Le Goût Doux d'un Whopper - Port-Bouët, Côte d'Ivoire

 Hey everyone! It's been a couple of weeks since my last email so I've got some fun stuff to talk about!

To start off, we had a baptismal service on Saturday! Two of our friends, Frère Djemien and Sœur Mélaine, were baptised! They've both progressed so well since I first got here to Port-Bouët. I'm so proud of them.

Two weeks ago we had a few chances to hear from Elder Martinez, the General Seventy assigned as the President for the Africa West Area of the Church. We got to see him both at a Zone Conference with a bunch of other missionaries and at a Stake Conference with all of the members of our wards. We also had a good amount of amis who came with us to hear from Elder Martinez. It was a great week all around.

Last Wednesday night Elder Hartshorn, one of the other Elders in my apartment, got a call from our mission president saying that he'll be transferred to be a Zone Leader the next day. So we helped him speed-pack and sent him off to his new apartment. It was a crazy fast change.

On Saturday, I started teaching an English class that's open to whoever wants to come. I'm really excited to finally be starting this class after spending so much time wanting to start it up. The first class went great. I'm very excited to be able to help people in this way.

On Saturday, in an effort to find a working ATM, a few of us Elders ended up at the airport. Turns out, the airport is only a five minute drive or so from my apartment. Anyway, the airport has a Burger King in it so we took advantage of the, extremely rare, opportunity and bought some crazy over-priced burgers. After a long seven months in Côte d'Ivoire, I once again know what a burger tastes like.

I hope you've all had a great week and that you'll have an even better one ahead!

À la prochaine, 

Elder Farr

J'ai Confiance En Son Plan - Port-Bouët, Côte d'Ivoire

 Hey everyone! It's been a crazy first couple of weeks here in Port-Bouët. Elder Bakeba and I have had a good challenge trying to get to know our way around our two wards here. Lucky for us, we've had some awesome members of the church who've really helped us by showing us around the secteur.

When I first got here, I was really nervous and afraid to be, more or less, running blind out here with my companion. But I think that the challenge has really helped me to engage in the work. I've been forced to put all of my effort into it because, if I don't, I won't be able to get anything done. All in all its been a good experience.

We've made a lot of progress with a lot of people over the last couple of weeks. I've seen so many miracles as we've tried to find our footing here in Port-Bouët. We've got quite a few friends who are preparing themselves for baptism at the end of the month. I'm so excited for them.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've learned a lot about having to put our trust in the Lord and in His plan for us. I was a bit confused when I was transferred here after such a short time in Aboisso. But I know now that this is exactly where I need to be and that, as difficult as the situation may be, these are exactly the experiences that I'm meant to be having. He knows where we're meant to be and what we're meant to do. I trust in His plan. 

I'm looking forward to what the next week will have in store.

À la prochaine,

Elder Farr

Un Nouveau Défi - Port-Bouët, Côte d'Ivoire

Well, surprise! I'm in a new area. After only a transfer in Aboisso, I've been moved to Port-Bouët. I was pretty sad to leave Aboisso after such a short amount of time. That's somewhere where I really wanted to stay and serve for a few more months. But I know that I'll find great things here in my new area.

Most of this last week was spent saying goodbye to our amis and the members of the church. Both me and my companion, Elder Okouo, left Aboisso on Saturday and went to Abidjan to meet up with our new companions and head to our new areas. On Saturday evening, I got to Port-Bouët where I met my companion, Elder Bakeba. Elder Bakeba actually just went up to Affery to replace me. Now, just one transfer later, we're companions. 

Elder Bakeba and I are both brand new to this secteur and to these wards so it's been an interesting challenge to figure out where everyone lives and who the progressing amis are. Lucky for us, we have two wards that are filled with super fantastic and helpful people. Quite a few of the members of the church here have offered to show us around this week.

I'm really excited for what this new area has to offer. It's gonna be a challenge, but it's definitely a welcome one.

I love and miss you all. Ayez une semaine fantastique!

Elder Farr

Une Brève Mise À Jour - Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire

Hey guys! I don't have much to report on this week. I'm doing well and the work is progressing. We have some amis who are progressing very well and I'm very excited for them. This week we'll have another transfer but we don't yet know what's going to happen with that. So I suppose next week I'll have some news for y'all concerning that. I can't believe that its already been a month and a half since I got here to Aboisso. I'm loving it here and I can't wait to see what other experiences lie in store for me. Hope y'all have a great week!

Elder Farr

Surprise! Un Baptême! - Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire

Surprise! We had not one but two baptisms this week! 

This last Saturday, our two friends Kouadio and Octiniel made the fantastic decision to enter the waters of baptism! I've been teaching them since I first got here to Aboisso and they're fantastic guys. We're also working with the rest of their family and getting them prepared for their baptisms as well. It's so awesome to see this family coming closer together through the gospel.

The last few months have gone by in a blur. It's hard to believe that I've already spent a month here in Aboisso. Ive been having such a great time with the work and with the people. I am genuinely happy about where I'm at right now in the mission.

I've had so many great chances this week to really get to know different people around Aboisso. I've traveled to parts of this city/village that I didn't even know existed and met so many amazing people with so many awesome experiences and stories. I love this place.

Anyways, that's my week. I hope that you all have a great one ahead of you!

Jusqu'à la prochaine !

Elder Farr

La Poubelle Est Partout ! - Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire

Bonjour/Bonsoir tout le monde ! J'espère que vous avez eu une bonne semaine !

It was a good week. I got to work a whole lot more in my secteur which I really appreciated after two weeks of traveling and sickness and other setbacks. I've loved getting to better know the people here. I'm loving Aboisso a lot.

Last Friday we went to Ayamé, one of the nearby villages, for a service project. We spent the whole morning and a good part of the afternoon cleaning up trash from off of the road and the sides of the road. And if there's one thing that nobody ever talks about here it's the littering. You can't walk two minutes without seeing another mound of trash. So we had a lot of work to do. It was a really fun experience.

Then on Saturday and Sunday we had a District Conference for all of the branches in the Aboisso district. We had one of the area seventies speak to us which was awesome. He's from Nigeria which means he doesn't speaks English. But his accent was so thick that I found myself waiting for the translator to speak like everyone else.

It was an really good weekend with that conference and us Elders even got to sing for a musical number! We sang « Aimez Vos Frères ».

On Sunday I was feeling really sick and we were all afraid for a bit that I could've had malaria. But I'm feeling a lot better now so it seems like it might be just been some really bad food poisoning. It was a good time.

Anyways, that's my week. I hope yall have a great one ahead!

À la prochaine

Elder Farr

La Plage Des Poubelle - Aboisso, Côte d'Ivoire

 Hey everyone! I'm a bit short on time so this one's gonna be a short one but it's been a really good week!

Earlier last week, we went down to Grand Bassam for another Zone Conference. While there, we attempted to visit the beach. Unfortunately, it was so polluted and covered in trash that we just kinda got sad and moved on.

The next day, we had Zone Conference. It's always so great to get to see so many other missionaries.

The rest of the week has been spent working out in secteur! After all of the bad luck I had with my health the week before, I was really glad to finally be able to get out and get to know Aboisso. So far, I'm loving it! I already feel so at home here and I've already had so many awesome experiences and interactions. I can't wait to keep getting familiar with Aboisso. 

Anyways, that's all that I've got for this week. I hope you all have a fantastic week! 

Elder Farr