Way to go Aaron!

Congratulations, son Aaron for completing your Doctorate in Spanish Linguistics...another marathon victory!

Fishin'

This is the St. Paul River (also known as the Ding River) near Monrovia, Liberia.  We went with Elder and Sister Kimball on preparation day in September to find the power plant.  We didn't find it at the time; but the Kimballs did a few weeks later. It had been ruined several years ago.

These are the fishing baskets that the locals make and put into the river to catch small shrimp, crab and small fish.  They are left in the river for a long period of time.

After the fishermen pull up the baskets, they will put their catch in these plastic buckets with holes.  Then, they place the bucket back in the water until they are ready to use their harvest.

The fine gentlemen in the picture above told us how it is done with the baskets.  He, then, showed us another bucket that was a recent catch.  It has some shell fish, shrimp and he also said some small fish.  It had already been culled for the best ones.  We are fishers of the true in heart..

Mother and child along the road near the river...so sweet. The little guy wasn't so sure about us; but warmed up as we talked with them.

Water, grateful for water...

Water.  This is the time of year where water is precious.  Water is a basic need for baptisms, too. We have had 139 converts enter the waters of baptism in November... 

 We, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe in following the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ, by being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having the authority of God. It is the gateway on the path home to our Heavenly Father. These wonderful people in Sierra Leone and Liberia are embracing the gospel and genuinely are born a new.

 Above are just a couple pictures of baptisms that have taken place. First picture is Elders Hickey and Gunderson with recent converts.  Second picture is Elders Ditsi, Dogbaste and Kitson-Dodoo (kneeling) with four faithful women desiring baptism.  

We were grateful for the ferry that took us across the River Moa....lots of water there!  It was a beautiful river and it made us think of the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Georgia.  The trees were just as majestic hanging close to the water.  We are just climbing aboard the little ferry in this picture with the other passengers  looking on.

More water--on the road to the ferry and after---the road most of the way looked like this--only some of the holes were much wider and deeper...President was driving and wasn't able to enjoy the scenery like me and the camera...:-)

A well was dug near the Mission Office in August.  Since the water at the Mission Home is very low, we can transport water from this well.  Usually we get a large water tanker to fill up our water tanks at the Mission Home.  When that doesn't happen, we can fall back on this well.  April will bring more rain.

Three T's: Transfers, Traveling and Thanksgiving

Elder Laneri and Elder Adjei--Freetown Zone Leaders.  Elder Adjei transfered from Bo Zone. Notice Elder Laneri's fan...common sight for our elders to keep the heat off.

Today, we had three elders and a sister on their way to the Ghana MTC for three weeks, then to Nigeria to serve.  President Roggia set them apart, we gave them a sack lunch and the assistants drove them to the water taxi.  None of them had been on the water taxi or an airplane or out of Sierra Leone.  Elders Bangura, Kallon, Sivalie and Sister Kamara were excited to go.

The families of the new missionaries came to see them off.  One little sister didn't want to get in the group "snap".

She was so cute we had to take one of her looking at him leaving.

Elder Williams and Elder Johnson returning from Nigerian missions after faithfully serving for two years.  The assistants picked them up; and changed to the van to drive the new missionaries to the wharf.  Busy day for them.

No, not going home. Elder Hickey and Elder Grabau are carrying the returned Sierra Leone missionaries' (who returned from Nigeria) luggage--before taking out all the luggage for the new missionaries at the wharf....they had lots of exercise today!

Our Thanksgiving Dinner at the Mission Home.  L to R: Sister and Elder Neves, Elder Grabau, Elder Hickey, Sister and Elder Patterson.  Our turkey came from Liberia and was actually imported from France through a German company...  Sis. Patterson did the turkey, stuffing and gravy; Sister Neves did the mashed potatoes, olives and rolls; I made the pumpkin pie, french green beans and almonds, cranberry sauce and pickles.( I thought of you, Mom, as I made the crust. All the years of watching you make your yummy pies helps.)  We had a blessed and wonderful dinner together.  We did the dishes and then phone calls started coming.  Ah-h, it was a nice moment to be grateful for all we have---now back to the Lord's work. President and I headed off to the wharf to pick up the Public Affairs senior couple from Accra, Ghana.  We had one of the new sister missionaries going to Nigeria for the night...busy...and loving it.

Before and During Transfer day

Some of the Freetown Zone together...they had gotten together to watch General Conference.

Elders Vaughan, Eyinda and Eshun on their way to the Bo Zone yesterday.  Elder and Sister Neves drove them the 3 1/2 hours to their new areas.

Elder Visser and Elder Njaga:  part of the November transfers.  We'll have more pictures this week of new companionships in Freetown.  We'll  also take more pictures of Monrovia when we go Dec 19th.

Change...

Goodbye Elder Gunderson!  Thanks for all your help over the last five months since we have been here.  We'll miss you; but we know that you have a great future ahead of you filled with happiness.

Elder Gunderson on his way down to the last Echo Water Taxi ride.

Welcome to Elder Grabau (on right), our new assistant serving along with Elder Hickey.  We really depend on them alot::  drawing a strip map, or finding the hotel or helping us teach and train the other missionaries.  They get up early, early with us when we are driving to Bo and Liberia.  They will take turns driving also--especially when President is pondering about transfers and typing on the computer.

Old and New...

This is Elder Gunderson one last time at Government Wharf and he is on his way back to St. George, Utah after serving the Lord for two years with honor and integrity.

Elder Vaughan arrived from the Ghana Missionary Training Center today.  He flew into the Lungi/Freetown Airport, made his way through the crowds and finally got on the water taxi. President Roggia and the assistants met Elder Vaughan at the wharf and they took him right up to the mission home. His first supper was with the assistants, the President and me.  He expressed his gratitude to be here and will be a great missionary because he already loves being in the mission.  His first companion and trainer will be Elder Priddis in Bo.