This evening we loaded up Elder Joseph and his luggage and headed to the airport to see him off. He had a flight from Abidjan to Paris to JFK to Haiti.
After some time in the terminal, Elder Joseph came back out to where we were waiting to be sure he got on the flight. He didn’t. Something was wrong with his US visa. We will have to try again, another way. We are learning to expect the unexpected here.
This afternoon our mission leaders met for continued instruction with Elder Kacher and Pres Bendixsen.
Elder Joseph from Haiti shared his departing testimony.
These are very fine leaders. It’s a blessing to be here with them.
Elder Kacher returned today to meet with the rest of our missionaries. It was a great day for all of us! We love having visiting authorities with their wives and appreciate all they do to help.
Here’s a fun look at this fantastic group of missionaries today.
Elder and Sister Kacher:
John is helping with some new smartphones for the new missionaries.
This morning before our Multi-Zone Conference, we had a few errands to run, including picking up a supply of water for the upcoming meetings. Here are a few interesting things we saw along the way.
Home security systems for sale: barbed wire and electrical wire:
A hardware store:
Vans full of people and produce are everywhere:
Grilled plantain and a dancing darling: 
These are interesting times to be a missionary! Today we welcomed 6 new missionaries to the Abidjan East Mission. Only one of the 6 has been called to serve in this mission, the others are “temporary,” with calls to serve outside of Cote d’Ivoire.
These are our new missionaries:
Sis Ahi, Ketoura Bernice going to Owerri, Nigeria
Elder Ahui, Djiragbou Ake going to the DRC
Elder Houphouet, Ernest Jr. going to France, Lyons
Elder Konan, Jean Serge 21 going to Brazzaville, RC
Elder Konan, N’da Jean (twins) going to the DRC
Elder Kouassi, Kouame Jean-Jacques staying HERE.
Today they had their new missionary orientation where they received instruction on policies and procedures in the mission.
Waiting for everyone to arrive.
The Konan twins saying goodbye to their parents.
Once everyone was here, they all went over to the temple to talk about why we’re here and what our end goal is. A year from now we hope this sacred building will be completed and these missionaries will be able to receive their own temple blessings along with those they will be teaching.
Back at the mission office.
We had Pizza Hut pizzas for lunch!
The delivery man:
John explained about mission finances and money matters.
Bro Brou-Baah taught them about family history and how to enter their photos and memories into FamilySearch. He added photos of the Konan family this morning.
This afternoon the missionaries got to find out who their trainers would be. These trainers had joined the meeting this afternoon.
Our new group and companionships:
Elder Konan’s companion was too far away to come in today, but they will meet up in Adzope.
A little more family history:
And taking care of finances:
And now the fun for these 6 begins! We’re so happy to have them here!
This morning early we picked up Sis Mahunda to take her to the airport. She opted to travel today so she could fly home with her sister who has been serving in the Abidjan West Mission next door.
These beautiful sisters met again after 18 months of service here at the airport.
They have a brother living here in Abidjan who also came. What a fun reunion for this family!
Pres and Sis Lewis from the West Mission and Pres and Sis Lewis from the East Mission.
There were four missionaries departing today from the West Mission. Farewell to all!
Today was a great day! We’ve received permission to start holding church meetings again here in this area. It’s been 6 months since we’ve been able to meet together. Here in the stake center, we had one ward meet this morning at 8:00 and our ward met at 11:00. The building was cleaned well and precautions were taken as we entered, with a hand washing station and a temperature taker.
As friends arrived, we spread out, honoring social distancing and COVID protocols.
After sacrament meeting we had a gospel doctrine class and after the class, we celebrated the marriage and baptism of a new member family with some delicious cake.
Behind the stake center, the temple continues to grow, brick by brick.
Along with the distribution center.
This evening we celebrated the work of 9 missionaries who have come to the end of their missions: Elder Mutombo, Sr Kabisa Kasongo, Elder Sulu, Sr Nzuzu, Sr Mahunda, Elder Joseph, Elder N’cho, Elder Ouebleon and Elder Guehi. We are so grateful for them and for their service here.
We visited while Pres Bendixsen had his final interviews with each missionary.
Then we had a delicious dinner together.
Our Departing Group:
Tonight 4 of these 9 went to the airport to fly to Kinshasa, DRC.
Final instructions.
And they’re off! Their flight was was at the very end of this exciting and long day. We wish these friends well.
Although the seasons don’t change much here, the produce varies with the time of the year. Here’s a look at what we’re seeing now in the markets and along the roadsides.
We left early this morning to travel to Adzope for another Zone Conference with a visit from Elder and Sister Kacher. It’s great to leave the big city behind and travel out into the green countryside of Cote d’Ivoire. I love this African world go by as we drive. We pass by people walking along the roads carrying all sorts of loads on their heads–fire wood, bamboo, produce, goods to trade or sell–just about everything you might imagine.
Here are a few favorite roadside sales today–these are wild mushrooms from the bush:
We arrived in Adzope at 8:30 and learned that 4 of the Elders couldn’t get here because demonstrations had blocked the road. We are having a fair amount of election drama here this month. Elections will be on October 31st and people are not happy about who’s on the ballot.
Waiting for the Kachers to arrive.
We were able to connect the 4 Elders who could not get here into our meeting via Zoom.
The Kachers did a wonderful job sharing the message I described in yesterday’s post with this group of missionaries. We love this group. Every single one of them has been called to another mission, not ours. But we have them here now and we are so grateful. We have no idea how long they may get to stay. We hope it’s a long time.
The missionaries are practicing finding answers to every question in the pages of the Book of Mormon.
The Kachers had to leave for another meeting at noon. We saw them off and wished them well.
Then Pres Bendixsen talked about the doctrine of repentance before the food arrived for lunch.
The conference was topped off by a great meal provided by the good members here.
We’ve had a good day. It was good to be here. It’s good to be a part of this great work which is rolling forth and filling the whole earth. You really feel it when you’re out in the remote corners. There’s no place I’d rather be.
Our Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan East and Bamako, Mali Mission 