And They Left their Nets and Followed Him

This Sunday we had our second fast and testimony meeting with 70 people in attendance and then we had four baptisms. There was a large group of members and friends of the Church who wanted to attend, so Brent and Elder Frogley made four trips to the baptismal site, each time filling the truck with as many people as they could get in. The record was eight.

Each person who joins the Church is unique, as are their stories, but these four have very interesting histories.

Above-Elder Kizimbou (on the right) and Elder Diazola (on the left) with the four people who were baptized. These two are the missionaries who taught all four people. Elder Diazola arrived on his misision the same day we did and has spent his whole mission where we've been. We adore him. He comes from Kinshasa, where he was raised by his aunt and uncle because he lost both parents when he was a baby. He's a "little guy." You would never guess that this gentle, tender spirit is such a powerful missionary, but he is amazing. At the baptism he told the Joseph Smith story with such power that people were mesmerized. Elder Kizimbou is the youngest of the elders with us, but very strong. You would never know that he's our "baby" and has only been out a few months.

Brother Johnson (left) and Brother Thomas, who were baptized Sunday, are two of the pastors who wrote to the Church to ask for missionaries to come and teach them and their congregations. In order to be baptized they not only gave up the things that most converts do, but they gave up their livelihood as ministers. They are men of sincere faith and testimony.

Along with them, Brother Thomas' nephew was baptized and then one young widow named Annie. She joined the Church because of a dream that she had not long before we came to Bujumbura. In her dream she was taught about the true church of God by a group of people, some of whom were white. She even knew the name of the Church, but didn't know where to find it. She lived in Baraka, a city across the lake in the Congo, and hours from Bujumbura. She somehow met one of the people in Baraka who had been worshiping with the Book of Mormon for years and was told that the church she was looking for was coming to Bujumbura. She came the first Sunday and has not missed a time since. She moved her family to Bujumbura so that she could study the gospel and be baptized. She is a great lady and we expect that she will be a real strength to the women of the Church here.

Annie and her children and also Annie, some relatives and daughter

After the baptism there is always a little awkwardness since transportation is a problem and the missionary couples have the only cars. Some of the members live a long ways away and they mostly have to walk. We feel so uncomfortable as we drive away, leaving others behind, but knowing we can't take them all home. The Johnson family was all there to see Brother Johnson's baptism, although none of them was baptized YET! Sister Malabi suggested that we take them home since they live a long distance and have seven young children. So, we offered to take them home and headed toward our truck, not knowing what we would do with all those people.

They didn't hesitate. All nine of them piled in the back seat of our truck. Brent and I got in the front and headed off. As we drove we passed the Malabi family on foot beginning their own 30 minute walk home. These people are awesome! We drove the Johnson family only part way home and then Brother Johnson told us to pull over and they would walk from there. As we drove away we saw them like a Mom and Dad duck with a whole string of little ducklings behind them walking up into the hills where they live. We not only had a wonderful day but we now own the record for the most people in a truck-11. That's good, even for Africa!