Week 28 in Douala: When your American roommate gets hit by a car

 Bonjour amis et familles!


FULL DISCLAIMER: HE IS FINE. But here's the story: Elder Kearley, the other American here in Bonapriso, and our District Leader, Elder Kodiemoka, got hit by a car crossing the 'autoroute' (big old highway) while on splits last Saturday and have been recuperating together at our DL's apartment since Tuesday. This means I got to stay with 3 Africans in my apartment for most of this week. It's been a little lonely but mostly fun and ever since, all my dreams have been in French. There's your WHEN IN AFRICA for the week. 

Also a group of kids called me 'Mr. Bean' this week and I've never had so many mixed emotions at once. 

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK 

We had a fun contacting story this week. A little bit of context: I hate straight contacting people on the street. No one ever truly taught me how to do it well and I never developed the skill. But this time, I got the courage to ask this lady sitting on her porch how she was doing. She responded quite amicably and after chatting back and forth a little, my companion, Elder Moma asked her if there was someone in the house that had talked with the missionaries in the past. Seemed weird at the time to ask, but it must've been the Spirit that inspired him to do so because this lady responded, "Yeah, actually! He's a little sick, but I'll go get him!" We ended up talking for 20 minutes with this guy named Casimir, and he's awesome! He'd talked with missionaries 3 years ago and liked what he had heard. Don't know why he got out of contact with them, but now he's back in our teaching pool! We had a fun lesson with him on Friday after that initial contact and he was super engaged. He even ignored a couple of calls he got during the lesson (very few people actually do that). 

The kids I baptized last week got confirmed yesterday, so that's all sorted out. My companion and I were 'in the circle' to help with their confirmations. It was a great feeling. As I said, I've been loving these kids and am super excited for what the Church can do for them.

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK 

Matthew 10:19-20:

"But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."

I read in Preach My Gospel this week a quote from Gordon B. Hinckley that talked about how I should pray that the Holy Ghost might 'speak' through me while I'm doing missionary work. This quote really enlightened and helped me. As this scripture says, I am entitled to have the Spirit literally speak through me - it is not me that speaks. I must be giving my whole effort in order for the Spirit to do this, and I pledge to do so for the rest of my mission. And I know I will see some miracles as I did this week.

Je vous aime tous,

Elder May







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