To Family and Friends,
We now have another couple who have been assigned to the country of
Togo. In essence they replaced the Leavitts who returned home at the
end of June. They are the Christensen's from Yarrington, Nevada. This
is some 80 miles from Reno in a beautiful valley. President and Sister
Weed know them from their temple worker experience. He is a second
generation as a pharmacist. Both of them worked in the store together.
Their son is taking their place as the third generation of owning the
town pharmacy. He served in the same mission in France that President
Weed did but not at the same time. She also speaks French. As a
pharmacist they know a lot about how to treat various illnesses.
Already that skill has been a nice blessing to the mission.
They have a very nice story about their calling as temple workers. It is their story to tell.
Yesterday, the first baptism at the Cococodji Branch was held. As
you recall from prior ramblings this area was opened in February. They
started with 47 people coming to church. Today they have about 125 and 8
more were added yesterday. The branch President had the privilege of
baptizing his son first. Then 4 elders had the blessing of baptizing at
total of 7 others. It was drizzling. It took Francine & I and two
elders about 11/2 hours to travel the muddy roads the 12 miles to the
building. It was raining and it would be similar to a driving in a snow
storm (not a whiteout) in Utah. The drivers here did not know how to
drive in it. Cars, SUVs and semi-trucks were stuck and broken down.
Some because they went in water to deep and they didn't know what to
do. You keep moving. I took the lead and a few followed me through.
The rest stopped and waited for the storm to pass and the water to
drain. The French and African Elders that were with us said, "this is
an adventurer". Their were about 35-40 people their to witness this
first baptism event.
I took another way
back to Cotonou. There wasn't much traffic but the road was in poor
condition because of the rain. Another adventure the Elders said.
Today at church the Priesthood and Relief Society met together.
The lesson was taught by President Modeste, the 1st counselor in the
District Presidency and a master teacher. I have also previously
written about him. We sat with Sophia, our convert baptism. At the
time I didn't know two other people who were sitting next to her. The
lesson was about the Priesthood, in the home and family. It started
with a 6 or 7 minute video with Elder Oaks. President Modeste then gave
a wonderful discourse as he always does. He had good and proper
discussion. Now, remember about 1/2 of the people in attendance (this
is at Fidjrosse Branch), have been members for less than one year. Many
only a few months. They asked what to us were simple questions. Who
can hold the priesthood? Why can't women hold the priesthood? What
about when no priesthood is in the home? Then their were some questions
that were from the more experienced members. Sophia answered the
question as an expert about the woman's role and the priesthood. When
we started to teach her she was surprised and questioned the role of
women in the church. We took two or three weeks of instruction on this
issue. She understands this as if she had been a member all of her
life. President Modeste handled all of the questions perfectly as well
as explaining the blessings of the Priesthood.
Following the lesson
I was introduced to the two sisters, a mother and 11 year old daughter,
sitting next to Sophia. They are her sister and niece. I turned
around to visit for a moment or two with others. We still can
communicate even though we don't speak French. I then turned around and
saw Sophia's sister visiting with President Modeste. I called him over
and to bring Sophia's sister as well. I then introduced President to
Sophia and told him that he was speaking with Sophia's sister. Since the
time Sophia and Sam were taking the lessons, Sophia and Sam have been
under a microscope. More on this at another time. Today was the first
time that Sophia's sister had come to church. She has not had any
lessons. President Modeste told me that he had been visiting with
Sophia's sister and she said that she wanted the Priesthood in her home.
Naturally we had the elders set an appointment to teach today at four.
As I am writing this she and her daughter are taking their first
lesson. That little bit should give you something to ponder about. It
does me!
This past week the
office elders informed me that they would have a baptism this week. I
was surprised since they baptized last week and hadn't mentioned anyone
being ready to be baptized this week. They had been teaching a young
lady for 2 or 3 months who was moving to New Guinea and would not be
baptized since the church does not have any presence there. At the
beginning of the week she announced that she really wanted to be
baptized regardless of the lack of the church in New Guinea. The elders
called the mission president and told him the circumstances and said
that she could be baptized if that was her wish. I told the elders that
they won't know what happened to her for 20 years when we read about
her perhaps being the first member of the church in that country and
what a great person she is. You see, the Lord plants seeds in many
places in various ways his wonders to perform.
Other thoughts, whom
the Lord calls he qualifies. I have been wondering about my lack of
language skills in French. I have other lessons to learn as well. I
recognize that once we have mastered or nearly mastered something that
then the Lord will give us another challenge or calls to our mind some
other virtue that needs working on. He doesn't have us work on
everything at one time. Of course that would be an impossible task.
Well this mission is giving me plenty of opportunity to discover
virtues and other challenges to improve upon. What a great thing to
discover; how to improve my character and abilities and meeting various
challenges and trials. Time and patience and observation frequently
solve the various challenges. This is a great place to be.
The missionaries are learning great lessons of life. They are wonderful and doing well.
Elder Semken