Youth - Pioneers in the Congo

Pioneer is a great word to describe the youth of the DR Congo. On 23rd, 800 young men and young women gathered at the Kinshasa Stake Center for the first ever youth conference. Three stakes, Kinshasa, Mont Ngafula, and Ngaliema, participated in phase-one of the combined stake youth conferences. Because of the distance and numbers of youth, the other two stakes in the area: Masina and Kimbanseke will meet on Saturday, July 30th.

The Bishops were asked to provide the number of youth attending from their wards. The number came back that 900 youth would attend the July 23rd conference. When several bishops were asked if that was the number of youth on their ward rolls, they responded, "yes, those are all the youth on our membership records." When asked, how many they think would attend the said (in typical African style), "most of them."

So, Saturday morning, we began registering youth. Now, you need to understand that African time in very unpredictable. We knew that the students would travel by transport from their wards. Example: there were only about 6 vehicles in the parking lot. Four of them belonged to the missionary couples. In other words, no one has cars. The kids boarded transports to get to the stake center - some taking up to two hours to travel to the conference. Many just walked.

A Sister from D.C., who is here on temporary assignment at the U.S. Embassy on a temorary assignment, was conscripted into helping. She was a great help at the registration desk.

At 9:00, start time we had about 100 youth signed in. That we thought was good. Then, they started ariving in groups (transport loads). By 10:00 am we had 300 hundred, by 10:30 it was up to 500, and they just kept coming.

The youth were divided into six groups. As the morning continued, the groups grew in size, chairs were added to classrooms, more snacks were prepared, and everyone was accomadated.

By the morning break there were over 700 young men and young women ready to eat a snack. Our final count was just about 800 youth. AMAZING.

The conference included, classes (1/2 hour each), music (Suzanne played the piano all day long - note the picture of her and the young men at the piano - she is like the pied piper of the Congo, everyone wants her to teach them to play), games, and a dance. At the end the entire group sang the two songs they had learned. The host stake president and the Area Seventy closed the meeting with very stiring (and short) talks.

Two young men, who are summer interns at the US Embassy led the games - which were played on the basketball court behind the church. One is a returned missionary who speaks French and the other is a good Catholic boy from Virginia. The kids loved them and they had a great time doing it. I asked the Catholic kid, "did you ever dream that during your Congo experience you would be teaching a bunch of Mormon kids how to play "tag?" His response, "no way, but this is the highlight of my trip."

A young couple taught the Temple mariage class. Other classes included missionary preparation, importance of being on time, Book of Mormon, etc.

It was the first time the youth of these three stakes had ever met together. It was an awesome experience for them. And for their leaders. The office missionary couple, who are very vested in the youth, were the advisors to the stake and ward young men/young women leaders.

All in all it was an awesome experience for everyone.

These young people are literally the future of the Church in the Congo. They will break old tribal traditions such as the dowery, tribalism, and lead a generation of strong leadership in a country that Heavenly Father is blessing every day.

In a country with poverty, illness, strife and a million other problems, these youth found an island of peace, safety, and the Spirit of our Heavenly Father.

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RANDOM PICTURES OF NATIVE DANCERS

HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE DANCERS. NOTE THE THREE DRUM. SEE PREVIOUS BLOG FOR DANCER STORY

Help, sister missionaries held by pygmies

Well, at first we thought they were pygmies, but it turned out to be a group of children in native tribal costume who preformed at the grand opening of a new clean water well.

You know that water is critical here. The Humanitarian Services Couple have been working on a project to bring clean water to a major hospital. This hospital is located in an area of Kinshasa called Liberte. It is a very populous area, probably 5 to 6 million people. This hospital delivers 80% of the babies in the area.

The project includes a well, pump station, water holding tank, pipes leading into the hospital, and a public water spout with a concrete gathering area.

Our friend Doctor Ngoy, who gives so much of his time to the neo-natal resuscitation project, practices at this hospital. It is primarily a OB GYN hospital.

The clean water well will serve the hospital and surrounding neighborhoods.

I had a conversation with Dr. Ngoy at the ceremony. He said how thankful he was for the clean water. They deliver several thousand babies a year. With the neo-natal resuscitation principles, they save many lives. But still without clean water many mothers and babies die needlessly from water borne contaminants and general lack of sanitation.

He said, "can you imagine doing surgery with no clean water in which to wash your hands?" "This is a great gift from God, now we will save even more mothers and babies."

The Church is so awesome in its scope of assistance to those who need assistance.

Saint Joseph's hospital is run by the Catholic Church, they have done great humanitarian activities in the Congo. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has teamed up with them on many issues.

The hospital administrator and the Catholic Priest who is responsible for the hospital praised the Church's efforts and thanked the Church for its contribution to the health of patients, staff, and others who will enjoy the clean water.

The ceremony and ribbon cutting was well done. It started on time and was well organized. The troop of African youth performed several dances. I will try to upload a brief video, but generally the internet is just too slow to be effective.

All in all, it is a heart warming and heart changing experience. We are so grateful for the direction of the Prophet to render assistance to those in need.

We do not know how many lives will be saved by the simple addition of a clean water well, but certainly many will be.

Anyone who gives to the Humanitarian program or LDS Charities, has to receive blessings vicariously for their contributions.

Help, sister missionaries held by pygmies

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

We celebrated Congo Independence Day on June 30. This marks the day that the DR Congo gained its independence from Belgium.

It, of course is a national holliday, and we had the day of. Today is July 4th, and we are working. We are glad to be Americans and enjoy the freedoms of the USA.

We are also glad to be temporary Congolese, and love this country and its people.

On 30 June, we had a BBQ on the deck/patio/roof of the Hatch's downstairs from us.

In additon to the the couple missionaries, we invited the new mission president and his wife - really good people - he is a retired College French Teacher from Arizona. They previously served as a missionary couple in this mission, so he can hit the ground running.

Also, we invited our next door neighbor, a young women with USAID from Washington DC, and two young men who are here on internship with US Dept of State (one is a returned French Missionary entering the Masters of Public Administration at UofU, and his roomate, also on internship, and a grad student at William and Marys College.

Two women are here from SLC adopting orpans from "our little orphanage," and they and the children were also there.

We made blue cheese hamburgers (Karven style) and made kabobs of pineapple with "limoy" powder (I really have no idea how to spell it) and chicken.

It was almost like home.

We ate, talked, and had a good time.

We thought you might enjoy the pictures.

EMPLOYMENT FIRESIDE

First of all, I had to include the great picture of Suzanne and one of her piano students. He is a really cute bright boy from a very very poor family. We takes a taxi to Wed. to have is piano lesson. We always feed him before he leaves.

EDITOR NOTE: Sorry, I got a couple of really blurry pictures, and can't delete them.

As you think about the end product of our efforts with the Perpetual Education Fund (le Fonds Perpetuel d'Etude) is EMPLOYMENT. We are not in the education business, we are in the employment business.

We work closely with the Church Employment Services.

With Church Employment, we are holding a series of Employment Firesides. Over the past months we have been visiting schools. As part of the Firesides, we are inviting the heads of the schools to come to the firesides and talk about the educational value of their schools. Our PEF applicants are invited in order to learn more about their choices.

Last week we were at the Kimbaseke stake and had a large turnout. We had a representative of a journalism school, Cisco Software Academy, and a management school.

I have to tell you about the management school. We had visited it the other week. The founder and director is a man who went to the US and finished with a PHD in business management from Syracuse University. He returned home to the Congo and saw the need to train people in management. When we visited the school, we became friends instantly. He is a real character. But, he has a great concept. He teaches (preaches may be a better word) that everything in life is about management. Sure, you can get a degree in engineering, but without a basis of management, you will not build a business.

We toured the school - starting with K-12 and on through University. We went into a classroom. Typical of the school culture here, everyone jumps to their feet, and greets the professor. He has a mantra: He shouts, "management," the class responds by shouting "Treasure." Repeated three times. Management, Treasure; Management, Treasure, Management, Treasure, Treasure, Treasure, Treasure." We even went into a class of 4th graders, they knew the chant. He let me lead it in one of the classrooms.

We invited him to our fireside. He took over the audience, had everyone on the edge of their seats with his management philosophy. As he started to sit down, I said, "wait, what is the mantra?" He of course lead everyone in the Management-Treasure cheer.

Then, the next week, he sent us an invitation to attend his wife's graduation of her receiving her PHD from the University of Kinshasa. We need more educators like him here. You will see him in the pictures. He is wearing the brightest ever yellow shirt with matching tie and pocket square.

We have also been asked by stake presidents to help find creative ways to find employment for their people. We are looking at entrepreneur training, English classes, etc.

The Church is sponsoring sewing classes in each stake. The Humanitarian Services are providing several sewing machines to each stake in order to teach the women to sew. Because of the lack of electricity, the two options are pedal machines and hand crank machines. Most of the women prefer hand crank to pedal. So, the Humanitarian Services are buying hand crank machines. Singer still makes them.

A person can make a living sewing. Most women dress in traditional Congolese dress. These are not available at Macy's. In fact, Macy's is not available. So most of these dresses are hand sewn and sold to friends and neighbors.

Once a person learns to sew, she or he could start a little business for themselves.

We have a hand crank Singer we brought from the U.S. with us, thanks to Jason's friend. We will give it to someone who has completed the sewing class and the upcoming entrepreneur class.

Elder Hatch and I are working on an entrepreneurial class to teach here. We are using several sets of resource material, that can be taught to our members. The basics of free enterprise and entrepreneurship are not taught or even experienced, so we are tailoring the class.

Also, we will start visiting businesses, governmental organizations, and NGO (non-governmental organisations - like red cross, etc. ) to encourage them to offer internships to people. Many people will work at non-paying internships, simply for the experience, and the opportunity for future employment.

English classes are also a key to employment. With English skills, Embassies, NGOs, etc. are great options. One of our PEF students who speaks good English and is taking networking at Cisco, just got a great job at the U.S. Embassy.

We really love what we are doing. If any of y'all are thinking about missions, do it. With the new Couple Missionary program, it is really doable.

wheel chair for one (or one and a little one)

Some days just turn out to be the best ever. So, today we are out visiting schools with our friend and assistant manager of the Employment Resource Center, Bishop Russel Mbaya, when the phone rings. It is the Binghams, our Humanitarian Couple. Elder Bingham asks, "have you seen Bishop Mbays?" "He is sitting in the car with us right now," we responded. " Good, we have a wheelchair for the sister in his ward who needs it." said Elder Bingham. "Well, we can meet you at your office."

And, we did. They had two wheel chairs in the back of their truck. One for the sister in Bishop Mbaya's ward, and one for the son of the man who works as a janitor at the Church's Temporal Affairs building. When we arrived just before the Binghams, we were talking to the man. When the Binghams arrived and he saw the wheelchair, he ran to Elder Bingham and hugged him. (Elder Bingham is the 6'5' giant and this man is about 4'10", so it was a cool sight). His son is 50 years old and has been unable to get around for many years.

So, the Binghams told him we would be back for him. (Actually, I told him the Binghams would be back for him, as Elder Bingham does not speak French.)

Then we all loaded in the truck and went to find Bishop Mbaya's ward member. We went down the back roads and to her house. She was sitting in front of her house where she sells vegetables to the neighbors. When she saw us, she was beyond herself. He chair had broken some years ago and she could crawl to the street to sell her vegetables.

The pictures are of her, her new chair, and her bishop and the Binghams.

It was quite an event and the whole neighborhood turned out.

Note the little boy sitting on the front of the chair. He must be no more than two years old. As soon as she got into the chair, he scrambled up onto it and would not get off.

The children of the neighborhood thought it was a great sight. They all wanted to have their picture taken.

This is your welfare dollars at work. Please don't let anyone tell you that these funds are not necessary and urgent.