Monday, August 19, 2013

Week #17 - He Says

Dear Family,

The weeks seem to be picking up momentum. The experiences continue to strengthen are faith and build our love for the people of Sierra Leone.

We continue to meet weekly with President Kpullum.  This time we had our monthly missionary correlation meeting with the zone leaders, Elder's Nickle, Animba, Nwosu & Burton.  For July the Kissy Zone had 19 baptisms (which included 1 family) and the Waterloo Zone had 26 baptisms (3 families completed).  President continues to be concerned with retention and how the new members are being fellowshipped into the branches.

The Districts office now has power, however the computer is still in the box, it's now going on for 3 weeks.  President Kpullum did interview 4 brethren from the Waterloo Branch to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Kelvin Kamara (BP Exec. Sec), David Bangura (branch mission leader) and Komba Moiwo, & James Coker.  The first 2 have been members less than 3 months, but are extremely faithful and very active in the branch.
It was wonderful being apart of Elder Adah's testimony meeting.  We have been around him ever since we arrived in Sierra Leone.  We are learning that enduring to the end here and returning with honor will bless their lives forever.  To think that he is the oldest member of the church in his family, he lost his dad at age 12 and his non-member mother financially supported him is quite a testimony, we love him and pray he will stay close to the Lord.

Thursday we went to the Allentown apt. with the assistants and shared the vision of the mission with the zone leaders about building around our centers of strength in our proselyting areas.  Challenging them to suggest how to build proselyting areas around chapels and being no more than 20 minutes away.  Plus looking to find apartments close to the chapels.  They currently are a hour to an hour and a half by walking to their proselyting areas.

Saturday we started in Thunder Hill where we witnessed 6 baptisms. Five by Elder's Serafine and Melville (3 of them were a mom & 2 children, not sure the status of the father) and 1 by the Kissy 1 Elder's Ngerem & Narteh.   The man is married and his wife lives in Utah and is a member. The Thunder Hill branch president presided, the branch mission leader conducted and the members gave the talks.  At the end Robin and I were asked to share our testimonies, it was a wonderful service.

Then back to the Kissy Chapel where Robin trained the district primary presidency on how to present the August theme on prayer.  She trained them on how to present each week and gave them some very helpful ideas to share with the branchs primary leadership.  She was touched by the faithfulness and dedication to the gospel and their calling.

Then we met the Kossoh Town Elder's and picked of some CDE's for the zone leaders.  From there we headed to Waterloo and took part in a baptism.  The man baptized had to use a crutch (not sure why), he made the mile and a half walk to the river, a real testimony of his commitment to the gospel and what he had been taught.
From there we dropped off a medical kit to the Grafton apartment, some mail and headed home.  We managed to get through the back road, a little muddy in some places, but did not need the 4 wheel drive.  It saved us 1 hour and no Kissy road, yea!

Sunday took us to the Wellington 2nd Branch. We wanted to attend there because it was Elder Nickle's last Sunday. The investigators class was taught by a returned missionary Bro. Sivalie, he did an excellent job on the atonement, handling the questions with great maturity and knowledge.  The BP taught Elder's Quorum trained on how to correctly administer priesthood ordinances.  One concern was that the YM's president was in Elder's Quorum and not with the YM.

We then made our way back to the Kissy 1st Branch.  The BP, President Dassama bore his testimony at the end on paying tithes and offerings.  He shared that those who have paid their tithes and offerings have not had to come to him for help, that was powerful.  Robin then met with the YW's president about next Saturday's young women in excellence program.

We love the work!  Have a great week, we feel your love and prayers.

Elder & Sister Kanzler, Grandma & Grandpa, Scott & Robin

No comments: