Monday, April 27, 2009

Weekly Update 4-27-09

It is Monday evening and we just finished hosting FHE. We had Neil Maxwell talk to us (it was a recording from a BYU Devotional) on the doctrine of foreordination which is something I have frequently pondered as I see the disparity between my life and that of the good people here. When I consider my own inadequacies it is a bit of a struggle to know why I have been so blessed. It is enough to know that at some time our creator found me worthy of whatever it is we are suppose to accomplish while here. It is encouraging to know that this calling was probably not a last minute add on.

We have had a little more rain this week with a whole bunch falling last night and through the day. We wont know until we get to Kilili tomorrow how the moisture is up there. They aren't expecting the season to be long enough but I keep asking them where is their faith.

Still uncertain as to the status of our Temple Trip on the 18th but tomorrow is the drop dead date so will check with Victor to see if he has a handle on the outstanding passports. If it is a problem we are hoping to trade into some slots for the 1st of June. When I see the anticipation in the eyes of the potential attendees it would just crush me not to be able to help these last two families before we go.

Onesmus Maele got his mission call this week and is going to the Uganda/Kampala Mission on 16 July which means he will be traveling with Judith Makiti as that is identical to her call. No more waiting on calls now but Stellamaris Munee did get her passport this week so is scheduled to visit with President Taylor to finalize her paperwork this coming Sunday. His schedule is a little tight so he has agreed to travel to Ilima to facilitate the interview. He will have Elder Watson from the Area Presidency with him so it will be an opportunity for them to see what we have experienced for the last 21 months. The truth is that with all the rain that has fallen lately the roads are about as bad as they have ever been as the run-off from the hills really puts some major gulleys in the steep mountain roads that we traverse for the last few kms getting to that branch.

Kyambeke and Mitini are still re-staffing after their split but it is great to see people stepping up and accepting new callings. There is a good bunch of the new leadership that are people we have had the opportunity to participate in their conversion. We have baptisms scheduled for Saturday and Sunday but not sure what the count will be just yet. Will have a better feel for that as the weekend approaches but it will be another 20+ group and we will have a few more to work with once the dust of this event settles. The President has given us the green light for working with the overage children of record who weren't baptized at age 8 to teach and interview in their mother tongue which will help complete a few more families. So we will probably have at least one more day of baptisms before we depart. Eight weeks is sure not very long when we compare it with our "to do list". It is kind of a fun reality check though to realize that some of the events we accomplish can be counted on one finger. We will only host 1 more FHE and there will be no more Priesthood training with the President and the branches. We will have our last couples training with President & Sister Taylor tomorrow. The rest of the couples are leaving Wednesday for a Safari Retreat in the Mara but with our young people out of school and us still funding one more temple trip we requested to be excused from this event. We will miss the opportunity for that special association for a few days but really feel obligated to follow through on some commitments we have made with the Branch Members and regardless of how inspired we would get our plate is about as full as we can deal with right now. With that thought I am going to head to bed so as to be somewhat alert for tomorrows activities.

God Bless,
Elder & Sister Bishop

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