A couple of months ago the branch president handed us a list of names of those children over nine years of age who belong to member families but haven't yet been baptized. We arranged to track these young Saints and determine the status of each and whether any would like to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The teaching that resulted has afforded us some of the finest times of our ten months here in West Africa.
We found seven children ranging from thirteen years of age to nine and taught many younger children in the process.
It is no revelation that teaching young children is a whole different ball game entirely. We have tried many new ideas and techniques and the results, I think, have been admirable. The children are quite well prepared and excited about their baptisms all scheduled for 9:30 AM on the 26th day of March, 2011.
Sister Neves said, "you are crazy to plan so much for one day". The Sunday, a week ago, when the children were all interviewed, plainly showed that Sister Neves was correct on that advice and I was too late to adopt her suggestion.
It began early enough with a 5:30 wake up so we could get to the east side and make sure the children were in the Wellington chapel in time for all that had to be done before 10:30. We rehearsed it with them two days earlier. "when are you going to be ready to leave your house, Seibatu? Sharp eight", was always the answer. "Gbassey? Sharp eight! Tamgba? Sharp eight".
Sharp eight thirty Adama, Seibatu, and Marian came roaring up on two motakas to join the other five who just barely arrived at the Kissy chapel. Just like that with eight directions to go wrong we were all gathered and ready to go get baptized.
Samuel Kanu, mom's original shepherd was assigned the Mosarray's three girls just to go by and see that they got away on time and it worked very well. I was a little surprised to see them on the motorcycles without an adult escort but it wasn't worth a comment from the girls..
Seibatu is from the provinces, Adama is belongs to President Mossary's daughter who lives in the provinces, and Marian is a niece whose family cannot provide an education so they sent her to the city to give the president the opportunity. One time we were teaching the three little sweethearts and Seibatu hadn't yet made her appearance. The girls always washed and changed into some clean dresses for our visits. From the open window I heard President Mossary scold Seibatu and say, "Yu na bad mortalman"!
The idea that she is a bad human is so far from our perception that although poignant it was hilarious at the same time. She came out with tears in her eyes but we managed to take care of the hurt in about thirty seconds and she was just fine.
Uncle Sahr Fomba was assigned to bring the Fomba three, Gbessay, Sia, and Tamba who rounded out the eight children. Are these not the sweetest looking boys and girls you could imagine?
We all used a little public transportation and came together again at the chapel in Wellington where the baptismal font resides. Samuel had just made a remark about me being in his way so I helped him out even further. me for getting in his way. You got your Julius Rowe, Samuel Kanu, Elder Neves, Peter Vandi Bassie Jr, Albert Sessay, President Prince Ngegba, Matta Mossary, Ali Kamara, Peter Bassie Sr., Ruggiatu Bassie, Peter's cousin, Sister Neves, and Massa Mossary. I think I named the children enough times already.
Peter Bassie was assigned three candidates, Sahr Fomba three, and I baptized Marian and Seibatu which was a joy. We are shown below sorting through the white clothing. Sister Neves and I have now accumulated enough of our own clothing to handle an easy dozen from enormous ladies to tiny children. We borrowed clothing the first time but decided we didn't like that way one little bit. Four dollars each seems like a bargain to have your own white things in the back room whenever you need them.
I said, "turn around kids so I can snap your photo," and only Sia did. The children are all going back to the old dressing rooms with Matta Mossary to get there clothes on their backs. The rooms are a little bit of a mess but at least its not out in the open air.
I was going to apologize and say I'm sorry the faces are so black but that is probably because the faces are so black and healthy looking and not so pasty white like some older fat white people I might point out in the photo. Sahr Fomba is the man on the extreme left.
Elder Massey is shown here helping little Sister Adama out of the font and back to a waiting towel. Peter Bassie is shown in the font waiting for Prince Ngegba to make his way over to Elder Massey. The water is cool and deep and just right for the day and for the event.
Now Marian has been all baptized and being helped out by Elder Massey who works in Wellington. Elder Jenkins from Star Valley is shown on the other end of the font. I'm about ready to climb out with my work all done. The water came almost up to the chin of these littlest ones. A little dip of the head and neck was all that was needed. I think I enjoyed baptizing these two little ones almost as much as I did my own a long time ago. These little sweet spirits moments away from heaven renew my spirit and make me think that maybe all is right with the world after all.
We found our way back to the Kissy chapel and then did a little quick head count and sort before taking the lighter ones on up to Looking Town for their school sports at Fonday Field, much bigger program than BYU basketball any day.
President Ngegba and Peter Bassie Senior are in the back and in the front you'll find Adama, Mohamed, Marian, Prince, and Seibatu. The little guy in the back with the yellow shirt is a stray and the wall in the back is the wall surrounding the famous Fonday Field. The gate on the right opens into a compound where a dozen people make their home.
The Muslim school is to the left and not visible. This is where we usually park the truck before we begin the long trek to the homes up in Looking Town.
Sister Neves and I were on the program as the chief patrons and as the chairman I was asked to give the opening remarks.
Sister Neves and I were listed as Chief Patrons in the program for the sports event. I am not sure how much that might end up costing. I was also listed as chairman and asked to give a few opening remarks. I did my best to encourage them to run and jump and play and told the audience of thousands that I used to play with Michael Jordan. I thought I acquitted myself well given the circumstances and the surroundings.
You'll note my body guards, Ali, Samuel, and Albert who are there in case anything goes awry. As a matter of fact, toward evening I imagine two thousand men, women, and children had gathered to just be a part of the thing I imagine. Francis, who we baptized a month ago, got into an altercation with someone whom he accused of stealing a phone. I noted him back behind our seats taking off his shirt and getting ready for blows and asked Samuel and Albert to go make sure it didn't happen.
They collared Francis and calmed him down and prevented the ugly scene from continuing its ugliness. They sat there behind us for four hours while Sister Neves and I were treated like royalty. I did, however, mention to Sister Neves on the way home that their stock took a pretty good jump today.
We maintained the prize seats of honor under the blue tarp and a good fish sandwich and a warm soda pop. About every half hour the master of ceremonies mentioned Elder and Sister Neves in some context or another. I will have trouble adjusting to being a common ordinary citizen when we get home.
I hated to leave but four hours under the blue tarp in the full gaze of the Looking Town sports world gave us all the public exposure we needed, so we called it good.
I turned the camera around and made one final shot or two for our posterity. Everyone was there at the field. At two o clock there might have been five hundred but now two or three thousand and more coming would be a reasonable estimate of the crowd.
We found ourselves going from a little bit of heaven to a little bit of Babylon. I'm sure something good will come from both extremes.
The teaching that resulted has afforded us some of the finest times of our ten months here in West Africa.
We found seven children ranging from thirteen years of age to nine and taught many younger children in the process.
It is no revelation that teaching young children is a whole different ball game entirely. We have tried many new ideas and techniques and the results, I think, have been admirable. The children are quite well prepared and excited about their baptisms all scheduled for 9:30 AM on the 26th day of March, 2011.
Sister Neves said, "you are crazy to plan so much for one day". The Sunday, a week ago, when the children were all interviewed, plainly showed that Sister Neves was correct on that advice and I was too late to adopt her suggestion.
It began early enough with a 5:30 wake up so we could get to the east side and make sure the children were in the Wellington chapel in time for all that had to be done before 10:30. We rehearsed it with them two days earlier. "when are you going to be ready to leave your house, Seibatu? Sharp eight", was always the answer. "Gbassey? Sharp eight! Tamgba? Sharp eight".
Sharp eight thirty Adama, Seibatu, and Marian came roaring up on two motakas to join the other five who just barely arrived at the Kissy chapel. Just like that with eight directions to go wrong we were all gathered and ready to go get baptized.
Samuel Kanu, mom's original shepherd was assigned the Mosarray's three girls just to go by and see that they got away on time and it worked very well. I was a little surprised to see them on the motorcycles without an adult escort but it wasn't worth a comment from the girls..
Seibatu is from the provinces, Adama is belongs to President Mossary's daughter who lives in the provinces, and Marian is a niece whose family cannot provide an education so they sent her to the city to give the president the opportunity. One time we were teaching the three little sweethearts and Seibatu hadn't yet made her appearance. The girls always washed and changed into some clean dresses for our visits. From the open window I heard President Mossary scold Seibatu and say, "Yu na bad mortalman"!
The idea that she is a bad human is so far from our perception that although poignant it was hilarious at the same time. She came out with tears in her eyes but we managed to take care of the hurt in about thirty seconds and she was just fine.
Uncle Sahr Fomba was assigned to bring the Fomba three, Gbessay, Sia, and Tamba who rounded out the eight children. Are these not the sweetest looking boys and girls you could imagine?
We all used a little public transportation and came together again at the chapel in Wellington where the baptismal font resides. Samuel had just made a remark about me being in his way so I helped him out even further. me for getting in his way. You got your Julius Rowe, Samuel Kanu, Elder Neves, Peter Vandi Bassie Jr, Albert Sessay, President Prince Ngegba, Matta Mossary, Ali Kamara, Peter Bassie Sr., Ruggiatu Bassie, Peter's cousin, Sister Neves, and Massa Mossary. I think I named the children enough times already.
Peter Bassie was assigned three candidates, Sahr Fomba three, and I baptized Marian and Seibatu which was a joy. We are shown below sorting through the white clothing. Sister Neves and I have now accumulated enough of our own clothing to handle an easy dozen from enormous ladies to tiny children. We borrowed clothing the first time but decided we didn't like that way one little bit. Four dollars each seems like a bargain to have your own white things in the back room whenever you need them.
I said, "turn around kids so I can snap your photo," and only Sia did. The children are all going back to the old dressing rooms with Matta Mossary to get there clothes on their backs. The rooms are a little bit of a mess but at least its not out in the open air.
I was going to apologize and say I'm sorry the faces are so black but that is probably because the faces are so black and healthy looking and not so pasty white like some older fat white people I might point out in the photo. Sahr Fomba is the man on the extreme left.
Elder Massey is shown here helping little Sister Adama out of the font and back to a waiting towel. Peter Bassie is shown in the font waiting for Prince Ngegba to make his way over to Elder Massey. The water is cool and deep and just right for the day and for the event.
Now Marian has been all baptized and being helped out by Elder Massey who works in Wellington. Elder Jenkins from Star Valley is shown on the other end of the font. I'm about ready to climb out with my work all done. The water came almost up to the chin of these littlest ones. A little dip of the head and neck was all that was needed. I think I enjoyed baptizing these two little ones almost as much as I did my own a long time ago. These little sweet spirits moments away from heaven renew my spirit and make me think that maybe all is right with the world after all.
We found our way back to the Kissy chapel and then did a little quick head count and sort before taking the lighter ones on up to Looking Town for their school sports at Fonday Field, much bigger program than BYU basketball any day.
President Ngegba and Peter Bassie Senior are in the back and in the front you'll find Adama, Mohamed, Marian, Prince, and Seibatu. The little guy in the back with the yellow shirt is a stray and the wall in the back is the wall surrounding the famous Fonday Field. The gate on the right opens into a compound where a dozen people make their home.
The Muslim school is to the left and not visible. This is where we usually park the truck before we begin the long trek to the homes up in Looking Town.
Sister Neves and I were on the program as the chief patrons and as the chairman I was asked to give the opening remarks.
Sister Neves and I were listed as Chief Patrons in the program for the sports event. I am not sure how much that might end up costing. I was also listed as chairman and asked to give a few opening remarks. I did my best to encourage them to run and jump and play and told the audience of thousands that I used to play with Michael Jordan. I thought I acquitted myself well given the circumstances and the surroundings.
You'll note my body guards, Ali, Samuel, and Albert who are there in case anything goes awry. As a matter of fact, toward evening I imagine two thousand men, women, and children had gathered to just be a part of the thing I imagine. Francis, who we baptized a month ago, got into an altercation with someone whom he accused of stealing a phone. I noted him back behind our seats taking off his shirt and getting ready for blows and asked Samuel and Albert to go make sure it didn't happen.
They collared Francis and calmed him down and prevented the ugly scene from continuing its ugliness. They sat there behind us for four hours while Sister Neves and I were treated like royalty. I did, however, mention to Sister Neves on the way home that their stock took a pretty good jump today.
We maintained the prize seats of honor under the blue tarp and a good fish sandwich and a warm soda pop. About every half hour the master of ceremonies mentioned Elder and Sister Neves in some context or another. I will have trouble adjusting to being a common ordinary citizen when we get home.
I hated to leave but four hours under the blue tarp in the full gaze of the Looking Town sports world gave us all the public exposure we needed, so we called it good.
I turned the camera around and made one final shot or two for our posterity. Everyone was there at the field. At two o clock there might have been five hundred but now two or three thousand and more coming would be a reasonable estimate of the crowd.
We found ourselves going from a little bit of heaven to a little bit of Babylon. I'm sure something good will come from both extremes.
2 comments:
Elder & Sister Neves - this is fabulous. Your documentation helps us all have a little glimpse into your life there - and these are sweet spirits to see a little of!!!
What wonderful pictures. The children are so beautiful. With love, Elaine Fry
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