AuRevoir

The problem with working with and loving missionaries is that

they have the audacity to think they should go home to their

real parents and/or family after two years! This was a great group

and they are returning to their homes with honor. We are

grateful to have had the opportunity to have served with

Front row: Elders Kazadi, Lubangakene, Ibombo, Kufuana

Back row:me, Elders Tshimbombo, Mampouya, Yengo, President L.

They took a little bit of our hearts with them when they left today!

MNI-MTC

front row: Elders Mulunda, Kalabela and Sabue

Back row: Elder Kisase, Ilunga, Lukasa, Don, Sr. Ngindu, Elder Mulaji, Elder Kisala, Me, Elder Tshibandu (Andre), Elder Nkishama, Tshibandu (Tito)

Since last February, the Democratic Republic of Congo quit issuing new passports.

They said that there were no passport booklets available. There were many missionaries

who had their papers ready to submit, but who had to postpone sending them in

because they didn't have passports. We were receiving other missionaries who

had their passports previously, but these 10 missionaries kept hoping to be able to come. We finally decided to give them a short MTC experience here in Kinshasa and then let them begin to serve. When passports become available, we will send them to Ghana where they will

have a "real" MTC experience and, more importantly, be able to go to the temple there.

I had the fun experience of being the cook for the MTC and we had some of our

wondeful seasoned missionaries be the teachers and trainers. It was a wonderful and exhausting experience for all! !

NEW CAMEROON MISSIONARIES

Welcome to Elder Ritchie--from Florida.

When he arrived, his french was already great. He is laboring in a new area in

Douala that is just opened and with his trainer, Elder Neilson, they are doing a great job of

introducing the gospel in that area.

Elder Hunter comes to us from north of Salt Lake.

He is excited to be in Africa with

his trainer, Elder Archibald, who will help him

adapt to Africa and all of it's exciting

new things.

Welcome to Elder and Sister Baker from Bountiful. They had been home for a year from a mission to Romania (where they didn't know the language) and have just come to Cameroon where they are not fluent in the French language--she has had some french in school when she was a young woman. They are enjoying working in the two branches in Yaounde and with the young missionaries there. She is a gifted music teacher and is helping many in the branches to play the piano/keyboard.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING! !

PPPlease meet Elder and Sister Motshikana. I don't know about other countries in Africa,

but this wonderful couple is the first African couple missionaries to serve here in

the Democratic of Congo. He has been a bishop and they are just so wonderful

and anxious to be about our Father's business--and go to Likasi to preach

the gospel to the people there. We are excited to begin a new

era here in Congo with seasoned couple missionaries serving and blessing

the members, preaching the gospel, aiding the leadership and serving

diligently. History in the making! !

SISTER'S CONFERENCE--OCTOBER 4TH, 2008

Girls and women are the same all over the world. When they haven't seen each other

for awhile, and they meet again, they squeel and smile and hug each other with big hugs.

These wonderful 14 sisters are our young sister missionaries, plus 4 adult sister missionaries, plus two Congolese women who were my helpers and planners for this conference

had a wonderful day together.

We started with a yummy breakfast of Christmas quiche and fruit and muffins.

After introducing the theme, "...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom

for such a time as this..." the story of courageous Queen Esther,

we made cute Congolese greeting cards.

Sister Barlow introduced the family health guide that the church has produced to

help African women to understand better ways to keep themselves and their

families healthy and free from disease. We are hoping that these lovely

young women will implement the principles from the book and then teach

them to their families, to their wards and neighborhoods when they

return after their missions.

After lunch, Sister Moon, President Livingstone and I spoke

about the theme of this conference.

We challenged them to be courageous like Esther in obeying the

Lord's commandments and be the pioneers that they are

in raising up a righteous generation here in Congo. I'm sure that they will.

They are amazing young women.

front row--Sisters Besolo, Nlombi, Ngandu, Mukaz, Buekazebi, Mujinga, Lukonga

Back row--Sisters Evelyn Muadi, Lengelo, Barlow, Moon, Mbessie, Mycadeau,

Kayembe, me, Gweth, Motshikana, Kakudji, Tshipamba, Ngoie.

This is Mycadeau, me and Evelyn--we planned this day together.

Mycadeau is a wonderful seamstress and she made us matching dresses! !

They are wonderful and fun and we are the three muskateers! !

We love each other and giggled a lot as we were planning this day! !