Week 3 in Yaoundé: (TV host voice) "This week on, "This shouldn't work, but it does..."

 Bonjour amis et familles!


This week just flew by. It feels like just yesterday I wrote one of these emails. But here we are again. Here's what happened this week:

WHEN IN CAMEROON 

One of the stereotypes of Africa that's 100% accurate is that people carry things on their heads. It's mainly buckets and other containers of whatever they're selling. But what was an interesting sight was this guy who had a giant teddy bear on his head. And nobody batted an eye.

There was a point this week where the 4 of us I  this apartment had to go do something with the Mimboman Elders, and we were able to get a taxi who would take all 6 of us. So here were 7 people in this relatively small car. Then, the taxi driver decided to try and scale this unpaved, ruddy, rocky, steep hill. It was the bumpiest ride I've ever been on and it felt like we were going to lose control about 3 times but somehow, we made it to the top. It shouldn't have been scientifically possible.

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK 

Not a lot of lessons this week. Part of that is because we've been super busy in the office, but we've also struggled a bit to find new people. But we did get to have a couple of lessons with that family I talked about last week. We've now gotten through the Plan of Salvation and the Restoration. We taught about Joseph Smith on Saturday and the Spirit was palpable as I shared the First Vision. They're all a little shy but they're loving what we're teaching.

We had the most productive and inspiring Branch Council yesterday - our Branch President said to us that the baptismal font was "getting dry," which I though was pretty funny. We got a lot of great ideas on how to work closer with the Branch. I really love these members. They're all super faithful and truly want to grow their little Branch of Zion in any way that they can. 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK 

Mosiah 16:7-8:

"And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ."

Abinadi is telling straight spiritual truth here. A spiritual truth that is the reason why I'm here. As I approach my 9-month-mark, I've done a lot of reflecting on the time I've spent so far serving the Lord. I've been thinking of home and how it feels so long ago that I was home, and how I still have quite a long time here. And it's hard sometimes. But then I remember what it is I'm teaching people, and how valuable this knowledge is. Christ is the Savior. The resurrection is a reality. And I'm eternally grateful for the privilege of teaching that to the people here. 

Je vous aime tous, comme toujours. I hope everyone is doing well. If you care to tell me about recent escapades and the like, I'd love to hear from you!

Elder May








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