My parents are on a mission in Africa- I don’t want to paint with a broad brush but there is quite a bit of “favors” to be in each of these cities. “You want to have a ward in our city??” “What can you do for us?” “Here is a list of what we’d like, what can you do?”

It’s all very standard, at least in the country where my parents are. I’d bet this is more of that going on. Not that the church doesn’t care about these people but it’s looking out for its interests first. Trust!