Amazing Day Sunday 11-22-09

Today the branch leadership was reorganized. The Mission President, Pres. Taylor, came to interview people and prayerfully learn who God had chosen to lead this congregation. Because he was interviewing in the morning, we had Primary, Relief Society, and Priesthood first. I went into the primary this week. Wow! These children are so reverent. Even the little 2 and 3 year olds who were in opening exercises and sharing time were well behaved. For sharing time, older children shared scriptures they’d memorized and then they were discussed. When they young children went to essentially the nursery, it was just a bare room. No toys, no pictures, just mats on the floor for them to sit on. They sang songs, did activities like marching while they were singing, and listened to stories… with no visual aids. Really sweet, cute kids!

At sacrament we had about 120 people! Last week it was 87, the week before less than that. We had 50 investigators this week—people who wanted to know more. Sometimes they think they are coming to a rich white man’s church where they will be given things. There are so many needs here in Africa that it could easily bankrupt the church and, indeed, every other nation in the world… and I’m not sure it would be enough. Part of the solution is changing habits and thinking patterns. However, the Lord knows these people and loves them. He wants to bless them. I am convinced that as they grow spiritually, the Lord will bless them both spiritually and physically. The scriptures say that there is no physical or spiritual with the Lord, all is spiritual.

They are good people, trying hard to do their best. They are so new in the gospel that things we take for granted are unknown to them. Our calling is to help them learn leadership, delegation, gospel principles, budgeting, the programs of the church, welfare, etc. Imagine if I were sent to the wilds of Africa. The things that any child knows would be foreign to me. Each step would have to be explained and learned. Sometimes it’s easier for people just to let someone else do it. Tom said, “I will teach them to walk, but I will not be their walker.” That is the only way that will lead to ultimate success. They are eager to learn and these will be the leaders of generations of faithful saints in Africa.

It’s been a good day, but a long day. Water dripped down the kitchen walls from some unknown source this afternoon. Now, tonight we have no water—either from the city faucet or the storage tank faucet. Bummer! I hope it’s better tomorrow and I hope the plumber can resolve this problem.