"Everything is difficult, you just have to make a decision

Our church services today resembled a funeral in many ways--though the endless eulogies delivered over the "Casal Osborn" were likely kinder than any I will receive in English upon my death. It was a very nice, albeit emotional, day. It was the first time in our eighteen months here that I have not been responsible for the proceedings of our services, so I sat amongst our converts and investigators while Debbie played the keyboard. Debbie and I were given a mandatory slot in the otherwise ad hoc testimony meeting. Debbie gave half of her remarks in english and half in Portuguese.  I muddled through in Portuguese which I admit has become my "go to" language.  I don't necessarily speak well, but I  do speak very fluently and it comes out a little bit easier than does english.

 

I was asked to teach in priesthood meeting today and  couldn't help but compare the assembled group with what we began with a year and a half ago.  It is still not big--but it is becoming a respectable looking group of priesthood holders.



It only looks like I am directing music.  I assure you that I was expounding sound doctrine.

This afternoon, we were at the home of recent converts Paula and Julio and were talking about the live session of LDS general conference that we intended to broadcast on Sunday night (Sunday morning in the states).  Since it is a 4.5 kilometer walk to the chapel from their home and they had already done it once today, I expressed regret at the distance and difficulty and the sad fact that they would miss an opportunity to hear the prophet live.  Paula looked at me with a pitying expression ("you poor stupid man") and said this: "Elder Osborn, everything good is difficult, you just have to make a decision to do it".  Paula is unbelievably poor by the world's standards and also uneducated but a wonderfully wise woman who impresses us more every time we meet with her.
They, along with about thirty five others made it to our living room to watch the Sunday "morning" session of general conference.  Words cannot describe how delighted they were to hear Elder Andersen's remarks about Mozambique and the challenge of marriage here.  He even showed the marriage pictures that I have showed to members and investigators here (and posted on this blog months ago).  The room was abuzz with a feeling of satisfaction that one of the Twelve was aware of them.  Our investigator couple, Jojo and Sonia were also in attendance (five and a half kilometers each way) and were amazed that an apostle was talking about the very challenge and issue that they have been wrestling with for the past months.  After some effort I found an email address for Elder Andersen to give him some feedback from a Mozambican branch.   I must admit, that when he said, "well, you may not be in Mozambique. but..." it made me weep--not for the first time today. as I considered my dear friends and "children" around me who were indeed in Mozambique--truly "home" for us rather than some distant and exotic location as it likely seemed to the vast majority of his audience.