Black and White

We have had some tough news on the family front that has taken a little wind from our sails and cast a bit of pall on life--but yet there are bright and beautiful things that serve to offset the sadness and serve to buoy the spirits.  Here is a bright spot.



Four people were baptized today.  Two of them were adult children of other recent converts Rui and Amizade.  Another (Neusa) was taught with her family but was the only one ready and willing to change her life   And one (Pedro) was taught and dropped for a time by the missionaries for lack of progress, but decided in the end to get himself in gear. 
Elder Workman on the far left is among the finest of missionaries and will return home in but a couple of weeks.  But this is the first time that he has been able to personaly baptize someone who he has taught.  We were excited to see him be able to do this.
Rocha, 2nd from the left, was released from jail a few weeks ago.  He is the son of Amizade and spend six months in the slammer prior to having a hearing on the charge of receiving stolen property.  I have learned much about Mozambican jurisprudence in the last months as a result of Rocha.  He was taught in jail by the missionaries and his father and read the entire book of Mormon there.  He finally had his hearing a few weeks ago and was released without any charges being filed.  Though not a terribly patriotic flag waver, I still have not found another country whose system I admire more than my own.



Here is our baptismal tank in all its glory.  It has developed a fairly serious leak for which I am seeking a solution.  This is Neusa (pronounced "newza" --actually not quite but that is as close as I can describe the name in English) who I baptized today.  I really wasn't asking her to jump to me as it looks, just taking her hands to help her in.



Pedro suffered a stroke a few years ago and is still fairly immobile.  The young missionaries were able to lift him over the walls of the tank and into the water without problems it turns out.   I insisted that they practice last night with Elder Williams as the guinea pig.  If there was to be a drowning or someone falling on their head, I wanted it done before people were watching.  Elder Williams survived just fine and the practice assured that we knew what we were doing.



Bike Safety in Quelimane.  We saw this guy taking his less-than two year old son the other day with one hand trying desperately to keep him from falling into the spokes or traffic.

This is our home in Fairbanks, Alaska, or at least a corner of the living room.  Please note the antlers of the 88th largest (according to Pope and Young) archery-shot moose on the wall.  After a year on the market we finally have an offer on the house--which is a great relief.  If anyone is inclined to pray that this sale actually occurs, we would welcome your faith added to ours.