Goodmorning (it is not yet 6am here). I need to be out early today and am not sure when I will get back to the computer. The new bull bar broke loose for the 4th time on our way to church yesterday and as I was working in the mud to tie it back on I determined that I was going to have to insist for a better solution. I am convinced if they would take it to a good machine shop and have them grind all the slag and crud off then do it right it would be okay but then maybe there is no such thing as a good machine shop here. The other solution is to just do away with it but it has reduced the number of idiots trying to bust in front of us because it is a little more intimidating than the average rig now. I will have to see what I can work out with James at the service center but this noise of spending a big portion of our time in Nairobi just shuffling rigs is more than just a little annoying. We did get rid of some of the deviations this week and are driving on a little more new road but then they extended the deviation in another area so not really making much progress in the over all scheme of travel. The dirt deviations really are an improvement over the deteriating roads initially but in just a matter of a few days they become rather terrible thanks to the wet weather and the unregulated truck traffic.
The President asked me to look at trying to find an abode a little more convenient to our area so I spent last Saturday with Victor (a self employed procurement specialist that the office frequently uses to avoid Mazungu prices) looking in Machakos. It is the biggest town between Nairobi and the Hills but I didn't see anything I would dare recommend to my companion so will keep looking. It didn't help any that there was an article in Fridays paper about the number of gangster related deaths in Machakos as of late but the locals there discount that as people who are just trying to get someones attention. We have possible leads on homes in different areas (Emali & Wote) but I question the chances of finding anything. It sure would be nice to be able to spend a little more time in each of our areas and help out with some reactivation. If we could get the available priesthood out in Kyambeke I am sure we could convince the church to stand up a branch in Mitini which would be a really cut down on the walking time for the members. With the way investigators keep popping up the church would probably just keep growing if the walking time was able to be reduced and we wouldn't feel so bad on Sundays when we pass mothers with their young ones spending over an hour to get to church for their meetings.
We had just a couple more potential temple candidates show to classes this week but then we probably have more than we will be able to take this first time already if they all follow through at getting their documents. Of course we can schedule anther window of opportunity for them and hope that it will become neccessary to do just that. It is gratifying to see some begin the long process of procuring their birth certificates, IDs, marriage certificates etc. These are major milestones as so many of these events just happen at home so the government is not aware of them.
Need to share a couple of seemingly insignificant things with you that have increased our feelings for these people as of late. Angeline and Ester, who are two of our English students, have both shown up lately with prayers they have written down in English. Very simple but heartfelt phrases that are indicative of how badly they want to be baptized. Sure hope we get to see those blessings in their lives in the next 15 months and I know with the Lord's help it will happen.
Well another Elder is stopping by in a few minutes so we can help each other shuffle vihicles this morning so I need to scrape the stubble off the ole face and try to get presentable for another day. It is a blessing that my eyes aren't as good as they used to be and my standards are lower are it would take more than just a few minutes to achieve acceptable grooming results. We love you guys and appreciate any notes are pictures no matter how short they are. Please keep them coming as they really add to our days.
Elder & Sister Bishop
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