Our little Bamako, Mali Branch grew a bit this weekend! 78 people were baptized!

May will bring another large group like this. There have been no missionaries in Bamako since we left. Elders in Abidjan are teaching on zoom.

A tailor in the branch sewed all of the baptismal clothing.

Oh happy day!!

Here’s the post from Laura Budge, wife of the current Mission President:

Wanted to share a little information about these photos. This was a baptism that took place in Mali on Saturday. Our office Elders have been teaching people via zoom for several months now. Many of them live in places outside of where the Branch is located. You’d be surprised of the logistics necessary to provide these humble people with the opportunity to join the Lord’s Church. Mali is extremely impoverished, so transport isn’t easy. In fact most people travel by motorcycle rather than car because of the cost involved. The Branch in Bamako is the ONLY Branch established in Mali at this point, so there isn’t anything available like a Distribution Center where baptismal clothes are available for purchase. Luckily, a member of the Branch there is a tailor. The Mission paid him to make baptismal clothes for more than 75 people. Not only for the new members, but also those who were doing the baptizing. In the end, between Saturday and Sunday, 78 people were baptized with more scheduled mid-May. The Branch went from around 30 to 35 people attending to over 100 now. There will be enough new members to establish two more Branches because the Melchizedek Priesthood is found there now too. The President’s counselors have been going there training new leadership to take care of the needs of the new members. The New Mission Leaders for the Senegal, Dakar Mission will have a great start for when they get here at the end of June.