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Mozambique Sisters Attend First Ever Beira Relief Society Birthday Celebration
Contributed by Sister Charlotte Nebeker
March 20, 2010 was our first Beira Relief Society Birthday Celebration held at the new Manga 1 Chapel. District RS President, Isabel da Silva, conducted and explained the purposes of Relief Society, and the importance of our charitable organization and benefits to all women.
Then there were lectures by several women on the importance of marriage, family, tithing, and attending the temple.
The sisters were then divided up in groups for 15 minutes at four different tables. At one table, the activity was decorating tin cans with material and ribbons. Inside each can was the year’s calendar of events, and a lollipop with a spirtual message.
The sisters colored their Relief Society theme bookmarkers designed by Sister Nebeker at another table.
Third table was makeup, putting lipstick on, doing their nails, etc. (A favorite because many can't afford these things). We had musical chairs using primary peppy songs, the winner receiving a small prize.
The fourth table offered copies of church pamphlets and copies of the Liahona for any who wanted them to read.
Final comments were from District Relief Society President. Then all were videotaped saying the Relief Society Theme. Sisters viewed a talk by the General Relief Society President on DVD, and then were served cakes for refreshments. About 70 sisters were in attendance at this wonderful evening.
 Mozambique Relief Society Sisters at RS birthday party.
Beira, Mozambique YW Camps 2009, 2010 Recounted
By Elder Steve and Sister Charlotte Nebeker
First Beira, Mozambique, YW overnight Girls Camp was held at Rio Maria, 25-26 September, 2009 about a 1/2 hr. drive from their Beira Chapel. Their transportation consisted of hiring local vans (chapas) along with a couple of member trucks to transport all to the location. The location included a couple of concrete buildings (where the girls slept), nice sandy area with palm trees for meetings and campfire, within walking distance to the Indian Ocean for swimming, and secluded enough for a peaceful retreat for the approximately 100 girls.
Camp started off with a welcome meeting, then a fashion show using a bag of items to be included with some items of nature, as well. They then modeled and talked about modesty and the winners were the ones who were the most modest in their fashions.
Young Women from Farmington, Utah, USA, sent over necklace kits with the 7 value colored beads and the girls really enjoyed making a necklace. There were fun activities all day, talks, scripture chase, learning new camp songs, skits, etc.
The meals were prepared by some Relief Society sisters under the direction of District Relief Society President Isabel da Silva with some help from the girls. The evening was spent singing songs around the large campfire they made, then receiving a glow-in-the-dark bracelet when they sang for the president.
A highlight was the 5:30 am early morning testimony meeting on the beach watching the sunrise. What a beautiful setting and a warm feeling was had by all!
A lot of teaching was going on but in such a fun way that the girls were richly rewarded. They ended with thank yous and recognition to all those who helped to make camp a success, then a grand clean up, ending with goodbyes.
 Testimony time.
 Beira Manga Camp group picture.
Beira Young Woman’s Camp II was held 30-31 July 2010 at Rio Maria about a half hour drive from the chapel. Chapas (mini vans) were hired to bring some participants, the rest were picked up by the two senior couples, Elder Blaine and Sister Dawn Russell, and Elder Stephen and Sister Charlotte Nebeker, making several trips bringing the cooks, their gear, food, and large water containers also.
The weather wasn't obliging this year. It was cool, very windy, with lots of rain. So we had to huddle in our two main cement buildings, divide the girls up and have separate programs at times. Our District Young Woman President Amalia Malidadi began by welcoming all, giving instructions, having each girl sign in and then talk about how their personal progress was going. New books were given out.
Breakfast was served followed by a fashion show. The young women were given a small bag of things, and then were told to find more from the area. The models did a great job and worked on modesty more this year. It was good to see the improvement.
The young women each had assignments to help the cooks with the preparation of the meals, and then were able to decorate a can, and make either a necklace or bracelet using the 8 colors representing the 8 values. The cooks were all Relief Society sisters. They were thanked by the girls first thing at their opening meeting with aprons and hot pads that they would need to use for the two days.
A favorite song was the 5 wise & 5 foolish virgins which they learned at their Young Women march in April. Led by the District Young Woman President Amalia Malidadi, they put much feeling into it, then were each given a small hand candle (representing the virgin lamp) and were told to not sleep until it burned out. During that time they could talk about things that the Lord wanted them to do, how they could honor the new value, 'Virtue'.
The final activity that night was singing a special song "Thank You Sister Nebeker, We Love You Sister Nebeker", and then giving her a white T-shirt with last year’s group picture on it, a necklace, and earrings. It was a most wonderful song and the young women put their whole hearts into it.
That night the wind howled furiously and heavy rain fell. The night passed by with no campfire or no girls venturing out. Our early morning sunrise testimony meeting was held inside because there was no sun the next day.
When the weather was nice the girls ran outside to play, get their food, enjoy each others' company, and have pictures taken. At the closing of the program, all were thanked for their good works.
The priesthood was most helpful making several trips into town for more water, more charcoal for cooking, night watch, lifting heavy things, and just moral support. They were District First Counselor Abilio da Silva, Branch President Manga 1 Alfredo Camalizene, Elder Stephen Nebeker, and Elder Blaine Russell.
Zimbabwe Harare Marimba Park Stake Young Men Commemorate Aaronic Priesthood Restoration
By Bishop Langton Nyamugara, Zimbabwe Harare Marimba Park Public Affairs Director
On the banks of Lake Chivero in Harare, Zimbabwe, recently, a group of 105 young men and their leaders met in commemoration of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. These young men were instructed by their leaders on such topics as ,’the oath and covenant of the priesthood’, responsibilities of the Aaronic Priesthood ,”For the Strength of Youth”, and seminary.
Leaders who joined these young men were the Stake Presidency, bishoprics from all 6 units in the Marimba Park Stake and, all young men leaders .The young men gathered at the Marimba Park Chapel as early as 5:15am, where transportation was organized to ferry these young men to their place of meeting. Games and activities were organized for these boys and they had a blast as they socialized and competed in various sporting activities.
The Church continues to grow in Zimbabwe and these young men are the future leaders of the Church. A wonderful spirit was felt as we met and realized that the power of the Aaronic Priesthood is once again on the earth. "Forward brethren never backwards in the cause of truth."
 Marimba Park Stake Aaronic Priesthood Commemoration
Youth Converge at Kampala Stake Center for Youth Conference, the First of Its Kind
By Brother Namugera Kakeeto Robert, Executive Secretary Kampala Uganda Stake
Over 150 Latter-day Saint and non LDS youth flocked Kampala Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to attend the stake youth conference under the Theme “ …Take upon you the whole Armor , that you may be able withstand the evil day”, held recently. The conference, also attended by the stake presidency, different auxiliary leaders, parents and friends was the first of its kind since the formation of the first Stake in Uganda. Those invited to attend and perform did not disappoint as the one day event was graced with colorful, fun events including gospel drama, talks and testimonies from youth of different units across the stake.
Addressing hundreds of youth during the general session, the presiding authority and President of Kampala Stake, Jimmy Carter Okot, warned youth and parents against the impact of boarding schools noting that such institutions are not safe and deny parents their divine responsibility of nurturing children. The Stake President further warned that the world is not safe today hence the need for the youth to stay close to the spirit of God in order to withstand the evils of today. “There are some boarding schools which restrict one’s freedom of worship, living the gospel principles and even reading the scriptures such as theBook of Mormon, the Bible and other church materials”, he added.
The Second councilor in the stake presidency, Jackson Isiiko, called upon the young generation in the Church to carefully, faithfully and prayerfully choose their career positions as this will determine their future and standing in theGospel of Jesus Christ. He urged the youth to always find ways of funding their education such as simple employment while studying at the same time and Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) for those who choose to serve an honorable full time mission in the church. He counseled them to stay strong in theGospel since they are the future leaders of the Church, noting that the Church as an institution depends on them.
The Stake Relief Society President, a member of the Kololo Ward, Stella Ajilong, gave a caution to the youth concerning today’s killer disease, HIV/AIDS. “The young generation is the future of this church, just as a forest whose young trees require nurturing if it is to survive the waves and storms of the world,” she said. Sister Ajilong warned the youth that being LDS does not make them exceptional of catching the deadly disease, therefore there is need to guide them. She called upon them to abstain from sexual intimacy, comparing HIV/AIDS to Noah’s Ark in that only those who stay obedient will survive the storm.
The invited guest Speaker Sister Beachley of the Kampala Uganda Mission asked the youth to wisely enjoy their youthful age but urged them to use “For the Strength of Youth” manual designed by the Church for the standards of the youth as it will help answer every question related to them. “You are blessed to be living in your age,” she added. She asked parents to love, encourage and care for their children, but also for children to honor their parents as instructed in the Holy Scriptures, “for this will bless their lives.”
Every Member a Missionary
By Sister Eva Kaye Forsgren
The admonition “every member a missionary” was given by Prophet David O. McKay many years ago and the challenge is still in force. Sara Marutla of Rabie Ridge Branch of the Bedford View Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in Johannesburg, South Africa takes that admonition seriously. When you enter the chapel at Rabie Ridge for Sacrament Meeting on Sunday Morning, Sara is sitting toward the front of the chapel with four or five rows of people sitting around her, many of them younger people. They are all friends of Sara. They live in her neighborhood and play and come to her home to eat the goodies she makes. Most of them have attended her family home evening in her humble home in one of the settlements in Rabie Ridge. At Family Home Evening, she or the missionaries teach them a lesson on Jesus Christ and then they are fed a lovely dessert. She currently has 19 non-member young neighbor people attending her Family Home Evening, and most of them come to church with her on Sunday.
This all started when Sara’s 12 year old grandson came to visit her over a weekend. He quickly made friends with other young men in the neighborhood, six of them to be exact. They would come to Grandma Sara’s place to play with her grandson. Sara loves children and always invites them in for something she has baked. This keeps them off the street and she “teaches them the gospel”. The children learn and tell their parents what they are learning. The parents are pleased for their children to learn good true principles. For Family Home Evenings that are held on Monday nights, the missionaries currently assigned there teach this group. The children love the missionaries and what they are taught. Many times there are over 19 youth in Grandma Sara’s small home, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
One Sunday Grandma Sarah told her grandson that he could not play with the neighborhood boys on Sunday as they were going to church. The grandson told his friends who immediately wanted to know if they could come with him. They asked their parents and were given permission to go. They walked the 3 or 4 miles together to the Rabie Ridge Chapel.
These boys were a little concerned that they were taking too many chairs in the chapel, so the 6 boys would sit together on 4 chairs right behind the row of Deacons. These boys are 11 and 12 and are looking forward to passing the sacrament when it is their turn. The other children sit in the rows behind them. They have all attended Primary as a group and took part in the program. When the Primary did their program, they brought their friends.
There is not a fast Sunday that goes by that at least one of the children goes to the stand and bear their testimony. When they get up there they turn and look at everyone in the audience and tell them “I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I know this church is true and I know we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. I love my mom and family. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen”. It is almost as if you were hearing the missionaries.
All of the youth have been taught by Grandma Sara about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the missionaries come and tell them about the Church, if they say anything different than what Grandma Sara has taught them, the boys correct the missionaries. Six of the boys have since been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When there is a baptism of any of this group, there are a lot more friends that come to see them be baptized. Sister Marutla bears her testimony with tears running down her face and is so happy that “one of her boys or girls” is being baptized. All have been taught by the missionaries in their own home with their own parents listening and approving of their baptism. Several of the boys are now passing the sacrament.
Grandma Sara’s good husband is not yet a member of the Church, but supports what Grandma Sara is doing. One Sunday the Bishop challenged everyone to prepare to go to the temple. He said, “Get your life in order, pay your tithing and do what you need to do to go to the temple.” Again, Sister Marutle took this challenge seriously and, following her daughter Rebecca’s example, she got her life in order and went to the temple for her own endowments. Now Grandma Sara has been to the temple, with her husband’s blessing and has made the covenants that she has heard about with her Heavenly Father. Her Family Home Evenings are much more spiritual and her explanations of the Gospel are much clearer. She still has several of the neighborhood families coming to her home for Family Home Evening. The Rabie Ridge Branch has enough members to be made a ward, and will be made a ward when the leadership qualifies. Much of this growth has been because Grandma Sarah took the challenge of the Prophet: “every member a missionary.”
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