Weekly Update 3-22-09

The Mission Conference with Elder Kolliker this week was a good experience. He instructed how this is the season for Africa and indicated that there are now more baptisms per missionary each month in Africa than any other country. Sister Bishop was asked to play the organ and agreed as long as she could approve the songs to ensure she was familiar with them. Then as they were waiting for the meeting to begin they sang favorite hymns as nominated from the audience. She did a great job but just played those she was unsure of a little quieter so the singing would negate any strange notes. All the couples that were here for the conference went out to dinner at the China Plate on Friday evening. There were 13 couples which included the Kollikers, Taylors (Mission President) and the Wells (health specialists from the Area Office). The Wells had presented a program on mental health during the conference which I assumed was more for the young guys as most of us couples are either okay or beyond help depending on whose point of view you take. Elder Kolliker then presided at the Nairobi Stake Conference and installed a new presidency but because we interact very little with the saints here in town that meant very little to us.

We delivered Dominic's mission call to him on Thursday and he is going to the Cape Town South Africa Mission on June 4th. Also taught a few investigators. Two of them were from Ilima but because we weren't going there Friday they chose to come down the hill and meet with us a day earlier. A young man name Francis also showed up rather unexpectedly. He runs a little kiosk in Kilome which is some 30+ kms before we get to Kyambeke and we have interacted with him a little as we pass through there each trip to Kyambeke or Ilima. Generally we just wave on our way by but we did purchase a belt from him as he had flagged us down requesting us to promote him which is interpreted to buy something from him. He stocks a lot of items such as pans, lanterns, flip flops and other essentials for their remote existence. Anyway we noted as we passed through Kilome on Thursday that his stand was not open yet and then he showed up at Kyambeke shortly after we did and ended up in the discussion. He participated and seemed interested in what was discussed (we were talking the plan of salvation) and said we would see him again. Not sure if he made it to church yesterday but it will be interesting to see where this goes as that is quite a trek to be made by him to participate in our services. I have been nudging the Kyambeke leadership to identify some potential buildings that could be used to accommodate the new Matini Branch as President Taylor is wanting to move on that the first weekend in April. Not sure we can get it done that fast but I checked on our way through there yesterday and they indicated they would have some potential buildings identified that we could possibly check out on Thursday. If they are there it would just be a matter of getting the church physical facilities guy up there to negotiate. Since he was released as Stake President yesterday his schedule should be a little more accommodating than it has been in the past.

We had another 14 investigators at Ilima yesterday. Six of them we had not worked with before. I keep thinking we will taper off here to a good breaking point before our mission ends in June but it just doesn't seem to be happening. President Taylor is still thinking he will not backfill us as he is trying to open up Kisumu which is the 3rd largest city in Kenya and would certainly qualify as a center of strength. That means our focus still needs to be on making this people as self sufficient as possible. It will be some time before the area makes the leap to being a district so will continue on as independent branches as they just need to be able to function on their own. The returned missionaries should be a big help in that area but that is still some 18 months before they start returning.

The weather has been very warm and dry as of late but we keep hoping that the rainy season will soon arrive. It has been several seasons since they have had a good crop so are rather dependant on church or government welfare. The water projects and other programs help a little but is able to impact only a small portion of the millions of people here.

The final note today is now that we are under 3 months to our departure SLC has processed our return trip. We leave here on 22 June. We fly to London, Los Angeles, then Boise to arrive there after 9pm on the 23rd. We opted for that route as that reduces our actual flying time to around 22 hours and layovers of some 6 hours. Just need to stay focused as we sprint (read that as hobble) to the end which shouldn't be too hard to do as there is plenty that can be accomplished still.

Have a super week.
Elder & Sister Bishop