Update 12.27.2010

Couples' Conference at Nakuru – All couples, twelve from the Kenya Nairobi Mission, including President and Sister Broadbent, enjoyed being together at Nakuru National Game Park about 2 ½ hours north of Nairobi. It was a wonderful chance to relax, enjoy the animals and beauties of this country, and share thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the other couples. We don't know where we would find a group of more wonderful and thoughtful people. We learn so much from them.

Blakes at Nakuru Game Park

Huge Rhino!

    

      

      

                                                  More Animals at Nakuru Game Park

Visit to an Orphanage - Wednesday, on our way home we all drove another hour north to visit and help at an orphanage in Eldama Ravine. There were 13 girls and 17 boys living in dorm-type areas ranging in age from young children to 16 years old. They were waiting for us and sang their welcome as we arrived and then we were able to just spend some time visiting and playing with them. The older children spoke quite good English. We asked one young 11-year-old boy how long he had lived there and he said “9 years.” We taught and sang songs with them and had a little program which included showing them the DVD of the nativity. They had planned a meal to share but it was a long drive back to Nairobi and we needed to leave to arrive before dark. We had prepared little bags for each of them with crayons, pencils, treats, picture of Jesus and the children (the one with the cute little African boy in front), and other things. The children really enjoyed and appreciated them and it was a fun experience for all of us. Another experience that makes us “count our many blessings.” 

Blakes and Beechers Enjoying Children at Orphanage

Sis. Blake in Nairobi Kitchen Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas Eve in Africa - Christmas Eve we invited the sister missionaries who live in our Nairobi housing complex over for dinner. They brought two more sisters who were staying with them for the mission Christmas social so we enjoy eating with four beautiful sisters from different parts of Africa. One sister from the D R Congo had only been on her mission for eight days and is still trying to get her bearings; but we had a wonderful evening. After dinner we all, including the other couples and two of the Elders who joined us, went caroling in our complex. The Elders and sisters then joined us for pie and we watched the “Joy to the World” dvd together to end the evening. We'd forgotten how spiritual it was with the Tabernacle Choir and Christmas story. It was perfect for missionaries and there was special feeling as the eight of us, all missionaries away from our homes, felt the spirit of why we are here teaching about this Jesus Christ whose birth we were celebrating.

Christms - Christmas day was spent with the other missionaries, Elders, sisters, and couples for dinner and program, etc. We enjoyed the week but were getting anxious to get back to our special friends in the Hills which we did Sunday. We love these people and are surely going to miss them.

Sis. Blake's New African Dress - Christmas in Nairobi

Have a good and safe week.

Christmas Greeting 2010

(Note: Many couldn't open our Christmas letter so we have published a version of it here. Have a wonderful Christmas.)

A Mission Christmas Greeting to Family and Friends

Kenya, Africa - 2010

At this season of the year when we

celebrate the birth of our Savior,

our thoughts go to

dear family and friends.

In remembering you at Christmas

we share this poem that

has been meaningful to us.

******************

I WASN'T THERE

I wasn't there to see the star

That brightly led the way,

But I can have the Savior's light

To guide me every day.

***

I didn't feel the gentle peace

That fell on earth that night,

But I can feel His Spirit

When I'm doing what is right.

***

I didn't watch while Mary held

Her precious little one,

But I don't have to see to know

He is God's Chosen Son.

***

I wasn't with the shepherds

When they learned of Jesus's birth,

But I can learn and share His word

With others here on earth.

***

I didn't know the Wise Men,

With their treasures rare to give,

But I can give a priceless gift

Just in the way I live.

***

I didn't hear the angels sing,

Hosannas sweet and clear,

But I can praise and honor Him

Each day throughout the year.

by Wendy Ellison

******************

Please accept this letter as our Christmas

greeting, and know that we

are thinking of you with love.

May this Christmas

be special, and memorable,

and the new year bring you

peace and joy.

***

Merry Christmas with love,

Elder and Sister Blake

Update 12.19.2010

Farewell to Dear Friends – Monday night we spent the evening at President and Sister Broadbent's home for a farewell dinner and tribute to Elder and Sister Pucket who are returning home this week. We have been blessed to serve with them and wish them well and hope they will tell everyone how wonderful serving is here so others will want to come!

Christmas Celebration in Matua – Wednesday after teaching in Mitini we traveled to Matua in the afternoon to celebrate Christmas with the families there by watching “Finding Faith in Christ” together along with singing carols and sharing testimony of our Savior as we prepare to celebrate his birth. We took the TV, generator, etc. and set it up outside . The children sat on the ground while the adults sat on various chairs and benches. All were reverent and enjoyed watching the birth and life of Jesus Christ. There's no TV in the village so this was a very special occasion. Non-member friends were also invited and joined in. After we gave them each a sucker to celebrate. What a special day! 

Matua Christmas Program

Camping in Kikoko – Friday evening we met Elder and Sister McBride from Mombasa on the Kenyan coast, and Elder and Sister Bergner from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (which is also in our mission) in Salama, to travel to our Kikoko flat and spend the night. We warned them it would be like camping as we took the mattress off our bed and put it in the spare room and the couch and chair pillows on the floor in the living room for another bed. We slept on the box springs with thin foam on top. There wasn't great comfort but we enjoyed being together. After we arrived, we all hiked our favorite mountain trail through the homes and shambas of the Kamba tribe's people, which attracted a lot of attention with 6 mzungus together; and a host of 30+ children who tagged along in procession after us, chanting “How are you?” (They have learned this in school as an appropriate greeting to foreigners.) Upon return, we fixed spaghetti dinner on our one gas cooker (like camping). We put the beans in a frying pan and used that for a lid to the cooking spaghetti as both were warmed. It worked and added to the adventure. It was enjoyable sharing the beauties of the Hills with these special friends. We talked and played games into the night.

Saturday morning we drove to our high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima where Sister McBride demonstrated how to make paper beads. The thirty-two sisters who attended loved it and were excited as they all sat around the tables creating their own beads for necklaces. The three missionary sisters of us helped with the beads while the three Elders went to the Kyambeke Branch for the baptism of a good friend there. 

Ilima Self Reliance - Making Paper Beads

After a delightful experience, McBrides and Bergners left for Nairobi to go to dinner with the other couples. Elder and Sister Blake stayed to attend and speak at a Young Women in Excellence meeting in the Ilima Branch. Each of the young women told of a special project they had done during the year. They ranged from planting seeds in a “faith” garden or shamba, to canning mangos, to sewing skirts, scripture bags, etc. It's wonderful to see these young women so far from the center of the church working on the same Personal Progress goals and activities as other young women all over the church. It's an inspired program. We arrived back in Kikoko in the late afternoon to spend the night – tired but happy for the experiences of the day.

Ilima Branch YW in Excellence - Bread and Soda Dessert

Another Keyboard and English Christmas Program - It was an excited group who presented the Christmas program after the block of meetings Sunday. They had been practicing and preparing and were nervous but ready for the day! The keyboard students played hymns and Christmas carols, led the congregation in singing, and conducted the good-sized branch choir. They were so proud of themselves and relieved that it went as well as it did! The English students had a good time reciting a short Christmas poem that they have been memorizing in English, along with presenting the nativity with donkey, sheep, and Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, while the others sang the first verse of “Silent Night” in English. There were about 20 of them and they enjoyed being part of the celebration. After pictures and suckers we headed home to Nairobi – another good day.

Kyambeke English Students and Teacher - Christmas

Kyambeke English Students - Manger Scene

      

Music Students Give Sis. Blake Flowers After Program

After Christmas Program

      

Enjoy this last week of preparation for Christmas. Stay safe and happy. We love you.

Update 12.13.2010

This is a School !! Monday we visited a little elementary school in Kasarani – half-hour drive on outskirts of Nairobi. As we approached this little community scores of children flocked into the narrow, dirt road – pocked with rut-hole up to 16 inches deep – as they saw our nice, white pickup truck drive into the heart of their community. This little school was started and run in this area by Sister Elizabeth, relief society president in the Ilima Branch, and her husband, Isaac who lives in Nairobi where he works hard as a driver. This school isn't government sponsored but was established maybe 6 years ago to help up to 230 students – many of whom are HIV victims with sick parents – to attend.

The school building also shares rooms where some of Elizabeth's family members live and help with the school. It has about 18 small “classrooms” (and apartment bedrooms) joined on three levels by interior cement steps. Bro. Isaac and Sis. Elizabeth raised their family in a comfortable African home and shamba high in the Kilungu Hills (she walks 1 ½ hours to the Ilima Branch every week, where she serves faithfully as relief society president – their youngest son just finished his high school and is preparing for a mission); and they started this school on the far outskirts of Nairobi (2 ½-hours-ride by matatu from their mountain village). Bro. Isaac attends his church branch in Nairobi where he lives because of his work.

Sister Elizabeth and her family do an amazing job of helping these children. School is out for the Christmas holiday but when we visited there were sewing machines set up in one classroom and some of the teachers were busily cutting out and sewing school uniforms. They bought a huge bolt of material with money from the students who were able to pay tuition and were sewing the uniforms to save money and help those who couldn't afford them. They feed the children each day with beans and maize they grow in their mountain shamba, and with help from some donors in Finland and America. For many of the children this is all they will eat in a day. As we saw the untiring dedication of this dear family, our hearts filled with loving gratitude that we are unable to express in words. “Count Your Many Blessings” came to our minds. It's hard for us to even imagine the poverty. We forgot to take our camera but Elizabeth's son took pictures and we will send them later.

Kilili and Mitini – Tuesday we visited Kilili to help prepare for the music and English Christmas program on Sunday. Students weren't quite as prepared as we hoped be but “The show must go on!” Sister Blake also tried on her African dress being made on a treadle sewing machine next door to the church. It fit just right but needed to be pressed and finishing touches added. Elder Blake told her go back to the church and forget about it for now. (Maybe it will appear under the tree for Christmas – who knows?) She'll have to start wearing it soon. Time in Africa is running out!

After class in Mitini on Wednesday a visit was made to the home of a recent convert, Edward. He was a school teacher and faithfully attends the new member class taught by Elder Blake along with up to 8 other convert village elders (ages 45-58). He has wanted his wife and family to join him at church but his wife had been hesitant. The last time he had invited Blakes to visit she had said “no.” This Wednesday he said she had agreed, so after class we started the drive down the hill to their home. We drove as far as possible and then hiked the rest of the way. Elder Blake fixed a walking stick for Sister Blake and then Edward helped make one for him. (These old senior missionaries are starting to forget their pride and realize they could use a little help walking up and down hills. Walking sticks are a big help!)

Some of the children walked up the hill to greet and welcome us. We could also tell someone had done a lot of work on the trail to make it easier walking. Edward's wife was very warm and friendly and had prepared a nice meal of beans and rice which she shared after which we showed “Finding Faith in Christ” on our little battery-powered DVD player. There was a strong supernal spirit there as the whole family watched quietly. He was so happy that his wife felt the Spirit; and she invited us to come again soon and show the Finding Faith in Christ DVD to her brothers and sisters and their families. She said, “Come again and we will eat together and you can talk to them about this 'good word of God.'” We hadn't been expecting such a warm welcome. What a special day. They all walked us up the long hill and carried a nice bag of avocados for us to take home. It's such a nice family. We'll also send the young Elders over to visit.

Edward's Family

Edward, His Wife and Sister Blake

      

Family Watching "Finding Faith in Christ" on Portable DVD Player

Primary Conference in the Rain! - Saturday morning we left Nairobi early to pick up the primary leaders and teachers in Mitini and take them down the hill to a 4-branch primary conference in Kyambeke. It was raining as we left home and continued as we traveled. The conference had been planned for a month, and the sisters were looking forward to being together to learn about next year's program, especially the new music. When we arrived in Mitini President Kaseve called to tell us he was walking up to the church and that the road was too bad for us to drive. He said, “You must be very careful; but his statement of faith was: I know you will make it.” We were concerned for safety but we also knew sisters were walking long distances to attend and we couldn't disappoint them by not being there. Elder Blake put on his gum boots and we started down the hill. Pres. Kaseve was right, the road was muddy impassible; but with prayer and Elder Blake's good driving we made it through with just a few problems, one being a primary sister who got car sick and “lost her cookies” two times on the way.

We were so glad we persevered as the sisters all showed up – all 24 from the four branches (except one we knew about early who was helping a sick grandmother). The sisters from the farthest away branch, Kilili, had taken motor bike taxis in the rain and mud to get there. Others had walked 1 ½ hours in the mud. What dedication! Their sacrifice made the conference even better. We enjoyed learning new music, planning together, and practicing activities in the new Sharing Time Outline for next year. And, you guessed it, we served peanut butter jelly sandwiches and banana bread. What a wonderful group of sisters. We just felt bad that we didn't get a picture of this first ever Kilungu Hills Primary Conference for all branches.

Kilili Music and English Program – Sunday finally arrived for the Christmas program in Kilili (after the 3-hour meetings block). The keyboard students each played two numbers, the conducting class students (in groups of three) lead the congregation in singing Christmas carols. The English students (mostly older grandmothers) gave a short choral recitation (“At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior”), and ended the program by singing the first verse of “Silent Night” in English before the congregation joined in the last two verses. They stole the show and were so proud of themselves. It wasn't perfect but seemed to be enjoyed by the whole branch. What a fun experience! We started the three-hour trip home tired but happy and feeling blessed for heaven's help when we needed it. We know the Lord watches out for all his children (including missionaries) as we are in need and ask for his help, and then “move our feet” in faith.

Kilili Conducting Students

Sister Blake and Conducting Student

      

Elder Blake and Child at Kilili

Kilili Branch Choir

      

Kilili Keyboard Student

Have a good and safe week preparing for Christmas!

Update 12.6.2010

Self Reliance in Kenya – We skipped one day in Kilili while Sister Blake recuperated from her cold but left bright and early for Mitini on Wednesday to help with a Self Reliance Workshop in that branch. Elder and Sister Byrd, Employment Missionaries, conducted the workshop which we appreciated, since that is one of the biggest challenges here as there is so much poverty. A quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley in Cebu, Philippines in 1996 was a perfect promise to these saints. He said: “If members even living in poverty and misery...will accept the gospel and live it, pay their tithes and offerings, even though those be meager...they will have rice in their bowls and clothing on their backs and shelter over their heads. I do not see any other solution.” Already we see remarkable changes in the countenances of the saints as they accept and live the gospel.

As usual, our day didn't go as planned and we made another couple of runs to the hospital for a sister who joined the church right after we came to Kenya. She had a bad kidney infection and was expecting a baby in two months, which they determined at the hospital to be twins. We left her with a friend to be treated and then returned to pick her up and take her as close to her home as we could drive. We commented when we left that she was so far away from the hospital if there should be an emergency she would never make it. When we went to church there Sunday we learned that she had lost the twin girls on Friday. The branch organized, and after the 3-hour block of meetings on Fast Sunday, about 50 members walked clear from the church to her home to show support and love to this sister. A short meeting was held with talks of comfort from one of the Elders, Elder and Sister Blake, President Kaseve, and several of her branch friends. They brought bags of maize and beans for the sister and her family and chocolate drink to fix for the group. We had to leave early to climb back up the hill and try to make it to Nairobi before dark, but there was a good spirit there and peace and comfort were felt.

Kikoko Hospital

Sister Blake and Mitini Sisters Waiting at Hospital

Leadership and Handbook Training – Thursday, at the request of President Broadbent, we held a leadership training on the new General Handbooks of Instruction with the DVD from Salt Lake. There were about 60 people from three of the branches in attendance and it was enjoyed by all. We had previewed it two times and got even more from it the third time. It was powerful, and stressed the importance of councils in all we do in the church, including in families at home. We hope the members were able to understand the English well enough to really benefit from the training. They seemed to. After, we served biscuits (cookies) and soda as they had to walk back up hill to their homes – some as far as 1 ½ to 2 hours. We should never complain!

Ilima Visit – Friday we visited Ilima finally as the rain had stopped and the worst spot in the road had been fixed! We love being high on the hill – especially now everything is green and beautiful. School is out for Christmas holiday so some of the young women were there for music conducting and then keyboard class. This was followed by auxiliary training for YM and YW leaders. Pres. and Sister Simon sent us home with another large sack of huge, beautiful avocados. We're getting spoiled and enjoy eating them on almost everything!

Ilima Sister Lucy and YW Planting Garden

Children Greeting Blakes at Pres. Kaseve's Home

Christmas Decorations – Friday when we returned home we got our little Christmas tree out of the box and decorated it. We also put out our little clay nativity that April's and Brian's family sent us last year that arrived the end of January! We added the advent calendar Scott's family sent last year and we are in as much of the Christmas spirit as we can be with weather in the 70's and 80's and flowers blooming everywhere! We do think of family and friends especially at this time. We love you all and keep you in our prayers. Stay safe and happy.

African Baobab "Christmas Tree"