Christ Nous Souleve - Ahoutoué, Côte d'Ivoire

Bonjour tout le monde,

It's been a pretty good week over here in our little village. This secteur is a lot different than any of the others that I've been in here in Côte d'Ivoire. There's a surprising lack of interest in the Gospel in this village. That being said, we have been blessed to find some of the people here who have a real, genuine interest to learn of and follow Christ. Through all of the frustration and all of the trials, I've learned a lot. For example, in all of the lessons that we have had over the last couple of weeks I've felt the spirit guiding us perhaps more than in any other time on my mission. It might be difficult sometimes, but we're being helped and lifted through it.

I hope you all have a fantastic week,

Elder Farr

A Two-Person Branch - Ahoutoué, Côte d'Ivoire

It's been a crazy week trying to figure out this new secteur. Elder HoChing and I have been putting in all of our efforts to get it started up.

At the beginning of the week we faced a lot more rejection than I'd ever faced here in Côte d'Ivoire. It was really discouraging. Especially considering that we didn't know anybody in our little village.

Later in the week though, things started to turn around. On Thursday we found 10 new amis who we are really excited about. Everything is starting to turn around. I'm starting to love this little village. 

We went on a walk the other day that took us through the most beautiful jungle I've ever seen. It was amazing.

On Sunday we took the long, two-hour journey to our second branch. We were a bit late to the meeting and were embarrassed to have to walk in late in front of all of the members of our new branch. We heard the branch président speaking to everyone as we approached he building. Based off of the intensity and power in his voice, we were sure that there was a full congregation of people in there with him.

To our surprise, he was preaching to a congregation of one. As we came to find out, the branch président and his wife are the only active members of that branch. That was a humbling experience. We have a lot of work to do bringing these members back to the Gospel.

I'm so excited about all of the things that are ahead here. 

Elder Farr

Meeting Legends - Ahoutoué, Côte d'Ivoire

Hey everyone! Its been a crazy week.

I got transferred to a tiny village called Ahoutoué on Saturday. It's a bit of a change from my last area but it also feels like a bit of a return to pace. Serving in tiny villages is always the best. 

Elder Leight and I got news on Thursday that we would be moving to the same apartment to train a couple of new Elders. Friday was spent going from house to house and breaking the news to all of our amis and members from Atlantique and Aéro-cité. There were a few really difficult goodbyes.

I think the hardest goodbye was with Frère Koffi. Elder Leight and I found him my first day in that area. Over the last 3 months, he has become more converted to the Gospel than any other ami that I've worked with. He was sad to see us go and said "Je ne vais jamais vous oublier," or, "I will never forget you."

On Saturday, we met our new trainees and made our way to Alépé, the village where our apartment is. My companion is named Elder Ho Ching and he's from California. It's really fun to be with a new Elder. We have a few tiny villages that we cover and I'm really excited to get to know them.

Yesterday we had our first sacrament meeting with one of our branches. The branch is very small, only a dozen or people or so, but all of those people are really awesome, dedicated members.

In that sacrament meeting, I met two people that I've been waiting to meet for a long time. Phillipe and Annelies Assard were the first members in Côte d'Ivoire. Phillipe left for Germany in the 70s for school. While there, he met and married Annelies. After meeting the missionaries and being baptized, they moved to Côte d'Ivoire to bring the Gospel to Phillipe's homeland. 

Ever since I read about their story at the beginning of my mission, I've wanted nothing more than to have the opportunity to shake their hands. 

Yesterday, Elder Ho Ching and I were the first to arrive at our small church building in Ahoutoué. Not long after who walked in but none other than Phillipe and Annelies Assard.

Of all of the places that they could have chosen to live, they live in Ahoutoué, the smallest village you've ever seen. It was so amazing to meet them and to be a part of the small branch with them.

This week has been really good. I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead in our little village. 

Thank you all and have a great week, 

Elder Farr