Mission President's Seminar in Johannesburg

 

After each general conference the Area Presidency is directed to hold a mission presidents' seminar. Its agenda is set by the missionary department and the Area Presidency does all the teaching.  All  eleven mission presidents and their wives in our Africa Southeast Area attend this wonderful three days of instruction by the three 70's who serve in our Area Presidency, Elders Renlund, Soares, and Cook and their wives. So, three days after returning from Bangui, we repacked our bags and headed out to Johannesburg. The seminar started on Monday, but since the plane doesn't go to Johannesburg on some days, we arrived early. It gave us time to do some shopping and go to a couple of dentist and doctor appointments. It was quite a long time to be away. It's always hard to leave the mission behind, but mission presidents are available 24/7 by phone, and the mission doesn't hesitate to call. During most of the breaks in the seminar the mission presidents were on their phones talking to their missionaries and office staff.

It's always fun to go back to a world like the one in which we used to live. Johannesburg is very much like a modern  US city.  We stay in a nice hotel, eat at good (and very reasonably priced) restaurants and shopped in....oh my goodness, real stores!!! Malls, supermarkets, specialty stores. You name it, they have it!  We filled our suitcases with things for our couples and us.

This is Macro-S. Africa's Costco. Naturally, I loved it!

 

This nice Pharmacy is in a MALL.
They give wonderful service to the missionaries.

           

You really are in civilization when you see these kinds of places to eat. 

While in Johannesburg, we had one of the most remarkable experiences that we've ever had.  It was a very special little miracle. The mission presidents and wives were scheduled to go to the temple at 5:00 on Tuesday.  We found out from President and Sister McMullin, the Lubumbashi Mission President, that there was a group of Burundian saints who were going to be sealed at just that time. Because of the exact timing, it wouldn't interfere with the seminar plans and the  McMullins invited us to join them at the sealing.

We arrived and were escorted to the sealing room to wait for the company. We didn't know who it was and were anxious to see. When they came in, it was a joyous moment. It was the Malabi family, and the Mabingo family and their two young sons who are awaiting mission calls, Jean Jacque and one other family, the Lumbus, who moved from Rwanda into the branch after we left.  We couldn't have chosen anything more perfect than to be at the temple with these much beloved families from Burundi.

Malabi family This family of six lived in Burundi for five years before the church came, saved their tithing for all those years to be able to pay when somebody from the church came, took food to needy families monthly as a fast offering, held church in their home, but had never been able to baptize their children before we got to Burundi.  He was the first branch president and we love them dearly. Their four children were sealed to them. Top to bottom- Kyubi, Veronique, Anne Marie, Alain, Alicia, and Raisa. 

This family has suffered a great deal for the church. He's lost his employment and their home because he wouldn't deny his faith.  They continue to experience harship. She once told us that they don't fear because of their faith in the Lord.  We love them!

Menos Mabinga family  Brother Menos' baptism was the only one that Brent actually performed on our missions.  Brother Mabingo had dreamed that Brent would baptize him. He had special circumstances to consider before being baptized and it didn't seem possible to teach him, get the special permission needed and baptize him in a week.  But he believed that his dream was true and had great faith that it would happen. So, Brent and the zone leaders taught him. He read daily and had a long list of questions every day.  In a week he was ready. The request was made, expecting that it would take some time, but the approval came overnight . In truly amazing ways that baptism took place two days before we left Bujumbura. His wife and three children had preceeded him in baptism, and now all the other children have been baptized.  Eight young adults and two deceased children were sealed to them  What a joyous time it was to be with them.
Jean Jacques is a great young man who came to Burundi from Lubumbashi. He'd been in the church most of his life, but had no chance to be active when he went to Burundi for school.  He valiantly keep his faith despite questions and challenges from his schoolmates. We always talked about the future time when he would go to the temple and then this tiny miracle happened and we were with him when it did.
 Brent and President McMullin were asked to be the witness for the sealings.  Nothing could have been sweeter than this marvelous reunion in the temple.  If we could have chosen families to be with, it would have these.  We're grateful that the McMullins invited us to be there for this sweet reunion.  What a great blessing it was!
Two weeks earlier the first group from Uvira and Bujumbura had gone to the temple.

The  family of Methode was among them. He had waited 12 years to have the gospel in his life and moved to Bujumbura in order to be baptized.  What a faithful man.  Brent gave his shoes to Mehtode when we left and Methode had "fish clothes" made for us because we were "fishers of men at Lake Tanganyika." Odette and DieuDonne and Thadee where members who we know well and were also in this group. What a great thing it is to see that these dear Burundian pioneers, who wanted the church so much and waited so patiently, finally have all the blessings of the gospel.

I think all of us white haired folks were quite a sight.

Along with the serious learning part of the seminar there were some fun parts as we shared our experiences and laughed at the funny things that happen on a missions in Africa. We also went on a trip to the MonteCasino Bird Sanctuary.  The high point of the day was when Pres. Wood was a volunteer and  let a hawk land on his head during the bird show.




After the seminar we stayed a day or two and had a little time to shop. We bought some practical things for the couples and us. Then we went to Bruma, an craft market. I'd heard that it was a great place and it was. We also visited one of my favorite places, the African Market.  We picked up a few African arts and crafts that will help us remember our African experience.  We bought a Zulu wedding doll from a cute little lady, who said " I'll give good price because the rain make not many customers. You will bring me luck." The custom was that a Zulu warrior would make this kind of doll as beautifully and as elaborately as possible. He would leave it in the yard of the girl he wanted to marry. If she accepted the doll, she accepted him.  She would treasure and name the doll. Then their first child would carry that name.  They come in all sizes and can be quite elaborate.  I loved this little one that had nice detail and I loved the cute little lady who was selling them even more .

Traditional soapstone family figure

 

One of the unique trees in Africa is the Baobab tree. If you have ever read The Little Prince you might remember it. Brent had all his second-year students read it.  So, when he saw this little Baobab tree made from banana leaves, he just couldn't resist it.  It'll be just perfect with our tiny banana leaf nativity. This banana leaf art is a Congolese craft that's quite unique.

Two  gigantic Baobab Trees near the church in Matadi

Banana leaf Baobab Tree

We just keep finding   great reminders of our time in Africa.  I'm not sure how they'll all fit in our home, but we enjoy seeing and collecting a few things.
 The Mission Presidents' Seminary is a beneficial time for us to receive  council from our leaders, interaction,  learning from, and have fun with  other mission presidents, go on a  nice cultural outing, and even some  shopping. It's a rejuvenating time and gets us ready to go back to work with renewed zeal.