The Creation of the Bujumbura Branch

Today was another great Sabbath in Burundi. We're so happy with the growth of the church here and the fulfilling of our dreams and prayers for Burundi. Ninety-four people were in church last week as the Bujumbura Branch was created under the direction of President Packer.

The branch presidency was called with Malabi Kyubi Wa Kyubi as president, Hutungimana Johnson as First Counselor and Suguru Simon as Second Counselor.

Frere Johnson, Pres. Malabi and Frere Simon

The branch Presidency with their wives and Frere Simon's son, all of whom have been baptized.

The first Relief Society President of the Bujumbura branch, Mininahazwe Magnifique, was called and sustained today. She's a beautiful, strong, young sister, who will be a great blessing to the branch. She's only been a member of the church for a few weeks and will have a lot to learn, but will do a wonderful job. She speaks French, Swahili and Kirundi too. That will help bring unity to the sisters who speak no common language. Now the Priesthood and the sisters are organized and can work together to strengthen this new little branch. This is a very good thing.

Soeur Magnifique and her son, Welcam ..........Jean Pierre, Magnigique andtheir son,Welcam

After our meeting we had our bi-weekly baptisms. There were eight people baptized, bringing our branch numbers from our original 8 to 64. We fill each of our 80 chairs in the chapel now and are going to buy some more this week. There's been standing room only for the last couple of weeks. The best part of this was that many of those baptized were members of families who had members already in the church. Now we are seeing wives and husbands, children and parents united in the church. This is another of our goals for the church in Burundi and a great blessing.

This week's baptisms

Frere Thomas, who was one of the men who left his employment as a minister to join the church after reading the Book of Mormon. Today, a month after his baptism, he baptized his wife and two of his children.

Nanas was baptized a few weeks ago. Then her brother, Menos, was baptized. Today her mother and two other sisters followed them into the waters of baptism. It was a great day. Other members of the family were there and are taking the missionary lessons. We're praying that this big, wonderful family will all be members one day.

Today Methode was among those baptized today. This is one of the most tender stories of them all. Frere Benamwa Methode was in a refugee camp in Northeastern Congo when he saw the name of the church on the back of a wheelchair. He felt such an impression from the spirit that this was the name of the true church of God that he went home and began to search on the internet to find it. He finally made contact with a sister in the family history center in SLC, with whom he still communicates. Somehow he got a Book of Mormon and began meeting with others to read it. He's one of the leaders of the group in Uvira, Congo, about an hour away. For years he wrote pleading for the church to come to the Congo and teach and baptize them. Finally when the church came to Burundi, we had only permission to teach and baptize here in Bujumbura. He said he was not willing to wait anymore until the church goes to Uvira, so he moved his family here, studied with the missionaries and today, he was finally baptized. He was grinning from ear to ear as he climbed into the pool. After his baptism he told us that as he was surrounded by the water he felt a feeling of comfort and peace that he didn't want to leave. He felt like he was being held in the arms of the Lord. He is awesome!! His wife, two children and another family member were here to see his baptism. He had planned to wait for them to be baptized together, but just couldn't wait any longer. So, they will continue to study. We wish so much that we could see his whole family in the church before we leave. We love Methode!!

Also baptized today was Anicet Irokozi, one of my favorite friends. He's 12 years old and appeared all alone at our first meeting. He has only missed one meeting since we came here. We've never seen his mother or father at church, but the elders say that they are supportive of his membership. He walks about 45 minutes each week to get to church and is usually the first person there. He loves to distribute and collect the hymn books. Now he will have the Aaronic Priesthood and will thrive in using it. He speaks almost no French or Swhaili, only Kirundi, but he never misses a thing. He memorized his part in French for the Christmas program by himself. We have no idea how he did it. He has a smile that would melt your heart. Now he's bringing his little sister, Mireille and a friend. Today was Anicet's day. I'm not sure who was happier, he or Elder Kizimbou, who baptized him. They are fast friends and today they were both glowing.

What an exceptional week it's been. It's amazing that we only have two more Sundays here. It will be wonderful to go home and be with our loved ones, but a piece of our hearts will stay in Africa with our loved ones here.