6/15/2014 Great day at church

Yesterday and today were great days. We were invited to a baptism at the Stake Center in Freetown yesterday (Saturday) that was pretty special. 7 were baptized and one was an old friend of the Stake Patriarch. He has been a long time investigator that finally decided to become part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We could see the excitement in his eyes as he entered the font. It's truly a testimony and inspiration to me to see the change that comes over someone when they decide to put their full trust in the Lord and do his will.
Today (Sunday) we attended the branch in Waterloo, which is located southeast of Freetown, with around a 100+ members and investigators. The generator was on the fritz and the fans and sound system was not functioning. That's both a blessing and a hindrance. When the generator is running, it's hard to hear but the fans keep the air moving. With the generator is down, we can hear, but the heat is almost unbearable in the crowded chapel. Oh well, I guess we just have to adapt and make the best of every situation.

 Coming out of the Stake Center heading to the font in the rear of the building

 Pause for pictures...do you recognize the cute lady in the 

handmade African dress?

 I know there is a trail here somewhere.

 There's that lady again

 Patriarch Kamara baptizing his old friend. 

 Water tanks shared by the Stake Center and Mission Office

 This young lady is the laundry girl (Brooker) for the missionaries

that stay in the apartments above the Mission Office.

 The chapel in Waterloo is on the right and classrooms

on the left. The little old man in the purple shirt walks for two

hours every Sunday to get to church.

 Classrooms and our ride and some almost ripe coconuts

in the short tree. I hope to be able to pick one when they ripen

 The font next to the chapel

 Isn't it inviting....

 The District President Bai Sesay with the District RS President (in white) and 

her counselor in green

 Two cuties that love to pose for a "Snap" as they call it.

I'm not sure who all of the kids are. Some are from the neighborhood

that just come around when there is a gathering. 

These people love gatherings.

 See the almost ripe coconuts. One has my name all over it.

 See...they love to pose.

 The missionaries assigned to the Waterloo Branch

 Just a few misc snaps... this is a construction area where a road

is being upgraded. In the wall of the excavation you can see the 

layers from years past that are filled with garbage.

 A closeup... it looks like an old landfill???

 Center for JUNKS???

They are loading tightly bailed (bundles) of cloths

into wheel barrels. I'm sure some are from DI

 Getting the word out about EBOLA

 I want to see Tim do this with a bathtub!

 Typical sides for our meals

 This is the daughter of Sister Kargbo that Sister Barney is

going to help with their next birth. I was holding her while her mom

was busy.  She was brave for a while, but the "Pumwi" (white person) was

just too scary. I hope to win her over with candy...

 This is very common. We have seen them drop something,

bend over and pick it up, and never touch the eggs, or stuff, on their head.

Try that all you Grand Kids!

 This is a "Moringa" lief that grows here on Moringa trees. ;-)

They are great in scrambles eggs, made into tea, or what ever.

Lots of vitamin C & A

Reminds me of watercress.

This is very common here. Barbed wire and broken glass

on the tops of the walls that surround compounds.