An island of peace in the middle of war
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KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
With an assist from technology, the more than 500 members of the Kabul Afghanistan Military District recently enjoyed the blessing of participating in a district conference with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve, other General Authorities and a general auxiliary leader of the Church.
Church members in Afghanistan are not able to gather together in one location for a district conference. Using technology developed for stake conference broadcasts, General Authorities and district leaders organized and recorded a district conference in two parts — one taking place in Salt Lake City, and the other emanating from the Afghan capital, Kabul. That recording was subsequently burned onto DVDs and sent to hundreds of Latter-day Saints in the five organized branches and numerous forward operating bases across Afghanistan so that all could "attend" the district conference.
In Salt Lake City portion, Elder Holland participated with Elders Dennis B. Neuenschwander and Bruce D. Porter of the Seventy, as well as Sister Julie B Beck, Relief Society general president. That part of the conference was recorded with a congregation of members of the Utah Army National Guard who either recently served or will soon serve in Afghanistan.
The Kabul portion of the conference was recorded at Camp Eggers with the participation of the district president, Eugene Wikle, president of the Kabul Afghanistan Military District, and Carol Thompson, the district Relief Society president.
"The value of the district conference to these isolated members is hard to adequately express," President Wikle said. "We are so grateful for the efforts that have been extended to support these members of the Church."
Captain Tina Breck of the Kandahar Military Branch echoed President Wikle's sentiments. "Being here in Afghanistan far away from family and friends can be very difficult and lonely at times," she said. "When talking to family it is hard to share exact feelings and experiences that we encounter every day. As I watched the district conference, I felt a peace come over me that the leaders at home do have an idea of what is going on and the conditions that we are enduring."
Others, such as 1st Lt. Andrew Stockhoff at Forward Operating Base Shank, found reason to testify of the worldwide nature of the Church. "To me, being in the midst of Latter-day Saints in the middle of Afghanistan is a testament to this great work that we are all a part of," Brother Stockhoff said. "And despite the fact that we were all thousands of miles away from our families, we felt a powerful witness by the Holy Ghost that the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ are as real here as they are back home.
"We witnessed a historic event as the voice of an apostle of the Lord was heard in this small corner of the world for what may have been the very first time. I believe we all left with a renewed witness that God does live; that Jesus Christ is the Savior of all the world; and, perhaps most of all, that He will never abandon even a single one of His children. This is truly the Lord's work, and I cannot help but hope for a day when the voice of the Lord's servants will be heard in this part of the world by many more than just our small few."
Guy Kelley of the Salerno Military Branch succinctly summed up his feelings about participating in the district conference thusly: "I felt the Savior's love for me and a reassurance that He lives and is very much a part of my life." — Michael L. Haller, public affairs representative, Kabul Afghanistan Military District
