HURRAY HURRAY IT'S MAY

This month we found an orphanage for the young elders to visit for service.  Time is all they are asking from us. For this little one, a torn piece of paper puts a smile on his face!!

This is the finished product of the workshops of Akamba Carvers located in Changamwe near one of our branches.  Some of our members work there.  They come from generations of carvers in their families.  Here at the workshop they have formed a "association" so all benefit from sales. They do beautiful work.

This is ebony wood.  It is the most costly because the ebony is only in the middle of the trunk.  This is how it arrives & the picture above is the finished product.

These gentlemen are experts at elephants & lions.  The tusks for the elephants are real cow bones, so that area doesn't have a pleasant odor, but it's still a work of art!!  They use only hand tools, chisels & hand saws & a lot of grit!!

The Young Adults had an outing at the "Butterfly Pavillion.  This is one of the pictures that Elder Scott captured while there. Below is what we see from our flat.  This man is brushing his teeth with a stick as tall as I am.  The tree that they use has a "minty" taste in the wood.  After prolonged use, the stick frayes out & works quite well.  Mankind started with sticks until the 1900's when nylon was invented.  Then the health benefits of individual brushes had to be taught to have more than one per household.  We've come a long way, except this gentleman didn't get the memo!!

Our district went on an outing this "P" Day. We visited Mamba Village, a crocodile farm.  They have approximately 10,000 crocs here.  They are sold to Italy for their skins & meat. 

Sister Scott is trying to be a good sport by holding the croc egg & baby of approximately 1 month.

Elder Scott is taking a pic of Big Daddy.  The elders are Left to Right, Elders Ramananaiorvoisn( Madagascar), Elder Gideon's back( Cape town), Elder Herr ( AZ) and Elder Brown (TX) We have awesome elders in Mombasa!!

This is how the croc's greeted us.  Below is Elder Gideon.  He is such a positive, cheerful elder. He is a delight to know & serve with here.

This is "Big Daddy"  He is supposed to be over 100 yrs old.  Elder Scott told the guide that we thought that Big Daddy was plastic because we've only seen  his eyes poking out of the water.  So the guide took some meat over to the edge & Big Daddy slowly by slowly crawled out.  He is so old, it's no surprise that he only comes out of the water on Fridays.  But he is indeed real, just old and very BIG!!

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.

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"

HAPPY HEARTS & CHEERFUL FACES WE'VE MET !!!

Welcome February!!  We had our windshield replaced in our vehicle.  They couldn't scratch off the inspection sticker, so o o o they cut it out of our old windshield & taped it on our new one!!!  Makes sense to me, which is scary!!     This worked until the sun melted the tape, now it is resting quietly on our dashboard.  Hope the police can see it as we pass them until May when it is renewed.

Mirrors are very few, so these children had a fun time seeing their reflections in our shiny truck bumper.  You can always find children looking at themselves in the hubcaps or bumpers.  (They usually have "pieces" of mirrors, but not the whole mirror)

The children are Pres Makazi's plus a neighbor or two,  they have been busy creating a toy. Very creative.  When these parents say "Go out & Play" the children find anything available & make their own toys!!

The popular game in Mombasa.  We see men playing checkers everywhere.  They use bottle caps.  Some of the competition is intense.  There is usually a crowd that gathers watching the strategy.

Just had to "throw in" another picture at the Port of Mombasa.  This is a car hauler.  They are the biggest ships we see.  The boat behind is the Pilot Boat.  Just Mombasa Port Captains can manuever in & out of the port because there is a reef on either side.  When it has passed a certain point, then the ship's own Captain can continue sailing, so the Pilot Boat is kept busy with ships coming & going in the harbor.

On the road in the Bamburi Branch.  Another herd of skinny cows.  It seems the road is for everything but vehicles here!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!  We celebrated at DDM ( District Development Meeting)  Elder Mloyi ( from Zimbabwe) wanted a picture of a Heart Cake.  We have really enjoyed him in our Zone.  He will probably be transferred in March & we will miss him.  He wanted to finish school before mission, so he is 25 yrs old, but when he returns to Zim, he will already have a job teaching school.  Such a good man, we are delighted to have met him.

Relief Society Training at our flat. We planned the year of activities.  Introduced having an activity in March to celebrate R.S. Birthday (It was new to them) From Left to Right, seated is Tina, Victoria, & Phoebe, Standing Lto R is Eva, Jael, Patience, Me, Florence & Irene. ( I'll talk more about each in the journal)  We had a fun time.  We served them Spaghetti & Coleslaw.  Jael didn't like the spaghetti, said it was " bitta", but liked Strawberry Shortcake with Ice Cream!!

Looking down on the docks below our flat, we see this man brushing his teeth every morning.  He has a new toothbrush today, one that will last him a while because it's a tall as me.  He frays out the end of the stick & works good for him, I suppose.  However, I haven't seen his dental bills!!

WELCOME 2012 "Look Up, Stand Up & Cheer Up"

This is the Khamisi Charo Family.  They are in the Bamburi Branch.  They have decorated their home for Christmas, what a fun family!!!  We have been helping them obtain Birth Certificates for 2 reasons: 1.  All the children now need them for school & 2. They will need them to go to the temple.  It has taken us the entire month of January to finish them. We have 1 more day left in January, I hope we can help them finish it tomorrow.

This is Elder Scott & Salome Charo.  She is 3 yrs old.  She likes Elder Scott because he gives her lollypops & rides in the truck from her house to the well.  Of course she sits on the console between the seats which she thinks is just for her!!!

Daniel & Herbert from Changamwe Branch concentrating on the keyboard.  Sister Scott is giving them lessons each week & plan on at least one concert pianist before we leave!!!

This is a Scout Troop in Bombolulu.  It is at an Orphanage.  The leader is Jackson. The Elders are teaching him the gospel, but he already is very Christ-like taking care of all these boys & teaching them good life skills.  They just need a little work on the salute!!

Downtown Mombasa was getting a new paint job on the "Zebra Crossing"  as they call it.  I say" good on ya " for staying in the lines free handed.

We pass this fruit stand many days.  I think he's rather creative in the display of his produce.

These are the "Honey Ladies"  They are actually located in the Kerio Valley.  We always stop there & get Honey for either members or ourselves.  They put it in whiskey bottles or anything they can find.  I tell them I'll only buy it in Ribena Bottles, then I bring it home, boil it, & strain it, then it is ready for human consumption.  One time the entire bee was inside the bottle.  Elder Scott is trying to get them to smile.  I think he suceeded!!

During our walk one day, we spotted some new blooms.  We don't know what they are called, but they are gorgeous right now.   The flowers here are spectacular.  That's one thing that Africa does in royal style & that's the flowers.  So many different species & so beautiful!!

The highlight of the month was a visit from our Mission President & his wife ( the Broadbents) & Elder & Sister Cook from Johannesburg.  What a delight to have them with us in Mombasa for Mission Tour.  Elder Cook is actually from Plain City & grew up on 4700 West.  They are now assigned to Johannesburg until they get re-assigned.  They have 5 children, 4 married, 13 grandchildren under 6 yrs old.   What I personally learned from him was he has a scripture reference for everything.  He was just like having Gospel Link without the Internet Hookup.  I told him that his talk in General Conference was so good that if I was Sherrie Dew, I'd have fridge magnets with "Look Up, Cheer Up & Stand Up" on them selling them in Deseret Book all over the country.  He chuckled at that!!

We took them to Akamba Carvers here in Mombasa.  We have some members of the church who do the carving, so it was extra special for them to meet Elder Cook at their work.  Here we are in the Giraffe section.   We so enjoyed the time we spent with both the Broadbents & the Cooks.  A journal entry day!!