The Trapani's in Liberia

 We had a visitor from Church headquarters and also one from our area headquarters in Ghana that came out to look at some of the past projects. They're trying to determine if old completed humanitarian projects have been sustainable over several years.  We were out in the jungle for 3 days mostly on dirt roads. On the last day it poured rain. We were on muddy dirt roads and had a lot of pretty deep water crossings. It was fun. We were part of a three-car convoy so I didn't worry about getting lost or stuck. Luckily everyone made it through but sometimes the water was up to the bottom of our doors on our high profile four wheel drive Toyota pickup. All of the villages are organized with a formal leadership structure. There's usually a village Elder, a village leader, a head woman and other types of officers. They all have a gathering area. The villages are so rural that they have very little manufactured materials. This is where they all come together for their village meeti...

This is Brother John Dolo he is a member of the Harbell branch. We visited him in the hospital with the branch president. He works for the Firestone rubber company. As does everybody in the Harbell branch. While he was working he cut his finger. They were not able to save it so he lost it just above the knuckle. He was in the Firestone Rubber Company hospital. Firestone rubber provides the housing, the schools and the medical for all their employees. What was impressive about the hospital is that it was so much better than the public hospitals we have been visiting in Liberia. It actually had air conditioning in all the rooms and sheets on the bed.  It took us about two and a half hours to get home from church today. There was a political rally for one of the presidential candidates. The election is in about 3 or 4 weeks. The supporters were in trucks, vans, taxis and motorcycles. There were lots of supporters just walking along the street. The supporters were going both directions...

This Sunday we were at church at the Dolo's Town Branch. Since they do not have a keyboard or anyone capable of playing a keyboard they sing acapella. They always sing the hymns at about half speed so we spend a lot of time singing. We had the idea of getting a battery powered bluetooth speaker and then playing the music for the hymns through their smartphone. All was going well. The prelude music from the new speaker set a nice tone for the meeting. When it got time to actually sing the first hymn they did not use the speaker but sung acapella again. I spoke with them and I think they'll get it right next time. Few things ever go as you think they will here.  This is the church courtyard where they hold primary and relief society. The church is building a new building for the branch and so the landlord isn't doing much maintenance. Because there are large openings animals get in during the week and make the area pretty messy. Our project at Zappia public school is going we...

Went on a 10-day Safari in Kenya.  It was probably our best vacation ever. It seemed like we were on another planet. The animals were huge, close and very numerous. There were so many zebras. The giraffes are huge up close. We probably saw hundreds if not a thousand of them These are cape buffalo. They attack you if you bother them The hyenas are odd looking creatures. Their front legs are a lot longer than their back legs. They are pretty serious hunters. The leopards were beautiful. Their big problem is not getting eaten by the lions. These are the wilderbeasts. They hang around in large herds which gives them lots of protection. Still, because there are so many of them they are a significant source of food for the predators. The lions were so big. Some came within about seven or eight feet of our safari truck. Our guide seem not to care but I was worried because the truck is so open. The Rhinos like the hippos and the lions have no predators except for man.  A lot of effort...

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...