Members of the Africa West Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently ministered in Totota, Liberia, where a fuel tanker explosion last month reportedly killed 89 people and burned about 100 more.
The deadly fire happened Dec. 26, 2023, just 300 yards away from a Church meetinghouse. Church leaders took burn victims into the building for treatment until the local hospital could accommodate them. The Church has also made several donations of food and medical supplies to the town for the victims and their families.
On Jan. 16, Elder S. Gifford Nielsen and Elder Alfred Kyungu — both General Authority Seventies and the area president and second counselor, respectively — met with Totota Mayor Clinton Brown at the city offices not far from the site of the tragedy. Totota 1st Branch President Emmanuel T. Gbondo was also there.
The mayor’s oldest son died in the tanker truck explosion. Elder Nielsen promised the mayor that he would see his son again, reported the Church’s Africa Newsroom.
“We teach about eternal family relationships. And as hard as it is to have a separation right now, I promise you that you will see Isaac again,” he said.
Elder Nielsen and Elder Kyungu prayed with the mayor as well in front of his office.
“We prayed for his life, his family and his wife,” Elder Kyungu said. “Spiritually, we came with the support, with the prayers, with the feelings and the compassion and the love that we expressed to him and his family. He represented all those who lost loved ones.”
Elder Nielsen pledged ongoing support.
“We will continue to pray for you,” Elder Nielsen told the mayor. “We will continue to support this community. We will be here for you. ... We care deeply about you.”
