Doing the Lord's Errand in Sierra Leone

Elder Gifford, my own personal hero, and Elder Dogbatse invited
Sister Neves and I to visit a fine gentleman they were teaching in
Kissie Town. He is little tailor and a fine man with whom we
became acquainted, Alimomy Bangura.

Elder Gifford has since gone home but is quiet and somewhat
solemn but was as hardworking and effective as any elder I've
met here or in Mexico forty years ago.

Elder Dogbatse from Ghana complements him very well and
is an excellent elder and a musician in his own right.

We participated with Alimomy a couple of times in his shop

since he lives very far away and it is easier to visit there than in
his home, particularly since his wife is a Muslim.

The Elders and Bangura invited us to come to the baptism in
Wellington but when we arrived a fine Saturday morning the
water was not available and we spent an hour waiting to make
a decision on where to go to get it done.










While I was waiting there it seemed a fine idea to clown around

with the camera and make the time pass more quickly. Bangura
and I had a fine time he loosened right up.

A little clutch of boys who are not members but just like to come
to church came by and made it even more fun while we spent a
little more time deciding what to do.

We finally decided to load up and go to Grafton and baptize in
the river there. The folks who live in a little home by the river
side were not members but for some reason Elder Gifford
figured they wouldn't mind sharing their river and home with
us.

So Sally and Bally and their two little babies were treated to a

fine bunch of Mormon folks and potential Mormon folks
as we took over their lives for an hour or two.







Sally even showed me how to wrap a little baby for the
carrying and then she started a fire for us and generally
carried on while we carried on.












                                                                                                                                                                We had a fine service and the baptisms were excellent even
though the President generally believes that these are best

done in the baptismal fonts in front of their potential
congregations. I believe he is correct in that reasoning
but it is interesting on a one time during a mission basis.

Alimomy has proven a fine member although he has a bad
case of malaria and we've been trying to do our best to help
him out. He lives high up on the mountain in Looking
Town and has little access to medical care and medicine.



                                                                      

                                                                        We've been there as often as we can to give what support

we can and to offer our prayers and comfort. Our personal
Utes often accompany us on these trips.














Usually we take a long hard trip home through Kissie Road

which in good times takes eighteen minutes and in bad times
it has taken up to three hours. Mom is usually ready to
strangulate me by the time we arrive home.

Mother and I are doing a good job for two fat white folks
of trying to fit in to the culture and to the work here
among our good black brethren and sisters.



                                                                                                                                                                                                      








I don't think I'd want to be anywhere else right now but

here. Often I'll look down at my hands and am surprised
to see that they are white and not black.












It might be nice for a few minutes to see
the little ones at home but we'll just
have to make do with what we have

here for now.