Church members in Central Africa are participating in a wide variety of humanitarian projects as part of the Light the World initiative this December.
Services range from providing critical supplies to orphanages, hospitals and prisons to maintaining schools, public toilets and drainage systems, the Church’s Africa Newsroom reported. Local Church leaders and members planned and implemented the projects to meet local needs.
In all, more than 50 projects will be completed by the end of the year in this region, while dozens more are underway in other parts of Africa.
The following are some of the efforts of the Africa Central Area of the Church.
Democratic Republic of Congo
kinshasa: Church members spent three Saturdays cleaning, painting, and replacing broken plumbing, electrical fixtures, and toilets in a public bathroom near the city’s main train station.
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake members clean and repair a public restroom near the main train station in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The service project took three Saturdays in December 2022.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
On another Saturday, Church members delivered more than 110 essential food packages to a center for people with disabilities. They also cleaned the common areas and painted an exterior wall.
President Kalonji D. Tshitundu, second counselor in the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo Stake presidency, invited all members of the Church to share in the light of Christ because “we serve those around us to celebrate the life of Christ throughout this Christmas season.”
Stake Relief Society president Yvette Katokwe said, “We are here to provide relief, assistance, and comfort. Our mission is to help the children of God who are in need.”
kisanga: Fifty members of the Kisanga Democratic Republic of Congo Stake donated supplies and services at two orphanages near Lubumbashi on December 4. The members will also provide necessary supplies to the Boma Prison in Kipushi.
Members from Kisanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, deliver supplies to an orphanage in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The stake donated supplies and services to two orphanages as part of a Light the World initiative in December 2022.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Ruashi: Members of the Ruashi Democratic Republic of Congo Stake donated food, supplies, clothing, shoes, soap and a new freezer to a center for young homeless women in Ruashi, run by the Methodist Church.
Some Church members cleaned the kitchen while others cleared the property. Youth from the Church taught the girls a couple of new dances and had lunch with them
Kabusangá: Members of the Kabusanga Democratic Republic of Congo Stake donated funds to four health clinics in Mbuji-Maji. These will be used to help patients who cannot pay their hospital bills.
Members of the Kabusanga Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake make a donation to a health center in Kabusanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the Light the World initiative in December 2022.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
At the handover ceremony, Kabusanga stake president Bukasa Donatien Yamba said, “We cannot eliminate all of your physical suffering or debt, but we can help lighten the burden of hospital and medical bills.” In addition, he commented that “it is the duty of all members of the Church to imitate Christ.”
Republic of Congo
Makelekele: Members of the Makelekele Republic of Congo Stake donated mattresses and basic food items to a Catholic-sponsored orphanage for homeless children in Brazzaville.
President Augusin Nkondani, first counselor in the stake presidency, led the effort. Orphanage director Adrien Missiri thanked the Church for its “significant gesture.”
Uganda
jinja: Members of the Jinja Uganda Stake visited an early childhood center in Namungalwe village. They brought in bulk supplies of corn, rice, beans, salt, sugar, soap, and cooking oil and talked to center officials about how to continue providing support.
Members of the Jinja Uganda Stake donate food and supplies to an early childhood center in Namungalwe, Uganda, as part of the Light the World initiative in December 2022.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The director of the center, Mugumya Eseza, expressed her sincere thanks for these supplies because “they are seriously facing hunger because the food prices are too high and they are not in a position to buy enough food for the children.”
Cameroon
douala: Members and missionaries serving in the Douala Branch in the Douala Cameroon District cleaned public spaces, sewers and ditches in the coastal city, which often faces monsoon rains.
