February 2020 – Page 6 – Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission

Back in Abidjan

We are back in Abidjan! The flight from Bamako is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. We stepped off the plane into the balmy humid coastal weather. Things are green here. Trees and grass and flowering plants and there is no dust. It’s like coming to a tropical paradise!

Here is our apartment building and our apartment. We live on the 3rd floor. In the photo above, our apartment goes from front to back on the right side.

We’re still getting things hooked up and working here. We have a fridge now and soon the washer and dryer will be working. It’s great to have this safe and peaceful place to come home to when we’re back in town.

Here are a few pictures I took while we went out on a walk to explore our new neighborhood.

Bread for sale:

A flower shop:

Attiéké for sale:

A woman in her restaurant:

Another restaurant:

Cart for hire:

Used bicycle shop:

More food places:

Beautiful bougainvillea:

Portable sewing machine:

Roasted plantain for sale and cold drinks:

Hot drink salesman:

A local car wash:

Street sweepers:

Backpacks and shoes for sale:

Making Water Pouches for Vendors to Sell

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The other day, I heard a strange sound coming from a little shop in Bamako. I went to investigate and found a young man sitting on a low stool filling large bags with small water pouches as they fell from a machine where they were filled and sealed.

In a country that has no drinking fountains, and really hot weather, vendors everywhere sell water pouches. They carry them in head pans and dodge between cars in every traffic jam or go-slow. They are for sale in most shops and from most street vendors. They are cheap and plentiful, selling for 5 to 10 cents. Some vendors keep them in coolers with ice, so that when you bite off a corner to drink, you feel really happy to have something cold.

One of the problems with these water pouches is that you never know how safe the water is. It might be clean, it might not. It looks like the water in this operation is being filtered before it’s bagged.

Come take a look at this interesting process!

This is a good business to have in a place like this!

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After filling the large bags with the pouches, they are loaded into the back of a Katatani, or a motorcycle with a bed in the back. Then they are distributed to the vendors.

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Here’s an interesting article about some of the pros and cons of adding more plastic to this world where things aren’t recycled:

http://www.makery.info/en/2017/04/25/les-sacs-plastique-pure-water-inspirent-le-recyclage-en-afrique/

And this article will tell you all about the water packet industry in Africa. It’s really very interesting.

https://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/packaged-drinking-water-business-in-africa/

A New Branch Presidency in Bamako!

We had a big day today in Bamako. A new Branch Presidency was organized! President Christ Anselme and his counselors, Sekou Dembele and Nourou Sidibe were released. Sekou Dembele was called to be the new Branch President and Trinita Agban-Kosi “Biggo” was called to be his first counselor. The second counselor will be announced soon.

It has been nice to have President Binene here during this reorganization. Today we heard President Sekou and President Biggo share their testimonies. They are good men and will work hard to build the kingdom here in Bamako. We are grateful to them for being willing and happy to serve.

After our testimony meeting, we had Sunday School and Primary. We had a wonderful group of members and friends of the church here today. We love our growing Branch.

Here is our little Primary. These children are so beautiful.

Elder Lewis is visiting with Francois Cissoko after church:

Julien Dossou from N’Gomi visited here today:

The Elders teaching new investigators after the meetings:

Adele Koffi visiting with Valerie, Pres Biggo’s wife:

Sister Lewis, Brigite Kabamba and Adele Koffi:

Brigite with her son, Jeremy and husband Dustin. Brigit was baptized a few months ago. Now other members of her family are being taught.

Francois, Rose, Laurence and Sis Binene:

Rose and Valerie:

Sis Lewis, Sis Binene, Rose and Valerie:

President Sekou and President Biggo before their first Presidency meeting:

A few of our members and friends attending today:

After church and some great visiting, we left with the Binenes for the airport. It’s time for us to return to Abidjan for a couple of weeks. We will miss our friends here. It’s been a very good day and we are really excited for the future.