We hope that today is a good day!
This is the last month of our mission. We will arrive home on Thursday 27, 2014 at 8:30, United Airlines, from Chicago.
Our report to our ward in Orem, Utah will be on April 13, 2014;
600 West 600 South; (South of Mountain View High School and north of
the UVU campus); at 11 am. We will have a luncheon at our home
following Sacrament meeting; All of you are invited. Please pass this
on to your missionaries. They are not on this mailing list.
We have already cried at
the thought of leaving. Our hearts are very tender at this moment.
Had we known that a replacement has yet to be called for us we would
have stayed until President Weed was released.
We love the missionaries and the people. It has been our pleasure to serve here.
This past month we had several missionaries leave and several come.
It is quite the contrast between the new missionaries whose eyes are
glazed over wondering what is in store and those who are now mature and
confident.
Two missionaries from
the states have born their testimony in French at least twice and in
public. Of course they were frightened.They did very well. These
missionaries do have the gift of tongues. I remind those who have been
here for some time and are very fluent that it isn't easy to speak as
proficiently as they do. The missionaries' French is as good as the
natives. They indeed were blessed to be able to understand and speak
French.
The missionaries walk
day after day in the dust, it is very hot and humid. The temperature
index is approximately 105-110 most days. Following a rain storm the
humidity is almost intolerable. They are obedient and keep doing the
work.
Sister Semken gave a
wonderful presentation about keeping things clean at Zone Conferences in
Benin. It is difficult to keep things clean, windows are open and the
dust just comes and settles in their apartments. A little effort each
day would solve their problems. Some missionaries are better at
cleaning than others. It is interesting that the local women sweep the
dirt in front of their homes daily. They gather paper and twigs etc.
They are clean.
Elder Vinson held
missionary conferences in Benin and Togo this past week. A few
missionaries had the opportunity to be interviewed by him. Elder
Vinson reports that West Africa is the most fruitful and fertile area in
the world at this time. He sees the numbers from around the world and
can see what is happening.
This past month we had
96 baptisms in the mission with only 110 missionaries. 80% of the
converts come from members referrals and help. All missionaries have
some very unique stories about conversions. These are their stories for
them to tell to you.
Since I have been here
we have doubled, with the current addition of Calavi and Cocotomey, the
number of branches in Benin. Our numbers are very close to being a
stake in Benin. This has occurred in a few years.
We miss the
missionaries that were recently transferred to Togo. We said good-bye to
them knowing that we wouldn't see them until they return from their
missions.
All of
the missionaries face the "wind in their face" and the "wind at their
back". Both have and teach great lessons. They do face disappoint.
The joy and happiness from the lessons they learn far exceed the
disappointment.
Still a lot to talk about in the future,
Elder Semken
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