Christmas Update 12-25-07

It is 11:00 AM Christmas Day and I just finished washing the vehicle as David, who normally does it, is up country visiting his wife and kids for the holidays. Six of the Nairobi couples got together for FHE last night. We sang a few carols and read an open theater type version of all the people involved in that first Christmas. A bunch of us (last count I heard was 22) are getting together for dinner at 2:00 today. I stayed up and watched a dvd of Mr. Bean I borrowed from one of the couples last evening. Ma and I went for a walk this morning and admired those flowers and lush green flora that are not covered with campaign posters. Just not the same kind of Christmas I am used to. We are in the middle of getting a land line (phone) put in our flat and the tech at Telkom assured me it would be in by the 25th so we could call home but silly me forgot to ensure that he meant 2007 and not 2008. With Boxing Day and Elections, I don't think there is another work day here until Friday so our calls will have to wait as we have given up trying to communicate out of country on our cell phone.

Elections are very interesting to say the least and these next few days should be very enlightening. This is only their 9th election since gaining independence so they are still trying to figure out how to conduct them fairly and equitably. Balloting is Thursday and yesterday (Monday) was the last day they could legally campaign. There continues to be a few deaths by machete of opposing party members, car burnings, and several other forceful expressions of opinions. The whole area is literally covered in posters with them glued to trees, roads, rocks and anything else at hand. Not sure who is going to win but the majority seems to think that if the incumbent does it is because of rigging so I really wonder how peaceful things will be these next few days. We have stocked up enough provisions to just stay in our secure compound until we get an all clear.

No dramatic changes in our schedule this last week except we did run into some mud and traffic problems enroute to Ilima on Friday so turned around and came back. President Taylor had scheduled some training for the 3 Branch Presidents at the Kyambeke building on Saturday so I still got to make the usual 4 trips despite the aborted effort on Friday. I ran President Makiti back to Kilili afterwards and loaded up with 300+ Apple Mangos from his Shamba as everyone had said how I needed to bring them some when they ripened. Turns out the potential market had pretty much left for the holidays or it just wasn't convenient at this time. We donated a bunch to an orphanage and have been giving them as presents but still have quite a few left. They are just now getting ripe enough to eat. Next time I only take orders though.

We are still working with an active investigator pool of 22 but are hoping to be able to shift our emphasis to a Temple Preparation Program in the coming year. There are only 2 endowed members in the Kilunga Hills and they are returned missionaries who went through in South Africa while at the MTC there. Because of the high crime in South Africa all the Sister Missionaries there were transferred to other Missions this last week. Four of them ended up here in Kenya, Nairobi. One is a Sister Essma from Twin Falls. There was an earth tremor here Sunday afternoon. We didn't feel anything and I don't know if it was because we are in a daylight basement type flat or were still vibrating from our trip home on the bumpy roads but the others all felt it.Need to get cleaned up for the festivities so will close for now and try and send a few pictures later. Hope all are having a safe and happy holiday.