18 – 19 September 2010
We arrived in Kananga, just after noon, and were greeted by President Kawaya even before registering with the local DGM (immigration). Following a brief stay in “the VIP lounge” while waiting for our bags to be retrieved, we got into 2 taxis. Both were vintage Toyotas of the 1988-92 variety. The trunks of both vehicles were vertical due to the number of bags we were carrying. On our 15 minute drive from the airport to our hotel we stopped at one of the markets to buy pineapples which would supplement the survival-type diet we experience when traveling to these distant outreaches of humanity. We quickly settled into our accommodations and headed out to the Kananga District chapel to meet with its leadership. Elder Watson and I first met with President Kawaya for 60 minutes in order to learn about his family, his personal challenges, his personal goals and the goals and vision he has for the district/stake. We also discussed prior district leaders, and his recommendations for future meeting houses (chapels), and the planning of temple excursions.
Following the meeting with President Kawaya we met with the entire district leadership team. (All 6 were present) We discussed the challenges that come with the rapid growth of the Church and their most urgent needs for larger buildings and water. We discussed the involvement of all the members in missionary work; the thriving young adult and institute program and its influence in increasing the desire of many to serve full-time missions. Unity and love among the district presidency was evident. Leaders throughout the district are showing their love, and expressing their appreciation to the members as a result of the conscious efforts of the district presidency to do the same.
Sister Jolene Watson instructs the district auxiliary leaders and greets them following their meeting.We discussed the arrival of full-time missionaries in Kananga for the coming month and their continued preparations for becoming a “Stake of Zion.” They were very happy to report that the prayers of the saints have been answered as a passport office has just opened in Kananga and that the procedure for procuring passports has been greatly simplified for the members living in the Kasai Provinces. We shared with them the significant progress they have made in the ordaining and recording of ordinations of new members. This is increasingly important as they continue to baptize in excess of 60 people per month, (104 for the month of August.)
There are currently 7 families who have been making preparations to attend the temple for more than 2 years. With local passport services now, they are hoping to attend the temple before March 2011.
Our 90 minute meeting came too quickly to an end. Appreciation was again expressed for the 3 new rentals that have been provided for the growing branches in the district. There are currently 8 branches in the district, which will expand to 10 or 11 before the end of the year.
Friday morning, after a “not so good” night’s sleep due to the lack of electricity and the equatorial heat, we began what was to become, an extraordinary day. At the district office interviews with prospective missionaries began at 9:00 am. Their smiles and enthusiasm, with the prospect of serving full-time missions, was infectious. 10 interviews soon turned into 15. What was scheduled to take until 1:00 pm, went on until 3:00 pm and, in the end, 21 missionary candidates were interviewed and their dossiers prepared for submission. There is very little doubt in my mind that the church has a very bright future in Kananga as these young people continue to develop and serve.
During the time of missionary interviews, Elder and Sister Watson and Sister Headlee made numerous home visits. They visited the home of President Kawaya where Elder Watson was asked to offer a blessing on their home. A visit to the home of the former District President would also yield a special blessing for their family and their home. They also visited the home of one of our returned missionaries, Elder Mutenda, whose younger brother is now serving in the Kinshasa Mission.
Their final home visit was to the home of a less active family. The entourage was well received and their visits much appreciated.
Following the home visits we set out on a tour of Kananga and a visit to each of the branch meetinghouses. We also visited a site in the center of town for a potential stake center.
We first visited the new Nganza Branch building. The branch presidency and other priesthood leaders met us and toured the building and property with us. This facility has been in use for less than 6 months. Due to the rapid growth of this branch and the reasonable proximity to its members this building can no longer meet the rapidly growing need of its members. A search for land on which to build an LDS Chapel is now second in priority only to the construction of a stake center.
We next visited the Katoka 1 building. This facility is beyond inadequate. Just 200 meters down the street is a beautiful parcel of land that is owned by the Church. The construction of a chapel for the 3 branches meeting here is currently the district’s 1st priority.
We next visited with a group of 44 prospective latter-day saints who had travel for 6 days, 320 km, from the city of LUANGO, in order to attend the conference with hopes of being baptized before returning home. They represent a group of 217 (and growing) faithful who meet together regularly. Elder Watson spoke words of encouragement to them and praised them for their diligence and courage. He also expressed the love of our Heavenly Father as well as the love of President Monson.
We traveled onward to visit the new Ndesha Branch meetinghouse. It has been wonderfully renovated and has created a great deal of attention for the Church. Now, only 6 months old, this facility is filled to capacity (even overflowing) every Sunday. The branch leadership is proposing that a wall be removed inside the building in order to expand the area for sacrament meeting from 130 to 200. Due to increased new converts our originally projected need was grossly underestimated. This branch will soon be divided and the need for a larger facility (chapel) will only be delayed for another 12-18 months.
We then traveled on further out of the city of Kananga, toward the airport, to visit the new home of the Kananga 2 Branch. This is a wonderful meeting facility. The building and grounds were lovely and clean. The building and walls have received a fresh coat of paint, are exemplary, and drawing positive attention to the church. A beautiful outdoor baptismal font has also been constructed on the site.
Citing the report from our last visit : “Moving this branch from the existing district building to this new location has had wonderful results. Average sacrament attendance has increased from the mid 90’s to more than 165 in less than 3 months. (These saints are now 5-6 km closer to their meeting house.) The building is large and will accommodate up to 225 before overcrowding becomes a concern 6-8 months from now. (Kananga Conference Report March 2010) We are now reporting that the anticipated overcrowding is now a reality and the branch’s division will soon be proposed.
Next we visited the new missionary apartment. It is a large 5 bedroom home in what is the safest commune of the city. It is home to the Mayor (next door) and many other community leaders and government officials. It is just a 3 minute walk from the new home of the Kananga 2 Branch. During our visit furnishings for the apartment were procured by Pascal Lomboto of the mission staff. We plan to send full-time to Kananga by October 10th of this year. We could easily house up to 10 missionaries at this location.
Saturday morning was filled with temple recommend interviews for members who have been planning their temple excursion for more than 2 years. At 11:00 we met with the district’s current missionary force. The branch missionaries of the Kananga District are doing an exemplary job teaching the friends and referrals of the members in the Kananga. They often do their work with the most meager of supplies and missionary support materials. We have begun holding training meetings with the branch missionaries (not unlike an abbreviated zone conference) during each visit. On this visit these wonderful missionaries were privileged to hear from Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy.
We have several returned missionaries who have been able to stay in Kananga and are holding missionary training meetings each week with our prospective missionaries. The productivity of their work has yielded significant results. Through the first 8 months of 2010 the Kananga District has enjoyed more than 450 convert baptisms. There are currently 20 full-time missionaries serving from Kananga and that number will double to more than 40 by the end of January 2011.
Saturday afternoon’s leadership sessions of the conference were well attended. 278 of the district’s faithful priesthood holders met in the Priesthood Leadership session and attendance at the sister’s Auxiliary Leadership session was more than 75. Elder Watson taught about “councils” Talks during the session with the auxiliary leaders included “supporting our leaders,” “the integration of new members,” and “how to implement the personal progress program with the Young Women.”
When the groups were joined together for the adult session the building was filled beyond its capacity. Chairs and benches were arranged on the porch areas outside the chapel in order to accommodate the overflow of more than 100 saints.
Sunday was a glorious day for a district conference. Upon our arrival at the conference venue we were greeted by a district primary chorus singing a medley of primary children’s songs.Before the regular session, Elder & Sister Watson greeted a group of more than 150 new converts. (photo left) The room was filled to overflowing, (standing room only) with beautiful, smiling new converts desiring to be taught. The spirit was strong and our hearts were full. The feelings of love, fellowship and gratitude for the restored gospel were freely exchanged. What a wonderful preparation for what was to be a memorable conclusion to this district conference.
It was a truly wonderful day for the Latter-day Saints in Kananga. We so wanted to stay and enjoy the fellowship and spirit of the occasion, shaking the hands of some of the 2257 conference attendees, (photo left) and enjoying the exuberance and attention of the hundreds of curious and smiling children who added to the family atmosphere of this great conference. Of necessity however, we quickly exited the conference and headed for the airport.
Everything about this 4 day weekend in Kananga was memorable, from the spirit we felt while visiting with the saints, the welcome we felt from the people of Kananga, the diligence of Kananga’s leadership, and the lengths to which these wonderful people will go in order to meet with their fellow “saints.” The joy we feel in serving these faithful souls far outweighs the discomforts of the nights without electricity and air conditioning, the consumption of MRE’s, and the annoyance of pesky insects.
It has been 2 ½ years since the last General Authority visit to Kananga when Elder & Sister Parmley visited this remarkable “center of strength.” At that time attendance at the district conference was 657.
