Final Zone Conference

Elder Porter, the Zone Leader, conducted Zone Conference with President and Sister Cook.  It's always fun to have the Elders in our apartment.  Zone Conference is a fun time, as well as a spiritual lift.  I could hardly sing the closing song as I listened to them sing, "Ye Elders of Israel".  I will miss these good Elders.

I asked everyone to wash their own dishes.  What a good idea.  Why didn't I think of this before?  Elder Johnston said that they would tell the next Sister what I made them do and tell her, "If you want us to really love you, you won't make us wash our own dishes."  Silly Elders. 

There are still some who go above and beyond.  Elder Naughton helped until the pans were washed.  I didn't get his picture.

A lot of our time is spent waiting for President Cook do interviews.

I've perfected the African scarf.  Sister Cook let me practice on her.

Saying goodbye to Pres. Cook, Elder Porter finishes his Mission a week after we do.

A 5th Branch in Yaounde'

President and Sister Cook came for District Conference.  While here, President Cook split the Ekounou 1 Branch.  We now have 5 branches in Yaounde'.  For those who will want to know, we still have Bastos 1 and Bastos 2.  In Ekounou we have Ekounou (formally Ekounou 2), Mimboman, and Anguissa (formally Ekounou 1)  Our missionaries are working hard and doing their part to "hasten the work".  Elder Mabaya, an Area Seventy, also came for District Conference.  Here are some pictures.

The District Relief Society President.  Sister Cook and I had just finished Auxiliary Training.  I spoke on service, and squirted a dab of lotion in their hands and had them give each other a hand massage.  They loved it!

This is Brother and Sister Omam.  While their son is serving a mission Kinshasa, we have seen Brother Omam baptized, along with 3 more of his children.  They are an awesome family.  Brother Omam speaks English.  Sister Omam and I just hug a lot and speak with our "hearts".

Elder Whitesides always greets these twins as "Strong Man".  They have become good friends.

We love to see our missionaries in force.

The new Anguissa Branch President, our friend Daniel

Love these twins!

Random Pictures

One of our assignments is to keep each apartment current with new water filters.  Here is Elder Naughton showing the difference between a clean filter and a dirty one.  Our drinking water is filtered.  No wonder we can't get our shirts white.

"I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord"

We love to buy these peanuts.  We stop and they just shove them in the window, hoping you will pick their bottle.  The women and children sell them along the streets.  Yesterday, the lady was nursing her baby when we pulled up.  That didn't stop her.  She continued nursing as she jumped up to sell her bottle to us.  That's what I call multi-tasking Sisters.

We had to go fill propane tanks with our Ekounou Elders after District Meeting.  Each apartment has 3 tanks and we try to keep 2 full.  The place we buy them is a ways away, so we take the Elders with us in our car.  I shot this picture as I followed Elder Naughton and Elder Whitesides to the car.  We can't usually find a parking spot at their apartment, so we park down the street.

This is a picture of Marche' Central.  It is a crazy busy place to drive through.  Our Elders go here to buy souvenirs.

We all buy minutes for our phones at little stands like this one.

Need a new bucket.  Find this bucket man walking along the streets.

Transfers - Our Last One!

Transfer week starts with handing out letters.  The rest of the week is spent taking departing Elders to the bus station and picking up incoming Elders.  We made 3 trips to the bus station this week.  Sounds easy, until I tell you that one trip takes us about 3 hours, by the time we pick up Elders, then deposit them with their luggage into their new apartments.  It's always a relief to get it all done.  The Gailey's in Douala, and the Bailey's in Pointe Noirre add the airport into their transfer weeks.  It takes a ton of effort from many hands.  We won't even go into the work of getting visas for them all.  But, transfers are exciting and a new start for all.  Here are a few pictures:

Farewell Elder Gelinas.  We will miss you!

Welcome Elder Johnson into Bastos!  I still need to get a picture of Elder Tripp and Kampoy in Ekounou!

Finally - Elders in Gabon!

This is a long-awaited day.  We took Elder Christensen and Elder Zurcher to the airport yesterday.  They arrived safely in Gabon and were greeted by their new companions, Elder Mpungu and Elder Mukadi, who arrived earlier in the week from Kinshasa.  It's a wonderful thing for them to be the first Elder's into Gabon.  Elder and Sister Moody are the Senior couple there and they have been preparing for these Elders to come.

Good luck Elders. We know you will do great things!

P-Day Soccer and Haircuts

We went and played soccer with our Elders yesterday.  Here are a few pictures.

There were a few minor injuries.

Elder Colindres' first haircut with me.

Ready to go out and "Preach the Word".  Don't they look great! Elder Gelinas and Elder Hunt had already left, so I didn't get their pictures.  Sorry Moms.

Elders on the Streets

We love it when we are driving along and see our Elders.  They certainly stand out and we are always so proud of them.  Don't they look great!