A Wonderful Weekend with Visitors-Event One

We've been blessed on our mission to spend time with many people who have inspired us and lifted us.  Some have been well known and admired and respected by many. Some of been unknown to the world, but are, none the less, wonderful and inspirational people. This weekend we spent time with both kinds of these amazing people.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elders Clayton and Renlund and their wives came to spend five days in our mission.  They met with literally thousands of saints in Kinshasa and then with a small group of about 125 in Central African Republic.  It was truly clear evidence that the Lord loves all his children, and church leaders are aware of and make great efforts to minister to them all.

The leaders arrived Friday Oct. 26, 2012, after having spent a week meeting with groups of members in South Africa and then a day of travel coming to Kinshasa.  The trip here is a long one, considering “the formalities” and challenges of travel.  They could have just settled into their hotel and relaxed and prepared for the full weekend.  However, knowing that  there was a graduation ceremony for 58 young men involved in the church’s program for construction, all five of them chose to attend the graduation.  It was a surprise to those attending and an evening that none of the 200 people who attended will not forget.

The planned program was presented and then Elders Clayton and Holland spoke a few words.  Elder Holland said that he had been to hundreds of graduations, sometimes five or six in a week when he was involved in Church education, and some were graduations for thousands of students.  But he said  he had never attended a sweeter, more meaningful graduation than this one.  He had never seen students who had accomplished more and had learned more about how to contribute to their society and to improve their futures than what he saw at this graduation.  He told them to remember the lesson that they had learned about keeping construction square, plumb and level. Then he related that to life and being honest with themselves and others. Then the three General Authorities stood in line to present the graduation certificates and to personally greet each graduate and have pictures taken with each one.  

One of our Lubumbashi  Mission Assistants- President Kabengele receiving his certificate

The certificates represent completion of a strenuous course of study in some phase of construction and are earned through LDS Business College in Salt Lake City.  This certificate, from a recognized US institution and the training they receive, will hopefully open doors for meaningful employment in the Congo. Our French friend, Eric, is the director of the program. They have been taught good construction skills, and lessons in life from our senior missionary, Elder Billings. We're so grateful to have him and Sister Billings working in our mission.  They teach these young men with great ability and love. This training is a tremendous advantage to these young adults. It is hoped that they will be the owners of construction companies someday and will do quality construction.  We pray that this will bless their lives and their nation tremendously. 

Each young man was also presented with a set of tools that will help him to pursue his chosen trade.

Then a reception with refreshments was held for the graduates and their friends and family.  

Three of our returned missionaries enjoy refreshments to celebrate their success.
Love what they chose for a table.

After the graduation Elder Holland greeted one of the men with whom our program works, who happens to be our neighbor across the hall.  We could tell that he was touched and felt the spirit as Elder Holland spoke.

For us this was a time of personal "parental" joy as we watched 11 of these young men, who had been our missionaries in Lubumbashi and Kinshasa received their certification. Several others of our beloved missionaries were there to support their friends and we paused to get a picture of us all together. 

We can see that the future of the church and the Congo rests on the shoulders of these wonderful, young returned missionaries and we're proud of and inspired by their efforts. They work against tremendous odds to be successful and represent the best there is in the young men and women of the church here. What a blessing it is to know and love them!  

Sister Mesenga and Elder Longonja  both served mission with us in Lubumbashi.   Now they're engaged to be married in March. He was among the graduates on Friday night and she works at Temporal Affairs.  These two are an example of the strong young couples who are doing things right.  They will create a  strong Christ-centered home and be future leaders in the Congo. 

Seeing our missionary children  move forward after their missions is something that we never imaged we would be able to do, but being here for a second mission has given us that unique blessing and is a great joy.

And having Elder Holland, Elder and Sister Renlund, and Elder and Sister Clayton there to share the wonderful evening with these young graduates was something we'll always remember.