Friday, June 24, 2011
A New Week
Notes for this week-June 24, 2011
Neal went with branch president to visit less-active family, who lives in the middle of a slum. We’ve visited this family a few times before, trying to get dad to come to Church. They walk a long way. Mom usually comes dragging 4 kids behind her, but he doesn’t come much. He has a sewing machine he operates out on the street, but they live very hard lives. He told Neal he is 4 months in arrears on the rent, and he can’t come to Church because if he does, when he padlocks his door to leave, the landlord will come and put a bigger padlock over his, and they will either have to pay or move (probably without their “stuff”). They are very hungry he says.
We went to see Jane up in the hills—one of our most “distant” members. We’ve sent information about her going to the temple earlier. (See new pictures on the blog). She is so ANIMATED…almost possessed in a funny way. We went to see her and her married daughter, who just had the first grandchild, a baby boy. The daughter is 20, married to a 35 year old man. The daughter came to mom’s house to have the baby.
The branch president accompanied us. He and the women explained that the girl would not have any say in naming her child. Her husband or his parents determine all three names the child will have. She is experiencing a lot of pain (2 weeks after birth). We asked if she had told her husband she is unwell. She shook her head as if that wasn’t something to be discussed. We felt badly for her and urged her to go to the doctor.
Jane was explaining how excited she was that 2 weeks ago, their area was made into a branch. She was jumping up and down and waving her hands. She said, “I have been so sick…high fever…with Malaria. I feeling so much pain, but I pray, ‘Don’t make me to die. We have branch coming, and I’ve waited sooo long and walked so many, many kilometers to get to Church. I must live to be able to go to the new branch’.” She makes me cry!
We visited another family. Leah (the mom) has investigated 4 years while living in Eldoret. The family moved to this area, up in the hills. She walks a long way to Church, and was baptized 2 months ago. She brings her entire family: 5 kids and husband. They are really an impressive family. Dad had Malaria about a month ago and was in a coma. The missionaries came and gave him a blessing. He was almost immediately healed, so they have great faith in blessings, although only mom is a member. Their 17 daughter died of Malaria some time ago.
When we went to visit them, their 16 year old son was sitting in a plastic chair outside the doorstep. He had sores all over his head, and his nose looked very painful with white crusting under it. (see picture on blog)
Apparently, last week after Church, he (the boy) took a motorcycle (picky picky) home. It was raining hard and very muddy. The motor was going very fast, and they now suspect the driver was drunk. They hit a patch of thick sand. It is like silt in places. The motorcycle stopped, and they went over the top, with this boy landing on his head. The driver had a helmet on. The driver immediately ran, leaving the boy unconscious on the road.
Bystanders thought he was dead. When he regained consciousness, he somehow made it to where he was to pick up his bicycle. He finally made it home to be met by the horrified reaction of his parents, who seem to be very loving and concerned about him. They took him to a doctor, but he still doesn’t seem to be doing very well.
They asked for a blessing. We had just taught our prospective missionary class how to give blessings and baptize. This boy’s cousin is in the class and was in a nearby field. We called him in and had him anoint the boy while Neal pronounced the blessing. I don’t think the branch president has ever given a blessing, and perhaps has never seen one given because no matter how much urging Neal did to get him to give it, he would not.
It was a very spiritual experience and so nice for our prospective elder. We love him anyway. He is an orphan, who was been disinherited from his rightful land by his father’s brothers. By rights, he is supposed to inherit his father’s portion of the extended family’s property, but they have taken it. We hope so that he will be able to serve a mission. He is so faithful and has gone out with the elders to proselyte faithfully for so long.
On the way home, we were driving along the highway, and a man dressed only in a Masai blanket thrown over one arm was walking in the direction we were proceeding. We had seen him earlier in the day, but not noticed at that time his state of undress. We were a bit shocked because this was NOT a remote area. No one else seemed to notice or react! Oh well! There is a saying here, “TIA” it means “This is Africa” It refers to all things…good and bad, that are different than our culture.
We tried to brainstorm with one of the branch presidencies about FUN things they could do with their branch because so often when they think of activities, they can only think of serious meetings. They came up with cleaning the Church, cleaning the area around the Church, planting slips of flowers, etc. We tried to think of a game day, a dance, a movie, fun songs, etc….it just doesn’t compute, but we are working on it.
One of the branch presidents was explaining why one of our members had been given 100 acres of land by the government. I don’t understand completely, but this is what he said. After the Mau Mau rebellion, when many whites were forcibly removed from their land, Mr. Kenyatta, the new president had Thurgood Marshall (U.S. Judge) draw up a Constitution for this country.
It provided that land belonging to Europeans would be redistributed to Africans, who were being relocated from other areas of the country. The Europeans were to be compensated for their land. Africans could purchase the land for 140 KSH (about $1.50-$1.60) for 10 acres, and 1,000 KSH (about $13)…this is today’s exchange, and this happened some time ago. Anyway, 1,000 ksh for 100 acres.
Places that went for 1,000 ksh often had nice homes on them. The Settlement Office determined who got what land. Europeans who were owners of large businesses like the Delmeres (remember “Out of Africa”)—cattle owners…were allowed to stay, and some of those remain here today. Others were sent back to Europe or wherever they chose to go. It is interesting. Many of the large estates were broken up into small plots. He said these have been hard to be profitable—to grow enough maize to sustain and also be able to sell. We are learning bits and pieces about the history.
The member who has 100 acres is so generous. He has allowed the members to worship in his business building without rent for some time. He also has given land to Jane and some others to build on when they had no place to go. So, he has blessed many people with his good fortune.
We met this morning for several hours with the District President, who travelled 2 hours to get to Kitale by matatu (crowded rickety van). He came to pay some bills because the District (2 weeks old) still doesn’t have an account. He is a WONDERFUL man—so wise and so kind. He puts us to shame with his non-judgmental, kind perspective on people. We talked with him about the new changes in the CES program and how it will affect the district. We always feel uplifted after being with him.
As you can see by the pictures (if the Internet and power ever come on again) that the rainy season is back again. Wish us luck!
Neal went with branch president to visit less-active family, who lives in the middle of a slum. We’ve visited this family a few times before, trying to get dad to come to Church. They walk a long way. Mom usually comes dragging 4 kids behind her, but he doesn’t come much. He has a sewing machine he operates out on the street, but they live very hard lives. He told Neal he is 4 months in arrears on the rent, and he can’t come to Church because if he does, when he padlocks his door to leave, the landlord will come and put a bigger padlock over his, and they will either have to pay or move (probably without their “stuff”). They are very hungry he says.
We went to see Jane up in the hills—one of our most “distant” members. We’ve sent information about her going to the temple earlier. (See new pictures on the blog). She is so ANIMATED…almost possessed in a funny way. We went to see her and her married daughter, who just had the first grandchild, a baby boy. The daughter is 20, married to a 35 year old man. The daughter came to mom’s house to have the baby.
The branch president accompanied us. He and the women explained that the girl would not have any say in naming her child. Her husband or his parents determine all three names the child will have. She is experiencing a lot of pain (2 weeks after birth). We asked if she had told her husband she is unwell. She shook her head as if that wasn’t something to be discussed. We felt badly for her and urged her to go to the doctor.
Jane was explaining how excited she was that 2 weeks ago, their area was made into a branch. She was jumping up and down and waving her hands. She said, “I have been so sick…high fever…with Malaria. I feeling so much pain, but I pray, ‘Don’t make me to die. We have branch coming, and I’ve waited sooo long and walked so many, many kilometers to get to Church. I must live to be able to go to the new branch’.” She makes me cry!
We visited another family. Leah (the mom) has investigated 4 years while living in Eldoret. The family moved to this area, up in the hills. She walks a long way to Church, and was baptized 2 months ago. She brings her entire family: 5 kids and husband. They are really an impressive family. Dad had Malaria about a month ago and was in a coma. The missionaries came and gave him a blessing. He was almost immediately healed, so they have great faith in blessings, although only mom is a member. Their 17 daughter died of Malaria some time ago.
When we went to visit them, their 16 year old son was sitting in a plastic chair outside the doorstep. He had sores all over his head, and his nose looked very painful with white crusting under it. (see picture on blog)
Apparently, last week after Church, he (the boy) took a motorcycle (picky picky) home. It was raining hard and very muddy. The motor was going very fast, and they now suspect the driver was drunk. They hit a patch of thick sand. It is like silt in places. The motorcycle stopped, and they went over the top, with this boy landing on his head. The driver had a helmet on. The driver immediately ran, leaving the boy unconscious on the road.
Bystanders thought he was dead. When he regained consciousness, he somehow made it to where he was to pick up his bicycle. He finally made it home to be met by the horrified reaction of his parents, who seem to be very loving and concerned about him. They took him to a doctor, but he still doesn’t seem to be doing very well.
They asked for a blessing. We had just taught our prospective missionary class how to give blessings and baptize. This boy’s cousin is in the class and was in a nearby field. We called him in and had him anoint the boy while Neal pronounced the blessing. I don’t think the branch president has ever given a blessing, and perhaps has never seen one given because no matter how much urging Neal did to get him to give it, he would not.
It was a very spiritual experience and so nice for our prospective elder. We love him anyway. He is an orphan, who was been disinherited from his rightful land by his father’s brothers. By rights, he is supposed to inherit his father’s portion of the extended family’s property, but they have taken it. We hope so that he will be able to serve a mission. He is so faithful and has gone out with the elders to proselyte faithfully for so long.
On the way home, we were driving along the highway, and a man dressed only in a Masai blanket thrown over one arm was walking in the direction we were proceeding. We had seen him earlier in the day, but not noticed at that time his state of undress. We were a bit shocked because this was NOT a remote area. No one else seemed to notice or react! Oh well! There is a saying here, “TIA” it means “This is Africa” It refers to all things…good and bad, that are different than our culture.
We tried to brainstorm with one of the branch presidencies about FUN things they could do with their branch because so often when they think of activities, they can only think of serious meetings. They came up with cleaning the Church, cleaning the area around the Church, planting slips of flowers, etc. We tried to think of a game day, a dance, a movie, fun songs, etc….it just doesn’t compute, but we are working on it.
One of the branch presidents was explaining why one of our members had been given 100 acres of land by the government. I don’t understand completely, but this is what he said. After the Mau Mau rebellion, when many whites were forcibly removed from their land, Mr. Kenyatta, the new president had Thurgood Marshall (U.S. Judge) draw up a Constitution for this country.
It provided that land belonging to Europeans would be redistributed to Africans, who were being relocated from other areas of the country. The Europeans were to be compensated for their land. Africans could purchase the land for 140 KSH (about $1.50-$1.60) for 10 acres, and 1,000 KSH (about $13)…this is today’s exchange, and this happened some time ago. Anyway, 1,000 ksh for 100 acres.
Places that went for 1,000 ksh often had nice homes on them. The Settlement Office determined who got what land. Europeans who were owners of large businesses like the Delmeres (remember “Out of Africa”)—cattle owners…were allowed to stay, and some of those remain here today. Others were sent back to Europe or wherever they chose to go. It is interesting. Many of the large estates were broken up into small plots. He said these have been hard to be profitable—to grow enough maize to sustain and also be able to sell. We are learning bits and pieces about the history.
The member who has 100 acres is so generous. He has allowed the members to worship in his business building without rent for some time. He also has given land to Jane and some others to build on when they had no place to go. So, he has blessed many people with his good fortune.
We met this morning for several hours with the District President, who travelled 2 hours to get to Kitale by matatu (crowded rickety van). He came to pay some bills because the District (2 weeks old) still doesn’t have an account. He is a WONDERFUL man—so wise and so kind. He puts us to shame with his non-judgmental, kind perspective on people. We talked with him about the new changes in the CES program and how it will affect the district. We always feel uplifted after being with him.
As you can see by the pictures (if the Internet and power ever come on again) that the rainy season is back again. Wish us luck!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
FULL WEEK
June 20, 2011 Update
Patriarchal Blessings
One of the highlights of our mission is definitely being able to meet with the members and the prospective missionaries, who come for their patriarchal blessings. The ones we have met have been absolutely the cream of the crop. What spiritual giants they are. They have been so humble and so ready for their blessings. We have shed many a tear in those sessions. Neal gave a blessing to a young man Saturday, who is the only member in his family. He is a twin in a family of six children. He said his family and his friends do not understand why he wants to go on a mission, and how hard it has been for him to put in his papers.
We hear all the time that if someone joins the Church, it is a sure thing that the members will eat their children. It takes a brave investigator to come through the door and realize that we are Christians and love the Lord. We’re often told as well that people don’t understand our American English. They only understand British English. We think that is so funny.
BITES:
As you know, I’ve had recurrent problems with multiple bites. They come in large groups every 3-4 weeks. I get them in patches all over my body. They swell up like hives and itch like crazy. I never see any bugs, and even though we often have guests, they never get bites here even when they are visiting at the same time I break out. Neal gets bites only occasionally, and they don’t look anything like mine. WE’ve checked the bed and bedding and can’t see anything that looks like mosquitoes or bed bugs…We sleep under a mosquito net every night and spray like crazy all the time with permetherine. Nothing has worked!
Tuesday, June 6 we had a wonderful couple stay with us. I broke out with a vengeance with over 40 bites, and by the next Tuesday I really had a bad bout with a new set that really was pretty awful. So we called the mission and talked with the doctor who oversees all of Eastern Africa. He conferred with his dermatologist friend in USA and showed him the pictures. They gave their ideas and recommended I go to Nairobi to see the doctor the mission uses here. We’ve been impressed with him in the past. He is Indian-wears a turban-very well-spoken and seems very knowledgeable. He thinks it is worms, fleas, or the Doxycyline we take to prevent Malaria. So we trying to make some adjustments and will see. Anything would be a blessing. The medicine he prescribed as a cream is heavenly. The itching starts, and voila! The medicine takes the itch away. I’m lovin’ it.
Training with Elder & Sister Usi (70)
We made that fast trip to Nairobi-down one day, back the next, and stayed in Eldoret about 2 hours away for a training on Saturday with Elder Usi, an African Member of the Seventy. He and his wife did a special training to all Primary workers and members of the Br Presidencies in the 9 branches in our district and 2 branches in Kisumu and Busia. It was a wonderful meeting. They told us that the First Pres and members of the Twelve have a goal to visit every country of the world where the Church is organized within 4 years. Two of the Twelve and the Primary Pres will be in Kenya on Oct 29. This meeting was in preparation for that time.
New CES direction
While in Nairobi, we met with Brother Omondi, who is our CES supervisor. He gave us some new insights and goals for our work here. We were very grateful to have his comments and to get more direction on what we should be doing. He would like to see the branches have Seminary and Institute Activities…Seminary on a monthly basis, and Institute on a quarterly basis.
No one in our areas have had any activities. Even R.S. homemaking type activities are very rare…I’ve only been to one (which Sis McBride and I did). They do sometimes get together to eat, but the idea of learning skills or doing crafts is pretty foreign. Everything must be done during daylight and getting to a meeting outside of Sunday is difficult for many of them because it requires such long walking and they can’t afford the fare to take transport.
And Oh, the people!
People are very hungry now. Harvest will not come until the end of Sept or October. Our employment people have been talking to them about storing or drying food to encourage them to capitalize on the harvest and hold back produce for when times are hard like now.
We met a delightful woman who is 102 years old. She just cracked us up. She was as feisty as you can imagine. I loved looking at her hands and feet. She has worked so hard. She was chopping kindling for her meal with her rusty old panga. She laughed with us. We were there to visit with her grandson, who is probably in his 50s. He is a former branch president, but doesn’t attend Church at all. His wife has left him, and he wants us to get her and his children back. We encouraged her grandson (the man we were visiting) to interview her and get her life story.
PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARIES:
One of our very favorite experiences is to teach the prospective missionary class every single Monday. We love it. Those boys are just so eager to learn and sacrifice so much to come. We know they come hungry, and yet they are anxious to be there. We pay their fare, but they must be there before the opening prayer to get it. Class starts at 11:00AM. We get to the building at 10:30 and there are 6 of them waiting for us each time. The rest come before time to start. EVERYONE was on time today (8 of them) and that has happened almost every time.
African time keeping is horrendous…If they arrive 2 hours after the class is supposed to start, that is par for the course, so this is nothing short of miraculous. They help us upstairs (very steep) with all our junk, and immediately start sweeping out all the mud, branches, and debris scattered about the floor. They are truly Sons of Helaman!
They are working hard to try to get all they need to prepare. It isn’t like at home, oh my goodness. It costs 150 KSH …about $1.60 to $1.70 to get a birth certificate. It is next to impossible for them to come up with that kind of money. So, they are working it off…then they must get a Kenya ID. Right now, there is a problem the government is working on to get Kenya IDs issued. The boys cannot apply for passports without a Kenya ID. They are hopeful that things will work out for the IDs to be processed again. I think they stopped processing them a year ago May.
Once they have IDs, they need passports, which are like 4,000 KSH (about $50), then they need a police report that costs 1,500 KSH, and a medical. They must serve as branch missionaries for 3 months before applying and be ordained as Elders (of course).
So, there are HUGE obstacles to overcome. If they want to be considered for serving in South Africa or other countries which require driver’s licenses for elders, they must acquire one, which costs 10,000 KSH and two months of class work.
So, our job is to encourage them and push them and psych them up to go because we know what a blessing it will be for the people they teach and for them, and especially for their branches when they return. Unfortunately, Satan also knows what a blessing it would be for them to go, and he works sooooo hard on them to discourage them.
Branch Training
Another thing we’ve been very involved in lately is meeting with each of our five new branch presidencies to learn the Handbooks together. Some of these men are brand new in the Church. It is quite an overwhelming prospect to be called as a Branch president or counselor, when you are very, very young in the Church. They teach us as much as we teach them. We are learning together.
We rotate so that we visit each branch at least once (during the week) every two weeks. During that time, we tell the Br Pres we will come and he can use us any way he wants. If he wants us to drive him to some members far away, we will do so. If he wants us to take a counselor or other leader to do visiting with less-actives, we will do so. If he wants us to sit down with his presidency and just train out of the handbook, we will do that. The latter is what we’ve been doing.
It has been a growing experience for us all. They are so humble and teachable. They want so much to do a good job. And their jobs are SOO hard. They have huge problems to contend with, but they are very reliant upon the spirit. As I said, we learn much from them.
They have absolutely no supplies for their branch presidencies: no notebooks, no pencils, no paper, no paper clips, no calendars, no blanks to fill in callings on, no agendas….Imagine what it would be like to start with that. They get luba (budget) from the Church, but they don’t really know how to use it. In several branches there is no copy machine anywhere in the vicinity (even at the store in the village) to make copies. Just imagine that…what that is like. So, we are trying to give them the barest essentials so that they can at least have a notebook and paper to write down assignments. Neal is really encouraging them to have branch meetings and trying to teach them what you do in those meetings. They just soak it up, and it is just a joy to see them try to implement some of the ideas! Again, one of their biggest challenges is distance. There is no way they can have a branch presidency meeting at 7:00AM. Some of them would have to get up at 4:00AM to get there. But, they are trying. We just take our hats off to them for trying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
