MATADI BRANCH

A BRANCH ON THE SABBATH DAY....AS WE MOVED FROM CHAPEL TO CLASSROOM, I THOUGHT OF HOW SMALL OF A SPACE THE BRANCH MEMBERS ALL FIT INTO. IT SEEMS TO WORK EVEN THOUGH IT IS A TIGHT FIT.

TWO LITTLE ONES SITTING AND WAITING. THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO COME TO CLOSE!

THIS IS THE BRANCH LIBRARY, AND THE KEEPER OF THE BELL THAT RINGS WHEN CLASS TIMES ARE OVER.

A SMILE AS A WELCOME.

A PRIMARY THAT EVERYONE MEETS TOGETHER IN A ROOM THAT HOLDS THE HEAT, AND THE SONGS OF THE CHILDREN.

THE BOYS GO PLAY

THE BOYS GO SPEAR FISHING....ELDER T FINALLY HAD A MORNING OFF SO RYAN AND HIM WENT OUT ON THE OCEAN. THEY TOOK THEIR SPEAR GUNS AND OFF THEY WENT. IT SEEMS WHEN I'M NOT AROUND ELDER T FORGETS TO TAKE PICTURES, BUT THE ONES I HAVE ARE PRICELESS.

WHAT THEY WERE HOPING TO CATCH!

WHAT THEY ACTUALLY CAUGHT!

OUR DINNER SPOT LATER THAT NIGHT WITH SHANNON AND RYAN!

JUST A BREEZE AWAY FROM THE SEA!

SHANNON AND RYAN PREPARED A FEAST FOR US AND PRESIDENT CARLSON AND HIS WIFE. IT WAS TRULY LIKE HAVING THANKSGIVING WITH ALL THE FOOD UPON THE TABLE. IT JUST FEELS LIKE FAMILY.

HIS HOPEFUL CHILDREN

ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO OUT OF MONROVIA.....THE DAY CAME WHEN SISTER WOLLENZIEN ASK IF SISTER KIMBALL AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH HER TO VISIT AN ORPHANAGE THAT WAS ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CHILDREN WERE COMING TO HER BECAUSE MOST OF THEM HAD LOST THEIR PARENTS FROM EBOLA. WE JUMPED INTO THE 15 PASSENGER VAN, AND STOPPED ALONG OUR WAY TO PICK UP THE DIRECTOR OF THE ORPHANAGE. IT IS ALWAYS THE CHILDREN THAT STEALS OUR HEARTS.

I LOVED THAT MANY OF THEM SMILED WITH ME!

DEAR LUCY THAT SEEMED TO FOLLOW AFTER ME WITH THAT RED LIP TOP, AND STOLE MY HEART.

THE CAREGIVERS THAT WERE PREPARING LUNCH FOR THE CHILDREN.

A STEW WITH SOME CHICKEN AND WHATEVER I KNOW NOT!

JUST A COUPLE OF ROCKS AND A FIRE TO COOK LUNCH, AND THE CHILDREN WERE EXCITED!

MY DEAR FRIEND SISTER KIMBALL SURROUNDED BY LOVE!

EVEN IN HARD TIMES THEY SMILE...GIVE ME A NEEDLE AND THREAD FOR THAT SHOULDER THAT IS RIPPED AND A LITTLE SMALL CONVERSATION.

A TOUCH OF LOVE FROM SISTER KIMBALL, AND LOOKS THAT SHARE KINDNESS.

SHE RECEIVED A LITTLE DOLL, AND I FELT HER EYES TOLD A WHOLE STORY.

LEARNERS IN LIBERIA

IN A SMALL CRAMPED ROOM WHERE THE AIR IS BARELY MOVING.....YOU WILL FIND A LITERACY CLASS THAT SHANNON BUSBY HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THESE WOMEN. IT BENDS MY HEART TO MY KNEES TO ENTER, AND SEE THE FACES OF THOSE I REMEMBER FROM MY LAST VISIT, AND HOW EAGER THEY ARE TO SHOW ME HOW THEY CAN NOW READ SMALL, SMALL AS THEY SAY. I'M THANKFUL FOR AN UNENDING EXPANDABLE HEART TO STORE ALL OF THESE MIRACLE MOMENTS.

MARY A LEARNER WHERE WE VISITED HER ON HER FRONT PORCH AND SHE SHARED HER BOOK AND READ TO ME. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THESE MOMENTS.

SHANNON USING HER CREATIVE STYLE TO HELP THE LEARNERS IN THE CLASS. SHE HAD THEM DRAW WORDS AND LETTERS FROM THE BOWL TO READ. WE WHITE FOLKS HAVE A HARD TIME BALANCING THINGS ON OUR HEAD AS YOU CAN SEE SHE WAS USING HER HANDS. THE LEARNERS LOVED IT!

THIS IS THE SONG THEY SING THAT SHANNON WROTE TO START OUT THEIR CLASS. ARE WE NOT ALL THIS IN HIS SIGHT?

THE CLASS WITH THE NEW BOOKS THAT I BROUGHT. IT WAS WITH INPUT FROM ALL OF THEM THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE ADDITIONS TO MAKE THE BOOK EVEN BETTER. SISTER KIMBALL IN THE BACK RIGHT IS MY MOST TENDER HEARTED FRIEND. I'M TRAINING HER TO BE THE LIBERIA LITERACY SPECIALIST. I'M IN HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH SURROUNDED BY THIS LOVE.

LIBERIA AND A VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW

HERE IN THE LAND OF LIBERIA....IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO MOVE FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES AND FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS COUNTRY IS SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO SIERRA LEONE, AND THEN AGAIN IT IS NOT. I LOVE HOW HEAVENLY FATHER CAN TRANSITION THE CHANGE IN YOU SO YOU ARE JUST WHAT HE NEEDS WHEN YOU LAND AND ARE PREPARED TO SERVE HIM. WE FEEL AT HOME IN MANY WAYS HERE WITH NEW RELATIONSHIPS, THE SURETY OF GOOD FRIENDS AND MISSIONARY WORK THAT ABOUNDS WITHIN OUR HEARTS.

WING TIP LANDING IN LIBERIA...

OUR RIDE IN FROM THE AIRPORT WHICH TAKES OVER AN HOUR. ELDER T AND PRESIDENT CARLSON IN THE FRONT SEAT AND MY VIEW OF A LAND THAT LOVES THINGS TO THE LAST OF THEIR LIVES.

ALWAYS A ROAD SIDE 7 ELEVEN FOR THE LOCALS. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU WILL SEE THE WHEELBARROW OUT FRONT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS THE MAIN MODE OF THOSE SELLING TO TRANSPORT THEIR GOODS.

THE JARS YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT ARE GAS. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO A GAS STATION BACK IN THE STATES. AT FIRST, I WAS THINKING IT WAS HONEY....NOT SO!

OUR DEAR FRIENDS THE BUSBY'S WHO ARE DRESSED UP FOR AN 80'S NIGHT OUT PARTY. THEY ARE YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE OUR CHILDREN, AND THEY HAVE ALLOWED US TO STAY IN OUR OWN APARTMENT RIGHT NEXT TO THEM. WE LOVE BEING THEIR NEIGHBORS. THEY BOTH HAVE HEARTS OF GOLD, AND ARE IN CONSTANT MOTION TO SERVE OTHERS. I LOVE HOW THE LORD KEEPS ADDING TO OUR PRECIOUS ROLEDEX OF FRIENDSHIPS.

THE FIRST MORNING I AWOKE AND THIS IS WHAT GREETED ME. SUN RISING IN THE EAST, AND PREPARING US FOR THE DAY. OH WHAT WILL HE MAKE OF US?

ALL DRESSED UP.....ALMOST

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO LOOK LIKE A MISSIONARY FROM THE WAIST UP....I love this shot of Elder T when he found out that they had moved up his meeting and he wasn't ready. So, if you are doing a video conference call back to the area office you just need to look good half way. What an amazing job he is doing with all the technology challenges here in Sierra Leone. He never complains, is always training and sure is making a huge difference. Everyone knows him and loves him for sure!

Looking good honey, but where is your badge?

Standing with Sado a return missionary that works in the mission office, and was all smiles when the missionaries and his brothers came back to Sierra Leone.

MISSIONARIES IN THE MARKED LAND

SIERRA LEONE HAS MISSIONARIES ONCE AGAIN....What an incredible almost unable to pen the words moment when the missionaries stepped out of the vans at the mission home. As I ran down the hill, it was with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Many had heard that they were coming and lined the way to welcome them back. They say a picture says a 1,000 words and I will let them do just that.

President Clawson all smiles to see their arrival!

Their flock and those that will open up missionary work to a land that has missed them!

Always hungry!

Before I left, I gathered a few and asked for a snap. I felt such a honor to be surrounded by such leadership and love!

My Jokella and Muni who cooked all 4 days for the missionaries!

If you look you can see one of the missionaries in his apartment where they all lived for a few days!

Their beds await them with fans and nets. So thankful that everything was ready in the nick of time!

Our sweet friend Mr. Miriam that we used his store to buy so many of the things needed for the apartments. He was tender and showed such kindness to us!

President Clawson leading his sheep in instructions!

MORE OF SISTER BARNEY

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MET A KINDRED SPIRIT WHEN IT FEELS YOU JUST PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF SOMEWHERE.....I have greatly appreciated her kindness and getting things done while I was in Sierra Leone. I loved after my literacy trainings going and having my hands help hers in getting ready for the missionaries to arrive. Oh me oh my what shopping we have done together. I smile as she mentioned one day that she never expects to see anyone that she has served with ever again. So, I soaked in all of Sister Barney every moment I had, and she will remain a woman of great faith and love to me.

Two Sisters that can do almost anything!

Sister CLAWSON and Sister Barney in the training of the newly arrived missionaries.

You can learn anything from this lady with her fun way of teaching. She is a natural!

Always smiling and having fun with a purpose!

Going down and back in the alleys to get lunch for the missionaries. She tried her hardest to get the woman to allow her to take her picture with her, but she was in her night grown. Sister Barney knows no questions she can't ask.

I'm praying that everyone will live after this meal is cooked here!

Buying more plates and utensils for these missionaries apartments.

We both spent an hour or two folding those fresh washed second hand sheets for the missionaries beds.I didn't need to teach her how to fold a fitted bottom twin sheet, but she taught me how to fold a shirt that amazed me. I'll never fold a shirt again when I won't think of her with a smile.

We had a few birthdays one night, and Sister CLAWSON designed a beautiful cake to celebrate.

My personal favorite as she came running to me at the grocery store, and asked me if I got it!

A DAY WITH SISTER BARNEY

SISTER BARNEY TOOK ME AROUND ONE DAY.....I loved that she knew this land, and could take me to those people she loved when she was here before being sent to Ghana because of Ebola. One day she took me to her tailor, and I felt like I had stepped into National Geographic. His shops was made out of tin and just enough for two people and a sewing machine. His name is Santos and he is making me a couple of dresses that I pray will give him a little income for his family.

Back in the land of cloth and colors that I find some of my most beautiful people!

Santos and his sewing machine

Santos' family....

His little shop where he does fabulous sewing!

This young man is heating up the charcoal in the iron to press some clothes. And just think most of us send them to the cleaners or just plug in an iron!