Family Home Evening at the Callahans

Family Home Evening, Jan 4, 2011 the Christensen's spoke to us.  They are the Presidents of the MTC for Africa.  Let me share from her one of the differences the American Missionaries encounter when they arrive.  First of all, the number of black African missionaries is rising rapidly.  A good portion of the baptisms in Africa are young men in their 20's.  They are very well versed in the Bible and they are very humble.  They have two challenges to face--they are often very poor so to even provide the clothes needed for a mission is difficult, and often they are the only member in their family and have to deal with a lot of opposition from family and friends.  When the young American Missionaries arrive with a suitcase full of clothes, leather bound scriptures and tote, and a beautiful new backpack--the contrast is very marked.  They try to match an American with an African and she said it is amazing how quickly they become brothers.  This past Christmas was so touching because when the American Elders saw the plight of the African Elders --they only had the cheap little hard bound scriptures and the Americans had all the fancy leather stuff--the American Elders pooled their money and went to the distribution center to buy each African a leather bound set of scriptures with a tote.  They then put them on their beds on Christmas Eve.  She said there were tears and hugs all around as these young men from extremely different cultures grew to love each other as brothers in the Gospel.  A side note, however, the African scriptures are very worn as everyone studies the Bible inside and out.
     During the testimony meeting, one of the African Elders shared how hard it was for him to get to church each week.  He had a great deal of opposition at home so he basically had to sneak out of the house and then walk a long distance to the church each week.  An American was next and he said with tears in his eyes how touched he was by the elder's story.  "In America as a teen-ager, I sometimes would sneak out of church to go home and in Africa you have to sneak out of home to go to church."  Now that is something for us all to consider.