YE SHEPHERDS OF THE FIELD

Sister Beck at granary in Zimbabwe with Joel Musoro, Headmaster of Danangwe School. Photo credit: Elder Ronald EricksonSister Dalton shares and anticipatory “thumbs up” with three young women during a recent visit to the Nairobi Kenya Stake. Photo credit: Elder Gene Puckett

Relief Society General President, Sister Julie B. Beck, accompanied by her husband, Brother Ramon P. Beck, and Young Women General President, Sister Elaine S. Dalton, accompanied by her husband, Brother Stephen E. Dalton, visited the Africa Southeast Area May 20^th through May 31^st, 2010. During  scheduled time in the area they met with members in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Each sister provided valuable training in combined meetings with Priesthood and Relief Society leaders, as well as in devotional/firesides held throughout the area. The General Presidents were accompanied by Elder Paul E. Koelliker and his wife Ann, Elder F. Michael Watson and his wife Jolene and Elder Dale G. Renlund and his wife Ruth at various meetings.

Courtesy of LDS Church News

   Muriel D. and Kenneth S. Armstrong

Kenneth Stuart Armstrong, 72, Centurion 1st Ward, Pretoria South Africa Stake, called as president of the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, succeeding President Peter Bowen. President Armstrong's wife, Muriel Dorothy Dalldorf Armstrong, will serve as temple matron. He serves as a counselor in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple presidency.

Members of Johannesburg Stake don yellow vests and smiles in preparation for Helping Hand service.By Sister Eva Kaye Forsgren, Public Affairs Missionary

Just days before the FIFA World Cup opened, groups from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mobilized, put on Helping Hands vests and  joined thousands of others in the city of Johannesburg to clean up for FIFA World Cup visitors.  The city’s objectives were to clean up for the World Cup, change minds and bad habits towards littering, get everyone to place rubbish into bins and bags so Pikitup can do their job more efficiently, and celebrate World Environment Day which was also on June 5.  The effort to get the Helping Hands vests known and what the Church does is one way to help the church to be known in Africa. Members show with this service that they are service oriented and want to be a part of our environment. 

At one location a local newspaper came and took pictures of the members  cleaning because the yellow vests looked so great.  These Helping Hands vests will also be worn on August 21, 2010, when the All African Helping Hands Day initiative will be performed.  There will be over 25,000 people giving service to demonstrate the theme “Love given – Love received”.    From Free Town, Sierra Leone to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Nirobi, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa, Windhoek, Namibia to Antananarivo, Madagascar projects will be completed on that day.

The Savior serves so we serve.  President Paul E. Koelliker, Africa South East Area President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said:  “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is international in nature.  It belongs to the people representing all phases of life.  We are all here with the intent of helping.”

Dignitaries attending the appreciation dinner: L/R: Mr. Joseph Mokena, LDS Church Government Relations; Mr. Happy Mahlangu, South African High Commissioner; H.M. King Letsie II; Sister Jolene Watson; Elder F. Michael Watson, Africa Southeast Area Presidency, LDS Church; Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Internation Relations.Photo by Elder Steven HarmsSubmitted by Elder Van and Sister Melissa VanBlankenstein

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently hosted an ‘Appreciation Dinner’ at the Lesotho Sun Hotel in Maseru attended by His Majesty, King Letsie II and other local dignified guests.   We were pleased to have representing the Church leadership from the Southeast Africa Area Office, Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy, First Counselor in the Area Presidency, and his wife, Sister Jolene Watson; Joseph Mokoena, Government Relations, and other local District and Branch Presidents.

Seated at the official head table next to the King was Elder F. Michael Watson, who spoke at the conclusion of the program. He thanked all for coming and expressed appreciation for the wonderful relationship that exists between the country of Lesotho and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then said he would like to leave a blessing on the people and quoted from the preachings of Alma in Alma 7:27:  “And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever….”

Joseph Mokoena, whose ancestors are from Lesotho, was the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed all guests after the King was seated. A moving and inspirational Invocation was delivered by Bishop Philip Mokuku of the Anglican Church of Lesotho.

 The event was planned as an opportunity for the Church to thank the government, non-government organizations, and local church leaders for the continuing partnerships formed between the Church and various organizations in Lesotho.  These partnerships provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Lesotho during 2006-2009.

Elder Renlund and wife, Ruth. Shaking hands reflects good partnership. Photo courtesy:Kubangila Kamanda By Kubangila Kamanda, NDPA, DR Congo & R of Congo

In March 2009, Ben B. and Susan Banks Directors of Church Hosting reported as follow: “The request to host Mr. Mutombo Dikembe, a professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets, came from Brother Tom Rasmussen of the LDS Philanthropies Department.  The LDS Philanthropies Department, in conjunction with the Humanitarian Department of the Church, has been working on a water project which is a current project with the LDS Humanitarian Services Department.”  While discussing with Church leaders in Salt Lake City, Mr. Mutombo Dikembe said, “The hospital was built to help the people of my hometown live healthy and productive lives.” “This well project will supplement the water we currently have on site and will provide a critically needed supply of precious pure water in case of malfunction or shortages in the public water system.” “The hospital is mindful of its water utilization both in quality and quantity and already has a system that treats water before and after it is used.  The existing public system has a slow flow rate, which prevents on-site water tanks from filling to capacity. This project will help provide a consistent flow of clean water for the hospital. Once completed, the well will be nearly 300 feet deep and the water will be pumped to a 13,200-gallon elevated tank and gravity-fed to the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

 Elder and Sister Moody, the DR Congo Humanitarian couple and Mr. Dominique Sowa, Manager of ADIR (Non- profit Organization) worked out this project. Funding this project is an expression of charity and love to the communities of DR Congo. After two weeks of hard labor, water is found some 80 meters deep. Mr.Tshikangu, the Technician of the Hospital said that a linking pipe will be connected to the main tank. Then water can be used.

Delighted with his new wheels Sandile Msizi was smiling from ear to ear (front) Courtesy of Bobbi Sands

As printed in the Algoa Sun May 13, 2010

After 14 years of not leaving the house and years of borrowing a wheelchair, two lucky Port Elizabeth residents are now mobile, thanks to good Samaritans.

The Samaritans belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are running the Evening Angels humanitarian aid project. The project will see about 40 people receiving much needed wheelchairs to get them mobile.

The first recipient was Sandile Msizi, 22, who lives in the Walmer township with his aunt, uncle and cousins. He was born with cerebral palsy and nothing can explain the joy on his face while he sat watching Clare Hubbard, an occupational therapist from CE Mobility, make adjustments to his new wheels.