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.

VISITORS BRING BLESSINGS

 An African saying says that visitors bring blessings.  We got our first visitors from home June 2nd. The Ortega's Robert & Debbie.  We visited Koins 4 Kenya (an NGO) and Debbie was in the kitchen and learned how to make chapati's (like a tortilia) with Emily.

Family Night was with the Mwambere family, he is the Branch President in Mombasa Branch.  Jael his wife, showed Debbie how hairs fight with each other. 

 We had a special treat when President Broadbent and his family came to Mombasa for a visit.  We all went to Mamba Village (a Crocodile farm with 10,000 being raised in all stages of growth). Here the President displays one of the month old Croc's.

We took Shaun and Shantel to the Indian Ocean and the entrance to the Mombasa shipping harbour. 

 We also visited the beach along Hotel row.  We thought they should ride on a camel, so here they are, just prior to saddling up!

Sunday came and we were going to one of our branches for services.  We went to Bamburi Branch and the children could not get enough of Shantel.  The other sister is Halee who was helping at the Koins compound.

When in Africa you must do as the Africans do, ride in the common transportation, a three wheel cart called a "Tuk-Tuk".  They enjoyed the ride, even if you bump along. 

Birthdays come and go, but Shaun and I did not want this one to get away.

So we chartered our neighbor's fishing boat and went out into the Indian Ocean after a catch.  Yes, we were successful as can be seen.  Yes, they were very, very good on the dinner plate.

Shantel had to find out what it is like to be an "African Woman"!  Wow was she surprised to learn the work a day efforts by these wonderful women.  She went with Frieda and her kids for the day.  They went for water and wood for use at the home.  Shantel even wore a blister on her hand cutting the wood sticks using a panga (machete).  She said she has a new appreciation for the women here.

Here in Mombasa a new Hindu Temple was opening.  It is the only Temple outside of India. The ladies loved Shantel and wanted her to walk in their parade.  Fun was aplenty and the Temple is simply wonderful, we shall have to post a pic of it when it is totally completed.

At Momba Village Shaun held the one month old Croc's.

Shantel didn't want to be out done, so she held the Python!!!  It was a good size one, and Shaun said he really didn't need to hold it.

Sandra Dahl came over to volunteer at the Koins Clinic.  She has a big heart and loved the people who brought their babies for help. She worked there for the first week and then we went on a Safari to Tsavo West Game Park.  It is wonderful, ask her how it was!!  She saw lots of animals and stayed at Kiliguni Lodge, one of our favorite places to visit.

Good Byes came too fast!  We transfered three Elders and received three Elders coming from other areas of the Mission.  They are wonderful young men serving their Father in Heaven.

It is very quiet now that our visitors have returned to the States.  We will miss them.  We need more blessings and enjoy showing Mombasa and surrounding areas to any who would like to come over!  You are most welcome!

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.