Monday, Nov 25, 2013 - Public Affairs Training

Although it may seem like all we did during our annual Public Affairs Training is go on game drives, we actually spent most of the day in training sessions. Our official training started Monday, November 25th.

We spoke first about our direction for 2014. Elder Murdock explained our focus using a PowerPoint Presentation with our focus being in the shape of a rocket. He talked about the fuel or base of the rocket being Jesus Christ.

In our role of Public Affairs Couples, our theme is "We Follow Jesus Christ." That is what we want to come through in our branches, wards, districts, stakes, on television, on radio, in our Sunday meetings....throughout Africa. As members we know it is our focus, has always been our focus, but others do not know this; in fact, many think the opposite, that we do not follow Jesus Christ. Some think we worship the devil or Joseph Smith, or Mormon. Our goal is to do nothing more than get the truth out there that we do indeed follow Jesus Christ, that we believe in his birth, death, atonement and resurrection. Yes, WE DO BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE as well....another common misconception (that the Book of Mormon is our only Bible). For years, the Church ignored all the misconceptions and bad press that contained a variety of falsehoods. It was not until they realized the harm it was doing to their missionary effort, that they began to try and get the truth out there. Since we've been in Africa and seen the many ways the Church is helping this huge country, the amount of money being spent on hundreds of humanitarian projects, always to mainly non-members of the Church with no expectations that they will ever be members. In essence, we are teaching these people that we follow Jesus Christ and are only doing those things that Jesus Christ would have us do. This is the basis of our Public Affairs Plan, the fuel that gets the rocket in orbit.

Next, the key to accomplishing this goal involves Key Option Leaders and Internal Opinion Leaders. Key opinion leaders would be those in the community that can influence others for bad or good, meaning they can promote a bad or good impression of the Church. This could be government leaders, Media, interfaith leaders and community leaders. Internal Opinion Leaders would be those inside the Church in key positions that could influence society at large in a positive way. Since they are Africans, it is one of the best ways to dispel the untruths that are out there.

In the middle are the internal workings of the rocket, the computer network, electronics, wires and all other parts that make up the core of the rocket and keep it on target. Because each country has their own challenges with the way their government and people see the Church, they each need to have a plan customized for their country. This would outline key steps to address the problems in that country, key opinion leaders or media contacts that they need to meet with or invite to a lunch or dinner to show them videos about the Church that dispels the untruths by showing things the Church is doing to help the people of Africa.

The next item is Helping Hands. This program (Which I am charge of for 2014) is the best way to get out in the communities and show by example what our Church is all about. Following Jesus Christ means providing service to others. In Africa we've had Helping Hands projects that have refurbished  orphanages and provided donated food, clothing and blankets to those in need. We've painted hospitals, provided toys, books and school supplies to local schools. We've cleaned the grounds of the local zoos, planted community gardens, refurbished police stations, passed out mosquito nets. We've helped the Boys and Girls Town organizations by fixing their furniture, rehanging their doors, painting and making quilts for their beds. We've cleaned city streets and cleared trash-littered lots. We've helped build bridges, dig ditches, pour cement, build walls, serve food, clean up youth centers, and so much more.Many spectators have been amazed that so many from our church would take an entire day, and sometimes weeks or months, to provide service to others with no expectations. I also gave a presentation on Helping Hands showing the couples what kind of projects we had in 2013 and what improvements we need to make and communicate with those in our countries.

The next one in the middle is 'Strategic Events'. These are events that will help get the word out there and include events like: Open Houses in our church building where we have displays, handouts and maybe even videos of Primary, Relief Society, Sunday School, Emergency Preparedness, The Family, Family History, etc. Opening the church to those in the community lets them know what our church is all about and dispels the untruths, plus it helps us be friends with other faiths in the community so we can join forces with them to accomplish even more for the community. Family History fairs where we show the community how to search for ancestors is another good way to make friends with those in the community and show them how we can help them in their genealogy searches. Events where you invite key opinion leaders to a breakfast, lunch or dinner and show videos and explain what our church believes in and what we are doing for the community. Their are also humanitarian efforts we can be involved in when the job it done and we are ready to handover the project to the community. These are just some of the examples.

The next is correct messages. We need to be aware of what is being said about the church and be proactive in sharing the correct message to media, opinion leaders and other churches, for example.

If we do all those things, we will be ready to separate from the rest of the rocket and the nose of the rocket will continue to it's destination of providing real growth for the Church in South Africa.

Diane Donnelly making delicious meals in Camp Kitchen

Of course, during the day we have food prepared three times a day by Sean Donnelly's wife, Diane. She did a great job feeding the whole bunch. We enjoyed our meal time in such a beautiful facility looking out into nature as we ate.

It also have us time to relax and get to know each other as we ate. The Bybees kept sitting by us. I accused them of stalking us, as it seems they always ended up right next to or across from us during each meal, but they denied it with a smile...I'm on to them.



Seriously, we love the Bybees and would sit with them anytime. Their experiences in the Congo are so far and beyond anything we experience in South Africa and they do a great job and don't complain. Sister Bybee did admit that there are no good stores close by, so we did some shopping for things like hairspray, toiletry containers and head scarves after the conference was over. This is sister Bybee on the right. She is sitting across from the Jensens and her husband and Elder Kyle and I are still getting our food.




At night, Sean would do a Braai (BBQ) of various meats, potatoes and vegetables. They have such a nice place outside to do this with a very nice built in BBQ. Sean would get a great campfire going in the middle each night. When it was nice and hot, he would shovel the coals into the BBQ and cook our meal.




One evening there were so many flying termites (because they all hatched after our rainfall the previous night) that we had to move inside (They were flying around the lights on our tables and if we left our mouth open...), but the rest of the time we enjoyed the outdoors. Sometimes we could hear the animals calling to each other, like the mating lions the first night.




We loved having a training day where we had prayers and devotionals and the knowledge that all attendees were strong in the Gospel and had sacrificed their time and money to be there serving Jesus Christ and the African people. The spirit from the Group was so amazing that even the young couple running the lodge commented on what a different feeling they felt since our group had come, so different than the many other groups they have hosted there. It was obvious they meant that in a good way. They mentioned no alcohol or loud parties and no cleanup the next day after those parties, but they also loved the feeling they had while we were there. We were the only ones ever to come that actually had a church service while we were there.



So that's the end of our first day. I didn't talk about everything that happened and the game drives have already been covered, but know this....It was a GREAT day!