Recognition and baptisms

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is (finally) Officially Recognized in FRANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it will be announced in the Gazette soon. Church members can have tax deductible tithing, and all this nonsense about mormon=cult practice can start fading too. This is also a huge step towards getting a temple. there's this funny law that gives the right to police to walk into buildings at any time... we weren't willing to comply unless the police had recommends. :)

Saturday was the baptism of Grace Massamba. This little girl has a testimony of gold. She's from a big african family, a few of whom are baptized but none except for the grandmother are still practicing. The two weeks she came to church, i taught the primary song 'Baptism.' as the third verse talks about us following Christ's example, I taught the children and Grace about entering the way and the path to return and live with God. later on that day, she asked me if she could be baptized. She then asked her grandmother, her father and her mother (who do not live with her right now) and received permission. After finishing the lessons and committments, she was excited as ever for the ordinance.

ALL of the family came to the baptism. They each brought something to complete the huge african feast after the baptism and supported their neice /daughter / grandneice / cousin. When Grace came up to the pulpit to share her own testimony, her family was so proud of her. What an excample she is setting for them! We encouraged them all to come back tomorrow for her confirmation during the church meetings.

for the service, I was honored to played prélude, conduct the opening & closing hymns, played an imrovisation arrangement of the two "I know that My Redeemer Live"s that the other sisters sang, and then played Reid Nibley's arrangement of Our Savior's Love on the Violin. The ward threw their arms around me for the return of the music in their building and i was more than happy to be there with them too. As I left, Juliette Doumbia said, 'see you at the next baptism-- we'll have to baptize more so we can see you and get wonderful musical numbers.'

How great shall be your joy....