Thursday February 22, 2012

This week we have had a financial trainer from South Africa here at our office training Grandpa. Her name is Sarika. She is very nice and has helped a lot with what Grandpa has been worried about not knowing about. We went to a nice French restaurant on Tuesday night with her and the Donnelly's. The ice cream and pizza were delicious. It has rained every evening this week and is about to start again. I can hear the thunder and see the black clouds. We are doing well and getting used to things here. We are both learning our responsibilities and are feeling more comfortable. We have leaned on the Lord for help and we have been blessed in many ways in our responsibilities. He has answered our prayers and has helped us adjust and learn what we need to learn. We have learned that we can't do this work without him on our side. It has also been comforting to have your eternal companion by your side to face the challenges. We have grown closer from facing these challenges. We love all of you and appreciate your prayers and emails. Hope you have a great weekend. Love, Dad & Mom; Bruce & Arlene

Thursday February 16, 2012

Just wanted to say hi and let you know that everything is going well for us here in Tana. Sister Cornelius went shopping today with Sister Donnelly. It took us three hours, but I got some things I needed. It's starting to lightly rain here. We are on day 39 of  our mission. We are starting to catch on to most things
and are feeling more comfortable. We have the Area Seventy Elder Soares coming on March 1 to visit Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar. We love all of you and miss you a lot. Hope you are all doing well, we pray for you every day.  Here is a report and pictures of the Cyclone.

Initial report on the cyclone.  Giovanna - level 4 cyclone.
Madagascar 14th Feb.

1.      All missionaries were well prepared and warned and all accounted for now
2.      Pictures attached show damage around the mission office area, (one
block) no major catastrophe here in capital, it is typical of the
damage in affected areas as well
3.      Mainly mud slides, fences, roofs, trees, localized flooding
4.      Tamatave /Toamasina, all Ok, mud slide on our land there, one
member house destroyed by tree- leaders assisting
5.      Worst hit area in Antananarivo is Sabotsy Namehana, where there was
a huge flooding of 400mtres after river burst banks
6.      In the provinces of the mission worst hit was Moramanga (a group
there and 2 missionaries), but all members and missionaries OK
7.      Still no electricity in worst hit areas, and internet just returning
8.      Airport now reopened in Tamatave and Tana

We survived well.  The cities will recover quickly, municipalities
have already cleared felled trees and are cleaning debris very
quickly.

Monday February 13, 2012

Just a short note to let you know that we are about to get hit with a
Tropical Cyclone. It is very strong and the island is going to take a
direct hit. It is now packing 115 mph sustained winds and will hit the
cosat as a cat 4 storm. We are in it's path. It should lose some of
it's strength as it comes inland, but it is aimed at us. The US Embassy
has issued a number of warnings so we are up to speed on what to do. I
think we will be OK, but you never know. We do know that the power
will be out, and that there will be problems. It is very dark and
cloudy right now. Pray for us, and we will too. No matter what we will
be in the Lord's Care. We love all of you and don't worry too much.  I
know Ha Ha-I just want to tell you. It should hit our area tomorrow
afternoon some time. Know that we love all of you.
Tropical Storm Link

Friday February 11, 2012

Here is a short summary of what we did this week. On Wednesday we had 6 new missionaries arrive here. They just came from the MTC and were excited to begin their work here, but were also tired from the long trip. Three of the Elders are from Utah. We had dinner with all of them at the President's house Wed. night. On Thursday, three more Elders came from the MTC in Ghana. They are native Malagasy missionaries and will serve here. The office was full of energetic Elders and one Sister, as they got their new assignments and trainers. We got to feel of their spirits and desire to serve. We have been busy but blessed this week. We are adjusting more to the lifestyle and conditions every day. When things don't go right here, or don't seem to be going fast enough, or seem strange, or unexplainable; we just say, "That's Madagascar." It truly is an unexplainable place, like no other. With the interaction that we've had with the people here, we have found them to be truly loved by God. They are very humble people who are full of love and kindness. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways as we are trying to learn our responsibilities. Thank you for your prayers and support. We love all of you. Elder & Sister Cornelius

Saturday February 4, 2012

This week we worked in the office everyday and kept very busy trying to learn all that needs to be done in a mission office. We have met many wonderful, humble people here. They are very friendly and surprisingly, a lot speak English that come into the office. The people here are taught French and Malagasy in Elementary, and then they learn English later. They smile and wave to you and are very kind. We have struggled with the language when trying to read emails and doing reports in French. The baptismal report for Dec. & Jan. showed 128 baptisms. The gospel is being spread throughout the land. There are two groups going to the temple in Johannesburg this month, 5 families will go on the 13th and 6 more on the 20th.  They are the people who will help build up the kingdom here, and they will be the future leaders of the church here. We are adjusting to the work, culture and eating, but we miss all of you. Its warm and humid here, and it rained very hard on Wednesday.

Thursday February 2, 2012

News from the other side of the world: 

It rained last night like I have never seen before. The power went out,
and we lit candles and just sat and watched it rain. Lightning was
flashing everywhere and the thunder was very loud. After about an hour,
the power came back on and all was well again. We are doing better
every day. We still do not know much, and I think it may be hard on
President Donnelly because he needs help. I never knew just how much
is expected from a Mission President. He is on the go all the time.
This mission is the size of Texas, and he has to cover it day after
day. He truly is a great man. We hope all of you are doing great. We
love you all so much. Have a wonderful day.

That is all the pictures we have taken so far.

Love you All

President Donnelly and our Office Creature

A shot of the King's Castle taken from our Apartment Downstairs

The hill that the Castles are on

Our Car

A shot taken from the Mission office looking down

A Shot at the King's Castle From our Up Stairs Veranda.

A picture of the Queen's Castle from our upstairs veranda

Our friendly Green Lizard

Me in front of the famous tree where the mission was dedicated.

Sister Cornelius in front of the same tree

This is a house where people live along side of the mission Office

The next few pictures are of the general living conditions in the area.