April 2015 Transfers

It's been ages since we've posted anything......life has been very full here!  This past transfer, two elders transferred to the Congo.  Elder Wright went to Brazzaville for his last six weeks before he returns home.  Elder Waite was transferred to Pointe Noire.  Elder Tucker left us for Douala, which is still here in Cameroon, so we hope we'll run into him from time to time.  We miss them already!  We received three new elders--Elder Bybee from Enoch, Utah, and Elder Museku and Elder Bulendolo, both from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

When we distribute transfer letters, we have each companionship stand near a sign with their current "secteur".  Then, we have them move to a different sign if they think they'll be transferred.  (One that says, "Ailleurs"--elsewhere.)  We have either dinner or breakfast with them, depending on the events of the day.  Here's what happened this time:

E. Tucker, as always, helping out in the kitchen.

E. Waite, E. Wright and E. Bacera

Clockwise from bottom:  E. Rakotondrabeharison, E. Bakajika, E. Rakotonindriana, E. Mpongo, E. Kabenga, E. Tshibanda

With the addition of a 6' folding table (thanks, Jeff Gibb!!!), dinners with the elders usually happen on two tables now.

The beginning of the transfer letter distribution:  Elders go to their "Secteurs".  E. Wright and E. Rakotonindriana

E. Kabenga and E. Mpongo

E. Rakotondrabeharison and E. Tucker

E. Tshibanda and E. Bakajika

E. Waite and E. Bacera

All three elders figured out they were moving--E. Tucker and E. Wright had been in Yaoundé even before we arrived!  E. Wright was in the same secteur for 9 months!!!

Elders studying the "Transfer Board"--a file sent out by the mission home each transfer with the locations and calls of each of the missionaries.

Notice the large bags to the left of the elders--those are our 300 hazmat suits for energency medical workers who might be facing ebola, cholera, or a host of other possible diseases in a tropical country with numerous refugee camps near the north and eastern borders.  (Thankfully, many miles from Yaoundé!!) 

We all enjoyed delicious rootbeer home-made ice cream!

Are the cages supposed to keep them in or us out? A trip to the zoo!

It's been some time since we went anywhere with our elders for a zone activity, so we decided to see what the national zoo in Yaoundé is like.  We went last Monday and thought it would be interesting enough for a part of a P-Day.

The weather was beautiful for the excursion.It's not really fancy, and the animals that are there are mainly animals that have been rescued from poachers here in Cameroon.  But, it was enjoyable for all of us to be together.  The elders can take pleasure in the simplest of things--they're terrific!!!  One cute young couple came with us as well.  It was a fun morning!

Our guide as we gather before the tour (reading a brochure the elders had given him.)

Signs here are sometimes given in both English and French.

E. Kabenga with E. Bacera

E. Tucker and E. Nzema

There's a big crocodile lying in the water--out of sight for the time being.

E. Tucker, E. Brockbank, E. Waite

These are the snake cages--the week before this one struck at Sis. Dimond when she reached down to pick up her glasses.  It had a HUGE mouth!

The guide is very careful as he gives a peanut to one of the primates.  They're strong!

Notice which side of the cage he's on.  : )

E. Bacera taking advantage of  a photo op.

Never smile at a crocodile--especially one who's lazily sunning near his pond!

BFF

Alf?

Those bars are welded on the outside of the horizontal strips, aren't they?

The king of the jungle was less than three feet away.  They're huge!!!

Not much there for a Gazelle to eat!

Lots of primates!

He's a very colorful figure!  That's quite the stripe on his nose!

Here's a nice bunch of parrots.