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