Departures, and arrival and...(Have we been here before?)

Seasoned missionaries depart. We miss them, but the work continues with new missionaries. And the District grows and prepares.

We sent home Sisters Cummins and Leavitt as well as Elder Larkin a week ago. It was tough to see them go. These two sisters were in the MTC with us in Provo 18 months ago. We met them in the salad bar line. We recall being very excited about meeting them. Of course, we arrived here 2 months before they did, but serving together has been a delightful, tender experience. Elder Larkin called upon us from time to time to teach with him when amis de l'eglise could be helped by our participation. We have served together these last 18 months. So we send them off for the next chapter of their lives grateful for their good work here. Pictures below show them laden with the traditional leis of seashells as gifts at parting. An April, 2011 reunion is much anticipated.

The District Presidency hosted a BBQ for themselves at the Mouthams. President Moutham at the gas grill, cooked everything to perfection. We all enjoyed time together catching up on activities that were family-related rather than the more-regular fare of Church related work. These great leaders are preparing the district to become a stake. We believe this is not far off.

And now to introduce members of the Noumea 1 branch. A year ago the branch had 26 active members. At the invitation of the branch president, each Melchizedek Priesthood holder started working with the missionaries 2 nights a month. They used this time either to teach or to visit less active members. Sacrament meetings now welcome 100+ members. An additional team of missionaries has been added to the branch. At the last District Conference the branch presented all of the music with a 50-voice choir. The missionary work continues now with one night each month from each priesthood holder. The Relief Society is doing the same with the team of sister missionaries. Home and visiting teaching is increasing. The most remarkable change, however, is the love that permeates the time we spend together. We are grateful for Heavenly Father's blessings to this branch as he blesses them far beyond their efforts.

In the Noumea 2 branch we enjoyed a baptism last Saturday. Christiane joined the Church 5 years after receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon. Her friends, the Gastaldi's introduced her to the Church. Brother Gastaldi, pictured nearby, baptized her. A great lesson here for each of us. Christiane carried heavy burdens from her life before learning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Repentance is a great blessing to her to remove these burdens. She emerged from the baptismal font grateful for the covenants she was making with the Savior and for His atoning love which cleanses her. Her friends the Gastaldis were blessed to be able to share with her these great blessings from their own lives.

That same morning, we drove to Tontouta for Anouchka Boa's baptism. Her mother joined the Church near the beginning of our mission here having been taught by great missionaries now returned home. Claude, Victor and now Anouchka have followed their mother. There remains now for Dad to join the Church.

One last experience to share. With a team of missionaries, I have been teaching a man who has just married an active member, Alice Weatheane in the Noumea 2 branch. Desire (pronounced Day-zear-ay) is an honest, humble man.He lives in a metal-roofed, plywood-walled small home on the outskirts of Koutio north of Noumea. On Wednesday evenings as the sun starts to lower, a breeze through the mangroves in the stream near his home make an idyllic setting. His meager education doesn't impede his study of the Book of Mormon and understanding the books testimony of Christ. We are seeing another soul transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pictures nearby will better tell the story than can my words.

With missionaries departing, new elders have arrived. We remark that these new elders are well-prepared and anxious to be engaged in the work. We are grateful for their obedience.

Elder Lacy comes to us having spent last summer as a member of the Vienna, Virginia Ward. Our sister ward at home. Elder Falconbury spent his first rendezvous, in Mont Dore with a companion new to the sector, setting a baptismal date. An ami from months past was now married and could be baptized. She was happy they came by. Elder Tehoiri arrived a two weeks earlier from Tahiti.

And so the work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Heavenly Father's children continues. Lives are transformed, burdens lifted, joy found. He lives and loves us.