Africa At Last: Our First Day in Senegal

April 2026

Almost three years ago, Parker completed his mission to Accra, Ghana. Brian and I thought it would be pretty cool to pick him up afterwards, meet some of the people he taught, and see where he served. Parker wanted to have the experience of traveling home with fellow missionaries and going back to Ghana at a future date.

Well, between weddings, vacation time, school schedules, and finances, I wasn't sure a trip to Africa would happen another time, but it did. 

Looking back, I am so glad we waited because we were able to visit both Paker's former mission (Ghana) and Chris and Angelique in part of their mission (Senegal). 

What followed was two weeks of family time, new friends, new foods, bumpy roads, unexpected adventures, tender mercies, and memories we'll never forget.

My neck pillow. Parker said I looked like a terrorist.

Parker was a trooper traveling with the 50 and older crowd. 

Brian and I had no shame. We were prepped and overpacked with everything we might need: expensive neck pillows, compression socks, hydration packets, chargers, back up chargers, mini fans, printed itenaries, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, trip insurance,  and more. 

Bri did pull down his cool compression socks eventually. I was wearing pants mine weren't so overt.

About a month before we left, I read something on Reddit that I tucked away for later: Enjoy the adventure. Delays, wrong turns, and unexpected challenges aren't interruptions to the trip—they're part of the trip.

I was grateful for that advice. Most of our trip did flow really smoothly, but when a couple of bigger issues occurred (VRBO scam, forgotten Yellow Fever card, canceled flight etc.), I tried to lean into the "enjoy the adventure" advice.

We didn't have much of an itinerary going for our two week trip...which seemed CRAZY and reckless. We fluffed it up along the way though and we had a great time.

After a twenty hour flight, we arrived in Senegal on Sunday April 5th, Easter morning. It was wonderful to see Chris and Ang on the other side of customs. We eventually made it through and were able to give each other big hugs. 

It just seemed unbelievable that we were reunited in AFRICA. I shared some of the history between Chris, Ang and I in this blog post. What a blessing to be able to visit them on their mission.

The first apartment I reserved for our group was not legitimate...so starting off strong!  Luckily, we were reimbursed and found a really nice three bedroom AirBnb rent. 

Chris and Ang had food and snacks ready, and we enjoyed conference together. It was a wonderful way to spend a good part of the day.

We also went to the Rising Africa monument. I was a little concerned because of my knee, but it held up through 27 flights of stairs-definitely a tender mercy. It felt so good to remember the blessing I had received the week before when my knee was so swollen. I knew I might need to go more slowly, but because of the blessing, I knew it would be okay to at least try join in activities like this.

This monument celebrates Africa's strength, unity and cultural heritage. Inside the statue is a three story museum with artwork that shares African culture throughout many years.  You can also take a very small and somewhat rickety elevator to the top of the  head of the man to look out over the city of Dakar and the Atlantic Ocean. 

The group tour was in French and so Chris quietly translated for us. Our guide was very thurough and informative.

When we got back to our place, I utilized our frozen veggies to keep my knee swelling down.

Chris and Ang prepared a delicious Easter dinner. 

Out of our apartment balcony, we could see this hill with a lighthouse on it. This is the place were Elder Bednar, in 2017, dedicated the country of Senegal for the preaching of the gospel.

After dinner, we wanted to go on a walk to the ocean. We could tell from Google Maps it was really close, but we couldn't really figure out how to get there. Chris was staying back to read and respond to missionary emails, and so it was all up to Angelique. I was so impressed as she used her French to ask people on the streets for directions. She began learning French shortly before they were called to serve as mission leaders in Cote d'Ivoire.

We went down this steep and narrow path that led to the beach....and my knee held up.🩷

There were lots of young men and a few young women exercising on the beach. They were in groups dancing, or sprinting, or doing pushups. 

Mosquito born illnesses such as Malaria and Yellow Fever are concerns in West Africa, and they were out in full force so we didn't stay long. 

Our walk to the ocean was a nice way to end our first day in Senegal. 

Baby Snuggles Before Africa

March 2026

I ended up getting to spend time with this sweet baby boy when he was just a week old, and he was absolutely tiny. Constantly swaddled, he looked like the cutest little burrito.

I was worried about my baby girl and glad I was able to give her a hug and help out in person by taking shifts with Cal, cooking, grocery shopping, etc. 

Labor and delivery are no joke.

It was fun to see Brinley and Derek in action. They were working around the clock taking care of this little guy and getting so little sleep, as new parents do. They were exhausted, but they made a great team. 

I also loved being with Aubrey. It was a little complicated because I was staying 30 minutes north of Orem, and Aubrey was 15 minutes south in Provo. She also was still in school and didn't have a car, but we made it work when it would work. 

Week one, I mainly tried to help Derek and Brinley take care of Brinley and Cal. 

Week two was supposed to include more time with Aubrey and her roommates, plus a little mission shopping. But out of nowhere, my left knee became a major problem.

We managed one modified shopping day. Aubrey pushed me around in a shopping cart at times, and I borrowed a motorized chair when I could. But my knee kept swelling bigger and bigger throughout the day. I could barely bend it, and walking became difficult fast. It visibly worsened by the hour.

I was trying not to panic, but I was freaking out a little bit. 

Our long-awaited trip to Africa was only six days away, and I knew there was no way I could travel around the world in that condition.

Brian was wonderful from home—offering physical therapy advice, encouragement, love, and reassurance. I went to Urgent Care, where an X-ray showed crystallized calcifications that were likely causing the swelling. Our family prayed that my knee would heal enough for me to walk and go on the trip. I also received a blessing that brought comfort, hope, and very clear direction on what I needed to do to heal:

Rest.

Thankfully, I was staying with Denise and Bruce, who are always so welcoming. Their backyard view felt peaceful and healing, and Denise took very good care of me while I tried to lay low and be a minimal disruption to their lives.

The swelling in my knee went down little by little. I was probably about 80% better when it was time to begin my 20-hour flight. 

I was especially glad Brinley felt well enough to come to Draper before I left. She, Derek, and Cal stopped by for one last visit before our trip.

And Denise happily soaked up some baby snuggles too.

 

I could post about 40 more pictures of this sweet boy, but I'll keep it to six. 

Goodbye for now, little burrito

I'm off to Africa with Brian and Parker for the adventure of a lifetime.

But I'm happy knowing we’ll all be back in Utah in May for this sweet boy’s baby blessing.

Baby Cal

3-26

Calvin Thayne Atkinson made his arrival into the world this March.

And just like that, he completely stole my heart.

I loved getting every little update Derek sent before and after his birth. But I especially wanted to know how my baby girl was doing through it all.

Just look at all of that hair! He is so precious.

Our family was definitely a little jealous when we saw Aubrey getting to hold baby Cal first — although we were happy for her too, of course. (And I have to mention the somewhat coordinated sister outfits. Aubrey stopped by the hospital after attending the Lindon Temple open house.)

I am so incredibly happy for Brinley and Derek. Baby Cal is one blessed little boy to be joining their family.

We already love him so much, and I can hardly wait to meet him.

Buenos Aires and a Leap of Faith

February 2026

With the announcement that sister missionaries could now serve at 18, so many of Aubrey’s friends and acquaintances were putting in their papers. During that time, Aubrey was wrestling deeply with the idea of serving a mission herself.

All through high school, she had been pretty vocal about not serving. Brian and I always told her it was completely her choice, and we truly meant that.

Our family mission flags. (Thanks Grandpa Gwilliam)

In December, she told us she had 100% decided not to serve, and honestly, she felt relieved. I was happy for her because I could feel her anxiety lift. While she was home for Christmas break, she even met over Zoom with her college counselor to map out her classes and graduation plan.

Then Aubrey headed back to BYU for winter semester on January 4th.

On January 15th, she called home in happy tears to tell us she had decided to serve a mission.

I was floored.

When I asked what changed her mind, she talked about repeatedly feeling the Spirit as people shared their mission calls in church. She also said she couldn’t get the thought out of her mind and felt she needed to reconsider.

I think she finally took the wrestle she had been having internally for years to the Lord, and that made all the difference.. 

From that point on, she moved forward confidently and quickly. She went into full hyper-focus mode and completed everything she needed for her papers — dentist appointments, eye doctor visits, interviews, and more — all within just a few weeks.

On February 17th, she received her call to serve in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission and will begin on May 27th.

Her cute, supportive friends: Charlotte Erickson & Hannah Turner

Another fun part of this whole experience was that Aubrey kept her mission call a complete secret from her siblings and extended family. Everyone’s reactions were some combination of shocked, emotional, thrilled, and incredibly supportive.

She joined the Birds during their family scripture study. Adam, being the bishop of the home ward, already knew what was coming, but no one else had any idea. They assumed she was joining because she needed help with a religion assignment.

Then she simply started reading:

“Dear Sister Gwilliam, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…”

You can actually see Britney shooting daggers at me through the phone screen. Braddock had started filling out his mission papers just a couple of weeks after Aubrey, but I had to play completely dumb the entire time. Brit would share stress or confusion about the process, and I’d casually offer random tips I supposedly remembered from when Brinley or Parker filled out papers. It was killing me not to talk about it.

Aubrey also called Chris and Ang to share the news, but because of the five-hour time difference, Ang was already asleep. Once Chris realized what Aubrey was about to share, he knew Angelique wouldn’t want to miss it. (Both Britney and Angelique were Aubrey’s seminary teachers for most of her youth, so their love for her goes beyond being her aunts.)

I loved getting to quietly join in on each of her calls and feeling the Spirit wash over me every time she read her mission call. More than anything, I loved seeing how deeply loved Aubrey is by so many people.

With Brinley and Derek, Aubrey really did need to interview them for a religion assignment, so they went over to her dorm. At one point she casually said, “Oh, I have one more thing I need to share,” and then started reading her mission call. Derek caught on first, while Brinley assumed it was still part of the assignment. The surprise/shock on her face when she realized this was actually happening was priceless.

She later FaceTimed Parker, Tanner, and Erin. They were so excited for her… and maybe just a little miffed that they were dead last to know. (She had to have a set time to share with the Birds, and she knew it was getting really late for the Vores...so that is just the way it worked out.)

She called grandparents, and afterward Brian and I were able to share the exciting news in our Gwilliam and Vore family group chats. Her cousin Kyle, who served in Argentina, also connected with her and shared advice and excitement about the mission.

A mission creates such a strong foundation for life, and I’m so grateful Aubrey will have this opportunity. I know her testimony will deepen as she studies the gospel and serves and loves the people of Argentina.

It will be hard at times, but it will bless her — and her future family — in countless ways.