As Consolata Usi and some of her five children were walking down a Kenyan road one day in late 1992, Mormon missionaries approached her and started to tell her about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Although she was interested in what the missionaries had to say, her husband was traveling away for work, so she told them to come back at a later time to speak more with him.
"When I came home, I met the missionaries my family had told me about," said Elder Hesbon O. Usi. "I wished to see how they worshipped, so I went to Church. Right from the time I visited Church I asked questions. I had a feeling this Church is different, so I learned more."
The more the Usi family studied and learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the more converted they became. A short time later, in January of 1993, Brother and Sister Usi and their children old enough to be baptized joined the Church. Four months after the Usi family was baptized, he was called to be a branch president, a calling he served in for the next seven years.
"Callings have been part of our lives," he said. "When we get callings — any callings from a servant of the Lord — we take it seriously and like to do it the best we can. We don't take any calling for granted."
Now, almost 17 years later, Elder Usi serves as an Area Seventy in Nairobi, Kenya. Whether called to be a branch president or an Area Seventy, Elder Usi knows that serving the Lord is the best way to spend his time.
During his first visit to Africa as an apostle, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, along with Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, of the Presidency of the Seventy, and his wife, Sister Diane Hallstrom, visited with Elder Usi and other leaders and members during travels to South Africa and Ghana Oct. 16-24. "We had some great experiences," Elder Andersen told the Church News. "The Lord's hand is upon these lands and the Church is growing and prospering."
With the Mormon Church in its infancy in many of the countries in Africa, many of the leaders, like Elder Usi, are first- and second-generation converts. There are 10 Area Seventies serving from six countries on the African continent.
During the apostle's visit, many leaders traveled long distances to attend a meeting with some of the members of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy held in Johannesburg. Attending were every Area Seventy in Africa, along with the Africa Southeast Area presidency — Elder Paul E. Koelliker, president; Elder F. Michael Watson, first counselor; and Elder Dale G. Renlund, second counselor — and Elder Craig A. Cardon, president of the Africa West Area, and Bishop Keith B. McMullin, second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.
"It was a wonderful experience to talk to an apostle face to face in a more personal environment," said Elder Usi. "It was uplifting to see and hear from an apostle of the Lord who teaches you so you can understand."
Not only was spending time being taught by an apostle a memorable experience for Elder Usi, he said meeting with the other Area Seventies in Africa was a unifying experience.
"One thing you get to experience is a sense of brotherhood," Elder Usi said. "Many of these men are first-or second-generation converts in the Church, they come from varying backgrounds and come together to work and to build the Church. … It was a unifying experience of the priesthood when we became one as we met all together to share experiences and build one another."
In the April 1997 general conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced a new calling of Area Authority Seventy to help meet the needs of an increasing global membership, having an important role in preaching and administering the gospel. The office is now known as Area Seventy, and there are eight Quorums of Seventy; those serving in Africa are in the Third Quorum of the Seventy.
"The role of an Area Seventy is to act under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in building up and regulating the affairs of the Church in all nations," Elder Hallstrom said. "The Twelve are to call upon the Seventy to help in preaching and administering the gospel."
The expansion of Quorums of the Seventy occurs as the Church continues to grow. The calling of Area Seventies in Africa represents the Church's growth in that region of the world.
"These leaders, they have great stories," Elder Andersen said. "Just to sit down and talk to them about some of the challenges they are facing was very fascinating."
Also as part of their itinerary, Elder Andersen and Elder Hallstrom spoke at a fireside in Accra, Ghana, attended by more than 450 young single adults, and visited with many of the bishops, stake presidents and mission presidents.
"We met with all of the bishops and all of the stake presidencies in six stakes around Johannesburg," Elder Andersen said. "Just to see the Church flourishing … that is beautiful to see."
He spoke of the incredible conversions of the faithful Church members and the impact their service has had in the growth of the Church.
"We visited several members in their homes," Elder Andersen said. "We were impressed with the spirit of their families. They are a spiritual, righteous people and we will see the Church grow and flourish in these countries."
