Fixing the Floor

As if we couldn't cram enough into February, we decided to finish putting laminate floors in the mission home.  The Headlees had really worked to upgrade the mission home. As part of the remodeling, they had brought laminate floors from Costco in their shipment and put it in the bedrooms.There was enough to do the hall, but they hadn't put it down.

 So, because we had a holiday in February and the office was closed, the senior elders converged on our house and put in the floor. What a difference a day makes. These senior elders can do anything! 

Frantic February-Part 4

February just kept on going.

The week started out sadly as we prepared to say goodbye to the Hatches. They finished their mission on Friday after spending the week training their replacements. We're so sad to lose this wonderful office couple from New Mexico.  They have served magnificently for 18 months without any French.  He owns a landscape business and is a former bull rider in the rodeo.  He was our “cowboy accountant” and she was our little "office cheerleader."  Everyone loved them and it was so hard to see them go. Our office staff worked wonderfully together and had a good time doing it.

Pascal, Hatches, Jamesons and Thierry in staff meeting.

Hatches were inspirational in many ways, but their coming on their mission is the most inspirational thing they did.  They felt the promptings to serve a mission at age 48. They couldn't leave their business and have it be OK when they got home, although they had enough money saved for a mission. So, in counsel with their children, they determined that one son would drop out of college and run the business for 9 months. Then another young son would do the same for the next 9 months, returning to school as their parents arrived home. The Hatches took over the business again the week that they arrived home.  They plan to work and save and return to the mission field when possible. What a fine example of faith, sacrifice and service we see in this great family. 

Staggs, Jamesons, Binghams and Hatches

We had all three couples over for a farewell dinner and testimony meeting Monday evening.  Very tender expressions were shared.  We get so close to these senior couples. It's hard to see them go!

The next day we had visitors again when Bishop H. David Burton and his executive secretary, Gary Porter came to Kinshasa. Bishop Burton was amazing. He flew in on Tuesday night. Feb. 21, 2012 and left on Thursday. He never stopped working for even five minutes and he had really done his homework.  He knew about every concern and need before we talked about it.  He even greeted the Staggs, our PEF couple, by asking them how they were doing since their auto accident, which happened the week before. He explained his vision for a pilot training program being done in Kinshasa to train skilled construction workers. They'll be taught a skill, work as construction apprentices, beginning with baptismal fonts and moving to chapels. In this way, they'll become qualified for jobs in the private sector.  It's a wonderful idea and we hope it will contribute to a better life for those who struggle with unemployment.   He was also here to look at possible temple sites.

Tuesday evening the new office couple, the Smiths, also arrived from Utah. Could we pack any more into this week?  They were both divorced and were married four years ago this April 15, quite an interesting date for a tax man.  They're our mission newlyweds! 

All the couples went to the airport to welcome them.  Then the couples took over getting taking care of them for their first few days, since we had more company on the way. They will be a fine addition to our staff. They're competence and willingness to do what's asked of them and do it right, will bless us all. Glad to have them on our team.

Wednesday morning Brent and I went to the airport to pick up the Renlunds. While Bishop Burton stayed in a hotel, the Renlunds stayed  with us.  We consider them very dear friends, as well as inspired leaders and mentors. We enjoy being together as much as possible.  From the airport we drove to the church where Bishop Burton was holding some meetings. Then we all went into the chapel for a devotional with  church employees and couple missionaries. Bishop Burton announced the appointment of the new Director of Temporal Affairs in Johannesburg. Making this announcement from Kinshasa was a bold step on Bishop Burton's part. Nothing has before been announced from here and the staff worked hard to put things in place to telecast the announcement to South Africa and it worked.  It gave some much needed positive strokes to the service center in Kinshasa. The new director is George Bonnet, who we have met on several occasions and had to dinner in the mission home a couple of times  His family will move to Johannesburg and he will direct all temporal affairs issues for the entire Southeast Africa Area. He speaks French, which is a serious plus. We have great confidence in him.  He'll make some changes to make temporal affairs run smoothly. 

Wednesday evening Bishop Burton, Brother Porter, and the Renlunds came to our home  for dinner,  Elder Renlund wanted Brent to give Bishop Burton his perspective of the needs in temporal affairs.  He was very gracious to listen intently and proposed some real solutions that will take a few months to implement.    Having two general authorities in our home was  a treat.  In our conversation we discovered that  Gary Porter and Brent have a common ancestor.  Interestingly, he also has a grandson named Jameson.  

 Thursday we held a sisters conference in our home for all 28 African sister missionaries, plus the four senior sister missionaries who live in Kinshasa.  We missed those sisters who live in the outlying areas.

 The young sisters arrived early for breakfast and the conference ended at about 1:30. We played  games, Sister Stagg taught a class on conducting music. Then Jackie, who works for us, spoke about African women's health issues.  Several young sisters gave talks, and each district of young sisters sang a hymn.

Sister Renlund, Brent  and I gave instruction. Sister Renlund, Sister Hatch and I wore African dresses, to the delight of the missionaries. I think it turned out to be a good experience for the sisters and they enjoyed a little special "girl time."

Thursday evening we gave the Renlunds the choice of dinner out or a quiet soup and salad supper and conversation  at  home.  It took Pres. Renlund just one second to choose what Brent would have chosen—soup at home.  From the very beginning, two years ago, he and Brent have just clicked.  I think that Brent and Elder Renlund are very much alike. Time with the Renlunds is always a pleasure and a great learning experience for us.

 Friday we drove the Renlunds to the airport.  We made eight trips down this difficult road  this week. 

 While negotiating the horrible,  heavy traffic this time, we were stopped,  for no reason, by two policemen.  One stood in front of the car so we couldn't go anywhere while the other harassed Brent, asking  to see our documents.  Brent showed him what he asked for by putting it against the window, but refused to roll the window down.  Brent  finally motioned for the one in front of the car to come look at his license and when he moved slightly to the side Brent took off.  What could they do on foot?  The Renlunds were quite amused.  They’ve seen it all before. Driving is always one of the wild experiences in the Congo.

What a frantic, but fantastic February it's been!. 

Frantic February-Part 3

The third week of February was filled with personal missionary interviews.  We spent half a day each day  meeting with missionaries. Brent had personal interviews with  98 missionaries while I talked to them in small groups about the English program. I also shared some inspiriting missionary experiences and talked about the connection between a "house of order" spoken of in D & C 88:119 and the presence of the spirit in our homes, even in a missionary home. They are so patient with my French. It's great to visit with them.

Too often we get bogged down with the 10% of missionaries who have problems and don't see enough of the 90% who are hard working, obedient and faithful. It's a great experience to be with the missionaries and have one-on-one conversations with them that remind us of their goodness.

  

One weekend we were invited to the Kimbanseke Stake Conference. We were asked to speak  in the Sunday meeting, but during the Saturday meetings we were surprised when invited to speak. We should know by now to always be prepared. I'm grateful that I can finally speak in a meeting without having to write it all out and read it. My French is not pretty, but it does communicate to the careful listener.

 It was really fun at the stake conference to see six of our returned missionaries from the Lubumbashi mission in the Kimbanseke Stake. It made us think of the sons of Mosiah and how happy Alma was when he saw them and  they were all still faithful. One RM was speaking. One was directing the choir. One was sustained as the Stake Young Adult Chairman. One was busy ushering. One sang in the choir. When we left Africa the first time I was desperately sad that I would never see or hear from these great young people again. It's a great joy to see our returned missionaries being strong and contributing members.

Frantic February-Part 2

The second week of February we had a HUGE transfer.  Because of visa problems many of our missionaries couldn't come earlier, so we got seven-teen new missionaries this transfer. We also had eight elders go home.Transfers are a three-day process with missionaries coming and going in our home and office and lots of meals and meeting, as we say goodbye to wonderful departing missionaries and greet and train those who have just arrived.

There are always interesting circumstance when we get new missionaries.  This group contained Sister Ilunga. When we arrived in Lubumbashi we were very nervous about going to church the first day.  Brother Desiré, his wife, children and two nieces surprised us by coming to our house to take us to church. It was a tender mercy to us. Sister Ilunga was one of the nieces who gave us that special service. Small world! Happy connection!

  We all work together getting papers ready, taking pictures, fixing meals, collecting and distributing supplies,doing training and then packing them all into vans and delivering them to their apartments. Transfer week is always CRAZY & EXCITING!

Frantic February-Part 1

The month of February passed in a blur for me. It was packed with visitors, activities, and trips and I didn't have time to write even one blog.  Now I'm trying to play catch up.
We started out the month with visitors.  We had Stan and Susan Martineau and Jeff Clatyon, Area attorneys, in town. We had them for dinner and spent the evening enjoying both their company and their good advice. Both of them have been mission presidents and talking to them was most interesting.
 Sister Matrineau is a great shopper and had in mind some things that she wanted to get here in Kinshasa for herself and Marge Clayton. So, all the ladies headed out for a day at the shops of Kinshasa. There aren't a whole lot of them, but it was fun to see some that I'd never been to before.
 Our shopping day also happened to be Thierry's birthday, so we all had to get a picture with the "birthday boy."  He's a remarkable man and we discovered that he's young enough to be our son, so that makes it even more amazing how wise and skilled he is.

We went to a delightful little place called Symphonie des Arts. It's a very nice shop run by a German family. It has beautiful crafts and a lovely, small garden with peacocks and crown cranes wandering through it. It was like we'd stepped into another land   

 We found some cute little African Angels that will look darling on our Christmas trees someday. We walked around in the gardens and just enjoyed them.

Next we went to a place called Art Development. It had hand-made crafts and furniture. It was in a tiny house on a dirt road in a congested, dirty part of town, but there were also some nice things there.  We're going to buy three new tables for the mission home there. They'll be good additions to our decor.

Last, and best of all, was the place we call "Thieve's Market." That's just our name for it. It's an open-air market with thousands of items for sale and you have to bargan to buy them.  It's lots of fun, a little creepy and full of interesting things and people.  I love it. Brent hates it. This trip I found some great deals on things I will love to have to remember Africa. 

Some fun jewlery

A nice, unique nativity

          

A carved wedding glass, a wooden box  and a very interesting cane made with copper, leather and bone.

Funny how a little outing does the ladies so much good! 

Our other visitors were Taylor and Jean Hartman. They live in Johannesburg and he serves as the area mental health specialist.  It's interesting that they came through Kinshasa on their way to the Republic of Congo. We wonder if we're cracking up and don't even know it and they had ulterior motives.   If your mental health wasn't good when they came, it sure would improve from their visit. He's the author of the Color Code books, which are a very interesting treatment of personality based on four different personality types that he identifies by color.  It's an interesting concept and we enjoyed learning more about it.  We now don't call him Dr. Hartman or Elder Hartman but just Mr. Yellow!  He's a party waiting to happen and we had a great time, laughed a lot and learned some good things too. They travel all over Southeast Africa meeting with individual missionaries and with groups of missionaries.  They truly know how to minister to "the one" and are a great asset to our area. 

             

We even made a trip to our favorite place in all of Kinshasa.  It's called NICE CREAM and it's actually great ice cream.  We go there now and then for a big p-day outing, sharing our great place with the Hartmans.

We really love having visitors. Getting to know other senior missionaries is one of the great blessings of serving as a senior couple. We mostly missed out on that blessing on our last mission, so we're really enjoying it now.  Having visitors was how we started our month of February. Acutally, we had visitors all month and we loved it. 

  

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.