July 12, 2015 - Clark

Sunday, July 12, 2015

We attended Lubumbashi 2nd Ward today.  Dr.  Vaun Mikesell has been working with a female doctor who has been helping one of the missionaries who stutters.  She is Catholic but her husband is LDS and the first counselor in the L’shi 2nd bishopric.  We had a heart wrenching discussion in the High Priests Group.  There were 5 Conglolese and Elder Mikesell and I.  The lesson was number 13 in the Ezra Taft Benson manual on temples.  Of the 5 Conglolese there was only one who had been married in the temple.  Both of the bishopric counselors had not.  The second counselor, Mutombo Lunbwe, has been a member for 23 years, has 5 children and he and his wife have passports but not the children.  The stake president has advised him to get passports for the children and then the temple patron fund can help.  I don’t know how the temple patron fund works here in the DRCongo, but I believe if the member sacrifices to obtain their passport, the church will pay for all other expenses of going to Johannesburg.  The only member of the group who had been married in the temple was Mutshail Gregoire, a former stake president and the person who started the church in Burundi.  Temple attendance is generally a once in a lifetime proposition and can be foreboding financially here in the poorest country in the world.

We also visited one of the missionaries today at CMC Hospital, Elder Vutulu, who is suffering from malaria and parasites.  Here the hospitals provide no food and no laundry; any of these services have to be provided by family or friends of the patient.  Whenever you visit a hospital, you generally find more people outside than inside because the support network often stays right at the hospital.  Dr. Mikesell provides missionaries in the hospital with food, so we went shopping on Sunday to support Elder Vutulu.  He is the missionary I have mentioned previously who had 24 investigators at a single sacrament meeting.  I had wondered why those in the congregation were not singing all of the hymns until I asked if there were any investigators present.  He has an infectious smile and can visit with anyone.  

Operation Smile has been conducting a cleft lip and cleft pallet mission in both Lubumbashi and Kinshasa this week.   This is the third Operation Smile mission we have been a part of.  We have developed a long-term relationship that continues to improve.  We provide volunteers to distribute food to the patients and their family members 3 times a day, transport patients to and from surgery, conduct the registration and report any issues or concerns of the patients.  During the first mission we had over 100 volunteers but we had difficulty knowing who would come and when.  During the last two missions we have reduced the number to those who were most faithful from our first experience and we formed a team of 12, 4 from  each stake, who would come every day and make calls to stake members for specific assignments.  These are generally returned missionaries and some young women of the same age.

These volunteers kept some horrendous hours but were so reliable.  They would come around 7:30 in the morning and stay until after the last feeding and return home around 9:00 at night.  They were given $2 a day for transportation, $1 per day for phone minutes, received some food and water but no pay.  Their only pay is the satisfaction they received from serving and a concluding smorgasbord held at the Grand Karavia Hotel.  We attended last night and every one of the team of 12 was there.   They were doubly rewarded because the Governor of the Katanga Province made a surprise visit and shook each person’s hand.  Most had never seen the Governor before.  He is a good man, with very good English, he’s handsome and well educated.  The current President Kabila may consider him a political rival and there has been tension between them.  The president is seeking an illegal third term and any challengers are suspect. There was an added bonus because a local music recording star came and performed.

During this mission, we have delegated everything possible in an effort to make this relationship a continuing one with the people who are providing the volunteer service rather than the humanitarian couple.  We almost felt guilty attending the dinner because we have been scarce in our attendance during the week.  We checked in a few times, called every day, and attended the Ruashi Military Hospital and Dr.  Mikesell and I viewed the surgeries Friday afternoon.  We observed about 8 surgeries.  Spencer was in Chicago just a week ago viewing surgical procedures performed where Medtronic devices are sold.  He lamented that he wished he had become a doctor and I had similar feelings while watching the magic performed in the lives of these children.  I told Spencer, it’s like watching a concert pianist and wishing we could play with comparable talent.  Thanks to the doctors out there, Bruce Keller and Frank Peterson on my mailing list who have given so much service and personally sacrificed for the care of others.

Our week was filled with meaningful activities.  Thursday we spent the entire day coordinating the repair of wells in the Kafubu Health Zone.  We took Immaculee and Leon with us from the Health Zone and arranged for two trained technicians to meet us at the health zone office and then travelled to Pita Village.  We had made arrangements the day before to have Prince, a local transport owner, to deliver all the replacement parts to the villages.  (Elder Atkinson -  one of the trainees was the first guy we worked with by the name of Kenungu  - the good one).  We have talked and reported on this project forever, but this was the final kickoff when villages started putting their own money into a maintenance fund and we began repairing wells.  We hope it spreads rapidly and we can assist in the repair of many wells.

Yesterday was another celebration at the Peage School (Source de Vie) which is owned by Odette.  The purpose of the program was to hand out certificates of recognition for test scores from the final exams at the end of the school year.  These scores determine whether you advance to the next grade or level and they are uniformly administered and graded.  We questioned how long the event would last and she told us until noon.  The last time we attended we were there for a three hour program and an hour lunch.  We arrived at 9:00 and you guessed it, at 2:00 we told her we would have to leave in order to take our translator, Marcel, to his other job.  Odette was visibly upset with us because she had prepare chickens and rice for us and we declined to stay for an additional hour.  We spent nearly 5 hours with her and left her unhappy because we had left early.  It is difficult to judge time here.  This is one of those occasions where as Elder Jeff Wright would say, we are almost worshipped here.  We will return this week with some printed pictures of her party to cheer her up.

We finished the Book of Mormon in English again last week and decided to listen and follow along in French this next time through.  We are enjoying it and are beginning to recognize more and more of the words and the general meaning.  The spirit of the Book of Mormon comes through in any language.  The French language is very beautiful but also very challenging for a couple of old folks.  You know it seems so ironic that the world would judge Congolese as people of little learning, but it amazes me that most of them know 2-4 languages. (Swahili, Lingala, Tshiluba, French and some English, among other local dialects)  Formal learning opportunities are not as available but we have much to learn from them.

We were saddened with the news of Elder Packer’s death but enjoyed reading articles and watching his funeral services.  We feel a special connection with him because he attended high school with Grandma and Grandpa Davis at BEHS.  We were in attendance when he dedicated three prominent buildings in Brigham City: (1) Brigham City 7th and 18th Ward Chapel when he prophesied of the coming down of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism, (2) The Box Elder Tabernacle and (3) the Brigham City Tabernacle.  We have had him in our home and when I was serving as Bishop he visited our ward sacrament meeting several times.  His wife, Donna, is Ron Smith’s sister.  We honor his service and his life.

We did have some simple pleasures this past week.  Mom had a sewing activity with the other senior sister missionaries yesterday making dolls.  She loves sewing and is really in her element whenever she can surround herself with a project and good company.  We were able to face time with Monica on her birthday and Andy as he returned home from vacation.  We welcomed Emily home from her MOTAB tour and visited with Belle and Grandma Eddie.  We also enjoyed face timing with Rennie and Myrna Bott last night.  Everyone enjoys a call from home.  Rennie shared the good news on our 50-year high school reunion.  We have been involved in a legacy project of providing a new marquis for the high school at a cost of over $50,000 and Rennie said we are closing in on the total required and the sign is being ordered.  This has been referred to as our class “Legacy “ project.  It feels good to be in that stage of life where we can give back to school, community, family and church.  Those institutions that have helped us have such a wonderful life.  Have a great week and “Leave A Legacy”

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)