July 2021 – Page 4 – Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission

In the Neighborhood

Here are a few interesting things from the neighborhood this week:

This is what a healthy school looks like here: a water tank and tap or pump, a trash can and a latrine to accommodate both boys and girls.

A boy with his wheel:

A street vendor in traffic selling knives:

Wallets for sale:

Women waiting for public transport:

A modern grill restaurant:

Muslim caps and prayer rugs:

Woman selling flip-flops:

Locally made woven fans and baskets:

Men filling sacks with rice:

A welding artist and his praying mantis sculpture:

Feed for final meals of the Tabaski sheep:

The poor cow lost her head.

Mission Meetings

Every Tuesday we have our District Meeting.

Every Wednesday we have our Humanitarian Meeting with Accra, Dakar and the Ivory Coast couples.

Life here is always so interesting. Here are a few things that caught my attention this week as we were out and about. First of all, herds of sheep are coming into Bamako as we prepare for the holiday called Tabaski next week, celebrating Abraham’s sacrifice and the ram he offered instead of Isaac.

A Modern Bakery:

Shoes made and sold here:

Water sachets for sale:

Caps for sale!

This shop has all the things needed for worship–kufi caps, boubou tunics, prayer rugs, sandals and prayer beads.

These next few pics are of a drive by clothing store:

This woman was holding twins on her lap:

Stopping at a fast food restaurant:

This is how baguettes are delivered from bakeries to shops and vendors:

This motorcyclist made me smile:

Public transport. These vans are called “sotramas.”

Another family on the go:

A typical residential street near the church:

Mickey Mouse!

A welder’s shop:

Man selling brooms:

A nice gas station:

Electronics and appliances for sale here:

Dishes and housewares for sale:

A used clothing store and some rugs:

More clothing for sale:

A motorcycle part shop:

Ladies with their goods:

Mutton and trotters (feet) for sale:

A red, white and blue propane shop:

Man fanning his stove:

Furniture made here:

Backpacks and satchels for sale:

Men’s suits and tunics for sale:

How about some shorts?

Motorcycle helmets:

Let’s Go Fly a Kite!

These boys ran past me this afternoon with their homemade kites made from plastic bags and sticks and tied with thread. They were having so much fun!

A Zoom Zone Conference in Bamako

The Elders came this morning and we joined a Zone Conference in Adzope by Zoom. This was our first time to tune in to a Zone Conference from here. We had a good day listening to instruction from our mission leaders.

And we had a great meal together from the restaurant downstairs!

Today in our Bamako Neighborhoods

Here are a few things I enjoyed looking at today while we were out and about.

Cooking pots for sale:

A mobile store with a customer:

This man was fixing the road in front of the church. The rain puddles have been impassable. He added new dirt and rocks to the worst ruts.

Loved this lady’s little mascot:

District Meeting and some Business

After our District Meeting today, we met with a couple of sign company people about bids on the signs we want to install at the church and on the street leading to the church.

Pres Sekou has his medical exams next week and he is busy studying hard this week.

Bamako Neighborhoods

We had errands to run today out and about in out Bamako neighborhoods. Here are a few interesting photos of things we saw.

Here’s a coconut vendor:

There are motorcycle repair shops everywhere! From one you can see to the next. And they are always busy.

Woman carrying cassava:

A tire shop:

Squatter toilets for sale:

A clothing store:

The brown buckets on the left are used for washing laundry.

These next several photos I took as we drove by a place where they pluck chickens by the hundreds. You could smell it from all directions.

I’ve plucked enough chickens in my lifetime to know this is not a place I’d want to work!

Cyclist stopping for gas:

Public transport:

Oranges for sale:

Peanuts for sale:

At the mayor’s offices (still working on the church signs).

Forbidden to pee here. If you do, you’ll be fined.

A store with a little bit of everything:

Hardware store:

Washing feet before prayers:

Fancy mortar and pestles:

Thermos bottles for sale:

Rubber stamps made here:

Shoes for sale:

These are tanks used to store water:

Muslim caps for sale:

Always negotiating taxi rides:

Pesticides for sale:

This furniture delivery man was in the middle of traffic, surrounded by cars and motorcycles, making his way onto the main thoroughfare on foot!

Fans for sale:

This is the boulangerie on our street. We often buy baguettes here.

And our apartment building, home sweet home!

Bamako Branch

Here are a few pics from church today. It was a good day with dear friends.

Sylvanie and her beautiful children:

Sunday School class:

Primary class:

Mamas and babies! Kariadiatou, Valerie and Dina.

Sylvanie:

Catherine:

Sacrament leftovers:

Cute hair:

Here is a tiny purse Desire made for his sister from a mango leaf:

Our Bamako Branch Neighborhood

As we came back into town today to go to the church, I spotted these interesting things by our branch meeting house. This first is a young man with a mending business. I especially loved his decorated bike. He rides through the neighborhoods clicking his scissors, hoping to be hired to do some sewing.

Oh my, we have the best bananas ever here!

These ladies have their washing area outside their compound a few doors down from the church. We see them all the time hard at work doing dishes and laundry.

And this is one of my fullest load winners this week!

Once inside the church building, we were joined by our dear friends, Esther, Judith and Desire, who often come by on Saturday afternoons to read and play on the keyboard. Today Elder Koffi taught Desire how to tie his tie.