Sierra Leone, June 9-14, 2022

 Did we fly to a city in West Africa or to San Francisco? The ocean view and green hilly terrain caused us to look twice when we flew into in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We saw houses perched on the sides of the green hills that covered the landscape and long narrow streets that twisted and turned in precarious ways, very similar to San Francisco. Small wooden fishing boats and fish markets

dotted the ocean shoreline. It was lovely.

The airport was built in a location that requires passengers to travel to Freetown via a 35-minute sea taxi ride. It was unique to deplane, locate a bus to drive to a pier where a watercraft helps you reach the city. 

We went to Sierra Leone to continue the process of training each of our new 18 MLS/YSA couple missionaries. The success of the Area presidency’s YSA initiatives, Gathering Places and Transition, are dependent on each ward and stake understanding, embracing, and implementing them. From June 9th to 14th, we trained ten stake presidents and YSA Committees in three meetings with Elder and Sister Williams, the local MLS/YSA couple missionaries, attending two. It was a delight to meet the Williams face to face, up to this point we had a Zoom only relationship. We had the added bonus of meeting one of the first returned missionaries they had the privilege of helping through the transition process from the mission to home. They were delighted and so was this returned sister missionary!

This picture needs to be included because it was truly a FIRST! These two YSA were holding hands!! They were acting like a couple!! Outward affection is something that the people to not do in Africa, even married couples. When I saw these two, they were very happy to turn and smile at the camera to let everyone know they are a couple.  

Our first training was with Freetown and Freetown East Stakes. The East Stake’s president had been sustained four days prior and eagerly engaged in the vision of Gathering Places for his YSA.  

 

On Friday, the 10th we were at Kissy Stake, joined by Kossoh Town and Wellington. The presidents and committee members were attentive, especially Wellington Stake which had been created six months prior and planned their GP launch the following Monday.  

On Saturday, the 11th we drove 3½ hours from Freetown to Bo where we met with Bo, Bo East, Bo North, Bo West, and Kenema Stakes. We arrived in time to watch the young neighborhood children gather bucket after bucket of water for their families’ daily use. The church’s outdoor faucet made the chore more manageable than early morning trips to the local waterhole. After collecting the water, they navigate the dirt and rock road from the church to their homes. This is a child’s chore. If they don’t do it, there is literally no water in their home. Children hold an important role in the family structure.  

The stake presidents knew one another well and openly shared their thoughts and opinions, especially on the subject of skills training vs four-year degrees and the benefit, or lack thereof, of PEF loans. Strong opinions and experiences were expressed on both sides. One thing they all agreed on was that other locations around the Area should be given opportunities that Accra enjoys.  

Tro tros are always loaded to the brim and beyond with items to transport. This tro tro was extreme. Do you see the legs and feet hanging off the roof? Yes, there were two men sitting on the roof amongst the parcels. They were smiling and waving as we snapped pictures. TIA!!! 

The Wellington Stake building is located on the typical dirt road in a residential area. It was a rented four-story building with a new stake president and 120 YSA in attendance. There was one bathroom in the building which was located on the third floor. There was no water, so a large bucket of water sat next to the toilet with a small bucket to assist in the flushing process.  The president was eager to meet the needs of his YSA by starting a Gathering Place. During the formal meeting we spoke, the president spoke, and the YSA thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  

The young people were excited and thoroughly enjoyed the games and meal provided.  

The economy is challenging for most citizens. The poverty is like that in Liberia, with the exception of the new four laned highway that links the major cities of Freetown and Bo, allowing us to travel the 150 miles in an easy 3 ½ hours.  

The country doesn’t accept Ghanaian cedis, so we arrived with US money. The exchange rate was $1.00 US to 13,050 Leones, meaning that when we exchanged our money, we literally walked away with a bag of money. For example, our hotel bill was 14,000,000, yes million, Leones. We wondered why the government didn’t knock off a few zeroes so that prices weren’t so outrageous!  (Pictured is the equivalent of $100 US.)  

Sunday morning, we gave our Church driver the day off and headed to church in a ka ka. As we left the safety of our hotel neighborhood and got closer to the church, our ka ka driver told me to hold onto my purse which was sitting openly on my lap and Dale to take his phone from his shirt pocket, because of “thieves.” Thieves? Later that day we drove down by the waterfront in a taxi to get Covid tests. I was leaning out the driver’s side of the car snapping pictures of the ocean scenery as the driver asked if we’d like to walk the beach. I eagerly said yes, as Dale, yes Dale Munk, said no. His stated reason was that it was “not safe!” I was surprised to hear those words come out of his mouth, but the look on his face made me believe him. Apparently, as I was looking to the left, a man on the street reached in the taxi window groping the front of Dale’s shirt trying to steal his phone. We were warned of thieves, then we experienced one! 

I was looking at this while Dale was being groped by a would-be thief. Keep your eyes open and your windows rolled up! Or as the locals say, "Don't drop the glass!"