Baptisms and back to Lifou

Baptisms every Saturday have become part of the missionary experience here. And then it was time to send two Elders back to work on Lifou and Mare.

Ten days ago, Saturday the 13th, three of the granddaughters of the Nicholls family were baptized. Each 9 years old. Their grandparents lead the way in December and their parents will follow as soon as common law arrangements can be replaced by legally recognized marriages.

The three young girls were excited and pleased to move forward. they jointly shared their testimonies after the baptism taking turns saying a sentence each at the podium. During the service they sat on the front row with their grandparents and a number of cousins. The children were clearly needed some TLC by the end, so I took the opportunity to go down off the stand and sit down right in front of the them while we talked about the Savior blessing the Nephite children after performing miraculous healings of others in the crowd. The Book of Mormon record tells us that he took the children in his arms and blessed them. And then angels ministered to them. We talked about how much the Savior loves little children including them. And we talked about angels. then pointing to their grandparents, I suggested that they were angels sent to protect and help these dear children learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ appeal to children in a tender way that shows the rest of us their great faith in Him.

PIctures below show them in their white clothes just before their baptism.

We left their morning baptism for an afternoon baptism of President Wilfrid Parau's son Stewart. As the pictures indicate, a number of family members as well as much of the Noumea 2 branch were in attendance. As Stewart shared his testimony with a child's faith, we knew he understood a great deal about how to follow the Savior.

The preparations for sending missionaries once again to Lifou finally bore fruit these last two weeks. Elders Livingston and Larkin left on a Monday evening by boat. They traveled most of the night stopping in Mare early the next morning where they met with the branch president there. Then on to Lifou where they will have primary residence. On the boat with them went a pallet of supplies like a stove, refrigerator, furniture including beds, kitchen supplies etc. The Seiko's, whom you have met in earlier blogs, met them at the dock that evening and helped them settle in. We understand that Sister Seiko and the Elders got traffic tickets in Lifou because the Elders were riding with their supplies in the back of Sister Seiko's truck. They were undaunted and have by now ridden over 400 km on their bikes. The Elders report that they are having great opportunities to teach. President Seiko reports that they are working very hard. The work is hard to start again, but they are getting great support from the branch already there. These good saints have been waiting for two years to have missionaries once again.

A quiet baptism as a good brother came back into the Church. He has patiently waited for 5 years to have this blessing once again in his life. Brother Seraphim (great first name!) is shown below with President Parau, his branch president. The faces of these two great brothers tell a wonderful story.

In between times, we sometimes accompany teams of missionaries to help teach families. The experience that comes with age provides increased insights and credibility. We met the Boa family shortly after arriving as Claude was baptized, and then a few months later, his mother. Another brother is about to be baptized. The father is a a great brother. The family lives in a tribal situation which means that they live on land governed by a tribe, probably extended family. The kids go to school at some distance because their parents want them to have good educations. Dad works in a local government job in Tontouta. We had inquired a few times about his progress and finally asked for an invitation to go see the family with the elders. That visit happened last week. The elders had planned a lesson about eternal families and the role of mother and father. As we explained to Brother Boa his role in presiding in his family to assure that they prayed as a family , read the scriptures together and held family home evening, he began to understand just what he needed to do. We saw Sister Boa this week at the Relief Society anniversary celebration. She was full of excitement about her husband's new interest and support in their home with the aforementioned efforts. We hope we can return and encourage him some more.

Surrounding their home and covered outdoor eating area were wonderful gardens including banana tress, ripening papayas and palms with coconuts. A very different way to live! The mountains in the background had fog and rain cascading down the sides.

And then it was Saturday again, and another baptism. Isabelle lives with her grandfather not far from the Riviere Salee building. She has been seeing the missionaries for more than a year and is a delightful young woman. the branch welcomed her with open arms. A new, big family.

Finally, to round out the week we welcomed a new sister, Sister Viriamu from Tahiti. The Tahitians come with no language barrier. Sister Viriamu is a mature, seasoned sister missionary who is well prepared to assist in this great work. She is working in Paita with Sister Ititiaty and seems happy to finally be here.

In the meantime, we are preparing to send off our senior zone leader in just a few days as he has completed his mission. A great example to all of service. We will welcome a new young Elder on Wednesday. And in the coming 8 weeks another 3 will depart. Lots of new faces and opportunities to train new missionaries.

The pace of the work keeps us plenty busy. Everything from assuring that immigration documents are always in order, bills paid, and missionaries fed, to speaking in firesides and Priesthood meetings. We are grateful to serve along side these valiant young missionaries. During a recent visit by one of the counselors in our Area Presidency, he noted to us, 'Just love them. They do what no one else will do.' We love the work.