Week 4 in Douala: Baptisms are the Best

Bonjour amis et familles!

'Twas a great week here in 'icky and sticky'-ville (according to Travel Planet or whatever that tourist book series is called). Let me tell you all about it!

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK 

We have been teaching this man named Francisse, along with his wife, for a while now. They live a little far away, and the wife has been wanting to come to church for a while but the husband's been impeding her and seemed to not want her to go. We had a lesson specifically with Francisse on Wednesday where we bore testimony about how we believe the Gospel and church attendance will truly benefit his life and his family. We'll, something must have clicked because he came to church yesterday! His wife wasn't there with him, for some reason, but it was great seeing him come. 

Also to bury the lead, we had a baptism! Arthur got baptized! I've failed to mention that we had actually moved his baptism up to this weekend, and it was an awesome service. 3 people got baptized. But it was so awesome to see Arthur make this step. His baptism ended up being exactly 1 month after we started talking about the Gospel with him, and his journey has been the fulfillment of a dream I didn't know I had. For his confirmation the next day, he was in a white shirt and tie. It was a little surreal even to see him in that outfit after knowing his life before he met the Church. It's just amazing the change and influence the Gospel of Christ has on people's lives. Arthur is living evidence of that. 

FUNNY QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Does someone have that bird's phone number? We could tell him to drop a coconut!" (Elder Mbaya)

There's this coconut tree in the yard of the church building. Elder Mbaya got jealous that the other Elders were gifted a coconut that fell that they ate and wanted one of his own. 

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK 

3 Nephi 27:27:

"...Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

This is Christ himself speaking to the Nephites, right before his final ascension. In conjunction with his previous exhortation to 'be ye therefore perfect' (12:48), he gives the people, and all of us, his goal and standard. It's quite a lofty one. But the awesome truth and promise is that Christ will help us achieve this perfection. Through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel,' we become worthy of the blessings of His Atonement. 

Je vous aime tous,

Elder May










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