The Bucket Brigade in Pointe Noire

Saturday we went to the chapel for the zone baptisms.  
We don't know how it happened, but this small city with only three branches has a very nice church built chapel.  It's very impressive and well cared for by the members. 

Brent had also planned some training for the branch presidencies.  When we arrived we discovered that the water we'd started putting in the font two hours before had decreased to a trickle and the font was still almost empty.   No problem!

Elder Wheatley jumped down in the well and began scooping water and handing up buckets up to the waiting Elders. They hauled water for over an hour in the hot sun. I'm not sure it they were wetter from sloshing water or from perspiration.  But they never stopped until the font was ready. 

While the elders and a few others were hauling water,several sisters repeatedly mopped the hall while  the rest of the members sat quietly listening to Frère Grace playing hymns or joined in singing them. Grace is 17 and the only member of his family who's in the church.  He's been at the church every time we've been there day or night. I think that it's his home away from home. He's a devoted young man who hopes someday to fill a mission.   He has learned to play the piano well in the last year as he practices whenever he comes to the church. His piano skills are a great blessing to the branch there. 

After much effort,  we had a wonderful baptism service. We had converts ranging in age from 8 to 70. They were baptized by missionaries and also by other members of their family or their branch.  We love sharing these special moments and the special stories of each convert. On Sunday we saw all of these men confirmed and sustained to receive the Aaronic priesthood.  It's a great experience to share in the fruits of these hard working elders.
We always wish the more women and families would be baptized, but all these men are a start. Hopefully their families will not be far behind them in making baptismal covenants.

After the baptisms Brent met with the priesthood leaders from all three branches. Nearly all of them were there and were eager to receive training.Most, if not all, are first generation members and so everything is a profound learning experience for them. They were eager to accept council and move forward in their branches.  This is President Elvis Sombo.  He's a very dedicated, young branch president who is  eager to learn and do things right.  His branch just began holding meetings in a newly rented and renovated building and they were planning an open house to show their building to friends and neighbors.  He was very eager to make it a good experience for those who came and was attending to every detail. It was to be held the next weekend and preparations were well underway. Working with these wonderful branch leaders, who are so eager to learn and grow in the gospel, is a wonderful and inspiring experience. We're proud to know them.