own life. Haha it is definately an adventure here. They also have this really cool fruit that is red and spiky. IT looks almost like the weight watchers monster from the commercials. Well the inside is white and it tastes like a peeled grape, it is very very good.
So tell kc I am sorry that I couldnt respond to her email in time. I hope that her lesson went ok. I would tell her to read moronis promise in 10:3-5 and cross reference. Also she could use the fruits of the spirit found in galatians. and there are some great scriptures about the spirit in John. Tell dad also thanks for the letters and to keep them coming I am loving them.
I dont think I NEED anything but I would sure love a package. They have no american food here so I would love any easy mac, hamburger helper, but no top ramen, that is the one thing they do have here and I have to eat it a TON. But ya I am loving it here. The mornings can be hard, but as soon as I go into teaching a family, I am reminded of why I am here. It can be very frusterating with the language, it is alot harder than I expected. I am very glad I SYLed in the MTC, but it is still very difficult. But miraculously the people seem to be able to understand me. I dont know how but they do.
There is another family that I just love here. There name is **** and ***. They are the ones that are waiting to get Vita Soratra. (Get their wedding papers) They want to be baptised so bad. And they have so much faith, but they are still waiting on the papers which sucks, but hopefully we can get their papers done by the end of the month.
I agree that you must be ready before baptism. It is a huge life change, and alot of people we are teaching are less active recent converts. So you need to make sure tht they are ready before that make that commitment. But make sure that Markus and Aya continually push for it, because the gift of the holy ghost is a very special gift and a privelage. And is definatley something to work for, and if they have a date, sometimes it is easier to push for that when you can see the goal in sight. However never comprimise someone for the bap date. If you need to push it back. Push it back. Make sure they are ready for it. Because we see so many less actives that we teach every day.
Well I hope that everyone is doing ok. Give everyone a big hug for me, and tell nana I said congrats. I am way excited hopefully I can get these pics open. but the internet in Madagascar sucks way bad. I hear that there is another person from tremonton in the MTC right now. I hear his name is Elder ***. Do you know if we know him or not. If you can forward this to the teachers and maybe they can tell me about him, because the name sounds very familiar.
Well love your guts. I am glad to hear you are having the missionaries over. It is good to get warm meals in. Tell everyone that I love them. Love you tons,
TiaKo be
Elder Madsen