What a WONDERFUL time we had yesterday!  David Archuleta, with his voice coach, Dean Kaelin, comedian, Jason Hewlett and Dan Clark, an inspirational speaker, have been touring military bases and performing for the troops in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Djibouti and they had a 10 hour layover in Addis Ababa! So we had them with us for seven hours!  They are all returned missionaries. We had an AMAZING fireside with 125 of our young people and then Habtu took them, us, Elder and Sister Moses and Elder and Sister Hansen (public affairs ~ from Uganda) to dinner at Yod Abyssinia!  We had a GREAT time and really got to know David Archuleta.  What an outstanding young man, with a humble, strong testimony and so very inspiring.  We LOVE hearing him sing and speak to us.  He shared so many AWESOME experiences!  What a night!!

Sister Moses (Humanitarian), Sister Hansen (from Uganda),

and me with David just after he arrived at the Church

We LOVED seeing our Debre Zeyit Young Women!

We have really missed them while we have been in Addis.

Sifan on the left is a brand new convert in our Debre Zeyit branch 

and is our new YSA representative.

VERY SILLY Elders
Christensen, Christensen, Taylor and Workman
took "selfies" when they were taking the picture
of our YW from Debre Zeyit...

Our Ethiopian missionaries with David

and Dean Kaelin, Jason Hewlett and Dan Clark in the back

(We were missing our four elders from Kaliti who hadn't arrived yet 

and the Meganagna Zls in this photo...)

Jason, David and Dan before the fireside

Muluwerk Hale, an Ethiopian girl who was adopted and lives in Utah,
is Miss Africa Utah.  She was a student in my brother Rick's program,
The Children of Ethiopia Education Fund when she was young. She
was here with him and his group and stayed an extra few days. She
will compete in the Miss Africa America later this year.

He spoke and sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me", I Know That

My Redeemer Lives" and "Be Still My Soul".  Incredible! He

also took a few questions and shared some very inspiring experiences!

The dinner buffet at Yod Abyssinia 
where we went with Habtu after the fireside


Our group.... The Hansens, next to me, (from Uganda),
 and Elder and Sister Moses (not in the photo)
 next to them, then David Archuleta (taking photos here) 
with his group and Habtu!

Some people recognized him just before it was time to leave and the manager begged him to

perform.  He sang "Stand By Me" and "Everybody Hurts" and everyone LOVED him! 

He was GREAT!

The Bugingos made it to America on July 23rd!

Rick and Carla met them at the airport at midnight!!

Solomon and Kulf (both 3 years old) were SO

excited to get our grandson, Bryce's birthday 

cookies for his 4th birthday on Monday, July 21st!

I just HAD to put this picture on here!