Kasumbalesa

Some of the members of a "group" that meets in Kasumbalesa, came to Katuba Stake conference and baptized several new members a month ago. We met with them after conference and they asked for visitors to come and also for missionaries. A "group" exists where there are not enough members and leadership to form a branch. A group leader is called and they function just like any other unit. We are still trying to find out, for sure, who has responsibility for monitoring and helping them. Some we have asked say the stake nearest them and others say the mission. But we decided to go and visit them, take them some supplies and see just what was happening there.

Kasumbalesa is 90 km (56 miles) away and in a direction that we have not traveled, so we were interested to see what it is like.

We took with us Brother Ngoie Kasadi, who lives in Lubumbashi and who used to be the counselor to the mission president before we came. Now he’s the executive secretary in the mission presidency. We also took Chamberlain and Lunda, both from the Temporal Affairs Office in Kinshasa. Chamberlain has been staying in our guest house for a few days while he trains local leaders in auditing. So, our truck was pretty full.

The road to Kasumbalesa is much better than the road to Likasi and just as it goes in a totally different direction, it was very different. It follows the border of Congo and Zambia. The land looks different, as do the villages.

The exit to the city and place for the toll road to begin.

The countryside was hilly and there were many charcoal transporters laboring to get their heavily laden bicycles up the hills as they go toward the city where they sell their loads.

When there are hills they walk their bikes. There were charcoal transporters as far as the eye could see.

There were also a great number of big trucks, something that we didn't see at all in the other direction we traveled. We wondered if they were bringing supplies through Zambia from South Africa, but are not sure. They really crowded the road.

There are also hundreds of termite mounds. Fortunately,

there are no more termites, just abandoned mounds.

Along the way to Kasumbalesa there were more than 30 villages. Each was marked along the road with a big blue street sign. Although they were still very primitive, they had a different look than the villages on the way to Likasi. These homes were well kept and cared for, in an African sort of way.

In areas around them the dirt had been swept to create yards.

Some even had bushes planted near the houses.

The homes had better construction. They were of handmade brick with grass or metal roofs. Sometimes they have plastic tarps over the roofs to help keep out the rain water.

Many were white washed

and my favorites had been decorated with paintings.

These are definitely better, upscale villages!

When we arrived in Kasumbalesa we were greeted on the street by the group leader and his family. They walked ahead of us and showed us the way to the compound were they meet in a school room a bit smaller than our living room at home. This is the inside of the school. It had only wooden benches/desks and a chalkboard painted on the wall of this cement room.

As we opened the doors of the truck, we could hear singing. There were about 40 saints singing "The World Has Need of Willing Men." We arrived 30 minutes early and they were already in place, singing the hymns in their strong, rich African voices. It was so touching to hear them singing the songs of Zion in that tiny, cement schoolroom. This little band of saints sitting in children-sized, wooden school desks, was a sight to behold. Once again, the children were absolutely reverent and everyone was very intense when they sang the hymns. The room had no glass in the barred windows and it was all cement—walls, ceiling and floor. A pillow was placed on the cement floor where the one priest knelt to offer the prayer. It was a privilege to partake of the sacrament in such a humble environment. We were reminded of the Savior’s admonition to love everyone as He does.We felt His love for them in that place. In Brent's talk later he told them that temples were sacred places, chapels were sacred places, but this little school was also a sacred place as we met together--and it was. It was an experience we will not forget!

When we arrived the group leader advised us that there would be a Sunday-School class, which he would teach and then sacrament meeting, where a sister would speak briefly and then Soeur and President Jameson would take the rest of the meeting. It turned out that the sister who spoke was named Iza

.

It was so sweet to hear Soeur Iza teach about accepting callings to serve in the church. She talked about how we might not do them perfectly and should not be afraid to try because the Lord gave them to us so that we could grow. Brent inserted Brother Kasadi into the program as well. He did a marvelous job. He spoke forcefully and without notes, quoting scriptures from memory, including their references. I made it through another testimony. Brent said that I did a good job of letting the people know we loved them, talking about our life and family back home and that I bore my testimony that we knew the Lord had sent us to the Congo to do His work in a way that was clearly understood. He said that he could see by their body language that they were with me when I bore my testimony. They are very kind and I can feel them trying to help me when I struggle with the language. But in general, the people don’t give much non-verbal feedback during talks. Then when you talk to them after, you find that they have taken notes and know everything you said.

Brent took the remainder of the time and spoke on the brother of Jared and their journey in the barges when they cast themselves into the sea expressing their trust and faith in God. Then he told them that we must have the same kind of faith that they possessed to rise above the challenges in our lives. This message was very pertinent to them in their difficult circumstances.

After the meetings we stayed and visited with members and took some pictures.

I always love to be with children and they love having their pictures taken.

As we were getting in our truck, one older member asked if we could give them a ride to their area. We had the back seat completely full with our three passengers, but they just said they would be happy to get in the back. So, the grandpa and grandma climbed into the back of the truck and then in jumped another sister and her two little boys. This is a mode of transportation I never would have thought I would have allowed. I never did at home, but hey, we're in Africa and you get places however you can. It's better than walking a mile and a half.

We dropped off Grandma and Grandpa about a mile and a half down the road to continue their walk to their house.The younger sister and her children live in the house to the left.

We spent one of the most memorable days of our lives down by the Zambian Border with a faithful little band of disciples in Kasumbalesa. We hope to help them get stronger and grow into a branch before we leave the Congo.