Je Suis Finalement À Aboisso! - Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire

 Bonjour tout le monde!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks! So crazy, in fact, that I didn't have a chance to write an email last week! So here I am, once again, here to cover the events of the last two weeks.

Thursday the 15th, I left Afféry for the last time. The days before that were filled with many goodbyes and a whole lot of tears. It was hard to leave behind all of the people I'd grown so close to over the last 5 months. It was hard to leave behind that village where I had grown and learned so much. Afféry will always have a special place in my heart. 

On Friday, we had to get from Adzopé, where we had spent Thursday night, to the mission office in Abidjan. We had some trouble getting down there and got ripped off on a couple of occasions but, eventually, we made it to the mission office.

There, I discovered that, since everyone would have to be in Abidjan the following Monday for round two of covid vaccinations, it wasn't worth it to send us to Aboisso that day. So I spent the next three days in Abidjan. It was really cool to get to spend a little time there though. It was a far cry from the mud huts of Afféry.

Anyways, Monday came after a few days and we went to the stake center to get our vaccines. There, we discovered that the people who were supposed to administer the vaccines decided not to come. As such, we were being shuttled, a dozen or so at a time, to a nearby vaccination clinic.

Eventually though, we got our shots and everything worked out. We discovered though that there wasnt enough money to get us to Aboisso. Luckily, one of the mission drivers was able to take us and we were able to finally get to Aboisso on Monday night.

For most of the following week, I was sick. I assume that it was from the vaccine. But anyways, I've yet to see much of Aboisso. I've been able to go out and meet people the last couple of days but other than that I've just been stuck in the apartment.

My companion, Elder Okouo, is super cool. Hes from the Congo like my last companion. He's super nice and is really close friends with all of the people here which is a huge blessing.

Of what I've seen of Aboisso so far, Im loving it. I'm already starting to feel super at home here. I can't wait to get out and meet more people this week. And I can't wait to tell y'all all about it. 

Until then,

Elder Farr

Cinq Baptêmes!!! - Affery, Côte d'Ivoire

It's been a jam-packed week my friends! 

So on Wednesday we had Zone Conference down towards Abidjan with a bunch of other zones in the mission. Unfortunately, when we showed up there was no power. So at the start of the conference, we all knelt and said a prayer so that the power could come back on. After that we continued on with the conference in the dark.

A few hours later while we were eating lunch, the power came back on! So we all knelt again and prayed to thank Heavenly Father for answering our prayer.

At that Zone Conference they announced that our mission has been chosen as a pilot mission to bring English Connect to Africa. English Connect is a program designed to teach missionaries how to speak English for use after the mission. And we're the first mission in Africa to get to try it out. So that's been really fun to start doing that with Elder Kouadio.

After Zone Conference, we learned there was a big protest going on down the street which meant we had to stay at the church building for a couple extra hours before leaving. Eventually though it did clear up and we were able to head back to Adzopé.

On the way back to Adzopé, the bus broke down. We were in the middle of the jungle at about 8 at night and now we were stranded on the side of the road. Eventually another bus came by with about half as many open seats as we needed but we hopped on anyways. I don't know how to properly explain it with words but this bus was the sketchiest thing I've ever seen. That was a fun last half hour of the trip.

On Thursday afternoon we finally made it back to Affery. We had five people planning to be baptized on Saturday so we had a lot of work to do over the next day and a half. By what can only be described as a miracle, we were able to get everything situated in time and we had the baptism on Saturday!

I want to talk specifically about one of our friends, Michelle. Michelle has never gone to school and knows very little French. She also has a really hard time retaining information. Weve been working with her for a while and it seemed at times like it wasn't going anywhere. But she had a genuine desire to be baptized and to come closer to the Lord so we did everything in our power to help her be ready for that. 

Well Saturday came and we were really worried over whether or not she would be able to remember everything weve taught her and pass her interview. After much prayer and preparation, the interview turned out a success! For probably the first time in the month and a half we've been working with her, she was able to remember everything! We were so happy and excited for her.

Anyways, the baptismal service was beautiful and it was awesome to be in the water as Florent, Kevin, Kimou, Michelle, and Tryphène made covenants with God and set their lives on a course that will change them forever. What a perfect way to end off the week.

As always,

Elder Farr

Nous Progressons! - Affery, Côte d'Ivoire,

Bonjour tout le monde!

We've been really busy here in our little corner of Africa. We've been progressing a whole lot with a few of our amis and it's been such a great blessing to see them grow and progress.

This week we went down to Adzopé for interviews with Président Bendixen. It was great to meet some of the new missionaries in the zone. There were a lot I still hadn't met even though we're now most of our way through the transfer. So that was a great experience to meet some new people and to talk with Président again.

The rest of the week since then has been work work work for Elder Kouadio and I. When Elder Kouadio got here, we more or less started fresh with finding and teaching new amis. And weve had some these last couple of week who were all really solidly progressing, but all were at about the same stage with the lessons. Well this week we finally got the chance to invite them to be baptized! So this next Saturday we'll be having a bunch of our amis enter the waters an baptism. It's so awesome to see our work coming to fruition. I couldn't be more excited to see them make these covenants with the Lord.

In other news, our running water hasn't worked for a month. But today it finally got fixed which means we don't have to take bucket showers anymore! I haven't felt so clean in quite some time. I've learned to be grateful for a lot of things like that.

I hope you all have a great week! 

À la prochaine 

Elder Farr

Our Best Friend Denis - Affery, Côte d'Ivoire

Hey everyone, big news! I've officially been a missionary for six whole months! It's crazy how the time passes. I can't necessarily say that it's been quick, because sometimes it's felt super super slow, but it's still crazy that I've already hit this milestone.

It's been another awesome week here in Affery! We've been working really hard and we've found a whole bunch of really solid people to teach! We've been putting our all into the work I couldn't be happier about it.

We've been teaching Seminary the last few weeks and it's been a great experience. It's awesome to be teaching and talking with all of these future missionaries. The coolest part is that Sœur Lilliane, who I baptized my first couple of weeks here, has come every week because she wants to serve a mission! That seminary class has really become a highlight of my week every week.

Story time: Every two weeks we have to take a "bus" down to Adzopé, about two or three hours away, to use the ATM and go shopping for our food. So that day was today and about half way there, Elder Kouadio realized he forgot his card. The thing is, my card was stolen just before I left America. So we had no choice but to have them drop us in another village and take a taxi back to Affery. 

So after we got back and got the card, we went back to "la gare" only to find that all of the buses were already gone. 

Now for the next part of the story, I have to introduce a new character: Denis. Denis is a man who we've seen around the village a few times. He wears full winter clothes and a big motorcycle helmet 24/7. I can't even begin to explain how impossible that is in this whether. Anyways, this guy is actually insane and he's tried to follow/chase us and the other Elders home a few times. We're all pretty scared of him. He's also superhuman strong it's freaky.

So now that we've introduced Denis, Elder Kouadio and I had to find a taxi to Akoupé, the next village over, so we could find another bus to Adzopé. So we finally find a taxi, get in, and wait for the three other people that'll inevitably be sharing that back seat with us. And who happens to be one of those people but our best friend Denis. So I shared a seat with him for that taxi ride. That was probably the most uncomfortable car ride of my life. This guy is terrifying. 

Anyways, we eventually made it to Adzopé with barely enough time to get our money, buy our food, and make it back on the last bus to Affery.

So that's been my week. We oughta have another baptism fairly soon so watch out for that one!

Love you all, stay safe!

Comme toujours, à la prochaine!

Elder Farr

The Affery and Akoupé Elders!

Bon Arrivé Elder Kouadio! - Affery, Côte d'Ivoire

 Bonjour et bonsoir tout le monde! It's been crazy week here in lil' ol' Affery!

So, as you know, last week we found out that Elder Kamenan would be transferred to a different area. So the plan was that that transfer would happen on Wednesday when my new companion came up. So on Tuesday morning, we went out and visited with some of our amis and said goodbye.

After that, we came back for lunch before we'd go out to visit the rest of our amis. But as we were eating lunch, we got a call from the Zone Leaders saying that the four of us had to leave ASAP to Adzopé. 

So Elder Kamenan and Elder Christensen frantically packed their suitcases and we all loaded into a tiny cab to head down as fast as we could.

The thing was, the cab didn't fit all of the stuff we had to bring so we had to hold onto the suitcases as they hung out the trunk. 

Also, the cab was run by a propane tank in the trunk and the hose kept disconnecting, filling the car with propane and leaving us stranded on the roadside for 20-30 minutes at a time. Also, most cabs here are missing important parts like door handles so that was a fun puzzle trying to figure out how to escape the car before the propane kills us first.

Eventually, we passed by the Elders' apartment in Akoupé where they dropped me off and continued their journey to Adzopé and then Abidjan. I said a rushed final goodbye to Elder Kamenan and Elder Christensen and they were off.

So I stayed the night in Akoupé with a couple of the Elders there and then waited until 5ish on Wednesday when a van came back with Elder Dent and our new companions!

My companion is named Elder Kouadio and he's an Ivorian. He actually started his mission just a couple of months before me in August and he's waiting to go to his original assignment in the DRC.

One of the greatest blessings about being companions with Elder Kouadio is that he loves to work! All week since he got here, we've been working non-stop and it's been the greatest thing in the world. I couldn't be more excited for this transfer.

On Saturday, the other Elders had a baptism for one of their amis. Unfortunately, as the branch president was bearing his testimony to close the program, she walked out of the room twice to talk on the phone and then fell asleep so deeply that we had to shake her awake. So that was a fun time for us all.

My French has had to improve really fast this last week because, as the missionary people recognize, everybody's been coming to me with their questions and comments. But thanks to what can only be attributed to the gift of tongues, I've been able to, for the most part, understand what people are saying here.

Something interesting about Affery is that, being as small of a village as it is, most of the people don't really speak French at all. In their homes, they speak their tribal languages they've been passed down for ages. So the only time they speak French is when they're talking with someone from outside the village, which is hardly ever. So that's been a fun challenge to figure out.

I've learned a lot this week about learning to fully rely on the Lord. I've had moments where I've felt entirely hopeless and helpless this week. But it was in those moments that I learned what it really means to rely on the Lord.

I'm very happy with how this week has turned out. I'm getting to work a lot more which is the greatest blessing and Elder Kouadio and I are becoming really good friends. 

I love you all and I hope you all continue to trust in God in all things. In Alma 36, we read:

"for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

À la prochaine mes amis!

Elder Farr

Elder Kamenan and I as we rushed out the door for the last time

A pic of Elder Kouadio and I that I took while writing
this 'cause I realized we didn't have a picture together yet

Stranded In Adzopé! - Affery, Côte d'Ivoire

 

It's been a great week mes amis!

On Monday we were down in Adzopé for a zone activity and we were planning to stay the night and then come back to Affery on Tuesday. Well on Monday night we found out that President Bendixsen would be coming by in the morning for interviews!

So the 14 of us that were staying in that apartment got up and got ready on Tuesday morning for interviews. While the Bendixsens were there, we found out that our Zone Conference would be on Thursday instead of the next week like we'd thought.

So long story short we had to switch our plans and stay in Adzopé for an extra 2 days because we didn't have time or money to come back to Affery in between. It was fun figuring out how to make two outfits stretch four days. Also, since there were fourteen of us in an apartment fit for four Elders, the sleeping situation was definitely interesting. 

But everything worked out and on Thursday we went down south for a multi-zone conference. It was awesome to get to meet so many missionaries in one spot! The Conference was easily the highlight of my week and the spirit was so strong!

During one of the breaks at the Conference, President Bendixsen came up to me and asked me if, for the closing hymn, I would sing the first verse of "Ye Elders of Israel" in English all by myself and then have the other missionaries join me for the last two verses in French. Now I love performing and I hardly get stage fright, but getting up in front of so many missionaries made me pretty nervous. All was well though and when the others joined me on the last two verses, the spirit was nothing short of overwhelming. 

That night, after four long days, we made it back to the comfort of our apartment in Affery. I've come to realize this week just how much of a home this place had become for me. What a fantastic blessing that is.

This week I hit a month in Côte d'Ivoire. I'm amazed at how quickly it's gone by but also at how much has happened! I love this place with all of my heart and I am beyond happy to be here.

I hope you all have a fantastic week! Heavenly Father loves you and is looking out for you constantly. 

À la prochaine!

Elder Farr

A mound of rice, the average lunch

On our way to Zone Conference!

After 5 months, I finally got a picture with Elder Card!

Everyone's always excited to take pictures with "le blanc"
so I have a lot of pictures with people we meet

Elder Kamenan went all out for dinner

The sky was awesome

Multi-zone conference!!!

Le Zone Adzopé

 Le Zone encore

 Le Zone encore

 Le Zone encore, encore

Blanc Frère! - Affery, Côte d'Ivoire

 Well, its been a couple weeks since I've been able to talk to ya'll but I'm in Côte d'Ivoire now! It's been a crazy couple of weeks so buckle up!

My last few days in Sanford were jam-packed with goodbyes. It was pretty hard to leave that amazing ward and area so soon after I had the opportunity to join it. I said goodbye to the other Elders in Sommersworth after a couple final exchanges. I said goodbye to Colby after Elder Greene and I took him out for icecream. I said goodbye to Bishop Shaw after he excitedly drove to our apartment to drop off a really old Ensign with the history of the church in Côte d'Ivoire. And I said goodbye to Elder Greene after one last road trip to Manchester. 

The day before I left to Côte d'Ivoire, I had the awesome opportunity to see my parents for a couple of hours so we could swap suitcases. It was hard to say goodbye to them for the second time but I'm so glad to have had that brief time with them again.

On Friday March 5, I left to the airport with President and Sister Beck, said goodbye to them, and boarded a plane to Charlotte. In Charlotte, I had a 4.5 hour layover so I found a chick-fil-a and had one last chicken sandwich. I then flew from Charlotte to Atlanta where I met up with a bunch of other missionaries also going to various missions in Côte d'Ivoire! I also got to meet Elder Card in person which was awesome! The flight from Atlanta to Paris was around 8 hours so I slept most of the way. Then in Paris, we had just enough time to go through security and get our documents re-verified before our final flight took off. And then, before we knew it, we were on a plane to Abidjan!

The first thing that hit me when we got off the plane is the humidity. I'm a little more used to it now but that first night was brutal. It's, quite literally, heavy.

We stayed in a hotel that night that, by some miracle, had air conditioning. The next morning was Sunday so we went to church in a chapel right next to the construction site for the Abidjan temple! As we walked up to the chapel, my eyes were filled with tears realizing that I'm finally  here.

After church we had some training at the mission office for a few hours and then we were off to our zones. We drove through the crazy traffic of Abidjan which was brutal but we eventually made it to the Zone Leaders' apartment in Adzopé. The three of us from my flight group that came to Adzopé stayed the night there with a bunch of other Elders. Many of which had come in the night before and were also waiting to head out to their areas.

On the following Monday, I got to meet my companion, Elder Kamenan. He's from Côte d'Ivoire which means he only speaks French. So that's been a fun challenge to figure out this week. After a few days, I came to find out that he's a pretty goofy guy. He's a good companion. 

The other two Elders in our apartment are Elders Dent and Christensen. Elder Dent served on reassignment in New Hampshire just like me! And Elder Christensen was one of the Elders in my flight group here. It's pretty rare to have three Americans in one apartment. 

Our area is in a village called Affery. It's only been a week but I've come to really love these people, language barrier and all. I've also come to love the work. In fact, being in the apartment is my least favorite part of the day. I'm the most happy when I'm out among the people and the culture, as crazy foreign as it may be.

Last Monday was so crazy busy that I didn't have a chance to write at all. This ending my many-week-long streak of weekly's. But I'm here now so I suppose that's what counts.

I'm not gonna lie, it's been a crazy tough week. And had I written this email a couple of days ago, there would be a completely different tone. I never quite understood homesickness until I came here. I've been, in literal terms, sick from how much I miss my family and my country. But I'm gaining a strong testimony of how Heavenly Father blesses us for our sacrifice. 

I've already written way too much so I'll probably get into some of the nitty-gritty details of Ivorian culture next week. But there is one thing I want to share that's been brightening may days here. In Côte d'Ivoire, it's always hot. And nobody has air conditioning so everyone is always outside during the day. So every day when we're walking down the winding dirt roads of our village, there are loads of kids who yell out "blanc frère!" as I walk by. It's become second nature now to respond with a wave or a "bonjour!" or "bonsoir!". It really makes my day. Elder Kamenan says "You are star!"

(Unfortunately, the internet here is really bad so I can't send pictures)