Saying Goodbye

We arrived home from our mission on July 7, 2015.  We were greeted by our wonderful family holding signs, homemade pictures, and flowers.  It was wonderful.  It was a long 22 hour flight but we would have flown 100 hours, knowing at the end of it all we would see those we had missed so much.  We spoke in Sacrament Meeting on the 12th of July and then headed out to a family reunion from the 13th to the 16th. 

We finally have time to finish up the blog with all of our final pictures we took, before leaving our beloved Pointe Noire.  We heard today that President Ndinga, President of the Loandjili Branche was set apart as the new District Leader.  There were over 600 people that attended the meeting Presided over by President Monga.  His counselors will be, President Okili, who was the 2nd Counselor in the Pointe Noire Branche and President Caillet, who was the Branche President in the Aéroport Branche.  

Being a District will be such a blessing to the Saints... we wish we could have been there to celebrate with those we have grown to love. . . . but we know that Elder and Sister Bills are who the Lord needs to be there right now.  It all works out when you are on the Lord's errand.   We send everyone our deepest love and prayers and look forward to seeing the vision and growth that will come to the wonderful Saints in Pointe Noire.

This is part of our wonderful family.  Our Arizona Baileys were still coming and two of our sons could not get off of work.  But the grandkids were thrilled to see us!

The first thing that Livia wanted to do when we got home was to look at the seashells that we found along the Beach at the Ponton Plage.  All of the grandchildren loved their carved elephants made by Ghisgard.  

Does anyone recognize these three!  They had just enough time to hear President and Sister Cook speak in Sacrament, and then hurry to Washington Terrace to hear us.  We loved seeing them and having them meet the family.

Brother and Sister Sperry were so kind and gracious to come and bring us a lei.  We were so grateful to finally meet them and give them a hug!  

Our beautiful leis.  

Our family photo at our "Ohana".  We were at a place up in Garland, Utah from the 13 - 16 of July.  It was such fun getting reacquainted with everyone.

Our last days....

It was very hard to say good bye to all those we had come to love in Congo.  We made a list of everyone that had touched our hearts in 18 months and it filled 4 journal pages.

Debora was one of our piano students from the Pointe Noire Branche.  We started teaching her in January 2015 and she already is  playing in Sacrament Meeting.   We love her and her dear family!

Sister Yvonne made this outfit for me.  She is a very faithful Sister in the Mpaka Branche that we grew to love.

This is President and Sister Ndinga.  He was called to be the new District President on Sunday

July 19, 2015.  President Ndinga is a valiant leader who will be wonderful in moving the Saints forward in Pointe Noire.  We were so grateful to have been able to work alongside both of them!

Sister Sandrine and Brother Gallen Kessa were married on Friday, July 17, 2015.  We were not able to be there but are so grateful for this wonderful blessing that has come to them.  Sister Sandrine serves as the Relief Society President of the Aeroport Branche.  

Sister Bailey saying good-bye to two very special Relief Society Presidents.  Sister Sandrine and Sister Perpetue

  

We said goodbye to John who we found as we were walking to the Kende Family one Saturday in May.   He and his wife will be baptized next Saturday.  How we grew to love them and are so excited to see them embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He made us this beautiful lamp shade.  

We said good bye to Anicet our night Guardian, who has been with us the whole 18 months.  We love him and his family so much.  He worked so hard to take care of us and get us water each day to fill the cistern.  We will miss him!

We said good-bye to Perley.  She is Leon and Perpetue's daughter.  I just love her.  She is so sweet and beautiful.  She always gave me the biggest hug every time I saw her.  

We received a "good-bye" cake that we shared with everyone.  

This is Brother and Sister Bills who replaced us.  They are who the Lord needs to be in Pointe Noire right now.  How we love them and so enjoyed our 10 days we had with them before we left.

We said good bye to the Gakosso family.  President Max is the Branche President of the Pointe Noire Branche.  This is their beautiful family plus Sister Okiery and her daughter Eden.  

Elder Tchibanda, Elder Kabenga, Elder Bacera, Elder Waite, Elder Kabongo, Elder Legerski, Elder Larson, and 

Elder Kabasele

We said good bye to our wonderful missionaries.  We will miss them so much.  They have worked so hard to "Hasten the Work of Salvation" in Pointe Noire.  We have loved all of the many missionaries we served alongside!

We said good-bye to the Monday morning basketball group.  

On Saturday, July 4, the Mpaka Branche had a good bye fireside for us.  We love seeing all of the Members and sharing our testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

And we said good-bye to our Family Home Evening Group.... Elder Tchibanda, Paco, Jhostavie, Surprise and Desti.   We loved meeting with them on Monday nights and sharing our love of he Gospel.  

And we said good bye to our dear Mission President and Sister Monga.  What a blessing it was for us to be able to serve under the leadership of President Monga.  We will miss his wise leadership, his wonderful laugh, and their beautiful family that we grew to love.  We wish them and the mission our deepest love!

The Gospel is True!

Until next...................