building a small wall of cinder block, and
writing on top in the mortar, “August 14,
2015.” This will become a marker for the
church.
Later in the day we traveled to another
home for a class with one of Samuel’s
other groups toward the east of the city. It
also was on the subject of charity and the
degrees of the neighbor. It was given to
about 20 people in someone’s yard, which
was rather muddy due to recent rains.
After a shared dinner we returned home
for the night.
On Saturday I conducted baptisms of
four adults. There were a few others who
might have been baptized, but Samuel said
they had not yet completed the course
of study in the New Church doctrines to
fully prepare them. Another church kindly
loaned us the use of an outdoor baptismal pool. The baptisms were performed
by total immersion, which is the tradition there.
Later we joined a class with married couples and discussed conjugial
love. It was exciting to see how well they have grasped the basics. It was
also instructive to see that they wrestle with exactly the same issues in their
relationships as everyone else – how to spend money, the balance of work and
family, communication and listening, to mention but a few. It was heartening
to see them seeking direction from the Heavenly Doctrines to support and
strengthen their marriages.
Sunday was a grand celebration. Again, the church service lasted about
three hours. It was filled with music from an electronic keyboard, soloists
and a choir, some spontaneous dancing, Samuel’s ordination into the second
degree, a sermon, and greetings for all the many visitors present. (A slight
omission of not publicly recognizing the local chief led us to visit with him in
the afternoon on his porch. He is a delightful man, a devout Catholic, and very
supportive of another church coming to the area.)
On Monday, after some creative repacking necessitated by a number of
unexpected gifts, we toured the city and had lunch with a local pastor, the
Rev. Babou Bamouni. He has befriended Samuel and helped him get the legal
authorization for the church there. He also got a local religious television
station to film the Sunday service and interview Samuel. It was aired the
following week.
It is amazing to se