January 31, 2015 - Clark

Saturday, January 31, 2015

We have spent the week in the Kasai Province visiting Mbuji-Mayi, Mwene Ditu and Luputa.  The Thomases, Drapers, and Emmanuel have been traveling with us.  Mbidi Ilunga has kept the same schedule traveling separately in his assignment over the self-reliance center and he is in charge of public affairs.  The distances between the towns are 3.5 hours from Mbuji-Mayi to Mwene Ditu and another 1.5 hours to Luputa.  

Emmanuel has been visiting all of the missionary apartments and when I have been available, I have accompanied him.  Most of the apartments are homes and there are 2-4 missionaries in the homes.  Just as you would expect, there is a dramatic difference in the care they take of their apartments, often the sisters being the worst.  He made all of his visits unannounced while they were attending zone conferences with President Thomas.

We have had some meaningful contacts during the trip.  We delivered he ultrasound machine to the Luputa Hospital and met with the Territorial Administrator about the Luputa water system.  They have had an audit since our last visit and two of the previous water committee members are now in jail and they have a new chairman who is a member of the Church.  His name is Andre Mbuyi and he seems to be doing a much better job.  He inherited a bank account that had been drained dry by the previous chairman (now in prison) and has built the balance to $4,000 while adding ten new water stations.  

Their biggest problem is they only charge 100 Fc for 20 bidons of water.  A single bidon is 20 liters and 100 Fc I s 10 cents.  I told him he needed to change the pricing structure or it would bankrupt the system.  In Mwene Ditu water costs 50 Fc for one bidon and in Mbuji-Mayi a single bidon costs as much as 400 fc.

We also had meetings in Tshitenge, a small village about 10 kilometers outside of Mbuji-Mayi.  We met with 3 contractors to discuss the scope of a water project where we will drill a borehole 70-100 meters in depth and place five water tapes for distribution.  Mbidi also arranged for us to talk to the public affairs person in Mbuji-Mayi to review his proposals for a wheelchair project for Kasai Province.  All in all a fruitful trip and we have enjoyed the travel companions.  Our driver is Godefroid.  He is not a member of the church but his family belongs.  He has two wives according to Emmanuel.  His first wife was barren and she gave permission for him to take a second wife to give him children.  Polygamy is a fairly common problem and prevents people from joining the church.

I wanted to contrast this trip and our first trip to Kasai in June of 2014.  We were brand new then and everyone had a humanitarian project for us to consider.  We actually accomplished much more than I had assumed because the only reason for our return is that our previous work bore fruit.  I would never have supposed that we could have been effective the first month of our mission with no language and no knowledge of projects.  I keep recording that this is not our work but when you say here I am, send me, you are led by Heavenly Father in ways you never thought possible.

Our first time, we were in awe and overwhelmed due to our newness.  This time it almost seems routine because the African lifestyle has become more second nature.  If you say you have a 9:00 meeting, as long as you show up by 12:00, you’re considered on time.  We’ve learned to schedule both morning and afternoon.  One great thing is that people always seem to be available.  It may be an indirect benefit of 90% unemployment.  You can call a meeting or drop in and almost always be able to make contact.  

Traveling in the back of a Toyota Land Cruiser for 10 hours plus on African roads can be both exhausting and exhilarating.  You are bouncing the entire time but watching the countryside and especially the people can be intoxicating.  I marvel at their resilience, their optimism and friendliness.  When we first arrived, Shelley said she saw humanitarian projects everywhere and Sister Clawson said I can’t see a single one.  These people are happy and life is hard but good.  The absence of potable water and electrical power doesn’t seem to dampen their spirits.  

I am usually stationed at the back of the Land Cruiser so I can straighten out my right knee for comfort.  I have taken hundreds of pictures out the back window.  People almost always wave back and greet you with a smile.  (They also often greet you with a hand gesture meaning “money please”)  I was frightened of the unknown last time but this time I can’t seem to get enough of seeing the people, their living conditions, their clothing, their hair do’s, their tools, their transportation, their faces.  Jewelry is so distinctive against black skin, a white smile lights up a dark face like no other, vibrant fabrics look so good contrasted against black skin.  I think for the first couple of months I just saw them all as black without really seeing them.  It is a joy to see them differently this time round.

This trip does make us miss our Lubumbashi home.  Here we generally have no electrical power except from the generator for a couple of hours in the evening.  We have no running water and the luxury is having two buckets instead of one in the hotels that have all porcelain fixtures that are non-operational because of the lack of water.  Because of political problems in Kinshasa, the government has also shut down texting and any wireless internet including our hot spots on our telephones.  It feels like a hundred year time warp.  Being in the country with clean breathable air and open spaces does have its drawbacks.

We also have to change our eating and bathroom habits, both of which are difficult.  We usually have a continental type breakfast with bread, maybe a small omelet, and hot water with powdered milk and sugar.  We usually skip lunch and make sure we have water to stay hydrated and then for dinner we are fed by the relief society sisters who have been hired to feed the missionaries.   Bathroom breaks have to be early or late or not at all.  Dinner includes rice, spaghetti, beans, fo-fo, sombee sauce, chicken that has been overcooked to the max and really tough goat meat.   Nate lived on rice and beans for two years in Brazil, so we’re pretty much doing the same for a much shorter period.  Don’t feel too sorry for us, we manage to slip in a coke and cookies on occasion.  It would remind you a Camp Cloud Rim, or diet camp.

Contrasting our June, 2014 and our January, 2015 trips to Kasai, I’d say we still know next to nothing but we’re able to observe so much more.  It feels like we have accomplished precious little, but we’re appreciated so much.  There are still needs everywhere we look but we realize the problems in Africa will be solved by the African people and not their short-term guests.  We’re being changed by these experiences and hope to leave a legacy, not only to the Congolese people but to our own family.  We see the creator’s hand all around us and in the work in which we are engaged.  We love you and prayer for you daily.  No empty chairs.

Love, Dad

January 26, 2015 - Bush Trip

Hey, everybody - I just thought I'd better confirm that Dad and I will be leaving in the morning for Mbuji-Mayi, Luputa, and Mwene Ditu.  I'm trying not to whine too much.  One good thing is that we don't have to stay in the Turkish Prison, so maybe everything will be okay.  We will be traveling with President and Sister Thomas, Emmanuel, and Elder and Sister Draper.  We'll be gone from Tuesday to Sunday.  In case of emergency, I just thought I'd better leave a couple of numbers.

Justin Mukuna (office manager at mission office) - 081 815 4746 - you will have to add a country code, but I'm not sure what it is.  Maybe +243 81 815 4746.  Also, the Area Welfare managers in Johannesburg, the Kinghorns are: +27 83 276 5669.  I don't anticipate anything and our own phone numbers may work.  Last time when we went, we could text.  However, the texting ban is still in effect as of now.  We love you all and hope you have a great week!   Love,  Mom

January 25, 2015 - Shelley

January 25, 2015

We’re back in the saddle!  It was very nice to have that week in the lap of luxury in Johannesburg, but we’ve spent this week trying to get our ducks in a row for new projects.  I had never noticed how many idioms we Americans use until trying to explain them to a translator!  Steve, our translator, is wonderful and has a great sense of humor.  We celebrated his

25th birthday this week by going out for pizza with his fiancé, Matild.  They are such a cute couple and are trying to work out a way to get married soon.  Steve is required by tradition to pay his in-law family a “dote”, or bride price.  Much has been said against this tradition lately by our church leaders, but Matild’s parents belong to a different church and Steve feels obligated to follow tradition.  I’m not sure everything they have asked for other than a new suit and shoes for her father, fabric for two dresses for her mother, animals (like chickens, goats, etc.), and $1,000.  Matild is the 12th of her father’s 13 daughters, so he has gone through this before quite a few times – but Matild appears to be special to him.  Her father is trying to postpone the marriage by convincing Matild that she needs to serve a mission first.  She’s 22 years old and is a university graduate.  Steve says, “I need to prevent my heart from that pain!”  haha  She’s pretty independent and wants to get married, so we’re hoping it happens before we go home.

For those of you who have lived in Lubumbashi before, you’ll never believe what opened this week.  It’s a huge

Western-style grocery store!  Hyper Psaro has many locations around town, but this one is in a new “mall” area with a couple of little restaurants.  It has good lighting inside, a big parking lot, and is almost like a normal grocery store!  This is almost too much to mention, but we actually bought a teeny container of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream – only $4.00!!!!  Very exciting!

Our two AP’s have been sick this week.  They went to the hospital and were diagnosed with typhoid, but our mission doctor thinks it’s cholera.  Anyway, it was quite an “eye-opening” experience for all of us to have them in the hospital.  It’s one of the better hospitals in town, but these poor missionaries weren’t provided anything except a room.  No food.  No soap or towels.  No water.  No hospital gowns.  Only a sheet and a pillow.  Fortunately, they have rebounded and are out now, but it was a pretty grim experience.  One very heart-warming part of the ordeal was that two other sweet missionaries stayed with them the whole time and took care of them for four days!

I just thought I’d show a little picture of a local traffic solution.  This guy is known

as Robo Cop.  He acts as a traffic light.

He turns around every few minutes so that the drivers either see the red light on his chest or the green lights on the ends of his arms.  There are a few of them around town.  Pretty clever!

The Congo is in a bit of a conflict right now.  There are national elections coming next year, and the current president is already trying to make changes to the constitution so that he can run for a third term.  There has been some rioting and deaths in the capital city of Kinshasa, and the president blocked all internet services and media so that it doesn’t get out to the rest of the world.  (Good luck with that!)  So our internet has been worse than usual – only on for an hour or so here and there.  

We had planned on returning this next week to “the bush”.  It’s the same trip that we took last June.  Actually, it’s pretty exciting because we plan to present an ultrasound machine to the hospital in Luputa.  That project has been a long time coming and we’re glad it’s finally finished.  Also, we have encouragement from the Area Office to go ahead with plans for a well in Tshitenge – so we need to meet with contractors to get bids.  However, the current political climate may cancel our trip for now.  Monday – tomorrow - has been designated as a protest day and that will determine if we go or not.  No worries about us here – we’re a LONG way from Kinshasa and there are no connecting roads!

We’ve gotten used to seeing goats around, especially out in the villages where they run wild.  Here is a photo

of a few that were grazing near the railroad tracks here in town.  The meat is a staple for local people.  

Yesterday all of the senior missionaries and the Mission President and his wife

took a little field trip to Futuka.  We’ve been there once before.  It’s like a mini game preserve about a half an hour away that is owned by the governor.

Afterward, we ate at the little restaurant there, and Sister Vance ordered goat BBQ.  In the photo, the meat is mixed with onions, so it’s a little hard to see.  It doesn’t taste too bad – kind of like beef – but it’s SUPER tough!

We had kind of an adventure while at Futuka.  I’ve told about this place before, but it’s where you ride in an open-sided Hummer around the preserve where the animals are.  It takes about an hour and a half.  Well, we saw some water buffaloes back in the brush and the driver of the Hummer left the road and drove into this dense jungle-like brush so that we could get a closer

view.  It was pretty fun until he ran over something sharp.  It popped a rear tire and we were stranded for a little while.

No worries, though.  I got a really good shot of a water buffalo!  They are not

attractive!

The man who owns the compound where we live has been gone for three months.  Actually, we live in his home and he has been staying in a small apartment attached to the house.  His wife has been in the US and Canada for ten months.  We hadn’t even met her

until last Friday when they returned.  Michele and Kieu (pronounded”Q”) are lovely people!  I feel a little awkward to be living in her home while she is crowded into a teeny apartment, but I think they are using the income from the house for their retirement.

Kieu is LDS, as are their three daughters.  The daughters live in the US, Canada, and France.

Well, I’ve rattled on too long!  Don’t worry about us – we’re safe.  Take good care of each other!  God bless America . . . and the DR Congo!  --Mom/Soeur Davis

January 24, 2015 - Clark

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Reflecting back on this week, I’m reminded of Joshua Chamberlain’s statement that the days seem like weeks and the weeks seem like days.  We were especially happy to be reunited with Steve Mutumbo, our translator.  We brought him some English scriptures and the Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson to assist him in his English studies.  Sister Emma Anthony had computer problems where her old IBM Thinkpad could never get past the boot-up stage and so she ordered a new computer that was delivered by Sister Cook when she came three weeks ago.  I told her that Steve repairs computers and she should have him take a look at it.  She did one better by giving Steve her old computer.  She removed the hard drive and it was pretty much left for dead, but Steve took it home and had it operational by the next day.

That day was his birthday and he considered it his best gift ever.  He majored in computer science in his educational program and when he took it apart, he found the problem in a circuit board when two contacts were touching.  He simply separated the unintended contact and voila, a new computer (8 years old, but new to Steve).   Shelley and I offered to take Steve and Matilda out for ice cream , but he chose pizza instead.  We went to Pizza Inn at the new Hyper Psaro Mall on the road to the airport.  We had two large, ate one and sent the extra one home with Matilda.  

Probably the most notable thing happening in the country this week is the political unrest in Kinshasa.  Apparently, on Monday there were some demonstrations in Kinshasa and 45 protestors were killed.  We don’t understand the whole political situation but the current president, Joseph Kabila, has served two terms as allowed by the constitution and is scheduled to be replaced in the 2016 election.  He would like to continue in office and there is legislation proposed to either change the constitution or to require a complete national census be taken that would allow the current president to continue to serve.  It is estimated that it would take 3-4 years to take a complete census.  You can probably read more on BBC News or Reuters.  

The impact on us is that all internet service has been cutoff throughout the country.  We have had a window or two of opportunity during the past 5-6 days, but we’re very unsure if anything is getting through.  We already felt like we had the worst internet connectivity in the entire church, but this was definitely a step down from that.  Can you believe that 10 years ago or so all of us lived without internet and without smart phones?  We become so attached to those conveniences that they serve as our lifeline to the outside world.  No lifeline this past two weeks because of being in South Africa the week before and none this week.  To add insult to injury, we are leaving this Tuesday through Sunday to visit Kasai Oriental Province.  

Brother David Frischknecht, our Area Director of Temporal Affairs, was scheduled to come and visit Lubumbashi this past week, but due to the political turmoil, he cancelled his trip.  We were disappointed because he was scheduled to visit several of our contacts and review our projects.  Also, Kenneth Mofokeng, the technical specialist in water was scheduled to visit February 6th through the 10th and now his plans have changed.  These visits are critical for our projects that need outside approval before we can proceed.  It reminds me of the story Spencer told at his homecoming about a man who was asked to push against the rock.  The rock didn’t move and the man couldn’t understand why he had been asked to exert all his effort in pushing if the rock was not to be moved.  He discovered that he became stronger in the process and although the rock didn’t change, he did.  Well, sometimes working with church bureaucracy reminds me of this story.  I’m confident we’re becoming stronger, but the pushing is very frustrating, with no movement.  

One of the reasons we decided to accept an invitation to travel to Luputa to deliver the ultrasound machine was because we are feeling at loss in the development of our water projects.  President and Sister Thomas, the Drapers, the AP’s, Emmanuel are going with us to Mbuji-Mayi on Tuesday.  We have been in touch with Serge Kalala from  FM in Mbuji-Mayi regarding Tshitenge water development.  They are now going to allow us to use FM personnel to assist with humanitarian projects.  We hope to visit Tshitenge and obtain 3 proposals for drilling a borehole.  The village chief and branch president has pledged the needed 10% local investment along with providing sand for drilling the well.  This may happen yet.  (Thanks President McMullin)  Emmanuel is going for the first time and will check on all apartments and also serve as our translator.  We’re excited (at least I am and Shelley is supportive).  

I shouldn’t whine too much about projects.  We met with the chief at Regideso this week and secured a commitment from him that they would obtain 3 competitive bids for our proposed water line extensions in five neighborhoods.  This is a concession because they operate as a monopoly and usually perform all the work themselves.  We also received 2 of the 3 contractor’s bids for drilling new wells in the Tabucongo quartier (sector) of the community.  The Indian contractor is the only one who has not responded.  We met with Dr.  Kitopi, chief deputy at the Ministry of Health, this Thursday and he treated us like his long lost brother.  In prior visits, he has brushed us off and spent no longer than 10-15 minutes with us.  This time was different; he included two other chief deputies and we conducted a two hour correlation meeting regarding all programs current and future requiring MOH coordination.  He could not have been better and suggested we should do this on a monthly basis.

Relationships are so important in any operation and we have found this especially true of our humanitarian assignment.  I know we don’t understand all the nuances of the culture but we have some excellent contacts.  My greatest fear is that there may not be another couple to replace us.  Our work would not continue and it should.  I realize it is not our work, but there is so much that can be done here in Lubumbashi and we have the priesthood support, the mission president support and the community buy-in.  I hate to think that all of these contacts would be lost if no one comes.  There is a desperate need for senior couples.   President Ferry if you have some recommendations, send their referral information to us so we can do some proselyting.  We’re finally to the point where we can genuinely recruit others.  We had to recruit ourselves for the first half of our mission.   There are 11 senior missionaries in our office and 9 of them were recruited.  We are the only two who were not.  If any of you know of seniors who have always wanted to come to Africa, send us their contact information.  Last Sunday in church we met the Claytons from North Carolina.  Mom invited them for dinner and FHE on Monday.  They are serving as auditors and are stationed in Johannesburg.  They had both served in the Paris France Mission and they perform all of the audits for the French speaking countries in Southeast Africa.  They chose their assignment by watching the want ads for senior missionaries.  They have also taught English in China for three years.  There is a program through the BYU Kennedy Center where people sign up for a year at a time to live in China and teach English.  They said it was like a missionary experience but they had to sign a commitment letter that there would be no proselyting.  

Mom and I have enjoyed reading our new books purchased in Johannesburg: “Congo” and “The Challenge for Africa.  Thus far we have enjoyed the rainy season. It never seems to linger, it either rains hard or not at all.  You have to choose mud and more moderate temperatures or dust and dirt and hotter weather.  We have grown really appreciate our Toyota Hilux diesel pickup.  It doesn’t have great acceleration but with 4-wheel drive, it can go about anywhere.  I can’t imagine why drivers here would have anything but a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  Off road is only a half block away in almost any direction.  

We celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary this past Thursday.  I can’t remember ever being closer and we’ve discovered we can survive with a 24/7 schedule of togetherness.  We marvel at how the Spirit guides our lives.   We’re certainly glad those physical attributes were there to bring us together originally, but as we have spent those years together, there is so much more that binds us together and makes life sweet.  In the words of Jacob 7:26, “the time passed away with us and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream”.  Unlike Jacob, we are not mourning out our days.  Life is good, the gospel is true and we are happy together. (Turtles)

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)

January 18, 2015 - Shelley

January 18, 2015

Well, believe it or not, today is HUMP DAY for us!  Our release date is October 18.  In most ways, it seems impossible!

It’s a big week of events for our family.  We have a granddaughter, Gretchen, who is celebrating her birthday on the 20th.  Happy Birthday, Gretty!! And it’s our 44th wedding anniversary on the 22nd!!  Forty-four years ago we were

standing together outside the Salt Lake Temple – and here we are, a life-time later, standing outside the Johannesburg Temple.  Great places to be – both of them!

This week was our welfare training in Johannesburg, South Africa.  It’s about a two and a half hour plane trip from here.  There were 11 other couples, each representing countries in South-eastern Africa.  We knew about half of the couples from our first training in May – the others have since finished their missions and have returned home.  This is a plug for any couple who could serve:  you are desperately needed!  Africa is a place where you can make a difference and there are so many ways that you can serve.   There are 5 couples who will be returning home this fall – including us – and no replacements have been found.  Think about it!  ☺

Anyway, we stayed at a beautiful hotel.  It was called the Courtyard and we thought it was connected to the Marriott Hotels, but it wasn’t.  From its looks, it could have been.  We felt very pampered!  I saw the first vacuum cleaner I’ve seen in nine months!

Here are a couple of the missionaries talking around the pool.  AND across the street was the Rosebank Mall!  I hate to sound so caught-up in worldly pleasures, but it was pretty great to see the different shops and eat good food!  The shopping was almost too much because I haven’t been in a place like that for almost a year – and I could hardly take it all in.  But I’ve learned that I can do hard things, and I managed to persevere!!! Haha

I want to mention one of the very special couples from the Area Welfare Office who were in charge of the conference.  Brent and Charlene Lee

have served six welfare missions.  Only developing and third-world countries have welfare (also called humanitarian) missionaries – so you know that they have served in some very difficult places.  One amazing thing is that Charlene is profoundly deaf.  A few years ago, an illness left her without hearing.  She has a cochlear implant and that’s why she wears her hair in such a poofy style – it’s to hide the implant.  Brent is great, but Charlene is definitely the expert on almost anything having to do with welfare.  She conducts the meetings, even though she can only “hear” if she is looking directly at the person speaking.  Anyway, their mission will be finished in two weeks.  They are both very wonderful!

There is a philosophy in humanitarian or welfare work that is sometimes hard to understand.  When I look around the town where I live, I see nothing but people with needs. But I’m judging those needs by my own Western standards.  Too many well-meaning people have come to Africa trying to “save” the people.  They see people in a poor situation and say, “This doesn’t look anything like my situation at home.  I’m going to fix this so that you can live like I do – and then you’ll be happy like I am.”  Well, it doesn’t work, even though they are only trying to help.

Billions of dollars have been poured into Africa from other countries around the world – not just the US.  And the people are no better off than before – maybe even worse.  They have come to rely on others rather than to look for solutions to their problems themselves.  

This is very hard to understand when we think of the Savior’s words that tell us to help the needy.  In our conference, the point was emphasized over and over again that we need to help the needy to help themselves.  It’s like the old story of teaching someone to fish rather than to give them fish.  We’ve actually submitted our proposals for this new year – trying to use those same principles of teaching self-reliance.  Many of them are regarding safe drinking water – definitely the biggest need everywhere.  Our plan is to have the beneficiaries dig the trenches for the water pipes so that they have sweat-equity in the project.  Then they will have ownership and feel like this belongs to them – and they will hopefully take care of it and repair it when it’s broken.  Wish us luck!

Here’s a cute mother and her children that we saw after church today.

When we landed in Johannesburg last Sunday, I was overwhelmed with how clean and modern everything was.  My thought was, “I have finally returned to my former life!!!!  It will take a crowbar to get me out of here again!”  Well, after a week of being there, I found out for myself that I have changed in the last nine months– and I hadn’t even realized it.  I’m not saying that I don’t miss all of those things, but they became increasingly less important to me as the week wore on.  My heart has been softened and I feel a distinct sense of purpose in what we’re doing.  The projects we do will fade with time, but hopefully the relationships we establish and the lessons we are able to teach will live on.  I know that we are receiving the Lord’s help, and we feel your love and support.  Thank you!   Much love to all of you,  Mom/Soeur Davis

January 18, 2015 - Clark

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Hump Day, can you believe it but who’s counting?  Our scheduled release date is October 18, 2015.  When we first arrived, we couldn’t imagine how we would keep ourselves busy for 18 months and now we’re hoping they don’t cut us off too early so we can get as much accomplished as possible.  They told us in May that they wouldn’t let us start anything new in the last four months of our mission but they revised that to two months this past week.  We spent the week in Johannesburg.  When we first arrived, Shelley said they would have to pry her out of there with a crowbar but by the end of the week we were ready to return home (Lubumbashi)

The conference was wonderful in many ways.  The training materials were more understandable this time around after spending some months in the field.  Last time we were fresh off the 34 hour travel extravaganza and were suffering from jetlag.  There were 1he couples at the conference and we knew half of them, so it was like a missionary reunion.  We enjoyed getting to know the new couples as well.  We stayed at the Courtyard Hotel which is right across the street from the Rosebank Mall.  The rooms were mini suites and very nice accommodations with breakfast and lunch served at the hotel.  They provided us a cash card with $75 each for dinners for the nights we were there.  We mentioned that we ate out six nights at a new restaurant each night and every location was superior to any we have in Lubumbashi.  

I thought of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah when he had returned from battle and refused to go to his house but instead slept with the servants.  Allow me to explain.  We have spent 9 months steeling ourselves to all the inconveniences we live with so that it is bearable and not overwhelming.  I didn’t want to adjust so quickly to all of the conveniences for fear that returning to Lubumbashi would be too difficult.  I was overwhelmed with all the selection at the mall; restaurants, stores, goods and services not even remotely available to us in the DRC.   Don’t get me wrong, we did indulge ourselves a bit but were extremely conservative.  We even turned money back on our food cards.  We found ourselves missing the people we work with every day, our translator Steve, our other senior couples, the missionaries, even the guards at our apartment compound.  How did Moses say it, “which thing I never had supposed”.  

It was a wakeup call about losing ourselves and doing all we can while we have time here in Lubumbashi.  Our Area President, Elder Carl Cook and his wife took us out for ice cream one of the evenings and mentioned that he had asked President Thomas if he could spare us and he said definitely not.  We love being needed and feel so much more at home in Lubumbashi than we did in Johannesburg.  

We had a small miracle happen that I’d like to share.  We have been trying to obtain a certificate exempting the Church from paying any VAT tax or import fee on an ultrasound machine we had received approval for to be placed in Luputa.  The approval came over six months ago and we were unsuccessful working through government channels.  Phillip Moatlhodi finally said we will order it and you can pick it up at the conference and attempt to hand-carry it back to Lubumbashi.  We left our computer home so we could carry the machine.  We packed the parts in our suitcase, but the basic unit itself It had a carrying case about double the size of a computer bag and it weighed about 40 pounds, so it was hard to carry and hard to miss.  When we went through the airport screening, there were two lines, I selected the line based on the attendants and then had Shelley submit the machine while I handled all other personal affects.  They asked us if the case contained a computer and if it should be removed from its case, to which we responded negatively.  As they scanned the ultrasound, they asked Shelley what kind of machine it was, to which she responded, “an ultrasound”.  Ugh, or a grunting sound was their response and let it pass right through.  Not miraculous to many, but for the people of Luputa, that was huge.  (Thanks President MuMullin and Sister Clawson for your roles in making this happen)  We will have Mbidi Ilunga, our local director of the self-reliance center deliver it next week.

Another miracle or two happened at the conference.  When we first arrived, we were instructed not to contact the priesthood leadership and not to have them direct any humanitarian projects.  When we first arrived in Lubumbashi, President McMullin lined up a meeting with the 3 local stake presidents and then took us on a mission tour to introduce us to all the priesthood leadership, in direct opposition to the area office instructions.  Are we ever grateful for President McMullin.  We were used as the model couple for involving the priesthood and they are now instructing all couples to follow President McMullin’s model.  Another development is that we can now use FM personnel to assist us in our humanitarian work.  

In Mbuji-Mayi, we worked with Serge (with President McMullin’s direction).  He lined up 3 contractors to accompany us to Tshitenge to review the possibility for water development. This site is where all general authorities visit because it would remind you of the sacred grove.  The village and branch are small but the branch president is also the village chief.  The residents have to walk 2-3 miles each way to fetch water every day.  They feel they have received many previous promises of water development but have never seen anything come of their dreams.   Previously they said the humanitarian couple needed to be present to manage any projects.  Mbuji-Mayi is only accessible by air and the hotels have no running water.  We haven’t been back in the last 7-8 months.  However, they did allow us to do a hydrology study or a feasibility study and this past week, they told us we should proceed with this water project for Tshitenge using the FM personnel.  Progress is painfully slow but it’s nice to see the fruits of seeds that have been planted by others come to fruition.  I’ll keep you posted.

The overall message from the conference regarding projects was that the local couples on the ground will have less and less control over what are referred to as local area initiatives.  Last year with a shortened year and having them cut off funding for the last 3 months, we completed 7 projects.  For all of 2015 we are allowed to have only 2 local area initiatives.  This means Salt Lake will decide on which projects will be completed under what they refer to as major initiatives and they will send technical specialists to design the project, write it up and manage it.  As local couples we will be their gophers on the ground but we will have little local autonomy.  We hope it works to the point where we are busy full-time but we are skeptical.  We do have 6 major initiatives assigned to us for 2015 which is as many as any couple.  We have another wheelchair project, a vision, project, immunizations, member short term project which is teaching gardening skills and 2 water projects.  We also have Operation Smile returning in March.

While at the conference we were able to purchase come books that we are enjoying: The Challenge for Africa by Wangari Maathai, Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo, and Congo by Davis Van Reybrouck.  These probably wouldn’t have been on our short list a year ago but now they’ve come alive.

At the conference we met the new Director of Temporal Affairs, David Frischknecht.  His brother is Roger Frischknecht from Brigham City; Shelley taught all of their children.  He was also in the language translation department of the Church previously and worked with Jeff Johnson, a BEHS graduate and one of my college roommates as a freshman.  It is such a small world in the church (and for Matt in the military).   David Frischknecht is coming to Lubumbashi this Thursday for three days and we have a chance to sell him on our water projects.  He is coming to conduct annual interviews of all church employees and visit all the buildings.   We’ll have a full report of his visit next week.

I just need to comment on flying into the Lubumbashi airport.  May 17th we arrived in Lubumbashi and were picked up by the Clawsons.  We had read too many security alerts and were shaking in our boots.  Everything was so strange and intimidating; we suffered culture shock for months.  This time when we arrived, it almost looked like home. I believe we have changed and not Lubumbashi.   We were happy to be back and have renewed enthusiasm for the work.  D&C 43:9 was a scripture used in our conference; “bind yourselves to act, after being instructed that you may be sanctified” That’s the goal, wish us luck.

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)

January 11, 2015 - Johannesburg

Dear Fam - Dad and I made it to Joburg (as the locals call it) - it was actually a very nice trip.  It only cost us $55 each to get out of Lubumbashi!  That airport is absolutely crazy!!!  Being in a clean hotel room with electricity, clean water from the tap, CARPET, no ants . . . I don't know, I just might want to stay!!!  At least I'm going to enjoy it for a week.  Anyway, I just thought I should let you all know how to get ahold of us in case of emergency. Our cell phones won't work here - something about sim cards.  We are staying at the Courtyard Hotel.  The number is +2711 880 2989.  Of course, we will check our emails everyday, too.  Well, we love you all and keep you in our prayers.  Love, Mom and Dad

January 10, 2015 - Shelley

January 10, 2015

It’s rainy season!  As our translator, Steve, would say, “We’re in the muddies!”  Yesterday we took three contractors and a government official who is over water development on a field trip.  We went to neighborhoods

that have been identified as being at the most risk for disease-born illnesses because they lack clean water.  Clark and I visited these same spots a few days ago and there was no problem – but wouldn’t you know it!  When we took the contractors with us, the roads were almost impassable because of the mud the rain had created.  

We are concentrating on water projects for this new year since 60% of the residents here don’t have access to clean water.  We are required to have bids from 3 different contractors (well drillers in this case) for each project.  So we thought we would visit the potential sites with all 3 contractors at once.  It actually worked out fine – it was just messy!  I was the only woman on the trip – with 8 black men and 1 white man (Clark)– so they pampered me quite a bit!

Actually, I love the rainy season so far!  The rain is often accompanied by loud claps of thunder that even rattle the glasses in the cupboard.  And the rain comes down in torrents – then clears up to a sunny day.  At night I think there is nothing quite as peaceful as going to  sleep to the sound of falling rain – no matter what country you are in!

We’ve said so many “good-bye’s” to senior missionaries in the last few months that it was really wonderful this week to say two “hello’s”.  Two senior sisters,

Sister Cook (on the left) and Sister Vance arrived to work in our office.  Janet Cook is from Lehi, but she is originally from Tremonton and was a Bear River Bear!  Heather Vance is from Calgary, Canada, and is a friend of President and Sister Thomas.  They didn’t know each other before they came.  Both are just great gals!

I wanted to introduce a couple of interesting people we have met.   Mbidi

Ilunga (pronounced EM – BEE- DEE) is a church employee who is over Public Relations.  He is just a terrific person and has helped us so much with our projects.  He is shown here with his family.  His wife has such an amazing story.  She is the third of eleven children – but her mother was only pregnant six times.  Sister Ilunga is a twin, there are two other sets of twins, and a set of triplets!!!  In a country that has the highest infant mortality rate IN THE WORLD, the amazing thing is that all of these children survived and are now adults!  Isn’t her outfit beautiful!?!

A few weeks ago we met a man at church.   He is on the left in this

photo.  You can’t really tell how muddy and dilapidated his bike is from this picture – but it’s a wreck!  He lives in a nearby village and gets up at 3:00 a.m. to ride his bike to church.  Most often his wife and 5 children are with him.  He keeps his church clothes in his backpack and changes once he gets there.  The Bishop of this ward told us that this fellow is always the first one there on Sunday.  He is a farmer who has been a member for five years.  I took a picture of his hands compared to Clark’s hands (on the next page) – and of course, the picture doesn’t really do it justice – the difference was pretty startling.  It makes me realize that I have quite a bit of repenting to do when I

reflect on the fact that I live one block from the church at home and have been known to slip in a few minutes late more than once!

Everywhere we go in the outlying neighborhoods, we create a crowd.  This cute gal and her baby were part of a group who came to see why two white people were poking around – more of the crowd is shown below.

This little guy knew just what to do with the rain.  Isn’t he adorable!?!

Well, we’re off to Johannesburg tomorrow for the humanitarian conference.  I’ve been so excited to go!  It’s funny because when we first came to Africa, we spent 10 days in Johannesburg getting trained.  I thought at the time that the city was so scary and different.  There really aren’t many white people.  BUT -  my perspective has definitely changed!  I can’t wait to get to a place where people speak English and – although it is no City Creek – there is a mall!!!!!   I’ve heard rumor that there are actually chocolate chips at the grocery store, so here’s hoping. . . haha

What a sister missionary is SUPPOSED to say is that I’m so anxious to go to the conference and receive more training.  My “natural man” creeps out more often than I want to admit!  But I’m working on it – sometimes. ☺  I do have a wonderful companion!  He continues to be an inspiration to me!  Have a great week!

   Much love,   Mom/Soeur Davis