June 3rd - Another Ethiopia Hosting

Tuesday, June 3rd, we had another hosting from Ethiopia. This time it was Ms Netsanet who is the Registrar for Civil Records in Ethiopia who came to see our family history library and learn why it is a good idea to let our Church digitize her records. Wayne (Family History Department Director) picked her up and Sean greeted her outside the door of the Area Office.




This time we started our tour in the Area Office Boardroom by showing the 'Introduction to Mormons' film. While Sean was setting it up, we found out a little about what Ms. Netsanet does in her government and let her ask us some questions as well. Then we watched the video section that showed the overview of the entire DVD. This is a really good video with several sections on subjects like Family History, Missionary Work, Humanitarian, etc. I get teary every time I see this video. It is amazing what our Church does all over the world.

Sister Kinghorn explains humanitarian project of the Church

We then walked over to Humanitarian where the whole department was there to talk to her about the different facets of Welfare and Humanitarian Services. Sister Kinghorn talked to her about the various humanitarian projects our Church performs in Africa and showed her printed materials and posters of the different projects: Helping Babies Breathe training program, Custom Wheelchairs for the immobile, bore holes to provide clean water, measles vaccinations, etc. Sheree from the Family Services part of it talked about addiction programs to help those who are suffering from all types of addictions and other emotional problems.

Sheree, Kenneth, Ms Netsanet, Elder & Sister Kinghorn, Sister Lee

Kenneth, who is the assistant Director for humanitarian talked about the humanitarian projects the Church has going in Ethiopia now and the ones scheduled for the future. The Photo shows: Sheree, Kenneth, Elder and Sister Kinghorn and Sister Lee. Elder and Sister Lee are the head humanitarian couple in the Southeast Africa Area and this is their sixth mission!

Our next stop was PEF/Self Reliance where the Perpetual Education Fund program was explained. 








We then went to the employment center where Sister Dabell talked about teaching people to start their own business. She and Elder Dabell actually go where the need is and teach about important things to know when setting up a business. The other sister volunteers in the employment center and she told Ms Netsanet about how the center teaches classes about various employment issues: how to write a resume, how to conduct an interview, etc. Visitors are allowed to use computers, copy machines, printers, newspapers and online jobsites to locate jobs. The employment center is for members and nonmembers.

At the Family History Center, we were greeted by Sister Jarve. She and her husband are a missionary couple serving in the family history library. She explained all the records that were available to the public in this library. It is amazing for anyone to see the many ways the Church uses to find ancestors. Ms Netsanet was shown the online program, Family Search, Microfilm records, Books that contain histories of families, etc.

Wayne (left) is the head of the family history department. He travels all over Africa talking with governments about digitizing their records, so they can be made available to the public; but, he explains that safeguards can be put on their records so that people can look at them and write down their information, but cannot download or print the information. I guess it is natural that some governments would not want the public downloading and printing of their country's official records.

We ended up in Sean's office for lunch and had a chat with our visitor to see if she had any questions about what she saw on the tour. She was anxious to get on her way so declined the temple tour, but seemed pleased about what she had seen.

On her way out, we found out Elder Cook was in (Area President of Southeast Africa) and stopped by for a quick 'hello.' He is such a nice man. We are always happy for our visitors to meet him.

Hopefully things will progress in Ethiopian Record Digitization. This is a large work. My job was to take photos again. Elder Kyle helps us with all the details which sometimes involves obtaining visas and making plane and hotel reservations. It is a busy time for all. The Lord's work is moving forward and we are all charged with 'Hastening the Work.'

May 26 - 29th IRLS and Ethiopia Abay visit

May 26-28, BYU Center for Law and Religion Studies in conjunction with Stellenbosch University hosted the second annual African Law and Religion Conference.  The event was held in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.  The program included over 60 presentations from over 12 countries on the subject of religious freedom.  The theme for the conference was- ‘The Quest for Common Good in Pluralistic Societies’.  Both Area Presidents were present, as well as representatives from OGC and Public Affairs.  The Church in in the Africa South East Area had proposed participants for the event and invited other opinion leaders to be present.  Many relationships were developed and strengthened.

Listed a just a sample of the people who presented at the symposium:

Seen here Professor Cole Durham with Mr Beyene Abay, Director of Religious Affairs, Ethiopia

W. Cole Durham, Jr., is Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, a position he has held since the Center was officially organized on January 1, 2000. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was a Note Editor of the Harvard Law Review and Managing Editor of the Harvard International Law Journal, Professor Cole Durham has been heavily involved in comparative law scholarship, with a special emphasis on comparative constitutional law. He is currently the President of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS), based in Milan, Italy, and a Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion. From 1989 to 1994, he served as the Secretary of the American Society of Comparative Law, and he is also an Associate Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law in Paris—the premier academic organization at the global level in comparative law. He is serving as a General Rapporteur for the topic "Religion and the Secular State" at the 18th International Congress of Comparative Law held in July 2010. He has also served in earlier years as Chair both of the Comparative Law Section and the Law and Religion Section of the American Association of Law Schools. Professor Durham has taught at the Brigham Young University Law School since 1976, and he was awarded the honorary designation of University Professor there in the fall of 1999.

He has authored numerous law review articles dealing with religious liberty and other comparative law themes. Professor Durham has testified before the U.S. Congress in hearings on religious intolerance in Europe and on the Religious Liberty Protection Act. In 2010 he testified via teleconference before the Indonesia Constitutional Court concerning the constitutionality of the Indonesian blasphemy law.

Muhammed Haron – South Africa

Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana. Muhammed Haron is a South African based in the Department of Theology & Religious Studies at the University of Botswana where he teaches Religious Studies courses as an associate professor.

Johannes Nicolaas Horn – Namibia, Professor, University of Nimibia. Nico Horn is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Namibia. He teaches Philosophy of Law and Constitutional Law and has also taught Human Rights Law, Public International Law and Criminal Procedure.

Kizito Kabengele – South Africa

Research Associate and LLD Candidate, Faculty of Law, Department of Public Law. Kizito Kabengele is a research associate and a PhD Candidate in the Department of Public Law at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He has bachelor and masters law degree. He specializes in the area of Business and human rights with interest on corporate social responsibilities of extractive industries.

Nokuzola Mndende – South Africa, Dr., Icamagu Institute. Nokuzola Mndende holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Cape Town. National Chairperson of African Traditional Religion. Director of Icamagu Institute and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and claims. Advisor on cultural issues in the Commission on Gender Equality. 

Albie Sachs – South Africa Retired Constitutional AC Justice. Justice Albie Sachs, author, activist and retired judge on the Constitutional author, activist and retired Judge on the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Justice Sachs’ career in human rights activism started at the age of seventeen, when as a second year law student at the University of Cape Town, he took part in the Defiance of Unjust Laws Campaign. Three years later he attended the Congress of the People at Kliptown where the Freedom Charter was adopted. He started practice as an advocate at the Cape Bar aged 21. The bulk of his work involved defending people charged under racist statutes and repressive security laws. Many faced a death sentence. He himself was raided by the security police, subjected to banning orders restricting his movement and eventually placed in solitary confinement without trial for two prolonged spells of detention.

Seen here Albie Sachs and Church Lawyer, Sean Boshoff.  In 1966 Sachs went into exile. After spending eleven years studying and teaching law in England he worked for a further eleven years in Mozambique as a law professor and legal researcher. In 1988 he was blown up by a bomb placed in his car in Maputo by South African security agents, losing an arm and the sight of an eye.

During the 1980s - working closely with Oliver Tambo, leader of the ANC in exile - he helped draft the organisation’s Code of Conduct, as well as its statutes. After recovering from the bomb he devoted himself full-time to preparations for a new democratic Constitution for South Africa. In 1990 he returned home and as a member of the Constitutional Committee, and the National Executive of the ANC, took an active part in the negotiations which led to South Africa becoming a constitutional democracy. After the first democratic election in 1994 he was appointed by President Nelson Mandela to serve on the newly established Constitutional Court.

In addition to Sachs’ work on the Constitutional Court, he has traveled to many countries sharing South African experience in healing divided societies. He has also been engaged in the sphere of art and architecture, and played an active role in the development of the Constitutional Court building and its art collection on the site of the Old Fort Prison in Johannesburg. 

Seen here far left, Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, Area President Africa West Area on a panel of Religious Leaders. Elder Curtis was the last to speak, testifying of the restoration and core beliefs of the Church and our stance on human rights, and respect of all faiths, quoting from AoF 1,3,6,11,12.

After everyone returned from the symposium, we got our offices ready to host Mr. Abay, who is the Director of Religion Affairs in Ethiopia. He had agreed to stop by our offices on his way home from the symposium, where he also presented. He came on the 29th of May and was accompanied by a member, "Ethiopian District President Habtu.

Since we have been in Johannesburg, we have put on several hosting events. My job is to take photographs during the tour of the offices and then usually a group photo at the last part of our tour, which is on the temple grounds. He is a photo essay of our time with Mr. Abay:

The first person anyone sees upon entering the Area Office is Brenda who always presents us with a beautiful smile. This is how Mr. Abay started his tour.

The next place on the tour is with our temporal affairs administrator, George Benet, who gave a brief introduction of our Area Office and presence in Africa. His assistant, Francis, was also in attendance.

We then headed for humanitarian services department to get a presentation from Phillip and Kenneth about our current projects in Ethiopia and the services Humanitarian offers the world. They spoke of clean water projects where the dig bore holes, vaccinations, eye care training and glaucoma surgery, wheelchairs, neonatal resuscitation programs that train medical personnel how to help babies breathe and provide the equipment and show them how to train other medical personnel. Here Kenneth is explaining garden projects and other smaller humanitarian projects, like school supplies.

Sheree heads up the family services department and helps provide addiction recovery programs, marriage counseling, adoption services, etc...anything to do with emotional well-being.

One big happy department

We went from here to the PEF department, Perpetual Education Fund, and Therene told them about the low cost loan program that offers discount in student loans if certain criteria are met, like doing well in the classes, making payment on time, graduation from the course. They can get up to 40 percent off the cost of the loan by meeting all the criteria. Vivian and Therene were having a good time with President Habtu and Mr. Abay.

We then toured the Distribution Center where their services were explained and our guests go to look around the store.

Sean helped them pick out some items to take home with them, like photos of the Savior, Mormon Tabernacle Choir Cd's and miscellaneous other items.

Then on to Church History where Elder and Sister Barnes explained how important it is for the Church to keep records of the Church from it's inception in Africa to inspire future generations in the Church and show them the hardships their ancestors faced...that will hopefully make their problems be put in perspective and show them that they too can overcome adversity.

After Church History, we visited the employment center where Dominic and his volunteers explained how classes on finding a job and services such as resume creation, how to conduct and interview. usage of computers, copiers, faxes, printers, etc are available to all. People that stick with the program either find a job or start their own business.

We then visited Family History Department and took a tour of their different machines that allow a person to view just about any record that is out there. Finding ancestors has never been easier. The Church is looking to digitize all records in Africa, so African members can find and do the work for their ancestors.

We then took a break for lunch (I had to leave early, because I was preparing for the food. We got the delivery from the caterer of various African delights. I also made the dessert and relish tray...good stuff.

Area President Cook, his wife Lynette and Francis joined Mr. Abay for lunch.

I wasn't there for the temple photos. Sean took those and probably still has them, because I don't. But, that night we went to a nice French restaurant for dinner. We found out that President Habtu's four year old had a birthday today. He bought him many presents and called him on the phone to wish him a Happy Birthday. Area Seventy, Kubalani and his wife also joined us. He sat next to Mr. Abay and they had some good conversations. 

I enjoyed talking to his wife at dinner. When she found out our children and grandchildren were coming in August, she offered to babysit the children and take them somewhere fun...a beautiful woman! The food was delicious, the company was great. A great evening and fun time had by all.

Also at the end of May, we were assigned to get some stories and photos regarding a Zimbabwe group that were coming to the Temple by train. There were supposed to be 35 youth and a total of 60 members. We were assigned to do a story about how much they enjoyed the trip to encourage other groups to come to the temple as groups as well. It was a LONG train ride. We were tied up with Mr. Abay and group, so our new publishing department handled the story following the group to all their activities, but I saw them all in the parking lot and asked a few questions and took a couple of photos between hosting activities.

Many of the youth and adults had never been to the temple. The young woman I spoke to had been baptized 21 times. She said it was a wonderful experience. She was baptized for her own relatives. Others had similar experiences. They said they couldn't wait to come again. One lady said she hoped the single adults learned that they could meet other faithful members by coming to Johannesburg, the big city.

Soon we will get a video of the interviews conducted while they were here. What a group and what a big deal to get here.

It is hard to believe that May is over. The months are just whizzing by. We have learned to enjoy every moment, no matter how hectic or how busy we are. It's a great thing to learn...kind of stop and smell the roses idea.

May 22-May 25 in Swakopmund, Namibia open house

On Thursday, May 22nd, we boarded a flight to Windhoek, Namibia. We had been invited to attend an open house of a new Church meetinghouse. We arrived, rented a car at the airport and then headed for Swakopmund. We did this because Sean said driving would let us see the country and there were many interesting things to see along the way. The drive took four hours and the landscape was like Arizona...no houses...no service stations...no people...all the way, just some mountains with desert landscape and lots of dirt and bushes. There were some game reserves, but nothing to see that we hadn't seen over and over again in Arizona. We realized that because it is so different than the Johannesburg area that Sean probably really does enjoy driving through the desert, because it has a certain beauty to it. It actually was an easy drive, but only two lanes, so lots of trucks to pass.



We arrived after dark, which we were trying to avoid, but luckily the hotel we chose was on the main street coming into town and we just stayed on it until we got to the hotel, which was right before the beach. Swakopmund is a town first settled by Germans. Apparently Germany ruled there for many years until they finally just gave the land back to the people because it was too much trouble. The German influence is everywhere you look. The hotel we stayed in was called "Zum Kaiser" and the lobby had a large painting of a German guy in uniform (Zum Kaiser, I presume).

We got settled into the hotel, which was quaint, but nice, and then we headed to the restaurant for dinner where another painting of Zum Kaiser was hanging over a fireplace. We were the only ones in the restaurant when we arrived, so we didn't know what to expect, but the food was delicious! We talked about our schedule of events and what we needed to do. We had an extra day scheduled so we could see something of the area (maybe ride a camel on the sand dunes), so we discussed what we might do.


The next morning we slept in a little and it was cloudy and a bit chilly, so we decided to fore go the ocean until the weather got a little nicer. We could see the ocean from the window in our room, but it was too foggy to see much. We needed to go and prepay the caterer for the dinner after the open house, so we decided to head over toward the church building. Our GPS did not say anything but Swakopmund, but we figured it much be the church, because supposedly all  church buildings in Africa were downloaded onto our GPS.


The problem is that we were looking for a church building and this place was a small office complex. We drove around a little before we saw signs that directed us to it. We got a phone call that we needed to go to Tina's bed and breakfast and pay for the food. It was not far away, but hard to find, so it took us a little while. Elder Kyle finally paid for the food and we headed back to the 'church' to see if there was anything we could do to help.

Branch President Noble

These members were not even a Branch. They were called a Group, but the leader of the group, Hans Noble was a devoted Latter-day Saint. They had been meeting for years in his home until finally the Church rented this office space for them to use. It was a fairly new building, so the office space was very nice and they turned these offices into a really nice Church meetinghouse. There was a little kitchen, rooms for each auxiliary, a large room for Sacrament meeting that had the usual set up for a chapel. We brought them some posters with bullet points for the various areas (Relief Society, Primary, Young Men/Young Women, Sunday School, etc.). We asked what they needed us to help with but most of them had already done a great job of setting everything up.

President Noble's sweet daughter

The Group consisted of mainly three active families and we could not believe how much they had accomplished when they had to do everything themselves. Brother Noble told us how one day his family arrived for church and they were the only ones there at starting time. He prepared and blessed the sacrament and his son passed it. It was fast and testimony meeting. His family consists of five children, so he and his wife and children sat there wondering what to do. He has an 11-year old girl who has down syndrome. She got up and went to the podium and began to jabber and make hand movements to express herself. She cannot speak very well. When she finished and sat down, the other children got up to bear their testimonies and then Mom and dad bore theirs. A few more people arrived late, but everyone there bore their testimonies and it took up the whole time with no gaps in between. Later they remarked that it was a miracle, because there was a lot of time to use up.

We did all that we could to help. Everything was set up so nicely, with materials about the church and posters on the wall. One of the sisters wanted a food storage set up in the RS room, but I told her we could work on that the next morning and we then agreed to come back early the next day to finish up everything.









We went back to the hotel... and the restaurant there. This time they had a fire burning in the fireplace. It was very cozy and once again the food was delicious!

The next day, we joined the same people at the meetinghouse, busily finishing their setups for each room. We found ourselves going to the grocery store a couple of times to get things they needed.




There were a lot of children moving about having a great time. None of them complained that they had to be there all day. We got some balloons and they occupied themselves for quite awhile playing with the balloons. These children were so beautiful and sweet. Watching them play and run around the building was very entertaining.

Mission president's wife helping them use digital piano

They had the digital pianos in several of the rooms, but confessed that they really didn't know how to use them to play hymns or primary music. Because I had some experience with one at my ward in Texas, I sat down and tried to figure it out. About this time, Sister Wilson, the mission president's wife came and between her and I we figured out how to play the songs they wanted to play. This sister was so excited.






We met some really nice people. I loved all the families that helped put on this open house. The fact that they cared so much was very inspiring to me. They have been faithful members for so long and don't even have Branch status yet. I am sure with all their faith, it will come. In the meantime they are heroes to us. I loved the primary president and her children. Her husband told me about how they met and it was a great story. She is the beautiful lady in the photo on the right.




The other sister that worked so hard with her family to set up for the open house was also great. She was so excited that her neighbor was going to come to the open house. She kept waiting for her to come and told me all about her. I could tell that she thought this open house might be the way to get her friend into the church. It was very sweet.

Me with two sweet girls of very faithful members

I had fun getting to know the children. These two beautiful girls were my buddies. I know they don't look happy, but they were shy and their mom insisted we take the photo. They sang primary songs to me and their brothers sang songs they learned at school that were hilarious. What a fun bunch.










The last time we went to the store, I purchased some things for the food storage set up to make these girls mother happy and I set it up in the Relief Society Room. Finally it was time for the open house and the people started coming.









We had put the cookies out for the refreshments while people came through the open house and the children of the members were eating them quickly. There were a lot of cookies, but they disappeared fast. Every child I saw had several cookies in their hands...a sugar high for sure.

Classes given to visitors by members of branch

Although it wasn't a huge crowd, it was steady and plenty of people came through, but the best turnout was the dinner after.  Several Opinion leaders were there and impressed by the tour.














We were so grateful to spend the day with these wonderful people. By the end, we felt we had made some good friends. It is a very sweet 'group'.








Then the food started coming from the caterer and I was shocked at how much food there was. Brother Noble said he told her 30 people, but it seemed like so much more. The price charged was about right for 30 people and the variety of food she brought, but there was so much! Afterwards he spoke to the caterer and she said she made food for 100 people! Brother Noble said he had somewhere he could take the food to donate it...someone ate great that night, because it was really good.


We offered to help Brother Noble explain the Church (kind of what usually goes on at a dinner like this), but he said he had it covered and he pretty much did it all with just a little help from the Mission President. They showed the Introduction to Mormons DVD and it is a very good way to introduce people to the Church. President Wilson spoke and did a good job. Everyone seemed to have a good time. We gave them Tabernacle Choir Cd's at the end and everyone left happy.

Just another day in Swakopmund

We went back to our hotel room tired but satisfied that the event was a success. From the window in our hotel room, we could see the school across the street, so I took these photos of the children getting out of school and either being picked up, walking or waiting for transportation to their homes.They all seemed happy and ready to go home and have some fun.

Drive on highways, dip in ocean or rent a camel!

This area was full of contrasts. Where the hotel was seemed like a tropical, ocean setting with lots of palm trees and the cute little city by the sea.

But, five minutes away you could find a camel for hire in a desert setting.

Swakopmund, Namibia

The buildings were very German and made you feel like you had been transported to some quaint European town. The city was very clean and cute. Shops lined the street the hotel was on, sporting all the latest fashions and chic stores, but mixed in were the Shop rites and other discount stores. There were many historic building all in very good shape. It was obvious that the people who live here care about their city. It would not even have seemed we were in Namibia, Africa if not for the people.



On Sunday, we attended Church at this office building meetinghouse and felt like we were in the grandest of churches. President Wilson and Sister Wilson spoke. Brother Noble's son and the other member's sons passed the sacrament. The room was full, mostly of visitors. My new friend with Downs Syndrome, but with the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met, greeted us warmly and sat on my lap for awhile. I could see what a blessing she was to this faithful family. What lessons we learned from this small group of saints.

View on the trip to the Airport

We packed our suitcases and said goodbye to the city. We drove the rental car and followed the directions to the airport in Walvis Bay that was supposed to be only 30 minutes away. Only a few minutes outside the city we saw the camel stand above and as we traveled along the ocean we finally found all the sand dunes everyone was talking about in Namibia. It was straight out of a movie, miles of huge sand dunes on one side of the highway and the ocean on the other side...beautiful!

Airport???

It was a very scenic drive and we finally came to a turnoff to the airport on a two-lane road to what seemed like nowhere...just miles and miles of sand dunes. We didn't see a tower or anything else, but we kept driving and driving and finally we turned left onto this road towards these warehouse-like buildings...once again, no tower, no sign of an airport. We were thinking the GPS steered us wrong when we saw a sign about airport parking and rental car return. We looked at each other and said, "Your kidding right?" We drove into the dirt parking lot with little signs signifying rental cards of the different rental car companies. We turned over the car to the rental company and got out luggage (onto the dirt) and tried to maneuver it into the warehouses.

Inside the "Airport" Terminal

It's hard to explain the weirdness of coming to this place that did not come close to resembling an airport; however, people were acting like this was normal and they were pretty efficient for the circumstances. Apparently they are building a new airport and this is temporary, but who knows how long they have been operating this way and how long they will have to keep doing it. There is one runway, so it's not extremely busy, but the plane was fine and it was easier than trying to find your way through a large airport. When we checked our baggage, the agent looked at Elder Kyle and said, "It's your birthday! We really party on our birthdays here. Ha.

One thing we can say about all these trips we have taken...They are NEVER boring. What great memories we are making and what tender moments. There are so many amazing things we are learning about members of the Church in Africa!