the end of the fish story. see below for the beginning. (sorry about not rotating the picture before it uploaded - but it is so rare that we can get a fast enough connection to actually load a picture; that I don't want to delete it and not be able to get it back again).

A Fish Story

Last Monday for P-day, we went with Pres and Sis Roggia and Elder and Sister Neves to Buher beach. It was a great day, and it did not rain until we were on our way home. While there, a fisherman came running up to us. He had just caught a "cuda" (barracuda) and offered to make it into a nice lunch for us with rice and cole slaw. We had each brought a pic nic lunch with us and did not want to have that go to waste; so we declined his offer to cook for us. However, we told him we would buy the whole fish and cook it ourselves later. So, after some negotiations on the price (thanks to Elder Neves) we were able to buy the fish, and he cleaned and fileted it for us right there. Luckily we had ice in the ice chest and a bag to store our catch! That night, the six of us had a wonderful dinner at the mission home all for less than $5 per person.

a Chicken Story

Every Saturday the members in the branches that meet in the building next to the Mission Office come to clean the building. There is one little family, the Massaquoi family, that comes every Saturday. The mother sends her little daughter, Woma (aged 10) and her niece, Enid (8) to the mission office to bring us bananas and oranges and plantain (which when sliced really thin and fried makes great little potatoe-chip like snacks). Last Saturday they brought me something else! A LIVE CHICKEN!!! they had the little hen in an old rice sack and so I asked what was in there and they opened it up and at first I thought it was a dead chicken, but then it lifted it's little head up and stared right at me. Oh my goodness! I could not offend them by not accepting the gift. I tried to tell them that I was not used to getting a live chicken and that I did not know what to do with it. So they proceded to instruct me on how to twist it's head off and pluck it! I walked back with them to their little compound and thanked sister Massaquoi for her generous gift. The next day, I gave them a box of Rice Krispies cereal and a carton of milk. So, this is a picture of Mustafa, to whom I gave the chicken. His family really enjoyed their dinner that night.

We hiked to the peak (not exactly Charleston peak) but the highest spot here in Freetown called Leicester Peak. Nice little hike for some old people. This is where Robert D. Hales dedicated the land for the preaching of the gospel.

little stow away

Anyone, but Katie, know what this little stow away is? We found it in the tread of grandpa's sandels a couple of weeks ago. (can anyone say "Polly Pockets"?)

a parial view of the hillside in Freetown

just thought I'd wake everyone up and post this of Elder Patterson, the younger, on his first day in Mexico City on his birthday, August 10th. (did you think that you were on the wrong blog cite?) He is doing great, learning the language and loving the mexican people and the food. Don't forget about him. You can write to him for free on "dearelder.com" he is in the Mexico Mexico City East Mission.

the elder's gathered in front of the British Consulat building before the production of "A Mighty Change of Heart", an all African production by the youth of the church in Africa. Each ward or branch in the African Stakes or Districts presented short skits about events in the Book of Mormon. The production was written by sister Linda Petersen from Mesa, Ariz. who is serving with her husband in the Ghana Area Office. The branches worked very hard on their skits, costumes and scenery.

these cute little girls just wanted their picture "snapped"

King Noah's throne; frame made by Elder Jones and Elder Patterson!! great job Elders. canopy and cover provided by the branch

King Lamoni and his wife before she uttered those famous words in Alma 19:5

Wicked king Noah's priests (see Mosiah Chapter 11)

Lehi with his family telling them the Lord has told him they need to leave Jerusalem (sorry these are out of order). Laman stole the show with his defiant attitude (way to go Allie)

this is Moroni telling us about the plates hidden up in the mountain

No new pictures to post because we have been having problems with our internet connection. The last 2 + weeks have been very busy with the Area President & Sister Cardon coming; missionaries coming and leaving from the mission as well as those from Sierra Leone coming and going too. Pictures can be found on President and Sister Roggia's blog: SierraLeoneFreetownMission.blogspot.com. It is still raining here; and will continue for another 2 months at least. We get the best fog here where we live in the mornings and in the evenings. Reminds me of the time I went to a baby shower somewhere in Summerlin when it was a new community. It was daylight when I arrived but dark when I left and there was a fog. I was all turned around and didn't know that I was driving in the wrong direction until there was a break in the fog and I could see the Statosphere tower and it was to my left meaning that I was driving south when I should have been going north!! I turned around and went the other way!! Good thing there is only one road here or we would be lost for sure! We are doing well and loving being around the missionaries. They are the best along with those from our ward at home and the missionaries in Connor's mission. Oh well, they are all the best no matter where they are serving! We love them all. I will try to post a pic soon. Wish I had my camera out the other day when we saw a woman with ab0ut 7 baskets of charcoal balanced on her head!!