Sydney's Baby Blessing

As if our journey couldn't get any more magical, we still had Sydney's baby blessing left. Her blessing dress had been nicely steamed in the bathroom and she looked absolutely precious. We received more than one invitation to attend other churches that met in the school. "She would be very welcome with us!" smiled one woman. A sister asked me, "Where's your little bride?" when Brent had taken her out of Sunday School. The dress definitely made an impression. Here is Brent with the men who were in the blessing circle: (from left) President Tladi, First Counselor Mpina Ntalime, Brent with Sydney, Second Counselor Andreis Sindane and  my dad Elder Nielsen.

Having done this a time or two (or three!) and still not being able to live down the fact he left out an eternal marriage in Ireland's baby blessing, Brent made sure to cover his bases. He specifically referenced Africa and urged Sydney to take inspiration from the country and it's people throughout her life. Afterwards, Brent held her up to present her to the congregation. There were the customary ooh's and aah's but there was also a rolling laughter which lasted a while and had us puzzled. 

Turns out, they don't present the baby in Africa. Mom tells me usually the father just kind of shuffles back to his seat and that's the end of it. Everyone thought Brent was so caught up in the spirit of Africa that he was having his own Lion King moment, presenting baby Simba at Pride Rock. That explains the laughter!

News of what has now been dubbed "The Rafiki Moment" spread throughout the stake. My parents found themselves repeatedly explaining that holding up the newborn after a blessing is very common in the States... in fact, it's almost customary. 

 Mom tells me there was a baby blessing a few weeks after we left Africa. The couple had dressed the little girl in a white dress with matching bonnet. At the conclusion of the blessing, the brother waited for the other priesthood holders to return to their seats and then he lifted her up and presented her to the congregation... just like Brent had done. Dad reports the leaders at the front of the room were clearly pleased. It appears Brent may have unwittingly started a trend in Africa!

 President Tladi thanked us with tears in his eyes for having Sydney blessed in their humble branch. Many congregations meet around Johannesburg and they were touched that we would have this done in their little area of the world. We missed having BJ and Jeanne there with us... it's the first grandchild blessing they've ever missed (and I daresay the last!) and their absence was definitely felt. However, this was an experience our little family will relish for a lifetime.

I attended a missionary conference with my mom that evening and one of the senior missionaries shared the following quote:

Africa may yet prove to be the spiritual conservatory of the world... When the civilized nations in consequence of their wonderful material development, shall have had their spiritual susceptibilities blunted through the agency of a captivating and absorbing materialism, it may be that they have to resort to Africa to recover some of the simple elements of faith

~Edward Wilmot Blyden, Liberian statesman and educator, 1869.

I have to say I find this quote incredibly prophetic. Our time in Africa buoyed my faith tremendously.