Week 49
There were over 80 baptisms in the mission during one week. So many people in Zimbabwe love the message of the restored gospel and many of them seek out the missionaries because they want to learn more. Our missionaries work long, busy days. There is little time for rest. I love being a part of this work. Thirty eight people were baptized last Sunday in one branch. About thirty five more were scheduled for today.
This lady was frightened of the water but got lots of support. Even though she uses a cane for walking, she walks about an hour to get to church.
What a week and so many happy people, including happy missionaries.
I love attending our little Arcturus Branch. They really want to become a ward. In order to do so, they need 20 Melchizedek Priesthood holders and about 250 members. They have a long way to go. There are usually about 60 people in attendance at Sacrament Meeting. There are 11 Melchizedek Priesthood holders. They had a Ward Council Meeting on Saturday to discuss how each organization can contribute to this effort. Diana and I were asked to attend. It was announced that the meeting would start at 8am. Being the prompt people that we are, we left our house at 6:45 to make the hour drive to the branch. We arrived at 7:45 but had to park up the hill from the branch because the road was so muddy we would have gotten stuck. At 8:05, nobody was there. She called the Branch President who said, "Oops, I'm late. I am on my way." It is a 15 minute walk to his house. At about 8:15, a counselor in the Branch Presidency and a young man arrived to unlock the gate. They swept the chapel and set up for Sunday Sacrament Meeting. At 9am, they were still the only ones there. We asked what time the meeting was supposed to start and they said 8am without any explanation of why it was 9 and nobody was there. The Branch President arrived around 9:15 and began setting up the Relief Society room for the meeting. I'm thinking that nobody was coming but he set up about 18 chairs. Around 9:30, people started arriving and the meeting started around 10. Somehow, they knew if the meeting was at 8, it would start at 10. Diana and I had to leave around 12:30 and we heard today that the meeting went until 4. They had something like bologna sandwiches and sadza for lunch shortly after we left. Needless to say, these wonderful Zimbabwe saints are faithful in attending their meetings, even though they give little attention to a clock. They dress in Sunday best for Sunday meetings, but not so much for Saturday council meetings. In this picture, the Branch President is holding his son and has the baby's little hat on his head.
Diana and I had a 10 minute presentation that required us to show a video. They have to do some rigging to get the TV monitor to work. But all went well.
While we were waiting, we say many groups of people walking by with their containers going to the bore hole to get water. Everyone carries what they can, even the little ones.
I talked to this lady who walked by. She said she goes back and forth 3 times every day to get water. I think it might be about 15-20 minutes one way. She was carrying her bucket on her head but she wanted me to take the picture without the bucket. It was delightful talking to her.
Diana and I have taught the Presidency how to do opening exercises, singing time and lessons. Diana has taught singing time and me lesson for about 4 week. The past 2 weeks, we told them it was time for them to teach the lesson. The Primary President did the lesson last week and the understanding was that she or one of her counselors would do it today. When we got there, she said she I would need to do the lesson. Years of experience make it possible for me to do that at the last minute, but we really want them to take this over. We will keep working at it.
Here are some random pictures of our branch and the people. I love looking at pictures of the children.
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