Baptism ✅ (Week 4 in Libreville)

Bonjour amis et familles! 


This week ended the best way a week could end on a mission - with a baptism. But before I get to that,  let's start the rundown:

WHEN IN AFRICA

Some things I haven't mentioned up to this point: 
 - The taxis: there's no set fare or pricing - you name the price and where you want to go, and the driver decides whether to pick you up or not. 
 - We decided to download the weather app this week. Bad idea. I liked living in ignorance - now I know it's 86 and feels like 92 most days. But I'm getting used to it.
 - We tried a new supermarket today that was selling pig's feet, cow liver and tail, and a bunch of other meats I was scared to translate. We just stuck with the basic pork steaks and a couple of other cuts we were more familiar with.

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

Here's where this email gets good: the BAPTISM! It was honestly so amazing and a true testament to how the church is the same everywhere. The baptism was for these two kids - the nephew and son of a lady in the branch. One is 10 and one is 8 (so he doesn't count as a convert baptism, but that doesn't matter). Their excitement was palpable. The service was just like baptismal services I've been to in the States. I gave a really good talk on baptism and the Holy Ghost in very understandable French (I had time to prepare beforehand so I could double-triple-check my grammar). Elder Meyer baptized the 10 year old; I baptized the 8 year old. It was one of the awesomest experiences of not only my mission, but my life.  

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

I'm gonna jump straight to this:

Alma 7:14:
"Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness."

This is one of my favorite scriptures about baptism - it lays out clearly why we are baptized. Baptism is an ordinance that we make because of our faith in Christ, because we want to follow Him. And when we are baptized, we can start a new life as we strive to become like the One who 'cleanse[s] from all unrighteousness'. It is a beautiful thing. 

As I've mentioned, the field is white here, and I hope that I can have this experience again soon. 

Je vous aime tous,
Elder May




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