June 9, 2019

When we first arrived in our apartment here, of the 3 toilets present, 2 were missing the conventional seats.  So we requested and had installed two new toilet seats.  They were not sturdy however, and within one or two sittings the plastic fittings that held them in place had cracked.  We quickly adapted to doing without, unless we wanted the additional comfort of the half bath which had a sturdy seat.  Neuton’s first law of motion being what it is, (a body at rest tends to remain at rest) things have stayed like that for a while.  This week, however, it was time for a change.  So I walked into a kind of hardware store on main street and asked (no luck) and then started the journey walking up the street inquiring about toilet seats.   You can meet some very nice people asking about toilet seats, but they always pointed somewhere else. We knew there was a hardware store store not far from our apartment and yes they had them and even had the sturdy kind.  So, miracle of  miracles, we now have toilet seats in the apartment.  We’re feeling very pampered …

Today was the first Sacrament meeting of the group in Niakia.  The meeting was held in the same home where the church started in that area several years ago.  When the mission president at the time came from the big city to organize a branch, it was decided that the branch should be 10 km away in the much larger town.  Many who had been active couldn’t get there due to the cost, so we have members there who haven’t attended for several years.  We had 16 present, including some visitors, and it was a good meeting so we consider it a good start.  Several men decided that they should go visiting through the village after the meeting to tell those who could have come what they missed.  We love these people!

The new group at Niakia

I [Sue] finished the B of M in French this week. Our president challenged us to be done the end of June. Studying the Book of Mormon is one of my favorite things. I am curious about the many roles that the gentiles play in the preparation for the second coming . That is what I am studying now.  Tom has shown me how to use notebooks on my iPad so I am keeping the references that are especially meaningful.  I am also reading Preach My Gospel in French aloud so Tom can correct my pronunciation.

I am hoping to take a short walk tomorrow—perhaps one or two miles. It has been 10 days and I am not limping much. If I still have pain, I will rest for a few more days.

First aid with a bag of frozen peas

This week was our 47th wedding anniversary. We posted one wedding picture on Tom’s facebook and a recent picture with Elder Belley. We attended a baptism of 4 people in Issia and headed to Daloa about 2 o’clock. There was not a place to celebrate so we made ham and pineapple pizza at home and were happy that Tom could do family history while I read a book about Jerusalem.  Such party people!

A very well-tended garden