Our readers might appreciate this little bit about pre-mission experience.  Elder Kapatamoyo boarded a bus in Lilongwe for a 5-hour ride to Blantyre to be set apart by a counselor in our Mission Presidency, Elder Beal.  It was the first time he had been outside of his home town and the first time he had ridden on a nice big bus.

We gathered all the Senior Missionaries and his temporary companions and Elder Beal set him apart for full-time service to the Lord.  Then he went out with his companions to finish the day, actually got to help teach a lesson.  I marvel at these young people here.  This young man, probably about 20, had been a branch missionary starting when he was about 14.  He has served as the Branch Mission Leader, and as the Branch Clerk.  He was working on his second year as a seminary teacher when he received his mission call.  I wonder how many USA elders are half as prepared when they leave.  He has an awesome testimony, a deep knowledge of the gospel, and was practically jumping up and down with excitement to be starting his mission.  It was a great treat, just to meet him.

We took him to the airport this morning, after he had spent the night at the missionaries' flat, and with his passport and yellow fever card, we bid him Godspeed and left him to catch his plane (something else he has never done before).  We coached him as best we could on what to do when he got to Jo-burg airport, and promised that the Missionary Training Center president or his assistants would find him.  This is really a leap of faith.  I'll attach a picture of him with President and Sister Beal outside our chapel.