July 11 - 17, 2016 - Transfers & Last Preparations for President & Sister Shumard

July 11

President Donnelly doing push ups

Elder Peterson "B" finishing his push ups

July 12 - Morning Walk near the trash dump

Sunrise over the city

July 12 - We got word today that President and Sister Shumard have their visas and will arrive here on Sunday. We had a staff meeting today to work on more details for Elder Bednar’s visit and to get everything finalized for the incoming and departing missionaries. Also what we need to do to help get the Mission Home ready for the Shumards.

Departure Dinner for two Sister missionaries. They came dressed for dinner.

Sister Haboko and Sister Mukundi

Sister Donnelly, Sister Mukundi, Sister Haboko, President Donnelly

Sister Peterson, Sister Haboko, Sister Mukundi, Elder Peterson

July 13 - Solange making fou fou for President Donnelly

July 13 - The arrival of new missionaries.

7 new missionaries with President & Sister Donnelly

July 14 - Training for the new missionaries during the day. Out to dinner tonight.

Bougan Villa Restaurant

July 15 - a South African Braai (pronounced bry) or Barbeque as we say in the U.S. President Donnelly loves to barbeque meat. And it is very delicious!!

Chicken grilled on the barbeque

Sister & President Donnelly toasting root beer floats

Elder and Sister Peterson "B" 

It would seem that our lives revolve around eating--and it does. That is all the entertainment we have here in the Congo.  No safaris, no animals--just eating.

July 16 - FM (Facilities Management) and their contractors have been working very hard for the past 2 weeks remodeling the kitchen in the Mission Home. President & Sister Donnelly have been living in the home vacated by Sisters Cook & Vance.

Today, all of us at the Mission Complex were "on deck" to make sure every detail was taken care of. Dishes were washed and put into the new cupboards, New rugs were arranged, and the entire home spruced up awaiting its new occupants. President Donnelly, ever the Public Relations man, made the following video to showcase the home.

Mission Home finished--Ready for President and Sister Shumard.


July 17 - Church at the Luano Ward

Sister & President Donnelly at Luano Ward

This is the sister who made a beautiful dress for Sister Draper as a gift when she went home. Sister Draper played the keyboard for Sacrament Meeting each Sunday in the Luano Ward during their mission.

Ida Faida

Luano Ward Relief Society

Luano Ward Sister

After Sacrament Meeting we went with Elder & Sister Donnelly to pick up President & Sister Shumard at the airport. We drove slowly through the city to the Mission Home so the missionaries would have time to gather.

Missionaries singing a welcome song

President & Sister Shumard meet their missionaries.

July 17 - Video welcoming President and Sister Shumard to the Lubumbashi Mission.

President Donnelly's goal was to make Sister Shumard cry. Goal accomplished!!

Soup and Salad Welcome and Goodbye Dinner

Changing of the Guard  -- Handing over the President's phone.

July 4 - 10 - President Sean and Sister Dianne Donnelly

July 4 - We celebrated America's Independence with a grilled meat dinner.

President Donnelly cooked beef and chicken on the BBQ

President Donnelly hard at work in the office

July 9 - We drove with President and Sister Donnelly to Kasumbalesa for baptisms. Eight people were baptized.

Portable Baptismal Font

The 4 Elders who work hard in Kasumbalesa with President Donnelly

Awaiting their baptism

Water tank - not connected

July 10, 2016

Everything is on track for the new incoming missionaries. Transfers went out yesterday. They will move to new sectors tomorrow (Monday).

Sister Bennett's eye did not require surgery like the eye doctor in Likasi thought. She and Elder Bennett were able to go to the Johannesburg Temple yesterday. Their return tickets are not until Wednesday and it will cost money to change them so they won't return until then. They will probably go to the Temple again on Tuesday.

Yesterday President Donnelly got word that Sister Diouro's father passed away. He had to call her and give her the news. Apparently her father had been sick for quite some time so it wouldn't have been unexpected. However, at the beginning she took it rather hard--wailing and not able to talk on the phone.  Elder Bitty and companion went over and talked to her. There was a baptism in Likasi that Sister Diouro had been excited about going to until Pres. gave her the bad news. Her companion is Sister Haboko who will be going home this week.

Apparently the visas for Shumards and Barlows have been sent to Washington from Kinshasa. So hopefully they will make their way quickly to Utah. The travel department of the church will not book the flight until they have the visa in hand. So Donnellys will be with her for at least another week. They are so kind and loving. They have been a joy to have here this past week.

June 27 - July 3 - President and Sister Thomas' Last few days

June 27 - President and Sister Shumard as well as the Barlow's didn't receive their visas in time to come yet.  It may be a couple of weeks away from now.

June 28 - A farewell meeting for President & Sister Thomas with the missionaries in Lubumbashi.

 June 29 - Elder Walton, the Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency came here today and will stay until Sunday to act as the interim president so the Thomas's can leave tomorrow.

 June 30 - President F. Brent and Sister Carolyn Thomas left the mission home for the last time. They are on their way home to Canada. We love them and will miss their leadership.

President Thomas, Solange, Sister Thomas

President Thomas, Ilunga, Sister Thomas

President Thomas, Joseph, Sister Thomas

President Thomas, Clarement, Sister Thomas

President Thomas, Justin, Sister Thomas

President Thomas, the Assistants Elder Luyatu and Elder Bosso, Sister Thomas

President Thomas, Elder & Sister Peterson,Sister Thomas

President Thomas, Sister & Elder Peterson, Sister Thomas

President Thomas handing over the President's phone to Elder Walton

 July 1 - Today is Elder Walton's birthday. We went out to dinner to celebrate. Dr. & Sister Peterson bought a cake for dessert at home afterward.

Elder Peterson "B" lighting the candles on Elder Walton's birthday cake.

Elder Walton blowing out the candles

July 2 - We went to lunch with Elder Walton and the other Peterson's to the Bougain Villa. Notice the fountain in the picture. A great place to go and relax and listen to the water.

Elder & Sister Peterson

July 3 - We took Elder Walton to Sacrament Meeting at the Katuba Stake Center. After Sacrament Meeting he was showing Justin and his stake clerk how the ward members, using a computer can "pin" their home on a map of the ward so they can be found. There is not a good address system here. 

We then took Elder Walton to the airport to go on the flight to South Africa.  President Sean and Sister Dianne Donnelly arrived from South Africa. He is the public affairs director there over the entire area. He had a conference with all the public affairs people that lasted until Saturday night; that is why they didn't come last Wednesday. He was set apart as the interim president by direction from the 12.  He was the mission president in Madagascar from 2009-2012. They are amazing people; we loved them instantly. They will do a great job until President and Sister Shumard arrive.

President Donnelly receiving the President's phone from Elder Peterson in whose care Elder Walton left it for an hour.

President and Sister Donnelly

Elder & Sister Peterson, Sister Donnelly, Elder & Sister Peterson

June 20 - 26, 2016 - Likasi Stake Created

June 20 - The office is so quiet without the enthusiasm of Sister Vance. We all miss her so much.

June 26 - This weekend the Likasi Stake will be created. A fitting send off for the Thomas' before they go home.  I never cease to be amazed with President and Sister Thomas.  President Thomas hasn't slowed a lick and always positive.  Always centered on the mission and the missionaries but puts up with so much pettiness from them. We try to make comments to President & Sister Thomas that focus on the contributions they have made in moving the mission forward but I'm not sure they are convinced. No one else could have done what they were able to do at this time and that is why the Lord picked them.  

Sister & Elder Bennett who have worked tirelessly to help grow the Likasi District into a Stake.

The two Sisters Peterson with a young usher at the meeting.

Missionaries in the Likasi Zone with Sister Peterson

Missionaries in the Likasi Zone