Month: July 2020

Adzope is one of my favorite areas to visit.  It’s about a 2 hour drive from Abidjan, up into the lush green village areas of Cote d’Ivoire.  It reminds me of where I lived in Nigeria, so for me, it feels like going home.  It feels peaceful to me here and my heart feels welcome and at home.

Here is the entrance to the church building in Adzope.

As we approached the building, we heard beautiful singing in the back room.  These four beautiful Soeurs and a few Elders were practicing a special musical number, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” with one of the verses in English–a special welcome for the Bendixsens.

Two of these Sisters just arrived last week and they have started their missions here.  They’ve been called to Madagascar and London.  We’re grateful to have them with us for now.  They are beautiful and we love them.

The others were waiting patiently for our meetings to begin.

Our two new Elders are also serving here.  Here’s an interesting piece of information about this Zone right now.  We have 16 Ivorian missionaries serving here right now.  Not one of these 16 was called to serve in the Abidjan East Mission.  Every single one has been called to another country or another mission, but because of COVID and border restrictions, they were not able to travel there.  We are so grateful they are here!

Elder Amani taught beautifully about the 4 in Mark chapter 2 who helped the paraplegic man find his way to Jesus.

John is always taking phone calls from missionaries throughout the mission needing help.

The special musical number.

Our sound equipment goes with us for each conference.

Pres & Sis Bendixsen introduced themselves to these missionaries and spoke to us about their family and their vision for our mission.  We talked again about leaving Babylon behind us and developing a mission culture of obedience and being the very best we can be.  The missionaries had a chance to ask any questions they had before the conference ended.  Afterwards we had some fun taking photos.  The missionaries were excited to have their picture taken with Pres & Sis Bendixsen.

The Adzope Zone

The more we get to know these good missionaries, the more we love them.

This afternoon we visited this beautiful oasis in Dokui for our next Meet & Greet with the Bendixsens.   The Dokui District recently became a Stake and this is their beautiful building.  A room full of reverent missionaries greeted us here and they were thrilled to meet the Bendixsens.

Here are some of our wonderful Dokui missionaries:

After the meetings we took some pictures with our friends here.

The Dokui Zone with smiles hidden and exposed.

Beautiful friends.  Beautiful faces.

This morning we met with the Cocody Zone at the Cocody Stake Center.  The Bendixsens enjoyed meeting more of our wonderful missionaries.  This is such a fun time for them to finally get to meet each other and look into each other’s faces.

Elder N’cho conducted the meeting.  Elder Amani taught about the 4 who helped bring the paraplegic to Jesus.

Sister Bendixsen introduced their family.

And President Bendixsen shared his vision and feelings about missionary work.

Our Cocody Zone

When you receive a call to preside over a mission, your hearts immediately expand.  For months you wait and prepare and imagine what it will be like to put your arms around the missionaries you will serve with.

That day has finally come for the Bendixsens, but we are living in interesting COVID times and we have to try our best not to touch–not even to shake hands.  We wear masks that hide our smiles.  We have to tell all with our eyes.

Today we began touring the mission with the Bendixsens so they could meet the missionaries in each zone.  This afternoon we traveled to Grand Bassam where this fine group of missionaries waited to welcome our new mission leaders.

Sister Bendixsen told us about their family.

Elder Amani and Pres Bendixsen taught from Mark 2 about the 4 individuals who lowered the paraplegic through the roof into the room where Jesus was teaching.  Who were they and why did they do that?  How can we be more like they were?

We also talked about Babylon.  We sand “Ye Elders (and Sisters) of Babylon” and talked about what it means to bid Babylon adieu.  How do we, as missionaries, leave that place behind?  Is it possible to carry a piece of Babylon in our hearts?  Can we leave it and not return?

A few photos after the conference:

Group photo:

Here’s what was going on outside in the parking lot while we met:

Every day there is progress.  It’s so exciting to watch these men at work, building a House of God.  These men look happy as they work.  They are all busy and they work as a team.  I love holding my camera phone up over the tin walls surrounding the temple to snap a few pictures.  Here’s what I captured today:

This is the auxiliary building to the south.

I love to see the temple.  I’m going there someday.

We had great fun today watching the Bendixsens meet their first batch of missionaries!  We all walked to the Cocody Stake Center this morning for our District Meeting.  There was plenty of time to visit while we waited for someone to come with the key.

The Bendixsens have been longing to meet their missionaries for a long long time.  It feels like their hearts have been overflowing from afar and now, finally, the meetings have begun.

We had a great meeting.  Things are still slower than usual because of COVID, but we’re finding new ways to do things here.  And we have a temple being built in our backyard.  There are great things in store for this neighborhood, this city and this country!

Our Cocody District:

Today was a big day for my dear little friend in Bamako!  I was so thrilled to receive these pictures.  We miss our Bamako friends every day and hope to be able to return soon.  The borders to Mali are opening next week.  Our 4 Elders will be returning to Abidjan after that happens.  Three of the 4 are completing their missions.  As soon as things in Mali are more stable, we and other missionaries will return.

Simply beautiful.  Beautifully pure.