To Bo and our Liberia Visit last week!

We traveled to Bo for Leadership Training.

After Leadership Training...

Up before 6 a.m., on the road to Kenema with the assistants.  This is about 7:15 a.m. 

Some huts along the road to Liberia after turning from Kenema

The road was pretty good this time...the rainy season is barely starting.

We arrived in Duala just in time for the finish of Bushrod Island Zone's Super P-day.  The assistants passed out the mail.

Elder Moyo and Elder Lambson...Bushrod Island Zone leaders at Duala Chapel.

Elder Norton's response to long car rides... We talk, listen to CD's, have companionship study, evaluate the visit, have some breakfast/lunch, rest stop or two, and complete assignments during our long drive to and from Liberia. It makes the drive go quickly and richly.

 
Hmmm, Elder Wood, which phone to use?  When we travel to Liberia, the assistants use a Liberian cell phone for local calling.

Taking materials into the chapel for Leadership Training.

After Leadership Training.  We trained on 'Keeping focus on the Fundamentals' of the Doctrine of Christ.  The assistants taught, then we had a lunch that Sister Kirkham prepared and next was President Roggia.  He instructed on the Fundamentals and on Nehemiah.

MTC mates--- happy to see each other.

Bushrod Island Zone, after a service project cleaning the sister missionaries' compound...

Keep to the Path...

These trees are so tall...

Hurry little kids...

Bamboo over the road

Wet in parts along the way....

Bumpy but beautiful through the villages and jungle...Most missionaries will ride on this road as we make transfers between Liberia and Sierra Leone. Drove straight through from Monrovia to Freetown...left at 5:50 a.m. and arrived in Freetown at 6:00 p.m.  Will post some Monrovia Zone pictures this week.

At Grafton ...

Elder Asiedu and Elder Stewart in the Mission Office writing home and letters to President Roggia. They had to come in on Tuesday because the internet cafe on Monday, Preparation day,  lost power...their emails were lost.

Elder Barth and Elder Ogama in the Grafton Apartment after Leadership Training.

Elder Ogama and Elder Tade have 30 doxy left....because they have 30 days left till the end of their mission!

Elder Allred (zone leader) doing paperwork....

Are we keeping you awake, Elder Barth?  lol

Elder Wuthrich and Elder Inyang

President Roggia and Elder Taylor (zone leader) and others, talking after our Leadership Training and splits teaching.  President Roggia went out with the missionaries.  It was a very hot day!   

Friday, we drive to Bo, spend a few days, then drive to Liberia.  Will return to Freetown April 1st so will post snaps after that date. 

Mailing Tips

Dear Parents, Family and Friends,

When sending packages to Sierra Leone or Liberia, here are some helpful tips:

1.  The Priority Mail boxes usually work the best from the States.  Boxes from the UK have arrived safely.  Pouch is used by most African countries or by travelers coming to Sierra Leone.

2.   Tape well with clear tape.

3.   Religious pictures on the box seems to assist in its arriving in one piece.

4.   Write "Missionary Supplies" on the box and on the shipping list.

5.   If you are sending something new, take it out of the package, use it, wear it,  make it used so its value is "used".   Anything chocolate or liquid, put in a zip lock bag so it doesn't ooze all over everything. 

7.  It will take between two to four weeks to arrive or up to two months.

8. Please don't put anything of worth on the shipping list.  Don't insure it. The customs' charge can run into hundreds of dollars from the mission which are sacred tithing funds.  

9.  We check the post office about once a week.

10.  Anything for Liberia, that comes to Sierra Leone, will go with us when we drive to Liberia---once a month.  If we fly, we take as much as we can in our bags.

TO SIERRA LEONE (letters/card/packages/pictures)

Missionary Name

Sierra Leone Freetown Mission

P.O. Box 263

Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa

TO LIBERIA (letters/cards/packages/pictures)

Missionary Name

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Horton Ave & Capital Bye-Pass

P.O. Box 1905, 1000 Monrovia

10 Liberia, West Africa

POUCH FOR BOTH COUNTRIES

One 8 1/2 x 11 inch page written on one side, folded, (can use a little tape) regular stamp, send to:

Missionary Name

Sierra Leone Freetown Mission

P.O. Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT  84130-0150

POUCH

Two other ways:

Letter to: DearElder.com

Package with:  Called2Serve.com

More February in Liberia and Temple Trip

These are pics from February in Liberia while waiting for Elder Holland's visit.

The missionaries were the recipients of left overs from a District catered meal that Saturday. 

Shaking hands with the Sisters was a wonderful event. There was so much joy in the room.

There was lots of pictures taken by the missionaries.  Because of the late arrival of our guests, the missionary meeting was later in the evening with a quick exit.  We didn't get a group picture with Elder Holland.  We did get one with the dear Sisters, however, and that one was priceless! Go back several posts and you will find it.

We will drive to Liberia in about ten days and will have more snaps.

From Elder and Sister Kirkham:  After, literally months of work and effort (particularly by Elder Krumm - senior missionary) to have everything properly prepared , 68 Liberian Saints left for the Ghana Accra Temple on February 23rd.. It takes 3 1/2 days to get to the temple from Monrovia. They spent 4 days at the temple and then came home. This is Sister Kirkham with some of the 27 saints who left from Bushrod Island District to the temple and were sealed as families for all eternity. See: Temple Marriage

This is one of the two buses that was used. This bus carried 27 members - no air conditioning. The second bus (just like this one) had 41 saints. They had to carry their own food and water. They slept on the ground or on the bus as they traveled. When they got to the temple in Accra, Ghana, they stayed in housing at the temple grounds for four days and then made the 4 day journey back home. This temple trip would not be possible for the Saints if it were not for the Temple Patron Assistance Fund. For many, it is a once in a lifetime experience to have the privilege to go to the temple and receive the ordinances of exaltation there. The Temple Patron Assistance Fund helps pay the expenses for members only the first time they go to be sealed.

Wonderful days...

Elder Assumang and Elder Barth

Elder Marveh, Elder Ellsworth and Elder Pabie...all returned with honor missionaries now.

Elder Animba and Elder Asiedu

Elder Inyang and Elder Aniabre

Elder Adah, Elder Essel and Elder Akwah

Missionaries waiting for their group picture.

Freetown Zone, Freetown East Zone, Bo East Zone and Bo West Zone.  

Tried to get everyone in the above pictures...

So Elder Hill's family sees 'proof' that his shoes arrived...

Elder Wuthrich and Elder Osei-Kissy with a lady they are teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.