The delight of our assignments has been teaching a security presentation every three weeks at the Johannesburg Missionary Training Center (MTC) to each group of young missionaries prior to their departure to countries across the continent. Today was another remarkable session with valiant young men and women who will be serving in missions from Cape Town, South Africa, to Kenya and Uganda.
In our training with stake and unit leaders we have met and visited with valiant men who are influencing for good the people around them, teaching others by their examples of faith and courage.
Representative of the African people who are blessed with keen intelligence, nearly everyone we met on this continent speaks at least three languages--their mother tongue, their tribal language and English or French. Many have command of five or more languages.
As U.S. citizens we met with Regional Security Officers in U.S. Embassies in Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa and discussed with them the political environment of those countries. With a group of 15 Americans gathered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo we sat around a large table for an hour long open discussion with the U.S. Embassador to that country.
For four months (February-May 2010) we assisted with Family History in our Johannesburg ward, teaching three 4 week Sunday School classes and spending numerous Saturdays at the Family History Center helping class members input their African family names into newfamilysearch.
In September 2010 we were set apart as ordinance workers in the Johannesburg Temple and continued in this service the final seven months of our mission.
As those around us have noticed our missionary nametags and interacted in Gospel conversations, we have given copies of The Book of Mormon to engaging people from Zimbabwe to Johannesburg to Lesotho.
In February and March 2011 Laurene was assigned as an assistant to Sister Renae Lewis, recently called to serve with her husband Elder Robert Lewis as Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency. Across the Africa Southeast Area all missionary applications from 10 missions are sent to the Area Office where Sister Lewis is responsible to see each missionary file of documents is complete, scanned, typed into the computer, individually reviewed and approved by the Area Medical Advisor and a member of the Area Presidency, and submitted to Salt Lake City. My part of the process is to help Sister Lewis scan completed files, type the missionary applications online (43 to date) and address mission calls received from SLC for delivery to the individual missionaries.
Sister Lewis' graciousness and infectious laughter make it is a joy serving with her in assisting with her many responsibilities. She was born and raised during her early youth in Ririe, Idaho, so was fun realizing we have similar roots.
For the final ten months on mission we attended the Young Single Adult Sunday School class, serving as mentors to 30+ young people ages 18-30. They are remarkable examples of articulate African youth with great potential to become dynamic leaders in the Church's future across this continent. Their radiance, and love to tease us, are captured in their photos below.
We will miss most the kind, wonderful people we have come to love in Africa whose warmth and goodness we will always cherish in our hearts.
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