Here is a brief video of a native Madagascar instrument, the Valiha.

                         

The third weekend of January we flew to Fort Dauphin at the southern tip of Madagascar. We had great church meetings and training. We met with the missionaries, Elders Rasmussen and Morgan.

These poor elders have to look at this view from their front window every day. 

The next weekend we made the eight hour drive to Ambositra and Fianarantsoa over very curvy mountainous roads with "car eating" pot holes. The ride was beautiful, but taxing. We had great experiences with our members and missionaries when we arrived.

At the beginning of February we flew back to Reunion. Our trip was delayed a few days because of a class 4 cyclone that passed between Reunion and Madagascar. These are not uncommon in this neighborhood this time of year. I had to interview all of the branch presidents, choose a new district president (like choosing a stake president), call counselors and have a full day zone conference with the missionaries. All of this in about a day and a half. We had a few hours to see some beautiful sights. The photos below are from the Salazie Valley in the center of the island. It is one of the most spectacular places on earth.

Anna at the beach with Sister Heap

The day after our return from Reunion we were visited by our dear friends, Randy and Jann Paul from Highland, Utah. Randy served in the Franco-Belgium Mission with us and then was my college roommate. Their son Jeron was one of the first four missionaries to serve in Madagascar, before it was a mission. He taught and baptized Roger Rakotomamonjy who is in the photo with his wife Prisca. Roger is now the stake president of the Manakambahiny Stake, one of the two stakes here in Madagascar. The next day Randy, Jann, Anna and I traveled to Andasibe to the lemur reserve in the mountain rainforest to have an experience with those little animals. 

The last photo is of a cute little girl we saw at one of the wards we visited.

We returned today from a trip to Antsirabe, 3 hours south, for Zone Conference, District branch presidents training, a branch conference and to look at property to construct a new and larger church for the Andranomaneletra Branch that we just formed a few weeks ago. The countryside this time of year is very green and beautiful. We are becoming quite familiar with the route. Below is a photo of what I call the valley of the carrots. That is not its real name, but it is the only place where one sees large roadside stands with carrots.

Back in Antananarivo, looking across the valley from our church/ mission office and home complex (in the foreground in the photo) on the top of the hill in the distance one can see the Rova, or the Queens Palace.

Recently we drove up there for a tour of the palace grounds and a wonderful view of the whole Antananarivo area.

We just received the photo of our mission president group from the seminar in Johannesburg in November.

 front row Left to Right:  Pres. and Sister Kretley, Mozanbique Maputo Mission ; Area Presidency: Elder and Sister Soares; Elder and Sister Renlund (Area President); Elder and Sister Cook; Pres. and Sister Reber, Johannesburg MTC;
back row Left to Right:   Pres. and Sister Broadbent, Kenya Nairobi Mission; Pres. and Sister Jameson, Congo Kinshasa Mission; President and Sister Wood, South Africa Cape Town Mission; Pres. and Sister Padovich, Zambia Lusaka Mission; Pres. and Sister Adams, Madagascar Antananarivo Mission; Pres. and Sister Cook, Zimbabwe Harare Mission; Pres. and Sister Jackson, Uganda Kampala Mission; Pres. and Sister von Stetten, South Africa Durban Mission; Pres. and Sister Omer, South Africa Johannesburg Mission; Pres. and Sister McMullin, Congo Lubumbashi Mission

Two weeks ago we traveled by car to Antsirabe (three hours south) to reorganize the branch of Ambohimena and to create the branch of Andranomoneletra. I, with one of my counselors, spent most of the day interviewing for new branch leaders, and 18 priesthood advancements. The next morning in the Ambohimena branch we had 259 at sacrament meeting for the reorganization at 8am. 

We then had to drive about 12 miles north to the Andranomaneletra group (which was started less than 2 years ago) for the branch creation. They are meeting in a rented house with a capacity of about 60 in the main room. The children were packed into a room across the hall. At this sacrament meeting we had 134 in attendance with many sitting outside the open windows. I have sent an urgent request to the Area Presidency in Johannesburg for the construction of a new building.

We spent Christmas with the senior missionaries and couples. Earlier we attended a Christmas party for the employees that work with and for the Mission. We also enjoyed video conference calls with of our children and grandchildren.

Yesterday Anna and I spent a few hours with Elders Ewell and Smith teaching lessons in the inner city of Antananarivo. We had a lot of fun. We were quickly surrounded by happy children where ever we went. This area is very humble and the people are really very nice. The homes we visited were each about 8x10 feet inside. The ally ways were no more than a couple of feet wide. I don't know how the missionaries find their way in these literal mazes.

This week we said goodbye to Elder and Sister Gray who returned to England after serving as Humanitarian Service Missionaries. This humble couple, working through translators, over the past eighteen months have accomplished amazing projects which have significantly affected the lives of almost sixty thousand people living in many villages and towns. They were honored last week in a ceremony personally hosted by the Minister of Health for their contribution to the country of Madagascar. Many of their projects involved the installation of clean running water in areas where people would often have to walk long distances daily to obtain and carry back drinking water.  Other work included hygiene training, neonatal resuscitation, wheel chairs, vision and dental services. This work has had a real impact on the perception of the Church in this country. Sister Gray also served as our nurse and handled the medical problems for the missionaries in this challenging medical environment. They worked literally up until the last minute, even meeting with people in the airport.  In my final interview with them they expressed how, in their wildest dreams, they never could have imagined the things they accomplished, the adventures they had, and the impact the people they met had on their lives. They are "poster seniors" for a senior couple mission.

Last weekend we flew to Mahajanga on the northwest coast to meet with our two missionaries there and to be with the members for Sunday meetings and training. This is midsummer and it was pretty hot. We have reduced the missionary force from four to two so that the branch can better assimilate and take care of the new converts. It has actually been growing too fast. Sunday afternoon we spent seven and a half hours (again) waiting for the delayed airplane to arrive. There was only one other person in the  airport for most of that time. Just another day in Madagascar.

The rainy season has arrived, so far with mild temperatures here in Antananarivo, much cleaner air and big evening thunder storms every couple of days. The country side is very green. We have been appreciating more the beauty and charm of parts of this city.

Two weeks ago we were in Mauritius for interviews with the four missionaries, branch meetings and training with the missionaries and members. We had a great time. We had an enjoyable preparation day hiking with the elders in the mountains overlooking Tamarin Bay. At the request of the elders, we also stopped by McDonalds (not found in Madagascar). This one is owned by a Hindu so it has a chicken- only menu.

On our last night we took a long walk on the beach and were blessed to sit for a few minutes on a bench and watch a beautiful sunset over the Indian Ocean. We don't get times like these very often. Typical days start early in the morning and last late into the night, often seven days a week. Occasionally, especially when we are in the islands, we plan in some relaxation time.

 I had a remarkable experience this morning. One of the top candidates for the presidency of Madagascar, who is also the president of the Green Party for all of Africa, and her husband showed up, unannounced, at my office to talk to me. They spoke of their respect for the church and what it was doing in this country. We talked of the humanitarian work and especially water projects. They wanted our "blessing" for the honorable things they were trying to do for their country. They were looking for a platform to present their ideas to church members. I told them that, as a church, we could not endorse a political candidate but we do endorse honesty and a real concern for the country and the people. They were very respectful and said it was an honor to talk to me.  I was very impressed.

What happened this morning may be known by only a few people, but the fact that it happened at all is really significant for the perception of the church in Madagascar. Doors are opening to many  levels of this society. I feel we are being very blessed. 

We had an enjoyable day with the missionaries in Tomatave on the northeast coast for interviews and member leadership training. I have included photos of the pouspous local transportation in Tamatave plus some other random photos.