Elder and Sister Ardern, Think Celestial, Learning Christ-like Compassion and more

Elder and Sister Ardern, sitting on the couch with our mission leaders, met with all of us senior couples for a little snack buffet and social gathering. We had an enjoyable time talking. Elder Ardern, General Authority 70, told us we could ask him any questions. Sister Martin asked him if he got nervous speaking in General Conference. He said he doesn't, but his wife gets anxious. He told the experience and procedures one goes through to prepare and speak for General Conference. For example, he spends 40 hours to prepare his talk thinking of every word. He also told us how he was called to be a general authority by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  It was totally unexpected. 

 

Earlier, Elder and Sister Ardern had met with the younger missionaries and they attended the District Youth Conference in Megenagna. They took a group picture in the same location where our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson came and dedicated the land of Ethiopia in 2004 for the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   

The link below goes to the Church's Africa Central Area Facebook page and picture's the youth wearing special T-Shirts for the event. Note the comment of Elder Rasband who also showed it to our Prophet. They both liked the "Think Celestial" T-shirts so much, they asked for shirts for themselves. Since we were going to Kenya for training, we were asked to deliver the shirts to Elder Ardern, so he could eventually give them to Elder Rasband and President Nelson. But because it was going to take so long, they decided instead to just send the artwork file to Salt Lake City and they could make T-shirts there sooner.

Elder Ardern with Ethiopia Youth - Think Celestial

We also liked the shirts and ordered them for ourselves as well. 

Elder Ardern of the Quorum of the Seventy also gave a beautiful talk in our last general conference about Africa and learning to have Christ-like compassion. Hope you heard or read it. We were especially excited when we heard his talk in October General Conference, because we started our MTC (Missionary Training Center) the day following the conference. He starts out by saying, "This morning, I invite you to join with me on an African journey. You won’t see any lions, zebras, or elephants, but perhaps, by journey’s end, you will see how thousands of..."

Elder Ardern - Love Thy Neighbor

Sister Martin and I are working on having Christ-like compassion. I think it's a life-long quest to give as Jesus would. There is so much need here and so many people are hungry. We've been told by some not to give directly to beggars in the street as they will swarm around you and it would be impossible to give to every needy person. Others have said they give personally every opportunity they have. One person told us they were fined for giving someone food while their car was stopped in traffic. Apparently it is illegal to give out of your car window at intersections and in congestion for obvious safety reasons. People continuously come up to your car window and try to sell things or ask for food or money, pulling at your heart-strings. Either way you decide to give is a personal choice as we all must follow our hearts. For now we've decided to give through various charitable organizations and also Church humanitarian and fast offering funds. Still learning and praying we will do the right thing.

See link below for some interesting reading...According to the (WHO) World Health Organization, "Ethiopia has the highest rate of traffic fatalities per vehicle in the world"...."Do not open your doors or windows to give to beggars. Police can fine people for giving money to beggars." https://www.countryreports.org/country/ethiopia/traffic.htm

We saw this painting in the Mission office and wanted to post it. This was painted by the daughter of the former mission president.

Such an interesting depiction of Lehi's dream of the iron rod and the tree of life from the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and little extras like a modern temple.

Oh no. Is that a worm on my laptop???

This Church Newsroom YouTube link below shows the program also being done here in Ethiopia

Global Nutrition Program for Mothers and Children, Led by Relief Society

Our new exercise routine in our apartment building-keep going! Only 441 steps to go. 

Is Sister Martin cold and enjoying the heat of the oven?

Actually, she was trying to bake some bread in the 2nd new oven, but the oven temp fluctuates so much we have to continually watch our temperature gauge that we brought and put inside the oven. We have to turn the oven off and open the door. We learned a lesson from our mission in India that had similar challenges.

Oven set at 60 Celsius (140 Fahrenheit)

After 30 minutes the interior gauge still shows 500 Fahrenheit

Sister Cowley - making some cinnamon rolls at the mission office for the young missionaries. Our mission office has a full kitchen. She set up a small table to roll and shape them. Sweet is the work!

Making fendisha (popcorn) with our Amharic language teacher. We found out Ethiopians love popcorn. She sprinkled it with salt and powder sugar and it was pretty good. 

Another beautiful baptismal service for a new sister in our branch. She was a little camera shy as she is mostly hidden behind the brother in red. 

Got my first (super short) haircut in Ethiopia. Probably due to my lack or inability to speak the local language. But they only charge about $1.75.