SPECIAL VISITORS

The past three weeks have brought some very special visitors to our Area office.  They are invited and escorted by the folks from Public Affairs which is just one of the departments of the Church housed here in the Area office.

Elder and Sister Berg are the senior couple in Public Affairs and Sean Donnelly is the Area Public Affairs manager.  He is a Church employee.

Public affairs is always interested in inviting dignitaries from other countries to visit the Area office.  They like people to learn some about the Church and see and hear about the Church presence here in the Area.  It is always good to build relationships.  People of influence in governments can help with missionary efforts, for example, just by making it easier for missionaries to get visas for the countries.

Three weeks ago two gentlemen from Gabon came to visit.  We didn't get their names or much information, but he was the Minister of Health for Gabon (like a cabinet position). 
The other gentleman was his assistant and translator.
They met with Elder Cook, the Area President and visited the different departments at the Area office.

Elder and Sister Cook with Gabon Health Minister

Up on our floor, there is a display sitting on one of the cabinets.  There is a dummy baby like they take when they do Neonatal Resuscitation (NRT), also some new baby kits, hygiene kits, and pictures of some of the projects that have been done in some of the countries in Africa.

Dignitaries with Sean Donnelly

We also printed a report from CHaS (Church Humanitarian System) which listed all the projects done in Gabon during the past 3 years along with some photos. CHaS is the centralized computer program all the Humanitarian missionaries use when they propose, open, implement and close a project.  It has tons of information in it about projects from all over the world.  As Area missionaries, we have access to everything being done in the Africa Southeast Area, so Sister Kinghorn was able to print the report specifically for Gabon.

Gabon visitors with Sister Kinghorn

She then gave them a brief presentation of what Humanitarian missionaries do and specifically told them about projects done in Gabon.  They seemed interested in the little presentation.  The minister didn't speak any English but Sean Donnelly speaks excellent French and translated right along for Sister Kinghorn.  I spoke a few words with him and introduced ourselves.

Uganda visitors with the Area Presidency and their wives

About a week later 2 ladies came from Uganda.  The first one is Margaret Kabugho Brambale.  She is the Senior Immigration Officer for Uganda in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

With Melinda Kinghorn

The other is Rosemary Nabifo Wamimbi.  She is the Assistant Commissioner for Immigration.  They got pretty much the same presentation from Sister Kinghorn.  They were very interested in the projects that we've been doing there in Uganda and asked lots of questions about them.  I've heard the presentation twice now.  She told me that next time it would be my turn to do the talking.

Johannesburg Temple

They also take the guests to see the Johannesburg Temple which is right next to us here.