February 9, 2013

Another week has passed and we are happy for the weekend to get caught up on shopping, laundry, and house cleaning. That's always something to look forward to right? We had another busy week at the office. There is always things to do to fill the day. After entering the 2012 baptism records we ended up with 1,019 baptisms for the year. We think that puts us over 10,000 members. One problem we have here is retention, many of the members don't accept new converts and aren't very friendly with them. We have an investigator in our ward that was offended by some sisters in Relief Society, so she won't attend. She leaves after Sunday School. It just reminds us that we need to be careful of what we say and try hard to fellowship investigators and make them feel welcome. In another Branch the Branch President's wife told a lady that she wasn't welcome in their church and not to come back. Needless to say her husband was released. Because most of these people are new in the gospel they have many things to learn. Elder Cornelius answers a lot of questions in Elders Quorum meetings each Sunday that the members have. He is teaching a lot of gospel principles that they don't quite understand.
We heard that you had 8 small earthquakes on Thursday. We hope there was no damage there.
We are having a lot of rain here in the evenings and the mornings are very pleasant. The clouds build up in the afternoon and dump on us in the evenings. We have had a lot of rain this month,over 7 inches so far.
In a talk given by Jeffrey R. Holland to the missionaries in the M.T.C. in January 2013 he gave this formula by which we can know if we are measuring up to the Lord's expectations: "Seek to be personally converted, obey the rules of the mission (or commandments), strive to have the Spirit of the Lord in your life, and work hard. These are things every (member) & missionary can do." I have added the words in parenthesis  to make it apply to us. "If you do those things, I promise you in the name of the Lord and with the authority of my office, you are a success in His eyes."
We send our love and testimony to each of you that the gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to go forth throughout the world, and that as more people embrace his gospel lives will be changed for the better and it will be a better world to live in. We do love and appreciate all of you for your support and prayers for us. May each of you feel of his love for you. Elder & Sister Cornelius

Picture 1137 is of our neighbors below the office drying their laundry on the lawn, they don't have electric dryers so they dry the laundry on rocks, lawns, or wherever they can. 

Picture 1170 is a unique contrast in worlds with oxen, or Zebu here, pulling a cart and a modern sign selling toothpaste. 

Picture 1175 is an open market meat stand. You can buy fresh meat here and enjoy it along with the flies and dirt. We don't buy it here, but the Malagasy people do. 

The last picture 1190 is of a turtle that our neighbors have in their yard. We see it when we walk around our apartment complex.