April 13, 2012- Letter from the Mission President

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Sierra Leone Freetown Mission

PO Box 263, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Telephone: +232 (0)76-541523 or +232 (0)76-541524

Dear Brother and Sister Jones:

Here is a picture of your son as he arrived at the mission home.  We thought you might enjoy seeing him with Sister Roggia and me.  We are please to have him here in Sierra Leone.  He will be assigned to the Grafton District in the Freetown East Zone. 

You can probably expect that he will experience some homesickness as he adjusts to mission life.  Not only is there the normal adjustment of leaving behind family, friends, sports, etc. but here there is the adjustment of living in a developing country as well.  You should also know that English is spoken differently here and often takes time to understand.  Many still use their tribal language, which requires an interpreter.  It will be interesting to hear you son incorporate the local Krio with his American accent.  

Your son will find the food and living conditions much different.  We work diligently to keep all missionaries happy and healthy.  There is a water filter in each apartment so they can drink purified water.  Most of the time, an apartment will hold 4 missionaries with one companionship per room.  They have single beds, a bathroom, table and chairs, and not much other furniture.  Apartments meet their needs but are not what those from the U.S.A. are used to.  He will however, adjust to all of this and come to love his companion and the people as we have learned to love them!

We admire him for choosing to dedicate this time to the Lord.  WE know He will bless him in this great cause.  We look forward to getting to know him better.

Missionaries love to hear from both families and church members.  We encourage you to write often.  It always gives the missionaries a lift to get a letter from home.  You can send a normal letter or package directly to us by addressing it ot him at the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission, P.O. Box 263, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa.  We hold the mail here fot them until someone goes to his area.  That may not be until Zone Conference.  Of course he may use email, which they are allowed to do in this mission.  We have found that www.dearelder.com is a great way for friends to write to your missionary since only family should be emailing him.  

Our email address is 537233-prs@ldschurch.org in case you need to contact us.  It is often easier than trying to call.  

Thank you for sharing him with us! We are sure he will be a great missionary!  We do love our missionaries.  The Lord's hand is on West Africa today.  This is a special mission; we know he will come to love it.  

Very Sincerely,

President Richard P. Rogga, and Sister Cathy Roggia