Kevan Kingsley Clawson's Blog, page 23

Kolwezi…encore!

We were asked by the Pres. McMullin to return to Kolwezi this weekend to pick up some missionaries. We were able to deliver additional furniture to the new Panda apartment in Likasi as well as additional missionary material and goods to Kakonda and Kolwezi.

While in Kakonda we looked at a new apartment (the reason we fixed-up the small annex at the LDS church was due to the fact that after 6 months we could not find an apartment in this small mining town!). It is a small 2 bedroom apartment that will do well…if we can find a way to get water to the building! We think the neighbors have water, so we just have to connect to the line–we hope!

Anyway, here are some more pics of our trip: enjoy!

 

Luano Ward gets a new building

Last Sunday we went to Luano ward with the new missionary couple, the Davis’. We were so surprised at the transformation! It had been in need of new paint, and, of course, needed more room for the growing membership.

When we arrived the building was newly painted, inside and out. Almost all the problems had been fixed inside, and there was a new chapel being built, that should be finished within a month. What a great blessing to one of our favorite wards!

This is the newly painted Luano ward. You can see the steel being placed for the new chapel

This is a ‘before’ picture of the ward building

Just a fun picture of the typical truck in the Congo. Every time I think they can’t fit more stuff on a truck, they surprise me!

You wanted more kolwezi pics..

This last pic is one of the many brick kilns that the Congo use to make their own bricks.

 

Even more Kolwezi pics

 

More Kolwezi picks

Just one of the MANY accidents we passed on our way to Kolwezi

This is one of the new Likasi ward buildings being built, aided by the students that Brother Atkinson is teaching construction techniques.

Terri ‘inspecting’ the work

Some kind of religious service being held in Likasi

Trip to Kolwezi with the Davis’

Kolwezi Trip May

This weekend we ventured out to Kolwezi again. We were asked to take the new couple, the Davis’, with us so they could see the sights. Brother Davis also set-up appointments with the District Presidents of Likasi and Kolwezi to talk to them about humanitarian projects.

We packed the back of the truck with goods for the missionaries in those areas, picked-up the Davis’ and left Lubumbashi about 830 am. When we arrived in Likasi we went to the District Center, and while the Davis were having their meeting, we went to see Sister Atkinson, as well and deliver stuff.

We left Likasi about 1230 and headed to Kakonda—a small town off the road to Kolwezi where we now have 4 elders working. We dropped off books and stuff, took a look at the small annex apartment behind the church that is now housing the missionaries. While there I fixed a clogged sink drain.

We left for Kolwezi about 2pm and arrived without incident about 430 pm. Terri had arranged for the missionaries to meet us at the District Center, where she began passing off English exams. While Terri began the work we went to the local ‘Hacienda’ hotel (think one of the Flinstone homes in Bedrock) to check-in. Then we returned to aid in passing-off the English tests with the elders.

We dropped off a slew of books and other stuff at the missionary apartments. That evening we had a great dinner at the hotel restaurant.

The next morning while the Davis’ were in their meeting with the District President, Terri and I were teaching the missionaries English. After class Terri spent time with all the Elders’ ailments and gave out soap and medicine.

After everything was done, we left Kolwezi about noon to head back to Lubumbashi. We stopped again at Likasi so that the Davis’ could meet the Atkinsons. We ate a late lunch together at their apartment, then took a side-trip to see one of the new church buildings being built in Likasi. It was quite a sight! It had been built on sloping ground, and so there was a lot of terracing that had to be done—it was unbelievable! And keep in mind that all of the dirt that had to be moved to create the terraces was all done by hand!

After that we headed back to Lubumbashi. We got back rather late, and in the dark—making the last part of the trip rather difficult (traveling at night in the Congo is always hard). But we arrived back safe and sound.

Men working on the roof of Kolwezi District Center. Notice the ladder they used to get on the roof!

Here are some pics of our trip:

 

 

Mwembila encore

Mwimbila Ward encore

We continue to attend Mwinbila ward due to the number of baptisms that are now coming from there (the missionaries request that we come to support them).

I forgot to tell you that Elder Mbele, Elder Davis, and I were asked to speak in Sacrament meeting last week! I was asked if I wanted an interpreter, but declined, thinking (hoping) I could do it myself… It didn’t go too badly. I spoke for about 5 minutes about our mission here in the Congo, and why we came. Then gave my testimony. Elder Davis used an interpreter to do the same, and, of course, Elder Mbele didn’t need any help as he is native.

They are beginning to have baptisms every week here. It is amazing to see how many people are being taught and baptized.

This evening we have a couple’s pot-luck dinner. It is a welcome dinner for the two new couples, and a going away dinner for the Mbeles—they have been called to travel to Mwene Ditu to live and work. It is a great opportunity for them as it just became a District and can use all the help they can get. They are a wonderful couple and will do great things here. We fixed-up an annex off of a missionary apartment for them (it has three rooms: a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen/living room). We also put solar panels on the roof for them (they have pretty good water there but poor electricity).

The President will be traveling through there in a couple of weeks so he can visit them and see how they are doing. They leave Tuesday.

The Davis’ are slowly getting their feet wet and getting accustomed to the lifestyle here. They should get the driver’s license soon, but their car will still be a few weeks. In the meantime they have been given an office here in the mission home complex (I think in time they will need to work out of their home—as they are humanitarian, not mission), at least until we get more couples assigned to the mission office.

Terri has started yet another transfer. It is not quite as large as the last one (only about 60 people moving), so hopefully it will go better and with less stress. There are 12 new missionaries coming out.

We start a new week with closing one apartment and moving sisters to a new apartment; and getting ready to the do same in another couple of weeks (we are closing poor apartments when we can find better ones). We also may have found an apartment in Luputa—we have been looking for a long time up there, and need one badly as the missionaries are packed-in!

Here are a few picks:

The steel for the water tower is almost done!

Still working on the grass: the grass is growing, but they are putting in some more/better dirt.

Just a neighborhood view from the church building

More and more people are baptized each week. We had to hold the baptism at the Stake Center in Katuba because the water still wasn’t working at Mwimbila.

Notice the aid they give the person doing the baptism: they hold the baptismal recommendation form to the window so they can read the name of the person being baptized. Their names are very difficult here, so this helps them.

 

The Davis’ come to class

Davis’ come to class

Had a great day today with the new missionary couple. We took them to English class where we teach the local missionaries how to speak English. We had each person in the class introduce themselves, and then each one took turns asking the Davis’ questions about who they were, their family, and their mission. At the end we had the Davis’ bear their testimony (in English). The classes (Katuba and Kisanga Zones) went really well. We all had fun and the elders continued to learn a lot.

Here are some pics of our trip to the class.

These boys hitched a ride on the semi-truck in front of us. We saw them running from the side, and wondered why they were planning to run in front of our truck. But then they turned and jumped on the back of the semi and rode it quite a ways!

They are building a tower for the two large water tanks at Mwimbila ward. You can tell by there is no OSHA here by their equipment: short ladders, no safety lines, etc. But they seemed to make everything work!

A day in the life?

Thought I would give you a view of our typical day lately. Tuesday May 20, 2014:

1. Got up at 5:15 so we could pick up a sister missionary at her apartment and take her to the airport

2. Got home, ate breakfast

3. Went to pick-up the two new couples to bring to the office for training

4. Terri went to vodocom to get new phones and stuff fixed

5. Met with Emanuel to go over the days list of things to do with apartments:

Fix broken windows, look at a water well, pay utility bills, plan missionary moves, etc.

6. Had a meeting with Justin and the couples to plan what they needed: drivers license, extended passports, etc.

7. Take couples shopping for food and other items.

8. Prepare lists to purchase and create emergency food kits for each set of missionaries.

9. In the afternoon, pick up the President and Sister McMullin and other elders from the airport.

10. Make dinner for them (they come in late).

11. Prepare for teaching English class tomorrow (1/2 day tomorrow will be teaching English to two different Zones of elders)

12. Stuff I forgot.

And tomorrow it starts all over again, with the same, more, or different stuff. Not a lot of time left over… then, of course, one has to remember that Terri is ‘on call’ 24/7 with sick missionaries—we never know when we will be asked to visit a sick missionary. Terri receives calls from missionaries from early in the morning till quite late at night. And if it is serious (or the missionaries THINK it is serious), they will call at any hour, day or night for direction.

When we get overwhelmed we just try to take a few deep breaths, and forge ahead.

We do get an occasional break, such as being able to eat at a nice restaurant, or sleep in on a weekend. But since…well, since January when the Eastman’s went home, it just seems to get busier and busier. Then when the Wright’s left, it ramped up again. And now with the couples coming, the President leaving, and the new mission President coming…well, there you go!

The Sister Missionaries Update

Thought I should update you. Terri stayed all night at their apartment to calm them down. Sunday was a busy day with the baptisms, etc. Then Sunday night about 8pm we got another call from the same group of sisters. They were ‘sick’ and needed blessings.

Not sure what to do, it being quite late and needing another person to go with me…but decided to have the new missionary couple, the local couple from Kinshasa, the Mbele’s, go with us. So the four of us went to the sister’s apartment to give them blessings.

Once there I asked Elder Mbele to take the lead, as he knew the language. He did a wonderful job! He took time to hear from each sister, then counseled them for a while. Afterward, he asked if they needed a blessing with oil (were any of them really sick?), or just a blessing of comfort. They admitted that none of them were really sick. They were just afraid. So he asked if he could bless them all, and the house, together, rather each one separately. They agreed.

He then had us all sing a hymn, which brought the spirit even more into the room. He then stood and gave a marvelous blessing on the sisters and on the apartment. It was obvious that they all felt comforted. I don’t think we will have much problems after this.

I was so impressed with how he handled the situation, and so grateful he was there! The Mbele’s will be a great asset to the mission. It will be wonderful to see what they will do and how they will grow. And by the way, they have a son on a mission too–serving in Bujumbura! What a great family!