Mission guide
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West Mission
A family guide to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West Mission in the historic, music-filled city of Kinshasa.
- French
- Lingala
Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West Mission shirts & apparel
Every style made for this mission, printed when you order.
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West Mission T-Shirt
$29.00
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West Mission Heart Map Shirt
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa West Mission Flag Map Shirt
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Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission and English
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
I Glory in My Jesus Shirt – French
$29.00
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I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink) – French
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I Glory in My Jesus Shirt – Lingala
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I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink) – Lingala
$29.00
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I Glory in My Jesus Shirt
$29.00
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I Glory in My Jesus Script Shirt (White Ink)
$29.00
Choose size & color →Weak Things Become Strong, in the languages of this mission and English
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
More shirts in the language of this mission
Press Forward, in the languages of this mission and English
"Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ" (2 Nephi 31:20) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
French and Lingala are the main languages used in the mission area. French is widely used in government, education, and business, while Lingala is common in everyday conversation.
At a glance
- Country
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Main city
- Kinshasa, about 18,552,800 people in the city-province in 2021
- Languages
- French and Lingala
- Time zone
- West Africa Time (UTC+1)
- Climate
- Tropical wet and dry, with a rainy season from October through May and a dry season from June through September
- Church in Africa
- 1,046,270 members, 3,220 congregations, 54 missions, 665 FamilySearch Centers, and 8 temples
A short history of the area
Léopoldville became the capital of the Belgian Congo in 1923 and received official city status in 1941. After independence, the city was renamed Kinshasa in 1966. Today, Kinshasa is a major river port and the largest nominally Francophone urban area in the world.
The Church here
- 1970A small group of Saints from abroad began holding Church meetings in Kinshasa.
- 1979Church President Spencer W. Kimball sent Oscar McConkie to explore the possibility of organizing the Church in Zaïre.
- 1986The Church obtained legal status in the country, and the first missionaries, Ralph and Jean Hutchings, arrived in February.
- 1987The Zaire Kinshasa Mission was organized. By the end of the year, one district with three branches operated in Kinshasa.
- 1996The Church created its first stake in Kinshasa.
- 1997After the country changed its name, the mission name changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission.
- 2010The Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission split to form the Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission.
- 2012The Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission served the western half of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Temples nearby
Brazzaville Republic of the Congo Temple
Under construction · Near Kinshasa
Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple
Dedicated April 14, 2019 · Near Kinshasa
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- BonjourHello or good morning
- MerciThank you
- MboteHello
- Ndenge nini?How are you?
Foods to try
- Maboké (fish steamed in banana leaves, especially associated with Kinkole)
- Moambe chicken (chicken served with a rich palm-nut sauce)
- Fufu (a soft staple made from cassava or other starchy foods)
- Saka-saka (cassava leaves cooked with seasonings and often served with rice or fufu)
Fun facts
- Kinshasa and Brazzaville are the world's closest pair of capital cities, separated by a roughly four-kilometer-wide unbridged span of the Congo River.
- UNESCO designated Kinshasa a City of Music in 2015.
- Kinshasa's Stade Tata Raphaël hosted the 1974 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, known as the Rumble in the Jungle.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.
Hoodies & shorts for this mission
The same mission, made for cooler days and the court.
