Liberia!

The first missionaries to reopen the work in Liberia will be leaving this week.  From our mission, Elder Freeman and Elder Bayoh have been reassigned and will leave tomorrow morning.  They are both Liberian nationals and will join nine other experienced Liberian missionaries to start the work. They will be joined by others later in September.  We are grateful for the time we have had with them and for their willingness to accept this new assignment and adventure.  They will be great!

We celebrated the occasion with a fufu dinner.  

  

On Monday, the Assistants and the Office Elders surprised us by vacuuming all of the mission cars.  

Since they found popcorn under my seat, and since I don't remember ever having popcorn in the car, I have to believe they even got some crumbs left over from President Shulz.  The car looked great!

We had already planned to have them stay for dinner after our weekly planning meeting, but it felt especially good in light of their thoughtfulness.

Grilled Talapia and rice.

Elder Stoddard modeled his "going home suit" that he had tailored here.

More service.

On Tuesday, we held the zone conference for the Cape Coast Zone.  Somehow, we didn't get the group photo on either of our cameras, but here are some highlights.

The Zone Choir

 

Wednesday, we were in Agona for the Tarkwa Zone Conference:

The Tarkwa Zone Choir

Friday, we had the review training for the new missionaries and their trainers.

Happy Birthday to Elder Degen. 

So, this is about 20 companionships, Another 20 companionships are six weeks ahead of them also training.  That means we have 40% of the mission training!

Friday night the Hanlons joined us for dinner at the Elmina Beach Resort.

Saturday and Sunday, we were in Nkroful for their annual branch conference.  

We got up at 4 a.m. to make the drive.  Nkroful is the farthest branch away from the mission home. We gave ourselves 5 hours to make a 10 a.m. training meeting, but ended up making the trip in 3 1/2 hours (Thank goodness for the new Axim road!).  I was able to do some temple recommend interviews and priesthood advancement interviews before the training started.

 

This is the Branch Council at the Saturday training.

We attended a baptism in the afternoon -- after the training.

We spent Saturday night at the Axim Beach Hotel -- about 30 minutes away from Nkroful. 

Sunday, after the branch conference, we ordained two young men to the Melchizedek Priesthood.  The man on the left is Branch President Mensah.  The man on the right is President Nelson, my counselor in the mission presidency. 

Hugs for Sister Stevenson!