breadfruit here in Tamatave.
Teny Gasy
Short for Fiteny Malagasy which means the Malagasy language.
Velona Izy
"He lives." BEST TESTIMONY EVER.
Mimohy or Mihomehy, Betsimisaraka and Merina versions
It means to laugh. And I feel like the one thing that makes me have a good day no matter what is finding something to laugh about.
Zoky
Older sibling. And then
Zoky Be
is the oldest sibling who usually is the head of the family when the parents die. It's a really important thing here.
Mahafinaritra
It literally means pleasing or delightful. But it's also used as great or awesome or sweet. And life is just so mahafinaritra!
Mifampijery
means to look at each other
Helamàna
Yep. It means Helaman
manoa
Submit. And if we submit to God, we get huge blessings!
Talata
It means Tuesday
orana
Talata
It means Tuesday
orana
It means rain.
Jesoa Kristy
It means Jesus Christ.
bokana
It means ripped/muscular
Krismasy
Christmas. Pronounced just about the same as Christmas.
Vizaka, or dizaka, or rokake, or valaky, depending on which dialect you want
They all mean tired. Exhausted.
Fiara, Trondro or fia
Means fish.
mamo
It means drunk and there are lots of mamo dudes down here,
porofo
It's pronounced proof with a rolled r. Guess what it means. Yep. It means proof. What a shocker. And conference is such a great proof that the Fiangonan'i Jesoa Kristy ho an'ny Olomasin'ny Andro Farany is true.
Mivavaka in official Malagasy and Mivavaky in Antanosy. I know, big difference. (It means prayer) But that's some important stuff right there. Like REALLY important stuff.
Mijery or Magnenty
It means to look at.
Mangatsiaka or Manara or Magnitsy
It means cold. Fort Dauphin is not mangatsiaka or manara or magnitsy, but the water is. Mangatsiaka is also how they describe less actives. Cold hearts.
manoa
Submit. And if we submit to God, we get huge blessings!
fitahiana in the main dialect or fitahia in Antanosy.
(I know, they just drop the last syllable, way different...) but it means blessing.
mitady
It means to search.
gidro
It means monkey. Down here in Fort Dauphin it is also slang for guitar. So... yeah. Cool right? So it brings more meaning to monkeying around...? haha
mahafesy (Antanosy) or mahafantatra (Merina/official dialect)
It means know. And tena mahafesy tenga fa maregna itiky fiangonana itiky. There a lot of things that I know, and the most important ones go like this: I know that God live and He loves me. I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I know that the true gospel in its fulness was restored throught the prophet Joseph Smith. And I know that Thomas S. Monson is truly God's prophet in our day. And I especially know that it is in God's plan for me to have an eternal family and I am so grateful for all y'all in there.
miveraky
It means to sag your pants. So if you see one of them gangster dudes swaggin down the arabe near you in Fort Dauphin, you just glance over and call out a friendly "ka miveraky ra!" And then he will look up with a smile, call "Thanks man!" and hitch his pants up to a decent height. At least, I'm pretty sure that's what he'd do... That's what I would do if I were him...
mandra-pihaona
Until we meet again.
Batisa
It couldn't possibly mean baptism... And since that's so hard, we'll give you an easier one:
tempoly...
Definitely is not the next step after baptism...
Riake, or Ranomasina
It means ocean and I love it a lot.
soa
It means good, so it's essentially the same as tsara, but it's used more down here. And this week has been so soa!
vignitre (I'm not totally positive about the spelling and neither was the guy who said it, but that's how it was said...) the merina version of it is masiaka.
And it means mean! So don't be mean! There, great spiritual thought. I really am a believer in kindness though. It goes pretty far.
mpisava lalana
That means pioneer. And I just want to talk a little about my pioneer heritage. Growing up in Utah I always felt like it would be way cooler if I had a sweet conversion story or a cooler reason why I was a member of the church than "my great great great grandpa was a member..." But after working with all of these pioneers in this very young part of the church, I am so thankful for the solid foundation my ancestors gave me!
Magnanika (if you want the Antanosy version) and Mihanika (if you want the Merina or official dialect version)
It means to climb. Like a tree, mountain, or the side of someone's house... And it's all about that! We're all somewhere in our climb in this life and it's all about just getting a little higher! Sure, you could say climbing is hard work, but you get such beautiful views!
mamaky
It means to read. So when your investigator malala has not been reading it is an important thing to know. Quick testimony about that, with the exception of one person so far on my mission who could not read, I have not had a single investigator who progressed well and got baptized that did not read the Book of Mormon diligently. So, it's like kind of a big deal... So... Go read it. It's true, I promise.
intsony (in the main dialect of Merina) or sasy (if we're going with Antanosy)
It means anymore. So like, "tsy dia salama soa sasy 'zaho." Or, "I'm not super healthy anymore..." Haha I had some close calls this morning with stomache problems, but we're all good!
tetiarana
It means geneology and it's super important, because it's something that all of our wonderful members need to do to go to the temple and to help their ancestors recieve their ordinances too!
Miteny or Mizaka
It means to speak and the first one is in Merina, the official dialect, and the second one is in Anosy, the main dialect around here. And it is the Malagasy Morsel to show that everyone is not speaking what I learned in the MTC down here!!! Haha it's way cool and I'm so pumped I get to learn it!
variana
And it means distracted, and I am super variana right now because I keep just thinking about (leaving Antananarivo and going to) Fort D(auphin).
manatsoboka
It means to dunk in water. Then atsoboka means to BE dunked in water. So while we were waiting for him to come, our Ward Clerk says, "Efa tonga ny mpanatsoboka, kanefa, mbola tsy tonga ny atsoboka." Or, in Anglisy, "The dunker already came, but the dunkee has still not come." Ah yeah!
mivoky
It means to feast, and that is what we did last night. It is also the word that Nephi says when he says we need to feast on the words of Christ. It just changes a little to Mivokisa which is about as direct of a command as it gets. And so we need to do that! Feast on the words of Christ and they will tell us all things what we should do.
tetiarana.
It means geneology and it's super important, because it's something that all of our wonderful members need to do to go to the temple and to help their ancestors recieve their ordinances too! It reminds me of a hymn that goes like: "Out in the desert they wander hungry and helpless and cold. Off to the rescue we hasten, bringing them back to the fold." There are still so many people out there that need to go home to our Heavenly Father with us! Don't forget how important family history is and don't get to lax about sharing the gospel with friends and family and everybody!
fahasoavana
It means grace. It comes from a word that means to benefit, and that's exactly what grace is. It's Christ's way of providing a very big benefit to us.
mivavaka
It means to pray. Or we can also use mivavaha which means "PRAY!" So mivavaha all y'all and you will see miracles if you want to. I promise that.
zafimpaladia
It means great great great great grandkid.
misolelaka.
It means to suck up. So then, if you add a "p" after the "m" it turns into the doer of that verb. So a mpisolelaka is a suck up. Sweet, right?!
mieboebo. mee-ay-boo-ay-boo
It's one of my favorite words to say and I'll sometimes just be whispering it to myself as we walk down the path. And it's like really fluid and smooth, so it just sounds ridiculously cool. It means like boastful or prideful. I don't actually use it a whole ton, but it makes me really happy when I get to!
tara
It means late and it's what I am right now, so I'll write you all next week!
trondradrano. choon-jah-jah-noo
It means like the water is going up or is high.
tain-kintana, TINE-KIN-tah-nah
This is the word that was in the dictionary, so I'll just give a disclaimer and say that I don't know if Malagasies actually use this word. It literally means star poop. So of course, it's a shooting star! I thought it was way funny because if you just use tay by itself it is a very crude word for excrement. However, if you use it with another word, other than person, it's just fine. For example, tain-omby is cow poop, tain-maso is the crap that forms in your eyes when you sleep. It's great!
Alika maty. ah-LEE-kah MAH-tee
It means dead dog. But don't ever say that to anyone because it's super offensive, near swear word level. So don't actually use that one, just read it and appreciate it!
Masoandro. MAH-soo-AHN-jroo
It literally means the eye of the day. So of course it's the sun. Neat, huh?
Basivava, BAHS-ee-VAH-vah, but it usually just sounds like boss-vahv.
It comes from two words, basy which means gun, and vava which means mouth. So it means gunmouth. You use it when someone just talks a ton and talks way fast.
izany hoe, zahn-way
If you want to be technical you would pronounce it as ee-ZAHN-ee way. But if you say it like that you don't have a malagasy accent because the words are ellided a lot of the time, so you barely pronounce the first syllable, then the third syllable runs into the last so it sounds like zahn-way.
It means, "that is" or "like" and you use it when you add some clarification. It's pretty handy and I say it all the time.
manisa, mah-NEE-sah
It means to count. So for example, when I bought a Christmas advent calendar last Monday and decided to start counting up to the 25th of January (why not?) then manisa ny andro tsirairay aho. Or I count each day.
manatsara, mah-nah-TSAH-rah
It literally means to make good. You can use it as improve but you can also use it as compliment or talk good about someone. I think that's pretty cool because when we spread kindness like that, we are really improving the world a little bit.
Fahafantarana, faha-fahn-TAR-ah-nah
means knowledge or knowing. . You use this a lot when you ask quesstions, for example: araka ny fahafantaranao, iza moa Andriamanitra? or according to your knowledge, who is God?
midoladola, mee-doo-lah-DOO-lah
to waddle. Why, you may ask, would a missionary need to know this word? I'm honestly not sure, but I'm super happy I asked what it was during English class!
kay ilay ity, kie-lay-tee (if you say it fast)
It's English equivalent is "the heck is this?!" So there you have it. Do something good with your increased knowledge and fahaizana.
Bandy, BAHN-dee
It means like a young adult man who is just a thug. Imagine a bunch of kids trying to look like rappers sitting on the side of the road calling out crap to the missionaries as they walk by. That's a bandy. Example: Elder Razakamandimby and I looked totally bandy in the talent show. Do something with that word.
Marary, mah-RAH-ree
sick or injured.
Fatana
means stove, not to be confused with...
... Fasana
which means grave, and that's not to be confused with...
...Fasika
which means sand. The emphasis for all of them is on the "fa" then you just say the rest really fast and you've got it!
Kely sauce
Little sauce
Mazotoa, (technically mah-zo-TOO-ah, but it usually ends up sounding more like mahz-TOO)
I write this sometimes at the end of letters, so I figured I'd teach y'all what the heck I was saying. It's the active command form of the word Mozoto, which means dilligent. So it means, "Be dilligent!" It's a nice traditional Malagasy goodbye. So yeah, that's neat.
Bokana
muscular
Rakoto Bogosy
Rakoto is just a way common name, and bogosy means handsome.
mikitika, mee-KEE-tee-kah
It means to tickle. Then, if you double the root it turns into mikitikitika...
mikitikitika, mee-kee-tee-KEE-tee-kah
It means to mess around with, or tinker while having absolutely no idea what the heck you're doing, as in, "I don't actually know how to fix the car, but if I just open the hood and tighten some stuff and put some more oil in, then it should work..." It's also just fun to say, so have at it!
tsy mbola, tsim-boo-lah, or if you are a member of the vakanakaritra tribe like many here in Antsirabe, you say tsahm-boo-lah. There, you got a little bit of a dialect too. (Not really, merina or official Malagasy, and vakanakaratra are essentially the same, it's just like the difference between American English and Texan English). Anyway tsy mbola means not yet or still not. For example you can ask, "Is it raining there?" and then I can say, "tsy mbola." Or you can ask if it's cold here, and then I can say, "Tsy mbola mangastiaka" or "tsa mbola mangitsy." In Merina and Vakanakaratra respectively. My favorite is when we are prepping people for their baptismal interviews and we ask them if they've killed anyone and they just say, "tsy mbola." Not yet. Good, keep it that way!
mpilofo
It means a try-hard.
mivadika, mi-VAH-deek(ah)
It means to turn from a higher path to a lower one, or turning away from something that you know is right. Pretty cool concept, huh? This word becomes applicable when we are trying to get members to do the things they know they should, but just stopped doing because it's easier to just... not... We've been focusing on teaching about the blessings that they will receive when they start living the gospel again, and it's been working for some, but some just have hard hearts and don't want to change yet, which is tough to work with. However, it's God's work, and everything will work out. Work hard and do your best!
sambatra SAHM-butch
It means blessed. We've been teaching a lot of the commandments this last week and we have been teaching A LOT about the blessings of living the gospel. If we just trust in God and do what he would have us do, then he will provide for all our needs and our righteous desires too. It's a great deal! Giving up some earthly pleasures for our short time here on earth in exchange for peace during our short time here on earth, and eternal glory and exaltation after!
antenaina ahn-ten-NAH-ee-nah
It means to be expected. I learned it as I was reading about the responsibility of parents to teach their children in Gospel Principles. Too many people expect other people to teach their children about the gospel, but ultimately that's the purpose of the family. The most important work we do is within the walls of our own homes. And our Father expects us to teach our children correct principles. I'm pretty glad that I have parents who understand that and I learned about the gospel from an early age in my own home.
Avy hatrany AH-vee hah-CHAW-nee
It means from now on or continuously. This comes at you from Alma 32 when Alma turns from the big crowd of Zoramites he was preaching to and focuses on the big group of poor people because he can see that they are ready to recieve the gospel. And then from then on he only talks to them. I like how once he sees that there is something better that he should be doing, he turns and does that from then on. Lots of times when we try to improve, the change might not be lasting, or we might notice a problem, but not deal with it for a while. The nice thing is that through repentence we can stop doing that bad thing right away and live better starting then and continuing for the rest of our lives.
manolotra muh-Noo-loo-chah
It means to offer. Anyway, this week we have been having a little bit of a tough time because people have that darn agency thing. We've been offering what we have, but lots of them have just gotten to sidetracked by things that really aren't as important.
Ny Fitsipiky ny Filazantsara
Gospel Principles. We didn't have any copies in Malagasy so I got one from the other house because they had a ton, but I may or may not have asked them first... It's important to remember that if you put ALL of your faith in God and put him very first, you'll still have rough times, but everything will work out eventually. You'll have peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. That's kind of a big deal, anyway, you all take care.
Befahatany bay-faha-TAH-nee and the "faha" is more like one syllable than a fa-ha like we would do in English.
It kind of means "in vain" and you use it after a verb to show that it doesn't really have purpose. For example you can mamaky befahatany which means you read without really getting anything out of it. It's important that everything we do has a purpose and helps us become better in some way, otherwise it isn't really doing us any good.
Manankina mah-NAHN-keen-ah
To rely on. It's important for all of us to get to the point where we don't need to rely on others for our relationship with God. We should only be relying on him and the supports that he has given us like priesthood leaders, scriptures, and modern day revelation. When people have a very strong relationship with God, they work their hardest to do the things that he wants them to do, and they are solid, solid members.
Mazoto muh-zoo-too
Dilligent. We use this word a lot when describing investigators and members. It's super important because those who are not mazoto, those who don't read their scriptures and keep their covenants and obey the commandments, don't have the Spirit in their life and they lose their faith. It's super sad to see. It's a hard concept for lots of people to understand that you won't be able to know if the gospel is true or not until AFTER you start living it. You have to give it a test drive first because no assurance that it's true will come until after the trial of your faith.
Mahay
Fluent
Vazaha
White person... or foreigner
Lava be
Very tall
Vita Vee-tah
It means end. Usually when something ends there is something even more exciting coming!
fankatohavana fahn-kah-twa-vahn-(a)
Obedience.. One thing I've been studying this week is how we develop faith, testimonies, and knowledge. We have been teaching the commandments to most of my investigators and the only way that we can learn if a commandment is true is by living it and praying about it for a while. Then you'll be able to receive knowledge and see the blessings that come from obedience. If you want to know if the Book of Mormon is true you have to read it and pray about it. If you want to know if the word of wisdom is true (tenin'ny fahendrena) then you have to keep it and pray about it. If you want to know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true you have to live it and you have to keep all of the commandments, pray, read the scriptures, and obey leaders, and then you will receive the witness.
Foty Sabotsy
Soccer Saturday
Sorompanavotana. Soo-room-pah-nah-voo-tahn, the last vowel is usually just mouthed and not really pronounced, it's almost whispered, so there is something there, it's like you say it with a subtle Italian accent, and the r's are rolled.
It means Atonement and it's one of the words I learned my first week. The Atonement is very important, and because of it we are able to grow and improve and become more like our Father. I am very thankful for my Savior who made it possible for me to become perfect.
Manahoana fianakaviako!
Hello my family!
fitahiana in the main dialect or fitahia in Antanosy.
(I know, they just drop the last syllable, way different...) but it means blessing.
mitady
It means to search.
gidro
It means monkey. Down here in Fort Dauphin it is also slang for guitar. So... yeah. Cool right? So it brings more meaning to monkeying around...? haha
mahafesy (Antanosy) or mahafantatra (Merina/official dialect)
It means know. And tena mahafesy tenga fa maregna itiky fiangonana itiky. There a lot of things that I know, and the most important ones go like this: I know that God live and He loves me. I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I know that the true gospel in its fulness was restored throught the prophet Joseph Smith. And I know that Thomas S. Monson is truly God's prophet in our day. And I especially know that it is in God's plan for me to have an eternal family and I am so grateful for all y'all in there.
miveraky
It means to sag your pants. So if you see one of them gangster dudes swaggin down the arabe near you in Fort Dauphin, you just glance over and call out a friendly "ka miveraky ra!" And then he will look up with a smile, call "Thanks man!" and hitch his pants up to a decent height. At least, I'm pretty sure that's what he'd do... That's what I would do if I were him...
mandra-pihaona
Until we meet again.
Batisa
It couldn't possibly mean baptism... And since that's so hard, we'll give you an easier one:
tempoly...
Definitely is not the next step after baptism...
Riake, or Ranomasina
It means ocean and I love it a lot.
soa
It means good, so it's essentially the same as tsara, but it's used more down here. And this week has been so soa!
vignitre (I'm not totally positive about the spelling and neither was the guy who said it, but that's how it was said...) the merina version of it is masiaka.
And it means mean! So don't be mean! There, great spiritual thought. I really am a believer in kindness though. It goes pretty far.
mpisava lalana
That means pioneer. And I just want to talk a little about my pioneer heritage. Growing up in Utah I always felt like it would be way cooler if I had a sweet conversion story or a cooler reason why I was a member of the church than "my great great great grandpa was a member..." But after working with all of these pioneers in this very young part of the church, I am so thankful for the solid foundation my ancestors gave me!
Magnanika (if you want the Antanosy version) and Mihanika (if you want the Merina or official dialect version)
It means to climb. Like a tree, mountain, or the side of someone's house... And it's all about that! We're all somewhere in our climb in this life and it's all about just getting a little higher! Sure, you could say climbing is hard work, but you get such beautiful views!
mamaky
It means to read. So when your investigator malala has not been reading it is an important thing to know. Quick testimony about that, with the exception of one person so far on my mission who could not read, I have not had a single investigator who progressed well and got baptized that did not read the Book of Mormon diligently. So, it's like kind of a big deal... So... Go read it. It's true, I promise.
intsony (in the main dialect of Merina) or sasy (if we're going with Antanosy)
It means anymore. So like, "tsy dia salama soa sasy 'zaho." Or, "I'm not super healthy anymore..." Haha I had some close calls this morning with stomache problems, but we're all good!
tetiarana
It means geneology and it's super important, because it's something that all of our wonderful members need to do to go to the temple and to help their ancestors recieve their ordinances too!
Miteny or Mizaka
It means to speak and the first one is in Merina, the official dialect, and the second one is in Anosy, the main dialect around here. And it is the Malagasy Morsel to show that everyone is not speaking what I learned in the MTC down here!!! Haha it's way cool and I'm so pumped I get to learn it!
variana
And it means distracted, and I am super variana right now because I keep just thinking about (leaving Antananarivo and going to) Fort D(auphin).
It means to dunk in water. Then atsoboka means to BE dunked in water. So while we were waiting for him to come, our Ward Clerk says, "Efa tonga ny mpanatsoboka, kanefa, mbola tsy tonga ny atsoboka." Or, in Anglisy, "The dunker already came, but the dunkee has still not come." Ah yeah!
mivoky
It means to feast, and that is what we did last night. It is also the word that Nephi says when he says we need to feast on the words of Christ. It just changes a little to Mivokisa which is about as direct of a command as it gets. And so we need to do that! Feast on the words of Christ and they will tell us all things what we should do.
tetiarana.
It means geneology and it's super important, because it's something that all of our wonderful members need to do to go to the temple and to help their ancestors recieve their ordinances too! It reminds me of a hymn that goes like: "Out in the desert they wander hungry and helpless and cold. Off to the rescue we hasten, bringing them back to the fold." There are still so many people out there that need to go home to our Heavenly Father with us! Don't forget how important family history is and don't get to lax about sharing the gospel with friends and family and everybody!
fahasoavana
It means grace. It comes from a word that means to benefit, and that's exactly what grace is. It's Christ's way of providing a very big benefit to us.
mivavaka
It means to pray. Or we can also use mivavaha which means "PRAY!" So mivavaha all y'all and you will see miracles if you want to. I promise that.
zafimpaladia
It means great great great great grandkid.
misolelaka.
It means to suck up. So then, if you add a "p" after the "m" it turns into the doer of that verb. So a mpisolelaka is a suck up. Sweet, right?!
mieboebo. mee-ay-boo-ay-boo
It's one of my favorite words to say and I'll sometimes just be whispering it to myself as we walk down the path. And it's like really fluid and smooth, so it just sounds ridiculously cool. It means like boastful or prideful. I don't actually use it a whole ton, but it makes me really happy when I get to!
It means late and it's what I am right now, so I'll write you all next week!
trondradrano. choon-jah-jah-noo
It means like the water is going up or is high.
tain-kintana, TINE-KIN-tah-nah
This is the word that was in the dictionary, so I'll just give a disclaimer and say that I don't know if Malagasies actually use this word. It literally means star poop. So of course, it's a shooting star! I thought it was way funny because if you just use tay by itself it is a very crude word for excrement. However, if you use it with another word, other than person, it's just fine. For example, tain-omby is cow poop, tain-maso is the crap that forms in your eyes when you sleep. It's great!
Alika maty. ah-LEE-kah MAH-tee
It means dead dog. But don't ever say that to anyone because it's super offensive, near swear word level. So don't actually use that one, just read it and appreciate it!
Masoandro. MAH-soo-AHN-jroo
It literally means the eye of the day. So of course it's the sun. Neat, huh?
Basivava, BAHS-ee-VAH-vah, but it usually just sounds like boss-vahv.
It comes from two words, basy which means gun, and vava which means mouth. So it means gunmouth. You use it when someone just talks a ton and talks way fast.
izany hoe, zahn-way
If you want to be technical you would pronounce it as ee-ZAHN-ee way. But if you say it like that you don't have a malagasy accent because the words are ellided a lot of the time, so you barely pronounce the first syllable, then the third syllable runs into the last so it sounds like zahn-way.
It means, "that is" or "like" and you use it when you add some clarification. It's pretty handy and I say it all the time.
manisa, mah-NEE-sah
It means to count. So for example, when I bought a Christmas advent calendar last Monday and decided to start counting up to the 25th of January (why not?) then manisa ny andro tsirairay aho. Or I count each day.
manatsara, mah-nah-TSAH-rah
It literally means to make good. You can use it as improve but you can also use it as compliment or talk good about someone. I think that's pretty cool because when we spread kindness like that, we are really improving the world a little bit.
Fahafantarana, faha-fahn-TAR-ah-nah
means knowledge or knowing. . You use this a lot when you ask quesstions, for example: araka ny fahafantaranao, iza moa Andriamanitra? or according to your knowledge, who is God?
midoladola, mee-doo-lah-DOO-lah
to waddle. Why, you may ask, would a missionary need to know this word? I'm honestly not sure, but I'm super happy I asked what it was during English class!
kay ilay ity, kie-lay-tee (if you say it fast)
It's English equivalent is "the heck is this?!" So there you have it. Do something good with your increased knowledge and fahaizana.
Bandy, BAHN-dee
It means like a young adult man who is just a thug. Imagine a bunch of kids trying to look like rappers sitting on the side of the road calling out crap to the missionaries as they walk by. That's a bandy. Example: Elder Razakamandimby and I looked totally bandy in the talent show. Do something with that word.
Marary, mah-RAH-ree
sick or injured.
Fatana
means stove, not to be confused with...
... Fasana
which means grave, and that's not to be confused with...
...Fasika
which means sand. The emphasis for all of them is on the "fa" then you just say the rest really fast and you've got it!
Kely sauce
Little sauce
Mazotoa, (technically mah-zo-TOO-ah, but it usually ends up sounding more like mahz-TOO)
I write this sometimes at the end of letters, so I figured I'd teach y'all what the heck I was saying. It's the active command form of the word Mozoto, which means dilligent. So it means, "Be dilligent!" It's a nice traditional Malagasy goodbye. So yeah, that's neat.
Bokana
muscular
Rakoto Bogosy
Rakoto is just a way common name, and bogosy means handsome.
mikitika, mee-KEE-tee-kah
It means to tickle. Then, if you double the root it turns into mikitikitika...
mikitikitika, mee-kee-tee-KEE-tee-kah
It means to mess around with, or tinker while having absolutely no idea what the heck you're doing, as in, "I don't actually know how to fix the car, but if I just open the hood and tighten some stuff and put some more oil in, then it should work..." It's also just fun to say, so have at it!
tsy mbola, tsim-boo-lah, or if you are a member of the vakanakaritra tribe like many here in Antsirabe, you say tsahm-boo-lah. There, you got a little bit of a dialect too. (Not really, merina or official Malagasy, and vakanakaratra are essentially the same, it's just like the difference between American English and Texan English). Anyway tsy mbola means not yet or still not. For example you can ask, "Is it raining there?" and then I can say, "tsy mbola." Or you can ask if it's cold here, and then I can say, "Tsy mbola mangastiaka" or "tsa mbola mangitsy." In Merina and Vakanakaratra respectively. My favorite is when we are prepping people for their baptismal interviews and we ask them if they've killed anyone and they just say, "tsy mbola." Not yet. Good, keep it that way!
mpilofo
It means a try-hard.
mivadika, mi-VAH-deek(ah)
It means to turn from a higher path to a lower one, or turning away from something that you know is right. Pretty cool concept, huh? This word becomes applicable when we are trying to get members to do the things they know they should, but just stopped doing because it's easier to just... not... We've been focusing on teaching about the blessings that they will receive when they start living the gospel again, and it's been working for some, but some just have hard hearts and don't want to change yet, which is tough to work with. However, it's God's work, and everything will work out. Work hard and do your best!
sambatra SAHM-butch
It means blessed. We've been teaching a lot of the commandments this last week and we have been teaching A LOT about the blessings of living the gospel. If we just trust in God and do what he would have us do, then he will provide for all our needs and our righteous desires too. It's a great deal! Giving up some earthly pleasures for our short time here on earth in exchange for peace during our short time here on earth, and eternal glory and exaltation after!
antenaina ahn-ten-NAH-ee-nah
It means to be expected. I learned it as I was reading about the responsibility of parents to teach their children in Gospel Principles. Too many people expect other people to teach their children about the gospel, but ultimately that's the purpose of the family. The most important work we do is within the walls of our own homes. And our Father expects us to teach our children correct principles. I'm pretty glad that I have parents who understand that and I learned about the gospel from an early age in my own home.
Avy hatrany AH-vee hah-CHAW-nee
It means from now on or continuously. This comes at you from Alma 32 when Alma turns from the big crowd of Zoramites he was preaching to and focuses on the big group of poor people because he can see that they are ready to recieve the gospel. And then from then on he only talks to them. I like how once he sees that there is something better that he should be doing, he turns and does that from then on. Lots of times when we try to improve, the change might not be lasting, or we might notice a problem, but not deal with it for a while. The nice thing is that through repentence we can stop doing that bad thing right away and live better starting then and continuing for the rest of our lives.
manolotra muh-Noo-loo-chah
It means to offer. Anyway, this week we have been having a little bit of a tough time because people have that darn agency thing. We've been offering what we have, but lots of them have just gotten to sidetracked by things that really aren't as important.
Ny Fitsipiky ny Filazantsara
Gospel Principles. We didn't have any copies in Malagasy so I got one from the other house because they had a ton, but I may or may not have asked them first... It's important to remember that if you put ALL of your faith in God and put him very first, you'll still have rough times, but everything will work out eventually. You'll have peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. That's kind of a big deal, anyway, you all take care.
Befahatany bay-faha-TAH-nee and the "faha" is more like one syllable than a fa-ha like we would do in English.
It kind of means "in vain" and you use it after a verb to show that it doesn't really have purpose. For example you can mamaky befahatany which means you read without really getting anything out of it. It's important that everything we do has a purpose and helps us become better in some way, otherwise it isn't really doing us any good.
Manankina mah-NAHN-keen-ah
To rely on. It's important for all of us to get to the point where we don't need to rely on others for our relationship with God. We should only be relying on him and the supports that he has given us like priesthood leaders, scriptures, and modern day revelation. When people have a very strong relationship with God, they work their hardest to do the things that he wants them to do, and they are solid, solid members.
Mazoto muh-zoo-too
Dilligent. We use this word a lot when describing investigators and members. It's super important because those who are not mazoto, those who don't read their scriptures and keep their covenants and obey the commandments, don't have the Spirit in their life and they lose their faith. It's super sad to see. It's a hard concept for lots of people to understand that you won't be able to know if the gospel is true or not until AFTER you start living it. You have to give it a test drive first because no assurance that it's true will come until after the trial of your faith.
Mahay
Fluent
Vazaha
White person... or foreigner
Lava be
Very tall
Vita Vee-tah
It means end. Usually when something ends there is something even more exciting coming!
fankatohavana fahn-kah-twa-vahn-(a)
Obedience.. One thing I've been studying this week is how we develop faith, testimonies, and knowledge. We have been teaching the commandments to most of my investigators and the only way that we can learn if a commandment is true is by living it and praying about it for a while. Then you'll be able to receive knowledge and see the blessings that come from obedience. If you want to know if the Book of Mormon is true you have to read it and pray about it. If you want to know if the word of wisdom is true (tenin'ny fahendrena) then you have to keep it and pray about it. If you want to know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true you have to live it and you have to keep all of the commandments, pray, read the scriptures, and obey leaders, and then you will receive the witness.
Foty Sabotsy
Soccer Saturday
Sorompanavotana. Soo-room-pah-nah-voo-tahn, the last vowel is usually just mouthed and not really pronounced, it's almost whispered, so there is something there, it's like you say it with a subtle Italian accent, and the r's are rolled.
It means Atonement and it's one of the words I learned my first week. The Atonement is very important, and because of it we are able to grow and improve and become more like our Father. I am very thankful for my Savior who made it possible for me to become perfect.
Manahoana fianakaviako!
Hello my family!
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