On the road from Kenema to Liberian border...

We thought folks might like to see what the road is like to the Liberian border.  It takes about four hours on this bumpy road.  In the rainy season, it is nearly impassable---or impassable.  During transfers, we take the missionaries on this road and pass them to Elder and Sister Kimball  at the border who then take them to Monrovia.  If transfers are during the same time as Zone Conference or interviews, we will drive with the missionaries all the way to Monrovia.

A llittle more of the road....we sure do enjoy crossing the border and getting on paved roads again!  Not too long ago the road from Freetown to Bo was just like this.  Now, it is all paved and is a nice three-hour drive compared to the 8 1/2 hours it used to take..  In time, this road will paved too, we hope.

November Freetown Zone Conference and new missionaries serving

Lunch during Freetown Zone Conference on last Wednesday. 

Another angle...

 And from another angle... We did haircuts afterward, also.  Most just want a #2 clip all over.  Short for hot weather and sweating.

During Zone Conference question and answer time...

One of my favorite pictures of Elder and Sister Neves.  They do so much every day--all day--teaching and helping everyone.  Where do they get their energy?

Elder and Sister Patterson and President watching the assistants drive away in the van with several missionaries. 

Friday, President set apart two missionaries, Elder Momodu and Elder Stevens. They are heading to the Nigeria Lagos Mission--after a three week stay at the Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana.  Neither had been on an airplane before.  We were glad that they had each other for support for a three-hour flight. 

 Since we came in July to this December 31st, we will have sent out 25 full-time missionaries from Sierra Leone and Liberia.  Most go to Ghana, Nigeria or South Africa.  During that time, we have received into our mission 14 full-time missionaries from America and West Africa.

For those of you who keep asking what a menu might look like... We tried this restaurant one day.  It doesn't look like a place to eat from the outside but is quite cozy inside.  We enjoyed the "Italian music" that was playing in the background.  It is called the "Caribbean Fusion Restaurant". (one of Elder Gunderson's favorite places to eat.) Notice the Escoveitched Fish on the menu.  Escoveitch---comes from escabeche, Spanish for pickled.  All the food on the menu was very spicy.  I was very glad for the assistants, who finished off my hot rice...wasn't hot for them but was for me.  Leones are 4000 to $1.00.  For instance, the Whole Jerk Fish cost $5 or Le 20,000.

We go to Bo Zone and Monrovia, Liberia Zone next week...

Helpful Hints for Mailing Packages

Sometimes, the packages come into Freetown pretty beat up. Since Christmas is coming up, we thought some helpful hints for mailing would be a good idea.  Also, this address works well for cards or thicker letters than Pouch will take.  The address that works best is: Your missionary's name, Sierra Leone Freetown Mission, Box 263, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa

Inside the box:  seal each item --like chocolate or peanut butter---in a plastic bag (that way if it breaks open or melts, it is inside the plastic bag and doesn't ruin everything else); use a filler (like newspapers, packing peanuts) to pack items tight (after traveling so many miles, things settle and shake, then are crushed); take new items out of the original packaging because now it is "used".  This isn't an endorsement for USPS; but the priority, flat rate boxes seem to arrive in better condition and haven't been opened.  If you are sending a small amount of currency, put it in some socks or hide it someplace.  Don't send what you can't afford to lose.  $10 = 40,000 Leones, which goes a long way here.

Outside the box:  tape well all seams, sides, ends, corners; don't insure the package.  When it is insured, we have to pay an additional duty tax which sometimes is more than the worth of the items sent.  One was insured for $1000  (which was a typo). The duty tax would have been $127.  The contents were about $50 worth or less.  With some effort, the tax was reduced to around $20. When the official saw that it was things of little value, he was reasonable and changed the duty tax.  Keep the value low.

Write "missionary supplies" on the customs slip and/or on the package.  Or write "candy" or "cookies"...  It seems unusual but religious stickers are a good deterent to theft.   Beware of heavy objects. They usually crush the more fragile things as the box makes it's way here.  Because of the humidity, the cardboard of the box gets soft and is more easily ripped...another reason for the taping of ends, seams, corners.

 How long will it take to get here?  Well, sometimes it takes only two weeks and other times it could be up to two months.  For Christmas, send it now.  We hope this helps... Oh, we will be having a Christmas get together on Dec 15th for Bo and Freetown Zones combined.   For the Monrovia, Liberia Zone, we will be there Dec 20-22 for their Christmas get together.  So, packages sent soon should reach all three zones in time for Christmas.

A couple pictures for our family...

One of the reasons we do this blog is to provide a way for families to see their missionaries.  Our moms like to see their missionaries, too.  :-)

One more for my 94 year old mother...love you, Mom.



Flying into Liberia and Freetown from the water taxi

This is the first view we see as we descend into Monrovia.

The windows on the plane weren't very clear but the view is still really great!

One of the hillsides of Freetown as we rode in the water taxi to the wharf.

More of Freetown before we dock.

Inside of the Water Taxi...usually water sprays all over the windows...sometimes it gets very hot, like a sauna, in there when the sun is hot and windows shut because of the spray.

Elder and Sister Borden serving from Rupert, Idaho.  They are on their fourth mission to West Africa.  They are assigned to Accra, Ghana but travel to all the West Africa area to help all the Districts and Stakes with Family History.  It is a daunting task but they love it and the people here in West Africa.

Zone Conference in Freetown

Elder Ditsi and Elder Kitson-Dodoo...loving the work and their area. We had Freetown Zone Conference at the Mission Home.  It fits 32 people pretty well!  We just shuffle all the furniture and dining room tables all over the place.  The elders do all the work....I point.....:-)  What great missionaries!  We had this meal catered with jollaf rice, chicken, plaintains and some veggies.  I made the rice crispy treats....found some cocoa crispies too... Oh, and some larger-than-hamburger-bun buns.  They ate very well.  We saved the chicken bones for our guard.  He takes them home to make soup etc. (This is the first one that uploaded...more in a few days)

Miscellaneous pictures

While on the beach a few weeks ago, a beach vendor came by with wood items. Elder Lambson was testing out the drum.

Our excellent assistants, Elder Gunderson and Elder Hickey preparing to make a video about results of the "Fundamentals" of Preach My Gospel, How to Teach.

We saw this patient soul repairing his net while waiting for the water taxi at Lungi in Freetown.

Elder Visser during the super preparation day...

Elder Okeke from Zimbabwe amazed at a "jackalope"! (Elder Jenkins holding postcard)

Elders Moss and Intsiful waiting in Monrovia for their turn with President Roggia.

Elders Essel and Merrill after President's interview crossing the street near their apartment in Monrovia.  Like the yellow car to the left? Double click and see what the bumper says--

Elders Intsiful and Elder Massey during Zone Council preparing to report.

Elder Clawson and Elder Wood walking and talking at the super prep day Oct 3rd.