Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Dickson

Last month we were in Monrovia, Liberia, for the Mission Tour with the Dicksons.  This week Elder and Sister Dickson came to Freetown.  We bussed in the Bo Zone so we could have them with the Freetown Zone for a special conference with Elder Dickson.  It was a wonderful and spiritual time spent together.

The Bo Zone after arrival on March 3rd.  We made them sandwiches, had cookies, bananas and cold water.  They had gotten up at 4:45 a.m. to catch the bus to Freetown. The bus left at 6 a.m. and they arrived about 11:30 a.m.

Elders shaking hands with Elder and Sister Dickson as they go into the chapel for our special mission tour conference.

The Elders always enjoy seeing each other when Bo and Freetown get together.

Elder Kargbo and Elder Tims with Elder Kitson-Dodoo sneaking up on them!

Successfully done, Elder Kitson-Dodoo!

Elder Smoot and Elder Vogl

Elder Adjei and Elder Tippets, the Freetown Zone Leaders.

Elder Vaughan and Elder Lancaster

The last of the line before going into the chapel.

Elder and Sister Neves

Preparing before the meeting began.

Just before we starting eating some chicken and rice....and Sis. Patterson's brownies.

Elder Massey and Elder Ogoloma....

Elder Kargbo (eating chicken) and I have a unstated standing agreement.  What I don't eat....he wants...Usually the chicken and rice are way too spicy for me, so I separate my little part.  Then, all I have to do is look around and there he is, waiting to see if I have more....I just nod and he's happily coming for the rest of the meal.  That's Elder Tade enjoying the joke. Elder Kargbo eats everything....bones and all.

Gathering back together after lunch...

All these Elders are such wonderful men!  We just love them!  They do so much for so many people and do it because they love the Lord.  More to come...

Zone Conference in Monrovia Zone

Monrovia Zone Conference.  Elder Kimball isn't in the picture because he was doing GPS coordinates for the Monrovia Districts.  It is an all day job going from home to home.  Beside Sister Kimball is our Church Service Missionary Couple, Elder and Sister Smith.  They work with the Young Single Adults Outreach.

Elder Essel, Elder Okeke and Elder Milton "posing" for the snap.

Water!  Always a big drawing point! They are surrounding a large water jug with ice.

Elder Moss and Elder Lambson...MTC mates.

Elders Moss, Lambson, Boateng and Stott.  All were at the MTC together but Elder Boateng.  He came out a few months earlier.

Elder Taylor and Elder Priddis on their way seeking the true in heart after Zone Conference.

Elder Chikwendu and Elder Stott

During Zone Conference in the Sinkor Chapel....

Waiting for transport...

Saying goodbyes till the next Zone Conference...

Along the river as we drove back to Kenema from the Liberian border.

some of the road we drove on....

The Drive back from Liberia to Kenema through the villages...

The road is very dry and dusty now compared to the drive April to November when it is so wet and muddy.  When these big ruts are filled with water, it can be a challenge.  It is still a very pretty four-hour drive from the Liberian border to Kenema---even though the road is rough, dusty, rutty, rocky and long. I love to see the villages and people along the way.   We'll post pictures of the missionaries tonight.

Nothing as handsome as a man with an apron....

Assistants helping Sister Kimball with dishes yesterday....She only had these "cute" aprons for them to wash and rinse with....since we have bleach in the water to clean the dishes, it is important to make sure that one's clothes aren't ruined by it.....We are grateful for their quick offers to help and digging right into the big pile of dishes....thank you parents for your sons' good upbringing....

It wasn't this difficult for Eve...

 The fruit.....way   up   there....  how to get it?

 Still too short...

Extension of PVC pipe taped to together with make-shift wire hook on the end? 

The fruit?  Avocado!  Yes, Elder Grabau and Elder Hickey got one down but it still isn't ripe...maybe in a few more days they will reach for it again.

Going Home, Coming In and Moving Around

Elder Nyarko and Elder Eshun at the Mission Home prior to leaving the next morning to Ghana after serving a faithful two-year mission.

Elders Nyarko, Allred, Eshun and Ewudzie.

Elder Laneri and Elder Eshun served together as the Freetown Zone Leaders a few transfers ago, so it was hard for them to say good-bye. Elder Patterson and Elder Nyarko looking on.

Elder Eshun and Elder Nyarko were both Zone Leaders during their mission. They carried a lot of responsibility and helped direct the Lord's work. 

Off they go to the Lungi Airport then fly to Accra, Ghana.  We will miss both of you very much but we know you will add so much to your wards and stakes in Ghana!

Elder Assumang from Accra, Ghana just arriving to start his mission!  Freetown will be his first area to serve.

Elder Buckman from Ghana also.  He will be serving in Freetown, too.

Just waiting to get in the van so the assistants can drive to Bo... And others waiting for their new companions to arrive...

Elder Smoot enjoying some cool water from the water dispenser.  It's been pretty hot and dry now for a while and cold water is a luxury.

Packing up the truck to go first to Bo then on to the Liberian border.  Elder and Sister Kimball will meet Markus at the border and transfer missionaries.

Elder Lambson and Elder Njaga listening to Sister Patterson's instructions about their passports.  She takes care of all the paper work for the missionaries such as: passports, visas and residence permits.  Sister Kimball does the residence permits for Liberia.  So much paper work, and these dear sisters do a great job of keeping us all up-to-date.-

Elder Norton and Elder Visser, one of our changed companionships.  Elder Norton has been in Freetown but not in this apartment and area. 

Oh, the trauma!  Elder Norton and Elder Lambson have been together for almost 8 months--- flying from Salt Lake City, Ghana MTC, and sharing the same missionary apartment but never assigned here as  companions.  Elder Lambson is going to Liberia (along with Elders Njaga and Ogama) while Elder Norton will be in the apartment next to the Mission Office.  Saturday, we are off to Liberia ourselves for Monrovia Zone Conference. 

Elder Hickey and Elder Grabau, our assistants, were so excited on Saturday because 13 Sierra Leoneans desired to follow the Savior and be baptized as a result of their teaching and testifying of Jesus Christ.  Sunday, they were all confirmed in Sacrament Meeting as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Several received the Aaronic Priesthood also...It was a weekend for joy!

 More pics when we come home next week...



Bo Zone Feb 9th

When we are up at 5 a.m and on the road at 6 a.m., we see the most beautiful sunrises as we drive to Bo.

Another angle of the sunrise...

We see lots of children on their way to school at that time of day.  They have no school bus.  They walk and walk and walk.

This poor guy really had a heavy load of wood on his bike going uphill.

How about this for a nice little hut?

 

Yesterday, Elder Mansuray came home from serving 2 years as a full-time missionary in the Nigeria Enugu Mission.  Today as we drove to Bo, we brought him with us to drop him off at his home there.  This is his mother and cousin who were walking along the road.  They were so excited to see him!  His mother insisted that we drive behind them so she could get home to welcome him properly.  (We would have driven her but were packed.)  It was so touching because she ran from house to house clapping telling everyone that her son was home. 

Elder Mansuray, was so thrilled to see his family: cousins, sisters, brothers, grandparents, parents.  They were a lovely family and just so hospitable!

Elder Kenner and Elder Vogl at the Njaboima Chapel in Bo where we had our Bo Zone Conference.

Elder Nyarko, Elder Hickey and Elder Eshun.  Elder Nyarko and Elder Eshun go home to Ghana next week.  They are such good individuals.  We will miss them.  They have a great love for the Lord and the people.

Bo Zone missionaries waiting for conference to start.

Elder Eyinda singing with Elder Kenner playing (he said his mother would like to know that he is playing the piano.  This is one of the few chapels that has one).

We know it looks like all missionaries do is eat.  Since they cook on their own and buy food on their own, a meal that someone else makes is a real treat.  They work so hard from 10 in the morning until the evening teaching and talking to people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is no forcing here only gentle invitation to follow Jesus Christ.

THE BO ZONE....although transfers are next week...where will the changes take place.  We receive two new elders from West Africa on Tuesday.  And yes, another trip to Liberia overland driving starting the 19th.