Monday 30 April 2012

APRIL'S SHOWERS OF MEMORIES

 Zone Conference for Mombasa & Chyulu Districts.  Elder & Sister Taylor Hartman were presenting "Relationships through Color Code Personalities"  We learned which color our personality represents. We found out that Elder Scott is Blue & Sister Scott is Red.  At any rate, a good combination!!  Left to Right on Front Row:  E/S Schwab, Chyulu Couple, Pres. & Sister Broadbent, Mission Pres & Wife, E/S Hartman, Area psychologist, then us. Behind us the Great Kenya Nairobo Missionary Warriors!!
This is Martha. She is a member in Changamwe Branch. She helps us clean our flat once a week.  She keeps saying, "this house needs more time"  In other words, it needs cleaned every day.  Unfortunately, we can't afford to have a maid, but we are grateful for her help.  She also is a very wise woman & gives us insightful comments everytime she comes.  Her comment for this month is:  "Always marry a man older than yourself, then he will forgive your "me-stakes" because of your young age"  I call these "Martha-isms"  She could write a book!!

This is the Elders Open House in Mombasa Branch.  They were trying to act out Lehi's Dream.  We have Benard Mwanbere, the new branch president of Mombasa Branch holding on to the "Iron Rod" even though it's silver. And E/S Scott are Lehi & Sariah, with Elder Brown (from Texas) reading the scripture of Lehi's  Dream.

On the left is Pius Makuta. He was the Elder's Quorum Pres. in Mombasa Branch. On the right is Prince Omondi. (Seminary Director in Nairobi) We took this picture earlier this year at a Seminary/Institute Activity.  This month Brother Pius Makuta passed away suddenly.  We will miss his firm testimony of the gospel & his ready smile. They served together as missionary companions when Kenya would not allow people into their country, so 19 year olds in Seminary & Institute were called as missionaries for 2 years straight into the mission field.  No MTC, no temple experience, just learn it on your own.  These are real pioneers of missionary work, self made men.

A trip to Old Town Mombasa. During Ramadan, many dye their hair red.  This one is getting ready early.

 Sitting in front of the Mosque.  In Mombasa Town there is a mosque on every corner.  Friday is when most wear their robes, but some wear them everyday. Reading the newspaper while waiting to pray.

We saw the "Village Drill" set up this month.  It is being manufactured here in Mombasa, was engineered by students at BYU, and can hopefully drill wells & strike some drinkable water.  Here in the Mombasa area, the water is salty.  For us, we buy our drinking water because the water that comes out of the tap is salty.  This is a demonstration hole in Changamwe.  It took a week, but they did strike water at 25 meters or 82 feet.  No word yet as to whether it is drinkable or salty.

Elder Scott preparing to turn the wheel to start the operation.  The wheel is not difficult to turn nor does it meet with resistance.  They drill during the day & close up shop for the night.  It takes only a few days to be successful, but sometimes a week is required.
Our next stop is at the Atmit Distribution Clinic.  The people call it "Jesus Flour" because it has the church's name on the sack.  The under-nourished children love it & thrive on it.  Everyone who qualifies, brings their plastic sacks & after a nutritionalist gives them training, they are given their portion for the month.

Here's a happy customer with her portion in her plastic bag in hand & now she is off walking back to her home.  This is your donations at work all over the world.  Atmit is literally saving lives of these little ones as they gain weight & the spark comes back in their  eyes after only a month.

This beautiful little girl was all dressed up to accompany her mother to receive her family's portion of Atmit.  She has been on it for a few months & looks the picture of health.  However, she was under weight a few months ago.  Today after nutritional training & "Jesus Flour" she is thriving!!
More Old Town Mombasa Pictures of a Boy's School.

Our friend Bablo is showing us the pan that they are cooking with here.  The hole in the bottom is covered with "hard papers"  and it will work just fine.  The sack that flour comes in is what he meant by "hard paper"  I told him it looks like it would start on fire, but he said, "No, it works"  Alrighty then.

Monday 2 April 2012

ST PATRICK IS NOT IN AFRICA

When we found out that none of the Mombasa branches had celebrated the Relief Society Birthday in March, we held a meeting in February & explained that since it would be the 170th  Anniversary of Relief Society, it would be good to start this year to commenorate it. The Mombasa Branch held their 1st Relief Society Birthday Celebration with Birthday Cake & all exactly on March 17th.   It was such a success that they are planning for next year even now! 


The Changamwe Branch had a beautiful cake as well.  Tina, the Relief Society President, on the right and Victoria, 2nd Counselor, is in the middle.  They are such fun ladies & a cake was all it took to make them smile the rest of the day!!

Bamburi Branch Relief Society chose to use the money that they would have spent on the celebration to purchase kitchen items for the branch.  They always have to borrow Big Pots (ndoo)  So now they have their very own.  The branch president said that this pot will feed 100 people!!  We can't wait to try it out.

Miss Verlene Joy Kosgei received her name & blessing on March18th.  Elder Scott gave her a beautiful blessing that day.  She was all dressed up & looked like a doll.  Cleophus is her father standing next to Elder Scott.  Candy is the 18 year old in the middle who has been caring for them since their mother, Nancy, died in December.  Candy has been doing such a good job with the family.  She wins the "star" to be able to step up & care for her siblings.

Little Verlene Joy.  The mark on her L arm is where they put the TB vaccine.  You can tell a Kenyan by the scar on their arm.

1st Couselor in the Mombasa Branch Benard Mwambere holding Little Verlene.  He & his wife Jael, have taken her into their home to hopefully raise her.  Cleophus has given his consent & said that many have asked to help with her, but when Jael & Benard asked, he said, "It felt right to me" so the Mwambere family just added one more.  They have 2 teenagers who are giving  many hugs & kisses, not to mention Jael & Benard.  Little Verlene was underweight, so now she is getting fed every 5 minutes by someone in the family.  We look to see "more" of her soon!!

Jael Mwambere, Little Verlene's new mother.  The sisters in the branch brought over their old baby clothes, one sister came by to bath her.  It's just like Jael has just given birth & she almost has to "assign" people to hold her because everyone wants to hold her.  Nancy had many friends, so when they find out she's Nancy's baby, they want to hold her tight!!  One sister said, "THIS DAUGHTER WILL HAVE MANY MOTHERS"  Can't get better than that!!

Sorry it's on it's side, but we don't know how to correct it.  They put up a new wall along the road this month.  A pole was in the way, so they just let it be. That's the African way!!

Thanks to all the clothes that are sent here from the USA, we found a Karl Malone jersey this week.  I stopped the little boy to take a "snap"  I said do you know who's shirt you are wearing?  He said, "Yes".  Every question I asked him after that he said "yes", so actually he didn't understand what I was saying.


When I saw this, I thought of Mack's Inn camping and the old pioneer saying of " FIX IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO, or DO WITHOUT"