August 10, 2014
Dear Ones,
News this week from Africa seems to be centered around Ebola. I hate to admit that it didn’t know what it was until I had emails asking if we were okay. I need to be better at tracking world news! Anyway, so far, the DR Congo seems to be okay. The outbreak is mainly in Western Africa. At the Nairobi Airport this week, our mission president met several missionaries from Sierre Leone who were being sent home to serve in their own countries because of the outbreak there.
My respect for the calling of being a mission president has risen 200% after seeing more closely what the three wonderful mission presidents (and their wives!) who have served here have gone through. Our new president has had “a baptism by fire” since arriving. Our mission is so huge in area – and the terrain is so primitive – that much of his time is spent traveling. There are no roads to connect us to most parts of the mission, so air travel is a must. And the airlines are a nightmare!!! Flights and schedules change without any apparent rhyme or reason.
President Thomas traveled to Burundi in the northern-most part of the mission this week by way of Kenya. Their flight to the city of Bujimbura had been delayed by three hours, which threw his planned meeting schedule off. He drove to two outlying areas, thinking he was going to meet briefly to introduce himself to a couple of church leaders. But when he arrived, in both locations he found the buildings full of people! They had been waiting at least three hours just to meet him. It was quite a humbling
experience for him! He spoke for a few minutes to the group, but then part of them had to leave because the people were from Rwanda and had to cross the border before it closed for the night. In one place, the congregation of 60 members had 200 names of people who are awaiting baptism!
It’s quite an interesting dilemma for the church. For example, this group of 60 isn’t even a branch. There are plenty of men to hold the priesthood, but there is a lack of leadership training. These locations are so remote that sending missionaries to live there creates a difficult situation. Even in the locations closer to Lubumbashi, the church spends thousands of dollars to transfer the missionaries around every six weeks. Anyway, it is just further evidence that Africa is ripe for missionary work. In fact, the real problem is controlling the growth – developing the roots so that they can support the branches.
Our hearts have been heavy this week with the news of the death of our friend, John Noyes. We grieve with his family and with many of you for his loss.
Our stores here are filled with new displays of school supplies. I can’t help but be reminded of what Walmart and others must look like! Even though this is my second year of retirement, I still get that old feeling when August comes around. It’s a good one, and I feel very blessed to have had the experience. My hat goes off to my teaching friends who still find new ways to make their teaching skills better!!!! Bon chance!!! (That means “good luck” in French!) September means the starting of a new year no matter where you live!
The Church can hardly build new church houses fast enough to fill the growing demand here. Yesterday the Kisanga Stake Center had its open house. Local dignitaries were invited to come in the morning, and then the public came in the afternoon.
A stake choir sang from the parking lot to welcome everyone.
I couldn’t help but be drawn to this cute little 7 or 8 year-old girl who watched the proceedings from the other side of the fence. You can only see the arm of her sibling who was tied to her back.
Also attending the open house was Solange, who works as a housekeeper for the mission home. This building will be her new meetinghouse, and she was there to help with the tours. When we first met Solange, I thought she must be in her early 20’s. She works everyday cleaning – inside and out – in the mission complex. All of this is done with a baby tied to her back. What I didn’t know was that Solange and her family have only been members of the church for a year or so. She and her husband have seven children – AND they will become grandparents in December! Solange had six daughters and had this little boy right before joining the church. They named him “Joseph Smith”!!! And that’s what they call him! Both names!
Solange and Joseph Smith
Our week was spent visiting hospitals and orphanages. Whoever wrote the music to “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” knew exactly what they were talking about! Our church has done a lot of good here, but I have gained a whole new respect for what other churches have done – and continue to do – as well. The orphanages we saw are all run by a church – Methodist, Muslim and Catholic. We saw everything from deplorable conditions to neat and tidy. But we met tremendous caregivers who are headed straight to heaven. Definitely no Miss Hannigans!
This is the bedroom for eight girls at the Muslim orphanage. Four get to sleep in the bunk bed and four sleep on the floor. The ceiling is falling in.
These are some of the 23 darling children who live in a baby orphanage, where the children live from birth to age four. When they turn four, a judge assigns them to another orphanage. It is truly heartbreaking! In all places we went, we were told that many children are products of the wars up north. Some come through the social services
system – and some are just found living on the street.
One great blessing we get to see almost everyday is a breath-taking sunset! It is a season when a lot of burning takes place – mostly weeds and garbage. From what I understand, it’s different in the rainy season. Anyway, the air pollution is at a high level – but it makes for a beautiful sky at the end of the day!
Another good week! We are mindful of you and so appreciative of your emails – and we can feel your prayers. My companion is wonderful and very patient with me! He uses his free time in the evenings to bake – sweet rolls, cookies and bread. He’s becoming a regular Betty Crocker! Our neighbors really love his new-found hobby! I think I’ll keep him! ☺
The Lord is blessing us and helping us to find ways to better serve Him. Much love, Mom/Sister Davis
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