Weekly Update 4-19-09

It's Monday morning again and time for a little update before the day gets started. We had a couple of short days this week as some rain arrived so many stayed home to work their shambas. Unfortunately it is late enough in the season that some are of the opinion that this will be another unproductive one. We try to encourage them that the weather man is not the one that makes it rain so to have faith and pay their tithing but not sure they have the vision of what we are trying to help them understand. The odometer on the Isuzu rolled over 80,000 this week so we do continue to rack up the kilometers. One of the new couples opted to attend church with us in Ilima yesterday which does provide a little variety to our schedule. They are the Flinders and serving as the new PEF couple. They both grew up in Layton, Utah and spent the majority of their working life with the city of North Las Vegas and Wendover but have settled in Ohio to be near some children there. Each couple we get to know sure brings different talents with them but it is evident the Lord has a hand in placing them where they are at as each assignment seems to prosper as they serve. With 7 couples living in the compound here it is often reminiscent of living in married housing back in the days of our university years but sure provides us with the diversion we so often need to recover from the stress of travel we experience each trip up country.

This week promises to be a little different as we have our last training session for the Branch Presidents with the Mission President on Tuesday which means no travel to Kilili that day. Trying real hard to get the branches connected with those who will help them succeed in their efforts without a senior couple to shepherd them. President Taylor is fairly certain that the next proselyting/leadership couple will be placed in Kisumu to facilitate establishing the church there. It is the 3rd largest City in Kenya after Nairobi and Mombasa so is well deserving of the interest but I often think of Alma and Amuleck's work among the Zoramites when I ponder how the people in the Kilunga Hills will fare on their own. They are capable of doing it on their own if they can just get the right support when needed.

Got a few of our investigators ready for their baptismal interviews which we are currently planning for the end of the month. Because of the number involved it again will be a flock shot at the group and we will try to pump up those who need a little more help once we get the number thinned out a little. I was working with a group of 11 while in Ilima yesterday and it sure is tough to give individual help in that kind of setting. Because the conversion process is a personal thing that we only assist with it is pretty tough to assess preparedness in a group that size. It was some what gratifying to witness their Sacrament Meeting and see that we might have been of some help during our assignment here. Two of the talks were from recent converts and one of Sister Bishop's keyboard students accompanied all four hymns that were sung.

With just 9 weeks left before our departure the anticipation of being reunited with friends and loved ones and the dread of leaving these dear folks is starting to roil the emotions. The thought of be still and know that I am God has come to mind several times as of late so we are determined to just do what we can with the time left. It certainly is comforting to know that God is there and he loves all of us. I am glad he is in charge but know that we have to do all that we can to keep up our end of this commitment we call earth life.
We pray for his choicest blessings on all we know.
Elder & Sister Bishop