Weekly Update 12-29-08

This was our first normal Christmas in Kenya so weren't sure what to really expect. You will remember that last years election was on the 27th and it erupted into post election violence that saw over 1,100 people killed and 300,000+ displaced from their homes. We were subsequently confined to our compound for a couple of weeks and now a year later there are still camps of internally displaced people that are trying to find a home where they feel safe and vindicated for what they lost. The people talked last year of how most people return to their roots up-country during Christmas but that wasn't evident last year as a lot of folks stayed put so they could vote. Well we witnessed the migration of people this year. We spent 6 of the 7 days traveling ourselves. We did our normal things to Kyambeke and Ilima on Thursday and Friday and then were back to Kyambeke for their party that I reported on in the last update. Sunday we were at Kilili for church but then spent Monday here in Nairobi and it was rather hectic as we were trying to get a few things we needed for the branches plus make a run across town to check our APO box at the embassy. The crowds brought memories of the pre-christmas throngs back home. We did get some welcome remembrances at the post office though along with our replacement battery charger for our camera. Tuesday we were back to Kilili but spent most of our time supporting their Relief Society Christmas Celebration which they wanted a movie of. Not sure we will be able to load that on our blog site but we will bring a disc home with us. It was very entertaining. They love seeing themselves on camera and some are real hams when given the opportunity. Wednesday we took the Assistants with us to Kyambeke and worked them rather hard doing baptismal interviews. We did get 8 people approved and now have our investigator pool there whittled down to where it is a little more manageable. Still have some great people there with a strong desire to become members but their understanding of the english language is a bit of a challenge. Although they can read it rather haltingly their comprehension is not the best so we are going to begin spending some time there with just them and try to teach a single principle each visit. That might use up a bunch of our Saturdays as several of them are primary school students and we certainly can ill afford to interfere with their parochial education. It will also give us a chance to integrate a couple of these older sisters who have been studying English with us for some time now. Not sure it will be our most successful attempt while here but it will fulfill a promise we made to them and ourselves early on. If it works it might be another seed that we can leave with these good people for others to nourish and harvest.

Christmas itself was very uneventful for us. We got together with the other couples for a pot-luck dinner and watched a few specials on the television. Friday was spent here in Nairobi also and we took advantage of that day to go to the Masai Market to procure a few African mementos we want to bring home with us. The natives take over the upper parking lot at the Village Market out by the embassy each Friday to sell their home made wares to any who are interested. Since we are normally in Ilima on Fridays it was an opportunity for us to go and barter with the locals. Saturday we didn't even leave the compound except when I ventured out to fill the truck with diesel which required stopping at 5 different stations before I was able to fill up as the human migration had impacted the supply and demand to the point that there just wasn't much fuel to be had. We also went with several other couples for our traditional weekly Saturday evening out to dinner but I was solo as Sister Bishop had what she thought was a bit of a reaction to our required semi-annual dose of worm medicine. She was back on her feet Sunday and I purchased a take home portion of cashew nut chicken for her Sunday dinner.

Yesterday we were at Ilima for church and we got to see the receiving end of the Christmas migration up-country as there were people everywhere. The little towns were pretty well packed with families home for the holidays and the roads in the hills had significant numbers of walkers and would be riders. Mission rules pretty well limit our ability to support riders so we just generally waved back and kept on trucking. The traffic on Mombasa highway had a few more vehicles on it and they were rather impatient in their habits but the traffic in Nairobi has been significantly reduced which sure has reduced the stress here locally. Well must get going here as our week looks to be a little different again this week and we need to get prepared for the changes but will report back next Monday. Hope you all get a good start on your new year. One last note here is that with a release date of 22 June we are experiencing our slump day some time this week. Not sure when exactly and it makes my head hurt to try and figure it out so we are content to know that the completion of our time here is drawing nigh. This is definitely a mixed bag of blessings so we will just not dwell on it much untill we are back in Meridian and near our family and friends again. We miss you each so much but already know that we are going to miss these folks here also.

Love ya all,
Elder & Sister Bishop

Weekly Update 12-21-08

Well the week before Christmas was just as busy as I have always remembered them to be but the activities were a little different from the ones I have enjoyed all these years. Besides our normal travels up-country we had training for the Branch Presidents with President Taylor on Wednesday. That meant no time at St. Mary's this week and we brought President Makiti back with us from Kilili on Tuesday. He stayed with us overnight as it is almost impossible for him to get transportation that will get him here by the 10:00 start time. Presidents Simon and Mbondo were here right on schedule which is not a common occurrence so the training was over by a little after 2:00. That allowed my companion just a little shopping time etc. to finish our prep for the week. Thursday and Friday's trips up country were rather normal but then we went back to Kyambeke for their Christmas Party. They had 280 plus people there (their membership is 180). We showed some Videos (Mr. Kreuger's Christmas, Nora's Gift, The Other Wiseman, and the Nativity) then they had the Institute and Seminary Students give some memorized scriptures from the Bible and Book of Mormon on the birth and life of the Savior along with several choir numbers. The highlight for me was their portrayal of the nativity. I have seen none better. Their home made costumes were great and they covered everything from Gabriel's first visits to Mary and Joseph through King Herod's activities that necessitated the flight into Egypt. Of special note was Herod's self styled crown that was about 2 feet high and some sheep that sounded just like the real animals. Our camera's charger went out while we were in Johannesburg and although we have purchased another on-line it has not arrived yet so we were only able to document these activities in our minds and hearts. Then it was time for the goat stew and chipatas and they demanded that we eat first. It makes one feel a little awkward to see the fattest ones there chowing down first. We did eat our token amounts but had to leave shortly thereafter so as to be back home by dark. We weren't going to travel at all this Christmas week but Kilili pushed their Relief Society Party to this Tuesday and wanted us there to document it with a loaner camera. I have also scheduled a trip to Kyambeke on Wednesday as we had promised several school students to help them get prepared for baptism during the school break and the time is getting short. Because the investigators we have been working with there range from adults down to 9 year olds it is very tough to give the individual personalized attention that each might require. I have scheduled to take the Assistants with us on Wednesday to kind of sort out those who are ready to pass the interview and had hoped to have them be able to concentrate on a few that needed a little more help with some of the concepts they need to know for baptism. That might have been in vain though as Pres. Mbondo announced to the big crowd on Saturday that we would be there then and that generally encourages those who are hoping that the English requirements have been relaxed to come and try again. Pretty tough to tell someone they need to wait until another time when they want membership so badly, but I can appreciate what a struggle it is for some of the older folks to master another language as I have given up trying to learn any more than just a real light smattering of Kikamba myself. I do figure if we can both make it to heaven though that we will be able to sit down and have some great discussions on what we were trying to tell each other during our mission to Kenya.

It is going to be a little quiet around here for the next few days as the other couples left on a short Safari to Samburu. They will be back Wednesday. Because of our commitments up-country and our desire to save for a couple more trips to the Temple we opted out of this adventure. We need to pick up a few items here in Nairobi today and hope to be able to pick up some mail at the Embassy but that little joint is just as over run as any post office back home this time of year so not sure how that will work out. Our plan is to stay here in town for Thursday and Friday this week and then venture back up-country to Ilima for church on Sunday.

The 12 Jan Temple Trip is pretty much organized with the exception of securing the South Africa Visas but we wont be able to work on those until after the 1st. We will have the 10 folks from our branches, a family of 4 from Kitale (not one of our branches) and then 3 singles from here in Nairobi. Looking forward to that special opportunity again and hope that now we have a little experience we can make it more special for these first time attendees.

Well the sun is up so I need to get busy doing other things.
Merry CHRISTmas to all. We love and miss you everyone.
Sister & Elder Bishop

Weekly Update 12-15-08

Got up early this morning and did the weekly update but when I hit send the screen went blank and that was just kind of how the whole week went. Just a bunch of little ankle biters thrown in with the normal activities. We were home late last Sunday as we had to stop in Kyambeke to resolve some issues with a vendor who was providing some relief food purchased with Church Welfare money. The beans were acceptable but the maize smelled moldy and there was a concern for toxin. The vendor agreed to replace the maize which happened Monday okay. We spent Monday pulling together the documents and patron assistance application for the 12 Jan. temple trip. We stopped in Machakos on our way to Kilili on Tuesday to help spring Christine and her new son Enoch from the hospital. She is the gal that we hauled out of the hills for the c-section 2 weeks ago. We brought Catherine and Judith back with us from Kilili as they are working for their aunt in a couple of shops on the outskirts of Nairobi. We kept Judith with us thru Wednesday so she could finish up her dental and security clearance in preparation for her mission application. Also picked up new front tires and an alignment job for the front end of our vehicle. I wasn't being very observant as to what these roads were doing to the truck and the cords were starting to show on the inside of the front tires we had. We were scheduled to teach a couple of young people in Kyambeke on Thursday so we tried to get there early enough that I could get some pictures out of the library to assist in the presentation. We arrived 30 minutes early and I went to leave my materials in the classroom before hitting the library and there were 12 people sitting there waiting. Pretty tough to teach a group that size and ensure that they are all understanding but I'm sure any returned missionaries who spent lots of time knocking on doors will have very little sympathy for us. We weren't able to dawdle much as we had a discussion scheduled with a man and his daughter in Mitini on our way home. We were about an hour into our schedule at Ilima on Friday when President Simon asked if I could teach a discussion to a young mother who lives near the branch there. She was waiting on the lawn. Then we came home a new way going through Sultan Hamad as one of the bags of maize delivered on Monday was still unacceptable. We took it back to the vendor and traded for a good one. Then we left early Sunday so we could run it up to Ilima before going to church at Kyambeke. It had come untied bouncing on the roads enroute so there were portions of the 90kg of maize scattered in the back of the truck. My suit was more than a little dusty by the time we got it bagged again. We did arrive back in Nairobi in good time Sunday to compensate somewhat for all the late arrivals through the week. When the computer erased my efforts this morning I just shut it down as I had an early appointment to get the truck serviced and new shocks installed. So here it is 10:00pm and I'm just finally getting back where I was at 7:00 this morning. We did have a gift exchange for FHE after watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas. Sis. Bishop ended up with a box of chocolates and I got a Christmas CD. Well we are back on the road to Kilili tomorrow so I am going to call it a night. Hard to believe that Christmas is just 10 days away as the weather certainly doesn't put us in mind of the kind of holidays we are used to. Hope this finds everyone safe and enjoying this special joyous time of year. God Bless You Everyone.
Elder & Sister Bishop

Temple Trip Pictures 12-13-08

Members leaving the chapel in Kilili after 2nd hour of the Sunday Block so they could catch a Matatu for Narobi and complete the first leg of their journey before dark.

Our group next to the manger scene outside the Johannesburg on Tuesday evening after completeing all their personal ordinances and being sealed together as families.

We went back to the temple for some photo opportunities while we were waiting for the temple to open on Wednesday.

Our group at the side of the temple. As you can see it was built from the same plans as the Boise Temple but on a little smaller scale. The rooms will only seat 22 people.

A picture showing some of the African foilage surrounding the temple grounds.

We had some great cooks. This is a picture of them at work in the common cooking area that is part of the patron housing.

We had really planned to do a little better job of documenting everything that happened while in Johannesburg but the charger to our camera went bad on us. We have ordered a new one to come to our APO box and are hoping it will arrive before we travel with the next group on January 12th.

Weekly Update 12-08-08

Well the Temple experience was as just as great as we had hoped for. The two families left Kilili after the 2nd hour of the block last Sunday so they would make it to Nairobi before dark. This stirred several of the other families to ask when we would be starting another Temple Prep class now that it was obvious that they really could go to the temple. We met the young people at the Mission Office after we arrived back to Nairobi. They still needed President Taylor's signature on their limited use recommends. It was a short night as we met the folks on the bus back at the Office at 5 the next morning and were to the airport by 5:30. The check in went well although it was their first ever experience with all the security requirements that have to be met for today's travel. There was a bit of a hiccup with the transportation at the Joburg Airport but me moved through that and got settled at the patron housing. Kennedy and his companion arrived early Tuesday and they helped get some names temple ready at the Family History Center. We were at the Temple when it opened at 3:30 that afternoon and finished up with the family sealings by about 9:00 that evening. We started Wednesday afternoon off with some baptisms. I acted as recorder with the two fathers doing all the baptizing. Sis. Bishop stayed with the 2 boys that were under 12 and then met us for the 6:00 session. We were able to get 2 sessions in Thursday and then did sealings for all 4 grandparents that we were working on for each individual. The temple had a special 6am session on Friday that we were able to attend before we had to check out and get to the airport. When we arrived home that evening our vehicle wouldn't start so we got a ride home then I went back and put a new battery in it Saturday. We were back in the saddle with Church at Ilima yesterday.

The time in South Africa was a good break from our schedule here although it was not restful as we spent a lot of energy making sure everyone was productive in what we had went there to do. The Patron Housing folks had procured groceries and our group then prepared our own meals in the dining area there but also had to work around the other groups that were in attendance. It was interesting to eat with them as we let them drive the menu as it was easier for us two to adjust rather than have them trying to eat our preferences. We ate rice and beef stew with sechumawiki (not sure if that is spelled right) which is kind of a mixture of chopped spinach type greens with a little tomato, peppers, and onions mixed in. Sister Bishop fried chicken one evening and baked it another and I convinced them to all have an ice cream bar. Apples and carrots seemed to be a real novelty to them but they would eat them when we sliced them up. I think we might have gotten a couple of them hooked on peanut butter sandwiches as I wasn't really too excited about their baloney type meat. They still can't believe that we drink our milk cold. Life is sure different when you don't have electricity. It wasn't until the last day that I was able to get them to let us wash their clothes in the washers and dryers provided as their preference was to just wash them in the sink and hang them on the balcony to dry.

For those who were wondering why we flew rather than used ground transportation it is a 4+ hour flight. There are more than just a few different countries and I am sure that the roads aren't a whole lot better than what we see here. Since it takes us around 3 hours to travel the 150 kms we do each trip I cannot imagine how many days would be spent on a bus or whatever we could get to travel to the temple and back.

We have decided that we will probably need to accompany each group that goes which could mean 3 more trips before we finish up. I'm sure they would eventually get where they need to go if unaccompanied but the time there is so short that it would be much better if we can save them the frustration of trying to figure out how everything works.

I failed to report in the last update that we had the opportunity of picking up the newest couple at the airport. It was Boyd and Loa Anderson who live out on Cloverdale Road there in Kuna. They had been in Johannesburg for a month but because they were pulling some couples out of D R Congo there was some shuffling happened and they ended up assigned to this mission. Because of our schedule we weren't able to spend much time with them last week and they have been up country since our return.

Well we have a bunch of things that need our attention since we missed a week so we will sign off for now and try to get some pictures loaded before bed time this evening. We are starting to see more evidences of Christmas here which makes us really miss home when we stop to think about it but the weather is warm enough that our thoughts don't drift that way often.

God Bless,
Elder & Sister Bishop

Pictures 11-16-08

Martin's baptism. It's the rainy season so the water is brown again.

President Simon and his wife Lucy keep us abundantly supplied with avocados when they are in season. These are the ones they gave us last week. The egg is a point of reference to indicate the size of the ones they give us. Some of them approach the size of a small cantalope.