Amazing happenings in the DR-Congo

            

Saturday, August 25, 2012:   We have had such a wornderful week.  It has been very busy.  It seems that just about every morning we have left the apartment at 7:30 AM and returned home between 6:30 and 7:00 PM.  However Friday, we left the office a little earlier in order to buy a few things before having a dinner with our Mission President and the other senior couples and still got home just before 9:00 PM.  Let us show you our apartment building.  As you can see, it is really very nice especially by Congolesse standards.  We live on the 4th floor (which is really the 5th floor by American counting because the ground floor the the rez-de-chaussee and the 1st floor here is what you call the 2nd floor.

 

 

It is a very secure building because it houses the USAID offices on the first two floors, and there are workers from these offices and the US Embassy who also live in the building.  We aren't supposed to take pictures of the secure areas, but I took a picture out the front window of the truck we drive showing the gate they raise after they have thuroughly checked our vehicle.

 

 

Saturday, August 25, 2012:    Well, we had our first Sunday in Kinshasa and went to church for the very first time.  What an experience.  Elder Robinson and I were asked to bear our testimonies.  He did a wonderful job introducing us and expressing his testimony in French.  I was able to say a few things in French and then Hal translated for me.  I felt the spirit so strongly and hope those who heard felt my love for the gospel and my love for them.  (I, Elder Robinson, must add that the members really love Sister Robinson.  They feel her love and felt the spirit of her testimony.  I only translated a couple of sentences.  I am amazed as how well she does with French for the time she has had.)

            I’ll back up a little and tell you we had Relief Society and Priesthood first and a sweet young missionary from Madagascar, Sister Fan-----------, turned to me half way through the meeting and said, “I don’t know English very well, but I’ll try to interpret for you.”  She was so sweet and so shy and helped me enjoy the rest of R.S. class a lot more. 

            For Sunday School the 4 couples get together and rotate giving the Gospel Doctrine lesson.  Elder Robinson attended class in the regular Gospel Doctrine class wanting to do as much in French as he can.  Sister Billings gave a beautiful lesson in our class and then we went to Sacrament Meeting.

            The chapel is beautiful and the benches are padded (I didn’t expect that), but the furniture is not well made.  There’s a bench in the middle of the chapel that has completely sunk to the floor.  Elder Billings, our Construction Missionary says its his next project.

            After Church we drove home for the first time.  Hal did very well, but you have to keep your doors locked and be on your guard all the time for cars and people.  (I, Hal, must add that you are concentrating so much on the cars and pedestrians that you don't have time to look around and learn the streets in the city.  Hopefully, it will come that I can know my way around a little more.  Right now, I only know our way to the church and the PEF Center.  Otherwise, I ask to follow someone else, and that is another story...trying to follow someone in Congo traffic.)  We brought Robert Hokanson home with us for lunch.  He works for the Church in a new but up and coming department handling special short term projects.  He’s here representing the Church’s interest in small businesses and coordinating efforts with an organization called Interweave.  (I’ tell you about Interweave shortly.)  We had a wonderful time catching up on Robert and his family and old times in Star Valley.  Robert was one of Hal’s boy scouts in First Ward before his family moved to Missouri.  He’s married to Rachel Call, Margaret Tueller’s daughter.

            Monday started bright and early with a devotional of the S & I (Seminaries and Institute) Coordinating Council.  Then Elder Robinson had an opportunity to visit a school with Bishop Mavinga. ( I, Hal, will add that it is not like any school I have ever seen.  It is difficult to imagine the school conditions and lack of facilities.  I only wish I had had a camera to share what it was like.  However, I would probably been afraid to take a picture because many don’t want their picture taken.)

            Tuesday started out even brighter and earlier at 7:00 a.m.  We had the opportunity to go visit the site of a new church building where many of the workers were graduates of the Construction class taught by Elder Billings.  All the guests from South Africa and Salt Lake were there.  Brother George Bonnet (far right) from South Africa is the Area Director of Buildings and Construction. 

 

This chapel is an example of the modest chapels being build in the DR-Congo.  The buildings are build around a courtyard with the chapel on one end, classrooms on the sides, and the offices and restrooms opposite the chapel.  This allows much of the construction to use residential standards rather than commercial standards, making the projects easier and less expensive.

 

 

 

The following picture shows the classrooms on the right of the courtyard with the chapel to the back.

Laraine is with Robert Hokanson ont he far right.

 

 

Below is the baptismal font, outside but covered, in front of the offices.

 

 

The following picture shows Eric, a Frenchman and member of the church, hired by the church as the Manager of all these construction projects.  I actually took this picture to show the worker in the background to show what he was wearing on his feet.  You probably can't see, but he is wearing flip-flops that are about 2 inches too small...because he can't afford shoes but at least he has something on his feet.

 

 

These are church members who have gone through the construction training program, work a three month internship with the contractor, and then in this case were hired by the contractor (not a member) because they are such good and well trained workers.  The church is very particular with the contractor requiring that work be done to Church standards and not Congoleese standards.  It is a learning project even for the contractor.

 

 

The following is the chapel.  It has tile floors and the benches will not be attached to the floor.  This allows the benches to be moved making the chapel a multi purpose room.

 

 

 

Brother Bonnet is a great man who can give a talk or prayer in French and English (translating for himself) and still not be so confused that he feels the spirit.  During the week he let us know the site of the new temple here in Kinshasa and we are all very excited.  It will be on the property where our church and the S&I Building (where we work) are on.  At 5:00 p.m. we attended graduation at the Church of the LDS men who graduated from Plumbing and Welding schools (INPP Technical School) under a program of the Church called “Head of Household Program.”  Fathers without jobs can attend school, learn a trade and at graduation they are given the tools they will need to be successful in their professions. 

 

 

 

There was so much excitement at this graduation and so much HOPE.  One man would not go up to receive his certificate without his wife by his side.  It was an incredible experience to be there.  The Church is doing so much more than we had any idea.

            On Wednesday we went with our guests from Salt Lake and South Africa to visit INPP.  It’s certainly not like any technical school in the U.S., but it serves its function and teaches electrical, plumbing, painting, auto mechanics and machinery classes.  It also has a beautician class.  We saw one young woman getting her hair washed outside leaning back in a chair and a bucket of water being used to rinse her hair.  Here is the classroom where students were taking a final practical exam.

 

 

This is a coulloir where we saw students doing practical painting, masonry, and cememt work.  The man Sister Robinson is talking to is Thabo Lebethos, Area Welfare Manager out of Johannesburg.  He worked and trained with us.  We were very impressed with him and fully expect to see him in the church hirarchy someday.

 

            We met some men who were there with the Church’s Head of Household Program.  They were learning to become painters.  Their class that day was in town for practical training, but they wanted to come back to INPP when they heard of the Church leaders from S.A. and U.S. coming.  They made their way back and we were able to shake all their hands.  You again could see the gratitude and hope and reverence in their eyes.

            At one o’clock we met in an Intercouncil meeting and learned more about Interweave.  It was started by a man whose name is Lynn Curtis and his brother.  He wanted to do something to help the people in emerging countries and with his social action skills and his brother’s business skills, they’ve been in 65 countries over the last 35 years fighting aids and putting together health and business initiatives and helping individuals start small businesses.  He’s a member of the Church and is so understated and modest and yet so powerful in all he accomplishes.  The Church has partnered with Interweave because both have common interest to help improve family situations in developing countries.  With the help of Robert Hokanson they introduced Interweave to Kinshasa a year ago.  DR-Congo is the initial and testing area for the Church in this program.  There were about 20 graduates a few months ago, but at 3:00 we went to the Mont Ngafula Stake Center where at least 175 received certificates (they received training and had started small businesses, e.g. one man was raising 300 chickens and selling eggs and chickens - he had food for his family and food for others and he was learning how to keep records, save and grow his business.  The training is done on a stake basis with NGO’s (Non-Government Organization) voluntarily come in and teach various skills.  The Ngaliema Stake had 170 people enrolled and Kimbanseke Stake had 210.  We met with bishops after graduation and they expressed their appreciation for this program. 

 

 

This is one of the NGOs, not a church member, who sees the power in the program and is working with the church to help in the teaching and training process.  The women dress so beautifully.

 

 

 

The Area leaders and those from SLC were evaluating the success of the programs, and came away feeling that the success can be seen and felt.  We felt that it will probably be introduced in other areas of need somewhere in the world.  The Priesthood leaders were very positive in their evaluation as they didn’t have so many members out of work.  One bishop said for the first time he felt he was a part of Zion, one with the Saints.

            I hope you can feel as we do the miracles that are taking place in Africa through the Lord’s Church, even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.        

            Going back to earlier in the day, Robert Hokanson also spoke in one of our meetings about Welfare outside of the U.S. and how they create member projects where churches have garden plots on the church property for members to use.  On the bigger sites they want to see chicken coops and maybe even be able to raise rabbits.  This may sound silly to someone who hasn’t been in the DR Congo, but here there’s too much poverty and unemployment and hungry people.  This figure was thrown out in one of our meetings - of the 187 countries in the world, DRC is the 187^th poorest.

            Friday evening we met the other couples and Pres. and Sister Jameson and his wife at the Royal Hotel Restaurant for dinner (the owner is Lebanese).  Besides just the joy of being all together, Pres. and Sister Jameson were able to tell us of their trip this past week.  They took a small crowded boat across the Congo River to Brazzaville, picked up a bishop and flew to Gabon (a country in our mission where the Church is not recognized by their government).  The bishop from Brazzaville has a sister in Gabon who is a captain in their military.  She has connections with connections (There is a wife of a Senator who is a member there.)  The Jamesons and some lawyers from the Church in Salt Lake met with government officials.  The previous mission president made a similar trip last year with no results, but Pres. Renland, our Area General Authority, has spoken with Pres. Jameson many times about the urgency of getting into Gabon.  One miracle happened after another with the right people in the right places and the government has given permission for the Church to come in and actively proselyte and baptize.  The Jamesons were on fire last night; they were so excited and felt the Lord’s direction throughout the week.

            While they were in Gabon they held a sacrament meeting with the 10 people who are members (3 Melchizadek Priesthood holders) and talked about a young woman named Edna who was attending school in a country up north where there are no members of the Church.  She heard the mission president was coming to Gabon and made arrangements to come home.  She had 12 envelops labeled by month with just a few francs in each envelop and she wanted to present her tithing to the mission president.  Pres. Jameson said he had never received tithing with greater joy than he did from her.  It was as if she were presenting her offering to the Savior.

            They finished their trip in Pointe Noire where they Skyped with their daughter who was in labor and delivered a beautiful baby boy with them missing very little of the occasion.  Thank heavens for technology!

            We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and talked and shared our week and when we were through our waiter asked about our badges.  Pres. Jameson explained who we are and what we represent and Sister Billings handed him a pass-a-long card which he received with a big smile.  As we were walking out we noticed Pres. Jameson talking with the waiter’s helper who also showed a lot of interest.  What a land of miracles where the people are so prepared!!!

            Today (Saturday) we went with the senior couples (Billings, Moons, Smiths) to Bonobo Primate Preserve.  It was a long way on rough, bumpy roads, through villages with many people on the streets and such poverty everywhere. 

 

 

 

People are along the street selling whatever they can just to live.  Notice how they carry everything on their heads.  The buildings in the back are actually stores.

 

 

This is what the senior missionaries call the funiture store and the second one is the mattress store.  They say you should see how fast they can move everything when it rains.

 

 

 

 

We went first to a Boulongerie (Bakery) and saw people making wonderful little baguettes (loaves of bread).  We were going to pick some up but there were so many village people who were there to pick some up to sell on the streets so we told them we’d come back later.  We drove on to Bonobo and were so impressed with the beauty of the preserve. 

 

"Who are you bonobo?"  The bonabo is the animal the closest to man.

 

 

This is a mother with her baby.

 

 

Posing and asking for bananas.

 

 

 

It was kept up much better than anything we have seen in Kinshasa.  It was started by a group of women who rescued some bonobos (family of chimpanzees) from abusive owners.  These bonobos are the closest primate to man.  It was fascinating watching one of the workers call them by name and have them come (behind a fence) and almost pose for pictures.  The worker who called them by name and was most kind to us posed for a picture with Laraine.

 

 

 

The mothers take care of their babies for 4 years but if a baby is rescued from outside and brought to their nursery, there are Congolese women who care for them.  It was such a fun and fascinating place to visit. 

 

Here is a picture of a bonobo, actually two, in a tree.  The bonobo is only found in DR-Congo and numbers have dwindled greatly.  I wish I could remember numbers exactly.

 

 

 

 It is one of the few places that we find animals around Kinshasa in DR-Congo.  Because of the poverty, most animals have been killed for food.  We were even told that Kinshasa has a zoo but with very few animals because people have broken in and killed the animals to eat.  Close by is a lake that we hiked for a little while around (we didn’t go all the way around but hope to do that another time).   It’s incredible to find a lake in the middle of a jungle (so different than anything in the United States).  Imagine looking up and seeing palm trees at the water’s edge.  Beautiful!!! 

 

 

We finished our day back at the Boulongerie and bought 20 baguettes for about $2.00.

 

This is the young man carrying flour into the boulangerie.

 

 

Here is the preparation area inside where they are making the baguettes.

 

 

Then they bring them outside next to the oven where they make a little slice in the top with a razor blade.

 

Then they go into the oven just outside the shop.

Now we wait for them to cook.  Laraine stands by the oven.  You can see the wood fire underneath.

Just a few minutes later, we have the finished product.  They look, smell, and taste so good.

The senior missionaries found this boulangerie because it is located just next to a humanitarian project of the Church where they developed a spring to give clean water.  Here a young lady fills her containers which she will carry back on her head.

            It’s been such a great week having the training we received, knowing where the new temple will be, having the country of Gabon open up to the Church and ending up at a primate preserve.  It seems like we’re getting a lot of icing, I hope we can settle down to some cake in the coming weeks.

            Our love to all of you!

Our Grand Congo Adventure Begins!

            We had a great week in the MTC.  We truly appreciate all those there who help train us, but we are really impressed with the young trainers and how they handle all of us who are set in their ways and don't learn well.  They broke us down into small districts.  We loved our district and hope to stay in touch with them.

            After a wonderful week at the MTC in Provo,we flew out Saturday morning.  Gina,Aaron, Kaden, Ethan, Trevor, Luke, Britt, Casey, Treyson, Chloee, Nixson, andKara came with us and it was so hard to say goodbye.  Tears were shed, but we knew we had a great adventure ahead and we were ready, or so we thought. 

We flew to Washington D.C. and were all smiles as we started.  Little did we realize just how long the trip would be.

While waitingfor our plane to Brussels, we met 2 wonderful women waiting for the sameflight.  We met them separately, but bothwere from Cameroon (part of our mission). The woman I met was a director of schools (principal) and Hal met another.  She worked for an oil company.  After learning a little about what we would be doing with PEF, she explained about her circumstances that gave her the opportunity to get a good job.  She said she has seen missionaries in white shirts and ties in Cameroon and wondered about them.  She even gave the impression that she would like to visit with them to learn a little more.  Both of them gave us theirbusiness cards and wanted to exchange information (wonderful missionaryopportunity).  On our flight to Brussels,we sat with a little 2-year old girl with the biggest eyes.  Her mother sat across the aisle.  She took such a liking to Hal that she called him Grandpa.  Her mother, probably thinking that she was well taken care of didn’t give her a lot of attention, so Hal helped feed her and get her set up with movies that didn’t hold herattention for very long.  When he wouldget up and walk around, she’d play a game with me and throw her hands in theair and say, “Where’s Grandpa?” and then hide when she would spy him.  She was a delightful little girl.  As we got off the plane in Brussels, we foundout her mother was from Kinshasa but was now living in Baltimore.  She had 3 little girls and they were allseparated on that long flight.  What goodand independent little girls they were!
            We had to go through Security again in Brussels (longline that took forever) but again we met some wonderful men, one from Africa,one from India.  Our plane to Luanda waslong(about 8 hours), no movies, but Hal sat with another young man who seemed to radiate goodness.  They spoke in Frenchfor a while (we were separated by the aisle). I sat in the middle that had 4 seats. The others in my row knew I couldn’t speak French, so it was a quietride.  I read and tried to sleep, but sleep didn’t come too easily.  We spent an hour in Luanda while we picked up some other passengers boarding and flew t oKinshasa (another hour).  We arrivedabout 9:00 p.m. Sunday night and made it through Customs without aproblem.  When we got to baggage claim,we were met by Antoine, a man hired by the Church to help us with ourluggage.  That was our first culturalshock.  Baggage Claim in Kinshasa is like no other Baggage Claim we’ve seen in the world. They have an assembly belt that comes from outside, but more men camethrough on the belt than luggage.  There are truly no or very few regulations here. After a long, long, long time our luggage came through.  We were so relieved!
            Three couples (the Staggs, the Moons, and the Smiths )started out to meet us, but after being held up in traffic for 2 hours, couldn’t make it.  Thierry, who is a stake president and works for Pres. Jameson realized he was closer to the airport and came forus.  He is such a handsome, cheerful man and doesn’t seem to let anything get him down. He smiles through every circumstance, but at the same time is soresponsible and tries to make us all comfortable.  He is now our hero.  With Antoine’s help, we loaded into the Church van (with Thierry driving) and met the 3 couples half-way and drove home.  By the way I don’t think the airport is more than 10 miles from home.
            The Staggs introduced us to our new apartment, which is so very nice.  It has African paintings everywhere and they’re beautiful.  The bathroom is small and only has a shower but very nice by Congoleese standards.  Even our bed is comfortable.  We are very blessed.  We recognize that our living conditions are much better than we thought we would find.
            It was 1:00 a.m. before we got to bed and had to be to a Devotional at 8:00 a.m.  Because we hadn’t slept in 2 days and had our days and nights mixed up, we were a little dazed getting up Monday morning, but so glad we did.  The Devotional was for the S&I (Seminaries and Institute) Leaders that have offices in the same building we do.  (We work very closely with them inthe PEF Program.)  I’m still a little confused on who they all were, but I know that one is a bishop, 2 are stakepresidents and 1 is an area authority. We have 2 area authorities in Kinshasa. Elder Kahungu (in our office) and Elder Mabaya.  What an honor to be there!  They started and finish with a hymn and theysing so beautifully.  A short talk was given in French, so I didn’t understand, but the closing prayer was given with such a strong spirit, I could understand that.  After the devotional, we were given the chance to bear our testimonies.

            We started our training from the Staggs, with our minds whirling from lack of sleep and information overload.  It’s good they prepared everything on paper,so we have something to refer to, and the teaching was repeated to two dullheads the following days as well.  I hope we’ll catch on and be able to do all the Lord wants us to do.
            In our office we have a computer for each of us and 4 computers for the young people to come in and fill out applications for PEFfunds.  These young people are returned missionaries (men and women) and attend Institute (there are exceptions).  The people are truly beautiful.  Their features are beautiful, but their spirits are even more beautiful.  The twoyoung men who help us are called Volunteers. Their names are Kabeya and Kalonji.  They come in 2 or 3 times a week; they volunteer their time and we only pay them for their transportation.  These two young men are incredible.  We don’t know what their living circumstances are, but we know they are not good.  They travel 1 ½ hours to get to the center and work so hard helping with applications.  They are so willing tohelp us in anyway they can.  The Staggs fed them lunch and we would like to do the same.  We have to pack a lunch each day and it’s not hard to pack enough for them as well.  OnThursday I was thinking about them and how much I would love to pack them up and bring them back to the U.S. with us. Their example of goodness is so amazing. I wish we could all learn from them, but then the thought occurred tome, if we did, our culture would ruin them. Oh, there’s so much we can learn from the Africans, their pure love and goodness shines and radiates and we all feel it.
            Now let me tell you about driving in Kinshasa.  Many of us like Bumper Cars at an amusement park, but how would you like Bumper Cars in a city of 6 to 8 million people.  Most people walk or taketransports (boxy vans that they’ve taken the seats out of and replaced with 2 x4's to seat more people (as many as they can crowd in)).  Some drive and they’re crazy drivers.  The laws only apply to Mandelas (Lingala forwhite people).  If we break a law, we’ve been told the police are right there to stop you and fine you.  The Congolese can run red lights, turn left from the far right if they think they can make it and any other law you canthink of to break.  They are not stopped.  The Staggs and the Smiths havebeen driving us around until we get our bearings, but Elder Robinson just got his driver’s license Friday, so I think we’ll start driving on Sunday.  They say driving home from Church is the besttime to practice.  We’ve also been told you’ll kind of get used to it, but I have a hard time believing that.  We’ve also been told to expect at least one accident while we’re here.  Our mission president had 2 in one day. 
            One of the missionary sisters asked me what I liked least and what I liked best so far.  I told her driving is what I liked least and the beautiful people is what I liked best.
             We don't have many pictures of the area yet but this is what we saw looking out our window.

            We had dinner at President Jameson’s on Tuesday eveningso they could say goodbye to the Staggs and then again on Thursday, when we were interviewed and had a better chance to get acquainted.  They are wonderful people.  We talked a little football and President Jameson even knew about the famous Poppinga family from Evanston, Wyoming.  Imagine that Britt and Casey!  Friday night we had a couples dinner at the Billings.  (The couples try to gettogether every Friday to talk, support, laugh and just relax.)

           
              It was wonderful.  The Billings are from West Jordan and hespecifically was called to teach Construction to 12 young men who have nowgraduated and each of them are now teaching the same skills to 12 more students(that’s 144).  Can you see how this is going to grow.  The Church has need of construction workers to build the many chapels that are needed here in the DRC because the gospel is spreading so rapidly. (We found out just recently that the Church is growing more rapidly inthe Democratic Republic of the Congo than anywhere else in the world.)  Elder Billings’ program is a pilot program and if successful will be used elsewhere in the world.  Sister Billings is also very dynamic and wanted to give something that she could do while here on this mission.  Sister Billings loves Family History.  She has put together a power point presentation with our Kilonji (from our office. He is also her interpreter.) to be given to the Stake Presidents on August 29th.  She wants to start at the top and work down through the members.  She has asked me to help her and I’m so excited.  She also has a contact with someone in the government and is trying to set up a meeting where we can ask ifwe can film government records.  We have no records in the Family History Library from the DR Congo.  This is a pioneering effort and I hope I cantag along on that visit with her.  We’llsee what my needs are at the office first. It’s so exciting to think that maybe we can help prepare the members to not only go to the temple, but take their deceased ancestors as well.  I asked Kabaya and Kilonji if they had records and how far back they could go on their own lines.  Kilonji has gone back 4 generations, and Kabeya said his parents are already working on it. (I hope you all remember that the temple in Kinshasa was announced the same time Star Valley’s temple was announced.) They said they keep track of their families’ birth, marriage and death certificates because the government is not reliable.
            We’ve been shopping twice in markets and spent about 150U.S. dollars for what we could buy for about $50 in the United States.  Buying from the local people on the streetsis where the Staggs got their bananas, papaya, pineapples, and bread, but theywere very specific about who to buy from. I hope we can remember all they told us.
            We wash all fruits and veggies in chlorine water, we also wash our dishes in chlorine water.  We have a filter in the kitchen that we use to brush our teeth because the bathroom water is municipal water.  We take malaria pills everyday and will even for one month after we get home.
            We’ve got a great 18 months ahead.  We don’t know what adventures lie in front of us, but we do know, with the Lord’s help, we can do all things.
            That’s all for now! 

A very busyJuly getting ready.

In July, we were very busy getting ready to attend the MTC and fly to the DR-Congo.  The senior couple that we follow was scheduled to fly out before we arrived in Kinshasa.  We felt it was important to have even a short time with Eldera nd Sister Stagg if at all possible.  Therefore, we worked with the PEF Department to attend the PEF training in SLC July 16-20 even before we would be set apart as missionaries.  This we did.  We stayed in Provo with Kara and drove up to the Church Office Building every day rather than find a hotel in SLC.  It worked out well and we are glad we did it that way.  During the five days in SLC, they trained us in all aspects of the PEF program.  It was almost more that our little minds could handle.  It gave us an overview and notes that hopefully we help us in carrying out our responsibilities once we get there. It gave us a chance to meet the other PEF couples being trained.  They were reciving thier training after attending the MTC for a week and were flying to thier mission locations immediately following the training.  The other couples were going to Bolivia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Madagascar.  We enjoyed our time there.

As we returned from PEF training in SLC, we knew that we had a lot to accomplish in only two weeks before we enter the MTC.  We had already started to gather everything on our mission checklist to take with us, but now we had to get it into our luggage and make sure we didn't exceed the weight and size restrictions.  We each were allowed to check two bags weighing 50 pounds each, and we each could have one carryo-on and a personal bag with computer, etc.  We had received emails from the missionary couple in DR-Congo as well as suggestions from our Mission President and his wife.  They were all most helpful.  We started to set everything on the floor at the end of our bedroom. 

With this task started, we were able to attend the Robinson Family Reunion held at the Alpine 4-H camp.  There was a time when we didn't think we would still be around for the reunion, but what a great thing it turned out to be.  This gave us the opportuntiy to see many relatives that we wouldn't normally see before leaving.  We played games, and we even went on a wagon ride through Freedom to the cemetery and to the old homestead.  What a great time we had.

With many family members around for the Robinson reunion, Bishop Hastings arranged for us to speak in sacrament meeting on the 29th thus allowing family to stay and attend.  We both get nervous enough when speaking in church, but with family it is even worse.  But things seemed to go well as we were able to talk a little about the growth of the Church in Africa and how the Perpetual Education Fund is helping so many around the world.  After sacrament meeting a few family members came to our home for a little food and visiting.  We so appreciated those who came and wished us well.

Then the grandkids thought we needed to have a party.  We are beginning to think that to them our home is becoming the party house.  Anyway, we are amazed at how well they organize a party in our basement and how much fun we have together.

As July finished, we knew that it is now crunch time to get everything ready to start our Congo Adventure!!!