We're baaack….

… IN LIBERIA!!

 After 17 hours in the air and 8 plus hours worth of layovers, we arrived back in Liberia on February 15th.  Our 4 large, very heavy suitcases, however, did not arrived till 

February 18th!! 

 Long story - let's just say we felt very blessed to finally have everything arrive safely.

Here I am hugging our 'found' suitcases.  I even did a 'Happy Dance' for the airport luggage guys, which they really enjoyed!!

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The Monday before we came back to Liberia, we had the chance to meet with several of 'our' missionaries' parents.  It was easy to tell why these missionaries are so great!!

Front row - Elder and Sister Berrett and Lindsay Pearmain

Middle two - Brother and Sister Witehira, Sister Zaugg, Sister Price, 

Sister and Brother Pearmain

Back row of dads - Brother Conners, Brother Zaugg, Brother Price

We got back in time to do apartment inspections.  Just had to share this picture of the cleanest missionary kitchen we've ever seen and the missionaries who made it happen.

This is the Banjor apartment -

Elders Cottrell, Bowring, Osanebi and Morrison

They'd even put up hooks to hang their pots from.  We were very impressed.  In fact, their whole apartment looked great.  Nice work Elders! 

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We are so grateful for how well things worked out while we were home and that we were able to return to finish our mission after only 1 month.  My cheek is healing nicely and I only had to have 1/2 of my thyroid removed.  Right now, that half if working perfectly, so I do not have to be on any medication.  A real blessing.  Thanks to everyone for your faith and prayers. 

You can take the Berretts out of Liberia, BUT…...

You can't take Liberia out of the Berretts!! 

 While it's been nice to be home and see everyone, we really are missing Liberia and being 'real' missionaries.  We've had a couple of experiences that have helped with our 'homesickness' for Liberia.

We were able to meet Elder Orton's family and Elder Zaugg's mom and sister.

We had such a nice visit with them and were able to tell them we had recently seen their Elders and that they are doing well.

(We might not look like missionaries, but we still feel like ones!)

It really is a small world, especially in the church.  When we told Dr. Jason Hansen, who removed the growth from my cheek, that we were missionaries in Liberia, he made it possible for us to meet a young  man named Alex Vandi.  Alex works as a security guard at the doctor's clinic.  Alex had escaped with his family from Liberia during their civil war to live in a refugee camp in Sierra Leone.  He now lives in Utah.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with him.  

He gave us his sister's name and address for the missionaries to go visit.  A referral!!  Our plan is to go to Paynesville, and meet her when we get back.