"OLD" aka Former Missionary Friends

Three men who served missions in the West German Mission in 1965 find themselves serving together in West Africa in 2009. On the left is Ray Johnson who is Associate Legal Counsel for Africa. The man in the center is Lowell M. Snow, Area President Africa West Area. The old, fat, bald one on the right is Kurt Krupp. We got together Tuesday night the 27th of January 2009 for dinner and a mission reunion. Ray and Pres Snow live in Accra, Ghana. Kurt and Linda are in Accra for a week of training in preparation for being the Perpetual Education Fund Service Center for Nigeria. The PEF program has been operating for two years in Ghana. We will open it up and work on it for six months in Nigeria. Our students will benefit so much from access to loans for education.
The reunion of the three men was enhanced so much when we were able to connect to a fourth missionary who served with us. His name is Russell Watterson. He was trained by Pres Snow. Elder Watterson, Elder Johnson and Elder Snow were mission leaders at various times together. Elder Snow was Elder Watterson's trainer and Elder Watterson was Elder Krupp's trainer. Russell has been home from being Mission President of the Baltic States Mission, for 7 months. We used Skype to call him. He has seldom been surprised or caught "speechless". He was both surprised and speechless by our call. He thought we were putting him on, but he hooked his computer up and could see us. His response, once the picture came up, was that we "sure looked old". Linda said he should go look in the mirror.
The reunion and the dinner were awesome. 43 years doesn't seem like so much when you are all back together and can just visit and compare "war stories". All three of these men, Ray Johnson, Russell Watterson and Lowell Snow have contributed to my growing up. I owe them so much and I am so grateful for their good examples and their goodness. Being senior missionaries is a great adventure and an awesome blessing. Thanks, Lord for the experience!