Update on PEF & dress in the DRC

Elder Billings writes that every day is Prom Day in the DRC.  The women above are wearing the bright colors and beautiful print dresses popular in the Congo.  These ladies gathered for Stake Conference.
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I have spent hours trying to update this blog over the past several days only to discover that the link for "new posts" is broken.  I prayed about this problem and while downloanding some photos of Neil's new baby today, I  discoverd that I can gain access by posting photos through Picasa and then adding some text.   

So more about our PEF work here in South Africa,  Elder S. and I attended a meeting with the other senior couples, zone leaders and the stake mission leader at Kwa Magxaki ward Sunday afternoon. This meeting helped me understand how PEF fits into the master plan. The focus of the meeting was reactivation so we discussed what could be done to retain new members and help returned missionaries who cannot find jobs. 

Most of the converts here in Africa are young adults.  Priesthood leaders hope to get these young men out on missions and the others taking seminary and institute classes.  There are many success stories, for example:  Missionaries assigned to East London met a young man being raised by his grandmother in Mdantsane.  He was an unemployed.  He wore long dred locks.  Both his parents had died of Aids.  He lived with his grandmother who supported him on a small pension.  After a visit with the missionaries Lihle cut his hair and began reading the Book of Mormon.  He loved being with the young elders and started going on splits.  He read the Book of Mormon and for the first time his life had a purpose.  He had a strong desire to serve a mission.

Luci Fowler's sister visited her in East London and met this young man.  She was so impressed she and her husband offered to pay for his mission.  With money from his benefactors he bought the first suit he had ever owned.  Sister Fowers said she wished she had accompanied him when he went shopping.  Lihle returned with a suit.  Lo and behold, it was black with narrow white stripes.  It was ill fitting, and looked like a “zuit" suit.  But he was very proud of it so she said nothing.  He stayed with them after being set apart and Luci discovererd that he only had a few pieces of clothing.  As he was the same size as Elder Fowers, she took clothes from his closet to make up what was lacking.   Elder Lihle Lalendle left the next day.  He has been serving in Zimbabwe for a little over a month now.  

Sunday six young blacks from Kwa Nobuhle Ward opened their mission calls.  Only one set of parents attended.  All the others came from non-member families.  Since church policy requires that a young man pay for the preparations himself including pass ports, doctor and dentist exams and his clothing, many struggle preparing to go.  Most are unemployed, so it's very hard for them.  The church will support them when they are in the field but they must get ready by themselves.

Elder Van Sickle, has been employing many by having them paint church chairs and doing odd  jobs.  Sister Nye in Grahamstown teaches them how to make muffins which they sell on the streets.  Elder V. drives them to their medical appointments and, if truth be told, probably buys some of their clothing.  Elder and Sister V. were present and filmed the opening of the six mission calls.  Most will serve in Africa with white companions from “the missionary factory” - Utah.  We also have elders here from England, New Zealand, Europe and Australia.  

 Since most  are first generation Mormons, area leaders are encouraging all the young men who are eligible to go on a mission.  When they return they are encouraged to attend institute where they will meet a young LDS woman and marry. Also getting an education and a certificate, diploma, degree or license can lead to work in a trade. That's were we come in.  Qualifying for jobs that allow time for family and leadership responsibilities is critical to building the kingdom in Africa.  Consequently there is a need for PEF here where 68% of the youth are unemployed.  If a returned missionary can't find a job, he will likely get discouraged and may even become inactive.

The brethren would like the youth to do as much as possible themselves toward securing their loans.  However that isn't happening.  Although missions teaches them people skills and helps them learn how to study, some fall back into old patterns when they return home.  Some families, steeped in tradition, require lobolo (bride price) before they give their daughters in marriage.  Some brides want a big wedding.  If the young man can't find work he will not marry.  This is a big problem here.  These are such fine young men. 

   Port Elizabeth Stake needs a good reactivation program to support converts as well as former  missionaries who have become less active.  However it's hard to motivate some of the natives who were raised in an entitlement culture.  Many of the young converts have a strong testimony but may not understand the nuts and bolts of commitment and follow through. 

   Our main concern now is that currently we only have twenty active PEF students in the Port Elizabeth Stake attending college or a university.  There are only eleven currently in the East London Stake.   And although we have presented firesides in all nineteen wards and branches in the zone only a handful graduate from each "Planning for Success class.  (Attendance at all four classes are required in order to apply for a PEF loan.) And of those few who do complete, less than half submit applications.  Many never follow through.  Others need constant motivation.  Some simply do not understand what to do.  

 

  Example:  Headman in Kwa Magxaki called and talked to Elder S. about his daughter who had applied for PEF several months ago.  Sanelisewe did not fill out her application correctly last summer so Elder Webb e-mailed her and told her to make the corrections over a month ago.  Evidently she did not get that e-mail.  (Only one family in ten in S.A. has a computer.  So applicants must go to the library, a computer cafe, or  the family history library to apply.)  Headman called Elder S. when he got a bill to cover classes that Sanilisewe is currently taking.  Elder S. explained that PEF is not retroactive.  PEF can pay for her school classes in the future. The program will not pay for classes she enrolled in before her PEF loan was approved.

One Ward's Future Missionaries

  Karin Van Thiel, the stake PEF director of Teachers for the Planning for Success Workshop, says the bishops should be monitoring the students who are already in classes.   If they are failing, someone in the ward should be called to tutor them and be their mentor.  However, such a person may not be available in some units.  “It takes a village to raise a child" or, in this case "It takes a ward and priesthood leaders if PEF is going to help these young people."  With such a crying need for education and good jobs, and so few taking advantage of PEF loan opportunities, we sometimes find the work discouraging.  The adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" is true.