Week 30 in Douala: Gas Station Area Time Boyz

Bonjour amis et familles!


First week in my new area went pretty well. The area name is Texaco, like Texaco gas. Haven't figured out 100% why. Me and my new companion, Elder Makashi, took the short week and found 4 new people! Let's meet some of them:

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK

So 3 of these 4 new people is a daughter, a nephew, and a friend of said daughter of a member of the branch. I had success in teaching kids of members last transfer, and it's looking like these kids could get baptized pretty soon - at least the daughter. But all 3 of them have been quite fun to teach. They're quick to understand, love to learn, and are excited to answer questions. And they're overall pretty cute.

We had a lesson with an Anglophone named Bernard on Thursday. It was my first opportunity to teach and testify in English in a while. He had questions about Joseph Smith. I didn't know how much the last set of Elders had taught, but I decided to go ahead and give my witness of the First Vision. I quoted Joseph Smith's experience in English, which he probably hadn't heard yet, as I'm the first Anglophone missionary in this area since January. It really touched him, and he really wanted a Book of Mormon! He told us to give him one at church on Sunday because he didn't feel worthy of being presented such a 'holy book' at his home. Sadly, he didn't make it to church, but it was a sweet thought. He'll get his copy eventually. 

WHEN IN AFRICA

Usually this goes before the above segment (when I add it) but the prose flows better this way.
So I've moved into what the Office Senior Couple calls the worst apartment in the mission. They call it that, because (1) the shower I use it basically just a hose (2) the water has a palpably high iron content (you can taste it) (3) it's on the 4th floor etc. etc. etc. It's got a pretty awesome view, though. 

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF WEEK

"[W]hen such difficult moments come to us, I testify that there is one thing which will never, ever fail us. One thing alone will stand the test of all time, of all tribulation, all trouble, and all transgression. One thing only never faileth—and that is the pure love of Christ."
- Jeffrey R. Holland, "He Loved them unto the End"

This quote is from Elder Holland's first talk in General Conference as a General Authority in 1989. The title is taken from John 13:1, in which the 'them' is the Apostles. But Christ didn't just love his chosen disciples, of course. He loves all of us. We can rely on Him to always be there to support us in our trials. His perfect love stems from that perfect and infinite sacrifice. He perfectly knows what we're going through. And he knows how to help us. We just need to come unto Him, and He will give us rest (see Matthew 11:28-30).

Je vous aime tous!

Elder May

In the pics, you will see that I found my name again, in a very conspicuous location. Whaddya know about that, Bert?







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 15 in Douala: The old Ice Cream <=> Restored Gospel exchange (March 7, 2022)

Image
  Bonjour amis et familles! This week was highlighted by interviews with President and Sister Miner and Zone Conference, and lowlighted by the news that I have developed athlete's foot. But I'm keeping a good attitude and it's been a good week regardless! MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK   So a little bit of contextual background here: there's this lady down the street from us that serves soft-serve ice cream from a machine. Over the past little bit, my comp and I have been frequenting her machine at least twice a week. By creating this friendship (and enjoying some decent soft-serve ice cream), we have now started talking about the Gospel with her, and we even had a little lesson on Saturday with her. She seemed interested and asked us some good questions. We now have an official appointment with her next week. SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK  Alma 24:27: "...thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people." I love this so ...
Read more

Week 6 in Douala: Some new friends for the New Year! (Jan 2, 2022)

Image
Bonjour amis et familles!  Bonne année! Happy New Year! It's 2022! Whaddya know about that? We had a pretty good  week  to ring out the old year and start the new year. Some new people with a bunch of potential. Some fun meals to celebrate the New Year. Let's get into some details: MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE  WEEK   I had an exchange with Elder Knight, a newer American in the mission who I lived with for a  week  and a half at the beginning of this transfer. As we were trying to teach this guy at his haircut place (we kept getting interrupted by customers and stuff), a customer came and started talking to us. He became more attentive than the guy we were actually teaching, and started asking questions about the Restoration pamphlet we gave him. A couple of days later, we had a lesson with him, Paul, and his wife, Annetta. It went really great, and I could tell they felt the Spirit during our lesson. He called us the next morning wanting to meet again, b...
Read more

Week 9 in Douala: Welcome to the Brain (Jan 24, 2022)

Image
  Bonjour amis et familles!  To anyone who noticed, yes, the last 2 weeks have both said 'Week 7 in Douala.' First time I've actually done that (and I've been on the mission for 69 weeks now!).  This week was pretty good. Got off the spiritual high of all the Elder Sitati conferences and got back into the grind of everyday missionary work. Let's get into the thick of it: WHEN IN AFRICA: Elder Balanganayi claimed to see a water snake as we were crossing a bridge while contacting. I agree with him. This thing's head was too skinny to be a duck. It was probably at least 2 feet long. Sadly I don't have good pictures.  MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK  We've been trying to get a second lesson with Paul and Annetta, who we met 3 weeks ago, ever since that first one and we just weren't connecting. But we were able to have lessons with both of them this weekend, in the most unexpected way! First, after trying to set a day and time that would work with Paul...
Read more