Sometimes we have the choice opportunity to go to baptisms of individuals we have had the chance to meet. On October 31st, we went to the baptism of a Filipino man and also a couple whom we had actually got to be involved in teaching a couple of times. It was a great experience. 
The first week of November was pretty normal, but since then we have been trying to figure out how to accomplish everything.
The first weekend was a little crazy. We had to make a hospital run for lab test for one of the missionaries as Sister Squires was in Bo. It took us the entire morning as he was in the apartment furtherest from the hospital we take the elders to. We were then going to go help a branch with their membership records, but the clerk called and couldn't make it. We decided to stay for the baptism that these same two elders were having.
On November 10th we had two elders go home. Elder Jones does a employment training class with them. When Elder Jones asked them what their plans were when they went home, both elders indicated that they wanted to go to law school. It took him a little by surprise. The great thing to participate in when the elders leave to go home is the final testimony evening on Monday night prior to them leaving. It is great to hear their strong testimonies. The thing that is really hard is when the African elders leave is that the chances of seeing them again in this life isn't very good.
We had 5 new elders come in that same day. Because of the increase in missionaries, some new areas were able to be opened. The big problem was that the airline here that flies between here and Liberia was not operating for 3-4 weeks. Even though the President was leaving on Thursday (the day after he interviews them) to go to Liberia, he couldn't take all that were going to Liberia in his car. It required Markus to make a run to the border with part of the group and to pick up the one elder that was coming back from Liberia to serve here in Freetown. Markus had had to go to the Liberian border a few days earlier to pick up one of the elders that was returning home, so he made the 10-hour trip one way twice in one week.Pictures of the new elders
On Thurday morning, President had to interview and set apart 7 missionaries leaving from Sierra Leone to serve in other missions--Ghana Cape Coast, Nigeria Port Harcourt and Nigeria Calabar. Here in Sierra Leone once they are set apart, they stay with us until they leave for the airport. So we kept all 7 missionaries at the mission office on Thursday afternoon showing them various Church videos, etc., until the zone leaders showed up at about 6:30 p.m. They stayed with the 6 elders in the Assistants' apartment upstairs at the mission office. We took the one sister home with us and fed her and gave her a place to sleep.
The next day at noon Elder Jones and I took the group across on the ferry. It was a good thing we got to the ferry early because we were still concerned about getting on. We ended up being one of the last cars on. We had the big mission van so it was pretty interesting. I wish I had pictures to show you, but just picture cars parked so closely together that you can't get out of the car unless you get out before the car gets parked next to you unless you are on the outside. People are trying to get through the maze to sell their wares. One lady decided it was a good place to take a nap so she was lying down in the narrow slot between the front of our van and the next car in the shade provided by the vehicles. People were trying to climb over her to get around. Once the ferry reaches the other side, it is mad scramble by the people to get off. Because of where we were parked, people were having to negotiate around our vehicle while the ferry staff is trying to get us off the ferry. You have to drive over these two ramps to get on and off the ferry. You have everyone trying to tell you how to turn and back and manuver. It was exciting to say the least.
One of the vehicles that hadn't made it on the ferry was going to pick up a group of Chinese coming to do business in Sierra Leone. We ended up helping them get from the airport back across the harbor to Freetown. It was an interesting day!!!!!
The weekend was pretty normal.
Last week on Tuesday, we had Elder Freebody Mensah, an Area Authority Seventy, here. Elder Jones got to fly over to the airport on the helicopter to pick him up. We were responsible for providing meals for him while he was here. Elder Jones also took him to Bo (about 3-4 hours away) to do some business there on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday afternoon they returned from Bo with the Bo District Presidency because Elder Mensah wanted to have a Coordinating Council with the Freetown and Bo District Presidencies. I was asked to feed them (the Bo Presidency) prior to the meeting, so I had stayed here in Freetown on Wednesday and Thursday while Elder Jones chauffered Elder Mensah. Elder Mensah left Friday afternoon--this time Elder Jones didn't go with him to the airport as Elder Mensah felt more comfortable than when he had arrived (he had never been to Sierra Leone before).
We are now quiet until the President and Sister Squires return on Monday evening--except for the normal stuff like water runs to take water to the apartments, medical runs, etc.
Below are just some fun random pictures:
Markus, his wife and little girl Jessie. He has a another little girl Martha, but she was in schooll.
Elder Jones and the two assistants--Elder Stice and Elder Amegayie. Elder Amegayie is now serving in Bo. He will complete his mission in February. Elder Amegayie and Elder Jones have had a great relationship. The two elders like to address Elder Jones as "Dad" when they come asking for money. They also sign their correspondence with him as "your kids"
Two of Elder Jones's friends--the one on the right is Moroni. He lives next to the Elders in the Wellington apartment. We don't know the name of the other little boy--he just wanted in the picture.
Elder Jones with one of the guards at the mission home. His name is Ahssem. Don't you love Elder Jones's hat. It is to keep his head from getting sunburned.
The gardens at the mission office. This is the result of all the efforts by Sister Peterson who left in September. The plants are now maturing and look beautiful. We get compliments from people who come to visit us at the office. Some of the purple plants were started breaking off a stem and just planting it into the ground--no roots at all on the plant. Don't they look amazing now!!!!!
This is definitely a long enough blog. Hopefully it won't be so long next time until we post one then you won't have to take so long to read it.
We love you all and express our thanks for all of you. At this Thanksgiving time, YOU (yes I mean YOU) are one of our greatest blessings. We are truly a blessed couple.
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