We had a great day today, worshiping this morning with Pres & Sis Bendixsen and the Assistants here in our apartment. The Assistants shared experiences with the Bendixsens and told us how they came to be missionaries serving now.
We had a great discussion about agency and how that is a doctrinal foundation of God’s Plan for our happiness. We shared ideas about how we can use our agency for good and how we can be examples for others, helping them to make choices that will bring happiness to their lives.
After our church service, we made plans for this next week. We’ll be visiting all of the missionaries throughout the mission so the Bendixsens can meet everyone and get a feel for the areas in our mission.
This evening we invited both the Lewises and the Bendixsens over for dinner. The Lewises preside over the Abidjan West Mission right next door. We had some great home cooking and such a fun time together. We are grateful to be here now, doing what we’re doing. Life is good.
We’ve been excited all day, preparing for the Bendixsen’s arrival this evening. I stayed home today to prepare some food for them for their first week here. We’re filling their cupboards and their fridge with some comforts of home that will help them ease into their African lives here.
Tonight we left for the airport at 7:30 to be there to meet their 8:15 arrival. When we got to the airport, we learned that we were not allowed to go inside. Instead, we joined a parking lot full of people waiting and waiting and waiting. At about 10:30, we finally caught our first sight of Pres and Sis Bendixsen, as they made their way through one of the two large tents set up to screen the travelers for COVID.
It’s an amazing thing to fit your lives for 3 years into a few suitcases. But it can be done!
It was 11:00 p.m. by the time we got them settled into their new apartment in Cocody. We were a very tired, but very happy little group. This is going to be a wonderful adventure for all of us!
Today was a great day! Four new missionaries joined us today. They have received their mission assignments to other missions where borders are closed, so they get to be ours for the time being.
Soeur Gaze is from Abobo has been called to serve in Madagascar and Soeur Yao from Dokui has been called to serve in Ghana Accra West. Both have learned to speak English quite well. Sis Gaze was the president of the English club at her school. She lives with her mother and grandmother and 5 siblings. She is the first missionary in her family. She and Soeur Yao are beautiful. We are so happy they are here.
Elder Tonga and Elder Kipri have also arrived. Elder Tonga’s parents came and Elder Kipri’s father. All 3 of these parents served missions! Elder Tonga’s father was a Stake Pres. in Yopougon (in the West Mission) and now he’s a new Area Seventy. He served in London South. His lovely wife served here in Abidjan.
Bro. Kipri served in Kinshasa, Congo. I practiced my French and told them all about our assignment and what we are doing here. It was fun. Both Elders were called to serve in the Kinshasa East Mission. They are handsome, happy and good.
These are wonderful, supportive parents.
Time for goodbyes.
The APs went and bought some food for these new missionaries and then they had an orientation meeting with Pres Binene.
Doctrine & Covenants Section 31:
3 Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation.
4 You shall declare the things which have been revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun. You shall begin to preach from this time forth, yea, to reap in the field which is white already to be burned.
5 Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.
6 Behold, verily I say unto you, go from them only for a little time, and declare my word, and I will prepare a place for them.
7 Yea, I will open the hearts of the people, and they will receive you. And I will establish a church by your hand;
8 And you shall strengthen them and prepare them against the time when they shall be gathered.
We’ve had a wonderful Sabbath visiting with these good Elders and with some dear Sisters nearby who asked John to come give one of them a Priesthood blessing. We love these missionaries.
Today we shared Elder Uchtdorf’s talk from the Mission Leaders’ Seminar a few weeks ago. He talks about using technology, quoting Pres Kimball and David O. McKay looking forward to our day–using hand held devices, and how Heavenly Father knew all along that COVID would happen and how he has prepared US to be here now, as mission leaders, helping to move the work forward. He said maybe we needed a bit of a “re-set” on how we do missionary work. In 200 of the missions of the world, missionaries working primarily from their apartments now. We have to learn how to use technology to reach more people.
He went as far as to say that one of the leaders said that smartphone technology may be as important in our day as the printing press was in its day for missionary work. It’s the way we can take the gospel into every nation, kindred, tongue and people, to the “utmost corners of the world.” Sometimes I feel like we are in one of those corners, especially when we are out in the villages here, like we were for our zone conference on Friday.
The other thing he talked a lot about was doing service. He reminded us of Ammon and King Lamoni and how service opens doors and softens hearts. He encouraged mission leaders to focus on those two things as their mission priorities right now. What a great talk.
Then We read this short piece together, also from Elder Uchtdorf, posted now on the home page of lds.org:
Mask Your Face, Don’t Mask Your Heart
By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
During this time of uncertainties because of COVID-19, Harriet and I greatly miss meeting in person with people around the world. This summer, we had planned to be with Latter-day Saints in Eastern Europe, but our trip had to be canceled. Because many of us have to adapt to different circumstances, I want to share with you a couple of experiences that are helping us during these challenging times.
Social Distancing Versus Physical Distancing
Since the pandemic began, we often hear the term “social distancing”—implying the idea that we should keep a certain distance between ourselves and other people. Personally, I prefer the term “physical distancing” rather than “social distancing” to refer to this practice.
Harriet and I are confident that physical distancing helps us to protect ourselves and others from the dangers of the pandemic, and we try to comply as best as we can.
During this time, we have learned how important and vital it is to our well-being to stay socially close to family, friends, and our brothers and sisters in the Church of Jesus Christ.Fortunately, today there are many amazing tools and means available, some supported by technology, to reduce social, emotional and spiritual distancing. Harriet and I consider these tools to be timely gifts from heaven. With the help of these means, we can feel very close to our friends and family members. Because of technology tools, we can see our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren quite often and take part in their daily lives. This way we celebrate birthdays, admire new plays and games, read bedtime stories, or join on a walk while on a video call. It is always uplifting to hear their experiences of partaking of the sacrament and pondering the Come Follow Me teachings.
Above all, we are most grateful for the gift and power of prayer. Through prayer, we can be spiritually and socially close to Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and to our families and friends wherever we are and whatever the circumstances may be.
Focus On What You Can Do, Rather than On What You Cannot Do
During the last 20 years, Harriet and I have had a little head start on what it means to be physically distanced from our loved ones. When my calling transferred us from Germany to Salt Lake City, we expected to live here for just a few years. For the first 10 years, we even kept our home in Germany, hoping to return to family and friends one day. But as you know, we are still here, and we will stay here.
The gospel, the Church of Jesus Christ and the Lord helped us to learn that physical distance (even 5,000 miles) does not mean we have to be socially distanced from each other. We learned to focus on and enjoy the things we could do and experience, and not so much on the things we might miss.
Don’t Mask Your Heart
More frequent social contact with friends and family helps us to share more of our inner thoughts and hopes. Somehow, these challenging times helped us to be more open about the feelings of our soul. We realized even more clearly how special it is not to hide or mask the feelings of our hearts from those we love most.
During these special times, Harriet and I try to follow our own recommendation: Mask your face, don’t mask your heart.
When I read your comments on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, I can sense the sorrow and burden so many of you have to live with. And I can also feel your joy and enthusiasm as you focus on the many good things you can do in life. It is amazing to see how you help and uplift each other by word and deed. You are a miracle and a blessing to this world as you love and serve God and His children—our brothers and sisters.
For joyful or unhappy times, Heavenly Father has given us a promise and a blessing: “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Harriet and I love you. We are grateful for each of you. May God bless and keep you during these special times and always.
This morning we recorded this message from the APs to the Bendixsens:
And this afternoon we visited these Sisters and recorded a welcome message from them:
On our way home this evening, I was very excited when we pulled over at the produce vendors by Azaguei. Wherever we go, I’m fascinated by what’s for sale on the roadsides. Today we went through several miles with women sitting at wooden tables with huge snails for sale. I can’t tell you how much I wanted to stop to take a closer look.
When the Binenes wanted to stop to buy some produce, I was ready! The minute we cracked open the door, the girls were practically in our car with their headpans of fruit. It’s all freshly-picked and beautiful, hard to pass up.
I loved this stop. Come take a look and you will see why.
Here are the fresh snails. They are sold by size in bunches of 4 or 6. They are surprisingly heavy.
Here are the ones trying to get away! When I lived in Nigeria, the children would go out into the bush at night after a good rain. With their bush lanterns, they’d search for snails to bring home for dinner. They’d grill the meat, skewered, over a fire with plenty of hot pepper. It’s not bad. A bit chewy.
This lady welcomed me right over to take her picture. She’s selling yams and a few other things.
Eggplant varieties:
Peppers, tomatoes and pale eggplant:
Peanuts:
Palm fruit (pressed for oil):
Oranges and yams:
Oranges, potatoes and some peanuts:
Citrus, melons, and papayas:
Eggplant:
Okra, peppers and tomatoes:
Corn and palm fruit:
Plantain:
Cassava:
Dinner! Bread dipped in a warm drink:
I bought these green beans:
Peppers (pima):
The ladies were shy about letting me take their pictures at first, but then we became friends when I tried to speak to them in French and when I showed them the pictures I was taking. Then they all wanted to be in a picture!
I am a fruit farmer’s daughter and I loved these women and the beautiful colorful produce they were selling.
This afternoon on our way out of town, we stopped at the other Adzope building. This is where the District offices are. We have 5 branches in Adzope. Three of the branches meet in this building. What a grand place!
There was a group of members here this evening having a audit training meeting.
The District Offices and several classrooms are upstairs.
Here is District Pres. Yapi and the leaders attending the audit training.
And here’s a look at the compound from the upstairs balcony.
Right now, Adzope is our farthest zone from Abidjan. We were up early this morning to travel there with the Binenes, Eveque Mel and Fr Ebick. It was a 2+ hour drive through beautiful countryside with rolling hills of lush tropical undergrowth and farms. We drove through forests of bamboo, palm and ferns. We saw banana fields, cassava, yams and plantain. The border restrictions surrounding Abidjan lifted on Wednesday and this is the first time Pres and Sis Binene have been able to go anywhere outside of Abidjan since the COVID lockdowns in early March. We have 10 missionaries in Adzope who have been missing the regular contact.
Here we are arriving at the peaceful setting of this church building in Adzope.
This beautiful waterway is right near the church.
We have 2 Sisters and 8 Elders in Adzope. Before COVID hit our world, we had double that number. There are 10 missionary areas in Adzope.
The baptismal font:
The missionaries were waiting for our arrival.
This Zone Conference was a combination of the last 2 conferences we’ve had. The Binenes shared messages and training from both today.
We were able to share the good news that the Bendixsens have received their flight plans and they will arrive in Abidjan on July 24th!
Lunch time!
Delicious food!!
This afternoon the missionaries were taught and trained to use the smartphones.
And at the end of the day, Pres and Sis Binene gave their final testimonies. This is their very last Zone Conference Ever.
This afternoon the Elders from the 2 Abobo Zones arrived for our 4th Zone Conference. There are no Sisters in these zones. Abobo is a good place for Elders. We followed the same format for the conference, hearing from missionaries who are finishing their missions, the APs and the Binenes.
At the end, the smartphones were given out and Fr Ebick helped everyone get them set up with new SIM cards and the right formatting.
The new Missionary Handbooks were also given out.
Many of our Congolese missionaries had questions for Pres Binene about news of the borders to their country opening (they will announce a decision about opening the borders on the 22nd). We have received no instruction about whether or not missionaries from the Congo will be sent home if the borders open. That decision is for the Missionary Department and the Area President to make.
Today we had our 3rd and 4th Zone Conferences here in the Cocody Stake Center. This morning we met with the 18 members of the Dokui Zone. At the end of the conference the missionaries received their smartphones.
This is what a portable wifi box looks like. It’s called a “fly box.” You can buy a box for about 30,000, then you pay a monthly subscription for the wifi which, depending on the plan, can be 25,000 to 35,000 (30,000 cfa = about $50). We are bringing our boxes from the office to the stake center so we have enough wifi for the missionaries to set up their phones.
Moving SIM cards from an old phone to a new phone:
On the chair next to me are John’s 5 phones. The blue iPhone is his own from home. We bought a fly box for our apartment and we pay for the wifi. The black smartphone is one of the new ones he’s using to help teach the others. The little black phone is for the office financial secretary. It’s free for any missionary to call. It rings all the time. Missionaries have had a plan called “the float” where they can call any other missionary for free. One little white phone is for all other calls outside of the float and international calls (like to Mali). The other white phone has been our mission phone (for John and me). These phones go with us all the time, filling his pockets.
Some of the missionaries who have stayed past their departure dates are receiving their “Return with Honor” scarves. These are the traditional farewell gift when missionaries leave. We still have no plans for anyone’s departures–borders are all still closed.
As we left our apartment this morning and turned to go up to the stake center, we stopped when we saw a huge bulldozer coming our way down our street. Oh my! This is the best news ever–someone is grading our street! It has become almost impassable. With every rain, it has become worse, with gullies and ditches and ravines for the water to run off. We’ve had a recent dump of “road base” but not enough to help much. This sight made our day.
When we returned home this evening, we were able to drive all the way down, without damage to our vehicle. It’s still bumpy and rocky, but we can navigate the small stuff. It was a huge improvement!
Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission 