Tuesday, June 19, 2012

GREAT PLACE FOR DDM

Before Transfer Day that is coming this week for some of our eleven missionaries that work here in Eldoret the missionaries requested we complete another service project at the Kapsaret Primary School. Bruce and I checked with the Headmaster, William and the school was delighted to have us return for a “Geography Day” as each companionship of missionaries gave a fifteen minute description of their country (or state) to each class. We were requested to supply the students with information on the farming in our country (or state), crops raised, foods we eat, transportation, the schools attended, subjects learned, and more. The day chosen was a Wednesday, our DDM Day (District Development Meeting) so we held our meeting that morning at the waterfalls not far from Kapsaret School. Another beautiful day in the Rift Valley that is ending the “short rain” season. One of our missionaries from Utah said, “Finally I can see the Africa I came to see!” (Elder Haynes just transferred from a hot dry desert area). It reminded him of the mountains of Utah??

Our Guide - Her Father Owns This Property


Guess who is one of my favorite Elders?


We love our missionaries--and appreciated our two guides!



These Elders Caught A Ride Up The Hill To Head Home 










NOT QUITE THE CAFE I KNOW

I thought you might enjoy a picture of the little restaurant our friends Julia and Phillip wanted to visit. Elder Babcock wrote the following description:

 As we returned home Julia requested we stop so she could have something to eat, she was feeling a bit ill. We did so at a little café they suggested. We were invited in for a cup of cocoa. Julia, Debora and Eunnis all had a cup and a chapatti, and we all ended up having the same. As we entered the cafe we were followed by other men, I think three or so. A couple had been spending the Sabbath day drinking of the spirits. I offered them what were having and they all agreed. I felt like a big spender offering to buy all this food for them. The final bill was $1.80 US. I gave the owner $2.00 and told here to keep the 20 ksh, she was surprised and delighted. We explained we were missionaries and a couple of people enjoying the café invited us to establish a denomination there in their little town of Ndalat, Kenya. Our visit to church was a great day but the distance to church and the idea of tithing was a little much for them to handle. Julia seems to be determined to hang on to us, she knows there is something very special that is going on.
 

A HUMBLE, BEAUTIFUL SABBATH VISIT

On the ninth of June we met at Philip and Julia's home for a lesson on the Book of Mormon, there were a few drop-ins as usual, one young man by the name of Edwin and another by the name of Beffel. The game plan was for us to finalize the trip to church for Philip, Julia and Eunnis. We agreed to pick them up at their home at nine AM for the trip to Langas. Philip and Julia brought their youngest Deborah, they pronounce it Dee-Borah, she is six years. We arrived at the chapel and drove into the compound and many of the members greeted our investigators. By USA standards the home with a built-on chapel is not much but by Kenyan standards it is a mansion and is light years beyond mud churches we see often. The speakers did well, the Sunday school lesson was good and Philip made a few comments. The George Albert Smith required me to do some explaining but we got through it. The Spirit was upon us and we all received an additional witness of truth, regardless of the package it was delivered. Eunnis and Julia wanted to attend Primary with Deborah and really enjoyed the Primary singing. They were doing all the hand movements to many of the songs! There was a nursery manual I happened to hand to Julia and Eunnis and they spent a great deal of time reading the lesson and enjoying the pictures. Julia rubbed her hand several times over the cover and I had the impression she felt this book was very special. I would guess the church they have attended in the past did not have a specific curriculum or music program for young children and they almost did not want to leave Primary to attend Relief Society but I convinced them it would be worth it. We enjoyed a lesson from one of the chapters of the book, Daughters in My Kingdom, I believe Julia and Eunnis felt the spirit of Relief Society and I was so pleased when the RS President and Councilor came to speak to Eunnis and Julia immediately after the lesson, to invite them back, to get their contact number, and showed such great interest in their visit to church. Deborah did some bragging to her sisters when she returned and said she had even seen an airplane in the sky but she also said she really liked the singing. Anyway, they all were impressed with the building and facilities. We decided to drive across the street to see the fenced-in site where the new building will soon be constructed, and they were amazed.

Langas Branch, Eldoret, Kenya 

 I offered to take them to the new building in Jerusalem (an area of Eldoret) they were most interested. This building is four to five years old and has many lights around it and it is very noticeable in the evenings. As one enters the tile floor is attractive and so is its relative newness. As we walked in their eyes panned about looking at everything. Julia said, "I thought I would never enter a building like the one in Langas during my life, but this is so beautiful”. They touched everything they could, walls and doors. Julia and Eunnis noticed the sign on the door to the kitchen and stopped. I asked if they would like to see the kitchen they marveled at the countertops and rubbed their hands over the smooth marble-like texture, saw the sink, stove (I don't think they knew what it was), and then Julia put her hand on the refrigerator and said, "Is this what they call a refrigerator?" I said, "Yes it is would you like to open the door? Go ahead and touch the freezer box and see how cold it is." Julia pulled her hand back as if she had received an electrical shock. We went into the chapel and Eunnis looked at the padded seats and tested the cushion and was in amazement. I told her to go ahead and sit down and try out the chair. She sat down and just melted into the chair. Julia went right to the woodwork that surrounds the podium and was so impressed and she just continued to rub her hand over the beautiful wood. Before we left I tried to help Philip understand how the worldwide church building program works, I am not sure he could grasp the magnitude of it all. I explained we are a tithed people, Philip said, "We teach the doctrine but only a very few can live it." As we visited on the lawn in front Julia requested she be allowed to sit and take a rest, then announced she would giving birth to their fifth child in July. I predicted a male child would be born to them, they said, "Cannot be, we have four girls." We will see in a few weeks. The next time I saw Julia I carried to her one of the Newborn Kits that some wonderful Relief Society sister hand assembled in love for the little new baby of a sister somewhere in the world that had need of a clean new blanket and supplies. This Sabbath Day was such a humble, beautiful experience. We felt so blessed and pleased to share The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with our friends.  

Euunnis, Julia, Sister Babcock, and Deborah

JULIA

We just finished our 5th Discussion with Julia and Phillip plus they plan to come to church with us this Sunday. We are thrilled because the Langas Branch for them to travel is very far away. Every time we teach at their home we find additional people that come to listen to our discussions. Julia and Phillip live in a very beautiful village with large hills, dirt roads that turn very muddy and slippery when the rains come, large fields of maize with the corn now about four feet high. The village is peppered with small little mud houses with two rooms, plus a separate kitchen house with a small cooking area made of mud. They gather sticks each day to burn below an iron plate that sits over a hole formed into the mud cooking area that lays just above the burning sticks. Julia is a pro at her cooking and makes us wonderful chapattis that are yummy.
Julia's Kitchen
Julia is on the right with her friend Eunnis




 She is a midwife and brings many babies of the village into the world. She is a very beautiful woman, her English is excellent, and she is very smart. Julia is teaching us about 10 Kenyan words each time we come as well as getting us acquainted with the many vegetables, trees, and flowers growing in their 1 ½ acre lot. Oh how I wish I could just magically bring her to a Harbor Pointe Relief Society Meeting for all the HP sisters to meet. You would all fall in love with her. I believe Julia has a testimony of the Gospel, loves to listen and often translate for the Swahili-speaking neighbors. Julia I am convinced would make an excellent RS President someday—we will see for it will be a challenge for them to move from the African Inland Church to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most likely we will need enough interested neighbors to form a group in this small village. Remember this is the family that called us one night for a copy of The Book of Mormon because they had read a pamphlet we had left at a friend’s and our contact number was on the back. May the Holy Ghost bring both Julia and Phillip to a conversion of the truthfulness of the gospel. I would love to have a video to share with you of Julia’s face as we showed her a picture of the Johannesburg Temple and she said declared I want to go there.


 Phillip and Julia plus she is expecting and will have a baby next month! 


The girls wait for us and as soon as our truck comes down their slippery dirt road they come running to give Elder Babcock and I a huge hug.  They are darling and tons of fun.


Sometimes Grandma who is now 82, who hoes her own garden and gathers sticks joins our discussions.  We gave her a truck ride one day to the nearby market, waited for her so we could take her up the muddy slippery road, and found nearly the whole village turned out to watch her climb in our truck and drive home.



Elder Babcock and I are often greeted by the students just coming home from school and for many of the children a daily chore on the way home is to stop by the river to fetch water in their plastic jugs.



Tuesday, June 5, 2012

June 5, 2012


Dear All,
We were in Elgon today teaching the Mengich's the 5th lesson.  Philip diappeared before we arrived, we waited 90 minutes and then commenced the lesson.  Eunnis with Juila and then two young men Edwin and Cornelius joined in the lesson.  We had not seen them before.  They did not make a sound but were very interested.  I gave them the pamphlets, they promised to read and attend the meeting on Saturday afternoon.  As we ended the meeting I let Julia know that we were finished teaching the lessons but did have one more about the Book of Mormon and at this point she should be ready for baptism.  She said, "O'yes, I know this is all true! The Holy Ghost has given me a witness even a witness of the Spirit.  We are planning on them making a 45 minute trip to Langas for church on Sunday.

As we pulled up to the gate tonight, Edward was waiting for us.  He has been assigned to give his first Sacrament Meeting talk and he was very excited.  His subject will be the Book of Mormon.  He will do well.  Wilford,our guard said Edward will also be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood Sunday.  Maybe Philip and I will try to attend, making a trip across town between meetings.  We understand he may be teaching the Gospel Principles class soon.

Our love to all.
E/S Babccok

Monday, June 4, 2012

ELDORET DISTRICT SEMINARY ACTIVITY - "OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE POWER"



The day was beautiful with no rain in sight for the first Eldoret District Seminary Activity of 2012.  Matatu's loaded with students from the surrounding areas of Huruma, Eldoret, and Sosiani drove to the Langas building for a full day of workshops and activities.  Students registered, enjoyed a snack, and had a sticker with the name of a prominent person from the Old Testament placed on their back.  With yes or no questions they questioned each other to discover the Old Testament person they had become for the day.  



During the morning each student rotated through four different workshops to learn more about Old Testament prophecy.  Workshops encouraged "Scripture Mastery", discovered "Jehovah of the Old Testament", explained who were the "Old Testament Prophets", plus taught "Zion of the Old Testament” as well as “Zion Yet To Come".  

After lunch students divided into a special "Workshop for Boys" and a "Workshop for Girls".  Some of our great newly temple married couples led them into a discussion about the future person they would want to meet and marry.  What traits were important to find in an eternal companion?  What type of a person they needed to become to be worthy of a companion?  A list was compiled at the Boy Workshop and the Girl Workshop then all students came together to compare the two lists.   There was much laughter, deep thinking, and commitments considered to be worthy of a future eternal companion.

Students shared their testimonies with one another and found new friends in the Eldoret area who shared the same beliefs, goals, and knowledge of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We all learned a few new dance moves from some of the Institute students from Eldoret and enjoyed refreshments before parting for home.  Seminary teachers reported students on the way home were sharing new thoughts and ideas they learned during the day with one another.  The day was a huge success!











Eldoret, Kenya

Saturday, June 2, 2012

May 26, 2012


26 May 2012

Today was a wonderful day in which our spirits soared once again. The day began with us looking
forward to teaching at Philip and Julia’s. We had been asked a few days ago by President Kogo to
participate in the Eldoret Distict Leadership meeting this morning.

Our assignment was to discuss, ‘extending a call’ in the church. We each had a short three to four
talk at the podium and then we did a little skit, I called your mother to a secound councilor in a
branch Relief Society presidency. It was simple and after we had sat down I thought that was over
simplification, shame on us. After the meeting a few people came up and said how much they had
enjoyed and how much they had learned from our skit. I was surprised. Some said, “that is not how
we do it here.” Following the meeting we traveled home and grabbed a bite before our hour long
trip to see Philip and Julias.

Upon arriving we learned that Philip was not around and that there had been death locally and that
most people were attending the funeral. Julia was at home and we learned she had not attended
since she knew we were to arrive. Philip had asked me to buy some fertilizer for his maize. I resisted
for the better part of three weeks and then did not want his four daughters to suffer so knowing
better, I bought a 50 Kilo bag of 46% urea. As we were getting the recovery plan made due to Philips
absence I wandered over to see his chickens, he has the prettiest rooster that is always very mean
to the hens, typical. The rooster had not changed since our last visit. As I thought about our plan
my question was about to be answered. To my left I saw a man come over a barbed wire fence
bordering Phillip’s shamba. He was under a heavily leafed tree and I could not see who he was due
the absence of light, thinking perhaps it was Phillip, It was not, I was a little disappointed. I soon
learned who the man was.

At last weeks meeting there was a man that attended and said nothing for the entire two hours, I
assumed he was being polite and stayed for the discussion since he may have had nothing better
to do. With our Power-Point presentations it is interesting even in a mud hut to sit and watch the
miracle of the presentation on our lap-top computers.

The man walked quickly around the house and approached me until we were face to face. I didn’t
know his name but I soon learned that Alfred was a very special brother. He proceeded to tell me
about the testimony gained in our meeting and the additional confirmation of our message through
the workings of the spirit last week as he had studied the materials we had left with him. He talked
of how he felt the spirit and the purity of what we had testified and that which came into his mind
and how he knew it was true. I was highly impressed when he described his feelings of the Holy
Ghost and what he had felt even before we described what he would feel and how the Holy Ghost
would manifest truth to him. He told me he understood fully everything we had taught and knew
it was true. He related sharing the message with his daughter and wife, they both declaring it was
remarkable and they likewise felt what he was feeling after their reading about Joseph Smith the
Prophet and the Restoration. He went on to relate how his upper body was alive with the Holy
Ghost and how his mind opened and how he experienced clear thought and understanding of the
restoration message. Despite the language difficulties, there was communication by the Holy Ghost
that was real, which we must never under estimate. As we came to the end of his story, I said, “my
dear friend, you are of Israel, you are my brother, you have been lost but are now found.” We
embraced as two brothers with such affection I shall not forget. I was overwhelmed with love that
we shared which touched my heart as I wondered what will happen next to our dear friends in Elgon,
Kenya.

We decided to use Mengich’s home and give him and Eunnis, another drop-in the first discussion.

To have Philip absent turned out to be a great blessing as Julia interrpted our english into swahili.
We saw a spark of testimony and understanding in Julia that we had not seen earlier. She had
seen the Power-Point before and it seemed she had the slides memorized and getting ahead of
the presentation. Heretofore we had considered her as only ‘luke warm’. When Sister Babcock
said, “maybe you would like to attend church,” she seemed a little offended we would ever doubt
her attending. We left the meeting lifted and renewed as a result, we continue exercise our faith in
the Heavens that we may witness a great thing happening in Elgon, Kenya.