First off, this area is doing awesome. The missionary work is going pretty fantastic. We have some really great families that we are working with, and that are really progressing. Some of our best investigators are Don and Domoina, with their two kids Dylan and Darrell. Don works for a cruise ship company and have been all over the world. He's been to Miami, Thailand, London, Cape Town South Africa, and many more places. So, long story short, way cool people. Also, we have some other investigators that are doing really well, which we are way excited for. Also, we had a baptism this last Saturday, which I will tell you all more about in a bit.
Second question: I am working in a branch, not a ward, because Tamatave is currently a district, so it's all branches as of now. But the goal is to be a stake in the near future. But our branch of Ambolomadinka is actually kind of struggling as of right now. We only get about sixty people or so at sacrament meeting, and the branch president is missing in action a lot of the time, because he works a TON (apparently). So that is causing some problems in our branch, but we are trying to work it out and work more with the members to help them get excited about missionary work and help them participate more in the work.
Third: happiest part of the week was probably seeing one of our investigators, Randrianasolo Raymond, commit himself and be baptized this last Saturday. Starting off though, it was kind of a crazy experience. Here's how it went: We get to the church at noon to start preparing the baptism at two, and we find that there is another branch party going on in the building. Come to find out, our branch president didn't contact anyone and tell them the fact that we were having a baptism, like he should have, and so the scheduled got all messed up. Also, no one had started filling the font, and the water pressure was terrible, so the font wasn't going to be full until about six or seven at night. So I'm there running around the church building, pulling my hair out and trying to figure out some way to get this baptism on track. Then, my wonderful companion Elder Smithson makes a comment intended as a joke but in reality was revelation: "Hey, let's do it at the ocean!" I laugh for a second, until I realize that that is a perfectly acceptable and probable course of action. So, I call President Foote and ask him for permission, which permission was given. And also, little side note, for whatever reason even though I hardly know the guy, he chose me to baptize him. So, to condense the rest of the story, I baptized him in the ocean this last Saturday at about three o'clock in the afternoon, and it turned out to be an overall great experience for everyone. Also, the testimony he bore after he was baptized is truly what made it the happiest experience of my week. He just bore a simple, sincere testimony, that he knows the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and he knows that this church is God's true church on the earth, because of what the church has done for his life. He is a changed man because of this church, and he has seen countless blessings in his life due to this church.
And now, lastly, my mom asked me my thoughts about the attributes of a true disciple of Jesus Christ and how we can develop them in our life. And honestly, that's a pretty simple question. I feel like the simplicity of Malagasy conveys my feelings pretty effectively: Ny mpianatr'i Jesoa Kristy marina dia mitaratra Azy. Translated: The true disciple of Jesus Christ reflects Him. What that word "mitaratra" means in Malagasy is to reflect, but in every possible sense. In other words, a true disciple of Christ acts like Christ, follows Christ, does what Christ did, and tries to emulate Christ in every possible way. A true disciple of Christ brings Christ's name with him wherever he goes, and always acts in accordance to the knowledge that he is a follower of Jesus Christ, and should not or cannot do anything that will desecrate or degrade the sacred, holy name that he brings with him. The true disciple of Christ keeps in mind the fact that He is a follower and "reflector" of Christ, and acts in accordance to that. He never checks his discipleship at the door, and never leaves it behind, because it is truly a part of him. And there are only two things we can do to gain that: ask God for those attributes, then go get to work and try your best to be the disciple of Christ you want to be. Of course you'll fall short from time to time, but God will help you. And if you're willing to give him your heart, then He has the power to change it. Then, as you strive to be that person, you will become the person and disciple that you can be. So just work your hardest, try your best, and ask God for the help you need.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for today and that is how this week has been. Thank you all again for being so great to me and helping me every step of the way out here. I hope you all know that you are awesome and I love you all!
Am-pitiavana,
Elder Snell
 |
| Here are pictures from the baptism on Saturday. Yes, Raymond is VERY short, and yes, I look like a giant standing next to him. |
 |
| A picture with Raymond's family, who are not members. |
 |
| Saw this kid with a U of U shirt and had to get a picture of it, just because I'm from there. :P Weird to see that in Madagascar! |
 |
| More adorable Malagasy kids! |
 |
| This cute little boy just came up and randomly hugged me around the legs. |
 |
| My companion, Elder Smithson |
 |
| Super strange what I saw on the top of the door the other day. |
