Update 6/24/2010

Baptisms – We've had some thrilling baptism experiences recently. Sister Florence, mother of a special strong family in Kyambeke was rebaptized after church on Sunday, June 13^th,, after being out of the church for some time. It was a joyful, spritual occasion for the whole family and branch. President Onesmus baptized and Elder Blake confirmed her (picture). The next Saturday at a Mitini Branch baptism two strong men were baptized: President Kaseve's brother Leonard (about age 35 ?), and a friend of Leonard's, whose wife is also a member. This also was a joyful occasion as the fathers in these two families completed their family circle in the church. They each bore strong testimony after. They'll be strong leaders (picture).
    
                         Sister Florence with President Onesmus and Sister Florence's Family
    

                           New Mitini Converts and Wives and Sister Blake With Wives

Mitini Branch Anniversary Celebration – Monday, June 14 was the first anniversary of the Mitini Branch in their own building. They started with 70 members and are now having 220 to 270 attend on Sundays. People have to sit outside as there isn't enough room in the building. We joined their celebration as they chose to watch a 2 ½ hour Church Leadership Training DVD and serve soda and peanut butter sandwiches. How many celebrations have we Americans attended where they celebrated by teaching leadership to the members? They enjoy being together and hearing the words of prophets and leaders. 

     

                             Mitini Branch Presidency and Refreshments Being Served at the Celebration

Death of a Great Leader and Friend – While staying in our Precious Blood flat we received a call at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday morning from President Davis of the Kilili Branch where we were going to teach that day. He asked us to come speedily to the Wote hospital and help give his brother, former branch president Morris Makiti, a blessing. They had taken him to the hospital during the night. We were about a two hour drive away plus getting ready and packing the truck. We arrived just before 9:00 and helped with a blessing of peace to Brother Morris and to his wife. He never regained consciousness and passed away later that day. He was a school teacher, who taught his class of 30 children as usual, the day before he succumbed. // He had just been released in April after serving as the first branch president since the Kilili Branch was organized 11 years ago. What a strong, loving, and caring man, with children still at home – age maybe 45 years(?) He was a leader in the community as well as the church. He and his family had been sealed in the temple and they have a son and daughter presently on missions. What a shock and loss. We were able to be with the family and help with transportation and comfort as best we could. We're so grateful for the gospel and knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. // When April was here the Makiti family wanted to have their picture taken with her. We were so thankful for that picture as we were able to make a family picture for them that they would not have had otherwise. Elder Blake is speaking at the funeral this Saturday. 

President and Sis. Makiti

April, G'ma Ruth Makiti, Makitis, Their Son and Daughter

     

Last Leadership Training – President and Sister Taylor will be released July 1^st as President and Sister Broadbent from North Ogden will become our new mission leaders. The last leadership training was June 17^th for all Chyulu and Kilungu Hills priesthood leaders. We were asked to help in the training. It was wonderful to look out over that group of strong African priesthood leaders. You could just feel their strength. They are the African pioneer leaders. (See picture.) We also trained Chyulu English teacher coordinators, and Sister Blake taught keyboard lessons to the CES secretary. It's a busy life! 

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A New Home – Our friend, Anthony, wanted Elder Blake to bless his new home that the branch helped build when his old one washed away in the March-April monsoon. After the baptism Saturday we drove as far as we could, then walked quite a distance down to the home. They are so happy to have it and wanted to make a celebration of our visit. They wanted us to tell stories to the family (most of whom speak little or no English)! Since we were there for their home Elder Blake told the story of the Three Little Pigs (I wish you could have seen him demonstrating “huffing and puffing” etc. ) Anthony would help translate to Kikamba. We then told scripture stories. They wanted more stories but it looked like rain and we didn't know how we'd get out of the valley if it rained so we blessed the home and then they served us the box of cookies we brought brought to them as a house-warming gift; along with sharing three small bottles of soda, they had sent the son running to buy. They only owned three glasses and we all shared. I don't think we know what “humble circumstances” mean, even now. They sent us home with a bag of avocados from their shamba that they carried for us as they all climbed the mountain to accompany us to our truck! 

     

                       Anthony's New Home and Baby With CTR Necklace

New Missionaries – Two of our special YSA friends have received their mission calls, Dominic Kaseve from Mitini to Uganda Mission and Kennedy from Kilili to South Africa Capetown Mission. There are now about 40 young missionaries from our mission-area serving full-time missions in other parts of Africa – and six more in our area who are preparing for (or presently expecting) calls in coming weeks/months. We are so blessed by their faith and commitment to follow the Savior.

Animals – We have been missing the animals lately but we saw a journey of eight giraffes on the way to the Hills and bushbucks, ostriches, and Thompson gazelles on our way home. We hope they are returning!

Home made African Soccer Ball

We are healthy, well, and happy and hope this finds you the same. Our love and prayers to you all.

Update 6.12.2010

Home Evening with Sister Missionaries - For our home evening turn we invited the sister missionaries to come and tell us about themselves and about what missionary work is like for them in Nairobi. Most of the couples in our housing complex have special area assignments in Public Relations, CES, PEF, Employment, etc. and aren't involved in regular missionary work. Sister Ngosi is from Johannesburg, South Africa and the other sister is from Chyulu here in Kenya. They are beautiful girls and hard working missionaries. Sister Ngosi's father passed away a few years ago and her mother passed away just before she came on her mission. We love them and appreciated the special spirit they shared with us.

 

New Elders – Tuesday we headed for the Hills to stay for two days. The Elders had Zone Conference in Nairobi and were not available to help with classes. We are trying to learn how to best help them. Everything is so far away from where they live and they are just getting acquainted in the area. Elder Berg is the only white person in Kalongo where they stay, and in the area! They don't complain but we see their challenges. We took them with us to our high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima, on Friday and invited them to dinner with us in Kikoko (Precious Blood) on Sunday. They were so excited. We'll see how we do with one gas burner and a plug in pot! It could be an interesting dinner. We'll plan with them and see how we can work together.

More Hospital Patients – On our way to the Hills Tuesday we were hurrying because we were late when we received a call from the Ilima Branch President who had a member in Kikoko hospital. He asked us to check on his branch member who was very sick. We did make the visit and talk to Sister Mary Agatha at the hospital. We were amazed that even though we were late we were able to do what we needed to do and be on time to our classes. It was almost like the clock stood still. We're still not sure how that happened.

Progress – We enjoyed our classes and can see some progress being made. It isn't as fast as we would hope and we are learning patience, but it is happening. It's fun to see the new members reading their scriptures and marking them. We enjoy seeing the English students starting to speak a little and understand some English, and some of the keyboard students are really taking off . There are some who will never really be able to play much but they are “enjoying the journey” and love being involved.

Ilima Relief Society – High-on-the-hill, Ilima, scheduled their Relief Society meeting while we were there. It was nice to see them instruct the sisters in visiting teaching and then they divided the sisters into two groups. One group was teaching the sisters how to use the treadle sewing machine and the other group was learning to make bags to hang on the wall to organize their clothes. All sisters were involved and enjoying just being together. Most don't speak much English but they all made Sis. Blake feel very welcome and needed. 

Future RS Sisters!

           

    

It's been a good week. Again, thanks for your encouragement, thoughts and prayers. It almost seems trite to mention it each week, but it helps more than you could know. We love you.

Update 6/7/2010

New Week - After being home-bound for awhile it felt good to hit the road for Kilili on Tuesday. We were tired but enjoyed being with the saints working on playing and conducting music, speaking English, and helping with YW and branch presidency leadership. We gave the Branch President's son a ride as we left toward the town where he will be doing some schooling. (Remember the lunch with the loaves and the fishes?) We spent the night at Precious Blood with no water or electricity but made a fun evening of it by sitting in bed and watching a movie with our battery DVD player (Christmas present from family). No popcorn but it was fun!

Our day at Mitini went well and after we took Elder Jackson and Elder Berg (new missionaries opening the area in Kilungu Hills) up to the high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima to meet the Branch President as we also had some business there. The missionaries were impressed by the beautiful view but a little awed by the responsibility of traveling so far (no car or bike) to help in that area. We will pick them up when we visit there but there are a lot of details (especially transport) to work out!

Elder Berg, Dominic, Gerald, Elder Jackson, and President Simon of Ilima

Change of Plans in Chyulu - At President Taylor's request, we were to travel to Chyulu District (about 220 kilometers south of Nairobi) and train the leadership in English the next day (Thursday), but they called and changed to Saturday which was better as Elder Blake's cold was worse and he needed the rest. Instead we left on Friday to spend the night in the other half of a duplex where Elders stay in Kambu Chyulu area. They met us on the main road on their bikes and guided us in or we never would have found it! It's walled in by a 10 foot high cement wall with pieces of sharp glass on top and a locked gate for security. There's a huge baobab tree right next to the compound. (See Picture. Baobabs look like upside down trees with roots on top!) It was fun getting to know the two sets of Elders living there who enjoyed our red licorice (Scott's family sent with April.)

The next day the Elders helped us find our way to Makatano where the beautiful, new, LDS-style Church is right out in the middle of the open African country – 7 kilometers from paved road – by a small village. It was amazing to turn the corner and see a church like at home! This is the area where the Church first came to Kenya. The District President, two counselors and two clerks, Relief Society President and counselor, the newly called English specialist, and one branch English teacher were all there ready for the training. Elder Blake had a fun schedule planned where they worked as if they were English students. It was a good training with a lot of laughing and some good questions and suggestions as to how to help members and investigators in the 10 Chyulu Hills Branches make progress in learning English. We'll be back in July for a Workshop for all branch English facilitators. We love our Kilungu Hills friends so much we wondered how we'd feel in Chyulu, but we found the same warm, friendly church members there. How blessed we are to work with them!

Sister Blake w/Chyulu RS Sisters

Baobab Tree

       

Sharp Glass on Top of Fense

Church Sponsored Water Pump

     

Boy Pumping Much Needed Water

Makatano Church and District Office - Chyulu Area

 “Monkeying Around” - On our way back we stopped to eat lunch at the Hunter's Lodge. We ordered and then looked over at our truck where the back window had been left down about 1”. The monkeys were climbing all over it, reaching their arms in, trying to get our travel food! Across the river there also was a baboon family with a mother and baby. We missed the picture as the waiter was taking our picture on the bridge. It was a fun stop!

       

Interesting Testimonies – We slept at our Precious Blood flat again and went to Mitini for church Sunday. It was fast Sunday with a good testimony meeting. It was interesting, however, as some of the children stood on a chair to see over the podium and bore testimony. These individual testimonies consisted of a scripture or Article of Faith, then the singing of a song. The interesting part was the choice of their “testimony” songs: “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” “Roll You Arms,” and “Do As I'm Doing.” (The prayer song in Primary was also “Roll Your Arms.”) The people have wonderful testimonies and a great desire to follow the programs of the Church; there are just so many things to teach and learn about how the Church runs and what is appropriate. It's a great work!

Baby Dresses – At Mitini we were able to give some cute, soft, hand-knitted dresses for babies to some of the mothers in the branch. (Aunt Norma sent them with April and they were made by some non-member sisters in the mid-west who make them for places like Africa, but have never seen them on the babies.) The mothers were so proud and happy to have the dresses – even though the babies were a little larger, and they were more like blouses! (Picture) We also finished distributing the CTR bracelets to this last branch. They will probably never see a CTR ring but the bracelets serve the same purpose and they loved them! We gave them to all primary children and Young Women. (Picture) It was a special day.

Babies in new knitted dressed w/ Moms

More loved CTR bracelet recipients

 After church we drove to Kyambeke and picked up the new Elders to take them back to Nairobi with us for their Zone Conference. We love these young men – Elder Jackson from Zimbabwe, and Elder Berg from Soda Springs, ID. They feel like our sons and could almost be our grandsons! We appreciate their strength of faith and their cheerful, positive attitudes as they face many challenges in this new area.

We are still coughing but feeling much better. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Update 5.30.2010

Call from the Mission President – Late Monday evening we received a call from President Taylor telling us he was seriously considering placing Elders in Kilungu Hills. The question was where to place them that was safe and central for the large Hills Area. We had already been doing some investigation but didn't know it would be so soon! He asked: could we check out possibilities and be in touch with him the next day?

Right Place at the Right Time – One possibility for Elders' housing was near Kikoko hospital by our Precious Blood flat. We were a little early for teaching in Kyambeke and decided to stop at the hospital to investigate. As we were visiting with our friend, Sister Mary Agatha (hospital administrator), she mentioned that she had “one of our people” in the hospital that she was concerned about. The lady had been in labor since Sunday (this was Tuesday) and wasn't doing well. They had an ambulance standing by and were deciding whether to declare an emergency and send her 50 miles to Machakos hospital. We went in to see the lady who was all alone, and visibly distressed. At first we didn't recognize her but realized she was Mary, a special friend and helper with English teaching. Her husband had been to see her early in the morning but didn't stay as the custom is for only women to be involved with the birth of babies. Elder Blake asked if she would like a blessing and she said she would. He gave her a beautiful blessing before the midwife and doctor came to make a decision what to do. After examining her again, the doctor came out to report that things had changed for the better and they would go ahead with the delivery. Two hours later Sister Mary Agatha called to report a healthy baby boy! // After classes on Wednesday, we took Mary's husband and the RS president to the hospital to take the new mother and baby home. When alone, Mary told Sister Blake that after Elder Blake had given her the blessing she was completely at peace and knew everything would be okay. What beautiful faith.

Elders Across Canyon – Wednesday Pres. Taylor decided that Elders would be placed in Kalongo Market Place (Matua Area) on Friday! Hopefully a new branch will be approved for the Matua area, where so many are joining the church but have to hike so far through a deep canyon to get to church in Mitini.

Longing for Baptism – Wednesday, Brother Boneface, one of the teachers in the Zero English Experience class, reported that some of the older people in his class who simply are not progressing well, had asked him that day what would happen to them if they died before they learned enough English to be baptized? We told him that Heavenly Father knew the desires of their hearts and things would be made right for them. We just love these wonderful people. 

       

                                                            Mitini Special Friend Christine               

Happy Birthday – Thursday was Elder Blake's birthday and we celebrated by preparing things for the English training next week in Chyulu, then went out for birthday lunch. We ordered “mushroom burgers,” which were interesting: They were bean patties shaped like a burger, with a couple of mushrooms inserted; at least there was a bun! (He did get a home-made lemon meringue pie.)

“Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall” - Friday was spent at the doctor instead of teaching at Ilima. Sister Blake's chest cold got much worse and Elder Blake got attacked by a host of new itchy bumps. They wonder if he is developing an allergic reaction to the malaria medication the Church provides for us; so they changed his medication to one that often causes hallucinations; maybe we'll let him write the blog for awhile... it could be entertaining! We were advised not to go anywhere until we checked back on Monday, so we've been home for three straight days. We felt bad not to help the new Elders move in at Kalongo; and Sister Elaine Dalton, YW General President, has been in town and we missed seeing and hearing her speak. We did watch two sessions of conference together on DVD and had the first real Sunday dinner since we've been here since we travel 6-7 hours each Sunday. We're glad we like each other as that's a lot of “togetherness.” We're too busy to be sick!

Update 5.24.2010

Health Report – No new bug bites this week! Maybe we've solved the problem. Sister Blake has a chest cold but missionary overall health is good.

Classes – Keyboard, after baptism, music conducting, temple preparation classes – all were enjoyable this week. What a fun experience to see people progressing and so anxious to learn. While traveling to our Precious Blood apartment we realized we needed some bread, so Elder Blake stopped to buy a loaf at one of the little kiosks near where we stay. We had a good laugh as it was about the size of thee dinner rolls. It was cute and we made toast on our little cooker. (See picture.)

Visiting Teaching Workshop – We helped with a visiting teaching workshop at Kyambeke which was delightful. To make sure the sisters understood visiting teaching suggestions Sister Anna (Relief Society President) interpreted Sister Blake's talk into Kikamba. They also played a game like musical chairs except it was called “Do You Love Your Neighbor.” The sisters really got into it and it was fun. When the brothers are around they seem a little quiet and shy but on their own they really have a good time. Refreshments were... you guessed it - bread and soda! (Picture)

   

“Beautiful Outing”– Friday we taught at our high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima. It was perfect weather. On the way up we said, “Here we are having a drive in the beautiful, green mountains; going to see some good friends, and then planning to have a picnic on the way home. What could be nicer? After class we hiked down (and back up!) to the Chuvi home to take missionary application pictures for the two sons turning in their missionary applications. We also took a picture of their mother and three younger sibling who were sitting in the yard watching the funny Mzungus take pictures. 

New Baby - On the way home we were tired and when we got to Nunguni we saw the Mitini Branch President who waved us down. He had been about 80 kilometers away to help one of the branch members home from the hospital after having a C-section. There were 5 people all needing rides the rest of the way to Matua (new Mitini area) – mother and baby, father, grandmother, and President Kaseve. We loaded them all in (with Sister Blake sitting on the center hump between driver and passenger!) as we headed into the back country over very bumpy “roads.” The poor little mother who had just had a C-section hurt over every bump. When we finally arrived we hiked her up the mountain side through 3-4 shambas to get to her hut. We thought we'd just hurry her in and leave so she could rest, but President Kaseve had other plans. He called all extended family members together for a short devotional and prayer for the family and new baby. What a special spirit was there.

“It's a boy – a missionary!” On the way to Matua Sister Blake asked if the baby was a boy or girl. The mother, who was only baptized in December, said, “It's a boy – a missionary!” Her husband has been working in Nairobi and isn't a member, but that was her testimony, that her son would be a missionary. Thirteen children followed us out to the truck and Elder Blake gave them each a little treat. We can't do it at the church or we'd be trampled, but there is was fun. What beautiful children.

    

We Liked This Saying On Wall at Catholic Hospital 

Utah Jazz in Africa? - On the way to church Sunday we saw a matatu with Karl Malone's name in big letters and Utah Jazz stickers. We thought Grandma Maxwell would enjoy this picture.

More Bracelets – We attended church at Ilima also this week and gave CTR bracelets to primary and young women. They were so excited. We wish April could have seen them. It has become a living legacy on the mountain.

   

It's been a good week for us and hope it has been for you. We give you our love and keep you in our prayers.

Update 5.17.2010

Two Good Days in the Hills – We had two good days with Kyambeke and Mitini branches this week. Elder Blake is working with four new prospective missionaries (2 are new converts) in one branch, and we started a new class for family relations in another. We're also working with auxiliary leaders on implementing home teaching and visiting teaching, and are trying to learn patience as changes don't happen quickly here! We struggle with the language but the people are so humble and willing to try. On Wednesday it was so foggy that we completely by-passed the Mitini church building and were headed down the road away from it, when we came upon members walking on the road – but to us they seemed to be walking the wrong way. After several minutes of trying to understand (we still don't understand their speaking very well) we finally understood that we were disoriented in the fog. The members got a good laugh out of that! And we had to back-up far to the church because there was no place we could turn around on the dirt roadway.

African Ways – The culture in Africa isn't quite the same as what we call “the culture of the Church” in relationships between men and women. When we were serving refreshments after one meeting Elder Blake was saying, “Serve the sisters first.” One of the men protested, “In our culture, the men eat first.” In Church meetings husbands and wives don't sit by each other. We made a sign that the leaders have permanently posted at the front of their chapel: “Humble Request / Please Sit Together as Families.” The branch presidents are now working on that. It just takes time to change traditions.

Too Much and Too Little Water – We have had a lot of rain this week. It was like the bottom fell out of the sky! It made it impossible to get to our Ilima Branch safely so we missed going there Friday. While we had so much water from the sky, we were without water in our apartment for most of three days. Some of the neighbors were putting tubs outside to catch rain water to do their laundry. We had to use some of our storage water to finish the batch we had started in the washer before the running water was finally restored. It made us appreciate the nice warm shower when service resumed!

More Bugs – Elder Blake is having his third bout (February, April, and May) with bug bites! We're not sure what kind of bug is biting him but we spent all day Saturday going to two different doctors. The dermatologist said he was sure it was a bite of some kind and gave him a different kind of medicine to put on them. We have put permetherin (flees/lice/bedbug insecticide for missionaries) on everything in both apartments to kill any bedbugs or anything else and are wondering if it is something in the grass where we walk. They don't bite Sister Blake (and she is grateful!) They think he is allergic to the bites and then he breaks out in other places. We hope we figure it out soon. He's getting frustrated with the incessant itching!

A Walk on Village Trails – Sunday we were a little early going to church so we stopped on our way and walked up a trail (staying out of the tall grass!) into the beautiful mountain country. We saw people in their yards and children playing. We hope we don't ever become so used to this scene that it isn't special to us any more. We came upon a boy playing near his hut (we watched for a few minutes before his siblings spied us), and he was building a miniature stick “fence” on his make-believe shamba. He was using a piece of magnetic tape from an old cassette tape he had found for the “wire” of his fence. (See Picture)

Church was enjoyable except we never know what we will be asked to do when we arrive. Sister Blake ended up playing the keyboard for the meeting and speaking in sacrament meeting! There's a lot of stretching and growing happening on this mission!

Bracelet Pictures – Several people have asked to see pictures of the bracelets April made for the children here. (The young women are also enjoying them, as well as the leaders.) We have included a picture of the bracelets and a lion picture from the Mara, taken a couple of weeks ago.

   

Have a good week. We love you.

Update 5.10.2010

Morning After – After April and Devan left we were on the road by 6:30 a.m. the next morning for our far away branch, Kilili. It was good we had to stay busy to keep from being lonesome. Prospective missionary, Kennedy, rode back with us toward Nairobi as far as the turn-off for Precious Blood where we were staying the night. He could catch a matatu there and go to complete paperwork for his mission. He was so excited to finally have almost everything ready. We stretched our lunch again. I told Elder Blake our lunches are often like the “loaves and the fishes” since we are not sure when someone will be riding home with us! He liked the peanut butter and jelly but egg salad with pickles was a stretch! // On the way to Precious Blood we had to pick up the generator and TV from Kyambeke and take it to the high-on-the-hill branch, Ilima so they could watch the general conference CDs on Saturday and Sunday. We finally made it to our second home tired and ready for a rest when the rain began to fall. It was a blessing we were off the roads that are bad when wet.

Mitini in the Rain – Wednesday morning it was raining heavily in Mitini. We wondered if people would show up because they walk so far on mountain trails to get there; we needed to help the investigators prepare for their baptismal interviews. When we arrived, the ZEE (Zero English Experience) class had already started and most of the investigators were there. It was a blessing to work with them and see their strength and faith. One young sister has only been married for one month, to a recent convert young brother from Matua. We were concerned that she might be joining the Church just because of her husband, but after visiting with her I could feel her strength and conviction and know that this was her own decision.

Humbling Moment – I visited the ZEE class for a few minutes. This is a class made up of mostly grandma and grandpa age people (some even older than we are!) They work hard and are so willing to try new things (including speaking strange-sounding English words before a group). It was raining which made the small room they met in quite cool and not too light. We could hear the rain pounding on the tin roof, but that didn't stop the class. At the end of the session each student was asked to come up and bear a simple testimony in English with their native teacher helping. (Somewhat like when we teach a small child how to pray.) One little grandma was quite shy (especially with me there) but she went up and bore her testimony. As I was watching and listening to her I looked down at her cold, bare feet. She had walked all the way in the rain without any shoes. What a humbling experience for us. We hope we can remember these experiences, what is really important in life.

Grateful for Spirit Promptings – Saturday we drove back to the hills for the baptism service for Mitini and Kyambeke. As we were on the road past Precious Blood I thought I recognized one of the men walking on the side of the road (tribal leader) who was supposed to be baptized that day. Elder Blake said he didn't think it was him because he was walking the wrong way. / I had a strong feeling we needed to go back. Elder Blake humored me and turned around to see if we could find the man. We passed him again and I still felt it was Brother Tom. Elder Blake still wasn't sure but drove until we found a place wide enough to turn around and went back for a third pass. As we got closer we rolled down the window and he came over to the car. He told us he hadn't been able to be interviewed by the AP's (Assistants to the President) the day before because he had been called to report and testify at the police station and he was there all day. He was upset to have missed his interview because he wanted so badly to be baptized. We called and got permission from President Taylor for Elder Blake to interview him and took him with us to Kyambeke to the baptism. Later, when he bore his testimony after being baptized, he said he had been praying that he could find Blakes in the little village where he was headed, so hopefully he also could be baptized. What if we hadn't stopped? We are trying to listen to the Spirit with more sensitivity. The baptism was wonderful. There were two sisters and four brothers baptized.

                   

          Bro. Francis and Wife                         Mitini Baptism (Bro. Tom in Center Back)

 Working ourselves out of a job! - We took the keyboard to the baptism so I could play prelude and music while people were dressing. When I came into the chapel after helping with baptism clothing, I heard soft music being played and found one of our keyboard students who had set up my keyboard and had begun playing prelude music. When we first arrived on our mission, the branches asked Elder Blake to do the baptizing; now they had three new convert priests do the baptisms. We are working ourselves out of a job! It's wonderful to see the members growing and taking over. (It's kind of like raising children to care for themselves so they don't need us.) There is still plenty to do and teach, but we love to see their progress and growth in confidence.

Thanks – Thanks for remembering me for Mother's Day. We loved hearing from you. Elder Blake surprised me with some beautiful flowers. I'm a blessed wife and mother. Thanks for all letters. It makes us be able to work harder when we can stay connected to those we love. 

We love you. Stay safe and well.