Bo Together

This is our third 4th of July in Sierra Leone. And for the third year in a row, Kathy and I didn't go to a parade or picnic in the park. We didn't stay up late watching fireworks. This morning, we witnessed 87 people being baptized at one service. Children wanted to hold my hand, young men and women gave me fist bumps, and adults smiled so brightly when we caught eyes, smiles that I will never forget. These beautiful and friendly people are so easy to love. When a baptismal c

(This post is based on a letter we sent home to our ward today.) December 28, 2025 We landed in Sierra Leone 18 months ago this evening, June 28, 2024. With the help of senior missionaries, local leaders, and Church members, we opened a new mission in rural West Africa, the Sierra Leone Bo Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our mission is based in the city of Bo and includes half the country, the Southern and Eastern Provinces. I’m told the total popu

We have four stakes in Bo and one in Kenema. Outside of these two relatively small cities, scattered among the towns and villages of Sierra Leone, are our mission branches. We organized our 22nd branch this morning. The branch is in Sumbuya (soom-boo-ya). There were eight branches when we started our mission. We will set up the 23rd next week. More branches are in process. Our dear friends, Elder and Sister Arnell join us for each branch opening and help support the new branc