The Miracle of Hastening the Work – Kum Ba Ya

       Let me tell you a little bit about the miracles of this mission. There are no white-boy or white-girl missionaries in this mission. Most of our missionaries are from Kinshasa, Madagascar, Cameroon, or other African French-speaking countries. There have never been single sister missionaries in Africa (not sure about South Africa).

 



President & Sister McMullin

        My companion, Sister Riendeau, is from France.  She moved to the United States when she was in her 20's.  She recently served a mission in Virginia and her mission president there, President Perry, was good friends with President McMullin (our mission president).  When President McMullin was called to serve as the mission president in the DR Congo, he called his good friend, President Perry in Virginia, to ask for advice and asked if he knew anyone who could help the Congolese sisters in the DR Congo mission to learn to read and write French.  Although French is the national language, there is much illiteracy because the people cannot afford to go to school.  French is not the language they grew up with, their native tongue is usually Swahili or Lingala.

           There is a new pilot mission program called Women’s Auxiliary Support (WAS) that President McMullin was able to use as a position that would qualify and justify single sisters coming to Africa.  Sister Riendeau and I worked together in the temple and she felt inspired to ask me to come with her.  During the prior year I had been down scaling and doing everything I could to get myself in a position so that I could eventually go on a mission.  I had no inkling of when I would ever get around to going, left to my own vices, but her invitation put my preparations into high gear, and I moved heaven and earth to get myself ready to go so that we could go together.

Preparing to come:

     One of the first things I had to do was to get my medical and dental in order.  Traveling to Africa requires a mandatory 45-minute consultation with the county travel nurse.  She explained about the country and the requirements for shots.  I ended up spending over $1,000 on shots.  I had shots for Typhoid, Yellow Fever, dTap, Hepatitis, TB test and I can’t remember what else.  When I was in the MTC and on the church’s international insurance, I was able to get the expensive Shingles shot paid for by insurance.  Also, a couple of days before leaving for the mission, we started taking Doxycycline to prevent Malaria.  We take a Doxycycline every day and will continue every day for two weeks after we return home.

     We arrived in Lubumbashi on December 10, 2013.  I’ve seen miracles and heard the stories of miraculous events of the other missionaries in the office.  The need here in the DR Congo is great!  However, the people are inspiring and they have a craving to learn and to be taught.  The country has big problems, and I will address some of these problems in subsequent posts.  The people want to learn and to better themselves; most of them cannot afford to go to school. 

L-R: Delphine, Brigitte, Sister Anthony, Rosalie, Sister Riendeau, Marie & Beatrice  Meeting with the Stake Relief Society Presidents of the five Lubumbashi stakes to organize French language classes for the Relief Society women.

      We started the French language lessons within a few weeks of arriving, and women came with babies on their backs. Sister Riendeau had to modify her lessons from teaching grammar and pronouns in present singular & plural tense to teaching the Congolese women how to write and pronounce the vowels then the consonants, then teaching them how to form and pronounce words.  They were excited when they discovered they could sound out words!  Some of these women had never written the number 2, or been able to recite the alphabet.  Of course, in some of the wards, Swahili is still prevalent, but that’s another story.  We have to use some of the more advanced students to translate from French into Swahili, and then back from Swahili into French.

Life & Experiences of Emma L. Anthony

Value in the Journey

At the age of 69, one should realize that much of my life’s history has already been experienced long before the beginning of this blog.  However, as I’ve demonstrated throughout my life, it’s never too late to start.  My initial intention is to organize my blog into defined sections or topics rather than chronology.  As I expand on my writings, I will add and/or amend sections and topics.  That way, I won’t feel compelled to get everything in order before beginning, and I can also do much reflecting on the past.

Since at the current time I am serving an 18-month mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lubumbashi, I will begin my blog with my mission experiences.  I entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah on December 3, 2013, and entered the mission field December 10, 2013.

Testimony:

I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer.  I know that Christ has re-established his church in these latter days, patterned after the church he organized when he walked on this Earth, complete with the Holy Priesthood, divine ordinances, revealed scriptures, and sanctified temples.  All teachings of Christ are intended to help His followers to do good, be good, and appreciate everything good.  I know I’ve had angels guiding my life and protecting me.  They continue to do so today.  I’ve witnessed miracles that defy explanation.

I’ve been blessed with an incredible heritage and with a family whose love penetrates deep within my heart and soul.  I know that if I prove worthy and continually seek forgiveness for my sins and errors in life that I will be able to live with my family throughout eternity.

The events leading up to my calling to serve a mission in the DR Congo were divinely driven.  I have much to learn while I serve in the DR Congo, and I know I am in the love and care of Heavenly Father.  He is directing my paths, protecting me, and providing experiences that can sanctify me.  My prayer is that I can be the instrument in His hands that He needs me to be.  I am so mortal and human, that He still has a lot of work to do on me.  I dedicate my time and my life to Him so He can mold me for “Value in the Journey” that returns me to Him.

The Mission:

"Kum ba ya”  (“Come By Here” or “Come Near to Me”)
—No one knows exactly the origin of this song, but it was a spiritual sung by the African slaves along the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia.  We have taught this song to our Congolese members and missionaries.  They request to sing it at every singing opportunity.  They love to sing the lyrics in English.  The natives love to sing and they have very strong voices.  This song has become my personal theme while on my mission in Africa.

Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya;
Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya;
Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya,
        O Lord, kum bay ya.

Someone's laughing, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's laughing, Lord, kum bay ya,
        O Lord, kum bay ya.

Someone's crying, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's crying, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's crying, Lord, kum bay ya,

        O Lord, kum bay ya.

Someone's singing, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's singing, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's singing, Lord, kum bay ya,  
        O Lord, kum bay ya.

Someone's praying, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's praying, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's praying, Lord, kum bay ya,
        O Lord, kum bay ya.