Week 3 in Libreville: "Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles!"

 (Just a little classic theater reference for y'all.)


Bonjour amis et familles!

This week was, as correctly deduced by the subject line, quite the miraculous one. One of those weeks that makes me so happy to be on a mission, and all the more to be serving where I am. 

WHEN IN AFRICA

They have really good baguettes here (a positive outcome of imperialization) and they're 125 francs a-pop - about 25 cents. We went through about 20 of them this week and bought 12 more this morning. As I've said, a good bread should make your jaw hurt and these definitely do that. Delicious.
It rains way more than some people might think here -  it's the rainforest, after all - and when it rains, it pours. We got caught in one on Saturday and once we made it back to the apartment it looked like we'd been swimming. I'll attach a pic that doesn't do the storm justice. My tie (not pictured) is still damp.

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

Now for the miracles:
On Tuesday we met with the wife of a member in the branch. She wants to be baptized.
On Saturday we met with a lady who'd been taught pre-covid and had marked the heck out of her Book of Mormon - even the Guide to the Scriptures and index! She wants to be baptized.
On Sunday, we were able to have an actual African sacrament meeting that had to be at the Branch President's house, but it was so organized - the church is true everywhere. it felt so homey. And I understood most of the talks that were given. After that awesome experience, a member took us to a lesson that he'd planned for us. This older couple had seen us walk past their house, and, having gotten confirmation that missionaries have returned to Gabon, called some members they knew to set up this appointment. They want to be baptized.
And, to top it off, we have a baptism this Saturday.

FUNNY QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It's my birthday?"
Elder Meyer, my companion and the zone leader, called Elder Petrie, the district leader, last night, to discuss areas and progress. Normal missionary stuff. But the call started like this - Elder Meyer says something that sounds to Elder Petrie like "Happy Birthday". Elder Petrie responds with "It's my birthday?". Elder Meyer responds, "Oh, Happy Birthday!". Elder Petrie then retorts: "It's not my birthday!"

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

D&C 4:4:
"For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul"

I really want to highlight the first phrase of this scripture (I mean, I highlighted it, did I not?) What this scripture means is that there are people who have been prepared to hear the truth of the restored gospel. I have been prepared to bring it to them, to be that harvester, so I can bring salvation to the souls of the people of Libreville, Gabon. I cherish that responsibility, and I've truly seen these prepared people these past 3 weeks.

Got any other questions for me about what it's like to live in Africa? I'd love to hear from you! 
Je vous aime tous!

Elder May

PICTURE TAÏME







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