Going home this week!

We are going to go home this week!  We have enjoyed our mission.  It has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, for several reasons.  Like all hard things, I have learned a lot!  I will never be able to tell all of the experiences we have had. It would bore most people to tears.  You will probably hear most of it in bits and pieces.  We just hope we remember it.
What this posting is really about is the anticipation of going home.  We can't wait to see family and friends.  Several weeks ago we got a letter from one of our children.  Their daughter wrote the following poem.

 

 

To Grandma and Grandpa

Thanksgiving is now too close to wait,

We'll fill our bellies,

And clear our plate,

Then soon after you will see St. Nick,

With eight strong reindeer,

Each sneaky, and slick.

Then friends will gather from far and from near,

And at midnight all yell,

"Happy New Year!"

Our countdown will be getting short,

Because soon after we will pick you up,

From the Salt Lake Airport.

We'll have a big party,

And pin you like crazy,

Without feeling sorry.

We will do all the things that we used to,

Whatever it may be,

You're always fun-we love being with you!

We laugh and we play,

We had sleepovers and ate pancakes,

It was wo fun, wouldn't you say?

We are all so excited!

It will be fantastic!

Our happiness will be unlimited.

 

We love you so much and look forward to your getting home!

Love, the Ecclestons

 



Catching up...again

It's a miracle!

 After trying for several months, I have been able to successfully load some pictures to my blog.  I had just about given up and then tonight I thought I would try once more.  This is just a post of a few pictures I just clicked on to see what I would get.
Every once in a while we get a little bit of flooding inside buildings.  One morning our classroom was flooded.  Grace and Evan quickly got the mess cleaned up.  If you will notice, it looks like Grace is using a dust pan to clean up the water.  It actually works quite well.  Another interesting thing, the dust pan is called a "packer".

 Our mission president is a pretty awesome man.  His wife is pretty fabulous, too.  They came to an open house at our PEF Self Reliance Center a couple of weeks ago.

 Our Stake President got into the action by getting on ldsjobs.org to see what we are expecting participants to do.

Tim found these two birds outside our living room window.  He thought they were pretty cool.
There are too many things that have happened.  I couldn't catch everything up in one post.  I will just have to begin again and try to stay current.

Catch-Up Time...No pictures

I am having an incredibly difficult time with Blog. For a while all I could get was Blog in French.  I don't speak French.  I don't write in French.  Now I can't get pictures to post with my words.  That is so boring.  I think I will write a little any way.  Sorry if it bores you.  But, I want to write something to let some know we haven't dropped off the face of the earth.

It has been a month or so since our last "inside the building" rainstorm.  I hope I didn't just jinx myself.  The Facility Management people are working on getting the problem fixed.  That is one great thing.

We have been doing a little day trips.  We have been to other branches outside of Ikeja and plan on visiting many more.  The President would like us to go and observe and see where help could be offered.  We have met some wonderful Brothers and Sisters while doing this. 

We have visited fish farms and poultry farms.  At one fish farm we were instructed by the owner on how to raise good fish for eating.  We asked quite a few questions.  He was a wonderful man to talk to.  He is a member of the church and attends his meetings each Sunday.  The baby fish have to be fed every 2 hours.  As you know, church alone is three hours, plus travel time to get to the church house.  We asked him the question what he does on Sunday when he has to feed the baby fish every two hours.  He turned to us and said, "I get us very early and prepare.  I feed the fish and do what needs to be done.  I then turn it over to the Lord."

The last two Saturdays have been Relief Society activities.  The first Saturday was a ward event.  We were to bring our cooking samples to be judged...and eaten.  I was volunteered to bring cookies.  Last Saturday was a Stake event with about the same agenda...and, yes I grought cookies once more.  I think I am done making cookies for a week or two.

Today is Tim and I's 36th wedding anniversary.  No presents...just gifts of the heart.  Tim has done much better than I.  He has washed the dishes, all of them, all day long.  He has tried to let me do what I want, all day long.  I am a very blessed person. 

District Conference at Ile-Ife

I enjoyed this picture because it is something we see often.  Notice the woman with a baby on her back and holding another child's hand, carrying something on her head.  We were in a vehicle following the mission van.  Always travel in 2 or more cars.

Roadside "Toys R Us".

We went to a village to see if we could help them get a borehole for water.  The people are to do several things before it will be done.  When we got there they hadn't done anything on the checklist.  Elder Winget was very discouraged.

This is the chief of the village.  He looked like the oldest man there!

Churches are all over her in Nigeria.  Many different names.  I think this one was called "Deep Life Church".  Kind of small, isn't it?

Sunday morning, at breakfast, Pres. Adebayo's baby was a little bit fussy.  He was rocking her, talking to her, and holding her.  Pretty cute to see him with his little ones.

Tim tried a traditional dish.  He had boiled yams (the white stuff), eggs in sauce (spicy), and beef chunks.  He said it was pretty tasty.

I just loved this sign.  I don't think you would want it outside the Bishop's door hanging there when a Bishop's Court was going on.

Brother Ojo

Two weeks ago Tim got on line to look at the announcement of the new missions being created around the world.  One of the new missions is to be in Nigeria.  As he read he notice the name of Brother Ojo, who is an institute director we work with.  It is exciting to see someone we know to receive this big calling.  The next day (Monday morning) in walked Brother Ojo from Calibar.  It was so much fun to talk to him about his new calling and how he received it.  It was a super special morning talking to him.  He brought a big portion of spirit into the room as he talked to us.  He is a humble and special man.  His missionaries will do well when they follow this inspired leader.

Fun February Continues

 Just having fun with John (man on the left) and Williams (man on the right).  Both are PEF participants and fun. John has taught himself how to play the organ...and does a very good job!  Williams is always high energy and busy.  They went on the same mission and lived in the same apartment but were not companions.

 We eat at a local KFC sometimes.  While there one day we saw this group of little boys.  We couldn't resist taking their picture.

 All the missionary couples made a dinner for the Chimezie family, who are an important family to all of us.  We also welcomed the Reynolds who are short term missionary specialists who came to be with the Wingets for a week and a half.  We had a great meal and enjoyed the company with them all!

 Cynthia Chimezie (who ALWAYS has a smile on her face) and Sister Reynolds enjoying an American meal.

This is just a crazy "all girls" picture at the end of the meal.