Set up in the cultural hall were tables of handiwork (needlework, sewn and crocheted clothing, beaded purses, pillows and baby blankets), foods and juices to sample.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Congolese Women
The Congolese women we met were radiant with the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.
Set up in the cultural hall were tables of handiwork (needlework, sewn and crocheted clothing, beaded purses, pillows and baby blankets), foods and juices to sample.
Set up in the cultural hall were tables of handiwork (needlework, sewn and crocheted clothing, beaded purses, pillows and baby blankets), foods and juices to sample.
Ron go Congo
In French-speaking Lubumbashi and Likasi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ron was pleasantly surprised to realize the root words he learned in high school Latin class enabled him to understand some of the language at meetings and in conversation around him. He actually saw bongos in the Congo at a street market, but declined to buy one due to limited suitcase space.
The delight of our four days in these two cities was meeting the warm and gracious Congolese people. Although most of them live in grinding poverty they came well dressed to the meetings. Dresses made with exquisite Congolese fabrics were intricately sewn, especially on the sleeves and trim. With beautiful, clear voices they love to sing robustly; the congregation joining in with each choir hymn.
This mother called for her older son to be in the photograph with her.
The delight of our four days in these two cities was meeting the warm and gracious Congolese people. Although most of them live in grinding poverty they came well dressed to the meetings. Dresses made with exquisite Congolese fabrics were intricately sewn, especially on the sleeves and trim. With beautiful, clear voices they love to sing robustly; the congregation joining in with each choir hymn.
This mother called for her older son to be in the photograph with her.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Ocean to Ocean
In our ten days traveling with Sister Beck we covered about half the length and width of the Africa Southeast Area.
We left the bustle of Johannesburg's city life for the openness of Harare, Zimbabwe. In addition to training meetings we also viewed two humanitarian projects set in green countryside amidst rolling hills. A village medical clinic is now providing services with a new electrical transformer, water tank and upgraded water pump; and a village school received a grinding and dehulling mill. Baby chicks eat chaff which falls to the cement floor under the mill and they are later sold as chickens to help pay for school equipment and supplies and upkeep on the mill.
Arriving in Cape Town, South Africa, in early afternoon we viewed Table Mountain from Signal Hill with Robben Island in the bay in front of us. Cape Town is a beautiful seaport city from which we departed the following morning.
From the airplane we viewed rich farmlands which bump up against the mountains framing the vast openness of South Africa's interior with isolated towns seen here and there.
Nearing Johannesburg is an area known as the Cradle of Mankind. Long grass and scrub bushes hide ceilings to caverns into which ancient hominids occasionally fell. Now their fossilized remains are being discovered in caves throughout this pastoral region.
Our arrival in Maputo, Mozambique, completed our one day's flight from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Arising just before sunrise, Ron and I quickly made our way down to the beach to collect a few seashells along the shore and feel the waters of an ocean new to us as we walked along the sand. Maputo has a warm, tropical setting. By noon we were on a return flight to Johannesburg.
The final leg of our journey took us to the southeastern area of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lubumbashi, a teeming city of 2 million people, has only one tarred (paved) road which includes the main street and is part of the two hour drive out into the bush to Likasi. People walking, bicycles, van-like taxis, cars and semi trucks all share the two lane roads. The air of both cities is perpetually filled with fine dust.
Unique to this semiarid area are hundreds and thousands of vacated termite mounds which literally dot the open landscape. These mounds of compacted residue are cut into bricks and used as building materials. As seen in this picture with four termite mounds, when ground is cleared for new construction these mounds are left for ready access to the bricks.
Viewed from the air, a few hills and trailings from mining endeavors create random spots of elevation. Red dirt roads and meandering rivers cut through the flat interior of the country.
In all four places our favorite memories are of the friendly, resilient residents.
We left the bustle of Johannesburg's city life for the openness of Harare, Zimbabwe. In addition to training meetings we also viewed two humanitarian projects set in green countryside amidst rolling hills. A village medical clinic is now providing services with a new electrical transformer, water tank and upgraded water pump; and a village school received a grinding and dehulling mill. Baby chicks eat chaff which falls to the cement floor under the mill and they are later sold as chickens to help pay for school equipment and supplies and upkeep on the mill.
Arriving in Cape Town, South Africa, in early afternoon we viewed Table Mountain from Signal Hill with Robben Island in the bay in front of us. Cape Town is a beautiful seaport city from which we departed the following morning.
From the airplane we viewed rich farmlands which bump up against the mountains framing the vast openness of South Africa's interior with isolated towns seen here and there.
Nearing Johannesburg is an area known as the Cradle of Mankind. Long grass and scrub bushes hide ceilings to caverns into which ancient hominids occasionally fell. Now their fossilized remains are being discovered in caves throughout this pastoral region.
Our arrival in Maputo, Mozambique, completed our one day's flight from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Arising just before sunrise, Ron and I quickly made our way down to the beach to collect a few seashells along the shore and feel the waters of an ocean new to us as we walked along the sand. Maputo has a warm, tropical setting. By noon we were on a return flight to Johannesburg.
The final leg of our journey took us to the southeastern area of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lubumbashi, a teeming city of 2 million people, has only one tarred (paved) road which includes the main street and is part of the two hour drive out into the bush to Likasi. People walking, bicycles, van-like taxis, cars and semi trucks all share the two lane roads. The air of both cities is perpetually filled with fine dust.
Unique to this semiarid area are hundreds and thousands of vacated termite mounds which literally dot the open landscape. These mounds of compacted residue are cut into bricks and used as building materials. As seen in this picture with four termite mounds, when ground is cleared for new construction these mounds are left for ready access to the bricks.
Viewed from the air, a few hills and trailings from mining endeavors create random spots of elevation. Red dirt roads and meandering rivers cut through the flat interior of the country.
In all four places our favorite memories are of the friendly, resilient residents.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Roxy Grace
A precious gift arrived today while we were serving in the Johannesburg Temple--Roxy Grace. She was born in Oklahoma City to Andrea and Chuck and is our gorgeous 12th grandchild; a beautiful miniature of her mother and older sister.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Serving far Afield
Our tour with Sister Julie B. Beck took us to far flung reaches of the Church throughout the southern half of the continent of Africa where we met vibrant, wonderful people who are serving there.
Many places such as Harare, Zimbabwe, have had The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there for some time with beautiful meetinghouses to accomodate their members. The leaders are self-supporting and are well seasoned in administration, many whose children who have been raised in the Church. The sister on the right in the yellow dress is a stake president's wife. Three North American senior missionary couples currently serve in Harare: the mission office, with education and humanitarian projects.
The width of the South Africa Cape Town Mission is similar to the distance from San Francisco, CA, to Omaha, NE; requiring the mission president and his wife to travel a considerable amount of time. In conversation I discovered she was raised just a few miles from me in southeastern Idaho at Menan. North American senior missionaries serve in this picturesque setting in the mission office, member support and humanitarian capacities.
In Portuguese-speaking Maputo, Mozambique, bordering the Indian Ocean the mission president learned the language while serving a mission as a youth; his wife learned it on their mission. Two North American couples serve with them in the office and with member support.
Retired in May 2009 and on their first mission in September, Elder and Sister Jameson from Tempe, AZ, are experiencing daily miracles in their unique and notable mission in the French-speaking Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a counselor in the Kinshasa Mission, their assignment is 1000 miles to the east in Lubumbashi, overseeing and mentoring missionary work in an autonomous setting. The only North American senior missionaries in a city of 2 million people, they are warm and gracious living with daily interruptions to electricity and water supplies and limited access to food supplies. Elder Jameson's career was a university French instructor; Sister Jameson began her study of the language with her immersion into the native culture 9 months ago. As Elder Jameson interpreted Sister Beck's remarks at the microphone, Sister Jameson sat with Ron and me and did a beautiful job translating the many meetings we attended while there. It is our observation that the Jamesons epitomize many of the senior couples we have met who are quietly serving in Africa: sincere people who live by the promptings of the Spirit. Totally unselfish, the Jamesons are "angels walking." With their permission for you to view their observatons of Sister Beck's visit with members in Lubumbashi and Likasi, please access their blog at www.grammyandpapas.blogspot.com
The Jamesons will welcome a new mission president July 1 as a new Lubumbashi Mission is established in the eastern half of the DRC.
On our drive to the airport we stopped in downtown Lubumbashi to view street markets.
The women wearing dresses in beautiful Congolese fabrics presented to us by Relief Society sisters, we are Elders and Sisters Jameson, Beck, Erickson and Renlund.
Serving two hours into the bush of the Congo are the first ever called Congolese senior missonary couple, Elder and Sister Motsikana. Though we do not speak a common tongue, we made an instant connection with them through our missionary nametags and feeling as though they are kindred spirits. They are a joyous couple who mentor and serve 8 elders serving in isolated areas where groups of members are forming their own congregations awaiting the Church to come to them.
Pictured with the full-time elders in Likasi are Elder and Sister Renlund, Sister Beck, Elder and Sister Motsikana and Brother Beck.
Many places such as Harare, Zimbabwe, have had The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there for some time with beautiful meetinghouses to accomodate their members. The leaders are self-supporting and are well seasoned in administration, many whose children who have been raised in the Church. The sister on the right in the yellow dress is a stake president's wife. Three North American senior missionary couples currently serve in Harare: the mission office, with education and humanitarian projects.
The width of the South Africa Cape Town Mission is similar to the distance from San Francisco, CA, to Omaha, NE; requiring the mission president and his wife to travel a considerable amount of time. In conversation I discovered she was raised just a few miles from me in southeastern Idaho at Menan. North American senior missionaries serve in this picturesque setting in the mission office, member support and humanitarian capacities.
In Portuguese-speaking Maputo, Mozambique, bordering the Indian Ocean the mission president learned the language while serving a mission as a youth; his wife learned it on their mission. Two North American couples serve with them in the office and with member support.
Retired in May 2009 and on their first mission in September, Elder and Sister Jameson from Tempe, AZ, are experiencing daily miracles in their unique and notable mission in the French-speaking Democratic Republic of the Congo. As a counselor in the Kinshasa Mission, their assignment is 1000 miles to the east in Lubumbashi, overseeing and mentoring missionary work in an autonomous setting. The only North American senior missionaries in a city of 2 million people, they are warm and gracious living with daily interruptions to electricity and water supplies and limited access to food supplies. Elder Jameson's career was a university French instructor; Sister Jameson began her study of the language with her immersion into the native culture 9 months ago. As Elder Jameson interpreted Sister Beck's remarks at the microphone, Sister Jameson sat with Ron and me and did a beautiful job translating the many meetings we attended while there. It is our observation that the Jamesons epitomize many of the senior couples we have met who are quietly serving in Africa: sincere people who live by the promptings of the Spirit. Totally unselfish, the Jamesons are "angels walking." With their permission for you to view their observatons of Sister Beck's visit with members in Lubumbashi and Likasi, please access their blog at www.grammyandpapas.blogspot.com
The Jamesons will welcome a new mission president July 1 as a new Lubumbashi Mission is established in the eastern half of the DRC.
On our drive to the airport we stopped in downtown Lubumbashi to view street markets.
The women wearing dresses in beautiful Congolese fabrics presented to us by Relief Society sisters, we are Elders and Sisters Jameson, Beck, Erickson and Renlund.
Serving two hours into the bush of the Congo are the first ever called Congolese senior missonary couple, Elder and Sister Motsikana. Though we do not speak a common tongue, we made an instant connection with them through our missionary nametags and feeling as though they are kindred spirits. They are a joyous couple who mentor and serve 8 elders serving in isolated areas where groups of members are forming their own congregations awaiting the Church to come to them.
Pictured with the full-time elders in Likasi are Elder and Sister Renlund, Sister Beck, Elder and Sister Motsikana and Brother Beck.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Influence of One
Ron and I were given the remarkable assignment of traveling as Security for Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President, for the final ten days in May to six cities in the southern half of Africa. She was accompanied by her husband and two members of the Area Presidency and their wives in separate legs of the tour; Elder F. Michael Watson and Elder Dale G. Renlund, both members of the The First Quorum of the Seventy. Her itinerary included Harare, Zimbabwe; Cape Town, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; Roodepoort, South Africa; Lubumbashi and Likasi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In each venue Sister Beck presented three hour training sessions which began with a 30 minute discussion with priesthood leadership, a two hour training session with Relief Society women and invited priesthood, and concluding remarks by Elder Watson or Elder Renlund. Sister Beck spoke at two Sunday gatherings; 479 members attended the first in Harare and 628 attended in Lubumbashi. Most of these people walked great distances over dusty roads.
Sister Beck is a relaxed, gifted teacher who connects quickly with people through her sincerity. She is genuine in all settings, unpretentious and approachable. She openly shared experiences from her life living in Brasil from ages 4-9 when her father was a mission president there. In Maputo she spoke in Portuguese learned during those early years.
Throughout various countries and congregations I watch Sister Beck minister to women and men, listening to their concerns and opening scriptures to them for their edification and learning. As she engages people in one-to-one conversation or teaches groups through discussion and roleplays, Sister Beck gently extends her arm and places her hand upon the person's shoulder. This quiet, simple gesture validates and empowers people as she listens to and exchanges sincere words with them.
Sister Beck has a remarkable ability to teach by the Spirit and express her love, encouragement and support for women.
This mother helped Sister Beck wrap her baby in a traditional mode upon her back.
In each venue Sister Beck presented three hour training sessions which began with a 30 minute discussion with priesthood leadership, a two hour training session with Relief Society women and invited priesthood, and concluding remarks by Elder Watson or Elder Renlund. Sister Beck spoke at two Sunday gatherings; 479 members attended the first in Harare and 628 attended in Lubumbashi. Most of these people walked great distances over dusty roads.
Sister Beck is a relaxed, gifted teacher who connects quickly with people through her sincerity. She is genuine in all settings, unpretentious and approachable. She openly shared experiences from her life living in Brasil from ages 4-9 when her father was a mission president there. In Maputo she spoke in Portuguese learned during those early years.
Throughout various countries and congregations I watch Sister Beck minister to women and men, listening to their concerns and opening scriptures to them for their edification and learning. As she engages people in one-to-one conversation or teaches groups through discussion and roleplays, Sister Beck gently extends her arm and places her hand upon the person's shoulder. This quiet, simple gesture validates and empowers people as she listens to and exchanges sincere words with them.
Sister Beck has a remarkable ability to teach by the Spirit and express her love, encouragement and support for women.
This mother helped Sister Beck wrap her baby in a traditional mode upon her back.
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