Week 72 Email: TABLIGBO BRANCH!! + baptisms

From: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Monday, October 31, 2022
Subject: TABLIGBO BRANCH!! + baptisms

Bonjour tout le monde!! So last week... yeah I'm not sure how that passed by as quickly as it did. Sorry that I didn't send an email out, I was thinking about writing one but decided that I would wait until this week. 

So kind of what happend now 2 weeks ago. We did a LOT of exchanges. I was in my sector for all of them but the week went by slowly. We started off the week by doing an exchange on Tuesday with Elder Kasula (ka-sue-la). He's a great teacher and knows how to really answer the questions that amis ask. It was great to work with him. Even if it was just for the afternoon.

Wednesday I did another exchange with Elder Mazunzu (ma-zoon-zoo). He takes a different route to talking to people by just saying hi to everyone no matter what they are doing or if they're talking to someone. His confidence is something that I consider to be contagious because I have started to do it now too! For both of the exchanges we had what we call "exchange luck" which basically means that we had maybe 1 rendez-vous that worked out. But that's okay because we were able to still.do service and contact people on the side of the road. 

And then on Saturday I did another exchange with Elder Mahan (ma-han), who's our District Leader here in Tabligbo. We went and visited a lot of members and new converts that have sadly fallen inactive. But it was good for me to get to meet them and say hey kind of thing. It's always hard to know exactly what you should do to help them but in the moment the Spirit is there to guide you through everything. 

Okay so now getting into this week. We had another busy week here haha. On Tuesday we had interviews with President Proudfoot so we had to leave Tabligbo and take an 1½ taxi ride to go to Lomé. I didn't miss the long drive to say the least. It kinda took me back to when I was in Kpalimé, that drive was long too. Except this time the road is paved almost all the way so you can actually sleep, which is such a plus when you have the rain pounding and fresh air coming into the car. 

Wednesday we had our District Council and everyone talked together about what we can do to become more consecrated as a missionary and District. We came up with some good ideas we think and this past week by implementing them we were able to accomplish a lot of our goals we had made. We went and visited with Sœur Parfaote and all of our baptismal candidates to help them prepare for the baptism on Sunday. It's always something special to get to talk to amis about baptism and how important it is is our lives. 

Thursday was a full day out in sector and we sweated bullets. The humidity was up to almost 97% and the temperature was a whopping 92⁰... to say the least I felt like I was breathing water to replace what was being lost as we walked around. It was great haha. 

Friday, because Wednesday was district council, we did our weekly planning and had some rain that offset the heat from the day before. But that also meant that the service was absolutely garbage. For some reason that I don't understand, eventide it rains here the service just dies. Like there's not even a little, no phone class or texts. No data to even check if you have minutes. It's weird but we got through it. We made some good phone calls and some attainable but higher goals for this upcoming month. I am excited to see what happens here in Tabligbo. We then spent the rest of the day helping out members with getting to the church to do interviews with the 2nd counselor in the mission. 

Saturday we didn't have much in the morning sadly. People just weren't there. There are days like that here, and it scares me sometimes. Because being in a village, where you don't have much noise like the city, and then having nobody really out and about it almost feels like a ghost town. And that includes our amis. The morning we didn't do much but walk around and try to invite people to church on Sunday. It was the afternoon and evening that was nice for talking and teaching haha. I guess everyone just slept in, we just didn't get the memo haha. 

Okay. So now Sunday. This past Sunday is going to be a Sunday that I will NEVER forget for the rest of my life. First of all I got to baptise our amis!! It's the first time that I was able to actually baptise people on my mission. I absolutely loved it!!! The Spirit of baptism is such a strong feeling that can't be replaced by anything else. We had 3 of our 7 get baptised this week. We were going to have 4 but Sœur Avosse's husband didn't accept. So if you could keep her in your prayers that would go a long way. And then the other big part of yesterday was that the Tabligbo group finally become the Tabligbo Branch!!! It was so cool you guys. I honestly can't describe the joy that I have for the people here. It was so hard not to cry at every second. President Proudfoot and Sister Proudfoot came and set up the branch, because it's part of the mission, and eventide that President called the names of an organisation I saw so many faces light up with joy and happiness. I never even thought that being able to be apart of something like that would be possible on my mission let alone in my life but ahh it was awesome. The testimonies of the people here are so strong, they touch every heart that hears. Even if they are in a language that I still don't fully grasp haha. 

This week I just want to invite you to think of something that has helped your testimony to grow personally. It doesn't have to be something big or grand, it can most definitely be some of the small moments in your life. And then, since this weekend is fast and testimony meeting I invite you to share that testimony that you have. It could be in church or it could be even outside if possible. I have learned through personal experience that by sharing not only are you able to help others but your own testimony will grow. I can srat us off haha. I know that this church is the church or Christ here upon the earth. It was restored by Jospeh Smith so that we all could have the opportunity to know of it and its truths. Jesus is the Christ. He died for each of us and is there, waiting, with open arms to accept us and to help us when we do make mistakes. Our Father in Heaven knows and loves each of us! He gave us the gospel so that we may be able to return to live with Him in the life to come. I know this to be true. I love every single one of you! 

La vie est belle mes amis et ma famille. I hope that you have a great week this week! Feel free to email me :)

~ Elder Garcia

Photos:  

The Tabligbo Branch

Baptism (x3)

Elder Mahan and some kids too

Elde Mazunzu

Elder Kasula 

Pouring rain flooded street

Teaching the kids that you can high-five the air to take a picture 

Sœur Eméfa, Sœur Parfaite, et Sœur Blessing