We have been here in Freetown for two weeks. Each day has been full. The president says we are only half-time workers because we only work 12 hours a day. There is lots to do.
Returning and meeting our old friends is far better than had been imagined. We were greeted with thrilled gasps and hugs by everyone. These truly are the most loving people in the world.
It's a much easier adjustment the second time around. The crowded, noisy streets, the smoky, dirty air all just make it feel like we have come home.
We feel spoiled in our new apartment with quiet generators and dependable (so far) pressurized well water.
We are loving the experience.

Returning to Sierra Leone

Organizing everything as part of the mission re-opening process

Happy missionaries as we prepare to depart from the Salt Lake Airport on February 12th, 2016.

Here is where all the memorable missionary group pictures were taken.

Our dining room in the new mission home building.

Our livingroom.

Meeting with President Clawson and Damoa Manu (Accra Finance) in the secretary's office.

The new mission home.

President and Sister Ostler contributed this carving at the entrance to the mission home.

On our way back to Sierra Leone to help re-open the mission after ebola.

Sierra Leone was declared ebola free at the end of last November. The new mission president asked if a group of us would come and help get the mission going again. Here we are on February 13th, 2016, at Charles DeGaulle Airport. All on our way to Sierra Leone. Elder Miles on the left and Sister Miles on the right. In the background left to right are Sister Sherwood, Elder Sherwood and me. The Sherwoods are on a 23 month mission. The Miles are returning in June. The Lauritzens will return after the new office couple is trained.

Coming Home January 7th, 2014

 President Abibu Charles. S&I Director and counselor in the Freetown
Stake presidency. A great man and a good friend.

Elder and Sister Kanzler, President and Sister Ostler, us and Sister and Elder Burns.

 Lunch and a brief moment for sharing testimonies at the office before we left.

  Waiting at the Sea Coach dock.

  Elder Nwuso and Elder Sumrak were the president's assistants.

 On the way to Lungi Airport the assistants tried to teach an unreceptive passenger.

We arrived at Accra on time, but the flight to New York was delayed six hours for weather. When we arrived at JFK International we had to scramble to get standby seats to Salt Lake City. We got our seats at the last minute. When we arrived in Salt Lake it was late in the evening, but Ben was there waiting for us. 

It was a wonderful mission, filled with trials and adventures and spiritual experiences and it was so good to be home with our family.

Sugar Loaf Mountain

 Hike to Sugar Loaf Mountain, January 1st, 2014.

A jungle trail.

 Trail marker on a tree.

 Not much of a trail.

 Another trail marker.

 The flat thing in the lower center of the picture is a vertical ribbed root to a tree.

 Marlene overlooking Freetown. The US embassy is visible between the two green patches in the center of the picture.

 Marlene overlooking the Guma forest.

 Ductile at the bottom of the trail. Marlene likes pipe.

One of several steep rock faces we had to climb.

New Hill Station Chapel

 Assembling the new Hill Station chapel organ.

 A nice new baptismal font at Hill Station.

 Waiting for baptisms to start.

 Elder Penia on the left next to Bishop Nyalopo. Elder Wootton on the right.

 New file cabinets from the United Arab Emirates. "Some assembly required"
and no instructions provided.

 Gospel Essentials classroom.

 Font water storage tank.

 Generator room.

 High speed handicapped ramp.

 

Stairway to chapel.

Bugs on Sugar Loaf Mountain