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Service Project

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National Sierra Leone Service Day   We had an amazing opportunity to participate in a Service Activity that will forever change my thinking about construction work.       As a preface, we have a home group (a place where members meet on Sunday to worship and hold church when they are not a big enough congregation to form a branch.)  These home groups work under the keys of the Branch President in the area.  These home groups are formed because the distance it too far and too costly to transport to the main branch.  There is 1 particular home group that is allowed graciously to meet in a school house without charge.  Our home group is growing out of the school and so are the children attending the school.  The school wanted to add and addition to their building.  The school owners had already built the walls, but they were out of funds to finish the cement floor, some roofing, doors, and windows.  Our valiant missionaries seen a way to offer some help, plus the school would allow the ad
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Kenema Highway??

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Highway??       The roads in Sierra Leone are very different from the US.  This is the Kenema "Highway."  When the rains come this can get very difficult to pass through.  I thought a video would be the best way to show the deep mud ruts.  Many times we find trucks stuck or motorbikes tipped over with their heavy loads.
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Money in Sierra Leone     I thought I would give a little insight into the dollar exchange in the country.  First off, the Sierra Leone money is called a Leon.  The current exchange rate is 23 leons to $1.00.  An example to this is $100 will get you 2300 leons.  Their currency has devalued so much that in January this year they took two zero's off of it.  For example:  2,000 leons is now 20 leons.  The people are still adjusting to the change.  They will tell us the amount is say, "1,000" instead of 10.     Here are some examples of what we pay for things:        Bananas:  1 banana will be about 2 leons or $.07       Avacoda:  1 avocado is about 10 leon or $.40.  This is a big avocado, not like we have in the states.       Apple: 1 apple is about 20 leons or $1, but these are imported.       Eggs:  1 dozen is about 60 leons or $2.60       Loaf of baked bread: 10 leons or $.40. This is about about the size of the states French bread.   The average salary per month is betwe
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Mission control     I thought it would be interesting to talk about our home.  They treat the couple missionaries the best they can.  Our house it really quite nice....keep in mind we are in Sierra Leone where people don't have homes, electricity, and indoor water.  Our home in Kenema has electricity, a back up generator, and running water.  The electricity comes and goes often, mostly it just goes off so that is why the generator.  Just a note on the electricity...it is 220 volt so everything we have brought from the US needs a step down.  I'm very cautious to plug things in correctly as to not fry my blow dryer or computer.       When the electricity goes out Fred runs outside and starts the generator, then we have power again.  The lights in our house are very dim and there are not many, but I'm very grateful for what they do offer. And to spoil us even more I actually have hot water for my shower (I have not ran out of water yet, but I suspect I will). I use water quite
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     Today I am going to just be raw and let the words fall on the page.  There is so much to share and so little time to write.  I can not believe how quickly time flies while being on a mission, especially being in a remote country.  FORGIVE THE GRAMATICAL ERRORS.     We arrived in Sierra Leone late Sunday evening and were graciously picked up by Elder Ettinger, who is serving with his wife in the mission.  They were called to the Freetown Sierra Leone Mission, but we needed to help in the newly formed Bo Mission.  We enjoyed our 3 hour drive from the airport to the mission home.  Elder Ettinger was so good to share with us some of the things to watch for, learn about, and educate us on so many things of Sierra Leone.  Sister Ettinger would usually travel with him, however, she was recovering from Malaria and a few nights in the hospital.  This was the first lesson I took to heart.  The truth is 50 out of 107 of our Junior Missionaries were sick this past month and most of them it wa
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   We enjoyed 2 weeks in the Mission Training Center  (MTC) in Provo.  It was a wonderful time to meet new friends and other couple missionaries that will be serving in all places around the world.  I am truly amazed   humbled by the many serving and the sacrifices they each give.   Fred and I began our mission with the assignment of mission office.  Only 3 day into the MTC our assignment changed to MLS (Member Leader Support.)  This was just fine with us as we are happy to do whatever is needed.  We were able to talk with another couple serving in this assignment in Sierra Leone.  They had great suggestions of items we would need as we will be far away from the mission home.  We spent the last week, going to class and cramming in extra packing supplies.      The MTC is such a great place to be.  There were 2,500 Jr. missionaries, both young men and young women.  It is amazing to see their excitement and positive spirit training to serve where they were called.  Fred loved talking to t
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