Relief Society Devotional

 There was a world-wide Relief Society devotional that was geared to also be a testimony meeting. It was filmed early so that wards could play it whenever they wanted to. Our Relief Society decided on March 15 as the most ladies could be in attendance. Some of the other wards decided to have it on Sunday right after church. We have many ladies in our ward who go to the MTC to serve in various ways on Sunday after church so Sunday didn't work for us. My heart was a little wrenched when Comfort told me about one lady in our ward who asked her which was more important, going to church on Sunday, or this devotional on Saturday. She only had the means to travel once in a week. Comfort told her to come to church to partake of the Sacrament.

I jumped up bright and early Saturday to put together my rolls to go with the salad that Comfort was making. I also made banana bread in muffins. Nelly made sobolo for the drink.

Saturday was a good day of preparations - before our devotional in the early evening.

Comfort made Jeffrey and I cabbage stew while she was making her salad for the devotional.

I made a little spice birthday cake that I put lemon frosting on for Comfort

Devotional

We heard some inspired, touching, and insightful messages from Salt Lake City. Baaba who had gotten off work from the temple conducted while clearly not feeling well at all. She had the patience to wait until all who possibly wanted to bear their testimony had an opportunity  - and maybe some were prompted by others to share. Since I already knew that no one would go first, I jumped in and another missionary did too. Once the native ladies started sharing, the meeting took a deeply faithful and spiritual tone. The church meetings are different here than in the States. 

It is a little difficult to describe, but more people here have lived and are living in the furnace of affliction. Their choice to come to church is deep seated conviction and faith that God is there to help them through. 

One lady spoke a different language and her friend interpreted for the rest of us. As a young girl she lived with her uncle so she could go to school. She met the missionaries and read the Book of Mormon. She knew the teachings in the Book of Mormon were messages from God. Her uncle was dismayed and told her to throw the book away and would not let the missionaries in the door. She went back to live with her parents and left her career plans in the dust as she knew she was reading and hearing truth from the missionaries through the messages and feelings God was giving her. We kept hearing stories from all the ladies of their convictions and conversions to the gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter-days. They have strong testimonies of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, and the truths found in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some talk about angels and relatives long gone who talk to them as naturally as "pass the salt."

Sister Hales made a birthday cake for the Relief Society and also for Comfort as it was her birthday too.

Everyone was served Salad, rolls, banana bread, sobolo, and birthday cake.

Boatamaa

Of course the family members waiting for their mothers and wives wanted supper and cake too!