Week 4 Back in Libreville: Black-Eyed Peas are real, and other things Elder May needed to go to Africa in order to learn

Bonjour amis et familles!


Two-thirds of the way through my last transfer. You do the math to know when I'm coming home. But as they say, la fin de ce mois-ci ne va pas me trouver ici...

WHEN IN AFRICA 

My companion wanted to go down to the Libreville Central Market to get some food on Friday, and it gave me and the other American a chance to do something we've always wanted to do - buy some cool African design fabric to make what they call a 'boubou,' a full body traditional outfit. So now I have some fabric to use, I just need someone to make a shirt and pants out of it. Should be pretty dope. 

Also black-eyed peas actually exist? They're not just a band name? Peep the photo. 

MISSIONARY MOMENTS OF THE WEEK 

We have this one friend who we found last week who is progressing extremely well. He's an older man named Alphonse and we met with him 3 times this week. During the 2nd lesson on Wednesday, we talked about the Book of Mormon and invited him to read a chapter, 3 Nephi 11. In our follow-up with him on Friday, he told us he'd read the first 14 verses of said chapter and had noted his favorite verses. We read another chunk with him and discussed it. We talked about the importance of Priesthood authority and baptism and it catalyzed some thought processes for him. He asked what he needed to do to be baptized. We told him to come to church and keep taking lessons and we'd see how it would go. So he came to church! All in all, a really cool thing to witness.

We've also been working with a lady named Rebecca who is also progressing well. We'd invited her to start reading the Book of Mormon and when we went over, she had a question about who Lehi was, which means she was actually reading! She is definitely someone who wants to learn the truth - she asked many clarifying questions about what the Priesthood is and who Moroni and Mormon were, etc. She'll find it hard to go to church because of a handicapped child, but we're praying for her.

FUNNY QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Elder Kearley, you have to watch him!"

Said by Freya, a 6-year-old girl in the branch. I am the 'him' and she wanted to make sure I didn't knock down her 'castle' she made with the hymn number cards. 

SCRIPTURE/SPIRITUAL THOUGHT OF THE WEEK 

"You don't have to wear the badge to bear His name."
- Steven J. Lund

From the only session from General Conference that I got to watch, President Lund of the Young Men's General Presidency said this. As someone ending his mission soon, this advice is perfect. I can still be a witness for Christ after my mission. In everything I do. This leads me to ask a question: How can you be a witness for Christ this week? How can you bear His name?

Je vous aime tous,

Elder May 







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