Meet SAMUEL and NENE KAPONG0. We had an oral interview with them on 5 July. Little did we know that we were going to hear a story of war, fleeing, sacrifice, discovery and Lord's guidance in saving lives. We were with them for almost three hours and then returned the following week for another 40 minutes to finish. It was a time that we shall never forget. A time of remembering the blessings the Lord has given me. A time to be grateful for America. A time that I was humbled to be in the presence of such a powerful couple. A time of thanking the Lord for our mission. Are you ready for an adventure?
First, let's hear about Samuel..
Samuel Kapongo was born in Mbuji-Mayi (area was just made it's own mission this year) and had 11 siblings. His father's work for the Congo government moved the family to the capital city of Kinshasa when Samuel was five. Early in 1987 three men from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entered his father's office to present an official document to request the church to be registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Testimonies were borne and a Book of Mormon was left. In September 1987 his father was baptized and a few weeks later Samuel followed. His father was instrumental in getting the church recognized in DRC. His mother was a little more stubborn. But the missionaries conjured up a plan. The people they were teaching only spoke the native language of Lingala and his mother was a teacher of English, so they asked her to accompany them on their appointments to be a translator. It didn't take long before she was converted and baptized. Then just two weeks later she became the Relief Society president of their small branch. There were only a few branches in Kinshasa at the time (in Ngaliema and Masima) and now it has grown to 6 stakes, two districts with a 95% retention rate and they're getting their own temple! Samuel bore a strong testimony of how Family Home Evening changed the whole dynamics of his family. His father's heart softened as head of the family and his siblings developed a strong and firm foundation of the gospel. (When his father passed away in 2013, he was a stake patriarch.) At one point, his father felt the best way to spread the gospel in the Congo was to convert the Prime Minister. So with his army of priesthood holders, made an appointment and shared the gospel and Book of Mormon with him. He never converted but the seed has been planted. Civil war broke out in Kinshasa and the people were starving. The church sent beans and other food, clothing, hygiene kits and this caused a great curiosity to the Congolese. The church grew during this time of turmoil as people were humbled and discovered the love of their Savior.
Samuel served a mission (1999 - 2001) in Brazzaville where he found himself again in the middle of a civil war. There were six elders that were trapped inside the city but with their faith and prayers were able to escape. They locked arms and while walking through the war torn streets singing "Called To Serve" was given passage through the blocked roads (they witnessed the rebels killing anyone that was moving). Their lives were spared and they were reunited with their mission president in Kinshasa. He completed his mission in Masema and then continued his studies in college. Samuel left the Congo because of the economy and went to South Africa but found it very difficult because he only spoke French. But through the PEF program he was able to learn English, take business classes, obtain numerous jobs and now has his own construction business. He met Nene in the Johannesburg Ward and on 27 March 2004 they were sealed for time and eternity in the Johannesburg Temple. They are the parents of 5 children.
Nene's story:
Nene was born in Lubumbashi into a polygamist family. There were 13 children total and 9 from her mother. Her father was a doctor. He, also worked at the Liberian Embassy and was second general of the African Organization.
This is DRC President Mobutu from 1965 to 1997
The Mobutu dictatorship was vulnerable to the rebels and he was exiled to Morocco.
Nene's father, Bampe Milambwe, knew that he and his family were in danger if they remained in Lubambashi because of the political positions that he held. So with only the clothes on their back, he and Nene's mother and 9 children, escaped across the border into Zambia (1991) and went to Lusaka where there was a refugee camp (Mayukwayukwa). They remained in the camp for two years during the time her father was trying to get them status to leave. To help earn some money, Nene's mother would walk into town and with their meager means, buy a small amount of food to resale.. She sustained the family this way. (Even today, she continues to sell African food....supported her family after the death of her husband in 1997 and sent three sons on missions). As Nene tells the story, their place of residence in the refugee camp was in a corner away from the entrance. But a senior couple, Elder and Sister Harrison, somehow found them and taught them the gospel. They would drive quite a distance to the refugee camp every Sunday to fetch them for church and then return them home. The entire family was baptized in 1993 (Nene did not join her family in baptism until 1994). They were the only people baptized in the entire refugee camp. The Lord had a plan for this family.....and He made sure they were found.
A picture of a family at the refugee camp in Zambia
After her father's passing, Nene knew that they would be re-assigned to a place far away from Lusaka and the church (Maheba camp). So she and two brothers left for South Africa in 1999. Here she found odd jobs to save money so the rest of her family could join her. Nene has followed her mother in selling African food in the Yeoville market.
Nene, Tracey, ?, Kristen, Samuel
Twins...
These two little ones were in the home when we interviewed Samuel and Nene. Not sure how they fit into the family, but sure thought they were darling.
Nene, her mother and me
This is Nene's mother's African food shop
This is Nene's food shop. She works here from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm 6 days a week selling her African food.
It is quite a story of faith, perserverance, devotion to the gospel and love. It was an honor to interview them and be in their presence. I continually have my faith and testimony strengthened by the example of those that surround us. I hope we all can love the gospel as the Africans do.
"And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning."
