Jolene and Claron taught Fikadu Tegene the Restoration lesson and then took him to lunch

Claron with Fikadu Tegene at the Utah Valley Marathon on 7 June 2025

Claron met Fikadu Tegene at the Utah Valley Marathon at the award ceremony in Provo, Utah. He took second place overall in the Marathon. Fikadu won the race the three previous years. We stayed in touch using WhatsApp. He lives outside of Addis Ababa and it is more than an hour to the branch of the Church nearest him. He made it to the Megenagna Branch in August and learned some about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He made the two hour journey to met us at the Megenagna Branch compound this day. Jolene and I taught him “The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” lesson with the help of a translator. His English is good, but the message especially touched his heart as he heard it in his mother tongue of Amharic. Fikadu was able to meet President Cowley and some of the local members of the Church. We took Fikadu to lunch and had some good Ethiopian food with injera. It was good that we had Fikadu with us, because he helped us order. Fikadu is going to come back to church with us Sunday morning.

We met Tut Pal on the street and he wanted to have his picture taken with us.

There are a fair number of South Sudanese around the area where we live in Addis Ababa. When I say, “Maalɛ,” the greeting in the Nuer language, it is easy to start a conversation. Typically, we exchange names and phone numbers and agree to meet at another time. Tut Pal is in Addis as a college student. He has a wife and four children in Gambella, Ethiopia. He wants to stay in contact with us. The Nuer people are generally people of faith and interested in learning more about God.

Claron and Peter, first counselor in the Megenagna Branch presidency

The photo was taken at the Church compound which includes the Megenagna Branch meetinghouse, the mission office, an outdoor basketball court, nice lawn area and beautiful landscaping. It is a good place to meet people who want to know more about Jesus Christ. Peter is a first counselor in the Megenagna Branch presidency. He is warm and friendly and helps us with various things we need.