Women's Day

This week we had a bit of a crazy time with baptisms. We've been holding our baptisms at the pool where our American member lives. Brother Willis works for the American Embassy. It's a very nice place and they have been very accommodating to us. The first week it was sparkling and beautiful. By the next time they told us that the pump wasn't working. but they would empty and refill it. When we arrived it was pretty green. They told us that they would be getting the pump fixed, but knowing how things go in Africa, we decided on Saturday to go and take a look for ourselves. There was NO water in the pool. They had drained it and told us that they wouldn't be filling it until they get a new pump from Nairobi. Who knows when that will be. It was interesting that they didn't think we would need to know that ahead of time, but then TIA! Rule #1 applies.

So, we frantically started making calls to find another place to do our baptisms. We knew that we would have some disappointed missionaries and baptismal candidates if we had to postpone the service. We even checked out the lake again. We were about to give up when we got a call saying that the hotel where the men stayed in Aug. had been known to allow baptisms in their pool. It was going to work out after all.

So, on Sunday we had a wonderful Sacrament meeting with 80 people in attendance. Since our membership is only about 35, that's quite remarkable. It was testimony meeting and probably more than half of the people who bore their testimonies were people who desire baptism and bore witness of the truths of the gospel, but have not yet been baptized. Most of the others who spoke have been members of the church for less than two months. They bore sweet, powerful testimonies of the truth of the gospel, God's love and blessing to them in finding the true church, their love for the Book of Mormon and their support for the prophet. It is quite a humbling and remarkable experience to witness such a testimony meeting.

Then we went to the Source du Nil Hotel for the baptisms. As we drove there we saw members walking along the streets in small groups, looking quite conspicuous in their white shirts and ties.

We found a private little place in the shade to hold our meeting. It was very touching to stand in a circle and sing and talk with these good saints.

The pool was very nice and very public! We had to pay the customary swimming fee of $3.00 per person who got in the pool. They assured us that they would ask the people in the pool to move to the other end when we were doing the baptisms. It turned out that when were started everybody just spontaneously stopped swimming and we had a group of about 20 swimmers hanging on the edge of the pool watching every baptism. They were quiet and respectful, so it was unusual, but OK.

We had 11 baptisms. There were four new young adult age members. It's so encouraging to see these strong young leaders of the future coming into the church.

Then we had a beautiful young mother baptized. She is the wife of a member. He joined the church when living in Kenya. We are so happy whenever a family is united in the church.

The other six baptisms were all members of Brother Johnson's family. He was baptized a month ago. He is a pastor who left his ministry to join the church. Sunday he baptized all the other members of his family who were old enough to be baptized. What a great day it was to see two families united in the church. They will be strong additions to our little group.

In the church in Africa we have about eight times as many men as women join the church. The men join without their families and then, maybe, after some time in the church, they invite their families to join them. So, it was exciting that this baptismal day was WOMEN'S DAY. This wonderful group of 7 women of all ages were baptized.( You may notice that hair is not an indicator as to whether you are male or female. African women bemoan the fact that they don't have much hair and use wigs and extensions to improve their natural hair.) There was a lot of hugging and sisterly giggling as they shared this special moment together.

Here are all 11 people who were baptized this week. We are beginning to feel like we are ready to move to the next step and have a real branch where all these good people can serve in callings and enjoy the full programs of the church. It's a great time in Bujumbura.

Renewing water

The climate in both Congo and Burundi is much like Arizona, although not quite as hot and more humid. They have two seasons--rainy and dry.

In Lubumbashi when it was the dry season everything was parched and dusty. The plants had layers of dust on them that were there for months until the rains came. The plants appeared to be dying by the time the rainy season arrived. Then, with the beginning of the rains, things were washed and sprang back to life.

Burundi is 3 degrees south of the Equator, so it's hot and humid all year round. Because of the high humidity, and the sandy soil, things were never as dusty as in the Congo, but the arrival of the rainy season still brought the world to life.

Our yard, which was dirt with a few sprigs of grass when we arrived in late September, was lush and beautiful by early November, after the coming of the rains. Brent loves the straight lines and crisp edges that the gardeners are creating.

The gardeners are really just two teen-age boys with little eduction. We know that because they speak little French, only Kirundi. It's hard work and they do it with limited tools. They have a machete, a crude hoe and a push mower. Our gardeners are working very hard to get landscaping done.They are really nice young men and good workers who seem to take pride in their work.

From our balcony the neighbors yards are a beautiful sight. In a few years our yard will be too.

Everywhere that there were dry, grassy fields the people have cleared and planted corn with beans under it. The corn seemed to grow overnight and is already as tall as a man.

It rains almost every day and often several times a day. The saying "when it rains, it pours," must have been originated in Africa. We have deluges for a few minutes and then it's gone. It

even makes Arizona August thunder storm rains seem mild.

Everything is in bloom and the vegetation is quite beautiful. We see oleander, vinca, bougainvillea, and many other beautiful flowering plants. The foliage here is much more lush and beautiful than in Lubumbashi.

One of the plants that we've not seen before we came here is this beautiful, but very unfriendly looking plant.

It's called the Crown of Thorns, or Christ plant. Our friends in Kenya, the Foxes, told us that tradition has it that the crown of thorns fashion for the Savior was made from this plant.

The trees in Burundi are unique and very interesting too. There are many, many varieties of palm trees. The one on the left has a prickly trunk that you don't want to bump up against. It's razor sharp. In the middle is a fan-like palm with branches going in a side-ways row. Then there is the palm "pine tree."

There are banana trees, papaya and mango laden with fruit everywhere.

My two favorite trees, the huge banyan tree in the middle of the street in downtown Bujumbura and the funny looking Dr. Seus papaya tree across the street from us that's shown above.

Nature has been kind to the land of Burundi. Its beauty is a stark contrast to the sad things and lack of progress we see in the lives of many of the people brought on by war and financial struggle. But just as the rains bring needed renewal to the earth, so the gospel rains down hope and rebirth to this land and its people. Already new growth is visible and in a few years we pray that this part of the Lord's vineyard will blossom from the blessings of the living water of the restored gospel.