We spent two days in Ivory Coast at a week-long LDS youth conference for 600 young people, 14-18 years of age, representing three stakes and two districts. A second conference takes place this coming week for the other half of the LDS teenagers in Abidjan and surrounding areas. The first-ever conference of this kind in Cote d'Ivoire was a thrilling experience for everyone who attended. We loved spending time with the beautiful Ivorians.
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| Terence Vinson, 1st couns. in the Africa West area presidency and Norbert Ounleu, area seventy, were invited by the session-directing couple to speak to the youth at the end of their very special week. | The conference was held on the campus of a university that was big enough to handle a large crowd. Besides the young people, 80 coordinators, counselors, and teachers attended. |
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| Several gospel activities were held where the youth taught lessons. | Thursday was the assigned day to wear their Sunday best. |
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| The dorms were filled with excited kids and busy counselors. | Many friendships were made as the youth became acquainted. |
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| I made some wonderful new friends, too. | One of these things is not like the other... |
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| We didn't have to speak French -- the kids knew exactly what we wanted as soon as they saw the camera. | I hung out with this company a good portion of the time because my translator was one of the counselors (top row in blue shirt). |
