This is a quote from Elder Holland, after he visited the people of Africa
“It is my nature to want to tell people that I love them and that the Lord loves them,” he said. “I think that’s really true, and it’s true anywhere. But Heavenly Father’s love for His children is conspicuous in Africa. They have the most gorgeous smiles, the happiest faces; their children have to be among the most beautiful children on the face of the earth. It is very, very easy to love them. It is something like meeting people you think you’ve known before. We’ve all had that kind of experience—a kindred relationship with somebody. That’s how I feel with the African people. There is something special about what we feel when we come to this land, come to these nations, when we’re on this continent. Something in them, and something in us, creates a camaraderie of the soul that is immediate and almost beyond words.”
That is exactly how I feel about the African people I have met. I love them. I love their radiant faces, and their beautiful smiles. We have met so many amazing people here who have made us feel so welcome. Each morning when we arrive at the Area Office Building we pass through 2 locked gates that have to be opened for us. Each gate is manually opened by a guard who ALWAYS smiles and waves at us as we pass.
It's not just a nod and a simple wave of the hand.
It is a GREAT BIG SMILE AND A HAND THAT WAVES BACK AND FORTH AS WE PASS.
There are many blacks who work in our building. Some work in the adjoining offices and some clean our offices or work in the parking garage and the cafeteria.
One day when we pulled into the parking garage we pulled into our temporarily assigned parking space, where the cars that are assigned to visiting officials park, and a young man approached us. He had a big smile on his face and told us if we gave him the keys, he would wash the car and bring the keys to us. I am sure he must of thought we were somebody important because no one had ever offered to wash our car before. After we told him that we pay someone to wash our car in our apartment building he said,
"Oh, you don't have to pay me" and he took our keys and sort of skipped away.
I mean, he really skipped off.
I don't know what he was so happy about but it was a great way to start the day.
An hour or so later, he brought back the keys and we had a sparkling clean car.
I have seen him a few times since and he ALWAYS has the biggest smile on his face and greets me with a warm hello.
Like Elder Holland said, I have too have met people that I feel drawn to, who make me feel as if I have known them before. From the first day I arrived at the Area Offices I felt that way about a lady who cleans our office. Her name is Nalutanda. She is probably the age of our daughter. She is kind and gentle and has the most radiant smile. Today I took a few moments to speak with her and get to know her a little better. She told me about her family. I saw pictures of her children who are 3, 9 and 14 years old. She told me her son, who is 14, lives with her mother far away. Then her eyes glazed over and she told me she misses him because she only sees him once a year. I love Nalutanda. She has a heavy heart and yet every day she comes to work with a smile on her face.
I love the people we go to church with. They are always so happy to see us and so kind and welcoming. Last Sunday when we went to church it was Fast and Testimony meeting. Once a month, members of the church fast for two meals and then we give the money that we would normally spend on those meals to the Church to be used to assist with providing relief to others. On fast Sunday after the Sacrament is passed, we are given the opportunity to share our testimonies. I love it when children get up and bear their testimonies. Last Sunday there were about 5 children who bore their testimonies along with several adults.
The first child who got up was about 6. Her sweet little testimony stirred my soul and tears began to fall from my eyes. As I wiped the tears one sweet little mom sitting next to me reached over and rubbed my shoulder. I was touched by her kind gesture. Then another child got up and bore her testimony. The children were so cute when they went to stand in the front of the whole congregation and without a microphone they clearly stated,
" I know this church is true,
I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God,
and I KNOW THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN".
Well after the third or fourth child, I couldn't stop the tears from coming. Then the little girl who was sitting next to me gently began to touch my watch then my hand. Then it was time for the closing song and she began to tap my hand along with the beat of the music. Then she gently rubbed her sweet little hand up my arm and examined my white skin and compared it to hers. It was so sweet, and so tender that I didn't want the moment to end.
I am so grateful our Heavenly Father sent us to Africa.
