KWAHERI (Goodbye) KENYA

    

 

This is the "orange haired lady" in Old Town Mombasa, part of our Home Teaching self assigned visits

This mama has no teeth, but a huge heart, she is a wonderful lady

 

Eldoret/Kitale District Conference, Broadbents, Scotts, Babcocks & Hunters @ Babcock Flat

 

Verlene Joy Kosgei and Elder Scott enjoying a little time together

President Benard Mwambere & Elder Scott showing off their "kanga head dressing"

 

Elder Scott with a name sake, Dickson Clair Mutiso, last born son of their family

 

From left to right Winnie, Stella, Sister Scott and Verlene Mutiso at their home

 

These two Cheetahs were on a stalk of a Grants Gazelle and they were succesful. It was very interesting to watch them work together for their dinner.

We saw this Lion at the Nakuru Nat'l Park, a young male resting in the tree. Another one was on the road lying down

 This is a Spoonbill, which we had not seen prior, but saw a flock of them at the West end of the lake as we were driving out of the park.

 

 At Samburu National Park there is a Lodge called "Elephant Bedroom", well you can see they are almost in the bedrooms with the guests.  This was a very upclose and personal viewing of the Elephants, who always have the right-of-way

 

 

Here you see how close they come to the tented rooms as they walk the pathways at the Lodge

 

This is how the place settings are at the Elephant Bedroom Lodge.  They want you to feel very African with their decor

 

Last walk along the Indian Ocean, so we say Kwaheri Kenya for now

January 2013, Sowing Seeds in Love and Hope

We were at Tsavo East Nat'l Park and stopped at the Voi Safari Lodge and took time to look out over the savannah, it takes your breath away.

 

While we were on our drive, we saw many of the flowering acacia trees.  They had a yellow flower on the top.  After a zoom lens look the pic below is what we saw; the blooms looked somewhat like an Orchid, again breath taking.

 

 We have never seen this species of Gazelle in the park, on either side, East or West.  She was just standing in the shade and posed for a wonderful look.  It is a Gerenuk, in the Somalian language it means "giraffe neck".  We watched her for some time.  A wonderful surprise for us.

 

We drove down by the Galana River, formed by the merge of the Athi and Tsavo rivers.  It wasn't long and here came the family.  The lead female just marched right across the road and the others followed in step.  There were different ages in this family.  It is so exciting to see these wonderful animals in their natural setting.  It is a sad note we leave, that there is a terrible scourge going on now here in Kenya and other African countries.  The "poachers" are in full force and are killing elephants and rhinos, very, very, sad to say the least.  The local newspaper reported last week a find of 634 tusks at the Mombasa port.

 

We have become acquainted with the Koins 4 Kenya Foundation, as you will remember from our previous posts.  We stop at this country village school for elementary children.  They are about 4 - 5 years old.  This school has very little for these children to use to learn.  We stopped to give them some writing tablets, donated by LDS Charities.  The children were happy to receive a gift this day.  They are quick to smile and sang us a song of thanks.  Their teacher is a wonderful young woman who deeply cares for the welfare of these young ones.  We hope we can do something to help them improve the conditions at this school.

 

When we arrived at the Koins Compound, we found one of the staff, laying a layer of stones to strengthen the parking pad.  They were laying large stones down, then they would break them up into smaller stones by hitting them with a hammer.  This is the same process they use on the major highway improvements here in Kenya, it is unbelievable to see it.

 

The Koins Foundation sponsor villages who want to improve their standards, building schools.  Here these men were making cement blocks for the construction of the buildings.  The villages must commit to providing at least 10% of the cost for the improvement.  These men make approx 200 or so blocks a day.  They work as a team and then share the income; they are paid 5 shillings per block.  They are able to take home approx 500 shillings each, which is a good income for them.  They are being taught to be self reliant and provide for themselves and families.  One man had never before had a job, he was very faithful in his employ.  This first pic shows the blocks being lifted out of the mold, the next pic shows the mold with the dividers in place waiting to be filled with the cement, sand and gravel mixture.  Koins has also provided a electric mixer which is of great value to the process.

 

 

Adjacent to the Koins Compound is a government medical clinic which the locals come to for their medical needs.  We took some supplies to them and this is a typical scene you would see!  The colors are simply beautiful, the women very patient as are their children.  They wait their turns in a very orderly manner.  Women come here now to deliver their babies, rather than doing so in their huts; Koins has offered them a blanket if they will come to the clinic.  This was all the incentive they needed and the mortality rate has dropped considerably.

 

This beautiful mom and baby were sitting outside under the shade of a tree; I could not pass by without asking her permission for a snap!  This is a wow picture!

There is a school in the Koins Country built by the Sean Michael family. Sean was a handicapped child in the USA.  When he passed away, the family heard of the Koins Foundation. They wanted to do something in honor of their son, Sean.  They found out that the handicapped children in Africa are very often abandoned or ignored and suffer in considerable ways.  Koins suggested that a school be built to let these children integrate into the normal school system and learn and advance in their lives.  The Sean Michael School was born.  These two are typical of the students who would come to this school.  The little boy on the right "Noah" is a bright, smiling, happy young sole.  He is a real treat to be around.  He has beautiful eyes and his voice is  that of a "radio announcer", we love to be with him.
 

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"