Weekly Update 3-9-09

Monday morning once again and with no visitors in our extra bedroom I will try and get back on schedule with this update. Last week was rather uneventful which allowed us to cut back just a bit and really eased the pressure of trying to coordinate several different schedules and gave us the chance to catch up on several things we have been letting slide here at the flat. We did add 9 investigators this week. It just blows us away the way that people keep showing up when we are at some of the chapels. Also was able to get 2 of the audits pretty much done but will have to go to Kilili this Saturday to finish up there as Pres. Makiti is tied up teaching school when we are there on Tuesdays. With the 3 young men on missions there it has really cut back on their staffing as each of them were filling several positions. Also Judith and Catherine have both been working in their Aunt's shops in Nairobi which has created a couple more holes there. Pres. Makiti probably could get a few more Kilili members involved but they probably wouldn't do as well as the missing young people so I think he just doesn't bother which really increases the work-load on those assigned and of course cuts down on the potential of nourishing the less active. There are some big things happening there but very slowly as it has been over a year now that that all the shops got wired for electricity but the juice hasn't arrived yet. The church is working on a water project there that will impact both culinary demands while addressing some agriculture potential but it is not moving along very fast either. The little water project we have been helping along hasn't turned any worlds upside down either as it is a bit of a struggle to get them to change their mindset to year round farming now that the water is available rather than the two growing seasons that were supported by mother nature when she felt so inclined. Consequently the shambas are not being utilized anywhere near their full potential which certainly impacts their potential to become self sufficient and they just keep wanting a little more money. Should start receiving mission calls from Salt Lake for the 4 young men at Kyambeke right away. Judith from Kilili is also just waiting on her call and the 3 young people from Ilima are making progress on their mission preparation. Michael at Kyambeke who was baptized last September also approached us and wants to start on his application which would be 12 great missionaries either serving are just waiting for their report date by the time we leave in June. That is up a little from the 1 serving and 2 returned missionaries that were here when we arrived. Great experience to see the seeds planted here by us and others begin to swell and sprout.

Elder & Sister Lewis who were serving as PEF/CES missionaries left for their home in Denver last evening. We had been here a little over a month when they arrived so now we will see a few of the 18 monthers finish their missions. We have grown rather close to all the missionaries living in our little compound here so it is rather bitter sweet to see them departing now. Elder Luke as coordinated some time shares he has so that 8 couples are planning on getting together in Branson next October.

We got our 2008 taxes put to bed this last week which is always a good feeling no matter what the cost. Hope the powers that be do make good use of the little bit we are encouraged to donate to Uncle Sam each year. With the internet and local news paper we do get a glimpse of what is going on back home but find it very distracting to get very immersed in it as there are other things of eternally far more importance that demands our attention here.

Well I hear more activity in the parking lot outside and Sister Bishop and I must get fired up for our Monday morning walk. We have an approximate 2 mile course we try to walk on Mondays and Saturdays when our schedule allows. If I am otherwise involved my companion has an aerobics cd she works with which is pretty much our effort at the exercise missionaries are encouraged to participate in. All other mornings we are already bouncing along in our vehicle once it gets light enough to be out and about. Our schedule does keep us busy enough that the time sure flies by. It does seem like these weekly reports come considerably more frequently than their name implies. May God be with you all this week.

Elder & Sister Bishop