Historically Overwhelming

We survived the day. I'm impressed. But talk about overwhelming! I feel like I've been run over by a steamroller!!

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Princess Bride quote, in case any of you are fans! :))

We got home and attended church on our first Sunday back. When I got to Primary, they were doing an activity, so Sister Baker (one of the couple missionary here) came up and we started chatting. She told me that they were starting an English branch, and they were just waiting for us to come back! (place warning bells here) That night, the Bakers came over to tell us what they had proposed to the mission president as far as an English branch possibility.

It appears that there really are people out there who don’t speak French here. Many times, people will be taught by the missionaries in English, then come to church…and one of 3 or 4 things would happen. One, they’d not even give it a chance because of the language barrier… Two, they’d come for awhile then just give up… Three, they’d come and just sit through the pain, hoping that it would somehow enter through osmosis… Four, they’d eventually learn a little French, but because they were branded as being English speaking only, they’d never get the chance to contribute anything—no callings or friends—and we all know what that means!
Thus, the English branch idea started. It’s not technically a branch, because there aren’t enough members. We’re technically called a Group. But, we have permission to go ahead with this. This group doesn’t have a bishop/branch president, it has a Group Leader (give you three guesses who that is, and the first two don’t count!) The Group Leader is basically like a branch president, except that he doesn’t accept tithing/fast offerings and doesn’t do the ‘give advice’ stuff that branch presidents and bishops do. *whew!* And, because we’re so small, we don’t technically have a relief society…at least, not during church. We have a ‘women and children’ class. Basically a sharing time/singing time with the moms/adult women present. Which, I think, is super cool, as these people REALLY need the basics because they just haven’t gotten it from church! And what better way to learn the basics?? Primary rocks!! So, Primary will be taught at church, and Relief Society will congregate during the week. Sounds like the very beginning of church, doesn’t it? Isn’t it SO COOL?!?!?!?

So, Devin is the Group Leader, and I’m the Women and Children Representative (basically the same as Relief Society AND Primary President). We are SO excited! We know that this is really going to take off! Especially since LAST WEEK there were SIX new English speaking investigators and two have a baptismal date! It is inspired and we are so excited to be a part of this! The coolest thing—we get to start it, give a whole lot of training in the time we have left, and then the leadership will be handed over to Cameroonians. We both get to call counselors and give lots of training to everyone who will be involved. I’m even going to teach a few people to play the piano so they won’t be left high and dry when I leave! It is just so cool!

Now, that I wrote about a week ago. Here's the update:

We have now survived the first Sunday. Overwhelming. It is interesting to me that all ‘historical events’ have fairly auspicious beginnings. It felt like the Hendriksen branch. Ha! BUT it was super cool aside from all the hardships. I was prepared for an English Sharing time/Singing time. What I wasn’t prepared for was the number of women we had!!! I was expecting 3. All either moms, or previous primary workers. There were NINE! Three of them investigators, three from the other branch, and three from the branch we went to before. One of the ladies I was expecting wasn’t even there. I felt terrible, because I think they were pretty bored! The kids had a ball…but the adults sort of sat there. Doh! I was planning to have Relief Society during the week here at my house, but have since changed my mind. So, I have asked someone to teach a Relief Society lesson next week! We already have a Relief Society! Woohoo! And I’m planning to call two counselors: A Relief Society representative and a Primary representative. I feel as if doing this will really help with the transition once Dev and I leave…I’ll basically leave them with the knowledge of what they need to do as the leaders of the respective groups, and I’ll leave the branch with its future presidents (if that’s what they need to do, obviously). It’s so exciting! We had 29 people there for our first meeting ever! MANY more than what we had expected! It really is a momentous thing: The very first English branch in Cameroon, a bilingual country. Devin and I expect to see this little group become a full fledged branch VERY soon! There are lots of baptisms coming up, and there are lots of things for everyone to do and learn! It is just so neat!!