Special District Meeting With Elder Quentin L. Cook

Monday October 20th was a special day for the Lusaka District of the Zambia Lusaka Mission.  Two special meetings were held under the Direction of Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The first was a Priesthood leadership meeting where he talked to the brethren about the Prophetic priorities.  The first two are to strengthen the priesthood and to strengthen the families.  This is pertinent as the District is preparing to be a Stake.  The second meeting was for all the membership of the District. These meeting were held on a Monday because of the schedule that Elder Cook had so he could visit a number of different southren African countries in a limited amount of time.

Here is a gathering of the Saints after the meetings.

There is a Church Distribution center in the Lasaka building and after the meeting we were waiting in line to make an order.  It took a while as things move a little slowly here.  As we were waiting Elder Cook came by and greeted us again and mentioned that he had heard that we had left, he thought, 23 grandchildren at home.  We told him that we had left a number at home but that it was 35.  He said that would be a blessing to us as there were 35 little children who were praying daily for us.  He stopped for a picture with someone and then told us we needed to have a picture with him also so that our grandchildren could see us with him. It was his idea.

Elder Quentin L. Cook with Papa & Gradma for the Grandkids

We are at the mission home today so we are going to add another blog while we have internet access were we can attach a picture.  We have been to a couple of the competed projects so I will share pictures of them.  There is a contrast in these two schools where projects have been completed.

This one is City of Hope run by the Catholic Church.  Several wells were fitted with solar panels and pumps. The tower with the tank is for water for the large two story building in the background.

This other one is a school where the roof was collapsing so the roof was removed, walls repaired and a new roof placed.  This one is run by some kind of government agency.

Here are some of the kids at this school.

Fast Sunday

October 5th was our first Sunday at our newly assigned Branch.  President Erickson asked us to attend the Matero Branch which is located in the north part of Lusaka.  It belongs to the Lusaka District, one of three districts in the mission.  It is located in one of the poorer areas of the city and they meet in a house that has been converted into a meeting house.

The testimony meeting was a "Testimony" meeting. No travel logs, thankamonies or long discourses. They don't have much and don't go many places so all they have to share is their testimonies of The Savior and His gospel.  It is what should happen on Fast Sunday.  There were only 2 vehicles at the meeting, ours and the other senior couple who are assigned to the Branch.  Everyone walks to church and for some it takes an hour.  Some of the members of the branch meet at the Elders Quorum Presidents home a couple of the weeks during the month because the chapel is so far for them to walk each week.