Farewell good friend

 Farewell dinner for Elder Christensen the night before he left for home.  He is the one in the traditional African shirt.  

We had fried chicken,  Elder Smith barbecued some hard chicken on his home made barbecue grill.  Sister Nielson baked soft chicken in the oven.   The difference in the hard and soft chicken is the hard is laying hens and the soft is regular chicken.   It looks the same but you can't hardly chew the hard.   It is kind of like jerky.   
Elder Christensen is enjoying some of the hard chicken.

Elder Christensen is shopping and saying goodbye to a member who he  taught.  He bought some African cloth from her to take home.    I'm sure it is hard to leave the people here who have become such good friends for two years.    

Looking out over the market place and the hills in the distance make leaving a painful experience.  Missionaries really become attached to the people and the areas that they serve in.  They do more than just live here, they get involved in peoples lives because of the work that they are doing for Heavenly Father.  Our love and admiration goes out to each and everyone of them for the service they provide.  You don't realize how hard they work till you live close to them and follow them day by day.    

It is very surprising how close you become with each of these missionaries in just the short time that we get to be with them.   Life long friendships develop almost overnight.   Elder Smith almost stepped on his lower lip when they said goodbye.  They always put on a good show when the cameras come out.   We know that the Lord will bless and keep these young men for the sacrifice and service that they give..  The statement that "a mission will turn boys into men" is very very true.  Good luck Elder Christensen.