Sunday,
March 9, 2014
We
attended both Kissy 1st and 2nd branches today;
Moses Jenneh spoke in Kissy 1st – he leaves in 2 weeks
for his mission to Nigeria. We met him within a month of coming on
mission; quite a precocious and cocky young man, but Scott has been
working with him and encouraging him to serve a mission and it has
resulted in him ready to go. We were very pleased with his talk and
happy to have him going. His sister just left 3 months ago. Their
“mum,” Sister Melville is a remarkable woman – a convert of
about 4 years raising her children as a single parent.
In
between blocks of church, a set of elders took us by an apartment
they had found. Not the best of roads (so what else is new), but very
nice looking on the outside; I stayed in the car while Scott went
with the missionaries to look around the compound. The owner happened
to be around and lives on the premise, so he showed them the
apartment. Looks like it is going to be a win-win and negotiations
will take place later on this week. While I was sitting in the car,
some people were hanging out around the car and when Scott comes back
he notices a distinguishing shirt on a young man – Sacramento Kings
– go figure.
Sacramento Kings Fan!!!
Scott with a Sacramento Kings fan we found in Kissy while looking for an apartment!
Monday,
March 10, 2014
Preparation
Day! That means laundry, cleaning of apartment, grocery shopping, and
attending the Super P Day sponsored by the Freetown Zone. We, of
course, picked up their lunch for them and then watched a movie –
Elder Tucker, one of our office elders was in attendance and sitting
2 rows in front of me. During the film there were a couple of scenes
of a man annointing and blessing the sick. Each time, as the
ordinance began (in the movie, mind you), Elder Tucker removed his
baseball cap. I was touched by his respect and reverence for a sacred
act that was performed in a movie.
Tuesday,
March 11, 2014
In
the office today until 3:00 and then traveled to Kissy with the
Ostlers for a 4:00 pm training of the District leaders in preparation
for Saturday's training of the branch leadership. Typically, the
leadership in the district and branches “lecture” rather than
“train”, so Rachelle and I worked with Primary, YW and Relief
Society while Dave and Scott took on the priesthood organizations.
The purpose for our getting involved was to get the leaders ready to
train the branch leadership on Saturday. Rachelle and I trained in
tandem and it was such a delight to be with these wonderful women.
Now we hope and pray they are prepared on Saturday. We left the Kissy
building around 6:00 pm and didn't get home until 8:30 – long day.
Wednesday,
March 12, 2014
Office
today and then home by 4:00 for a four hour meeting with the Jests
and Ostlers to discuss the training we have conducted and where, and
the calendaring of future training. There is so much that needs to be
done and it requires small-small steps throughout the process. The
Jests will be re-locating to Bo until such time as an apartment is
secured for them in Kenema where they will have primary
responsibility to train the leadership and develop a program for
returned missionaries who many times return home to Sierra Leone and
get “lost.” Scott and I, on the other hand will be traveling to
Makeni every other week-end likely for the duration of our mission to
locate 2 new chapels, create 2 more branches; prepare the 3 branches
to become a district, and find another apartment. We will also
provide hands-on leadership and guidance to the current branch
priesthood and auxiliary leadership to ensure Makeni saints adhere to
the Church handbook of instructions and stay on a correct course.
Additionally, we will continue to provide support to the Kissy
District to prepare them to become a Stake.
Another
long day.
Thursday,
13 March, 2014
Picked
up supplies from Marian for another possible 4 new apartments. We
stayed downtown in order to be close to pick up people coming on Sea
Coach slated to arrive around 5:00 pm. Just as we were headed that
direction we got a call from Daniel letting us know that the flight
had been delayed and they wouldn't arrive until 8:00 pm; so we went
out to dinner and then drove to the dock and waited for them. By the
time we got them all in the car and drove them to Country Lodge to
spend their nights, we didn't get home until 9:00 pm. It is really a
challenge to get home at such a late hour and then just get ready for
bed. I need to prepare dinner, want to read, check out my emails,
look at FB, download my photos and just generally wind down which
means I don't get to bed until 11ish and then up at 6:40 am to walk.
Explains why I am tired much of the time.
Saturday,
March 15, 2014
11
months on mission today!
A new generator was delivered Friday to the mission home. Hopefully
once it is set up, Rachelle and I can do laundry (washing and drying)
simultaneously with out tripping the connection and the power going
completely out.
Out
to Kissy before 1:00 pm for District training of the branch
leadership and Rachelle and I provided shadow leadership and coaching
in the event the training turned to a lecture. I was so pleased with
the sisters! They used visual aids, did some role playing as only
Africans can, and had audience participation. The theme of the
Saturday training and the adult session was retention. With so many
baptisms a month, retention is quite a challenge. I just can't
express enough what a joy it is to be around these wonderful women!
In attendance was a woman from Lungi, who sought out President Ostler
to speak with him and she was thrilled to find out that starting in
April, Lungi will have missionaries and she won't have to travel by
ferry every 4 months or so to attend church. Here name is Zainab.
Beautiful Aftrican missionaries
Elder Edwards and Scott
Eyes do not get more brighter than these!
I tried on her head wrap!
Others joined for inclusion in the snap.
They are not shy!
The
back road is open again (so exciting) so we took it, got home around
7:30 pm and met the Call's at Country Lodge for dinner. As we were
walking into the entrance to the hotel, we strolled by the kitchen
that seems to be under construction and remodel and I saw the biggest
rat to-date! Apparently it is obtaining food from the kitchen. Last
time I eat there!
Another
long day. This has been a week of long days.....
Love to all!
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