Weekly Update 1-21-08

Okay so I am a little late this week. I got involved in finalizing the request to LDS Charities for the needs of the hospital in Kikoko on Monday. It is amazing to me how our days fill up even when we are not sure just which way we need to focus that day. Our schedule was a little different this week but not so much from the unrest as in past weeks. The wind screen in our vehicle had jolted loose so that it would whistle as we drove and popped forward every time we closed the doors without a window rolled down. They told us to bring it back anytime when we had it serviced last week and they would fix it right up and being the slow learner that I am I believed them. After our trip to Kilili last Tuesday I got up early Wednesday to take it in by 6:30 so we could have it back that evening. We were not able to get it back until Saturday and even then I had to wait almost 1 hour and then had to have them take it back to the shop and clean off the tape and other residue from their repair work. In the mean time we were using an old Toyota Stallion (a cross between a mini-van and a station wagon) that had been retired from the mission fleet but they have not had a buyer yet. It is only a 2 wheel drive and it was raining heavily on Thursday so we did not attempt the trip to Kymbeke that day. By the time we made some deposits at the bank for the branches, picked up some items they need but can't reasonably purchase up country, and made a mail run to the embassy there wasn't much day left. We traded for a 4 wheel drive with one of the Nairobi couples on Friday for our trip to Ilima. President Simon called while we were en route to alert us that it was starting to rain again but we determined to keep going with the hope that it might let up enough to accommodate us. We made it to Kikoko and stopped to finalize some things with Sister Mary Agatha at the hospital while waiting for the rain to ease. It didn't let up so we called and canceled our visit and came back to town and finished some copying and laminating on materials for the branches in support of their 2008 course schedules. With the return of our vehicle we headed to Kymbeke Sunday even though it was still raining lightly at intermittent intervals. We made it but the rain had really limited the native attendance as so many have to walk some distance. I left Sister Bishop at Kymbeke after Sacrament meeting and made a quick trip to Ilima to deliver some materials and check on our investigators . I parked and walked the last kilometer because I didn't want to risk another slide off. Fortunately the rain stopped for my jaunt up and back but my shoes and suit pants were heavily covered with gooey red stuff at trips end. It started to rain again as I picked her up for our trip home. We made it okay but I did have to hit a couple of the hills and bogs a little faster than what Sister B was comfortable with in order to keep from getting stuck. I had to have our vehicle back to the fleet office on Monday morning as it is being fitted for a shell this week so we can haul additional items in back and keep them reasonably clean. The couple from Chyulu are at the temple in South Africa this week with a group from their branches so we are using their vehicle.

The rain, though a bother, has been a real blessing. The short rainy season is supposedly over but their crops were still needing water as the seasonal rain had started a little late but this last week has given them enough of a boost that they should have a good harvest in a couple more weeks. It has also really slowed down the protest marches and looting. The government and its opposition have still not made it to the negotiation table yet and promises to not incite seem to bend and break daily. However things are a lot calmer. I will insert the last 3 sentences from the Churches most recent security alert to the mission here. 'The unrest in Kenya has largely subsided. However, isolated incidents of violence persist and renewed ethnic strife is possible. LDS missionaries have resumed activity in areas known to be peaceful.' The truth of the matter is that there are still deaths (15 each the last 2 days) and disturbances reported daily that were not happening before the election. For the most part it is confined to the slums and a fair portion of that seems to be vigilante type reprisals by groups who are just fed up with the mayhem of present and those who have taken advantage of the situation for personal gain. I think we are getting a good glimpse of Satan's efforts to reign with blood and horror. We are feeling no threats but are careful about where we are at all times and make every effort to be back inside our compound before dark each day. We were recently made aware of an article in the online Meridian Magazine that is a fairly true version of the current situation and I am including a link to that here for those who might be interested. The David Olawo it quotes is the man who does some day work for us as needed. http://www.ldsmag.com/exstories/080121kenya.html

I think I mentioned we hosted the Family Home Evening. I reviewed the 1st Presidency message and Mother made her lemon jello cake which was a real hit and hopefully made up for my meager efforts of instruction. In addition the hosting couple is responsible to coordinate our Saturday evening out each week. We made reservations at Fogo Gaucho which is a new Brazilian style all you can eat place near by that has just opened. I ate a lot more meat than I should have but these few hours with the others is a good pick me up as we prepare for our various tasks each week. Because this is Africa these Saturday evening events are usually a 3 hour event with the last 20 minutes spent just trying to get our seperate bills for the evening's feast. You might find it interesting that these meals usually cost from 1500 to 3000 Kenyan Schillings for both of us which converts to 30 to 45 dollars American depending on the conversion rate. A 50 schilling tip at one of these events seems to be above average judging by the appreceative smiles we get.

Well it sounds like Sister Bishop is up now so I need to get ready for our volunteer work in the Saint Mary's Pharmacy today. Because of our connections there we are coordinating with them for a shared container with the LDS Charities of supplys from Salt Lake. Thanks for your prayers and concerns in our behalf.