Camp Luka Water Project with Cooks and Moons

While Elder Cook and Brent had things to do on the Saturday of the stake reorganization, the Moons, our Humanitarian couple took Sister Cook, their daughter, Marie and I to see a water project in Camp Luka.  It's a very humble part of the city of Kinshasa and the project is a great blessing to bring safe water to people who live in very meager surroundings. There is no power or water in this area of the city.

Water for washing food and other uses comes from a contaminated river a long distance from this place.   So the water brought from this well is a source of health and life to the people who live here.

 Whenever we go to an outlying area the children begin to gather. They love to see "musungus" and love, love.love having their pictures taken. They squeal with delight when they see themselves in pictures.  I used to wonder why they wanted their picture taken.  We don't give them the pictures. Now I have come to believe that it just makes them feel that in these masses of humanity they count. They're important the there will be a record of their being here. 

After visiting the well, we went to see a school where the church built a latrine.  It appears that the latrine was built some time ago.  It was still functioning and was the only facility for this little school.

The school master told us of his great need for materials and asked us to provide desks and school supplies, however the church doesn't do those projects. We concentrate mostly on supplying health care needs.  This school services 250 students, but that's only a fraction of the children in the neighborhood. Most of the children spoke no French, which is a strong indicator that they don't go to school. None of the teen age girls hauling water spoke any French, only Lingala. 

Near the school as a medical clinic.  It was the only source of medical care for many hundreds who live in this area.  There was a kindly nurse who runs the clinic. She was happy to show us her one-room clinic. There were posters talking about health care, hygiene and sanitation.  She teaches the children in the school. Elder Moon asked how families learn hygiene. The school master said it was hard because they must go door to door. People wouldn't leave their daily tasks to come to a class. Then he said "when you have no food, it's hard to worry about how to wash it when you do get it."

Seeing how clean water improves life in this land makes us so grateful for the church's humanitarian work.  We feel proud when we see the efforts of the church to make a difference. 

The Seventh Stake, Mokali, is created in Kinshasa

On Sunday, December 16, 2012  Elder Carl B. Cook created the Mokali Stake  in Kinshasa  DRC.  Members of the new stake came from the Masina and Kimbanseke Stakes.  At the meeting to announce the stake division there were more than 6,000 people in attendance. That number represents 93% of the membership of the two parent stakes. In order to accommodate the numbers attending, the special conference was broadcast into the halls and all the classrooms of the building. Tents were set up on the grounds of the chapel and were filled to capacity. Chamberlain MBONGOPASI was called as the first Stake President of the Mokali Stake.  President Thierry MUTOMBO of the Masina stake and President LONO of the Kimbanseke stake remained in their callings.

This stake is located in a densely populated area of the city teeming at all times of day with thousands of people .It will most certainly grow quickly and be a strong stake. 

Elder Cook was accompanied by his wife, Lynette and their recently returned-missionary daughter, Marie.
It was a pleasure for us to spend some time with the Cooks and to share this experience as the Mokali Stake was created.

 

We witnessed the creation by Elder Soares of the Binza Stake just three weeks ago and then this week the creation of the Mokali Stake by Elder Cook. The church is growing!! The Lord's hand is over Africa.

PS. As a personal note, did we ever think that we'd be speaking before 6,000 people? And that we would be doing it in French? Never!

Christmas Celebration and Piles of Dirt

We flew from Gabon to Pointe Noire. There Brent planned to have a priesthood leadership training and I did an auxiliary training. We also had  a zone conference and Christmas party with the eight American missionaries and the couple who are assigned there.   It's always an uplifting time when we're with them.  They work hard and have a lot of fun doing it. We had a great experience with these elders and the Wheatleys.  They are all hard working, kind and devoted to teaching and loving the people in Pointe Noire. We love them dearly!

The house in construction and the gate to Wheatley's home.

 The Wheatleys live on what is unquestionably the worst street that any senior couple has ever lived on.  It' a rough dirt road with many ruts and hills and lots of construction going on that make it difficult to navigate. Next door a man is building a new house and it's always a bit of a challenge to pass it and get into the driveway of the Wheatleys' house. Just as we were finishing our meeting we heard a huge truck that was making beeping back-up sounds in front of their home. Then we heard the sound of dirt sliding out of the truck and we all ran out to see what was happening. 

We arrived just in time to see the truck dumping the last of the sand and rocks in the middle of the road, making it impossible to get the Wheatleys' car out of their yard. When they saw us the driver hurried and  drove away.

 

Stunned,we stood for a minute wondering what the plan had been for the Wheatleys to use the road. Then we realized that they had the only car in the neighborhood and nobody else cared about a pile of sand and rocks blocking the road. They'd just walk around it. 

We began to wonder how we'd get to the planned training or even get to the airport the next morning. But the elders, without much hesitation, shed their ties, went around the neighborhood borrowing shovels and went to work. They shoveled sand and rock feverishly. They laughed, sang and threw a little sand on each other and within half an hour a small path began to emerge on the side of the road.

 Elder Wheatley wasn't very sure that it was going to work to drive on that little space and thought maybe we should move more sand and not just push the remaining  sand and rocks out of the way with the truck, forging a path as we went.   But Brent, a real lover of a driving challenge, jumped into the truck and off he went. The first try without 4-wheel drive didn't succeed, so he backed up, put it in 4-wheel drive and went right over the remaining sand and rock and was soon past the blockage.  

With a mighty cheer the elders "high-shoveled" each other.  We were all thrilled with the way another African obstacle had been surmounted. 

           These missionaries are awesome!

        Love, love, love 'em!

A Historic Moment-The Creation a Church Branch in Gabone

After many years of waiting, legal recognition was finally given for the church to enter Gabon. On Sunday, December 9, 2012 a small group of members in Libreville gathered  in the home of a friend of the church for the creation of the first branch in the country of Gabon.

With the approval of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve and under the direction of the Area Presidency, President Jameson announced to them that the Libreville Branch of the church was now created.  With great enthusiasm  the 15 members raised their hands in support of this historic moment for which they have been waiting.  It was a great blessing to be a part of this event with this sweet group of faithful saints.

President Armand and his counselor, Michael Moody, where then sustained and the work of the church officially began in this small corner of Africa.

With a little training and encouragement  the new leaders begin the task of helping it to be truly established and bringing others to share in the joy of the gospel.

The members will meet in the Moody home until a suitable rental property can be found. This cute little family from the US is going to be a great strength to this infant branch.

 Like the beginnings of the church in the time of the Prophet Joseph there was only a small group of members there, but we have faith that, like the church in times past, the numbers will grow and be a great blessing to this lovely little country of Gabon.

Our "African" San Diego Birthday Weekend

The first Monday of Dec. the Smiths invited us to their apartment for FHE with the couples.
We were going to see the pictures of the Moons' trip to Luputa, where I've always wanted to go and won't get to see.  However, it turned out to be a little surprise party for my birthday. These sweet senior missionary friends add so much to our life here.  We love these couples!

 

 Some weeks back Brent told me that he had planned a "San Diego Birthday getaway" for me. I knew immediately what that meant. We were going to be in Libreville, Gabon. We had recently received permission to create the first branch there.  It's a nice African city, which we have dubbed "San Diego à l'Afrique."  It is really a pleasant place, in a very African sort of way.  We stayed in a hotel on the beach and if you stretch your imagination a little  (no! a lot) you can think that you're in San Diego. However, it's definitely not the Hotel Del Coronado, even though it's about the same price to stay there.

  Meridian Hotel on the Beach in Libreville, Gabon.

The city is the nicest, cleanest and most comfortable in our mission. The Security man, who accompanied Elder Holland in November, was also there to assess the city. He was very impressed with its security.  We were amazed to see almost no barbed wire and generally there was no heavy security outside of properties.There were many Europeans and  people walked the streets without apparent concern. Those were all good signs that this is a safe and healthy city.

I actually sat in the lounge chairs, listened to the ocean and read for while when Brent was in meetings. In the afternoon we visited an arts and crafts marché and bought a solitaire game that I've wanted. The grandkids will love it. I must admit that I'm actually a bit addicted. We watched the sun set over the ocean and it was a beautiful evening. We talked with our kids too.  This was a birthday that is completely unique and I will not forget.  

Faithful 'til the End-Elder Prince

We have some wonderful missionaries in this mission and are learning great lessons from them.  We got this message from our senior couple about one of these terrific Elders,who finished his mission this week. He was indeed faithful to the work that he was here to do until the end.  We're so proud of him and will try to follow his example.

Here's the email that we were sent by our couple.

We took Elder Prince to the airport tonight at 8:30 and wished him luck.  I was at a rendezvous (teaching appointment) with him and Elder Porter until 6:30.  It was a 26 year old man that was baptized last Saturday.  They were there preparing him to receive the priesthood.  Elder Prince worked up until the last possible minute.  He then went home and packed his bags.  We will miss him.

In his last interview he promised Brent that he would be strong to the end of his mission. Well done, Elder Prince. We love you!

The Every Sixth Week Ritual

Every sixth week we have transfers. It's really a crazy time even when the numbers aren't too large. With big groups, it insane.
The schedule is that the day after a transfer Brent starts thinking about and working on the next transfer. When it's all in place Thierry starts working on visa issues since there are three, soon-to-be four countries involved.  Then we deliver the letters to each missionary who will be affected, usually between 25 and 50.  We work on plane tickets, packets of information and papers for both incoming and outgoing missionaries, transportation and schedules.
Transfers take three days.
Day 1- The new missionaries arrive and are picked up at the airport and brought to the office. We take their pictures for our missionary board  and give them their papers and supplies provided by the mission (bedding, books, red pencils, etc, etc.) The we get them settled in transition housing.
We bring the missionaries back from outlying cities who are going home and do the same with them.
Day 2-Brent has a final interview with each missionary going home and issues them a temple recommend. We weigh their bags and give them documents for them and their stake president and their transportation home. Then we take the going-home picture.

We take them to our home and do dinner and a testimony meeting. 

 

After that we send the departing missionaries to the employment center for a day and a half to help them see what possibilities there are in their future. The reintroduction of RM's to life is very hard, so we do this to help them see that they do have things that they can do to have a good future. Going home can be very discouraging with 90% unemployment and few good opportunities. So we hope to give them a hand up by having them do this training.
Immediately after that Brent holds the "train the trainers meeting." Each new trainer comes to the house and receives about 90 minutes of training on the church's First 12 Weeks training program.

Day 3- Brent interviews the new missionaries and then we and the Assistants do a morning of orientation and then lunch. Then they're trained in the afternoon on the First 12 Weeks program and they meet their new companions.  Our staff then loads them all into vehicles and delivers them to their first areas. 

We, at this point, collapse on the couch until we realize that we've done none of the normal things that we do during these three days, so we get up and move on.  This is the Every Sixth Week Ritual.