This week was so awesome! As I sit here and question myself
where to start, I just don't know. I'm just very thankful. I'm thankful for YOU
my family and friends, for Côte d'Ivoire, for this life and the opportunity it
gives me to change, I'm grateful for the blessing of the mission, the lows it
gives me to have many more highs, I'm grateful for Jesus Christ and for his
life. I listened to a video this week and their was one sentence that really
struck me, it said "whatever the price you must pay to trust him (Jesus
Christ), it's worth it." Because of this sentence I've had the power to
really work hard this week and I've had an extra motivation to serve him and be
obedient. I realize that this really is not for me and I need to put all my
trust in Christ. The promise and blessing isn't always clear but "it's
worth it".
This week has been filled with blessings. I've seen our amis
progress immensely. I'm so grateful for each of them and hope we can continue
to help them. I feel especially lucky this week to be here with the Fr. Rodhes.
He has had a baptismal date for a little bit now and Friday we went to go check
on him, share a message and see if he was ready for his baptismal interview
that we had planned for Saturday. When we got there, he just said " Elders
I don't know if I can do it anymore" I don't know if I want to be
baptized. He said that his family was very against it and was discouraged
by his mom who was doing everything she could to forbid and prohibit his
baptism... As I searched for things to say I was pushed to share an experience
of my friends from back home. As I shared this experience with him he was
really touched, and went on to tell us that he decided he still wanted to be
baptized and that if he had to do it alone without any of his family that would
be ok. When he said this, I was so happy, what a good example of faith Fr.
Rodhes is to me.
Another blessing I saw was with the Fr. Bagnmi. He has been
coming to church for the past 3 months but lives with his wife and they are not
yet married so that's what's keeping him from being baptized. As we met with
him this week he just shared with us how bad he wanted to be baptized but he
didn't have any work and that's what was keeping him from being married. He said
If I could have a little bit of money I would go to the Mayor and get married
so quick, but he just doesn't have any work. My companion was impressed to talk
about the role of Dads with him and how they aren't just there to temporarily
provide for their families but also spiritually provide for them. We talked
about the importance of praying as a family and also doing family home evening.
We shared that we know that if he will do that and show how he is ready to take
care of a family to God, God will bless him with work or the means to do his
marriage. He was really touched and accepted it. What a blessing to teach
someone who accepts something so easily! Sunday, he and his wife talked with
the Bishop again and seeing them with him made me so happy. I know that God
will bless their family.
Those are just 2 experiences that really touched me this
week. They made me really grateful to be where I am. As President Eyring said,
"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest of
times in life, can be a pleasant." I'm really grateful for this time that
I have here and when I look at it with big goggles I'm eternally grateful and
just so happy.
Oh also no water this week again! That makes 5 weeks without running water but it's alright. Bagged water is doing the job!
I love you guys and I'm grateful for you and your stories and
testimonies! I've felt very close to you as I have tried to bring others closer
to Christ. I know that "whatever the price we must pay to trust him, is
worth it." Put him to the test and I know that he will not let you
down.
I love you guys sooooo much. We are really in this
together!
Bisou,
Elder Freedman
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