August 2025- Mission in Africa

 Mission to Africa

Q&A with Deb Luke

Remember 

Lunch Bunch August 26th 11:30 at Little China

and 

Super Saturday September 27th 

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Deb Luke answered our questions about her experience while serving a mission with her husband Boyd in Africa.  

She set up a brightly colored display of some of her treasures she gained while serving in Africa.  

Family members that came to Africa to visit the Luke's helped take items home with them. 

This is the flag of Tanzania.  

Africa is three times the size of the United States.  

Tanzania is three times the size of Utah. 

Brooms and dolls are made from corn husks.  

All food is grown for their own consumption and to be sold.  Everything is fresh.   

Deb's greatest joy while serving was the people.  

And the biggest challenge was driving since they drive on the left side of the dirt road.  

Beading is done by hand.  Beautiful and very detailed. 

The 5 most dangerous animals in Africa are the elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and hippo.

They are called the big 5. 

Wood carvings are made from ebony and ironwood. 

The average wage is about $40-50 (USD) per month. 

There are over 120 tribes in Africa.  Some of the missionaries learned 7 languages.  

Seasons consist of rainy season and dry season. 

Temperatures don't fluctuate much.  

Around a 20 degree difference. 

The baobab tree, also known as the "Tree of Life," is an iconic symbol of Africa, particularly known for its massive trunk, longevity, and unique appearance. These trees are found across the African continent and are renowned for their ability to store large amounts of water in their trunks, enabling them to survive long periods of drought. 

Our Julie Olsen is showing us the club that would be used to kill a lion.  Lions wander into the villages.  They learn how to use the club at a young age since children take care of the animals. 

The people of Africa have phones and internet access in spite of being poor.  

In Swahili

Giraffes are called twiga

Lions are called simba

Elephants are tembo. 

Africans are known for the material they make.  The material is the same on both sides.

Africans have to pay for their children to go to school, if they can afford it.  They have to pay for all of their books, supplies, etc, and lunch that consists of rice and beans. 

This beautiful Relief Society material was made in Africa with the Relief Society emblem. 

Kids find ways to play games.  They may find an old tire and a stick and play for hours. 

Winners of the 'Be The Light' t-shirts were:

Cinnamon Bonnett

Ardis Jensen 

and President Denise Goddard

The tables were adorned with beautiful, tall, white plumes with animal print cloths as centerpieces. 

Cucumber and tomato salad

Fruit tray

African Rice

Here is the recipe for the rice dish that was served.  

A few modifications were made.  Masala was reduced to 1 tsp.  1 round steak, cubed and browned seasoned with broth and salt.  

Delicious!  

Say hello to one of our newest sisters.  

Her name is Lori Hilton (next to Susan).   

Welcome Lori! 

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I asked Deb to share of few of her favorite photos.  

Thank you for sharing your experience of serving the Lord in Africa with us!  

Mosiah 2:17

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

By:  Connie Beecroft

June 2025 Be an Illuminator

 June 2025

Be an Illuminator

Carol Baldwin shared with us what it is to be an Illuminator. 

An illuminator has a persistent curiosity about other people. 

They shine their care on others in a way that makes them feel respected, lit up.  

They make other people feel good about themselves. 

They do this by accompanying them, giving them their attention, having good conversations and asking good questions.  

"People need recognition and the feeling of being seen as much as they need food and water. "

by David Brooks 

"I hope we all have someone like this in our life. 

We are each a never to be repeated child of God."

by Carol Baldwin

The topic was taken from the book "How to Know a Person" by David Brooks

The book explores the art of understanding and connecting with others deeply. 

She who only looks inward will find only chaos, and she who looks outward with the eyes of critical judgment will find only flaws. 

But she who looks with the eyes of compassion and understanding will see complex souls, suffering and soaring, navigating life as best they can. 

Tuesday, June 24th at 11:30 am will be Lunch Bunch at Tiki Island Broiler.  Join us for a fun lunch that is close to home.  

Be the Light t-shirt winners were Carol Baldwin and Betty Wilcox. 

Bridges to the Heart

by Jeff Sermon

Look around in your life, is there someone that you know, who's feeling down, feeling lonely and apart?

Show your love, show you care, by building friendship there, building faith, building love, building bridges to the heart. 

In this world there are trials just like canyons of despair, there are times when we must travel in the dark. But a bridge across the way leads us to the light of day, but only if there's someone building bridges to the heart. 

Build it strong enough to carry all the troubles of our day, build it wide enough for many who will seek to pass that way.  If it's strong, if it's wide, the Savior waits on the other side, and the bridge you built for others leads them home. 

When your own life finds sorrow there, you feel it's more than you can bear.  And, you pray to him for strength to see you through.  You may hear the spirit say, as he leads you across the way;  That bridge you built for others you also built for you. 

Build it strong enough to carry all the troubles of our day, build it wide enough for many who will seek to pass that way.  And if it's strong, if it's wide, the Savior waits on the other side, and the bridge you built for others leads you home. 

Look around in your life.  Is it time for you to start building faith, building love, building bridges to the heart?  

There will not be a Relief Society activity in July.  

A special thank you to Bard Allred for taking photos in my absence.  Thanks Barb!  🩷

by:  Connie Beecroft