An RLDS Branch In The Middle Of The Jungle??

Hey everyone, what a crazy couple of weeks!! There have been so many memorable events that have happened!! 

 

 

On Saturday we were able to attend the wedding of one of our investigators but this was not a normal wedding. It was a full on traditional wedding!! Everyone was dressed up in african clothing, they had loud African music playing the whole time it was quite the experience. One thing that I loved was they would hide all these women in the house and then they would cover them in lapa (just sheets of african fabric) and they would all come out of the house dancing and the groom would have to decide if it was his wife that was under the lapa! It was really fun to watch. Then after that the groom's family has to pay what they call "dowry."  So basically the poor family had to fork over a ton of money to the brides. In my opinion that's really stupid but I guess they like it here! Haha right as we were about to eat a hurricane blew in and almost blew the whole tent over. It then proceeded to dump rain for 30 minutes so that kinda stunk. But we had really good food so that made it worth it.

 

 

And then we come to yesterday. A few weeks ago President Price called us and told us that we needed to go and investigate a "lds branch who is using the book of mormon" we received some photos of the "book of Mormon'' they were using and it was the restored covenant edition that was printed in Independence Missouri. So yesterday me, my companion, and the 2nd counselor in our branch hopped on his motorcycle and we took a 30 minute ride into the middle of the jungle. When we got to the village where this church was we were able to have a visit with the leader of this church. He told us that the RLDS church has been in Liberia for a long time. But when the war came the leaders of this church in Monrovia went to the US and they decided to change the church to a Community of Christ church. When they came back the branches of this church were really upset so they broke away and changed their name to "Church of Jesus Christ restoration." Anyway we talked with him about joining us and we would be able to help him with books, training, and some other assistance. He said he would get in contact with the other branches and discuss. He was very open to the idea of being associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day saints. After that we had service with them and it was SOOOOO CRAZY!! We danced and clapped and I even paid offerings in the offerings dish. After that me and Elder Jensen were talking and said, "Not very many missionaries get a chance to do this." Which is very true. Anyway so many cool things have happened this week and I'm grateful for it.

 

 

Sorry for the long email but I thought some of you would like to hear about that stuff!! I'm doing well down here in the Bush and time is flying by. This transfer is almost over and then I'll only have one left in Greenville. I know that this church is true and that nothing will stop the Lord's work from progressing. All of god's children will hear His true restored gospel. I mean come on we might start a group in the middle of the jungle!! I know that God loves all of you and he will always be in your corner.

 

 

I love you guys and I hope everyone is doing well!!

 

 

Elder Hiatt

 

 

(1-6) wedding pics 

(7-end) jungle trip (the little building was the church in the jungle)