Week 19 in Douala: "No doubt" we saw some miracles! (April 4, 2022)

 Bonjour amis et familles!


Had a super busy P-Day so I'm a little late with this edition but here it is!

WHEN IN AFRICA

I have perfected the art of killing giant cockroaches that find themselves chilling in the sink in the morning occasionally. Plug the drain with a water bottle, drown them, and use the lid to my off-brand Quaker oats jar to scoop them out. Did thus for about the 4th time this morning. Let it be known that I never see these guys any time or anywhere else.

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK 

We had our first official lesson with the lady who came to church last week. As I might have mentioned, she knows no French, so I had to handle the majority of the teaching. At the end of my recounting of Joseph Smith's First Vision, I asked if she had questions. She said she didn't, and then said something interesting: "I don't doubt anything your saying." Not doubting isn't the same as freely believing, but it definitely was an encouraging response!

We had a super 'led by the Spirit' day on Friday - we started the day with one planned rendezvous and even that one fell through. So we went out and walked by faith. And we had a super cool thing happen. We had the thought of visiting this lady we had contacted and set up a lesson with a few weeks ago, but the day of the lesson, she called us saying her husband had refused our visit. I've learned from experience how hard a situation like that (wife is interested, husband shuts it down) is to change. We, on most if not all accounts, had no logical reason to try again. But there we were walking towards their home. We were redirected by their kids to this field where we found the husband and wife planting and pruning. We started engaging in lovely conversation. Elder Balanganayi started helping pull weeds. The husband ended up giving us his number and some cassava leaves we ended up eating, and told us we were welcome to discuss the Word of God with him whenever he was free. 'Twas a miracle on most if not all accounts. 

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK 

Articles of Faith 13:

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

This is the last of the Articles of Faith, and the last verse of the Standard Works of the Church, according to the order most widely presented (Bible, Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price). I had made a goal to finish the Standard Works by my 18-month mark, and I did it by finishing the Pearl of Great Price. I do not say this to boast of myself, but to boast of my God and His Son's beautiful Gospel! (see Alma 26:11-12). And I love this sentiment of this article of my Faith. It completely and perfectly summarizes what it is to be a disciple of Christ - one who has all the above characteristics. Over the last 18 months, I have seen myself grow into someone that strives to be more honest, more benevolent, someone who hopes more, who seeks things that are virtuous, lovely, and of good report. And I can't wait to see how I can improve even more in all these aspects and help people here in Cameroon do so as well over this final '6-month ascent.' 

Je vous aime tous!

Elder May 








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