Dear Family & Friends,

We had a great week welcoming four new missionaries to Madagascar. This is always a busy and fun time. On the day they arrive the air was polluted and you couldn't see more than 30 ft. It wasn't a great day for breathing. We did get a short down pour in the evening, which was a welcome relief. We are so impressed with these valiant young men that serve here. They are strong and have great testimonies of their Savior Jesus Christ. Sister Adams and Sister Cornelius fed the new Elders, couples, and A.P's a meal Wed. evening and Thursday at lunch we fed the missionaries, trainers, and A.P's. For both meals there was no water to do the dishes or to wash our hands. The water came on later so the dishes had to be done by Sister Adams because we had all left to go home. Being a mission President's wife is very busy with shopping, cooking, and traveling. This weekend they are traveling to Fort Dauphin to open a new branch down there and meet with the missionaries. The missionaries here are having problems with fleas and mosquitoes. When you say don't let the bed bugs bite here, you are serious, not just being polite. Mosquito nets are a must this time of year. One Elder who arrived two months ago has bites all over his body, poor guy. Sister Cornelius has only a few, for now. Elder Cornelius is lucky they don't like his blood. Sister Cornelius has been asked to speak at a Young Women's Conference Nov. 3 and we will be starting an English class that day as well in the afternoon. We have a lot of young people here that want to learn English from Americans. We have many non members who are in the currant classes on Friday that the missionaries teach and they have gotten referrals from that class taught here at the Church. Teaching English is what the missionaries do for service 1-2 hours a week throughout Tana. We would like to encourage all of you to reread Elder Holland's talk for Conference. It was such a powerful message we all can read and reread. Our mission President encouraged all of us to do this as well. 

Attached is some pictures of the Jacarando Tree that is in bloom all over Tana It has purple blossoms that look like bells. In the October Liahona there is an article about two girls from Madagascar, Sophie and Elodie. Their father is a counselor to President Adams in the Mission Presidency. We wondered if the article was in the Children's Friend as well. There is a picture of the purple blossoms in that article. In closing we leave you with this thought from 2 Nephi 4:35 "Yea, Lord I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore, I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. We send our love and prayers. Elder & Sister Cornelius