The Standard Has Been Erected!

It is a small milestone but the Official sign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is posted on the walls of the building leading into our meeting hall !  After visits from authorities, permission getting, obtaining templates, measuring, finding a sign-maker, getting an electrician to move the outlet, the signs are UP! It is a small but very important miracle!!

This is the second sign, after passing the first and walking about 20 feet, that tells you to go down another 20 foot hallway and up two flights of stairs to the meeting hall.

The building we are in is well known in the city.  It is called Gallerie Alexandre with many other businesses.  The gate you see to the left, which is the main entry, comes from the main street called Boulevard de la Liberte. Great name for the church to be situated on.

(The guard of the gate, who had not used a camera before, took this photo.  It is the best of five tries. funny!)
We could not get permission to put the sign out on the main wall, but hope it is large enough to be seen as you walk or drive by.  Many people walk into this gallerie.

Just for perspective, these people were standing just outside the entry gate. Yes, he is holding two turkeys while standing in front of parked cars and heavy traffic just behind! The woman was waiting to ask for money and she did!

These are regular faces that we see as we enter the gallerie.  The man on the left runs a small Fruito stand where you can buy drinks and the other is the guard who took the fuzzy photo!



This is the little sign that we have put up for the past 16 weeks.  The new official sign is just above where the man in the white shirt and tie is sitting inside the gate.



We are thankful that the sign is permanent.  Before, our little signs only were put up with tape on Sundays.  We will soon be inviting people by special invitation to come to learn in our chapel with a video projection and discussions on a regular weekly basis.

The little meeting hall only holds 80 but those who come are fed with the spirit of the Lord and His truths that are taught. The members are blessed to be able to renew their baptismal covenants.  Soon, this little chapel with be teaching with video projections and discussions with the  missionaries via special invitation on a regular weekly basis.





There are many waiting to join the church who must travel far distances and must wait for the blessings of baptism.  Elder Holland told them when he visited here, "It will come.  Be patient. "
The newly baptized members are the Burundian PIONEERS in every sense of the word.  There are persecutions, challenges, hardships, setbacks, diseases, dangers, difficulties and unexpected trials. 
"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;...the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."  ~Joseph Smith, Jr., Prophet of the Restoration