Mada Chad in March

Hey,

Everything’s going well.
I actually haven’t seen Craig yet, nor have I been able to call because he’s been with the AP’s the whole time. Right as we were leaving town for Island Conference I saw him in their car which we randomly passed, so we saw each other and waved but that’s about all. I know his trainer, he is probably the funniest guy in the mission, and he’s way funny. He’ll have a lot of fun, plus, he’s in Andoharanofotsy. I might call Claude and tell him not to make fun of Craig too much, ha, ha. But he’ll be teaching Dudy and those guys, so he’ll have fun. Plus, the hotelys there are superb and very clean, so he won’t just get sick. He’s very lucky. He’ll be living with Elder Squire (his trainer), Elder Ervin from the MTC, and Elder Ervin’s mini. Tell his mom (if you talk a lot) that he is the furthest area away from the city besides province, so he’s too safe. You can’t get further away from the city and the conflict, plus when the elders are locked up in that area Claude comes over and makes them delicious rice and loaka, so he’s lucky. I’ll give him a call tonight, though.


Island Conference was awesome. Elder Parmley is awesome, he’s the seventy and he is so funny and such a great speaker! I really enjoyed it, na dia karotana be aza ny firenena. He gave a great talk and answered the questions exactly like we expected. They shipped us out fifteen minutes before Craig showed up at the office, I was like: “Hey, can’t we just stay for fifteen minutes?” I should have asked president Gaya or the office couple, but I asked the worst person I could ask (the driver) who is awesome but he’s just keeping the schedule the Gaya’s ask him too. So I just missed him and randomly saw him in the car on the way out of town. It was really random because Antsiribe is south of Tana and the Airport is on the far north. There are roadblocks everywhere in tana so that Andri can feel like he’s in control of something else too (he’s so power hungry) so I bet that’s why. I hope he’s not freaked out, I can’t imagine what I would have done my first week if it was like this.

Anyway, work in Antsiribe is still going smoothly. We work completely normal hours now and we’re not worried at all. The only annoying thing now is we have to call president Gaya every day and let him know if there’re any problems down here (which there never are). Ha, ha, yea, they’re really concerned for us and looking out for us well, it’s been good.

I got the packages, one from the bishop, one from Grandma and Ken, and the St. Patrick’s day one from you guys! Loved it so much! Those things are delicious, the only problem now is rashioning them. Thanks, and they stay way fresh in that bag.

I’m glad Jason had a good time in the All-star game, that’s great. I hope he gets to play in the Yo-murphy game, because that one was a blast! But way cool he got to be in that game! Dad, I only got a letter that says: “I forgot to mention…” I think that means you sent one before, so sorry if I didn’t respond to something, but I didn't get it.

The work is going really well. We have several families progressing well, it’s been good. I don’t really have any stories today, we were in Tana for most of the week.

The Kitchen we built was cool. It’s very sturdy, like nothing Malagasies have ever dreamed of! Elder Bowouhis (or however you spell his name) is very good at construction, so it was built very well. The bikes are fun, but they always break. It’s much better than walking, though. Interesting you mentioned rice fields people, we went and did a cool service project out there today (we didn’t do much service, just dug up a few weeds, but it was cool).
Okay, I’d better run. I guess I’ll talk to you next week. Don’t worry, I’m safe. I’ll talk to you later,

Elder the Chad

Is it over

Can the Basketball season really be over???
It was a great year, there were great kids on the team and they all had fun, even if the wins/losses don't show success....it was successful.

It was an honor for Jason to have been chosen to be on the area all star team, it was fun! from ally oops on, they boys really put on a show and had a great time!










Then we had the closing basketball banquet..thanks for the generous

gifts and Coach Monk's kind words.

Once again, it was a great year!

photos from Elder The Chad at Antsiribe

Mada Chad letter, March 9, 2009

Hello,

Everything is great down here in mada. The war actually picked up again, I still think it will slow down again, but who knows… at least it’s not affecting the work anymore.

Transfer news was good, I’m actually staying exactly the same as is everyone in the house! I’m excited, it should be fun.

Thanks for what you said about souvenirs! There are a lot of awesome yet cheap little trinkets I wanted to buy, but I didn’t want to go overboard. Thanks, I’ll be wise but make sure to get enough.

I’m sorry, I don’t know if the packages came yet, I’m sure they have, but I’m still in Antsiribe. I’m going up to Tana later today, so I’ll know later today. I’ll let you know next week, but I’m sure they made it. Grandma Burton knows how to use a computer? Weird, but cool!

Anything you send go ahead and send the same size I came with, I can always get them re-sized here for cheap (seriously about a dime a shirt) if needed. The exception of course is pants, those ones you sent before are perfect, so just stick with that size, or around there… I can always resize.

Mom, the missionary calendars are the best idea you’ve had! I seriously love and need that thing so I don’t forget things, and for the pictures. I use that thing at investigators and members houses when they want to see pictures from home and stuff. Really, it’s awesome. Love it. I would even say you could make a bigger one if you want, with bigger and more pictures… because I use those a lot.

The little pee girl is baptized (I think it’s a fun name). I think it’s really going to motivate her family to progress, though her dad didn’t even come to church to see her confirmed the little lazy twit (just kidding… but seriously). Her real name is Antenaina (I probably spelled it wrong, ahn-tay-neye-na with the accent over the neye) and it means, well, I use it like hope, I don’t think that’s a perfect translation though. (in the BoM it uses it for things hoped for which are not seen).

Um, yea I want you to come, definitely without any sort of a doubt. And don’t worry about the war, even if it is still going on it’s safe as long as you stay away from downtown tana, which is easy. The people causing the problem aren’t even dangerous, there have even been white people downtown with them (not missionaries). They can’t afford guns or weapons or anything, so they just get together and stand there until they get board and do something stupid! The only danger is when they do something stupid and the police have to use force to slow them down, but they’re completely under control by the government, just stupid. In short, start looking for plane tickets now so they’re cheap. Seriously, the only thing that would stop me from wanting you to come is if it’s a financial burden, but even then just go into debt (ha, ha). Elder Tolbert’s parents are coming in a few months with no fear. Come, seriously, it’s a long time away, but I really do want you to come

Yup, Sean Donelly is his name, I’m excited but I’m going to miss president Gaya, he’s so cool. I love the Gayas, I’m going to miss them so much.

I don’t think there is a good excuse to miss March Madness, and I hope you’ve repented and decided to make it a yearly thing again when I come back. Ha, ha, but really, that was one of my favorite things ever to do, it was such a fun experience and it gets you so into the tourney. Good for BYU, they better not go out round 1 again.

Good for Jason making the All-star team, I hope that’s fun. And mom, baseball is not your last sport unless you’ve decided to not go to my kids’ sports games… duh

Okay, one work story then I’d better go. It’s kind of funny. I was at church and I was greeting people at the door like normal. The members usually greet each other and talk out front for a while, so when I saw this family standing together I thought nothing of it. Then the meeting started and everyone was inside except this one family. They were nervously looking at me and whispering and pointing and stuff. I laughed. Then they said to one of their younger siblings “Ndao, andramana,” which means go, try. I laughed as she walked up to me apprehensively and looked at my hand as she slowly reached out to shake it. I think she was trying to copy my handshake. As soon as our hands met she stopped, started at the hands, turned around, and ran back to her family. I laughed and realized they thought I was standing there and only letting people in if they gave me a certain handshake (confirmed later). I laughed and walked over to them. I said: “hello, are you new?” They hadn’t noticed with me before and looked over nervously and said: “what?” I said slowly, very ununciation every syllable: “are you new, have you prayed with us before?” The mom said: “No, is that okay.” I laughed really hard at how nervous she was. I said: “Of course it’s okay, we’re happy to receive you today (it’s a polite greeting in Malagasy), come in.” They ran past me into the building and sat down in the back. I laughed and pulled up a chair next to them so I could explain everything to them. I explained the sacrament, told them it was completely okay for them to take the sacrament if they wanted (she was so nervous when the tray came around, I had already explained it to her). I don’t know why they were so nervous, but after the sacrament they settled down and went to class. They really relaxed in class. I sat by them and joked with them, trying to help them settle down. By the end the spirit touched them, they had completely relaxed and I saw her nodding politely at good points made by the teacher. Anyway, I approached them after church and introduced them to Elder Tolbert. They live in my area and they came to church based on two street contacts, one they had gotten when they lived in Tana and one here. They were relaxed happy and smiling by the end, just completely enveloped by the spirit. I’m excited to teach them. It’s cool though, greeting someone politely, inviting them in, sitting by them, explaining the sacrament and the like are all things I could and would have done before the mission... and something all members can do. Now as a missionary I am called to do it. I kind of realize now, more than ever, that members are just missionaries who don’t have to do what missionaries do, they just should. It’s easy to be nice and do those things, we just should learn to do it even if we’re not called to.

Anyway that’s the fatsam-panay I leave with you today (it means spiritual food, how they say spiritual thought), ha, ha. I kind of have to run, we’ve got to get up to tana today if possible for Island Conference. I’ll talk to you later,

Elder The Chad.

Elder Bones Elder Skin and Bones

Madagascar may still be at war, but the US Embassy has determined that the Missionaries and other Americans there are not being targeted so.....the Missionaries have returned to their work!

9th row

After the disappointing loss......including the only foul out of his entire career.....the Jazz game was able to help ease the pain! Here they are from their seats.....they met Brady and Nate at dinner....neither knew the other was coming. They enjoyed watching the Jazz including Darren Williams play New Orleans & Chris Paul, they enjoyed the two elevate their games as they played each other, it was great! The buffet at Little America was great and it had been a while since either had been at Temple Square. They enjoyed talking to the missionaries there and they said the spirit was strong. It was a great weekend!......on to baseball ~ tryouts Friday!

Happy Holidays to our family and friends....
See Brett and Afton's blog, (they are much better at it than I am) Brett is at
BYU Business School and Afton is in Dental Hygiene School, they are happy in Provo.
Enjoy picts from Madagascar and our skinny Elder...
Jason is playing basketball now, football ended in November, baseball just ahead!
Details about Taylor's internship will be posted when available.

May you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2009...

Love Brian, Jill .... and fam! (including Creamy...oh he needs a picture!)