3 New Branches

3 New Branches in Sierra Rutile

In our last post we documented the creation of the new Moyamba Branch.  This past Sunday we created 3 more new branches, this time in the Sierra Rutile area.  What a day.  We left Bo at 5am, before sunrise, to get to Mogbuemo for their 9:00am meeting.  During the Sacrament meeting the new branch was created by our Mission President, President Clawson.  Here you see those in attendance. Brother Conteh, the leader of the home group was called to be the new Branch President.

After the Sacrament meeting was over, President and Sister Clawson hurried on to the next home group while President Robin Taylor and Elder Sherwood and Brother Vandi stayed behind to set apart the newly called positions.  We then went on to Moriba Town for the next Sacrament meeting at 11:00am.

At Moriba town there were well over 100 people in attendance so there was standing room only for that branch creation.  Brother Jumu was called to be the new Branch President.  There is no picture because the rain was so heavy we did not get one.  Again President and Sister Clawson left to go to the next branch meeting while we stayed behind to set people apart.  We then went to Mosenesee Jct for that home group Sacrament meeting at 1pm.

Here we created the 3rd of the new branches.  Brother Bannister was called to be the new Branch President.  Below you see a picture of the adults and a separate one of the children who were present.

What an exciting day for these three new branches in these 3 villages.We left about 3pm and had a 4 hour drive home.  It was dark when we got to our apartment.  It was a long but satisfying day.

Now that these branches are created, the missionaries can begin teaching and baptizing.  There are two sets of missionaries living in Moriba Town.  They will be working in all 3 branches.

New Branch

Moyamba Branch Is Created

On September 3 the Moyamba Branch was created by President Clawson in the Freetown, Sierra Leone Mission.  President Banister, standing next to Sister Clawson, was called as the new Branch President.  He had been in charge of the home group that has been in this town.  There were close to 90 people in attendance at the Sacrament Meeting.  About 12 of them were members of the church.  The rest were investigators who have been attending regularly and are waiting to to be taught and baptized.  They were so excited to finally become a branch.

Missionaries come to Moyamba and Sierra Rutile

On Friday September 8, we helped bring 8 missionaries to the Sierra Rutile area.  4 of these would be staying in Morriba Town and 4 would be going to Moyamba, where we created a new branch last Sunday.  Here is a picture of us, the 8 missionaries, and the assistants in front of the new Morriba Town apartment, which is still under construction.  The bedrooms were ready, so they were able to spend the night there.  The construction should be completed this week.

Morriba Town is situated near a small lake.  Here is a view from the front porch.

Morriba Town is in the middle of 3 home groups in the Sierra Rutile area.  All 3 home groups will have branches created next Sunday, September 17.  All are similar to the Moyamba branch, a few members and lots of investigators.  Here is a picture of the branch missionaries in Morriba Town with the 2 of the 4 full time missionaries that came today.  They are not yet members, but are trained branch missionaries.  They will be the first ones these elder will teach and baptize, so they can work with the rest of the investigators.

Relief Society Still Feeds Missionaries everywhere

Here we see the missionaries being fed by the Morriba Town Home Group Relief Society.

They prepared a delicious potato leaf, chicken stew over rice and served it "home style" to the 12 of us.  "Home Style" is 4 huge plates of food, and 12 spoons.  It doesn't take long for missionaries to put away a lot of good food.  We were so grateful for it.  It was a 4 hour drive all morning bringing the missionaries from Bo and we still had a 4 hour drive to go home again.  It was a long day.

These people in Morriba Town, Mogbuema, and Mossenese Junction are anxious to have their 3 branches created next Sunday.

We feel to bear testimony.  It is a thrill to be a part of the growth of the Kingdom of God on the earth.  The people are anxious to learn of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As they live the gospel they blossom and want to share it with others.  They are so humble and so teachable.  They live it whole heartedly once  they learn the truth.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and has been restored and we are blessed to be in the fastest growing area in the world.  We witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and wants each of you to come unto Him.