ELDER T IN IVORY COAST

ONE LAST TRIP TO TRAIN... ELDER T'S LAST TRAINING TRIP BEFORE WE COME BACK TO THE STATES. HIS DAYS ARE FILLED WITH FIREWALLS, WIRING, TRAINING OF THE STAKE AND DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS, AND THE BOND OF WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS. EVEN IN A LAND WHERE THEY SPEAK FRENCH, TRAINING GOES ON WITH A TRANSLATOR.

HIS CREW AND HOW THEY ADMIRE ELDER T AND ALL THAT HE HAS TAUGHT THEM. THEY NEVER WANT HIM TO LEAVE WHEN HE COMES. STAKE AND DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF IVORY COAST. THE WOMAN IN THIS PICTURE IS THE FM MANAGER.

INSTALLING THE FAMILY LAN CONNECTION.

LOVE THE LORD'S NAME IN ALL THE LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD.

STAKE PRESIDENT WHO WANTED TO LEARN EVERYTHING ELDER T HAD TO TEACH HIM ABOUT TECHNOLOGY. YOU CAN SEE WHO HE SERVES.

CHAPELS DOT THE LAND HERE IN AFRICA.

JUST OUT THE WINDOW ON THE WAY TO THE STAKE CENTER.

CONTRACTORS, TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS AND THE FM MANAGER ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO UPGRADE SYSTEMS AND TRAINING. 

NEVER ENOUGH CLOTH

ALWAYS ROOM....TODAY WE TOOK THE NEW MISSIONARY COUPLE TO A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES AS IT WAS A HOLIDAY FOR THE AREA OFFICE. THE PEINE'S COME FROM ST. GEORGE, AND HE IS THE MENTAL HEALTH ADVISOR FOR THE AREA. SISTER PEINE WAS BORN HERE, AND SHE HAS FOND MEMORIES OF A TOWN CALLED TAKARADI THAT IS ABOUT 4 HOURS OUT OF ACCRA. HER PARENTS WERE HERE WHEN GHANA WAS UNDER BRITISH RULE. SHE IS A FASCINATING WOMEN, AND I LOVE HEARING HER STORIES OF LIFE HERE LONG AGO. TODAY, WE TOOK HER INTO THE ALLEY WAYS OF THE MERCHANTS HERE TO LOOK FOR VINTAGE KENTE CLOTH. SHE WAS IN HEAVEN!

PIECE AFTER PIECE CAME OUT, AND ONE BY ONE WE LOOKED AT THE HAND WORK OF TIME GONE BY. THIS KENTE CLOTH COMES FROM THE ASHANTI TRIBE, AND THEY DON'T MAKE KENTE THIS WAY ANYMORE. IT IS TIGHTLY WOVEN, AND THE DESIGNS ARE AMAZING.

IN A VARIETY OF COLORS.

AND SIZES....

I'M THINKING HOW CAN I NOT CHOOSE ONE MORE!

THIS ONE WENT HOME WITH SISTER PEINE....GORGEOUS!

THIS ONE CAME HOME WITH ME...I LOVE THE INDIGO DYES. THANKS ELDER T FOR TAKING ALL THE PICTURES. A GREAT DAY WITH FRIENDS THAT WE WISH WE WOULD HAVE MORE TIME TO SERVE BESIDE.

EASTER SUNDAY

LAST SABBATH HERE AND IT'S EASTER.....IT WAS A BIT STRANGE TO AWAKE ON EASTER MORNING WITH ELDER T IN IVORY COAST AND I'M IN GHANA. HE WAS ON HIS LAST TRAINING BEFORE COMING HOME, AND I OPTED TO STAY IN ACCRA TO PREPARE FOR OUR DEPARTURE. YOU DON'T THINK YOU HAVE COLLECTED MANY THINGS THEN YOU START LOOKING AROUND THE APARTMENT, THAT YOU HAVE CALLED HOME, AND REALIZE THAT YOUR SUITCASES WILL FILL UP VERY FAST.

SO, MY LAST SABBATH HERE WAS SPENT WITH OUR DEAR FRIENDS THE CLARK'S, AND I WENT TO A SMALL BRANCH IN THE ASHAIMAN STAKE WITH THEM. IT TRULY WAS THE PERFECT PLACE TO CELEBRATE OUR RISEN LORD. EVEN THOUGH ELDER T WASN'T WITH ME, I FOUND LOVE IN THE ARMS OF THOSE THAT GREETED ME ON THIS HIS HOLY DAY. I REALIZED THAT EACH SUNDAY SERVING HERE IS UNIQUE, BUT HELD TOGETHER WITHIN THE SAME ORDER OF ALL MEMBERS ATTENDING MEETINGS ALL OVER THE WORLD. OUR LITTLE BIT OF EARTH JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE LAND OF AFRICA. OH, HOW WE LOVE THIS LAND AND IT'S PEOPLE.

WHAT WOULD MY LAST SUNDAY BE BUT WITH FINDING THAT OVERHEAD FAN THAT COOLS THE WARM HEAT THAT SENDS TRICKLES OF SWEAT RUNNING DOWN YOUR BODY. WE ALL CARRY SWEAT RAGS FOR A GOOD REASON. THE COLOR OF THESE PRIESTHOOD BRETHREN'S WHITE SHIRTS HERE ALWAYS TAKES MY BREATH AWAY.

THE CONVERTED HOME THAT HOUSES THE BAPTISMAL FONT IN WHAT ONCE WAS THE FOYER. THE MAN IN THE SUIT WAS THROWN OUT OF HIS HOME, AND RENOUNCED BY HIS PARENTS FOR JOINING THE CHURCH 15 YEARS AGO. HE IS SMILING TODAY, BECAUSE ONE OF HIS UNCLES IS BEING BAPTIZED TODAY. HIS HAND SHAKE AND SMILE RESONATED A JOY THAT I COULD EMBRACE.

THE RELIEF SOCIETY SECRETARY STOOD IN SACRAMENT AND GAVE AN AMAZING TALK ON SACRIFICE. I ASKED HER AFTERWARDS IF SHE HAD WRITTEN IT DOWN, AND SHE LET ME TAKE THIS PICTURE. POWERFUL TESTIMONY OF HOW THE SAINTS BELIEVE HERE IN THIS LAND.

IN THIS SMALL BRANCH THIS IS THEIR QUARTERLY GOALS WHICH THEY MET. IS THIS NOT ASTOUNDING?

THIS IS OUR WONDERFUL FRIENDS THE CLARK'S THAT WERE TEACHING THE TEMPLE PREP CLASS. WHEN I TOOK THIS PICTURE I SAID, "YOU ARE GOING TO THE TEMPLE", AND SEE THEIR SMILES.

ALWAYS THE BABIES AND THEIR MOTHERS WHO HAVE THEM WITHIN THEIR REACH.

THIS IS MARY AND HER DAUGHTER JULIANNE WHO WAS BORN 20 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED. HER HUSBAND IS THE DISTRICT PRESIDENT, AND IN HIS BLESSING HE WAS PROMISED TO BE A FATHER. SHE TOLD A POWERFUL STORY OF HOW HEAVENLY FATHER'S BLESSINGS ARE SURE IF WE WAIT UPON HIM.

I SAT NEXT TO MARY WHO HAD JULIANNE ON HER BACK, AND THE CRYING BOY OF ANOTHER WOMAN THAT SHE WAS SOOTHING. I LOVE LOOKING OVER AT THIS AMAZING WOMAN, AND THE TENDERNESS SHE CARED FOR THIS BOY. WHO NEEDS SHOES WHEN YOU CAN FIND LOVE IN THE ARMS OF ANOTHER.

A WEEK OF GOODBYES

IT'S TO SOON.....EVEN THOUGH WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS HERE THE GOODBYES ARE TAKING PLACE. WE HAD OUR FAREWELL IN THE AREA OFFICE FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES WE HAVE SERVED BESIDE, AND ANOTHER ONE WITH THE SENIOR MISSIONARIES THAT ARE JUST LIKE FAMILY. I KEEP SAYING, "I BELIEVE IN BEGINNINGS, NOT ENDINGS". I'M STICKING TO THAT NO MATTER WHAT.

OUR OFFICE GOODBYE WITH THE TRADITIONAL KENTE CLOTH. OUR BACKDROP ARE THE PEOPLE IN WEST AFRICA AREA IN ALL THE COUNTRIES WE HAVE SERVED IN. WHAT A GRAND MOMENT TO SIMPLY BEAR TESTIMONY OF OUR WORK TOGETHER.

IMO, ELDER T'S BOSS, IN A HUG OF BROTHERHOOD THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

OUR DEEP DEVOTION THAT HAS BROUGHT SUCH TRUE HAPPINESS.

STANDING AS A WITNESS OF THIS GOSPEL OF LIGHT, TRUTH AND LOVE.

UP IN THE AREA OFFICE WITH THE AREA PRESIDENCY SENDING US ON OUR WAY BEFORE THEY GO BACK TO THE SALT LAKE FOR CONFERENCE. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY ALL THE SENIOR MISSIONARIES WE HAVE SERVED BESIDE. MY HOW OUR FAMILY HAS GROWN!

OUR AREA PRESIDENCY. GREAT MEN WHO HONOR THE PRIESTHOOD, AND WHO HAVE GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE NOT ONLY IN GHANA, BUT 5 OTHER COUNTRIES ON OUR MISSION.

ALWAYS MY WORLD OF LEARNERS

HOW MY WORLD IS SHAPED BY THE LEARNERS THAT COME TO READ THE WORDS OF GOD....I WONDER WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO COME BACK TO THE STATES IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS, AND SIT IN MEETINGS WITHOUT MY LEARNERS. HOW I WILL MISS THEIR FACES, DETERMINATION, HEARING THEM SOUND OUT WORDS IN THE SCRIPTURE AND SEEING THEIR HEARTS SINGS IN READING AND WRITING ALL ON THEIR ON. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD TO BE A PART OF, AND ONE THAT WILL ALWAYS TUG AT MY HEART. WHEN YOU ARE BONDED AS FRIENDS WITHIN THE PAGES OF THE SCRIPTURES, THE LIGHT OF CHRIST WILL FOREVER SHINE ON OUR LOVE.

THE SONG THAT WE SING IN EACH CLASS. MY DEAR FRIEND FROM LIBERIA WROTE AND COMPOSED THIS SONG THAT IN ITS SIMPLICITY BONDS US ALL TOGETHER.

A FRIEND OF SUCH TALENT THAT RESONATES LOVE WHEREVER SHE MAY BE!

ONE OF THE TABLES OF LEARNING THAT I WILL MISS.

HE HAS COME TO LEARN TO READ SO HE CAN SHARE THE SCRIPTURES WITH HIS FRIENDS.

PENCILS IN THE HANDS OF LEANERS ARE MORE THAN JUST A PENCIL....IT IS HOPE!

TABLE COMING HOME

COCONUT WOOD HEIRLOOM TABLE....ELDER T AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A BEAUTIFUL DINING TABLE, AND TRYING TO DECIDE IF WE WANTED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE STATES. AFTER A YEAR OF GOING BACK AND FORTH, WE DECIDED TO BRING HOME A HEIRLOOM. NOW, WE START THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO SHIP IT BACK. FOR SURE IT WON'T FIT IN OUR SUITCASES. IT HAS BEEN FUN GOING TO THE WOOD SHOP AND WATCHING THE PROCESS TAKE PLACE. IT WILL BE A JOURNEY OF MIRACLES TO HAVE IT SHOW UP IN SANDY, UTAH. WHAT MEMORIES IT WILL HOLD!

ELDER T SCOUTING OUT THE BOARDS FOR THE TOP OF THE TABLE.

THE LEGS BEING GLUED TOGETHER. THEY ARE HAPPY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IT READY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. YU JUST CAN'T RUSH A TREASURE.

THE HANDS OF A TRUE ARTISANS IN THE WOOD SHOP DESIGNING. 

A DAY OF BATIK WITH FRIENDS

GOING WITH DEAR FRIENDS AND SPENDING THE DAY WITH CLOTH......IS AS PERFECT AS YOU CAN GET. PROSPER IS A FRIEND, AND WHEN I BRING GROUPS OF SISTERS HE TEACHES US HOW TO BATIK THE BEAUTIFUL CLOTH HERE. I LOVE HOW HE HAS SO MUCH PATIENCE, AND WE ARE ALWAYS SO EXCITED AT HOW THE COLORS JUST SEEM TO JUMP RIGHT OFF THE CLOTH WITH SUCH BRILLIANCE!

YOU DON'T NEED A CLOTHESLINE HERE....JUST A PATCH OF GRASS OR NOT WILL DO!

SISTER CLARK TRYING HER HAND, AND IT LOOKS GOOD. HER STAMP IS FOAM WITH THE DESIGN DIPPED IN HOT WAX. SHE IS PUTTING THE FIRST LAYER DOWN THAT WILL REMAIN WHITE AS SHE DYES THE FIRST COLOR.

SHANNON WITH HER FIRST WAXING...ALWAYS SMILING AND READY TO PLAY!

PROSPER DOING THE THIRD PART OF THE PROCESS, BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE SKILL. HE CRUNCHES UP THE FABRIC, AND THEN POURS MORE DYE ON IT TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE MARBLE OR CRACKLES.

SHANNON IS GETTNG SO EXCITED AS SHE WATCHES HER WHITE CLOTH CHANGE BEFORE HER EYES.

AMAZING AND JUST WHAT SHE WANTED!

THE FINISHED PRODUCT OF JUST ONE OF SHANNON'S CLOTH!

AND THE GANG OF BATIK'ERS THAT ARE LOVING EVERY MINUTE. WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY SPENT WITH CHOICE KINDRED SPIRITS.

THIS PROCESS SINGS TO MY SOUL, AND I WANTED EVERY PIECE. I DID MANAGE NOT TO TAKE IT ALL, BUT WENT AWAY WITH A FEW MORE PIECES TO ROUND OUT MY BULGING SUITCASES I WILL BE BRINGING HOME.

GREAT FRIENDS

WE LOVE HOW WE HAVE FOUND BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES....WHEN WE WERE IN LIBERIA, WE VISITED THEM, AND NOW THEY HAVE COME TO ACCRA TO VISIT US. TRULY THEY ARE LIKE HAVING OUR CHILDREN WITH US.

RYAN AND SHANNON AT TK BEADS, AND THEY ARE ALL SMILES AT THE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL BEADS THAT THEY FOUND. SHANNON EVEN PICKED UP MANY FOR A FRIEND OF HERS IN LIBERIA THAT MAKES NECKLACES.

RYAN AFTER HE FOUND OUT WHAT ALL THREE OF THOSE BASKETS WILL COST HIM! THEY LEFT WITH SUCH TREASURES.

OH ME OH MY!

AMAZING WOMEN THAT I LOVE.....THE MISSION PRESIDENTS AND THEIR WIVES CAME TO ACCRA FOR A CONFERENCE WHILE ELDER RASBAND WAS HERE. I LOVED GETTING TO SEE BOTH SISTER CARLSON AND CLAWSON, AND EXCHANGE LONG HUGS!

OUR PERFECT POSE.....

WE HAD TO MIX IT UP, SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL AND HEAR NO EVIL!

LIFE AROUND US

WE WONDER SOMETIMES WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IN AMERICA IN THE DAYS TO COME.......WE WILL MISS ALL THE VARIETY OF SIGHTS AND SOUNDS THAT WE ENJOY EVERYDAY.

OH WHEN THEY JUMP INTO THE HOLE THEY HAVE DUG IT COMES UP TO THEIR SHOULDERS. THEY ARE LAYING FIBER, AND IT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK THIS IS FREE RANGE CHICKEN.

MARVELOUS AT STACKING A TRUCK, AND WHAT WILL ALL THIS WOOD BE USED FOR?

YOU MAY THINK THIS IS A SUNSET, BUT THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE RIGHT OUR  KITCHEN WINDOW. THE HARMATTAN IS OVER, AND THE BLUE SKIES HAVE COME AGAIN.

I LOVE THIS FIND OF 3 CUPS OF RAW SUNFLOWER SEEDS FOR ABOUT $2.