The left sketch shows the first proposal that was made to extend the back of the building 8 feet. In November, we realized that the branch had already outgrown that size of chapel due to 36 baptisms in three months, including many families. The sketch on the fright shows a new proposal to extend the back of the building 30 feet - which, eventually, was approved.

Picture on the left is what the inside of the building looked like when the project began. Picture on the right shows the transformation.

Picture on the left show the back of the building & the small bldg on the right. The picture on the right shows the back of the building where the diesel generator is kept, Brother Stephen Miaman, owner of the property and 2nd counselor in the branch presidency. The building in the background is the small bldg which contains the clerks and branch president's office attached at the back of the chapel. The black tank is a water tank for water for the restrooms in the building.

Picture at the right shows the chapel with Sister Kirkham.

Elder Kirkham, Moses Slamie - branch president, and Stephen Miamen - 2nd counselor in branch presidency and owner of property - in the Doe Community chapel.

Temple Trip for Liberian Saints! The Temple Patron Assistance Fund makes this trip possible.

After, literally months of effort (particularly by Elder Krumm - senior missionary, here) to have everything properly prepared , 68 Liberian saints left for the Ghana, Accra, temple. It takes 3 1/2 days to get to the temple from Monrovia. They will spend 4 days at the temple and then come home. This pictures shows Judy with some of the 27 saints who went from Bushrod Island District to the temple to be sealed as families.

This is one of the two buses that was used. This bus will carry 27 members - no air conditioning. The second bus (just like this one) will have 41 saints. They have to carry their own food and water. They will sleep on the ground or on the bus as they travel. When they get to the temple in Accra, Ghana, they will stay in housing at the temple grounds for four days and then make the 4 day journey back home. This temple trip would not be possible for the saints if it were not for the Temple Patron Assistance Fund. For many, it is a once in a lifetime experience to have the privilege to go to the temple and receive the ordinances of exaltation there. The Temple Patron Assistance Fund helps pay the expenses for members only the first time they go to be sealed.

Literacy & Buying a Small Saw

This is a portion of the Duala street market. I noticed one lady had a stand of tools. I was looking for a small saw. So, we stopped to see what she had. She had a saw I wanted.

We paid her and told her that we needed a receipt. I made out the receipt and asked her to sign it. She laughed and said no. I explained that all I needed was her signature. She said she couldn't. I wasn't understanding what she meant. Then she grabbed the receipt and ran off. A few minutes later, she came back with her name printed on the receipt by someone who knew her. I realized then that she could not write her name.

So, I gave her the pen and had her trace over the letters of her name. Afterwards, she jumped up and clapped her hands and laughed and laughed. I thought maybe this was the first time in her life she had ever written anything.

HARMATTAN - Sand from Sahara Desert creating a "fog" everywhere

This is what it looked like on one of our futile trips to the airport for the Roggias and Elder Holland when no flights were allowed in due to lack of visibility.

Another view of African "fog" - really sand in the air - on the way to the airport. With the humidity here, in the morning when we go out, our truck has a thin layer of dirt/dust/sand plastered on it.

Missionaries Waiting for Elder Holland to Finish with Priesthood Leaders

The missionaries decided to have get a picture with (L to R) Sister Dixon, Sister Sitati (Pres. Sistati is 1st Counselor in Area Presidency), Sister Holland (in red), Sister Snow. Sister Kirkham is on far right on top row.

FINALLY, Elder Holland arrives in LIberia!

Pres. Dixon (West Africa Area President), Elder Holland and Sister Holland hurry out of the terminal to rush to train the awaiting priesthood and auxiliary leaders at the Sinkor chapel in Monrovia.

Elder Holland greets Sister Kirkham just before meeting with all the missionaries. Next to Elder Holland are Elder Snow (new Church Historian and Recorder) and Pres. Dixon (West Africa Area President).

Elder (Dr.) Todd Fife & Sister Fife's visit to Liberia

L to R., Sister Kirkham, Mikel Tellaeche hospital director at Catholic Hospital, Elder & Sister Fife. Elder Fife, Medical Advisor, Africa West Area, came to Liberia to check out the medical facilities in Monrovia - partly in preparation for Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's visit and partly for the benefit of the missionaries serving in Liberia. Elder Fife took an 18 month sebatical from his medical practice as a "family doctor" to serve a mission. Any visits to doctors and all medication of any kind used by any missionary is reported to Elder Fife. Sister Kirkham has exchanged many phone calls and emails with Sister Roggia and Dr. Fife regarding medical stuff and the missionaries. While they were here, Elder Fife gave every missionary a physical exam. He pronounced us very healthy - especially Elder Kirkham...I told him it was due to regular consumption of dark chocolate.

We met with Liberian Vice President Joseph N. Boakai

L to R, Pres. George Pelenah - Bushrod Island district president; Pres. Robert Kpah - Monrovia district president; Elder Kirkham, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai; Dr. Liberty head of Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services, Joe Bryant local member who got this meeting set up, Pres. Prince Nyanforh - 1st Counselor in mission presidency.

We gave Vice President Boakai some basic information about the Church in Liberia, some tracts about the Church, two Tabernacle Choir CDs, and "For the Strength of Youth." Dr. Liberty told Vice President Boakai that our Church did wonderful things for the youth. He said this government was very concerned about today's youth in Liberia and that the government could learn from what the Church does for its youth.

Meeting with Elder Curtis & Senator Findley

Elder Curtis met with Senator Gbehzohner Milton Findley, the new President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate. Senator Findley expressed appreciation for the Church's humanitarian efforts in Liberia. He also encouraged us in teaching morality to the youth in Liberia. Left to right, Joe Bryant, Elder Kirkham, Senator Findley, Elder Curtis, President Kpah (new district president) and Exodus Saye.

Sister Kirkham played the piano/organ for the special Monrovia district conference.

This picture shows the electric piano/organ that Judy played for the district conference, January 22, where the Monrovia district presidency was changed. Elder Curtis presided.

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis & Sister Curtis were here for member and missionary conferences.

Elder Curtis is second counselor in West Africa Area Presidency. He is also the former stake president of our daughter-in-law, 'T'. Sister Curtis and Judy grew up in the same ward. Small world.

Sister Kirkham washing our truck - because, daily, it gets very dirty in the dry, DUSTY season

Judy wanted to do a thorough job -- which included cleaning the roof. It was a little tricky getting to the roof. Elder Kirkham was water boy fetching water in buckets from the back of the apartment.

Dry Season means LOTS of dust & dirt

These pictures are taken a near the missionaries apartment in Caldwell. Notice the banana trees on the left with long branches the exact same color as the road -- because they are covered with dust from the dirt road. You can also see the dust on the leaves of the trees further down the road.

More dust on the leaves. The problem with high humidity and LOTS of dust is that each morning our truck looks like it's been bathed in dust.

Wash day at elders apartment

Elders Swongwa, Nickle and Boakye are washing their mosequito net, shirts, and floor at their apartment at Logan Town.

Elder Nickle decided to try out Elder Swongwa's suds - he had so many.

Seeds from half grapefruit (not genetically altered)

We love grapefruit. We buy grapefruit from local street vendors, who get it off their trees. We get at least this many seeds in each half grapefruit.

Generators are a never ending source of excitement.

Elder Kirkham is working with the zone leaders, Elder Guzha and Elder Lambson to get their new (a.k.a. old/recycled/let's-try-this-one-and-see-if-it-works-any-better...) generator hooked up.

This is actually the oldest generator in service now here in Liberia. I'm referring to the machine, not Elder Guzha. Elder Guzha and Elder Lambson constantly generate enthusiasm, leadership, good will, energy and power for the Lord's work.

Merry Christmas from Liberia!

Christmas Bi-Zone Conference

Here are all the missionaries currently serving in Liberia. 34 young missionaries, 4 senior missionaries, one local couple who are on a service mission, and Pres. & Sister Roggia.

For our Bi-Zone Christmas Conference, we suggested they do a talent show (like we do at family vacations) where anyone who wants to can share a talent. Our talent was to teach everyone the 12 Days of Christmas - with all the gestures/movements. They loved it! In this picture, six geese are laying! Two days later, we had to drop off something at one of the missionaries' apartments and one of the elders said he had a "small problem" which he needed help with. "What is the problem?" "Who is the tenth day of Christmas?" I told him it was ten lords a-leaping. He said, "Like this?" and he jumped. We loved that he wanted to remember!

Each district made a desert for a taste-testing contest. They wanted the senior couples to do the taste-testing...Elder Krumm took this picture of Judy hiding from doing the taste-testing :). Fortunately, Pres. Roggia took over (without any taste-testing - we hasten to emphasize) and gave each desert its own, unique prize (Most Creative, Most Picturesque, Most Innovative way of Wrapping the Deseret, etc.)

Sister Kirkham hands an elder a delicious lunch of turkey sandwich with cheese, cole slaw, fruit salad, chips and donuts...all your basic food groups.

Getting New Baptism Clothes Made

At a district conference session, Judy saw Sister Georgia Baryor's outfit and liked it and took this picture. As Judy talked with her, she found out she was the district primary president and that she is a seamstress and made this outfit. The Liberians call this kind of dress a suit. Judy got the idea to have this sister make new baptism clothes for the mission, which were sorely needed. So, Judy and Sister Krumm went to Waterside (a market area in downtown Monrovia - which is an adventure every time you go there), bought a bolt of white polyester cloth and took it to this sister to make baptism clothes.

Sister Krumm and Judy are talking with Sister Baryor about the baptism clothes she made. Sister Baryor did a beautiful job on the clothes!

Here's Sister's Baryor's cutting table on her front porch. Notice the charcoal heated iron. All of the baptismal clothing worn by those at the Harbel baptism (see next pictures) were made by Sister Baryor.

Harbel Baptism

Harbel is a mission branch about an hour's drive from where we live. There are no missionaries assigned there. The senior couples visit them periodically. There were several investigators who had been attending Church for a long time and wanted to be baptised. Pres. Roggia gave permission for branch missionaries to teach the investigators. Finally, last Saturday , eight were baptised. Pictured here are four of the candidates: a mother, her step-daughter, and two other young women in the back of our truck. Each is wearing the new baptismal clothes recently made.

Elder Kirkham conducted the baptism because none of the branch presidency was available to conduct the service.

These are the eight candidates and the two baptisers. The community of Harbel is located on a rubber tree plantation owned by Firestone, the largest rubber tree plantation in the world. Notice in the background, the rows of rubber trees.

The baptisms took place in a small reservoir on the rubber tree plantation, a few minutes drive. It was a beautiful setting.

After their baptism, those baptized rested at this bus stop across the street from where they were baptized in the reservoir. When all were there, we invited those who wanted, to bear their testimonies. Several bore strong testimonies, expressing profound gratitude that they finally were able to be a member of the true Church.