Friday, November 18, 2011

THE WEAVER AND MISSIONARY WORK PART 2

Our paperwork and files have expanded and it is time (actually past time) to get an office set up in our home. In keeping with our African style decor we decided to go with wicker furniture. The weaver just works right on a street corner. To pick out the fabric the weaver jumped into the truck and we all drove to the fabric market. I loved all the beautiful African fabrics—amazing, and I will definitely visit that market again. We ordered a two-seat couch, two chairs, and a small table. He had the order ready in about four days! TIA (this is Africa) when we went for pick-up there was our furniture being displayed on the main highway to Uganda and it was raining!! We love the furniture and ordered another larger table. We gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to the weaver.

When we walked over to the weavers shop some mechanics asked us to buy them a soda at the very tiny restaurant next door. We all laughed, we finished our business with the weaver, and left but Elder Babcock felt we should go back and get the mechanics a soda. We drove back to the restaurant, bought the soda, and the owner invited us to sit down. As we talked with the owner he introduced us to the cook, customers, and a co-owner. He asked about our little black tags, and about our church, and said come back; we want you to teach us about your church. We will invite people to come. We are working with the missionaries to get a date set for teaching!


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Photos of Kapsaret Primary School (mentioned in the letter below)

The office of the headmaster of Kapsaret Primary School.

The Library


I taught the students to play tag, they never had played tag before. The Rift Valley is so beautiful. The school sits on the top of a knoll and looks over the valley.

CLASS 8 - The graduating class from the Kapsaret Primary School. They fixed us lunch for the Exam Party.

A Recent Letter

November 14, 2011

Dear All,

It was again an interesting week for us. We had planned to go and see William Kipsang again on Friday since all country examinations were complete on Thursday. William is a 'Head-School Master' at Kapsaret Primary School. You will see pictures of the school on the blog. We had distributed pamphlets and the Book of Mormon the previous week with he and faculty. They were wonderful people and greeted us with overwhelming love and warmth. It was touching indeed. Anyway, William had invited us back and we promised a return visit. We went into his office and I could see our pamphlets on his desk. We incidentally, had promised we would research the possibilities of getting water for the school of 253 students, we needed more information, following recording of additional facts we discussed the gospel for an hour or better. William is an evangelical minister on Sundays and a knowledgeable man.

He first challenged the Joseph Smith vision and layed John 1:18 on us and then I read to him John 6:46 while explaining John was my favorite book. He was astonished and on his heels and wrote the scripture reference down for later review.

He questioned what the reason for us being here from America. I told him we were among some 50,000 plus all over the world and that us sitting in his office was not coincidence. He was extremely intent on my response; it certainly was not my words that were spoken. I further explained the reestablishment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to prepare people for the eventual fulfillment of Romans 8:17, 1 Cor. 3:22-3, Luke 12:44 and preparing the world for the Second Coming, he was shocked as if he had never read nor understood these verses of scripture before. We explained eternal families and eternal marriage, the necessity of the Book of Mormon, Temples, etc. He was overwhelmed and we were all touched as the spirit of the Holy Ghost filled the room. He committed to do some reading in the Book of Mormon and various church pamphlets. As we began to leave he came running out to the car and wanted another pamphlet we had. He had not heard of the church, ever but is very interested and is reading. He is a wonderful man.

Out by the school is another man that approached us by the forest, with others, wanting the Book of Mormon. He was intent on having the book we will have to drive out again and search him out. We will have to go out in the villages and we have the general area and another man now helping us to find him. We know we must take a trail and cross a bridge, no vehicle traffic in the area.

When we hired a weaver/wicker furniture maker to make some furniture recently we went to his humble little shop nearby his street corner work spot. A few car mechanics asked if I would buy them a soda. We refused and laughed with them. Later we went back to the West Indies, part of town controlled by East Indians where we selected a material covering for the furniture. Anyway, upon return I weakened and we purchased sodas for 3 or 4 mechanic Koskie, and ourselves. As we sat at the open-air cafe we were introduced to several connected to the operation. We are a novelty, needless to say and quickly the subject of the church comes up, we explained what we are about, immediately they wanted a meeting for us to teach them all. We went back to set a specific time last Saturday; Tuesday is the day. While there three other men came to eat ugali, they want to be there as well. Who knows how many will show up, we are bringing the full times for a backup. This will be interesting.

We went to the meeting at the open-air cafe and no one showed up today; however, we did teach Nancy the gal on the moneybox. She is a little arrogant, I would say, but I considered the meeting a bust. We taught the ancient church and need for the restoration, I shut down and my mind was on empty. She wanted a prayer given, I elected myself and asked for blessings of prosperity, health and gave thanks. We started to walk off and the cook, and waiter came out and wanted our phone number so they could call for an appointment. They were listening in the kitchen apparently. We were not disappointed once again. I was amazed. We gave a couple of pamphlets away and committed them to read.

During the week we were called upon to help a couple in the Eldoret Branch get their paperwork ready to make the trip to South Africa to be married in the Johannesburg Temple. Between passports, genealogy, civil marriage and various records it is a major ordeal for them. Anyway, we helped by transmitting genealogy records for them. The couple will ride the bus to Nairobi on Sunday, a 6 hour ride, stay the evening, get up at 4AM, get to the airport, and fly to Johannesburg to receive their endowment and then be married, then do temple work for their four generations of ancestors. It is a marvelous experience for them. They return later in the week. As we drove to church this morning Koskie identified them on the street walking, we visited with them for a moment. Just two youngsters off on a journey beyond incomprehensible proportions for them. They were aglow and charged with excitement for fulfillment of a great promise. As we drove a short distance we decided to find them and give them a gift. So we turned around and gave them some cash for their journey. They were so grateful and elated; it was so special for them. They went on their way, two kids pulling one little suitcase, no doubt borrowed, behind them off to do great and wonderful things for themselves and family members, to be greeted by strangers, in strange place and a strange country, to take a great step in being obedient to their faith. I was touched deeply. No family to be with them or anyone to accompany them and then to face hardship in carving out an existence for themselves upon return. In their like is the future of the church in Africa, it is impressive indeed. This is African faith.

On Saturday afternoon we were invited to a gathering of sisters in the gospel. I wasn't sure why I was there. At any rate, there were four of them and others were unable to attend for various reasons. All single, not meeting officially under the name of the church but as single women. One had lost her husband in the previous election terror. I asked them if they knew the reason to go to the temple, they knew it existed but couldn't connect the dots. After again a discussion of Romans 8:17, this seems to be the medicine scripture for all ailments they agreed to read Doctrine Covenants 132. One of our charges is to get the saints endowed. Like it or not we are all connected to traditions of our ancestors, even us who are several generation’s members. Here, the protestant tradition of getting baptized and that is it remains. A vision of beyond is needed, few have it but we are teaching it with energy each time we have the opportunity. We teach Moses 6:26-7 every time we are called upon as well.

Finally watched the first half of the Priesthood Session today, last half next Sunday.

We continue to repair this house and then we rerepair and then rererepair it again. We think of you all frequently and you all are continually in our prayers and thoughts. This experience, this work is beyond my expectations and any imagination or dream I had before leaving. We realize the heavens are in control this makes the way each day remarkable to say the least.

THE WEAVER AND MISSIONARY WORK


Thursday, November 3, 2011

PINCH ME PLEASE

We were asked to share a presentation to the Huruma Branch on how a Branch Council Meeting can be used to generate ideas on self-reliance for branch members. We introduced many of the Branch Council members to the Handbook 2/Administering the Church as well as the talk by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way from the Oct Conference. Elder Babcock handed out a design plan for making a Solar Dryer. The idea of drying fruits and vegetables in the sun was a new concept for the members. We offered to help the Elders Quorum set up a dryer inside the Huruma Branch compound. Poles for the dryer were needed so Elder Babcock and our guard, Koskei, spent a morning obtaining a permit to cut poles (small trees) in a Kenyan forest. The next day Bruce, Koskei and I picked up the Kapsaret District Forest Manager, Gurro, and headed for the Kapsaret Forest. We obtained our poles, had three Kenyan forest guards come to help, and shared a missionary lesson with the guards. What a day! Pinch me please –did I really find myself in a Kenyan forest, with three Kenyan guards, cut down poles, and teach the guards about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?


ONCE A SCHOOL TEACHER, ALWAYS A SCHOOL TEACHER

Yesterday was amazing! This was such a special honor for us. Let me backtrack to the day we went to the forest to cut poles. While Elder Babcock was busy talking to the Forest District Manager at his office in the Kapsaret Forest I was busy getting things out of the back seat. I turned around to see a small school across a dirt road and every student in the school was looking at me. So I waved at the students (about 240 kids) and every student waved back at me. I turned back to get things organized in the truck, turned around and every student was still staring at me, I waved again. Every student waved back. After we did this back and forth a few more times the old school teacher spirit just hammered in my heart and I wanted to interact with all those beautiful children. I just had to go and talk with them. Their teachers were sitting outside so I began a walk across the dirt road and the students just went wild—they were clapping and shouting and so very excited that a muzungu (white person) would come onto their school property. I headed for the teachers, shook hand, and explained I was a teacher from America and could not resist coming to see the children. The teachers called the children over and explained I wanted to meet them. The children asked me questions and I was invited into the Class 8 classroom. (Students about 15 years). The students asked questions about America, spoke very good English, and were members of a tribe just down the road. Elder Babcock joined me in the classroom and the students asked if we would visit the following Wednesday for the Exam Party. All students in the Class 7 and older take an exam on the very same day here in Kenya. If a student wants to move on to higher education a student must pass the exam. We agreed to return for the party. The children were so excited that we kept our promise and returned the following Wednesday. We gave to the school a gift of soccer balls. I taught them some American Songs and games. The Grade 8 class cooked lunch for the party and we were the guests of honor. We were asked to give a speech to wish the students success in their Exams. The Headmaster and Parent Representative (PTA Pres) wanted to take us on a tour of the tribal village so we hopped in the truck and drove to the village. We were invited to the Parent Representative’s home, met his family, and were given this beautiful gourd his wife had created. Everyday is an adventure in this land of beautiful humble Kenyan people. The teachers were all interested in our church; we left them with copies of the Book of Mormon and bore our testimonies of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ. The teachers, headmaster, and students all want us to return.







THEIR FIRST HALLOWEEN PARTY

Our African Missionaries have never participated in a Halloween Party so, we threw a party. We had some trouble finding orange pumpkins as most pumpkins here are green and need an axe to break them open. I think we found a smashing substitute! Believe it or not the African Missionaries loved the carving, the spider cookies, and of course dinner. We even managed to find some "Snicker" candy bars for a treat!






MISSIONARY WORK

Here are the wonderful people we meet in our missionary travels. The group picture is the first meeting of the Eldoret District Council. We are honored to sit with the lovely brethren and sisters that sit on this District Council just six months old. They want to be a stake and they sense the importance of training the auxiliary presidencies of the branches as well as being the High Councilors who serve as a helpful appendage to the District Presidency, working to have all branches focused on the chain of Priesthood Authority for conducting all branch functions. We will have the privilege to assist in the training. It is truly like stepping back in the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith as those early LDS pioneers moved the message of the restored gospel forward.

The little baby being held by the proud father has been named after our Mission President, President Broadbent. The little one is baby Broadbent! A little boy (yes a boy) who is very cute!




ON THE ROAD TO NAKURU

There is a large city about two hours from Eldoret called Nakuru; we understand that in this city live two priesthood brethren. We drove over to explore the city, walk around the market and see what reception we received from the people. We stopped at a small market selling suits to ask if they had ties for sale. They did not but directed us down the street a block. As we were walking a man appeared with ties all up and down his arms. Word travels fast! We had a great time in the market, people were very friendly, they asked about our black missionary tags and we handed out about six brochures about the church that day. We returned to our truck and found on our front tire a huge yellow boot, with serious huge claws. (Why didn't I get a picture?) We did not know the city was collecting a parking fee. A little homeless man helped us find the way to the fee collector. We waited in line, received a paper to show how much we owed. Next we had to walk across the street to pay the fee; we found a huge line. I was getting nervous waiting in line because it was getting late in the afternoon, and we did not want to be on the road after dark or in a strange city after dark! We paid the fee but we had to go back across the street to get the paperwork recorded. We were told someone would come to remove the boot. We tipped our homeless friend, the boot remover came, and we got out of town! Here are some shots of the beautiful ride to Nakuru.






OUR GUARD-GARDENER

We have grown to really love this young man who lives in the small house behind ours. He serves as our guard by night and our gardener during the day. Our garden plot is quite large and certainly big enough for plenty to eat for all three of us plus Elder Babcock is giving Koska lessons on raising plenty to have some to sell at market. You almost see the plants grow daily in Kenya. Here in the Rift Valley this area is called the breadbasket of Kenya. I told Koska I was sending this picture to my family and he told me to be sure and tell my family he loves them. The people here are so special! We pray our harvest is great so Koska has much success in his market adventure. Oh, that is a poinsettia just growing wild in our backyard. We are working with the missionaries to teach Koska's girlfriend the gospel.

ELDORET MISSIONARIES

We hosted dinner for our missionaries here in our home. We have been impressed with their spirit and testimonies as we meet weekly with them in DDM. Here we are 10 missionaries (two old ones and the rest young). We fall in love with these wonderful Elders and Sisters but every six weeks transfers are made to all the different mission sites of Kenya and Tanzania. These pictures are right before a transfer; we had about 10 cameras being passed around so everyone got their own camera shot. Bruce and I smiled nicely in every picture but after a while realized what was really happening behind us. Gotta love the missionaries.


DOWNTOWN ELDORET