History of the Church in Burundi

Before leaving Burundi, I was asked to write a brief history of the church in this country. This is a copy of the document that I wrote.

The History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Burundi, Africa

In 1992, Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Seventy traveled to Burundi and, through an amazing sequence of events, obtained government recognition for the Church. This permission was originally denied, but after feeling the prompting to share the pamphlet “For the Strength of Youth” with the government official, the man changed his mind and granted permission for the organization of the church to have official recognition. The Bujumbura Branch was established by President Homer M. LeBaron. The first branch president, Pres. Egide Nzojibwami, was set apart by Elder J. Ballard Washburn of the Africa Area presidency and a member of the Seventy, on Nov. 27, 1992. The first branch meeting was held two days later with 39 in attendance. Full-time missionaries from the Ivory Coast served in Burundi. These missionaries were Elders Francois Boue, Felix Gnamba, Aime Cesar Kipre and Bassin Kouhon. The branch grew through convert baptisms and was becoming well established when civil war broke out. After a coup, the constitution was suspended in 1996, missionaries were removed from Bujumbura and the branch was officially dissolved.

October 25-26, 2006 President William Maycock and Sister Maycock of the DRC Kinshasa Mission, who now had responsibility for Burundi, made an exploratory visit to the country. They found no church presence but did find several members from the US working in the American embassy and for the UN.

They also visited with the family of Malabi Kyubi Wa Kyubi. The family consisted of Kyubi, his wife, Veronique and four children. Only the oldest child, Ann Marie, had been baptized. Alain was nine but had not been baptized because of the lack of priesthood leadership and no branch presence. Alice and Raissa were not yet old enough for baptism. The family was faithfully holding church in their home, without the sacrament since they had no permission to administer it. They had saved their tithing in a bank account and were living in close compliance to the gospel. They also met with others who expressed interest in the church. They were eager for the church to establish a presence in Burundi.

(See appendix folder 3 for complete Maycock files)

From that time until July 1, 2010 many contacts were made by people in Burundi and Eastern Congo with the office of the Area Presidency. They had learned about the church and gathered others who were interested and formed their own churches, sometimes using the name of the church.

Among them were Hatungimana Johnson, Belamwa Methode and NtibiyumweThomas. They and others petitioned the church asking for missionaries to come, teach and baptize them and groups of people who met with them.

During his tenure as mission president, Michael Headlee visited Burundi, accompanied by Eustache Ilunga, of Kinshasa. Their visit was Dec. 9-15, 2009. During this visit they talked with some of the same people who had talked to President Maycock, attended some of the church meetings being held by these groups of people and taught basic church doctrine to them.

President Headlee felt that future investigation should be made into reintroducing the church into Burundi. (see appendix folder 4 for complete report.)

On July 1, 2010 the DRC Lubumbashi mission was created with Gary L. Packer as mission president. Burundi was included in this new mission. Having seen many of the letters that came to South Africa while serving as Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency, President Packer began to feel a strong spiritual prompting to explore the situation in Burundi and respond to those who were seeking the gospel. In response to this impression Pres. Packer organized an exploratory visit and conference in Burundi Aug. 12-19, 2010.

On Aug. 12 President Gary L. Packer, along with his counselor, Elder Brent L Jameson, and Elder Craig R. Frogley went to Burundi to investigate the situation and present an exploratory conference for some of the pastors who had written to the church and all members in Bujumbura and Uvira, DRC. Kyle Brown of church security joined them to evaluate security needs in Burundi.

They were met in Burundi by President Eustache Ilunga, a stake president who came from Kinshasa, and had been to Burundi with President Headlee during his visit the year before. His insights and experience were invaluable.

A conference was held on Aug. 14 at the Hotel Source du Nil. Twenty-eight interested people and members attended.

Those attending the conference

Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010 a sacrament meeting was held in the hotel room of President Packer for the members of the church in Burundi and their families.

During this visit, investigation was also done into rental properties for senior couples, young elders and a meeting house. All three places were found and contracts signed for rentals. A location was also found for a dedication of the land of Burundi, which would occur in October 2010.

Ded Dedication site at the Monument to Unity First missionary apartment First couples’ apartments

First meeting hall located above DHL inside Gallerie Alexander

After their visit to Burundi, President Packer was given permission by the Area Presidency to make further plans to send missionaries to Bujumbura. (See appendix 5 for Packer complete Packer report.) (I don’t have a copy of the official report Pres. Packer made to S. Africa.)

On Sept. 22, 2010 missionary couples Brent and Lorraine Jameson and Craig and Janet Frogley arrived in Burundi. They were followed shortly thereafter by eight young missionaries- Elders Moussele Fridorin Aristide, Mpoyi Bukasa Jean Paul, Tshituka Job Lafuluaba, Moussa Kadiata Christopher, Kintembila Nzuzi Jonathan, Kizimbou Guy Alain, Diazola Mbambukula Junior, N’Gondo Nkombo Clerck Gilson.

The first week that sacrament meeting was held, the small chapel room was overflowing with 72 people in attendance. So, the next week construction was done to break through a wall and double the size of the chapel.

Baptisms began almost immediately. Alice Malabi was the first person baptized, followed by her brother, Alain. Their parents had moved to in Burundi five years earlier and had been waiting for this day. Fleury Suguru, the son of Simon Suguru who joined the church in 1994 when original branch was in Burundi, was also baptized that day. It seemed fitting that these next generation members were the first baptized.

Every other week baptisms occurred and the branch grew quickly. By the end of 2010 the branch had 39 members. Baptisms were held at Sun Safari Hotel and Source du Nil Hotel. The church continued to grow in number of baptized members and our average Sacrament meeting attendance was 185%.

On October 19, 2010 a small group of saints gathered on a hilltop high above the city of Bujumbura, Burundi at the Monument of Unity, as Elder Jeffery R. Holland dedicated the land of Burundi for the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was accompanied by Elder Steven Snow, of the Presidency of the Seventy.

In addition to Elders Holland and Snow, the small group of 18 who attended included the DR Congo Lubumbashi Mission president, the Bujumbura group leader, eight young African missionaries, two senior couples who served in Bujumbura and a public affairs missionary couple from Kenya.

Back row-Elder and Sister Jameson, Elder and Sister Puckett (PA missionaries), Elders Holland and Snow, President and Sister Packer and Elder and Sister Frogley Middle-Elder N'Gondo and Kyubi Wa Kyubi and Veronique Malabi Front -Elders Kintembila, Moussa, Diazola, Mpoyi, Moussele, Kizimbou and Tshituka.

Even the elements, which are not always cooperative during the rainy season in this small African country, seemed to honor the day as clouds brought comfortable weather conditions, but withheld their rain during the dedication. As Elder Holland spoke, he commented that below in the busy city of nearly 3 million people, they had no idea that this great event was happening; quietly and without fanfare, on the mountainside above them. They were unaware that the hand of the Lord was extended over this tiny, long-suffering, war-torn land. Now the blessings of the gospel in its fullness could be extended to Burundi and thousands would hear and embrace it. He encouraged those present to consecrate their lives, as he consecrated this land. He encouraged them to join their prayers with his as he acted as voice for their collective prayers for the blessings of the Lord as He opened a window to the future and sent forth the blessings of heaven on the little African country of Burundi.

Following the dedication, Elders Holland and Snow meet with about 25 local members in the newly acquired meeting house. They were joined by more than 45 friends of the church who are studying the gospel. One group of investigators, some of whom traveled over 120 km, came from the Eastern Congo to join with the Burundian saints to see and hear an apostle of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Elder Holland encouraged all in attendance to be patient as the church began to grow and develop after the order of the priesthood. He told them to look to Joseph Smith as their example. He explained that Joseph Smith waited and prepared for many years to begin the work of the restoration. He reminded them that the restoration itself didn’t happen for 1800 years after the gospel was lost from the earth in the time of Christ. He told them that God is very patient and they must be patient too. He asked them to be faithful and obedient to the commandments and commitments they would make as they wait upon the Lord. He promised them that this work will go forward, but we must “do it right” as we begin the great task of gathering the Lord’s children into His flock and spreading the gospel throughout the newly dedicated country of Burundi.

It wasn’t long before the numbers supported the need for a Branch to be created. Jan. 9, 2011 under the direction of President Gary Packer, the Bujumbura Branch was created. Ninety-four members and investigators attended the sacrament meeting on that day.

Called to serve in the first branch presidency were President Malabi Kyubi Wa Kyubi, first counselor Hutungimana Johnson and as second counselor Suguru Simon.

Burundi Otis Amiable was called as Ilunga Jean Jacques was called. the first elders quorum president as the first branch clerk

Not yet called

The first Relief Society president called ___________________________________ was Mininahazwe Magnifique was called as the first Primary President

Not yet called

The first Sunday School President called was _____________ __________________

By Jan. 31 2011 the membership of the branch had grown to 67 members and twelve missionaries. The branch was quickly outgrowing the building and a second remodel was done to increase the size of the chapel and construct a baptismal font on the verandah of the building.

Not yet completed Not yet completed

Growth in the church in Burundi continued just as Elder Holland had said it should. It came with order and patience. But it continued to grow in numbers and in strength.