October 2, 2005
Dear Family,
Because it is difficult to email everyone, we are sending this to Heather and Kyle and asking them to forward it on to the family. First, Heather, thanks for the letter. We would like to hear from the rest of you even if you dont think you have anything happening in your life.
Things are going well here in Nigeria. Saturday and Sunday was general conference. But we cant get it here. No chapels have dishes so we cant listen or watch it. If we could it would come on a 5PM and 11PM because of the time difference. Your mom and I missed watching it, and I think it would make a difference to the members here if they actually could see and listen to the prophet talk. They have an incredible amount of faith. Because most people dont have TVs they dont really know much about America or American culture. At least not like I thought they would. Most people here are so poor they spend all their time trying to survive. But even the missionaries and members here dont really know much about America, Utah, Salt Lake or things about the church we take for granted.
On Sunday, it was fast day. The branch pres. here in Sagam blessed his first child. The baby was only one week old. He invited his family to attend. They are not members, they are muslims. His parents, sister and other relatives came all decked out in fancy native dress. You may have seen it. The men wear a loose robe type top with what looks like pajama bottoms. They wear a cloth hat. The women wear big flowing dresses with a big headress type hat. Both the men and women wear bright patterned clothes. Driving around town it appears that about 50% wear traditional clothes, 50% western style clothes. Everyone wears sandals. In the church they call wearing a white shirt and tie, white church dress. It is the only time the men dress like that.
Our ward in Murray donated about 400 ties that we brought with us. We have been handing them out at the missionary meetings and yesterday we gave out a bunch after church in Sagam. Everyone loves them, even some of the young women want ties. Im not sure if they plan on wearing them or they want them just because they are free. Anyway they will take all that we give away. Most of the members are from very humble backgrounds. Unemployment is high, underemployment is the norm. Apparently the per capita income is about $1/day. Since ties cost about the equivalent of about $10, buying a tie for church is very expensive.
But again the members and missionaries have an incredible faith in the Lord, the church and the prophet. We have 70 missionaries in our mission. Most are from other parts of Nigeria, but we have probably 20 or so from Ghana. There are two from Tonga, one from Samoa, and one from New Zealand. All them are dark so they dont stand out like we do. The missionaries here are supported thru the church missionary funds since they or there parents are not able to support them. Each branch where they come from is suppose to provide support, but based on the wealth of the people we have seen, I dont suppose most branches can totally support their missionaries. The average missionary receives $9,000N (Nira) per month. That is $63. The church pays for their apartments, but the missionaries must pay for their food, clothes, electric bills, transporation, etc from that amount. Missionaries in remote areas where they have to travel to district and zones meetings get a little more but not much.
Because transportation is primarily on foot, the missionaries are restricted to proselitying (sp) within an "center of strength" which is a 45 minute walking radius from the local church. Since most contacts are gained by street contacting or referrals, the missionaries dont have areas per se, like I had. If 4 missionaries are working in the same branch they have the same center of strength and work and teach in the same area.
Because the Nigerian people are very religous and have a simple faith in God, many are joining the Church. The average in our mission is about 2 baptisms per month per missionary, or 4 per companionship. The challenge isnt finding people to teach, it is getting to find the honest in heart who will pray to know the truth. Sister Gilmore and I have been proselitying also. It is very easy to share the gospel and your testimony here. People are willing to listen and are not cynical like Americans are.
Yesterday, after the church service the missionaries had planned to baptize a family of 3. But the portable baptismal font sprung a leak. We had to drive the family 40 miles to Ijebuode to the church there to baptise them. Afterwards we drove them home.
My time on the computer is just about out so I need to sign off. Until next week. With all our love,
Elder and Sister Gilmore.
Because it is difficult to email everyone, we are sending this to Heather and Kyle and asking them to forward it on to the family. First, Heather, thanks for the letter. We would like to hear from the rest of you even if you dont think you have anything happening in your life.
Things are going well here in Nigeria. Saturday and Sunday was general conference. But we cant get it here. No chapels have dishes so we cant listen or watch it. If we could it would come on a 5PM and 11PM because of the time difference. Your mom and I missed watching it, and I think it would make a difference to the members here if they actually could see and listen to the prophet talk. They have an incredible amount of faith. Because most people dont have TVs they dont really know much about America or American culture. At least not like I thought they would. Most people here are so poor they spend all their time trying to survive. But even the missionaries and members here dont really know much about America, Utah, Salt Lake or things about the church we take for granted.
On Sunday, it was fast day. The branch pres. here in Sagam blessed his first child. The baby was only one week old. He invited his family to attend. They are not members, they are muslims. His parents, sister and other relatives came all decked out in fancy native dress. You may have seen it. The men wear a loose robe type top with what looks like pajama bottoms. They wear a cloth hat. The women wear big flowing dresses with a big headress type hat. Both the men and women wear bright patterned clothes. Driving around town it appears that about 50% wear traditional clothes, 50% western style clothes. Everyone wears sandals. In the church they call wearing a white shirt and tie, white church dress. It is the only time the men dress like that.
Our ward in Murray donated about 400 ties that we brought with us. We have been handing them out at the missionary meetings and yesterday we gave out a bunch after church in Sagam. Everyone loves them, even some of the young women want ties. Im not sure if they plan on wearing them or they want them just because they are free. Anyway they will take all that we give away. Most of the members are from very humble backgrounds. Unemployment is high, underemployment is the norm. Apparently the per capita income is about $1/day. Since ties cost about the equivalent of about $10, buying a tie for church is very expensive.
But again the members and missionaries have an incredible faith in the Lord, the church and the prophet. We have 70 missionaries in our mission. Most are from other parts of Nigeria, but we have probably 20 or so from Ghana. There are two from Tonga, one from Samoa, and one from New Zealand. All them are dark so they dont stand out like we do. The missionaries here are supported thru the church missionary funds since they or there parents are not able to support them. Each branch where they come from is suppose to provide support, but based on the wealth of the people we have seen, I dont suppose most branches can totally support their missionaries. The average missionary receives $9,000N (Nira) per month. That is $63. The church pays for their apartments, but the missionaries must pay for their food, clothes, electric bills, transporation, etc from that amount. Missionaries in remote areas where they have to travel to district and zones meetings get a little more but not much.
Because transportation is primarily on foot, the missionaries are restricted to proselitying (sp) within an "center of strength" which is a 45 minute walking radius from the local church. Since most contacts are gained by street contacting or referrals, the missionaries dont have areas per se, like I had. If 4 missionaries are working in the same branch they have the same center of strength and work and teach in the same area.
Because the Nigerian people are very religous and have a simple faith in God, many are joining the Church. The average in our mission is about 2 baptisms per month per missionary, or 4 per companionship. The challenge isnt finding people to teach, it is getting to find the honest in heart who will pray to know the truth. Sister Gilmore and I have been proselitying also. It is very easy to share the gospel and your testimony here. People are willing to listen and are not cynical like Americans are.
Yesterday, after the church service the missionaries had planned to baptize a family of 3. But the portable baptismal font sprung a leak. We had to drive the family 40 miles to Ijebuode to the church there to baptise them. Afterwards we drove them home.
My time on the computer is just about out so I need to sign off. Until next week. With all our love,
Elder and Sister Gilmore.
posted by PorpShow at 4:49 PM
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