Couch Collapsed - Demolished Homes - Job/College class to Returning Missionaries -Mobile Family Search Center - Baptism/lunch - Zone conference

 

We were sitting on our couch one evening and all at once it collapsed. So, we even have home repairs in Ethiopia. Sister Martin took my picture.

One of the nice families that we enjoy seeing at church, including the little boys that go to Sister Martin's Primary class, were given 24 hour notice that their house was going to be demolished. The government has been demolishing a lot of the city in a big beautification project. 

We decided to visit them in their new place with our branch president. Sister Martin brought some of her homemade bread. Even though the apartment was far away and wasn't finished, they were asked to move there. There was no running water installed and the electricity is a make-shift hot-wire system. There were bare 220 volt wires hanging around that made me a little nervous for the children especially. 

But they seemed happy to have a roof over their head and are making the best of the situation.

It is likely that they will be attending a different Branch so we will miss them.

We had the opportunity to teach our second Accelerated Job Search and College prep class to some missionaries that are going home soon. 

We taught four missionaries going home to Australia, USA, Tonga and Nigeria. The Church has so much information and helpful programs for people looking for education or jobs.

We taught useful skills such as, "Me in 30 Seconds", "Power Statements", tips for writing resume/CV's, and so much more. 

We also discussed college programs like Perpetual Education Fund, BYU Pathway, Benson Agricultural Scholarship, BYU Hawaii's iWork program at the Polynesian Cultural Center and more. 

And of course a nice lunch break. 

7 gallons of gas. Quite expensive here...$5.26 / gallon. That's about 56 pounds in weight. That's $ 0.67 per pound for gas.

In contrast we bought 32 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables the other day for $26.00 or $0.81 per pound. 

I went to a meeting where they discussed a new program, The Mobile Family History Center. 

It consists of 5 Chromebooks that boot up only to Family Search and do not work with any other program.

It's a fun idea, especially in countries where smart phones and computers are scarce.

I left early to rush back to see the baptism of our Elder's Quorum President's son. I am his counselor and we work a lot together and he asked me to try and attend. Sister Martin walked to the Church with the young Sister Missionaries just in case I didn't make it back in time.

I just missed the picture but arrived during the opening hymn. Baamlqk in the middle was baptized by his Elder Brother who is 18. His younger brother is 14, standing by Sister Martin. Sister Martin gave the opening prayer. It was spoken half in Amharic and half in English. 

It was a wonderful baptism and we all felt the peaceful, wonderful spirit . 

And then Melaku and his boys with the missionaries and us went to lunch to celebrate at a small local restaurant. 

Small local restaurants like this cost about $2 - $3 per person, including a soda drink.   

We enjoyed another great zone conference.

Sister Martin was asked to give a short message on the blessings of temple covenants. 

Sister Cowley talked about how David chose 5 stones before he met Goliath. What are our 5 stones that give us spiritual strength for the fight. She said her #1 stone is prayer.

President Cowley: Love your neighbor, think Celestial, forgive your companion. He said he liked the missionary letters he receives that say they got out of their comfort zone and not just that they had a good week.

Elder Tarr talked about how we all need to get our spiritual breakfast every day.

The Assistants to the Mission Leaders talked about the tragedy of a plane leaving New Zealand and calculated their flight plan off by 2 degrees. This caused them to be about 20 miles off course and they crashed into a mountain.  

They talked about how we need to make degree changes to turn more towards Christ.

With our companions we were to come up with one word that represents the Gospel, our favorite hymn and our favorite scripture. We chose 1. Jesus 2. He Sent His Son and 3. Joshua 24:15

Elder Gomez, a great exemplary missionary is going home soon to Australia, he was given the opportunity to share his farewell testimony to all of us. He talked about how his mission experience was so hard yet so rewarding and great. He also said that he saw fulfillment of some of his Patriarchal Blessing. 

                                                 Earlier in the program he also shared a song.