Visiting Yaoundé- Working with Members

The other part of our time when we go to outlying cities is spent with members. We have 11 mission branches. They're the direct responsibility of the mission president who acts as a stake president for those branches. So, there are interviews for young members turning in mission papers. There are temple recommend and priesthood advancement interviews. There's training of auxiliary and priesthood leaders and changes in organizations that must be done by the mission president. It's a real blessing that Brent's had so much experience in a stake presidency.

This trip was made because of a need for change in the branch presidency. That meant hours of training and interviewing for Brent. Sister Thompson is planning a Relief Society training meeting so she and I talked about her plans and, of course, cooked. It's such a blessing to have these good couples in our outlying cities. They give the real aid to developing branches by being there to give constant support, direction and leadership. I don't know how things could progress without them. They have solitary and challenging lives but play a most important, life-changing role as they go about doing good. We're so thankful for them. These are among the people of whom I'll always think when I sing "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord."

Gates Nuttalls Thompsons

The Ekounou 2 branch meets in a nice, rented African-style facility. It was clean, neat, mostly well maintained and large enough for the needs of the small branches that meet there.

This is the neighborhood across from the church entrance.

The church is a nice addition to this neighborhood.

The road to the church is really something to see. It's the area where four of our elders work and it's unimaginable to think of these young, white, American men walking these streets daily. But they do it and with a smile on their faces!

This is a typical lumber store. The wood's left out in the weather and as you can imagine what that does to the wood. I'd hate to be looking for a nice, straight 2x4.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this adorable and spunky little girl who followed me around.

After church, as the members were visiting in the courtyard, one of the children stood on the water supply line and it broke. Precious water was spraying clear across the courtyard. Elder Schmid and a young man in the branch, who served as a full-time branch missionary here on our last transfer, tried to hold back the dike until the water could be shut off. There were two turn-off valves in the system. Neither one worked, so the water had to be shut off at some main source to stop the geyser. These two got soaked trying to reinsert the broken piece of pipe in the flowing water. They finally wrapped the pipe with a plastic bag and some wire. It might stay that way for a long time. Fixing things has a whole different meaning in Africa.

We're beginning to find returned missionaries we know and love from Lubumbashi and Kinshasa missions in every city. Elder Olinga, who was with us in Lubumbashi, is now married, has a little girl and is the first counselor in the new branch presidency. This shows how new the leadership is in these branches of the church. Elder Olinga is in his twenties, home from his mission less than 2 years and is serving in the branch presidency. We feel a great responsibly to teach our missionaries how to be strong, faithful, honest leaders. They are the future of Africa. Elder Olinga has a job and is planning a trip to the temple to be sealed sometime this year. He's doing what we hope all of our returned missionaries can do. It's great to see our missionary sons and daughters and their families taking their place in church communities at home. That's what you call a payday!