Update 1.31.2011

Mitini Branch After Shared Home Evening

                      

          Distributing Toothbrushes and Pictures of Christ

      

Family African  Mission Experience – It's been a wonderful two weeks with Scott, Lisa, and children visiting from Idaho! Many pictures have been taken and it will be hard to decide which to include. The following summary is maybe 1/10^th of significant, spiritual and adventurous events we witnessed during their stay. Visits were made to all the branches we serve and the family was able to to interact with the wonderful members. The Kilili Branch presented a keyboard and choir program and all the Blake children also participated on the keyboard, including Max (6) with Lisa's help. The members really enjoyed the little “Mzungu” children and they received lots of African hugs on both cheeks and pats on the head to feel their blond hair. While the language was hard for each to understand, the love of the members was so strong, and the family could feel of their faith and testimony.

Scott and Lisa's Family Arrive in Africa (Lisa Taking Picture)

 In Mitini Branch and again in the Matua Area we introduced the family and then we presented a home evening so the members could see how it could be done. Scott and Lisa's family conducted the FHE just as they do in their own home, included songs, prayers, scriptures, and the story of King Noah, Abinidi, and Alma in King Noah's court. After the scripture story we acted it out with simple props (just items found in or around an African home), and the members loved it – especially when Abinidi (Max, age 6) was tied to a tree and melted with the fire! They also enjoyed the game Scott's family demonstrated of sending one of the children from the room and then hiding something and saying “hot hot” or “cold cold” to help them find it. It was fun interaction with the members.

Another fun interaction was with the greeting to the children. In Kikamba, they greet children by saying “Wah-cha” and the children respond by saying “Ah.” We had prepared the Blake children, and as they were greeted they made the appropriate Kikamba response and the members laughed, clapped and loved, it as did the children. 

Sunday we were able to visit the high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima for Sacrament meeting; and then Kyambeke Branch for the last hours of the meeting block, as they combined the last session so all could meet the family. The primary children sang songs; and the YW recited and sang their theme. Elder Blake had Madyson go up and join with them. She didn't know the music but she was a good sport and said the theme with them. The family members were asked to speak and bear testimony which they did. We could see their testimonies strengthened and also those of the wonderful Kilungu Hills saints as we shared that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same all over the world because it is God's church on the earth today.

Camping in Kikoko – The family were good sports as we camped two nights at our Precious Blood flat in Kikoko so we could work with the branches there. With couch pillows used for mattresses and borrowed foam mattresses on the floor we “camped out” and experienced the beauty and adventures of walks in the Hills, cooking over a “jiko” (small charcoal cooker), and interacting with the students at Precious Blood. Bucket baths were a new experience and some preferred cold showers (very brief showers punctuated with loud squeals!) We were blessed with water and electricity working both nights! Scott's back has been giving him a lot of trouble again (The rough, bumpy roads didn't help!) and he had a treatment from Boneface, the blind chiropractor who worked on Sister Blake. They both enjoyed the visit and the treatment and Scott thought it helped. While he was being treated the rest of us visited the young Elders and “toured” their flat. Pit toilets, bucket baths, kitchen sink that drains into a bucket—good early mission preparation for Isaac and Max—but seeing the Elders and feeling their enthusiasm and testimonies was wonderful.

We also visited the neighboring Kikoko Girls' Primary School where the children enjoyed delivering the library books purchased with Christmas money donated by all the Blake grandchildren. More special experiences as they could see the need for books and supplies and feel the spirit of helping, and the love and excitement of the children and teachers there. This was repeated by a visit to the Kasarani Primary School (suburb of Nairobi). The school is run by a family in Ilima Branch. Most of the children are very poor and many can't even afford 15 shillings (about 18 cents) per day for food at school. This includes porridge in the morning and rice and beans or ugali and cabbage for lunch. The only food some get is what they have at school. Part of the grandchildren donated money also went to this school for school curriculum materials- math, english and science books. The students in each class sang and recited poems, etc. The grandchildren also were asked to do something, so the “Hokey Pokey” etc. were introduced to Kenya! The young “baby class” as they call it (3 and 4-year-olds) was the favorite and they all wanted to shake hands and touch the “Mzungu” friends.

Kenyan Wildlife - We were able to see animals along our drives which was exciting, especially the giraffes, but we really expeienced the famous Kenyan wildlife with a visit to the Masai Mara where we flew by small plane from Nairobi and spent three days at the Aruba-Mara staying in tent cabins which opened with a view of the Mara River (populated by troops of baboons). Our guide (Christian name, Julius) was traditional Masai and he knew the area well. We saw and experienced things we hadn't even expected to see: such as three cheeta brothers who had just taken down a hartebeest; a whole pride of 15 lions, including lion cubs and father Simbas, eating a freshly killed African buffalo; and a small baby elephant nursing from its mother. (The two hartebeast bucks were fighting, and the cheetahs sneaked in while the bucks were distracted and took one of them.) We saw a total of about 22 different species of animals and birds that we were able to name and felt like we were experiencing a National Geographic tour! We enjoyed our guide so much that Scott gave him a small copy of the Book of Mormon with his testimony written inside that the family brought with them. He accepted it graciously and we hope he reads it.

New Friends – During the evenings we stayed in Nairobi, Scott's children made many friends among the black neighborhood children in our compound , who showed up as soon as the van arrived home! They played games (especially loved hide-and-seek) and learned many things from each other. Before leaving the grandchildren gave their friends (about 8-10) copies of the Book of Mormon they had written their testimonies in and told them about what was in it. One boy, about 12-years-old came the next day and asked if he could have one. He had seen the other children out the window and wanted one also. Seeds are being sewn.

Family visit Pictures:

Sunset Over Africa - Masai Mara

Mom and Baby Hippo

        

New Sign for Scott's Office "Open Wide"

Baby Elephant Orphanage

       

Safari Begins

African Animal Humters

      

African Buffalo Head to Head

Zebra in the Wild

      

Lion Picture Taken by Lisa Leaning Out Window (No Zoom)

King of the Jungle

      

Lion Family Eating their Buffalo Kill

Giraffes on Parade

      

Elephant Family

Three Illusive Cheetahs on a Kill

      

Scott - Love the Children

Kymbeke Primary - Mingling with the Children

          

Home Evening with Matua Friends

Blakes with Mitini Friends

Kenyan S'mores - Cooking Over Jiko in Kikoko

Family with Precious Blood Students

     

Donating Library Books to Kikoko Girls' School

Mingling with Students at Kasarani School

      

         

Recess at Kasarani School - Dirt Playground                    Saying Good-by to New Friends in Nairobi

All Good Things Must End... - Late last Friday night we took the family to the airport to begin their long journey home. Our house is empty and too quiet now. With only about 5 hours sleep, we got up early the next morning to drive to Kyambeke for a special baptism of a prominent teacher and shop-owner in that area. It was a beautiful baptism and he shared a wonderful testimony that sounded like he'd been a member for many years. He will be a strong member and leader. His wife is not a member and we hope to friendship her and prepare her for the Gospel as well. We next made visits to families in Ilima Branch as we climbed the mountain to their homes. We showed “Finding Faith in Christ” again. They then fed us a late lunch of rice and beans as we visited and then walked us back down to our truck. We finished the weekend Sunday by teaching PH and RS on home and visiting teaching. It was a good day as we celebrated our 47^th wedding anniversary in the Hills – no gifts, no cards, no flowers (no time!) – but a wonderful day of remembering how blessed we are. We have only about two more months here and we hope to make the most of them as we work hard and love the people. When we arrived home about 5:30pm, our couples missionary friends brought us dinner, to which we teased, “How did you know it was our anniversary?!”

Elder B, New Convert Patrict, and President Onesmus of Kyambeke Branch

We love you all. Stay safe and happy.

Update 1.17.2011

Short Blog – Scott, Lisa and family arrived safely last night and we have had a fun reunion! We stayed up very late and have much to do today so this will be a short blog entry this week. Following are a few pictures of what we see in Africa:

Beautiful View Out Our Window!

Stork at Uhuru Park (Could anything this ugly deliver babies?)

Milk Delivery at Kikoko Neighbor's Flat

Nunguni Restaurant - Ugali, Chapatis and Chips

      

Success Stories – We have been working with the branches to teach leadership and how to plan activities, etc. Thursday we met in Kyambeke for a 3-branch relief society planning meeting. They are planning a joint RS birthday party in March. We did a little training from the new Church Handbook about the purposes of the meeting and what it could include and turned the planning over to the sisters with one president in charge. It was wonderful to see how they caught the vision and enjoyed planning together. I had taken copies of a RS history reader's theater to see if the wanted to use it. They did and divided out the parts and all the assignments for the rest of the activity between the three branches. We wrote on the board and they all made notes of their assignments and set a date to meet one more time to finalize. Yes! It's working and wonderful to see the leadership getting a vision of working together in presidencies and with other branches.

Elder Blake works with leaders each week, endeavoring to deepen and strengthen branch Melchizedek, Aaronic and Sunday School Presidencies, to prepare them for present and new leadership callings as the branches grow and divide. Sunday it was with combined Priesthood and R.S. members, trying to help people look for solutions rather than just so many life problems. Presentation title was “That Which We Focus Upon Increases.” By seating English speakers with non-English speakers and with lots of time for partners to talk, many timely examples were shared, and personal goals written.

In December we wrote about having McBrides from Mombasa area and Bergners from Tanzania visit the Ilima Branch with us and teach the sisters how to make African paper beads. It is quite a process and we had a fun time but left thinking with just one lesson there's no way they will be able to make a finished product. What a wonderful surprise when Sister Elizabeth (RS Pres. from Ilima) and Sister Lucy (YW Pres. from Ilima) showed up early to the planning meeting, each with a paper bag full a beautiful necklaces they had made, and shared with us plans for helping the sisters in their branch and teaching sisters in the other branches how to make them. They are looking forward to marketing them as a means to help the sisters earn money working toward self reliance. The necklaces were just as beautiful as those they had seen as samples at the workshop! They are catching the vision.

Sister Elizabeth and Sister Lucy With Paper Bead Necklaces

We can't take credit for these success stories – only that we have been praying daily for couple missionaries to be prepared and accept calls to Africa. Elder Blake's brother, Karl, and his wife have been called to Johannesburg, South Africa on a mission! We're excited and happy for them and know how needed they are. With their strong faith and all their talents and abilities they will be a wonderful asset to that mission, and we know from experience how many blessings they will receive for their service.

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

Update 1.10.2011

Four Days in the Hills – Early Tuesday we left to meet with the saints in Kilili. It's getting dry everywhere and we could see signs of the maize wilting when it should be tassling. We pray for rain soon. The music classes enjoyed preparing to present a little program to our family (Scott, Lisa, and children who will be here next Sunday!) when they visit there on the 18^th. It helps to have a fun goal for people to practice. We took our usual shortcut from Kilili to where we stay at Precious Blood (1 ½ hours instead of 2 ½ ) to see if we thought the mission van could make it. (We are borrowing it while family is here.) We decided that it might be a little too much of an “African experience” and that our company might decide to pack up and go home!

Classes weren't as large this week as it is harvest time for mangos and people are getting their children back in school . This is the beginning of the school year instead of August or September in Utah. We enjoyed the days however, as we did primary and relief society training, and started a new temple class in one branch while continuing a class in another. In one class we are working on family history (family group and pedigree charts) but also helping them start their life stories. There is very little recorded history here. Many haven't had access to pencils, paper, or education to learn how to read and write. The next generation in the church here will be easier because most of them learn English in school, which most attend. Right now is a transition period. We gave the class members papers, pencils, and a list of “suggested life story information” (including testimony) to put in a history, with a promise that Sister Blake would type anything they wrote and get it back for correction if they would hurry before we leave in early April. We'll see what happens.

Mitini Primary Leader Training

Elder and Sister B Visiting in the Hills

One afternoon was spent visiting. On one visit the new member wasn't home but we got lost on the way and met some of his very nice neighbors. We'll send the missionaries there. The other visit was to Josephat's family. He was baptized one week ago. His blind son has studied to be a chiropractor. He would like to work out of his home and Sister Blake was his first customer! It was an interesting experience. During the last part of the treatment Elder Blake showed “Finding Faith in Christ” on our battery-operated DVD player to Josephat, his wife, and a neighbor lady, while Boneface listened as he worked on Sister Blake. They all seemed to really enjoy it as they are very familiar with the bible.

Sister Francis and 3 Daughters

Restroom Facilities at Josephat's

It was a good week and staying busy was therapeutic. We were able to be in touch by cell phone each morning (evening in Idaho!) and hear a report on Dad's funeral. Thanks for your kind thoughts and wishes at this time. We are grateful for our many blessings, and we count you as a major part of them. Stay safe and happy.

Update 1.3.2011

Love, Loss, and Memories – This has been a different kind of week as we received word of Sister Blake's father passing away. He was hurting and it was expected but still leaves a hole in our hearts as we miss him. We love him and have spent time reminiscing of all the wonderful memories we have and the example he has been throughout our lives. We feel blessed for the Gospel of Jesus Christ which gives us the peace and assurance that he is okay and that we will be with him again one day. We will miss being with family and friends at this time but know we are where he wanted us to be and doing what he wanted us to do.

Time in the Hills – We spent Tuesday and Wednesday with regular classes. The drive is beautiful right now with everything so green. We were told yesterday, however, that they are praying for more rain as it is really needed now for their shambas to produce.
     

Friday night was spent with the other couples for New Year's Eve but we were up early Saturday to drive to Kyambeke for a baptism including investigators from two branches. One brother, Josephat from Mitini, lives a very long ways away and has a blind adult son so we went early and picked up Josephat, his, wife, and son. We had only been to their home one time and were lucky to be able to find it again! They were waiting and had prepared “cocoa tea” for us before we could leave for the baptism. (They assured us it was not tea.) We were in a hurry but didn't want to offend them as it is the custom. He had asked Elder Blake to baptize him. We have been trying to have the members do the baptizing but this was a special request. He is a strong and educated man and will be a wonderful help for leadership in the Mitini Branch. About 10 people were baptized and it was a special day.

Elder B, Josephat, Wife and Son

Elders, Branch Leaders, and New Members

The rest of the day was spent making visits to homes and helping the missionaries. We gave them a ride home as Elder Hayes was taken sick. We had arranged dinner for them and a planning meeting at our flat, but we took dinner to their home so they didn't have to go out (Sprite for the sick Elder!) We talked about how blessed we were to have a flat in Kikoko to make it possible to spend more time serving instead of driving back to Nairobi. We attended church in Kyambeke Branch Sunday before returning home.

Our distinct impression was that Dad would be pleased with the service we were able to render and that's what he would expect us to do even as the family were gathering at home for his funeral. We are grateful for the peace we feel at this time.

We love you. Stay safe and well.