International Guides Share Ministry at Historic Sites

Five young adults left their homes in India, Kenya, and Malawi to attend the Community of Christ 2002 World Conference and participate in the WorldService Corps International Guide Program. Following Conference, Elia Nyirenda and Prince Gausi from Mzimba, Malawi; Dan Sepis Ole Lemanyi, and Eva Wasonga from Nairobi, Kenya; and Cordelia Kumar from Tamil Nadu, India, completed an intense two-week training session.

(left to right) Lachlan, Elia, Cordelia, Prince,  Dan, and Eva tour Haun's Mill.

World Church historic sites coordinator Lachlan Mackay, based at Kirtland Temple, and Vicki Hosier Cash, coordinator of Guide and Greeter Services at world headquarters, took the group on a tour of several of the church’s historic sites. Lachlan said, "Our early history as a sometimes poor and oppressed people struggling to lift ourselves out of poverty through the use of education and consecration spoke profoundly to several of the young adults who came from parts of the world that are economically underdeveloped."

"While learning and telling the story, some of the young adults realized that they are living a story just as significant as those who have gone before. Their families are the church pioneers in their own countries…and they themselves might have an impact on the church as significant as that of J. J. Cornish on the Reorganization," he added.

The WorldService Corps team, including Apostle Jac Kirkpatrick, Angie Elliott-Koéné, and Brooke Nelson, worked with the group on many topics including worldview and cross-cultural experiences. Additional world headquarters employees contributed by sharing expertise from other areas, including church history, theology, and reconciliation/conflict resolution.

In two teams, the international guides spent one month at each of the following sites: Community of Christ World Headquarters, Independence, Missouri; the Joseph Smith Historic Center, Nauvoo, Illinois; and Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Ohio. Vicki’s goal was for the international guides to serve in the United States as representatives of their national churches.

"It was marvelous to see them share their personal testimonies," Vicki said. Lachlan said, "Through their presence at the sites, they also told the unspoken story of the Community of Christ as a worldwide church, a message conveyed to site visitors and, just as important, to our members who interacted with the international guides in church and at reunion."

Eva participated in this program in 2001 and helped coordinate the volunteers this year. "I feel I’ve been called into the ministry of service…especially to children," she said. Eva has been serving the church in various roles since she was ten years old. "I enjoyed getting to know more about my church…the leadership roles and history," she said.

Cordelia and Eva in the  Kirtland Temple gardens.

All of the international guides appreciated the invitations they received to share with various congregations. Eva said, "We participated at most congregations—giving testimonies, singing, doing the children’s moment, or praying." Cordelia said, "Every Sunday offered opportunities."

It was an especially busy summer at Community of Christ historic sites. Many groups, especially from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, came through on their way to the open house at their newly reconstructed Nauvoo Temple. Joyce Shireman, Joseph Smith Historic Center coordinator, reported that more than 140,000 visitors toured the Community of Christ site in Nauvoo. Joyce paired the international guides with senior staff and summer interns to get them oriented. "They were great to work with—eager to learn and share," she said. "Working with them broadened our understanding of other cultures and the struggles they face in promoting the church in their countries," Joyce continued. At world headquarters, as many as 800 people visited per day. Vicki said, "Visitors responded warmly to our international guides. They were curious about why they had come and the circumstances of their faith journey."

Cordelia said, "It was a pleasure to teach people about their church history." She also appreciates that WorldService Corps exposes people to the diversities of the world in which we live. "For there to be peace in this world, people need to understand that the world belongs to everyone, and our differences should be embraced," she said.

Elia missed his wife and children, but he enjoyed meeting people from different cultures. "I’m planning to share the experiences I’ve had in all the places I’ve traveled, teaching in my congregation and to others too. It is my hope that people will know more about church history through me," he said. "Belonging to WorldService Corps, I have come to know God better than before," Elia added.

Dan enjoyed all the new experiences, including his first time swimming. He said that everything, from visiting the sacred grove in New York to realizing the expansion of the church’s ministry to other nations, "was a powerful witness" for him. Dan said he discovered many things about his life while in the United States. "I’ve experienced sharing. I feel I’m at home," he said.

Prince said that it has been a blessing in his life to learn more about the church and to be able to share what he has learned. Along with each of the international guides, he expressed concerns about things like giving a first tour or working with guests who needed Spanish or sign language translations. The advice Prince shared with others—"If something seems to be hard, ask God to be with you. It will work"—worked for him too.

Independent living for the international guides was one component of the program. While in Independence, they were able to stay on their own at the home of Pat Heady-Winholtz. The Harvest Hills congregation hosted them and helped with shopping and other needs. Pat and her husband, Wilford, had the opportunity to get to know them well.

They took the guides shopping to find things they could take home to their families. Pat remembers that on these excursions Elia’s children were always his first priority, and Dan and Prince were especially interested in taking things to their sisters. "In the end we wanted to make sure there was something to take home to all their family members," said Pat, "as a way of acknowledging them for sending these young people to us."

Pat noted that the guides spent a considerable amount of time with children in the community—playing games, sharing food, and watching videos. They also loved the riding lawnmower. "We are fortunate to have these young people," said Pat, "because they represent a group with a serious commitment to the cause of Christ."

Prince, Dan, and Elia expressed excitement about returning home to share more about the church’s goals for the present and future as well as its history. Cordelia is hoping to pursue studies at Graceland University. She also feels compelled to share with people from her community at home. "The program should not stop here. I feel a responsibility to go to India to share who we are," she said. Eva is currently serving as an intern with the WorldService Corps Program at world headquarters.

—Kendra Friend reporting