Update 11.29.2010

Amazing Temple Trip! - It's hard to briefly describe such a week full of experiences and emotions. With 19 of us traveling together with people of differing ages, including youth and infants, who had never even been inside an airport it was an “interesting” experience. Previously we had collected all important documents and airline tickets which we distributed as we arrived at the Nairobi airport about 5:30 a.m. Monday morning having been picked up by the mission service van. It was a race filling out the immigration papers but we made the flight and heaved a huge sigh of relief! It was a fun experience watching faces as the plane lifted into the air and we soared above the clouds; and a double treat to have breakfast served in flight.

We were picked up in Johannesburg by the church van and taken to temple patron housing for more new experiences including indoor toilet facilities, electricity, running water, washing machines, can openers, toasters, and especially microwaves! A few “accidents” occurred in the toilet rooms before the housing director, Sister Taylor, gave a thorough training! Groceries were provided and the young women and YSA's took over food preparation with the mothers just helping as needed! We encouraged the young men and dads to help with dishes which isn't quite within the African cultural, but they saw Elder Blake pitching in and decided it must be an acceptable thing to do. Meals were mostly rice or ugali and stew for bigger meals; eggs, bread and maize porridge for breakfast; and sandwiches and apples for small meals. They were mostly used to maize and beans for their dinner staples (except for special occasions), so this was a little different diet.

Monday we settled in our rooms and had a special temple home evening together, where we watched a short video on temples and then shared feelings about what we were expecting to experience on the morrow and in coming days. It was a tender and memorable time, with new and often strong emotions brimming to the surface from time to time.

Most Important Memories – The mornings were spent in preparation as most temple sessions began in the afternoon. Each couple had completed a pedigree chart of their ancestors and visited the Family History Center located in our same building where they were helped to prepare family names for temple work. They all enjoyed this experience and were excited to begin.

Tuesday afternoon we went to the temple where the three young children (4, 2, and 10 mo.) were kept in the nursery until time to be sealed to their parents, while the parents participated in the temple which had been their dream for so long. Many months, and in some cases, years had been spent in preparation for this day. When we arrived we found they had a power outage and were using a generator which they weren't sure would last until we were through! Also, the only temple recommend we hadn't checked (the returned missionary) was found to only have one signature as he didn't know he needed the Stake President's signature! We waited with a prayer in our hearts. After some time the recommend was cleared and the generator lasted long enough since they turned off the air conditioning! As we shared this experience with those we have come to love so much we could feel a warm spirit of peace. The crowning experience was to see the expressions as families were sealed for eternity – two families with teenagers and young adults, and one family with three precious little girls all dressed in white dresses and white headbands contrasting with their beautiful black skin. We haven't seen many tears of emotion since we have been here – not even during family funerals – but tears of joy were shed. What a blessing to witness and be part of this special time.

During succeeding days the youth were able to be baptized for their ancestors and relate to them as they could see where the names fit on their pedigree charts. The fathers and Elder Blake helped conduct the baptisms and confirmations.

The week flew by as the couples attended the temple as often as possible, knowing that they will most likely never have the opportunity again. We also attended sessions, and helped with the children during other session times.

The young people spent a lot of time playing Chicken Foot with dominoes and games with Phase 10 cards which really helped during the wait times. (Elder Blake is a good play maker and makes games fun!) The little girls were amazed and excited to find little white and black baby dolls, each about 10 inches tall, in the toy box. (They've never had or seen a doll!) They immediately found the little blankets and tied “the babies” on their backs with kangas, like the moms always carry their babies. They were patient and all got along well and assisted each other. As we visited in their dorm-type family rooms we found things neat and tidy and saw copies of the temple Liahona and other such reading material around. What an example they are to us! (We slept upstairs in smaller “couples” rooms.)

Wambua Girls with Baby Dolls

Everline with Humanitarian Provided Picture Book

   

Kithangu Family

Wambua Family

   

Maneno Family

Elder and Sis. Blake at Johannesburg Temple

Temple Group Outside Temple

Playing Games in Temple Patron Housing

Ugali and Rice for Dinner

Johannesburg Temple

We had heard of some people going to the temple and then going on shopping sprees down town. Nothing of this nature occurred with this group. In fact, the only trip to a mall was by taxi with Elder Blake and one father and his daughter for some needed medication! We also passed around a 24-hour flu bug but that didn't seem to stop anyone. Elder and Sister Blake had been invited to Thanksgiving dinner with the Johannesburg Service Center couples but food didn't look or smell too good that day (flu bug) so they missed that opportunity!

Shaking Hands With General Authorities - Another wonderful opportunity occurred Thursday as our group attended the temple together and found Elder Kolliker, S.E. Africa Area 70, and his counselor Elder Watson, and their wives. After we all attended the endowment session together, these general authorities shook hands and greeted everyone warmly. That will also be a special memory.

“Small” Miracle on the Way Home – Friday we checked out of our rooms, attended the temple one last time and began our journey home arriving at the airport two hours early. It took a long time to check in and then we were directed to the departure gate. An airport employee assured us that we had satisfied all check-in procedures; and said the gate wouldn't open until ½ hour before flight time, so he directed us to where we could all sat down to wait. As the time grew short and no one came to open the gate, we checked with another official and found we had been given wrong information – that our departure gate was in a distant terminal – and that we probably would miss our flight. We all sprinted in the direction we were shown, only to be confronted by a long line for immigration clearance, before we could even got to the correct gate which was an 8 minute fast walk away! We just couldn't miss the flight and sit in the airport all night, especially with the young children! Sister Blake and one of the young men cleared immigration first and ran for the departure gate where Sister Blake explained the situation and pleaded with them to hold the flight as 19 people were involved, including three young children. She explained the misinformation that was given but still didn't expect much help – they never hold flights except maybe in the movies! After checking in at the gate we still had to board a shuttle bus to transport out to the plane. There was a lot of silent prayer going on. Miraculously, they helped and we all got on the plane which departed 15 minutes late with all on board. Whew! That was a miracle.

Highlight of Our Mission – We've had many wonderful experiences here on our Kenyan mission; but even counting our amazing safari trips with beautiful scenery and animals, this would have to be the “crown jewel” event, the likes of which we will probably never experience again in our lives. How blessed we are.

Have a good and safe week and know you are loved.

Update 11.21.2010

Short Blog – Just a note before we leave in the morning. It's been a good but very busy week!

Last Temple Training and Preparation – Tuesday in Kilili and Wednesday in Mitini we finished the last preparations for the temple trip. What an exciting time for these three families who have worked so hard to prepare. Sunday was the gathering day in Nairobi. We visited Mitini Branch so Wambuas rode into town with us after the block of meetings– more peanut butter sandwiches! All three little girls were wonderful travelers and we hope that continues on the plane tomorrow! The others traveled by Matatu and we all, including President and Sister Broadbent, met at the mission office this evening. There's excitement in the air and there probably won't be much sleep this evening (especially since we will be picked up to leave for the airport by 4:30 a.m.!) We hope all goes well checking in that many people. We feel like we have a large family.

Picking up Wambua Family For Temple Trip

Blakes and Broadbents with Excited Temple Group

Primary Program – Elder and Sister Beecher who are serving in Kitale came to stay with us and will be in our apartment for Thanksgiving. They arose early and went with us to the Hills for church today. The primary program at Mitini was fun. We love the children and they really know how to sing (not always the right melody) but they enjoy it. They even learned actions to some of the songs and were so proud of themselves. 

Primary Teacher in Mitini

Primary Children in Mitini

Stay safe and well and know we love you. We'll let you know how things went at the temple next week!

Update 11.15.2010

Wet Week! - This is the rainy season and it is living up to its name! We had heard this year was expected to be dry but at least for now we are getting the needed moisture for crops to grow. The problem is that it also makes some travel hazardous and even prohibits it. Wednesday we met with Mitini Branch which isn't as far off the paved road. It was rainy and cool but there was good attendance including three wonderful new investigators (Josphat, Barnabas, and Catherine) Sister Blake was asked to teach them at the last minute. She's a little rusty because this has now been delegated to the full time Elders but they were not back from Nairobi. Elder Blake loves teaching the 5-8 new convert “village elders” each week. They just thirst for knowledge and are enjoying marking their own scriptures. (As soon as they bring their scriptures to class – the Branch has issued each one his own set of scriptures – They are “gifted” by the teacher with their own personal scripture making pencil!) The class in Matua was canceled as the rain made travel there -- even by foot for us -- impossible. We stayed in Kikoko to see what Thursday's weather would bring and were delighted as morning dawned bright and clear – not even misty!

Hospital Run – Before teaching in Kyambeke we were asked to take Margaret, a good friend and recent convert, to the hospital. She had fallen on the slick trail and they feared she'd broken her wrist. No x-ray facilities are available in the Hills so we took her and her husband down the mountain to a matatu stop before going to Kyambeke to teach. On the way we stopped and walked up the trail to visit a non-member family and another sister, Victoria, who had recently lost her husband (where, at the invitation of the presiding Catholic priest, Elder Blake spoke extemporaneously at the funeral a few weeks ago). It was a fun visit and we took pictures before inviting her to ride down to English class with us. 

Home Visit - Victoria and Family

The classes were a little smaller and we didn't know why until on the way back we saw huge crowd of people and about 40 donkeys crowding the road. We didn't know what was happening, and this large crowd was a little intimidating as we could hardly drive through the mass of people. We learned that the government was issuing free fertilizer to families and they were there waiting (for hours!) to pick up their ration. We found another group just as large farther up the road in Kikoko as we passed through on our way to Sultan Humud to pick up the couple who were waiting for us after having a new cast put on the broken arm.

As we returned the biggest dilemma was that many (dozens) of the people waiting for fertilizer (we had seen them and visited with them on our way back to the hospital) were friends from the different branches and they all would like us to take them and their heavy fertilizer (50 kilogram sacks – approximately 100# each) to their homes. We felt tremendous concern, because there was no way we could help some without others getting their feelings hurt. There was also no way we could get through village without being seen, as there is only one road! We stopped and had a prayer for help and guidance and felt impressed that we would do more harm than good to show favorites by helping some. As we drove back through the village (the crowd still numbering in the hundreds), we considered it a miracle as we recognized only one of the many members (far off) we had seen earlier! We were so grateful that we did not have to choose to help some, and not others.

Donkeys Waiting for Their Load

Fertilizer Event

Temple Trip – More preparations are being made for the temple trip and we are only waiting for visas which we hope will arrive this week, as our excursion of 19 people will depart from the airport early AM next Monday (11/22). It is exciting to see the anticipation and joy on the faces of those who are going. They are reading and studying to be spiritually ready; but some express trepidation at the thoughts of flying in an airplane.

Change of Plans – Friday brought even more rain and the roads were impassable. In talking with the branch president, he agreed that before we drive up to Ilima again they will need to fix the road where it has washed out on both sides! Last time we visited there, even in dry weather, the road was getting precarious. They assured us they will repair the deep wash-out holes this Thursday. We're not sure how they will do it but we'll see how it goes. We also had to cancel plans to attend a party at the home of the Ilima Relief Society President on Saturday – just too wet!

Matatu - Think Any More Will Fit?

Primary Program – Sunday we attended church in Kilili for their primary program. This is the second program of the four branches we have attended and it is always fun to see the children and hear them sing and speak. The tunes and rhythm of most of the songs were not quite as they are written, but they were sung with enthusiasm and enjoyed by all. A special twist to the program was to see the children conducting the music. Their mothers have attended conducting classes and the children were leading 3 /4 and 4/4 time as taught by their mothers and enjoying the experience. It was fun.

Primary Children Coloring Activity After Program

Have a good week and know we are thinking of you!

Update 11.8.2010

Faith and Prayers – Last Sunday was Kyambeke Branch conference and we have been watching the rain to see if it would be possible to make the trip down the very slick mountain to reach the church. We were especially concerned because President and Sister Broadbent would be coming. The last branch conference they attended in the Hills was right after they arrived, and the road was mighty slick – we had the adventure of pulling each other out of the barrow-pit. Sister Broadbent was brave but really just wanted to get out and walk! It rained Saturday so we couldn't get to a Family Benefit Activity we had been requested to attend and support, for a family who lost their home and two children in the heavy April rains. They are trying to rebuild. // When we talked to two branch presidents in the area about Sunday they both assured us: “You will be okay and you will make it. The weather will cooperate.” With their great faith and prayers what could we say?

We went early to pick up the missionaries from Kalongo, the village where they live, and the road was horrible! I got plenty of prayer practice while Elder Blake drove. We were very concerned about the group going down the steep hill, but just as the presidents assured us, the rain subsided in that area so that we were able to drive the road; it was very slick but we made it. We are continually amazed at the great faith of the saints here. What a lesson for us. The conference went very well with even one of the keyboard students accompanying all the hymns! It's been fun to see her growth in both skill and confidence.

Very Slick Roads When it Rains!

Plan and Prepare – Much of this week, other than teaching, has been spent in preparation for upcoming events such as special Christmas keyboard and conducting programs in two branches, missionary training, a four-branch primary training for next year's Sharing Time program including music and teaching helps, and planning a training for teaching how to make paper beads to sell at the market places.

The biggest preparation has been for those going to the temple. What an exciting, but stressful, time! There will be 19 of us going on November 22^nd. Six members of the Maneno family, six members of the Kithangu family and five members of the Wambua family. One family has a recently returned missionary son who will be able to help his father who is going for the first time. It's a wonderful experience to see a family sealed to each other for eternity, and a triple blessing to witness three families. There is still much to do as we are applying for Visas now and praying they will all arrive on time. We are trying to locate suitcases to borrow etc. as most don't have access to such. The most important part is completing spiritual preparation. This will probably be the only time they get to a temple in their life-times unless they get a temple in Nairobi in coming years. We'll be gone five days – Monday through Friday – and will attend as many sessions as possible while we are there, for their ancestors. The flight is about like going from Utah to New York and will be quite an experience for those who have never been inside an airport, much less an airplane!

As we see the blessing made available to these saints going to the temple and to the young missionaries leaving for missions, we are humbled at the generosity of thousands of members world-wide who donate to the Missionary and Temple Patron Assistance Funds of the church. There is no other way that African missionaries could serve, or that saints could be endowed in the temples. But we also recognize that the people must also learn principles of self reliance to grow in living the gospel.

Attacked by Winged Termites - At the first big rain of each season, winged termites (about the size of small dragonflies) come out of the termite mounds in the ground by the millions, and fly toward any light. Within a couple of hours their wings fall off, leaving the large termite adults to attack whatever wood is around; mate, start new burrows where they lay their eggs... and the cycle continues.

Tuesday night it started to rain while we were staying in our Kikoko flat. We looked up and scores of large winged termites were flooding in under the doors. It reminded us of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds or something like it! We hurried and stuffed a towel and old shirt under the doors to fend off the invasion. By next morning there were just 1000s of wings outside our door, sort of like snowdrifts . . reminder of the last evening's episode. A cool event to witness. Our native friends tell us that in some places they collect the insects and eat them as a tasty treat!

Termite Wings

Termite Mounds

     Thanks for your love and support and for being in touch. It means a lot to us.

Update 11.1.2010

Regroup - This has been a week of regrouping after the departure of the four missionaries from Kilungu Hills. They had been very involved in leadership and especially missionary work in the various branches, since it is the YSAs who speak and understand English. Many changes are happening as others need to grow into leadership. Wednesday we taught at Mitini and then went to the hospital to visit a Matua sister who had delivered a baby the evening before. Her husband has been temporarily working in Nairobi but had hurried home to welcome this new little baby. They are recent converts, and when asked if it was a boy or girl and they told us, “It's a boy – a missionary!” The mother transported herself to the hospital on a motor bike taxi over about 6 kilometers of very bumpy road. She was picked up at 3:00 and the baby was born at about 4:00! As we took mom, dad and the baby home the next day, they received a warm welcome by all their extended family in the clan. It was a fun trip back to the village and a nice visit in their home.

New Baby in Matua "A Future Missionary!"

Scripture Lessons With Matua Saints

    

The Matua group then gathered for scripture lesson where we learned the names of books in the Book of Mormon by Sis. Blake teaching the primary song (while looking at the BofM. Contents Page); and then practiced finding particular scriptures about favorite BofM. stories, while showing relevant pictures. They are so eager to learn and have strong faith. What a blessing it is to us to be with them. We feel of their love and always leave with eggs or avocados or bananas. There's also always a group planning to ride back to Kalongo with us. They love riding in the truck.

Sisters of the Precious Blood – The Catholic Sisters have been so good to us and we wanted to make sure we had their pictures before we leave. Wednesday we had a photograph appointment just before prayer time but not all were able to be there. They have a small chapel in the convent and allowed us to take the pictures in there. They are dedicated and hard-working people involved in the school and the hospital. It's been a good association for both of us. The students are also very friendly to us. They leave the end of November for their holiday and won't return until early January. We miss them when they are gone. There's a noticeable loneliness about an empty school!

Sis. Blake and Precious Blood School Girls

Elder and Sis. Blake With Nuns At Precious Blood

Delivering Milk at Our Kikoko Flat

Unplanned Funeral – Thursday we taught in Kyambeke. There are eight keyboard students planning to participate in the Christmas program! They will each play one Christmas piece and a hymn and then take turns leading Christmas carols. They are also preparing a choir number. It gives a good reason to practice and they are excited. When we arrived the branch president was not there but had left word asking us to represent him at the funeral of a non-member husband of one of the English students who was baptized in September. We went after classes were over just planning to pay our respects and, instead arrived during the outside funeral service that was officiated by the Catholic Priest. They had us come up to the front area and asked Elder Blake to speak for a few minutes through an interpreter (one of the branch members who went with us). As he was speaking you could see the people agreeing and appreciating the peace the gospel brings regarding the death of a loved one. We weren't sure how the Catholic priest felt, but Elder Blake did a nice job and we didn't think he was offended. Victoria, (the wife) a favorite English student, was so appreciative and felt the love and support. We never know when we get up in the morning where the day will take us! Attending a funeral certainly wasn't in our plans.

Kyambeke Funeral

Sis. Blake and Sisters at Funeral

 Waiting for Rain – Crops are planted and awaiting the much needed rain so the seeds don't rot in the ground. We keep watching the banks of clouds pass over, but not much moisture has come yet. These aren't just nice “obedience gardens” like saints in America plant; but the total means of existence for most of the Kilungu Hills people. We tend to worry for them (since they suffered severe droughts in 2007 and 2008), but they keep strong faith: saying “The rains will come.” We keep them in our prayers.

Planted Shamba Waiting for Rain

Roads Blocked – Sunday was the annual Kenya National Marathon Race through Nairobi where they close all of the roads out of town where we need to go! We wanted to stay and have Saturday evening out-to-dinner with the Sr. Couples for Sister Blake's birthday; but decided we'd better head for the Hills while we could still get out of town. Thus, we celebrated Carol's birthday alone (together) in Kikoko; and enjoyed Sunday morning conference session in the high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima. The talks and spirit were wonderful. We especially enjoyed President Monson's talk on gratitude. We feel so blessed and hope we express that often enough to friends, family, and our Heavenly Father. Thanks to all of you for your love and encouragement.

Have a good and safe week!