August 4, 2019

After Sunday meetings last week in Issia, we went south to San-Pedro to stay with Elder and Sr. Tanner.  Our required purpose was to have the truck serviced there, but we really looked forward to spending some time with the Tanners and being by the ocean.  They had recently returned after being across the big pond for her mother’s funeral.

One part of our visit was a return to the family in San-Pedro that we wrote about on May 12.  They were saving up to be married so they could join the Church.  This visit, they reported that the mother in the family had returned to her village and obtained all the documents she needed to take to city hall to get a marriage license, and that with a bit of family help they now had the required cash to pay the fees for marriage.  That is a miracle to us, given the very humble circumstance in which they live.  We all cheered together!  Elder and Sr. Tanner also deserve much credit, and were going to go with the father to present the documents this week.  Such a great blessing to be part of a life-changing experience. 

We stayed overnight at the Bay of Mermaids resort.  It is an hour west along the coast near Grand Bereby in a very beautiful setting with rocks, crashing waves, and also a sheltered bay with a couple of lovely beaches.  We took advantage of the tennis courts, the mini-golf, the sea kayaks, and the swimming pool, but our favorite part was just relaxing and visiting together.  The food was the best we have had since arriving.  And it was by far the best auto service waiting facility in the world!  Our 24 hour stay there really recharged our batteries.

 







Nearby there is a fishing village which we visited last May.  Tuesday was the day that the fleet returned for the week so we saw many boats and visited a large covered area where the fish are smoked before sending them for sale.  As part of our visit at the fishing beach, Elder Tanner performed his usual slight of hand with a mango seed, making it disappear (as it were) and then pulling it out of a woman’s ear.  She shrieked and ran off, terrified by his voodoo magic.  To calm her and everyone else he had to do a short tutorial to show how he did the trick - that it isn’t voodoo.  He does it very well, and it was great entertainment!

On Friday we brought the missionaries as usual from Issia to Saioua.  Elder Larkin has joined our two missionaries as a threesome until Elder Buyungu returns to Congo next week.  We were able to divide into two teams to get to all the teaching appointments and it was a busy day.  We will greatly miss Elder Buyungu!  He is a bright young man and an excellent teacher.  He will go to the new temple in Kinshasa to do proxy work for his parents before going back to his home in the east, where his plans are uncertain.

We heard that last week in the “small” group in Niakia attendance was 37!  With that kind of growth they will be ready soon to apply for a change in status to become a branch.  We visited Saioua today and felt like the prodigal children coming back home.   We do so love those members.  It was also announced that the branch of Issia will be divided in 2 weeks!  It is such a blessing to be here at this time to witness the remarkable growth in numbers and in spirit among these dedicated and loving members.