We had a fantastic Sabbath, visiting the Gonzagueville Ward in Grand Bassam. Our dear friend, Eveque Mel is the Bishop here and the leaders in the ward were warm and welcoming.
Today during the meeting the Relief Society and Young Women’s Presidencies were reorganized, a baby was blessed and 2 new ward members received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Then we had a wonderful testimony meeting. One after the next came to the pulpit to share, including most of the young Priesthood holders who prepared and passed the sacrament. We also heard from the newly called organization leaders and the Primary President. What a great ward!
Here are some photos I took after sacrament meeting. Here the deacons are putting away the sacrament trays.
This young boy’s name is Christ. He is 11 years old and he became a deacon at the first of this year. He told me how happy he is to be able to pass the sacrament.
This is the new Relief Society President. Her husband is a counselor to Eveque Mel.
After sacrament meeting we divided into classes.
This is the adult Sunday School class:
Upstairs I found the missionaries meeting with ward mission leaders. They cover both the Irho Ward (they met here earlier this morning) and the Gonzagueville Ward.
This is the Young Adult Class. You’ll see our dear friend, formerly Elder Amani, on the far left.
In another room upstairs, the young men and young women had a combined class where they discussed D&C 20 in the Come Follow Me lessons.
The beautiful youth of the ward:
Eveque Mel gave each one a nice copy of the Young Men’s or the Young Women’s theme.
After our meetings, Elder Amani helped me visit with our newest deacon, Christ, about his experiences and feelings about the gospel. He is a wonderful boy with a strong spirit. I was so happy to get to know him better.
Christ has learned all of the names of the modern day prophets. Here he is reciting them for me.
When I asked him what his favorite Primary song was, he immediately started to quietly sing “All over the world at the end of the day, Heavenly Father’s children kneel down to pray, each saying ‘thank you’ in his own special way, saying ‘thank you, thank you’ in his own special way.”
He sang the entire song perfectly and sweetly, with all the different languages saying “thank you.” He said he loved to imagine all the children in the world praying every night and thanking Heavenly Father for our blessings. It was tender and sweet. He said, “we all speak different languages, but God understands us all.”
When he shared his feelings about that song, I felt like he was connecting all of our worlds in a very simple and pure way. “God understands us all.” That was his message to me today. What a wonderful young man.
English Lyrics for
CHILDREN ALL OVER THE WORLD
All over the world at the end of day,
Heav’nly Father’s children kneel down and pray,
Each saying thank you in his own special way,
Saying thank you, thank you in his own special way.
“Gracias.” “Malo.” “Wir danken dir.”
All over the world tender voices hear.
Some say “tak,” others “merci,”
“Kansha shimasu,” we thank thee.
Our Heavenly Father hears them;
He understands each tongue.
Our Heav’nly Father knows them;
He loves them, loves them, ev’ry one.
Words: Peggy Hill Ryskamp, b. 1949. © 1975 IRI
Music: Beth Groberg Stratton, b. 1944. © 1975 IRI
Christ comes from a family of 10. Here is his father and a two of his sisters. One of his sisters, Soeur Ahoulou, is currently serving in our mission.
In the next post I’ll feature the Gonzagueville Primary children.
Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission 