Elder Walker James Wolfgramm: January 2017

Monday, January 30, 2017

Jan 29th - Natalie came to church

Well this week was a great week. We had interviews with president this week which was way cool to talk to him about life and the people and missionary work. I love president foote he is really like an apostle. All the things he says are just what needs to be said, he works 120% with the spirit. we also were supposed to have the world wide missionary broadcast this week, but the power was out most of the week so we never were able to watch it, but I am
excited to see what the brethren have to say about missionary work this week.

We also had one of our awesome investigators come to church, Natalie is her name, she is so cool. She brought her son to church with her, but her husband never came. We are going to have to fix that. Also this week we had a homeless man come into church on sunday, and I told him to come sit by me.

He started speaking in french and pulled basically everything out of his pockets, took his hat off, and put it all in his hat. He put cigarettes, weed, 1000 ari ari which is like 25 cents, a spoon, a half burned stick and matches, with other assorted good that A homeless person would have. Then he gave the hat to me and said it was for the church. I told him we don't take money at our church, but he is crazy and started speaking french and making a ruckus, so I calmed him down and told him it was ok and I snuck the hat back into his bag with out him seeing, (but I grabbed the cigarettes and the weed). Then he took his socks and shoes off and got dirt all over the floor I told him that at church we sit good, and we listen. he immediately went into a prayer pose and was silent. After a minute he went through his bag and pulled out the hat and placed it next to me and then pulled out a bible with a picture of joseph smith in it and was saying stuff in french about it. Then he showed me his old photo of when he was in the military, I couldn't believe it was him. He also had to big papers of awards and medals for acts of service in the military. I had some questions for him but every question I asked he would say the same thing in french and then he gave me the hat with the stuff and said this is for the church got up and ran out. I was so confused. I am hoping that I
will be able to see him again maybe he will come back next week.

That is basically it for the week. I am doing well and loving Madagascar.

I hope everyone is safe and enjoying the snow, I am hanging out in
beautiful weather, with no power.

mandrapion
Elder Wolfgramm

Monday, January 23, 2017

Jan 23rd - Antananarivo

Well this week was really kind of crazy with transfers at first I was going with an Elder named Wilmont but then I changed areas and companions and ended up with Elder Nortje who is way cool, he is from South Africa and is just a super cool guy. I am in a area called Sabotsy Namehana which is a way cool area in Tana where the people are ready to listen to the gospel. I am way excited to start the work here. I don't really have any cool stories from this week I am just trying to figure out this area and the people in it. The ride from tamatave was way long and hard, but I am way glad to be here in Antananarivo and do the work here, that is all I got for the week, Next week I will fill in all the details from the area and the work.

I am doing good, but I am way happy. I LOVE this mission,

Elder Wolfgramm

Monday, January 16, 2017

Jan 16th - New Area & New Companion

Walker decided to do his Letter in a Voice Recording. So We have attached a audio recording of his letter.

Enjoy

January 16th Audio Recording

Monday, January 9, 2017

Jan 9th - Another Week

This week was a good week. Elder Tainter was really sick this week so we didn't work on Tuesday but other than that it was a great week. The Ap's came down I was able to go on three splits with them and I was able to learn a lot. We also had 21 baptisms as a Zone which is basically a small branch.

The Highlight of the week was definitely when I was in a lesson on Wednesday with an investigator's family, the father's name is Piere and in the lesson Piere had some questions about baptism, he was telling us that he believed without a doubt that the church he was baptized in before was not the true church of god. He also said that he believed that the authority to baptize had been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. We were able to give the whole family baptismal dates for March 3rd and told them that they had to come to our church and they could be taught a lot more about us and our church. So Sunday rolls around and no sign of him or his family. They only live about 2 minutes from the church. So I waited and church started and there was no sign of him. We had to do the confirmations for the 4 people from our branch that got baptized and in the meantime a investigator named sabrina walked in, who I had not seen for a while they moved away and just moved back into the area, it was great to see her back at church again. They passed the sacrament and still no sign of him or his family. the sacrament finished and finally about 6 people walked in and it was Piere and his whole family. They had a great time in church and were able to hear the testimonies of me as well as many others. Also Piere saw the photo of the temples and had a lot of good questions about the temples and it got him way excited. iI was awesome to see how the truth touches the hearts of the people. and through the holy ghost all can feel the love of heavenly father.

I love how I am able to see the gospel bless the lives of so many people, I know it brings joy into everyone's lives that let it.

Enjoy the good times the gospel brings, and have a great year.

Elder Wolfgramm

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Monday, January 2, 2017

Jan 2nd - Happy New Year

What a great year, As I thought of this past year I thought of all the fun times I had all the experiences I had, and most of them were here on my mission. I have absolutely enjoyed this opportunity that I have had to serve the people of madagascar and I am looking forward to the year of 2017 to serve these people with all my heart might mind and strength.

This week has been a good week, we were able to teach a ton of lessons because a lot of people were not working with the holidays. We finished up the baptismal records for 3 of our investigators. and we have one more that needs to get done this week. We had a surprise on thursday when our investigators invited us to there wedding. It was kind of weird going to a malagasy wedding but way fun. they are now able to be baptized on the 7th. There names are Mammy, and Tahirin. They were a referral from mammy who is a less active, and I have been able to teach Tahrin through all the lessons. It has been fun to see him grow and progress.

One of my favorite lessons this week was with an investigator we have named Isabell. I don't know if I have talked about Isabell at all yet but let me give the backstory, Isabell was found by Elder Lingani the day he left to come get me from office. he never taught her just gave her a book. Elder lingani and I were able to teach her all the lessons but were having some issues baptizing her because some things she had done prior in her life. She is an old woman now about 65 years old and super sweet and nice. She has finished the book of mormon completely and is in section 83 of the fotopampianarina sy fanakapiavana. I have been able to see her whole life change around and see joy come back into her life. Yesterday we finished up the baptismal record for her and she is getting baptised next week. I was able to hear her testimony and feel her love for this church, it was wonderful.

I have loved the opportunity to see so many lives change because of the gospel and the teachings with in. I know that through the gospel you can see real happiness in your life. You can count on the savior for anything.

Elder Wolfgramm

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