Chitungwiza Baptisms, June 10, 2023

 Sister Sibanda and Mabhena taught these 4 beautiful new members, who entered into the waters of baptism. 2023.06.10

    Saturday, June 10th, was another remarkable day in Zimbabwe. It started out with golf lessons at Price's Driving Range with Lolly and Reeve. I applied their amazing tips and actually hit a few good balls. All the senior missionaries went out to breakfast at 08:30 a.m. after golf at the "3 Monkey's Restaurant".  Afterward, Bruce and I headed to both Saturday markets. The Stable Market to buy a picture frame, temple cards, and photo albums we ordered. Then the Borrowdale market to get the two nativity sets I had ordered from the hand carver, Joseph. We bought a few other gifts for the grandkids and food items including, imported cheese, crackers, and hummus. 

        Saturday afternoon, we had three options: attend baptisms in Chitungwiza and see Persuade, go to a high school rugby match with the senior missionaries, or go to a Saturday afternoon stake conference. We decided going to see Persuade would be the best missionary activity. 

    Bruce drove the 45 minutes to Chitungwiza. When we found the remote chapel the baptism hadn't started and Sister Sibandi was on the phone with Persuade. She told him he had to come now and they couldn't teach him tomorrow as he had asked. When she got off the phone, she realized she meant to call a different Persuade, not our friend from the temple site. She and her companion are teaching two different Persuades. She called him back and said we'd go pick him up at the corner of the intersection about 1-2 kg. away. When we got there, we called Persuade and said we had a "surprise" to come visit him. He wasn't going to come to the baptism because he was trying to get his wash done. He had to carry four 20-gallon buckets of water from the well and there was no "zesa" that morning. This meant he had to hand pump the water. The sister missionaries, Sister Sibanda and Mabhena, also had to fill the small font for the baptism and haul about 20 buckets of water. The font was filled with the well's water which was a dingy brown. The font outside was small and looked more like a large bathtub. I wondered how they would baptize the 4 new converts with full immersion. It was pretty amazing to witness.

Persuade gets to meet Bishop Magaso at Chitungwiza Chapel; he'll be fully fellowshipped! 2023.06.10

Sister Sibanda and member, I loved her hairstyle! The sisters filled up the font carrying buckets of borehole water for the baptism; a labor of love! 2023.06.10

We met Persuade and took him to the baptism, which was just starting when we arrived. There is always a special spirit and new convert baptisms in the mission field. It was nice for Persuade to meet all the missionaries, the 8 Elders & 4 Sisters, and many members his own age. Afterward, Sister Sibandi and Sister Mabhena taught Persuade his 3rd missionary lesson about chastity and the Word of Wisdom. Persuade wants to be baptized next week if possible. The sisters will give him 2 more lessons before next Saturday. He is like a son to us. We already love him so much. His beautiful smile just shines!

                    Look, I'm the tallest! Sister Coleman & Ayigi

The Chitungwiza Elders and Sister Mabhena and Sibanda (below) with the Andersons

Persuade is in the red t-shirt with the missionaries

My new friends are next to Persuade's place. They all came up to the truck as I got out and laid me "five"! I love these beautiful children of God. They exuberant joy!

I love seeing the Masai women hang up their linens.  This woman below wins the prize for the largest load on the head I've seen yet! 2023.06.10

                                                           Get a "load" of this!!!!