We both spoke at Bushrod Stake Conference

Today we were invited to speak at the Bushrod Stake Conference. This picture is 15 minutes before the conference started. People get here early. The talks, the choir and the format of the meeting is just like in America. The only thing different is that all the people in the audience are very very poor. Probably a third of them cannot read. Nobody's very old because medical care here is very modest. Everyone is dressed respectfully but in second hand clothing. These people seem a lot more cheerful than Americans. 

The conference was great. Inspiring talks. Their was a great spirit in the meeting, we were glad we were there.

Many of the wards in the stake will rent a bus to take members to the conference. They are  humble busses and never have air conditioning. There were several busses parked down the side street also.

 This is the stake center parking lot. Other than our truck and the mission president's car there was only one car here for the entire stake.

To get to the stake conference we drive on the main road that goes through a major market. Normally there are all small vendors that encroach onto the road. There's all sorts of taxis and motorcycles that block most of the road and it can take you an hour to go a mile. Today being Sunday it was vacant. They keep the Sabbath day holy here.

As I was writing this blog we had a serious thunderstorm roll through. I like them because it lowers the temperature about 10 degrees. It becomes pleasant to be outside as long as you're under a cover. The problem is the storms bring a lot of wind and nobody has a very secure roof. Even though it was a short storm there's probably a lot of people right now that are looking up from inside their house and seeing the sky. We're just into the start of the rainy season now so it should be a little bit cooler and a lot muddier.

We were invited to be speakers at the Farmers Agricultural Fair in Buchanan. It's about two and a half hours from where we live. The church is one of the major donors to the NGOs that sponsored the fair.

Lots of speakers and entertainment. For all the speakers there was an interpreter that translated into the local dialect. It always makes it easier when there's a translator because it gives you pauses in which you can think about what you're going to say next.

These kind of gatherings are always fatiguing. They always start about an hour late. Even though we know that we can't show up an hour late because by some miracle they may actually start on time.  It's hot and it's made hotter by all the people being inside. They always have more speakers than they need. The program itself lasted for about two hours. I spoke for about 8 minutes. Fortunately the senior missionary couple stationed in that town was in attendance. When we broke for lunch they invited us to their house for a meal. That saved us from eating the local food which usually is not tasty and never prepared in a cleanly environment.

The fair had a local farmer crop display. These snails are a delicacy. They eat them because of the protein. I could never do it.

Most of the produce on display were more normal. The green bananas are actually plantains. They're only tasty if you cook them

We now have only six weeks left on our mission. There is not a replacement couple coming immediately. This means we have to completely finish all of our projects and get all the payments in. I don't know why we don't have a replacement. I suppose it's because the church in Africa is growing so fast and needs so many senior couples that there's not enough to go around. From what I understand the big problem is the lack of medical care in the country. The church is very cautious and will not send anyone here if it appears they may need medical care in the next 18 months.

So far our mission's been a very good experience. Lots of wonderful and helpful projects, we've been healthier here than back home and we have not been in an automobile accident or arrested. We're keeping our fingers crossed for the next six weeks.