Week 24 in Douala: Headin' Downtown

Bonjour amis et familles!


As you might be able to cleverly infer from the subject line, I've been transferred, though just within Douala. I'm now right downtown in a neighborhood called Bonapriso - the teaching area name is Bonapriso 2. My new companion is Elder Moma (much easier name to learn than Balanganayi!). It was hard to leave Bonaberi 2, especially its newest member, , but she and the branch are in good hands. 

Some highlights from this week include:

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

On Thursday, Elder Balanganayi and I did get to visit Naomie one last time before Friday's transfer. She was definitely upset about the news, but she eventually brightened up as we started taking souvenir pictures with her. She started taking the pictures herself and even asked us to take a video of her giving her testimony. The video was 14 minutes long, and it was amazing to hear how much the Lord has been with her and has influenced her conversion. It was quite the blessing to experience.

Once we got settled in Bonapriso, we had a pretty full day of work on Saturday. We taught a couple of lessons, one of which to this lady who is originally from Central African Republic named Patricia. We talked about the Pre-Mortal Life with her, and she loved the message. People like her look for purpose in life after displacing from their own country. We're here to share how she can find that purpose.

Also - the 'DMB' (Branch Mission Leader) over this branch is an amazing prospective missionary who seems super motivated to move the work forward. We went out with him after church to walk around the area and visit someone he's referring us to. I'm looking forward to working with him more - his determination will help me a lot, 'old crow' missionary that I am. 

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK

"Wake up the world for the conflict of justice,
Millions shall know Brother Joseph again!"
- 'Praise to the Man', Hymns, No. 27

On Sunday, we sang this hymn about the Prophet Joseph Smith as our intermediate hymn. We even sang it in English. I almost started crying when we got to this last line of the last verse. Millions of people the world over, including these wonderful saints of the New Bell Branch of Douala, Cameroon, now have a testimony of Joseph Smith's role as the prophet who restored God's Church and Kingdom to the earth. It's a beautiful, amazing thing. I know that Joseph Smith did "commune with Jehovah" and was "anointed [as] prophet and seer...to open this last dispensation," and because that is true, I'm in the service of God, doing His work. 

Je vous aime tous,

Elder May

P.S. Something weird with how my pictures synced after the transfer means I can't seem to add pictures this week. I assume this will be resolved by next Monday.

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