"When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at them." (Luke 7:9) - August 1, 2022

Spiritual Thought 

The scriptures contain many ways in which we can learn how to follow our Savior, what he values, and how to develop those attributes.  The New Testament is unique in that we are able to follow the mortal ministry of Christ and gain unique perspective because of it.  We are able to see the reaction of the Savior in a variety of circumstances.

On one occasion, a Roman Centurion approached the Savior and asked him to heal his servant, a bold move for a leader in the military tasked with controlling the Jewish people.  After hearing this believing Roman's request the scriptures say the Savior "marveled at him" then declared "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."  Obviously the faith of this man impressed our Savior.  Certainly he rejoiced to hear a Roman military leader, one who had lived his entire life worshipping a multitude of pagan gods, declare his belief in the only true God.  This man possessed the courage to recognize truth when it was placed before him.  As a result the Master "marveled at him" and praised the greatness of his faith.

In the verse preceding the Master's praise of this man we gain deeper insight into just what it was which impressed the Savior.  Verse eight states:

"For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."

This Roman Centurion recognized he was a man of power.  He had achieved a level of success which few others would even approach.  His decisions influenced lives and he was a leader in the most powerful military in the world.  He had every worldly reason to ignore the humble teacher who some professed to be the Messiah.  In fact, approaching this man would enrage his superiors who feared this man was a threat to their power and would have jeopardized not only his position, but his life.  It would have been easier to smother the feeling which stirred in his soul and bask in the light of his worldly success.  Yet, he did not do that.  He approached the Master, proclaimed his faith in him, and received praise from the Savior in return, the only praise which is ever important.  

The faith required because of this Romans worldly success was not lost on our Savior who knows and understands all things.  Neither will our own sacrifices go unnoticed by Him.  Like this Roman so long ago we have been blessed with more worldly comforts and success than many in this world can imagine.  The world would tell us to ignore the source of such blessings and embrace the styles of the world.  However, if we follow the example of a Roman Centurion in need of a miracle we too will have the opportunity to show our Master He is the only thing which we truly value or depend on.  My prayer is each of us will also have the Savior marvel at our faith and proclaim "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Weekly Update 

Hello everyone,

Well, the first week of the transfer is over and I am still not in my area.  None of the American missionaries can leave Antananarivo until our visas are finalized.  That was supposed to be done on Friday but it wasn't.  Hopefully they will be finished on Wednesday and we can leave on Thursday or Friday.  Until then I'm still here in Antananarivo.

This week was mostly spent going to visa appointments, start of transfer meetings, and trying to help my companion figure out our area from a distance (we're whitewashing which makes this even more fun).

The amazing thing about Madagascar is that if you are stuck in your area for an extra four days that is plenty of time to baptize someone.  We have been teaching someone named Marinah and she told us on Friday she wants to be baptized.  We are trying to hold the baptism on Wednesday evening so I can be there.  Hopefully it happens while I am here but regardless, I'm excited to see her make her first covenant and am amazed at how receptive the people here are to the Gospel.  The field truly is white and ready to harvest.

This might be my shortest email from Madagascar because I can't think of anything else interesting to say.  Basically this week was a lot of meetings and start-and-stop packing.  I don't even have any good bus stories (which might be a good thing).  I guess the only other moderately interesting thing was when I realized in the middle of zone conference the pews were not bolted to the floor.  I don't fit anywhere over here so my knees were jammed against the pew in front of me like normal.  After a little while I moved a bit and felt the pew shift.  It was pretty exciting to actually have leg room!  The bad part was then I was tempted to slide around the chapel on a pew like little kids do with kitchen chairs.  Maybe I'll do that my last transfer.

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Payne 

Playing basketball on p-day.  It's pretty sad for the other guys when I start thinking I could be in the NBA.

A really neat chapel in Antananarivo.

The massive ketchup section at the store.  I don't know why it's so big because I don't think I've had ketchup yet.

With a family we are teaching.

We were meeting with one of our bishopric members and his three year old son asked me to help him draw a missionary.  He reminded me a lot of my brother who is about the same age.  Ah, kids!!

With the Vero family.  These are some of the most missionary-minded members I have ever met.  They set up lessons with nonmembers on their own then call us throughout the day and ask if we're available at a certain time because they just set up another lesson for us.  

Zone conference in Madagascar equals a five-gallon bucket full of rice.

Everybody says Elder Fergus and I look like brothers.  I asked if all Americans look the same and they said it's just us.  We swapped nametags and took a picture.  You decide.

With the Elders from La Réunion.  I wish we saw them more because I liked them a lot.  From L-R: Elders Segastegui and Jensen, Me, Elders Davies and Bertrand.

Yes, we ordered five pizzas.  Why?  Well, there are actually several reasons.  1) It's cheap here.  Like a 4,000/1 exchange rate kind of cheap. 2) We're fat, spoiled Americans.  3) We've all accepted we'll be in a state of varying degrees of hunger until we're back in America.  When you find food, you'd better take it.  Clockwise from me: Elders Lewis, Fergus, Kunkel, Flake, Mahatsiry, Evans, Peterson.

We walked across the potential Temple site.  Now you can imagine a Temple being built here.

I actually thought these were Corn Dogs and didn't take one because I'm not hungry enough yet to ignore the churning feeling in my stomach when I thought that's what was being passed around.  A minute later though the mission president came up to me with the basket and told me I should try one.  I couldn't really get out of it and I'm so glad because these Corn Dogs have Bananas instead of hot dogs and, my goodness, they are unreal!  They're good to the point you wonder if they're against the Word of Wisdom but just keep eating because you can plead ignorance.  I'm now an addict attending tri-weekly meetings with the other Vaza missionaries.

Looking across the rice paddies to the south side of Antananarivo.  Mahafinaritra be Madagasikara (Madagascar is very beautiful).

There are bananas trees everywhere. 

This bus has its front right and back left tires off the ground.  It's trying to go over the gutter and angled wrong.  We stood on the back with some other people to try and weigh it down enough for the tire to touch the ground.  It worked!

The monument in the middle of Antananarivo. I need to learn more about the history behind it (feel free to Google that and email me back) but it is really neat.