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
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