The Fabulous Four

Among those who finished their missions in January were four misisonaries from Likasi, DRC. We share a long history with these young men that is quite unusual. Things had to align in a most unique way to make our history happen.  It was extra hard to let them go.

Elder Kabuya, Kalenga, Makwala and Kanyingu

On our first mission Brent was assigned to preside at a District Conference in Likasi to represent the Mission President.  Upon our arrival the District President told Brent that he had some prospective missionaries who had paperwork ready and needed to be interviewed.  Brent was surprised that he would be asked to do this, so he made a quick call to President Headlee to see if he had the authority to do so. President Headlee said, "Yes, please go ahead and do that."  It was a good thing that Brent had done many mission interviews  as a stake president. This was probably the first of what Brent calls, "alligators waiting in the water" that always await mission presidents as they go to outlying areas.  Temple recommend and patriarchal blessing interviews, leadership problems and temporal affairs issues always pop up when we travel. People with needs are just waiting at the church for us when we get there.

So the interviews were set up and the next morning the young men started arriving ahead of the appointed time. Each was wearing the same tie, which we later found out was the "choir tie."  The church gates were locked so we sat visiting with these four young men for some time and finally got their interviews done.  The four missionaries who were released in January were these same four elders.  So, Brent interviewed them for their missions and now, almost two and a half years later, he released them as missionaries. I'm not sure this would happen often. It requires having missionaries serve in their own country and a couple serving in the mission presidencies in the same missions consecutively for over two years. That is rather unusual..

Elder Kalenga was quiet and and steady. He was hard working and willing to do whatever he was asked to do. He served with the American missionaries in    Cameroon for a time, so we got to know him well on our visits there.

Elder Mkwala was a bright spot in the mission. He always had smile as big as Africa itself and a twinkle in his eye that brightened everybody's day. He made me smile and laugh at every visit, but he was also a competent and dedicated missionary who gave great leadership to others. 

Elders Kanyingu and Kabuya are brothers although they don't have the same name.   They were both bright, intense young men who served well and always had deep gospel questions to ask.  They severed with honor and contributed much to the work here in Kinshasa. They have another brother still serving in our mission. 

We pray that they will find success and happiness in their future and expect them to give great leadership and service to the church in Likasi.