President and Soeur Monga Arrive in Pointe Noire ~ Sept. 24, 2014

Interviews...

This past week was one of the busiest of our mission.  We picked up President and Sister Monga on Wednesday at 10:30 A.M. and then headed to Foukes, where President interviewed each Elder there and Sister Monga inspected the Apartment. After that, we headed to the Mpaka Apartment where President spent the next 2 hours giving Elder Masse his exit interview, as he will be leaving on Oct. 3, and talking with Elders Ralison, Tripp and Nkulu.  We finished at 6:30 P.M. and then headed to the SeaClub for a wonderful dinner of baked sea bass.  

Elder Ralison with President and Sister Monga

Elder Tripp

Elder Nkulu

Elder Naughton

Elder Etherington

                                                                                                                                                                     

Elder Masse

We waited with the Elders while President interviewed.  

This is Jannette.  She was baptized this past Saturday by Elder Sperry.

Elders Bybee and Elder Johnston baptized Ryan, Debora, Romeo and Alex

This is a picture of their whole family.  Parfait, the father was baptized a few months ago.  He is so very excited for his family to find the Gospel that he has grown to love.  His wife, is hearing the lessons and hopes to be baptized soon.

This is a picture of all of the candidates...

This past Sunday was elections.  The current President of the country would not let anyone go to church so that all would have to go vote.  So President Monga gave permission for all the apartments to have Sacrament Meetings.  We had ours with Elder Sperry and Elder Garland.  

It has been a wonderful week of missionary service.  We love it and we love our Mission.

Until next week. . . . . . . . .  

African Pizza ~ September 24, 2014

How we make Pizza in Point Noire

     Part of learning how to adjust to being in a 3rd World Country as Senior Missionaries is to adapt what they have to eat with what you are used to eating.  This week I decided to make Elder Bailey a pizza. I have found that cooking is one of my favorite things to do.  I love to learn how to make African food, as well as bring a little "home cooking" to our everyday lives.  It just helps us to have a little "feel" of being home. 

     Before I left for our mission, my niece, Wendi, became a pampered chef consultant.  So I went to many parties and this is where I learned how to make pizza.  I brought many of my pampered chef utensils with me to Pointe Noire, and would suggest to any Senior Couple going on a mission to Africa, to bring things with you...... I especially love my special cutting knife, potato peeler, small spatula, french fry cutter, small food-processor that you work by hand, and my slicer-dicer.  These have made cooking a breeze.

I take about 1/4 cup of oil and mince a garlic into it.  Then I brush that on the dough and cook for 7 minutes.

This is an African zucchini.  They are white on the outside and green underneath.  

A closer look!

Next caramelize some onion in a little French Butter....... divine!

After taking out the dough from the oven, add the caramelized onions and the zucchini slices.

Tomatos are abundant now so I added those, green peppers and a little salt and pepper.

No mozzarella cheese as it is 9 dollars a pound.  So we have a little Guyere!  

The finished product!

We put some fresh avocados on top and VOILA! Our homemade African Pizza. 

Elder Bailey says it is definitely a "keeper".....

So another week has come and gone here in Pointe Noire.  We love our mission and each other and are so grateful for our time here to spread the "Good News" of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

The Church is True!

Until next week....................

 

Music and the Unspoken Word ~ September 22, 2014

Music ~ our Words We Cannot Speak

It has been said that..."Music touches hearts where words cannot".. In our case, as Senior Missionaries  here in Pointe Noire, this is certainly true.   Four months ago we applied for and received 15 keyboards and workbooks from the "Jack and Wauna Harman Music Education Fund. "  This is a wonderful program, run through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that allows anyone throughout the world to be able to learn music.  There are a few rules  and regulations, but we qualified for them and were able to get 5 keyboards for each one of our Branches.  Since then, there has been one more Branche formed, so we are getting ready to apply for 5 more.

The whole goal of the program is to teach the students so that when we are done, they will be able to receive a keyboard, and turn around and teach someone else.  We are a perfect example of this as "Paco" is one of our teachers who helps Elder Bailey.  He had the lessons from Elder and Sister Gates 4 years ago.  He willingly comes every Wednesday for four hours, helps translates, and helps with our faithful 15 students.  

We have seen amazing results and are now seeing our students play in Sacrament Meetings and at Baptisms.  They are so proud of themselves and that is the greatest part of it all.

We come every Wednesday to the church and set up the the Keyboards.  We have two sessions...one from 2:00 ~ 4:00 and the other from 4:00 ~ 6:00.  We have to put up all of the chairs, get the tables from the kitchen and bring our keyboards out of the library and set them up.  We have 5 keyboards with batteries for when there is no power.   The picture above is of our 2:00 session.

We keep track of their progress each week, so that when they come for their lesson they will start where they left off.  Paco walks around and helps each student with what they are working on for that day.

They have not complained that the person right across from them is on a different page, they just work so hard at practicing the music.  We keep the keyboards at the church for now.  

This is Divin.  He is learning how to read notes, and then knowing where they are on the keyboard.  In French the notes are called Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La and Si..... That has been a bit hard for me to translate.

Justohvy played for our Baptism on the 14th of September.  He had practiced so hard all week.  He did a wonderful job, even though he said that it is very different when people are singing. 

Christ is always one of the first ones to come to class.  He always helps set up and most of the time stays for 4 hours.

Daljus is our most advanced student.  He played for Sacrament Meeting last Sunday.

Herve is working on learning the names of the notes.  This next week we will go over where they are found on the piano.

Raoul works so hard to learn the notes and the songs.  He was able to take one of our old keyboards home to practice for two weeks.  He will bring it back this week and then someone else will be able to take it home to practice.

When no one needs help, Paco practices playing the hymns.

Slavy has been one our very most dedicated students.  He works so hard to try and get the keys learned so that he can start playing hymns.

Murrian is one of our newest students, and also one of our most "natural".  He was baptized on the 14th and loves coming to the church to be among his friends.  

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We love helping teach music to the Youth of Pointe Noire.   It is just another way to bring light and hope to these wonderful people that we have been "Called To Serve".

The Church is True!

Birthday in the Congo ~ September 15, 2014

Encouraging ~ A big part of missionary work. . .  

The missionaries work so hard everyday to teach and support the  work here in Pointe Noire.  President Gordon B. Hinckley said:  "Every convert is a great and serious responsibility." So they are not only working with investigators, they are nourishing and strengthening those that have been baptized.  Some days there is not enough hours in a day to do all that needs to be done.  

Encouragement is a big part of missionary work.  Every day they encourage those they are working with to keep their commitments, pray daily, study the scriptures and review the lessons that they have been taught.  

Some days, we encourage and strengthen each other in the work we have been called to do.  That strengthening came this past week in the form of a Birthday Party for Sister Bailey.  The missionaries wanted to come and have cake and ice-cream... so they had a one hour window on Sunday night, where we got together to eat, sing, laugh, and nourish each other.    It was wonderful!   So, I personally wanted to thank them for their thoughtfulness and for all they do for Elder Bailey and I and for the Lord.  They inspire us to do our very best each day, because of their example of hard work and commitment.     

So here is a big "Merci" to all the missionaries in Pointe Noire!

Elder Ralison, Elder Bybee, Elder Naugton, Elder Massé, and Elder Nkulu 

The Elders worked hard to bake the cakes and make the fudge-sauce for the ice-cream.  Elder Sperry made me this beautiful seashell necklace, that I will place next to all of my macaroni necklace's from my children and grandchildren. 

Back row:  Elder Tripp, Elder Etherington, Elder Bybee and Elder Ralison

Middle row:  Elder Nkulu, Elder Massé, Elder Sperry, Elder Garland and Elder Johnston

Front row:  Elder Naughton and Sister Bailey 

This is the wonderful, enthusiastic, group of missionaries that have been called to preach the Gospel here in Pointe Noire. . . We love working along side of them as the Senior Couple assigned here to serve the Lord with whatever He needs us to do.

The Elders lined up for some nice, hot vegetable soup.

I tripled the recipe, but still not a drop was left.  

Elder Bybee was on prepatory help in the kitchen... He looks great in an apron.   Elder Tripp is hoping that there will still be some soup left for him by the time he gets up there!

Elder Etherington is patiently waiting for his turn.

Elder Tripp is now ready for seconds!

Elder Johnston 

Elder Nkulu

Elder Garland and Elder Sperry with a "Selfie".....

The missionaries get down to the business of eating.  They love to be together and catch up on how the work is progressing and just to be with each other.

Elder Naughton

Elder Garland

Elder Massé received his flight plans to leave on October 3.  He has served a wonderful mission and will head home to Oregon to his very excited family that has not seen him for 2 years.

Elder Etherington stirs his fudge-sauce to put on the ice-cream.  He made one with peanut butter added and one without.  Elder Sperry is allergic to peanuts, so we are very careful about "peanuts" when we all get together.

 Elder Massé and Elder Naughton were the dishwashers for the night.  Elder Bailey was very grateful, as this is usually his job.  

Elder Garland, Elder Bybee and Elder Sperry checking out the "World Map". 

Baptisms for the week. . . . 

Elder Sperry and Elder Garland have been teaching "Dieu Merci".  He is a fine young man that has also been coming to our piano classes.  He was baptized by "Paco" who is the Ward Mission Leader.  All of the others are friends that came to support him.  Even though he is only 14, he has a very mature attitude of our Savior Jesus Christ.

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We close another week here in Pointe Noire.  We are so grateful for each other and for the purpose we all share in bringing souls to Christ.  We love the work, and we love the wonderful missionaries we serve alongside.  

The Church is True!

Until Next Week...............