The Trapani's in Liberia

This is the podium just as sacrament meeting is getting ready to start in the Dolo branch. The picture gives a good idea of the general condition of the building. There is no electricity or running water. The speakers just stand at the end of the raised area and deliver their talks. This is a rented building. Fortunately the church just decided to build them a new building. In spite of the poor facilities the meetings here are inspiring. All of the talks are so faith promoting. Everyone just has a good attitude. They will be in for quite a treat when their new building will have electricity, fans and bathrooms with running water. After Sacrament and Sunday School meetings today Cheryl and I taught a teacher development class to all of the teachers in the branch. I think it went well. Although it's always hard to tell on things like this. All of the senior missionaries gathered this week for some training. The couple closest to the camera are the Blanchards.  They are the couple tha...

This Sunday we attended the Harbel Branch. It's a 90-minute drive from our house. We got there about 20 minutes early. Already about 1/2 of the congregation were there and they were singing. There was no accompanying music,  it was only their voices. They do this every week. This Sunday they had all youth speakers. They spoke on serious subjects like reaching out to others and having faith. The talks were remarkable. Each one spoke with only minimal notes. Each one used scriptures and gospel analogies. They were all very doctrine-oriented talks. They all showed that the youth had a very good grasp of gospel principles. This is Elders quorum. The lesson was on a Liahona article about sharing the gospel. The instructor was truly just a facilitator. There was much audience participation. All of the comments seem to be very insightful. Most members of The church here have only been converts of a few years. Yet all seem to have a very good grasp of gospel Doctrine and concepts. Maybe it...

  We made another visit to the Buchanan Regional Hospital to help finalize our proposed project. Here is there trash pile. To the left you can see where they accidentally burnt the building while burning their trash pile. They are asking us for an incinerator. The roof leaks so bad that they actually have standing water in some of the rooms and hallways after a rainstorm. They have asked us to install a new roof. When you see the sick, delivering mothers and newborn babies laying in their beds in these terrible conditions your heart really goes out to them. You try to imagine what it would be like if your child was in this place. In addition to the roof and the incinerator we're also going to be supplying needed hospital equipment. This photo was taken a few months back in the dry season. It is at Lower Fonti Town which is a community which is built on excavated dirt from the river. Now that it's the rainy season the river has risen and this is what the same area looks like. Pe...