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.