ELDER and SISTER BABCOCK: OVER THE TOP

We were invited to lunch last week to William’s Kipsang’s home, the PTA Pres of Kapsaret Primary School. We asked if we could share with him how we felt about the church and coming to do missionary work in Kenya. The family seemed to sincerely enjoy our message so we further asked if we could return and teach his family—he told us to come back on Sat (yesterday) and he would ask a few friends to hear the message with his family. We returned and the experience was “over the top”. There must have been 30 people in his small front room of his mud house. I would say 10-12 adults and the rest various ages of children.

Elder Babcock has created a PowerPoint Presentation for the 1^st discussion and we fired up both of our computers running on battery to share the discussion using many pictures. William translated for us—the spirit taught these people. They told us they would read our materials, pray about the information, and they all seem to want us to return. However, William would not set a date for us to return rather he wanted to talk with his friends and neighbors. He is involved as secretary to the AIC (African Inland Church) and it is going to be tough to break with that tradition. We are fasting for them today. The children were so very quiet, the eyes were so intent on our computers, everyone was listening, the lesson and scriptures that I have been studying just rolled out of my mouth with ease by inspiration. The Africans that five months ago would have frightened me so have became so dear to me. Oh how I want them to grasp the beauty of the restored gospel so they might have the truth in their life. One of William’s sons, Kevin, who is about 14 sat down by me and told me he had read our pamphlet we left a week ago at the home, he asked about Joseph Smith. I told him we would be talking about Joseph Smith today. As we were ready to leave he looked Elder Babcock straight in the eye and declared that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Such are the experiences we have continually in Africa. The follow up is tough or getting them to move farther but I pray we might return to this little village in the middle of nowhere for the next discussion.

Following the meeting at William’s home we were invited to his neighbors home, Helen and Solomon where Helen graciously greeted us. We were asked to take her daughter, Caroline Chepkwony (a hopeful Olympic Kenyan runner), a huge sack of maze and beans to the main road some six kilometers away. As we left the home and headed up the dirt road we met Caroline’s father Solomon and visited with him for about 10 minutes. We went up the road further and met Solomon’s brother Thomas and wife Sally. They are wonderful people who greeted up warmly and invited us back. Oh by the way Whitni & Brent, if you do swing a visit this way Caroline extended a running training session with you both. She runs about 18 miles six days a week!

This is just one half of the room.