Training branch leaders at our mission branch in Kakata

Sister Kirkham is training the branch Relief Society presidency in visiting teaching using some of the Church's leadership training videos we have on our laptop computer.  Sister Harmon on the right, the Primary president also wanted to sit in on the training. Next to her is Elsie Jensen, the Relief Society president (with the colorful head wrap) and her two counselors.  They are meeting in the "chapel", an empty classroom.

 Elder Kirkham is training the 1st counselor in the branch presidency (sitting next to Elder Kirkham) and the 1st counselor in the Young Men presidency.  We used Church Handbook 2 and For the Strength of Youth for the training.

Brother Weah, the Area Assistant auditor, is performing the semi-annual audit of the Kakata branch with the branch president, Pres. Harmon, and the branch clerk.  They are meeting in the branch president's office.  The "desk" which Bro. Weah is using is borrowed.

Buying lapas from a boy at Harbel

 When we went to Harbel for a baptism, a boy with a large metal bowl filled with lapas walked by.  Judy decided she wanted to buy a couple.  The neighborhood children were very interested in this business transaction.  Each lapa cost the equivalent of $3.35 each.

Here you see the young businessman with his store on his head.  Lapas are about 2 yards of bright cloth that women and girls wrap around them for a skirt.  Mothers wrap their babies to their backs using a lapa.

Harbel Branch is a mission branch where no missionaries are assigned. Five converts were recently baptized.

Meeting at the Harbel branch clerk's home, Elder Kirkham and Elder Krumm check out the baptism clothes for five baptismal candidates.

 Neighbors and branch members wait for the baptismal candidates to put on their baptism clothes.

While the five candidates were putting on their baptism clothes at the branch clerk's home, this mother was busy preparing a fish breakfast.

Here are the five baptism candidates from Harbel branch.  Since there are no missionaries in this branch, the investigators were taught by young men who were preparing for their missions.  They taught them during an Investigator Sunday School class using Preach My Gospel.  After they were taught, two Zone Leaders were taken to ensure that these investigators understood the lessons and were keeping their commitments.  The Zone Leaders then interviewed each candidate to determine their worthiness and readiness for baptism.

The branch elders quorum president did all the baptising in the local reservoir, just a few minutes away from the branch clerk's house.