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.

An Apostle Meets our Little Branch

After the dedication our caravan moved down the mountain and through the     streets of  Bangui.  The red dirt makes this area quite distinctive, but other things are much like the rest of our mission. Many little shops, people trying to make a living, children going to school and everywhere people walking and walking are found in every city in our mission.  




                                                           


In a few minutes we had traveled the distance from the dedication site to the building that is rented by the  church. 








The members had worked hard to make the building look it's best for the visit of an Apostle. They had a new sign on the front fence. The one that they had earlier had been stolen. It's hard to imagine why anybody would do that, but now they had one prominently displayed on the outside gate. They had painted the exterior and interior and had put in fans. The whole building just looked fabulous and they were so proud to show it off to the visitors.  There were 128 in attendance, in a very small chapel.

 As we come into the yard, we saw that the meeting room was not large enough for all who had come. The members had spilled out of the chapel and filled the porch in front of the building. 

Entering the room and taking our seats Elder Holland took special notice of the children. 

They were tightly packed in the front rows, siting quietly in their little plastic chairs.  They had been waiting for some time for the arrival of the Apostle.  Their primary leader had given each one of them a white tissue to wave to welcome the visitors. Just before we were to start the meeting Elder Holland said that he would like to have a picture with these little children.  

 

Quickly chairs were moved and little ones lined up. It was a special site to see Elder Holland standing among these little folks in this tiny hall in a small branch in Bangui.  

I thought of the words of the Savior when he said, "Behold your little ones."  It was a very tender moment.

After we were all seated again in our seats Brent, who had been asked to conduct, began the meeting. We were asked to speak, along with the Claytons, the Renlunds and finally Elder Holland. Brent interpreted for the Claytons and Georges Bonnet interpreted for Elder Holland.  

 Elder Holland first addressed the children directly. He told the story of a little girl who had worn her favorite dress out to play. It had been soiled and torn and she was brokenhearted when she returned to her mother. But her mother repaired and washed the dress and the little girl was happy again. He then related this to the atonement and how, through Christ's atonement, we can be clean and right again even when we make mistakes.  It was a great lesson for the children.
Then he addressed the adults saying how many places an Apostle could and needed to be and how happy he was to be able to be in this building today with the members of this branch. He talked about the blessings that would now come to their country. It was a message of love and hope for the members of the Bangui Branch. 

  As Elder Holland spoke he noticed that the little children on the front few rows in small plastic chairs were getting weary. The long day of waiting and listening had become too much for them.  One little girl fell fast asleep. Then a few more and a few more. Finally most of the row were sleeping peacefully. He chuckled about it and had us take pictures of the progressive abandonment of the little people. 

 

It was a great day for our little Bangui Branch. They never dreamed that an Apostle would be with them in their humble little rented building in isolated Bangui.

Later, in the church news Elder Holland was quoted as saying. 

 "I was so moved by their faith. These are believing people. They accept the gospel when they hear it — it is in their bones. They have genuine faith. They will walk scores of miles to attend meetings and perform their duties. It isn't superficial. It isn't a fleeting thing with them. They just believe. The thing I come back with from Africa is the spirituality and faith of the people who have so little materially."

Elder Holland spoke of Bangui Branch President Langue, a lawyer who trained in France, practiced law in the United States and then returned to Central African Republic. "He kept saying, with tears in his eyes, that he couldn't quite fathom that a member of the Quorum of the Twelve had come all that way and sought them out in their interior African world, in the jungle, in the isolated communities that they are in. He couldn't get over the fact that we would come and find them, that their little handful of members mattered. That was touching to me. I said, 'Of course you matter. Of course we will find you.' It was a great day."



After the member meeting we went back to the hotel and rested for a couple of hours and prepared for a reception and dinner for government, religious, and educational officials.  When we entered our room I was touched with what I saw. On the dresser there was a note from the Bangui Branch. They wanted to welcome us in a special way and had written a welcome note and left it with several bottles of water and some small packages of cookies. It was their way of saying how grateful they were for the visit.


That evening we went to the dinner and reception. I'm sad to say that after the remarkable day we'd had, it was quite a bit less remarkable. But how could it compare to the things that we had witnessed that day.  There was a small turn out but Elder Holland spoke to them in very clear terms about the mission and objectives of the church.  


We had spent a wonderful 24 hours with the devoted leaders and wonderful saints of Central African Republic.  We loved our time with them and look forward to coming back. There is a great love that forms between the pioneers of the church and those who are blessed to see them and help to watch over them. It's a special relationship that makes it hard to leave and makes us want to go back over and over again. 

Early Tuesday morning we had breakfast together at the hotel and then headed to the airport to take the charter flight back to Kinshasa.  We had to land at the main airport an hour out of town to have our passports checked.

 After a few minutes we took off again and flew four minutes to a small airport fairly close to the hotel and mission home.  The Salt Lake visitors spent a couple of hours resting at the hotel before catching a night flight for Paris and then Salt Lake.  Elder Holland told me that, when he arrived on Wednesday afternoon, he would go straight to the church offices to resume his work; this would be after three weeks of intense travel and meetings throughout southern Africa and nearly a 30-hour flight.  These men work so hard and give so much.  They could not do what they do without divine help. They left great memories and the love of the leaders of the church, which will always be remembered by the members of Kinshasa, Bangui and us. 

The Dedication of Central African Republic

On Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, after a short rest we drove on a small, red dirt road, characteristic of Bangui, to a heavily wooded hill behind the hotel  for the Dedication of the land of Central African Republic . 

 

 It was quite a sight to the people who walk that road daily to see a caravan of vehicles, full of  mostly white people, mounting the hill. They watched us with considerable interest as we drove to a quiet, wide space in the road and climbed out of the cars. 

Elder Holland was there by assignment from the Prophet to do this sacred ordinance, which can only be done by an Apostle. What a privilege it was to witness this great moment.

Elder Holland was accompanied by Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and Sister Clayton, and Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy and president of the African Southeast Area, and Sister Renlund. We represented the mission and President Langue, his counselors, branch clerk, and executive secretary represented the branch. Also there were two security men, Rob Milne and Ron Rumble, Sean Donnelly, the director of Public Affairs, Georges Bonnet, our Area DTA and Eustache Ilunga, director of the Kinshasa Temporal affairs Service Center. 

All those in attendance at the dedication.

Renlunds, Claytons and Jamesons

Brent was asked to conduct and, flanked by the Bangui Branch Presidency, he began the services. It was very simple and yet it was a profoundly meaningful experience. 

Remarks were made by President Langue and by Elders Renlund and Clayton and then the time was given to Elder Holland.   Elder Holland made some remarks about the sanctity of this priesthood ordinance.  Just before the dedicatory prayer he noticed the drivers of our vehicles a ways off and asked to have them brought over near us.  He said they "would likely be members by nightfall so they might as well join us."  

He invited us to stand in a circle and join our faith with his as he was voice for the prayer of dedication.   As we all stood together in the Gabazabangui hills, the site of the origins of the Bangui Tribe, overlooking the city of Bangui and the Oubangui River, a major tributary of the Congo, near the equator in Africa,  we felt as though we stood in a sacred place as Elder Holland offered a beautiful prayer of blessing and dedication.  He was very specific as to the historical background of CAR and the needs of this central African country.  He blessed the land that it would have increased productivity to support its people. He blessed the people that they would be provided with a solid foundation over time. He mentioned the Area Presidency and also Brent and me regarding our stewardship for the country.  He blessed the leaders of the nation as well.  He finished by pronouncing a blessing on the branch leaders and members and on future missionaries who would be sent there.  (That was music to our ears.)  It was truly a time when we knew what it means to be in "In the Mountain of the Lord'."  It was a beautiful and sacred moment.

 After the prayer Elder Holland asked us to be quiet for a few moments and just look at the city below. It was a wonderful moment to reflect on the blessing and also on the future of this land and the great things that the Lord has in store for it over time. 

We have been blessed to attend the dedication of two lands, Burundi and now, Central African Republic. It was a similar experience when he dedicated Burundi exactly two years ago, but the prayers were quite different, as they should be.  Elder Holland knew about this country and his knowledge and inspiration, even revelation, made this a special experience for us all.  Over the weekend together we talked a few times about our common experience in Burundi and we were amazed at his memory of the details of that event. We could never have imagined that our mission life would be so remarkable and are grateful for Lord's plan that brought us to Africa to see His hand as He moves across this Continent to bring light to lands that have long rested in darkness.. 

A Wonderful Weekend and Beyond

 Early Monday we joined Elder Holland, the Claytons, and the Renlunds, on a 14-seater chartered plane to fly to Bangui, Central African Republic to dedicate the land for the preaching of the gospel. 

We've been planning this for months but couldn't say anything about it for security reasons.  The two security men, the Area Director of Temporal Affairs, and the director of the Kinshasa service center joined us. 

The weather had look menacing all morning and it  started to pouring just as we left  to pick up the leaders.  Since I hate to fly, even in the best weather, I was pretty nervous.  By the time we got to the hotel,  it was a deluge. I could stand the pouring ran no longer and I yelled, literally yelled out loud, "STOP RAIN!" And it did!  Almost immediately the heavy rain stopped and before the plane took off the skies were clear and it was calm, beautiful  for the flight. 

Now, it's not unusual in Africa for weather to suddenly change dramatically and some would say it was a coincidence, but I believe that it was a tender mercy just for me that the ran stopped. 

Everybody needed to stretch a little now and then. It was a bit of a long trip in a tiny plane
for this group who had already had a very busy weekend.

 We flew out of Kinshasa over the long and infamous Lamumba Boulevard,  the road to the airport.  Below us was the sprawling Masina area of the city filled with tiny shops and homes and thousands and thousands of people. If you look closely you can see a very 

"large and spacious" white building, which is actually one of our chapels. It really stands out against the city surrounding it. We're not sure how it was chosen to be built there.  It sure doesn't "fit the neighborhood."
But we enjoyed seeing it from the air. 

Then we flew, following the Congo River, for three and a half hours to Bangui. The trip on a commercial airline takes only an hour and a half, but to do that you have to cross the Congo in a little boat, stay the night in Brazzaville, then fly to Bangui. Having done so,  you can only fly back every four days. So it's an extended stay operation.
It would never work to have an apostle spend four days Bangui, but the dedication was an important ordinance, only be done by an Apostle.So, the charter plane was the solution to all of that.

 Once in Bangui, we were met by the branch president, Pres. Langue, who is a member of CAR's  president's cabinet. He worked with the public affairs director to make all the arrange.  He had arrange for us to be in the diplomatic VIP lounge while they did the arrival "formalities."  It's the nicest place in the Bangui airport.

He also had five cars waiting to take us to the hotel.  This hotel is new and very remarkable. It was acclaimed by many as one of the nicest hotel in the Africa SE Area.  It was built by Muhammar Ghadafi. Interesting!? Nobody was sure if it's plan was to be a family vacation spot or a hotel, but it's quite amazing.   It's definitely a "large and spacious building" that doesn't fit into the neighborhood, as you can see by these pictures. But we enjoyed it just the same.

  

Amazingly, it's less expensive than the less-than-glorious hotel we stayed in our first trip to Bangui.  So we'll  be seeing a lot more of it now that  Bangui will be on our regular travel route.

We had just a minute in the hotel to settled in and renew acquaintances with the branch President, 

 Faustin and his wife.  He's a counselor in the branch presidency.He was our right-hand-man on our first visit to CAR. and Ferdinand LaGuerre, my "Ferdinand the Bull" (a character from children's literature )was also there.  He's a wonderful, gentle giant of a man, who served as the first ever CAR missionary and served with us in the Kinshasa mission.  He's now serving as the branch clerk.

Fostan and his wife and baby

President Langue

Elder Le Guerre  

  Then it was time for most important moment of this wonderful extended weekend, 

the dedication of the Central African Republic.