MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM KENYA

From Kenya, Africa we send our warmest Christmas Greetings and best wishes. We hope and pray our Father in Heaven’s choicest blessings will be upon each of you this wonderful Christmas season and throughout the 2012 New Year. We place a high value on our knowledge of the Savior’s birth and His restored precious message in our dispensation. We are well and find that each day we are touched by the evidence of our Father in Heaven’s hand going before us, preparing the way. We are finding the Kenyans to be wonderful people who continually show their warm affection for us. Many Africans are thirsting for the message we bare. Our prayers ascend upward for each of you daily. We miss you all.
Love,
Elder & Sister Babcock
Eldoret, Kenya
Kenya Nairobi Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Kanisa La YESU KRISTO La Watakatifu Wa Siku Za Mwisho

THANKSGIVING

All 15 Senior Couples met together in Nairobi for a Thanksgiving Feast and Conference. Such a stunning group of missionaries serving in the countries of Kenya and Tanzania, people who are dedicated, spiritual, fun loving, incredible, uplifting, and great fun to be around. When we met together on Friday for the conference there was such a feeling of spiritual power in the room; I found it such an honor to be surrounded by the Senior Missionaries for the weekend.

These two pictures were taken on the side of the road half way between Nairobi and Eldoret!

Just heading down the street not far from the Kenya Nairobi Mission Office!

HANDOVER CEREMONY

We had a great experience yesterday at a handover ceremony with the Humanitarian missionaries. At the Mukyu Primary School the LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Charities just completed two water stations, 32 latrines, and a well for water. This school has about 800 students that were so excited! I shook hands, high-fived, and knuckled so many kids --hugged so many women in a large village way, way out in the backwoods. I am sure they never expected to see let alone touch a Muzungo (white person). They were all so sweet and happy. It was a pleasure to be part of the day.

On the way home we picked up a man that had a motorcycle spill on the muddy roads. He spoke the best English of anyone we have met, was interested in the church, and we taught him the gospel until we let him off. He was amazing, very bright, absorbed all the discussions in one ride! He kept up with us as we talked about the Restoration, Book of Mormon, Plan of Salvation, and scriptures. We gave him pamphlets but we were out of Book of Mormons. I have his contact number so we will send that to the missionaries in Kittale. He could easily be a Branch President some day. He seemed to be such a great, great man.

ELDORET DISTRICT CONFERENCE

Here are some notes I took during our Eldoret District Conference; just the second time these members had been together. Hopefully it will give you a small taste of the spirit we felt that day.

Well over 250 people are sitting underneath the blue striped awning in the African sun. The sky is azure blue and a gentle breeze causes the awning to billow. African children are very reverent. Many little ones sit quietly on big chairs; their little legs stick straight out from bodies that seem so very tiny against the hard adult chairs. Little blue dresses, colorful yellow shoes, black braids, and beautiful shining eyes of innocence. Adult faces are intently listening, engaged even after awakening at 4:30 a.m. to travel sometimes four hours on a matatu (van bus) to be on time for the 2nd Eldoret District Conference.

A church next door to us is playing loud music, it roars louder but is unable to dim the spirit of the talk from President Kogo (district president) whose voice is explaining the role of a father as a patriarch in the home, the importance in the role of a wife, and how families are ordained of God. President Kogo’s calm peaceful message is given in a loving voice as he recites scripture and speaks of a loving Heavenly Father. Next door there is harsh shouting, thumping, yelling, pounding, a distraction, but it does not move us from the message of the conference.




Refreshment before everyone headed home.





Matatu Riders heading home. There were about four more people that somehow were added into the van.

A DUCK FAN AT CHURCH

Can you spot the Oregon Duck fan? We found him at church this morning!

ACROSS A BRIDGE (?)

We love the people we have met from the Kapsaret Primary School area. Today we did a follow-up visit and taught the second discussion to this wonderful family. This is a very typical family home in this area. The family lives in a mud home, with a dirt floor, no electricity or running water but on an extrodinary piece of property that overlooks the valley and has five waterfalls close by. The family committed to be at church on Sunday and we have our fingers crossed. The family is 10 kilometers from our branch and that is quite a distance for a family to travel. I have included a pic of the bridge (?) we crossed to find this family!! I will confess that when I crossed this bridge on our first visit to this family I grasped the back of Elder Babcock's pants and prayed I would not slip! Today I scampered right over on my own--I must love this family.

OUR FIRST KENYAN PARTY

We were invited to a party held at the home of our guard, Kosgie’s girlfriend. We put our truck into 4-wheel drive to ford a flooding steam to make it to the party. I don’t know if it is missionary ethics but I love it when we pop the truck into 4-wheel to climb or ford the muddy roads!! I guess that is a missionary perk for serving in Africa. Hmmm’ it seems I look a bit pale in this beautiful group. We were able to give a missionary discussion and they want us to return. We were so impressed with Joann’s family and neighbors. Their farm overlooked a small stream and believe me their home was clean and well cared for with the four mud constructed buildings.

A WELCOME SABBATH DAY

What a thrill. We joined with the missionaries for two missionary discussions with this wonderful family. Last Sunday they entered the waters of babtism. They are a choice, choice family. Just thinking about last Sunday brings tears to my eyes. We love them all. They will be confirmed next week in Sacrament Meeting.