The Rest of the Story with Jimmy Mabingo

Our experience in Africa has been unique in so many ways, but the story of Jimmy Mabingo is one that I don't believe is repeated often in all the world.
It all started in 2010 when we were sent to Burundi to begin the church there. Among the first to join the church were the Mabingo sisters.  Then their Mother, Rose joined. Then their father and a brother named Jimmy were baptized.  Frere Menos had a dream that Brent would baptize him. It was just a week before we were to leave Burundi and it didn't seem like this dream could come true, but through faith and a little miracle or two, it did. Just two days before we left Burundi Brent baptized Frere Mabingo and his son, Jimmy.

These were two of the three baptisms that Brent actually performed on our mission. Most of the Mabingo family was there for the baptism of Jimmy and his Dad.  After that, one by one, they joined the church.

We have kept track of the family and love them very much.

Then, in Nov. 2012, when we were in Johnnesbrug for the mission presidents' seminar, we were thrilled to find that a group from Burundi had come to the temple. Among them was the Mabingo family. We were able to be in attendance at the sealing of this family.  Brent served as a witness at the sealing of  Rose and Menos to 9 of their children, who were all young adults at the time. 

We were excited to hear that two of their sons were awaiting calls and would now serve full-time missions. It was an amazing and joyous experience to see the progression from baptism, to temple and then, to mission calls.  We felt so blessed that things had occurred with just this timing that allowed us to see this family again and share this important time with them.  

This week we welcomed eight new missionaries who will serve in the DRC Kinshasa mission.

Among them was Jumba Jimmy Mabingo.  We have been able to be with him for the great landmark moments of his church life.  We were there at his baptism, his temple experience and now Brent will serve as his mission President for the next four months. To have lived through the spiritual evolution with this family and this young man is a great blessing for us. 

I believe this is a very unique experience, maybe one of a kind,  to have shared all of this with a young man.  Only because we've been in the same area of Africa for such a long time could we have seen this wonderful chain of events.  How blessed we are to be sharing this time in the life of Jumba Jimmy Mabingo.