A Companion Surprise

Hello Everyone! Had a little bit of changes go on this past week.

On Tuesday, I learned that my companion had been switched with another Elder in my district. My real companion is now Elder Kadima! He comes from Congo and has already been out for 20 months, so he has 3 transfers left before going home.

Elder Brooks and Elder Kadima

It's been really interesting to finally know what's going on here haha. I've been able to show him the area and the people we teach and the members too.

We taught two sisters, Soeur Florence and Soeur Leila for the first time this week. They are both so awesome and so interested in the Gospel. Soeur Florence asked about families being together forever even if a member of the family didn't hear the gospel. I got to explain the Spirit World and Ordinances for the dead for her. While I explained, she was so interested in what I was saying. It struck me that this is the first time she is hearing this blessing, while it's common knowledge for me. It really brought the value of our message into view. 

We also taught Frere Hermann and we set a date for him to get baptised on the 8th of February! I'm super excited and hope everything goes smoothly for the next couple of weeks.

Our new food fad here in N'Dotre (where our apartment is for the 6 of us missionaries) is pancakes. We make the mix from scratch and then we don't have syrup so we make some or use honey instead. We've found some spices here too, so I like to make mine with cinnamon and nutmeg. Bon Appetit, non?

Pancakes!

Here's a spiritual thought from this morning. In French the word "racheter" means "to redeem." The French word "to buy" is "acheter." So to redeem is to re-buy in a way. After the fall of Adam and Eve, we sold ourselves to sin and Satan, making this life difficult and full of trials. But, Christ redeemed us, He re-bought us, using His own life as ransom. Because of Him, we are redeemed from the unfair things of this world and now have the opportunity (by our agency) to accept the blessings of His Atonement and live with our Father again.

He Lives.

Elder Brooks 

At the church building where the branch meets.

The Three Americans at District Meeting (1/21/20)

At the church building for District Meeting

Notes from our short video call:

The power went out at the cyber cafe so our call was cut short.

Elder Kadima is from Democratic Republic of Congo.  His native language is French.  They have gotten out to their area every day this week!  They are leaving a few hours late, but they are getting out!  The African culture is very laid back.  On Sunday, they had an activity with their branch at 12 but no one showed up until 1.  "It's basically 12."

He was told his companion would be Elder Agre and that Elder Olson's companion was Elder Kadima, but they got switched.

The bissap juice that they drink tastes like the old Costco smoothies.

He was able to upload pictures at the church building today!