A sweet experience to think all that has transpired in Africa since 1978 

Brother Johnson took us and Elder Uchtdorf to this area of the beach where the first baptisms in Ghana occurred.  

This is W. Billie Johnson, THE Pioneer of the Church in Ghana. Our visit with him was an inspiration. 

This is our new Stake Presidency in Port Harcourt West Stake. The one in the middle is the "boy" age 36 who the Nigerians thought was too young to be a leader. They will make a fine Stake Presidency. 

  

These village girls (who have come to Accra looking for work) offered to carry our packages after a long morning of shopping at Makola Market. This is how they earn money by helping people carry their burdens. We aren't using walking sticks, but we all bought new mops for $2 and the lady we bought them from put the heads in a sack and handed us each our stick. We looked like a group of German hikers! 

Summer 2006 & West Africa Tour - click on the image below to see all the photo's from our adventure

Summer 2006 & West Africa Tour

Remember how we are always telling you that there are great shots of Nigeria that we see as we speed by on the roads. This is one of those shots. The kind that sends you digging like mad for your camera only to be past before you can get the shot. A missionary in the Stone's mission was kind enough to share about the next 100 pictures. He has gotten those shots that we always miss. Now you will get a peek into the sites and people of Nigeria that we often see. Does anyone want to guess who and how they loaded this pick-up? Think they could have gotten anymore mattresses on there? Give you two guesses why the hood is up? Hmm..wonder why the truck has bogged down again? This is a classic Nigerian photo!!!!!!!!!!! 

This is my favorite picture of Elder Porters. Enlarge the picture and look how he has captured every expression. This is the face of Nigeria that I love. The little girl 4th from the left on the back row looks exactly like she should be in a "our gang" rerun 

Meet Elder Porter, the wonderful photographer for about the next 100 pictures of Nigeria. He and his wife are serving with President & Sister Stone in the Port Harcourt Mission. He and his wife have only been there a short time, but have made themselves right at home. Thank you, Thank you Elder Porter for letting us share your pictures with our loved ones. 

Elder Porter is a paramedic by profession and was living in Canada before they got their dream mission - a call to Africa. They are so tickled to be here 

Now this carrying stuff on your head doesn't look too tough. Elder Porter is game to try anything. Reminds me a lot of my husband 

This is our beautiful Sister Porter. These couple missionaries are truly our heroes. 

This is Sister Porter enjoying a picnic with missionaries on p-day. She is comfortable anywhere! 

Elder Porter really knows how to frame a picture. No this is not Sister Porter's missionary apartment. They are visiting a member. 

There's a clown in every bunch - in this case it's Elder Porter 

Elder Porter gathers a crowd wherever he goes 

This is a true Nigerian entrepeneur. This man lives by a terribly pot-holed road. Each day he carries the dirt and fills up the potholes expecting to be paid if you drive over "his" road. At dusk, he digs the dirt out and goes home. The next day he is back bright and early filling up the holes again. Now that is a man who has seen an opportunity and gone for it! He also wanted to be paid for taking the picture. 

Nigerian trucks are nothing if not colorful. Does this give Garrett any ideas for wrapping his trucks?  

Trucks haul more than cargo, usually they are used as super-duper buses and are piled high with people as well 

Not only are the cars and buses crammed with people, they also use every square inch of space to cart whatever else is necessary 

If you can't afford a truck for transport, you hire an okata (motorcycle), they deliver people and anything else you can imagine 

Have bed...will travel. You can find anything and I mean anything being carried on an okata! 

Kitchen in a home in a small village - sure makes you appreciate your microwave, doesn't it? 

A village clinic - a mother with her new twins

A village school