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.

YOUNG WOMEN'S CAMP & ALL AFRICA HELPING HANDS

The 1st ever "Young Women Day Camp" was held for all 3 branches this month.  They learned many life skills & spiritual skills too.  We look for great leaders in the future from this group of young women in Mombasa!!

 

 

We roamed the beach this month with some of our visitors

 

 

Refreshing coconut drink in downtown Mombasa.  He had a bench to rest on if you bought a drink, so it's almost like being in Dairy Queen!!!

Elder Scott found some friends to help him keep the   water bucket on his head.  He actually could do  it as long as the ladies held his hands.  Go figure!!

This is our friend "William by the Seashore"  He gives " Curbside Pedicures"  He just wanders around the beach & if you want a pedicure, get comfortable right on the curb, no water or foaming scrub, just down  dirty painted toes.  He does get very clever with his designs.  I call him "an artist"  He loves that one.

 

 

This is a little girl at Sean Micheals School in the Koins Area.  We visited the school & found a bunch of damaged wheelchairs, so we threw them in the truck & took them to the company that the church bought them from to repair.  We have 5 left to repair, then they will have their wheelchairs back all fixed like brand new!!

 

 

All Africa Helping Hands Day was August 18th.  Every ward & branch all over Africa was working on service projects that day.  Ours was planned by all three of our branches.  They did a great job & it was much more successful than last year.  About 200 people attended.  We cleaned up an orphange/street children rescue center.  Pres. Broadbent & his wife attended our project this year.  We all were very happy to have them with us.

 

 

This is what passed us today as we traveled to Bamburi Branch.  We had to do a "double take"

  This little girl and her mother were along the road walking.  We could not pass her by without a pic, she is simply darling, dressed to fit a Queen.  The mother was very gracious in allowing us this treasured memory.  We gave them a "sweetie" or lollypop, and they were happy.

 

Today is wash day for our neighbors.  I took this photo from the roof of our building.  If you have grass, why does one need a clothesline?  Whatever works!!

 

 

This bus was all loaded & ready to rumble, chickens & all.  If they are going far, the chickens may already be dead when they arrive & ready to go into the soup, thus eliminating one step.

 

 

These young women were learning First Aid treatments including the Heimlich Maneuver. 

DAYS THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Shaun & Shantel found a school while they were here to greet, share a song & give out sweeties ( lollypops)  So today, we brought them school bags from the good will of the Ortega's. There were many smiles this day!!

They sang us a song in Kiswahili with a catchy tune & all in unison with such strong beautiful voices.

John Achola, our tailor went with us this day.  He made the bags, and he said "these children will remember this day for the rest of their lives"!

These are kids from a children's rescue center.  They were happy to receive a new soccer ball from our Grand Daughter Brilee.  Her team wanted to send a ball to someone who needed one and wanted to be greeted by them.  They all signed the ball and we gave it to them.  They were very happy to have it and sent a warm Asante Sana (thank you) to Brilee and her team.  Their ball was just worn out and needed to be replaced very badly, Brilee's Team ball came at a perfect time.

These children are student's at the Koins 4 Kenya school.  They are always happy to have their pictures taken, and then to see themselves on the camera!  Their happy and beautiful smiles make your day!

This young lady is waiting in que at the clinic at Koins 4 Kenya.  Her mom has her hair all fancy for the visit, but her mother did not want her picture taken, but this little one is precious!!

We happened to pass a waterhole where all these ladies were all leaving.  They were having a great time chatting like they didn't have anything at all on their heads.  These are REAL Women!!!  Some have to walk far, three to four kilometers (approx 3 miles) each way.

The first team of young people came to Koins to do service projects.  This is a gratitude sheet.  They all wrote down what they missed while here which included, running water, electricity, ice cream, warm shower among other things.

This young man should be an engineer.  He has designed this toy to change direction as he twists the long stick which is held by the rubber bands.  Tremendous potential is in these minds if they only have a chance.