Mother's Day, Baptism Day, Caring Big Boss

    MOTHER'S DAY!!!  A beautiful Mother's Day dressed in white; seeing our friends, Agness, David, and also Praise receive the gift of baptism. Elder Anderson’s face explains it all, “Oh what joy!” We are so grateful to the amazing sister missionaries, Sister Mbabazi and Treese for teaching these new converts. Elder Anderson couldn't hold back the tears, having the privilege to baptize all three worthy new members of our church. He exclaimed, "The water was frigid cold when I got in, but I was on fire when I got out!"  Such a blessed day! Our joy is full! Agness and her husband, David, are the first fruits of our labor on the temple site to hear the gospel and accept it. We love them and their family and welcome them to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the most perfect people we know right now. Agness is truly an elect lady that is leading the way for example on the temple site. Oh, what joy to watch these amazing new converts come unto Christ and accept baptism.  

    Agness told me about a dream or vision she had back in August 2021. She was working on the site since the beginning of construction. Agness had found a Book of Mormon in the Highland Ward's kitchen and started reading it; right before they demolished the building. In her dream, she was looking out of the Board room window on the HZT site out toward the temple. Above the temple foundation, she saw an angel dressed in a flowing white gown and a headband from the waist up in the clouds. The angel was beckoning her to come with his/her hands. I felt the meaning was for Angness to come to the temple and join the church. She has started on the covenant path and I see her and her family being sealed in the temple once it's completed. She's excited to have this future goal come true.

    Pres. Judd, our mission president, compared the temple site to a “petri dish”. The temple is “culturing” and growing a large number of people to hear the gospel. The “Spirit of Elijah” is so strong on the temple site. The workers are discussing how they feel at the temple site among themselves. We are seeing amazing miracles daily. God is preparing the workers to hear and join his true church. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the gathering of Israel in Africa. 

    The mission has made a “temple referral squadron” for all the temple site referrals. Pres. Judd has recruited Sister Warne, our family history missionary, to help us assist with assigning full-time proselyting missionaries to the site workers with the desire to be taught. The work is growing with over 65 referrals.

A blessed day, Joanna "Kuma" knows to shout "Hurrah for Israel" on this happy day!!!

Praise, Elder Anderson, Sister Anderson, David and Agnes Soloni, Sister Mbabzi and Treese, Joanna, & Putsy all gather to celebrate their baptism day at Highland's Ward, Mother's Day, 2023.05.14.

Elder Anderson and David after baptism, Oh what joy if you bring but one soul to God!

Elder Anderson, David and Agness Soloni with daughter, Joanna. Ready for baptism!

Blessed baptism day on 14 May, Mother's Day. We loved being part of these new members' lives.

     A very HAPPY MOTHER's DAY to all you amazing moms out there! To our own dear mothers, who were an example of faith, patience, service, and long-suffering. To our beautiful daughter, Elise, who loves being a mom, and to our 4 beautiful and talented daughters-in-law, who are such amazing mothers and wives to our sons! We love you all so much!  I also am so grateful to my best friends, who were mothers to my own children growing up as it "takes a village". Thank you to all my children's teachers, who "mothered" their education and learning. A special thank you to all my nurse friends in L&D, NICU, and Mother-Baby, who help patients become mothers every day in their profession.

Elise and Aria, pulling silly faces, 2023.05. 10        We miss them!!!

Persuade is teaching Bruce how to bend the wire to make brick wire ties, 2023.05.03

Bruce's new name, besides "Man of God" is now, "Caring Big Boss"! Got to love what these temple workers are calling him. I am "Madame", Wow! I'm getting way too much respect for what I'm used to in America. The Shona people are so polite and some of the women "bow" to you. We ask how everyone is doing in Shona now and clap our hands together gently while greeting others. They are always pleased we are trying to pronounce their language greetings in Shona. Persuade is an amazing young adult working on the temple site. He always comes to say "Hi" to us. He is an apprentice learning all the construction trades. "Percy" is now reading the Book of Mormon and asking us questions. He wants to teach his friends the gospel and gave 5 of them books. 

Persuade already wants to be a missionary! We love him; he is full of light and joy!

Highland Ward, Mother's Day, Sisters Nichols, Poulter, King, Judd, Anderson, and Masoni, 2023-05-14