Weekend of Priesthood Blessings

 

    We had a wonderful Sabbath day full of ordinations. Persuade received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained to the office of a priest. Bruce was able to give him a beautiful blessing at the Chitungwiza Ward. We were so happy to be able to take part in his ordination and see him progress on the covent path. He is like a son to us and he calls us "mom and dad" now. We introduced him to the sister missionaries, who will continue to help him progress and repeat the misisonary lessons now he is a new member. Sister Mabhena helped teach him but now has two new companions, Sister Rahanitriniana and Sister Kitchen. He wore his new Sunday clothes from Reeve and Lolly and looked so sharp. Bruce taught him how to tie a tie.

Sister Rahanitriniana, Kitchen, Persuade, and Mabhena will continue to teach the missionary lessons. 2023.07.09

      We attended the second half of the Chitungwiza Ward and enjoyed learning with our brothers and sisters. The ward choir was practicing outside and "Boy can they harmonize!"

        This morning we went to the East View Branch to have Bruce confirm Idah Zulu as a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and receive the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. Idah had stepped on some rusty steel earlier in the week and called me desperately to come to help her at the clinic on Saturday. Poor Idah the trials continue! When we got there to help pay for her injections; I saw her right foot was swollen three times larger than the left. I was so worried about her. The clinic gave her a tetanus shot and some IV antibiotics. We told her to try to be on time in the morning for her confirmation but wondered how she would make it. She travels about 45 minutes to get to church. I went and got Bruce to give her a priesthood blessing. Sunday, we went out to East View at 0845 and Idah was there. She was trying to walk with a sugar cane stock as a crutch. We had stopped and borrowed crutches at Reeve's which helped her immensely. I also gave her a bunch of ibuprofen with instructions for the inflammation and pain and some loaned crutches. Bruce was able to confirm her during Sacrament Meeting and give her another blessing along with one of healing. He blessed her to continue to see miracles in her life. She has a lot of faith and is a beautiful soul. I pray her foot will heal quickly without complications. She'd probably be hospitalized for severe cellulitis and infection if she was in the USA. We aren't allowed to give members a ride due to church insurance and felt bad she had to wait for a combi to get home in her state. She somehow found a way to even make it to church on time; what beautiful faith. We had to rush off to Persuade's meeting by 0930 right after the sacrament.

Idah and Sister Anderson before confirmation; we elevated Idah's foot on a chair during church because her toes and foot were so swollen.

Idah waiting for a combi ride after church in East View, 2023.07.09

East View Branch, it's sad about all the litter along the streets; the big green tanks are the borehole for water.

BTW, Monday I really hurt my knee lunging while playing pickleball. I couldn't even walk or bare any weight on it. It felt like when I tore my left ACL while skiing. This time it was my right knee. Reeve loaned me some crutches and I wobbled around not getting any better. I had Bruce give me a priesthood blessing. He told me I would be healed according to my faith. I was a bit worried I wouldn't have enough faith. Reeve had an appointment with a Mr. Bowers (orthopedic surgeon) on Wednesday so she let me take her appointment. On Monday afternoon, I went for a MRI at a diagnostic imaging center costing $450.000. I picked up the report the next day to take to the doctor's appointment. Relieved and walking better, I read I had no torn ligaments or cartlidge. I did have a medium size "Baker's cyst" and a small effusion (fluid and inflammation) but no major injuries. By Wednesday's appointment, I was walking well without crutches or a cane. It was one of those Dr. office's recoveries. When he examined me, after a x-ray, another $140.00, and waiting 2 hours, I had no pain and he said I had only bruised the bone. He ordered me an anti-inflammatory and by Friday, I was back on the court. I was careful not to run or lunge. I played pickleball like normal the following week. I do believe in the power of the priesthood and I'm so grateful Bruce is a worthy holder. I guess I did have enough faith after all. Beside, we didn't want to have to leave our mission for surgery. Wow, God hears our prayers, I can testify of that!