AFRICAN CHRISTMAS 2012

We went with Sister Jael Mwambere to the extra large, approx 15 acres, open produce market, to get veggies, etc., for the Christmas Social at the Mombasa Branch.  These vendors had their tomatoes displayed in a organized row.  This market is simply overwhelming to view, smell and be at!

 

 

While we were at the market place, Jael said she needed to buy some beans for the social.  So we went with her to that area.  Wow, what a site it was!  There were sacks upon sacks, of all kinds of grains, lentils/beans, grains, etc..  It was simply amazing to see it all and not just one vendor had the product but several.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jael was pleased to have a new member, just Baptised the week prior, show up very early, to give her help for the social.  What a wonderful member she will be if she keeps this attitude of being involved in the Gospel.
Notice the "goat left-overs" from the slaughter of three of them for the meat at the social.  The skins are sold and the heads, well would you believe "bar-b-que?"





 














  Here you can view the "Bar-b-Que" goat heads!  Yes, they do use everything on the animals they cook!  Waste is not a Kenyan way.  We can all take a lesson in this.

 

After the meal, the Sisters thought that the Brothers were simply too relaxed and needed some excitement.  They were challenged to a "tug of war".  Surly the Sisters could win those Brothers.  All had a fun time for sure!

The Primary Children were present in goodly numbers and had prepared a skit on the "Visit of the  Wise Men, to the new born baby of Mary and Joseph"  our Savior Jesus Christ!  Here is a picture of Mary and Joseph looking on as the Wise Men came to the stable where he lay!  The children love to be involved in the activities of the Church.

The Bamburi Primary Children also gave the "Nativity" program when we attended their branch Christmas social.  Here we see them dressed up as all the participants in this skit!  It was truly spiritual.

 

We had a Christmas Social at the Changamwe Branch too!  All the Branches are doing wonderful in getting together to enjoy each other.  They especially like to come and "eat and enjoy games, hymns and each other."  Here the YSA Sisters were playing a "water balloon game".  Each set would throw up a balloon for the other team to try an catch, without it falling and bursting!  A good deal of fun was had, even with a little water splashing on them.

We live by a "Children's Rehabilitation Center" run by the Catholic Church.  Children who are having a difficult time at their homes, come here to heal and be loved and cared for.  We went over on Christmas eve with the Elders to do a service project of cutting fire wood and helping them clean their cooking pots.  In the evening Sister Scott and I went back with some "glow sticks" sent to us from the US.  The kids were very happy to have them and see how they glowed!  These good people get real joy out of simple things, again a lesson learned!

This young man at the Center, was a real "engineer".  He had found the insides to a music box.  He figured out if he touched the broken wire to a contact, it would play the music.  He said, there is 10 tunes here!  We encouraged him to keep searching and learning and he could excel in his life.  All they need is a chance and great things can happen in their lives.  Again we are inspired by them!

 

The missionaries came over to our flat to have a Christmas Devotional.  It was a good meeting.  We taught each other, read from the scriptures about our Savior, remembered why we celebrate at this time of the year!  He is our Christmas, not just on the 25th, but should be every day.  We love Him and are so thankful for Him and what He has given us, as a gift, the Atonement, the greatest gift one could give to his fellowmen.

 

 

A White Christmas Early

This is a first Airport experience, for Francis Kioko & his little family!!

The flight in the plane was a real treat for them.

President Robert Egunza had flown before, but not Sister Victoria his wife or any of the other children.  They all very much enjoyed it!

We all arrived safe and sound, none the worse for the flight.  The Johannesburg International Airport, was in itself a  wonder as they walked thru it to the baggage claim and then to wait for our transport to the Temple!

All of these wonderful members were very humble at the Temple, and thought the grounds were beautiful.

 

We are very grateful for the blessing to be with the Saints from Changamwe Branch, Mombasa, Kenya.  It may be the only time they will attend a Temple, but they now have the "spirit of the temple" in their hearts; they said they will ever be grateful for this experience.

 

 

The Egunza Family:  Grandfather Frederick in the back middle. Robert ( to the left) is the Branch President of the Changamwe Branch.

The complete group who attended. (Back,left to right) Francis Kioko & wife Sarah, Victoria & Robert Egunza, Herbert & Grandfather Frederick Egunza, Martha Mutia, Maureen & baby Adams, David Kamau.  (Front row)  Three Egunza girls, Valentine, Lillian, Neema and us.  Baby Rachel Kioko & Nicole Kioko.

This is our dear friend Martha.  She cleans our flat.  She was sealed to her husband who passed away many years ago before she even joined the church.  She is so happy that she now has a "marriage certificate" and she bought a silver wedding band in the distribution center that she treasures. She is now very proud to show that she is a married woman.

Bro David, Sister Maureen and baby Adams Kamau.  A Wonderful family, now "for time and all eternity".  They said they could not be more happy.  They had a baby daughter "Angel" also sealed to them, it was beautiful.  Sister Scott served as proxy for Angel.  Angel passed when she was 8 mos old.  David says now that he is at peace with her passing knowing that they will always be a family.

 The Francis Kioko  family traveled with us, they are from Athi River Branch just outside of Nairobi, he is President. A sweeter couple you'll never meet.  He said that his experience left him "smiling on the inside" the entire time he was in the temple.  I watched him & he was smiling on the outside as well.

Bro Michael Miller with his wife Bron and baby girl Carmen.  He served as a missionary in Kenya when we served in 2006-2008.  They have come to visit us each time we visited the Temple.  They live in South Africa about 40 minutes from the temple.  His parents are temple workers.  His father did the sealings for our group.  We love this little family!!!

Icing on the cake was visiting with Elder Ross & Betty Bishop while in Johannesburg.  They serve as Office Couple for the Johannesburg Mission.  They spent the entire afternoon in the temple helping us with sealings, and endowments.  We so appreciated the time spent with them while in Jo-Berg!!  We are grateful they took some time off to be with our group.  We now have another couple that we can talk to about the "Africa Experience"

LIVING IN THANKSGIVING DAILY

The Changamwe Primary visited the Haller Park to see the animals there and enjoy a picnic. This large land tortoise was there with two others. The children really enjoyed touching it, when they were shown it was not dangerous.  We were told this tortoise was over 100 years old.

While waiting for the transport van (Matatu) to pick them for the return to their homes, Elder Scott gave them all a "sweetie" which they very much appreciate and enjoy. Two of them had their sweetie stollen by the monkey's, taken right out of their hands when they did not expect it!  A few tears and a new sweetie and all was ok again.

We received a call from President Mbune from Bamburi Branch, on Saturday, telling us they had run out of water, in their storage tank.  They would not have water in the building for Sunday Services, could we come and help?  We went to the branch and assessed the situation, finding out that the tanker truck was to have come but didn't because they didn't order in enough time. Hakuna Matata (no problem) we found a water source not far from the branch and went and filled jerry cans and brought them back and dumped them into the tank.  They will order in the future before the tank is empty!

President Broadbent is assuring that the mission flats are in good order prior to the change over in July.  One of the Elder flats needed to be upgraded with furniture; so our truck came in handy.  Blessings come in unexpected ways in the mission.  When the Elders needed the upgrade, Elder Olsen the office manager, told us to go and get NEW FURNITURE for our flat, wow, a wonderful surprise indeed.

 

We traveled to Nairobi for a Couples Conference at Thanksgiving time.  While there the couples went to the Elephant Orphanage.  A sanctuary established to rescue baby elephants from the bush, when something happens to their mothers (poaching, traps, accidental death, etc.).   This Black Rhino, also endangered, was found by the orphanage workers at the Nairobi National Game Park.  He was totally blind when born and could not follow his mother; if they can't follow, the rhino mother will abandon them.  Lucky for this one because he is living at the orphanage in comfort and protection, for the rest of his days!  They are an amazing animal and very large.

The following are pictures of the Baby Elephants at the Orphanage.  The couples enjoyed this experience very much.  It is wonderful that individuals will take the responsibility to help mother nature protect and preserve the great creations given to us.  The little elephants are assigned a keeper who is with these babies until they are two or three years old, when they are returned to their natural environment in the Tsavo National Game Reserve.  The keepers feed, sleep and are with them 24 hours a day. They are taken out into the bush for walks and grazing each day and to be with the other babies and learn how to live together in families.

All babies love their "blankets"!! When this little one was introduced to this blanket it just ran right over and was very attached and liked to feed there.

Just like our babies, when they are old enough and smart enough to hold their own bottle, why not!!!

 

 

Yes, and they do try to "wash their own face"!

Our loving leader and the bounty of the earth we enjoyed at his flat!  We pray that all of you will be "THANKFUL" for all the blessings we have, and feel them all year long!!!!

OCTOBER WAS "SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY"

Meeting a few senior couples at Tsavo Nat'l Park was a great beginning to the month!!  We toured the Park for a day, then we all traveled to Mombasa to see the sights.  It was a "whirlwind tour" for them!!

This graceful giraffe stopped to look at us

while the elephants were focused on getting to the waterhole on Loop #17.

 

This is a baby Waterbuck.  He blends right into the grass.  It's dry in Tsavo this time of year!!

This is our little group: Elder Kellems, E/S Barry Holmes, E/S Hall, Sister Kellems ( Employment)

Us, E/S Olsen ( Office Couple) E/S Richardson ( PEF) and our fearless guard!!

 

This was at the Waterhole at #17.  We actually saw about 40 Elephants there.  Many babies were in the herd, and many of the elephants rolled in the water & splashed & played.  We watched them until dusk, then we had to get back to the Kilaguni before they locked the gate!!

This month was DDM at our flat.  We served Spagetti & Elder Scott made toast with the Bagel Bread.  Of course, everything was gone.  Elder Sanders( in front of me with the stiped tie) loves white cake with chocolate icing, so until anybody else suggests anything different, we will be having that for dessert everytime!!!

 

 

The Relief Society Combined Activity was on October 6th.  The theme was "Something Extraordinary"  and that it was!!  The sisters made Pilau ( rice) and cabbage salad, it was yummy and plenty of it.

 

After the speakers & lunch, they did exercises.  However, they giggled more than they exercised!!

This is Relief Society President, Tina Tulu of Changamwe Branch giving one of Nancy Kosgei's daughters her blanket.  Each branch tied a blanket for  Nancy's children.  Each blanket had a piece of Nancy's favorite dress sewed on one side in shapes of hearts or animals.  Nancy had 5 children when she passed away last year, so all the sisters learned how to tie a quilt for their service.  It was a very tender moment when the blankets were presented to the children.  We hope that when they feel that they need a hug from their mother, that they can wrap up in their own blanket & feel her love as well as the love of all the Relief Society Sisters!!  Tina said, " We are all your mothers"

This is the group picture of all of those that attended the Combined Relief Society Activity.  All the Relief Society Presidencies are seated.  Jael Mwambere is in the middle holding little Verlene Joy Kosgei.  Jael is raising her now that Nancy has passed away.  The girls on each side of Jael are also Nancy's children, but their father is trying his best to keep the rest of his family together.  But as for Little Verlene, she is in a wonderful family and doing so well.  We are very thankful for families like the Mwambere's.  They had their family all raised.  The last born is in high school, but now they just started over  with Little Verlene!!!

 

The Sisters, Holmes, Richardson, Scott, Olsen, Pugmire and Hall, all wanted to put their toes in the Indian Ocean, it is as close to "swimming" as we will get!  All in all it was a great day at the beach!

Beginning of Summer, Setember in Mombasa Africa

We were on our way to Koins Country and came across this man selling rolls!  It was a hot day, but we thought they would like some.  When we purchased them we realized they were "hard rolls" with emphasis on "hard" as rocks!!!

As we were returning back to town, we passed these oxen yoked together, two pair, pulling the hand plows behind.  It is always interesting to see how these good people live and work.

We were in Old Town Mombasa with another Senior Couple taking a tour, when we passed by the open fish market.  I stopped to inquire as to whether or not the fish were fresh, to which they explained "oh yes" but you must come in the morning hours.  I was looking around and they said do you want "Lobster", wow it was a big one.

We delivered 5 wheelchairs back to the Shaun Michael School for Disabled Children.  When we pulled up we saw these women getting their water for the day; we had to take pics.  They work very hard and are wonderful providers for their families.

Small babies don't slow these wonderful women down, nor do they dampen their smiles and laughter, what wonderful examples they are to us, they are "beautiful in every way".

This mama was on her way to the Koins Clinic with her twins!  A must have pic, but the girls were afraid of the muzungu(white person).  I went and got sweeties (lollypops) for them, and they were a little more willing to let me take a pic.  Mama was happy, we will try and get her a copy of the pic.

While we were at one of the Sisters work place, we walked out on the Indian Ocean beach or should I say the "Ocean Desert", this is really "low tide" more so than we have so far seen here. It must have been 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile to the water.  She said that the "full moon" caused it to be that way.

Look what we found in our grocery store this month!!  Yes, that is real A&W Rootbeer with Vanilla Ice Cream!  We've had one every night for a while.  You have to get them while they last!!

We were at President Mwambere's home, and here this little kitten was in one of the missionaries shoe having a rest.

We thought we should remind you, as it is turning cold in Utah now, that it is "pretty nice" at our flat veranda in Mombasa.  Martha says that resting on the veranda will " increase your days"  So we are soaking it all in while we can.

Beautiful, beautiful, if we must say so ourselves!  We never tire of eating our meals on our veranda in this wonderful setting we are blessed to be in.  However, there are mosquitos!!

  We saw these two young men across the street from our flat this day.  It was raining, & they were waiting for the bus.  It is just a little different scene that we are used to of school children waiting for the bus.