A Few Weeks in Bo, Sierra Leone

Here is Sister Sherwood with the neighbor children at one of our Elders apartments.  Where ever we go the children know her because she gives them sweets.  Today, not only the children came but the mother of a couple of the children came to show her new baby.  We are beginning to make friends here.














Each Saturday we try and go to the baptisms that are being held in Bo.  This one was at the Torkpoi Town Branch.  A whole family was baptized this day.  Father, Mother, teenage daughter and 2 primary age sons. It is a challenge to get the baptisms done correctly when there is a water shortage.  There was about 18 inches of water in the font.  The father had to sit down, then lay down flat on his back to get under the water.






Elder Sherwood and Elder Oyebambi were the witnesses at the baptism.  Elder Afonne, next to Elder Sherwood, was calling the names.  The baptisms were performed by a branch member.












Here is Sister Sherrif, wife of the branch president, playing the keyboard for the baptism.  Notice she has a helper on her back.  Her daughter kept trying to reach the keys as her mom played.









Here is another view of the future pianist peeking over her mother's shoulder.  Most mothers here carry their babies on their backs.  It leaves their hands free to do other things like playing the piano.  The babies are happy being right up next to their moms.  It is a great way to do it and it is fun to see the two little feet on each side of the mom as she is walking towards you. They would not think of putting their babies in a baby stroller.  Trying to push a baby stroller through a crowded market would be a disaster.





We do, however, see lots of baby strollers here in Sierra Leone.  This is what they usually look like.  They always have a cooler in them and are selling ice cream bars or frozen yogurt.  This one was selling yogurt.
We tried it.  It was not good.  But it was wet, cold, and refreshing.










Today on the way home from church in Kenema, we decide to explore a side road into the bush. We went for about 4 km and found a beautiful small village.  We can't believe we didn't take a picture of it.  Unlike everything along the highways which is very littered, this village was very clean.  The people kind of shied away from us so we didn't feel comfortable taking a picture.

The forest/jungle along the way was beautiful.











Notice how these trees are lined up.  We see this quite often.  It is clear that they have been planted.  Sometimes very large orchards.









This week was our mission tour by Elder Curtis and his wife.  They are the Africa West Area President and wife.  Here we are with them and President and Sister Clawson at a zone conference in Bo.  It was wonderful.