2007 December 10--Fruits of His Labor

Hi there,

Snow? We're in the humid 90's down here and I'm sweating as I write this. Christmas just isn't the same here. I'm hoping the Mission office will just leave us alone this year. I don't really feel like Christmas caroling in this kind of weather ( that and I've had people throw rocks at my head for just walking down the street, I don't want to know what would happen to the white guy that was singing down the street here.)

Anyway, this week was good. Yesterday, We had 5 baptisms. Elder W was able to baptize someone and give a talk in Malagasy, both for the first time. He did a good job.

As I was sitting at church yesterday, I realized that many of the people in attendance were people that I had taught at some point during my time here in this ward. I realized that most of them were already, or on their way to being baptized. I decided to write a list of names of people that I had taught who have been baptized since I've moved into this ward. I was amazed. Chronologically (sort of):

Njara, Aina, Andre, Rahasoa, Serphine, Marie, Lydia, Jacky, Lala, Lova, Esther, Fanja, Ilay Kely, Vivian, Rahavavy hafan'ny Lova, Eddy, Claudine, Toby, Vonjy, Vero, Lea, Bean, Ernest and Estelle

I have taught all of these people from the time I was with Wg until now in this ward and I've been privileged to see all of them be baptized. ( I've even baptized a few of them), and there are more people I'm teaching right now that I hope to see baptized at the beginning of the year. And all of those just named were at sacrament meeting yesterday. I just feel blessed is all. I've been working so hard and I haven't had too much time to sit back and think about it. Some days, I feel like I'm not really making that much of a difference, and every district meeting and zone conference is on "what are we doing wrong?" or " the missionaries in "such-and-such" place are such better missionaries than you are, they always do... they never do...... and blah blah blah." Why can't we just have a meeting that says " hooray for our side!" or " good job Elders, keep up the good work"? ( or better yet, how about " no meeting at all" this week, see ya next week:)

Anyway, I love you all. It will be nice to talk to you all on Christmas. I'll send you the information next week. OK then, Veloma!

Elder Draper