At Nakiaiho, there is a brother who served a mission 20 years ago and has lived there ever since his return. He has a wife and children but is not legally married. He loves the church but can’t attend with any regularity due to the time and distance. We had a box of brochures and Books of Mormon to give him which he requested a few weeks back. He gathered his family and 3 friends and kids to join us and we gave them an introduction to the church. We invited them to start holding a Sunday School class, which they did today with 8 people present. Then they went out to distribute brochures to extended family and invite them to learn more. We will go back again this week. They are eager to learn, but practically it will take some time since they can’t join the church until the couples are married.
 |
| Checking out the mterials |
I should explain the marriage situation. In Côte d’Ivoire the government only recognizes civil marriage, which costs about $100. Articles of Faith 12 states that we should be subject to rulers and obey the law. Here that means that couples cannot be baptized without a civil marriage. Few couples that we know here start out that way. In Ghana, the government recognizes tribal marriages, so couples there don’t have to be married civilly to be baptized or go to the temple.
At Digbam we met with 3 adult members from two families and invited them to start a Sunday School. They had 5 present today and hope to see that increase. Great oaks from little acorns grow…
Friday we helped the missionaries move from Issia into their apartment in Saioua. It is a nice apartment/house and well furnished. Like all in that town they don’t have running water very often - the water tower just isn’t big enough. They do have access to the well next door and will fill their two large water barrels from that, then filter it for drinking.
Sue was asked to orient the newly-called Relief Society and Primary Presidents in the Niakia group. Neither one had ever been to a Primary or Relief Society meeting. There were four men and five women present. Our translator from English/French to Bété was essential to their understanding. None of the women are literate. We introduced the instructions from the handbook and spent some time talking about ministering. We taught them how to teach a lesson and gave the Primary President her “Come Follow Me” manual for Primary. She was fascinated with the idea of learning activities and having the kids participate. Someone asked a question about temple marriage, and why they not only needed to be married civilly but also in the temple. We explained what a sealing was - being married after this life - that it didn’t cost money, and that the temple provided special white clothing for the day, and that they would always remember the experience.
Today we went with the new district president to the Issia Branch in preparation for the division to take place next week. [Left our house at 6:30 am ] We were told another interesting story about leadership in W. Africa. It seems that some members, usually newer, see having a major leadership role such as branch president as a very desirable thing, because they would have a lot of power and also access to church funds. Of course misuse of church funds can result in loss of membership but they don’t always understand that. It seems that from time to time, when a change in leadership is anticipated, someone will start rumors or spread untrue stories to try to disqualify someone else whom they view as a “competitor” for the position. I would think that such an occurrence would be very rare where the church is established, but here where it is quite new this is a recognized phenomenon. Just because they have read D&C 121 doesn’t mean they understand how it applies.
Those who have served as branch president or district president or counselors know from experience that one is truly called to serve. It means a lot of work, sometimes quite difficult, and much sacrifice of time and sometimes money to plan, travel, meet, visit, counsel, etc. etc. As the joke goes, “the hours are long but the pay is out of this world”. Someone who aspires to such a calling rarely understands the sacrifices entailed. As we have been taught before, we should all strive to understand and live a Celestial culture - the one we hope to be part of in heaven. That requires change on our part, but to the extent that we can do so we bring a bit of heaven down to earth.
 |
| Afternoon light on the drive home. |
May your spirit be with me
In my efforts and my struggles
I want to change my life, my heart
To better resemble you, Lord.
You are certainly needed there. God Bless you.
ReplyDelete