Yes I am just a little late this week but it is really not because we are lazy or in trouble just a lot going that prohibited us from spending the few minutes it takes to report. To start with it is now official we are the senior couple in the Kenya/Nairobi Mission as the Dickmans returned to San Diego on the 17th. However because the majority of the couples are only here for 18 months we are not the next to go home but our release date did make it on the last calendar that we received from the Mission Home. It is June 30th give or take a week or two. The President can work within that window without needing approval from the Area Presidency. Is there anything that we need to be home for? We know our kids are planning a family reunion. Do you have any dates set yet? We are also aware of the Bushman Couples Activity and I think that Nancy and Gary are hosting a Bishop Reunion in July? Any input would be helpful.
Now as to what we have been up to. The previous was pretty much like many of the others we have enjoyed while here so nothing terribly memorable. Our extra minutes were occupied with finalizing visa applications and tickets for the temple trip and securing some prices on some equipment we have gotten approval on to install some irrigation equipment on a joint shamba of several members in Kilili. The highlight for last week had to be the Branch Conference at Kyambeke last Sunday. Elder and Sister Watson were there along with the Taylors so they got to experience the driving conditions we endure each trip. They even saw some of the wilder areas we get to enjoy as the road was blocked on our return so it was either sit for hours or drive through the bush. The Branch was there in force and were very impressive with their efforts to conform to church guidelines for staffing etc. President Taylor commented that this is the first conference he has attended where they actually had Aaronic Priesthood Presidencies.
We picked up Judith from her aunt's home on Outer Ring Road enroute home as we had scheduled Dr. and DDS appointments for Monday. She turns 21 in May of 2009 so her mission papers can go in by February. We returned her to her aunt's Monday and picked up Sister Joseph who had been serving a temporary mission here in Nairobi as they had an odd number of Sisters for 6 weeks. She stayed with us Monday evening and presented our FHE for us (it was our week to host). She returned to Kilili with us on Tuesday. Because of a couples conference at the Presidents home on Thursday (Thanksgiving) we had not scheduled anything in Kyambeke for this week but we have 7 investigators we are working with so I went up Wednesday to talk about the "Plan of Salvation" and return Elder Charles Mutuku, who had been serving a mini-mission during the same time period as Sister Joseph. After the discussion there I picked up Elder Dominic Mukau, who is going to serve a mini-mission in Chyulu, so he could come back to Nairobi. We got about half way home when I got a call from the 1st Councilor in Kyambeke that one of the sisters there had been to the Hospital in Kikoko and they had referred her to a hospital in Machakos. Charles and I turned around and loaded Pius, his wife Christine, (who we baptized about a year ago) and a Mid-wife in the back seat of our vehicle and headed off the back of the mountain. She had been in labor since 7:30 that morning and had pains pretty regular during the hour and a half drive to Machakos. Pius was nervous about being alone so we stayed around while the baby was delivered via c-section. It was a boy and I am sure he will be spoiled rotten as his next sibling is a 15 year old sister. In Kenya these are referred to as baby's of luck as they are blessed to have another child.
Charles and I finally got back to Nairobi at 9:00 and we went by Outer Ring to pick up Judith again as her TB test had to be read to finish up her medical. We then took her for a chest x-ray. I dropped Sister Bishop off at the apartment as she still had to prepare the mashed potatoes for our meal at the Presidents and I returned Judith to her aunt's. We barely made it to the President's for the 1:00 meeting. Friday was a regular day back at Ilima but we left just a little early as we still had to pick up visas etc. for our trip on Monday. We were able to get back in time so now we have everyone's tickets, passports, and visas for our 7:30 flight to Johannesburg on Monday (Victor is picking us up at 5:00 so we can get to the airport on time). The 11 folks from Kilili who we are escorting to the temple are traveling here after church tomorrow and the young people need to meet with President Taylor tomorrow evening for his endorsement on their limited use recommends. This might sound a little hectic and chaotic but it is really rather organized when compared to the last few groups that have went from the mission here. These people just don't get too excited and are not very timely in their responses so that means tha sis. Bishop has to do all the worrying for them. I love my companion!
Well Sister Bishop has a perm appointment and my hair needs trimmed before our trip (we don't want to go looking like people from the bush or what others might call Bushman) so I need to sign off. Besides we need to run a check to Machakos for the irrigation project and pick up Judith one more time as she is going to the temple with us on Monday. We will be attending church in Kilili tomorrow and she wants to go home so she can ride in with her folks tomorrow evening. Because we will be in Johannesburg until late Friday it will probably be Saturday before our next update. Thanks for the prayers as we can sure see that the Lord blesses us as we struggle with our assignment here.
Elder & Sister Bishop
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Weekly Update 11-16-08
Well I am going to try and get this out before the rest of Kenya wakes up and the internet is overtaken by its' Monday Morning Hiccups. This wasn't too bad of a week as we were able to make it to all our scheduled visits despite the vehicle challenges that last week left us. Our truck came out of the shop by Wednesday evening before we had to climb the Kilungu Hills. The replacement we were using, although only 2 wheel drive, got us into Kilili okay on Tuesday but only because President called and warned us that the road was broken (washed out) in 3 places so we took a different route and still arrived close to schedule. We did have a flat in the traffic jam coming home that day but we were just a little over a mile from the Mission Office so we just rode it to there and then changed it. That turned out to be the best decision as the last assigned driver on our loaner vehicle had put a weird lock on the spare hanging underneath. That was probably a good idea at the time but the lock was so full of African dust that I was unable to open it. It was after hours so that no one but the security guards were available to help resolve the issue. I did finally find a hammer and proceeded to vent my frustration on the offending lock which did finally yield the desired results. However, the lock is now non-functional but I do feel somewhat vindicated. That will teach that hunk of metal not to willingly comply with the desires of a retired Colonel.
The Johannesburg Temple called us Thursday somewhat concerned that we had not sent any paperwork yet to support our scheduled Dec. 1-6 trip. We had finally received some of the passports on Wednesday and Victor was supposedly pursuing some of the deficiencies as we spoke. We coordinated with the Public Affairs couple to scan passports and the patron assistance form while we were in Ilima Friday. So I think we are good to go except there will only be 13 of us on this first trip as one of the families was still short passports for 2 children. We have since tracked down one of the missing documents and hope to have the other this week but they will have to go in February as the window of opportunity for Dec. is now firmly closed. The time lag in securing documents might put some of the projected February participants in jeopardy as well as we are still struggling with the submission of a few of those. We will still hopefully have some seeds of desire planted that will yet yield some good fruit.
Martin Muthenya Kioko became the newest convert in Kyambeke yesterday. He is a 36 year old bachelor who had previously spent some time proselytizing for his old religion in the village. The branch had over 160 attendants yesterday which is pretty good since there are only 181 members. There were several non-members in attendance and we will be starting some new discussions there Thursday. There are several family members and friends of recent converts that want to receive some instruction during the December School Holidays. Sister Bishop obtained a solid referral on a man who lives here in Nairobi and was visiting in his ancestral home and desired to come and worship with the members there. It was Kyambeke's week to have the generator and video equipment so they opted to view church history films in place of Priesthood and auxiliary meetings yesterday. After he saw "The First Vision", "The Three Witnesses", "Wilford Woodruffs Search for Truth", "The Windows of Heaven", and then witnessed Martin's baptism he was wanting to take the plunge himself. Hopefully this will result in a baptism for the Cassarani Elders here shortly.
Well I am starting to hear wake up noises in the other flats in our compound now so will close for another week but I will leave an observation which has been much on my mind lately. We have really grown close to some of these people and find the majority of the Kenyans to be very open people uncluttered with so many vices of the world that plague our own society. However it is my opinion that once they sit behind the steering wheel of a vehicle (especially the public service type) or occupy an office chair in some government ministries (especially immigration) their brain cells are reduced to "0" or lower and their propensity for ignorant acts, otherwise foreign to them, is inversely related to their mental capacity. Having got that off my chest I do feel better and am ready for another week. May God Bless you all!
Elder & Sister Bishop
The Johannesburg Temple called us Thursday somewhat concerned that we had not sent any paperwork yet to support our scheduled Dec. 1-6 trip. We had finally received some of the passports on Wednesday and Victor was supposedly pursuing some of the deficiencies as we spoke. We coordinated with the Public Affairs couple to scan passports and the patron assistance form while we were in Ilima Friday. So I think we are good to go except there will only be 13 of us on this first trip as one of the families was still short passports for 2 children. We have since tracked down one of the missing documents and hope to have the other this week but they will have to go in February as the window of opportunity for Dec. is now firmly closed. The time lag in securing documents might put some of the projected February participants in jeopardy as well as we are still struggling with the submission of a few of those. We will still hopefully have some seeds of desire planted that will yet yield some good fruit.
Martin Muthenya Kioko became the newest convert in Kyambeke yesterday. He is a 36 year old bachelor who had previously spent some time proselytizing for his old religion in the village. The branch had over 160 attendants yesterday which is pretty good since there are only 181 members. There were several non-members in attendance and we will be starting some new discussions there Thursday. There are several family members and friends of recent converts that want to receive some instruction during the December School Holidays. Sister Bishop obtained a solid referral on a man who lives here in Nairobi and was visiting in his ancestral home and desired to come and worship with the members there. It was Kyambeke's week to have the generator and video equipment so they opted to view church history films in place of Priesthood and auxiliary meetings yesterday. After he saw "The First Vision", "The Three Witnesses", "Wilford Woodruffs Search for Truth", "The Windows of Heaven", and then witnessed Martin's baptism he was wanting to take the plunge himself. Hopefully this will result in a baptism for the Cassarani Elders here shortly.
Well I am starting to hear wake up noises in the other flats in our compound now so will close for another week but I will leave an observation which has been much on my mind lately. We have really grown close to some of these people and find the majority of the Kenyans to be very open people uncluttered with so many vices of the world that plague our own society. However it is my opinion that once they sit behind the steering wheel of a vehicle (especially the public service type) or occupy an office chair in some government ministries (especially immigration) their brain cells are reduced to "0" or lower and their propensity for ignorant acts, otherwise foreign to them, is inversely related to their mental capacity. Having got that off my chest I do feel better and am ready for another week. May God Bless you all!
Elder & Sister Bishop
Pictures 11-15-08
This is the newest member of the Ilima Branch. Jacinta is holding her daughter Hilda. I had the privilege of giving a name and a blessing to Hilda before we started teaching Jacinta. I guess that makes up for missing out on the blessings of our own grandkids during these 23 months.
In our many trips up country there has only been about 6 days that the clouds and haze around Mt. Kilmanjaro has allowed us to see it. This is one of those days. The mountain is an extinct volcano with 2 peaks. We can generally see snow on one of the peaks when we do see it.
Theses are pictures of 2 goats that Sister Bishop took for JJ's edification. Because they get around so well and can live on about anything and go great in their stews there are a lot of them. We will see some tethered to bushes along the roads in the hills, some just running loose feeding wherever they want, or herds being shepherded in the low country. Some herds we see probably number close to a hundred or more.
This a picture of Mawenda about 1 year after we first took her to Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity. She really seems to be enjoying it there and seems to have gained a little weight.
These are pictures of some of Mwenda's fellow residents in their new roll around beds and wheelchairs. LDS Charities contracted their construction here in Kenya. It might not be evident in the pictures but in person it was very easy to tell that each of them was thrilled with their new transportation. For those that are bed ridden they can now roll them out to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors.
In our many trips up country there has only been about 6 days that the clouds and haze around Mt. Kilmanjaro has allowed us to see it. This is one of those days. The mountain is an extinct volcano with 2 peaks. We can generally see snow on one of the peaks when we do see it.
Theses are pictures of 2 goats that Sister Bishop took for JJ's edification. Because they get around so well and can live on about anything and go great in their stews there are a lot of them. We will see some tethered to bushes along the roads in the hills, some just running loose feeding wherever they want, or herds being shepherded in the low country. Some herds we see probably number close to a hundred or more.
This a picture of Mawenda about 1 year after we first took her to Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity. She really seems to be enjoying it there and seems to have gained a little weight.
These are pictures of some of Mwenda's fellow residents in their new roll around beds and wheelchairs. LDS Charities contracted their construction here in Kenya. It might not be evident in the pictures but in person it was very easy to tell that each of them was thrilled with their new transportation. For those that are bed ridden they can now roll them out to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Weekly Update 11-10-08
Well this week was a little different than our last few. There was a lot of rain all over Kenya almost all week. We were unable to get all the way to Ilima on Friday so left the material we were taking to them at President Mbondo's shop in Kyambeke. We left there at a little after 10:00 and did not arrive home until 5:00. We did make it all the way to Ilima for church yesterday and it rained while we were there but were able to 4 wheel through the muddy spots coming home. I must have got some bad diesel on our last fill up though as the vehicle started sputtering but we nursed it along to Athi River and finally called a tow truck and contacted another couple to come and give us a ride home. It was pass time to service the vehicle and there were a couple of other things that needed attention so we will be in a different rig for a few days. We will need our 4 wheel drive back before we head up country on Thursday. The General Motors shop we deal with is not particularly speedy though so here is hoping they get it done. It is probably contingent on whether it was bad fuel or another problem.
All 3 branches are excited for the good rain they have received and the crops in Kyambeke and Ilima have all pretty well germinated but because Kilili is a little lower they are just planting most of theirs now.
We were able to confirm Jacinta on Sunday and Martin was cleared in his interview for baptism last Thursday. However, because he asked that I perform the ordinance it wont happen until this Sunday then we will confirm him the following Sunday as we will be back there for their branch conference.
I made a quick trip back to Kilili on Saturday to secure IDs so we can try and pick up their passports this week. Sister Bishop wasn't too excited about another trip on the bumpy roads so Elder Pocock went along to keep me company. He is a retired Navy Chaplain and they are serving as the charities couple. He shared several humorous stories with me. "A man died and went to Heaven but said he had a couple of questions before he was judged. What are they? How come you made women so pretty? So men would want to marry them. How come you made women so dumb? So they would be willing to marry men." His next touch of humor has something to do with the fact that he graduated from Utah State. Did you ever think what would have happened if Orson Pratt had been the second President of the church. It would be OPU instead of BYU. We wont know until tomorrow whether we can get the passports without bringing all the folks back into Nairobi.
Wednesday afternoon we spent some time at the Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity where we left Mwende a year ago. We had coordinated with the Charities couple to have some special wheel chairs made for some special needs children there and they were delivered then. Only 2 were chairs and the other 4 were roll around beds adapted for some kids whose lower limbs were so deformed that they cannot sit. Until now they just spent their days in a big bed in the covered courtyard but now they will be able to roll them outside when they take the other children. I have some pictures and will get them out soon. We are having a real struggle with the internet again today but I will forward them once this thing gets up and running again.
The Kenyans are very excited about the new president elected in the US. They declared last Monday a National Holiday in honor of Obama's victory and some are even thinking that they need to permanently declare Nov. 4th as Obama Day. They immediately ran power to his Father's Mother's village and have began upgrading the runway at the Kisumu Airport so that Air Force 1 can land there if the need should arise.
Well that is my ramblings for another week.
God Bless,
Elder & Sister Bishop
All 3 branches are excited for the good rain they have received and the crops in Kyambeke and Ilima have all pretty well germinated but because Kilili is a little lower they are just planting most of theirs now.
We were able to confirm Jacinta on Sunday and Martin was cleared in his interview for baptism last Thursday. However, because he asked that I perform the ordinance it wont happen until this Sunday then we will confirm him the following Sunday as we will be back there for their branch conference.
I made a quick trip back to Kilili on Saturday to secure IDs so we can try and pick up their passports this week. Sister Bishop wasn't too excited about another trip on the bumpy roads so Elder Pocock went along to keep me company. He is a retired Navy Chaplain and they are serving as the charities couple. He shared several humorous stories with me. "A man died and went to Heaven but said he had a couple of questions before he was judged. What are they? How come you made women so pretty? So men would want to marry them. How come you made women so dumb? So they would be willing to marry men." His next touch of humor has something to do with the fact that he graduated from Utah State. Did you ever think what would have happened if Orson Pratt had been the second President of the church. It would be OPU instead of BYU. We wont know until tomorrow whether we can get the passports without bringing all the folks back into Nairobi.
Wednesday afternoon we spent some time at the Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity where we left Mwende a year ago. We had coordinated with the Charities couple to have some special wheel chairs made for some special needs children there and they were delivered then. Only 2 were chairs and the other 4 were roll around beds adapted for some kids whose lower limbs were so deformed that they cannot sit. Until now they just spent their days in a big bed in the covered courtyard but now they will be able to roll them outside when they take the other children. I have some pictures and will get them out soon. We are having a real struggle with the internet again today but I will forward them once this thing gets up and running again.
The Kenyans are very excited about the new president elected in the US. They declared last Monday a National Holiday in honor of Obama's victory and some are even thinking that they need to permanently declare Nov. 4th as Obama Day. They immediately ran power to his Father's Mother's village and have began upgrading the runway at the Kisumu Airport so that Air Force 1 can land there if the need should arise.
Well that is my ramblings for another week.
God Bless,
Elder & Sister Bishop
Monday, November 3, 2008
Weekly Update 11-2-08
Well here it is Monday evening again and I am just getting around to the weekly update. Had a lot of errands here in Nairobi today. Sister Bishops medicine arrived at the embassy so we made a trip there after turning in month end reports at the mission office and getting reimbursed for some stuff we had paid for out of our funds. Also, was working on a bit of an issue with the passports as they have a bunch ready to pick up but the new director of immigration or someone down there has decided to require the members to travel back to Nairobi to pick them up. This is a new requirement as Victor has been able to just pick them using a receipt in the past. There is some speculation among the missionaries as to what is driving this as the Minister of Immigration has seemed to give our efforts a fair consideration in the past. Am told that someone at immigration indicated that the Muzungus should just go home and the church can send the money to Kenya and they will hire local divinity graduates to preach the gospel for us. They find it hard to believe that we are here on our own dime and they want to take the money they think the church is paying us and use it to employ local Kenyans. That is just a little frustrating, especially when we think of the good people we work with up country that these people and their wrong deductions just make life harder for. It just seems wrong to make these people each spend a day and 1,000 shillings a piece to satisfy some bureaucrat's weird whim with some new requirement.
The folks in Kilili finally got a good rain last Saturday evening and we drove through a lot of puddles going to church there Sunday. Hope it keeps coming and that the Kyambeke and Ilima areas are getting more moisture also.
We also picked up a couple of mattresses today that we are taking to a family of orphans that the Kilili folks want to help out. Don't know the particulars yet other than that there are six children who sleep in two beds measuring 3 1/2 by 6 feet and are just currently sleeping on some old sacks. Hope these new additions to their sleeping arrangements will help out. We will take a couple of tied quilts from LDS Charities (those ones you Relief Society sisters work on) and some wool blankets that they have contracted to be made here locally. This is one of those fun feel good things to augment what I am sure are very austere conditions.
Halloween is not much of an event here as we didn't see any hype or promos in the stores. There are Christmas decorations starting to appear but I guess that is somewhat understandable as Thanksgiving is an American thing. President and Sister Taylor are hosting a thanksgiving meal at their home on the 27th for the local couples. The meal will be followed by some training. We were also informed at FHE this evening that the Madsen Family who works at the embassy here wants to invite all the couples to a Turkey dinner on the last Sunday of November. They are starting at 3:00 and we generally have a hard time getting back before 4:00 from up country so the jury is still out as to whether Sister B and I will make it. I mentioned to my companion on our drive home yesterday how nice it will be to one day do away with these 6 hour trips we currently wrap around our Sunday Service attendance.
We are watching with interest tomorrows elections wondering where this world is currently taking us and what kind of situations we will return to in another 8 months. It does seem like a lot of hope and assurance was offered in the recent General Conference if we each just try to follow the Savior's example and teachings. Let's all focus on that as we deal with the challenges we are called on to face here in the immediate future. God lives and loves each of us. We miss each of you and look forward to our happy reunion in 8 months. A special note to our children is thanks for your notes and pictures and we are anxiously awaiting those pictures of grandchildren in their costumes that haven't made it yet.
Elder & Sister Bishop
The folks in Kilili finally got a good rain last Saturday evening and we drove through a lot of puddles going to church there Sunday. Hope it keeps coming and that the Kyambeke and Ilima areas are getting more moisture also.
We also picked up a couple of mattresses today that we are taking to a family of orphans that the Kilili folks want to help out. Don't know the particulars yet other than that there are six children who sleep in two beds measuring 3 1/2 by 6 feet and are just currently sleeping on some old sacks. Hope these new additions to their sleeping arrangements will help out. We will take a couple of tied quilts from LDS Charities (those ones you Relief Society sisters work on) and some wool blankets that they have contracted to be made here locally. This is one of those fun feel good things to augment what I am sure are very austere conditions.
Halloween is not much of an event here as we didn't see any hype or promos in the stores. There are Christmas decorations starting to appear but I guess that is somewhat understandable as Thanksgiving is an American thing. President and Sister Taylor are hosting a thanksgiving meal at their home on the 27th for the local couples. The meal will be followed by some training. We were also informed at FHE this evening that the Madsen Family who works at the embassy here wants to invite all the couples to a Turkey dinner on the last Sunday of November. They are starting at 3:00 and we generally have a hard time getting back before 4:00 from up country so the jury is still out as to whether Sister B and I will make it. I mentioned to my companion on our drive home yesterday how nice it will be to one day do away with these 6 hour trips we currently wrap around our Sunday Service attendance.
We are watching with interest tomorrows elections wondering where this world is currently taking us and what kind of situations we will return to in another 8 months. It does seem like a lot of hope and assurance was offered in the recent General Conference if we each just try to follow the Savior's example and teachings. Let's all focus on that as we deal with the challenges we are called on to face here in the immediate future. God lives and loves each of us. We miss each of you and look forward to our happy reunion in 8 months. A special note to our children is thanks for your notes and pictures and we are anxiously awaiting those pictures of grandchildren in their costumes that haven't made it yet.
Elder & Sister Bishop
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