Goodbye to the Bordens, the Hills, and the Binghams

It was a little hard to say goodbye to our friends the Bordens and the Hills this week. What great friends they have been to us. This picture is of the Bordens and the Whitings who are returning home from their mission in Ethiopia.
The Bordens were our Family History missionaries for the Area. This was their third mission to West Africa. They first they came as proselyting missionaries in Winneba, and their next two missions were as the Family History Directors for the Area. They have helped many Africans gather the names of their ancestors and place them into familysearch so that they now have a written record of them. They have helped members do their temple work for their ancestors. Our church believes that to get into the Kingdom of God you must be baptised. (John 3:5) God would not be a just God if those who died without hearing the gospel and having the opportunity to be baptised were unable to enter the Kingdom of God. So in the temple we are baptised as proxies for those who have died without the opportunity to do it for themselves. We believe they are taught the gospel in the spirit world where they await judgement and resurrection. Here they can can choose to accept the baptism or not. Thus EVERYONE will have equal access to Eternal Life. This is the work of the temple.

The Hills have been in charge of our Security department. This is the second mission for the Hills. Previously they served in the Family History Library. The Hills were instrumental in installing equipment in our office building and our apartment building to make it more secure. We now are the proud owners of passes that we must scan to get into either building. It is a sorry thing that the world requires these things, but we are grateful for the service of the Hills and feel very safe.

A few weeks ago we said goodbye to the Binghams. They were senior missionaries in charge of Public Affairs. They have done a fantastic job interacting with the community. They loved their work so much that they have decided to return in March to serve for another 18 months! We can hardly wait for their return. They live across the hall from us and we love to visit them - so right now we are missing them, but we know their families are loving having them at home.

We wish all of them the best as they return home to their families for a much needed reunion. Our numbers are dwindling. Anyone up for a mission to West Africa? We'd love to have you here.