We are back in Nairobi after a very hectic but enjoyable few days at the temple. There are now two more "forever families" in the Kulunga Hills. We did end up with the 10 people from our branches, a young family of 4 from Kitale, and then 2 young single people from the Nairobi Stake. Because the Temple Presidency is trying to make that experience more accessible to its' patrons they have shortened the stay by one day but added a session each day so that we were still able to attend 5 endowment sessions, 2 sealing sessions, and 1 baptismal session. Because of the dynamics of our composite group it was a bit more of a challenge to keep them all on target so consequently not everyone made it to every session that they could and we were not able to get all the names cleared that our folks wanted to try and do while there. The 2 single people were really a great help and definitely did more than their share of supporting the physical needs of the group. They are in love and want to get married but her mom, who is an inactive member, seems to think she can find a wealthier groom who is willing to pay more for his bride so has forbidden them to marry. The obvious solution is for them to just move out and do what they want but the consequences of thumbing your nose at tribal customs can sometimes be life threatening and the church is careful to encourage the acceptance of the community. I guess another solution would be to get the mom active and help her realize that her daughter is not chattel. Onesimus, who had the visa challenge, did arrive in Johannesburg at 10:00pm on Monday so was unable to get to the Family History Center and get names temple ready before we got involved but he did get his wife and son sealed to him and now their child due in March or April will be the first in the Hills to be born in the covenant.
Although we did get back in Nairobi Thursday evening we were so far behind on our personal preparation that we still did not go up country Friday but spent the day addressing requirements at the Mission Home, Service Center, and around town. Sister Bishop also stayed and worked on clothes and the apartment on Saturday while I got a young member to go with me to work with the young people in Kyambeke who can only come on the weekend because of school. Because we hadn't been able to make it to Kyambeke on Thursday all the adult investigators also showed up. So I got Michael, one of the recent converts, to read in Book of Mormon Stories with the young folks while I taught the 6 adults. We should be back on schedule with them now and hopefully we will have them cleared for baptism before we disrupt the schedule again when we take the next group to Johannesburg on 23 Feb. We did identify a couple of potential dates in late May and early June with Sister Futter, the Temple Recorder, when we might be able to get one last group there before we finish up here but we need to do a little checking before we lock in a date. The Feb. trip is starting to loom large on the horizon as the temple is closed for the first 2 weeks of February so we need to get the final request for patron support in this week so it can be approved by the Area Presidency and the temple can lock down travel requirements. We need to review the passport status of potential patrons today but it looks like we probably have 16 of our people that have the documents to make it this time. I need to explain why the review of the required documents is such a challenge. These good people are so concerned that they not disappoint us that they often tell us what we want to hear which is not always what one would call the truth. Hence it is better for us to see the actual documents before we lock in any obligations.
We were back on schedule yesterday with church attendance in Ilima but the ride was a little rougher than usual as it had finally rained. This seasons crops had already withered but the potential is there to grow a few quick garden items that will ease the lack of food a little maybe. The road was intact but just had a lot more ruts washed into it and the climb up the hill to Ilima is no walk in the park on good days. I was able to teach a first discussion to a man who has been coming to church the last 3 weeks. His wife and 5 children attend with the Salvation Army but he is excited to get baptized and then share this new church with his family.
We did see another pedestrian fatality on our trip yesterday and because it has been much on my mind I am going to talk a little of it here. If memory serves me right we have now observed 7 corpses from accidents and these are so memorable because life seems to have a lot less value here. Tribal superstitions cause these folks to do anything they can to avoid any kind of interaction with these situations or their resulting trauma so that a corpse is generally lying unattended and any whose curiosity is such that it blunts the bad juju of death are generally huddled a short distance from the victim. Our first exposure to this was a car that had rolled along the road as we were driving the Mombasa Highway headed up-country. The damaged vehicle was receiving considerable attention but the corpse was lying uncovered some distance away. We next saw a bike rider who had been tagged by a matatu driver and he was still in the throws of exiting this mortal existence but he was unattended as the onlookers were huddled some distance away. We next saw a pedestrian who had got in front of a speeding bus and his remains were still in the road while they waited for the ambulance to come and pick them up. Just shortly before Christmas this year we were returning home on the Mombasa Road and I observed a motorcycle laying in the middle of the road. Upon swerving around it we then saw two mortal remains askew in the road along with the items they were carrying with them. About 40 yards away there was a huddle of people staring at the scene and just beyond that what was apparently the vehicle that had hit them with its' driver standing next to it but not even a marker of any kind to keep unobservant speeding vehicles from running over the scene. The victim yesterday was laying spread eagle at the side of the road in a pool of blood but there was no one around him. I was recently reminded just how deep the superstition and fear of anything associated with death is. We had agreed to haul the casket for James Mativo up to the hospital in Kikoko for his funeral 2 weeks ago. It was delivered to the flat here and as we had the 3 missionary applicants here preparing them for their interview with the president I asked them to come and help me transfer it to our truck. They were rather reluctant but I managed to cajole them in to assisting me but immediately after completing the task my companion noted that they very carefully and thoroughly washed their hands. I guess the thing that is so unsettling to me is that the powers that be seem to give so little regard to preserving life here and once something fatal does happen, which is quite frequently, the victims are on their own. Not sure I feel any better after venting here and I know that is not what you were expecting to read but I needed to put my thoughts down for my own benefit. It is certainly not one of the things we will miss when we leave but will certainly always be with us. As we read the news paper each day there seems to be gun battles between the police and gangsters and lynchings by the local populace on a regular basis. Life is just so cheap here that it is very unsettling.
Well I need to bounce myself out of this morose mood and get about today's tasks. I must first add this disclaimer that we are careful to avoid adding our own names to the list of victims and do not feel threatened especially to the everyday fatal incidents that come to people via all the modern conveniences such as speeding transport systems. In other words don't worry about us we are careful to avoid danger of any kind.
I will try and get some pictures added later today but we are hosting FHE this evening so my companion could have me on task most of the day. I do love her and want her to know that by trying to support her, but I know I don't always meet her expectations because I am after all a man and probably do come from Mars.
May you each have a safe day and week.
Elder & Sister Bishop
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment