On our way to El Doret we visited Sister E. She lives quite far out on the land that belongs to her and her husband's family. She's surrounded by sister and brother-in-laws. She met us at the Eye Hospital in Sopatia then we followed her the 2+ km to her shamba. She hired a motorcycle to take her home as mission rules prohibit us from giving people rides. She's the blue blouse just beyond the tea pickers. I was a little concerned the track might narrow too much, but we made it.
Sister E. showed us her projects--100' hand-dug well, talipia pond, chicken shed, zero grazing milk cows, bee hives. you can barely see the fish pond behind the father-in-law. The "grandees" or grandchildren are in front along with some orphans. She has an orphans group she cares for. When you take a picture, everyone wants in. I am next to sister E.
Elder Fox and Elder Lipingah are with sister E. and a great aunt (I think). She doesn't know how old she is and is blind and can't walk. Sister E. usually brings her food at night. She was happy to shake the hand of a muzingo.
We went to zone conference in El Doret. It's always a great spiritual experience. I was thinking about the atonement of Jesus Christ. In Alma 7:11-12 it tells how he took not only our sins, but also our pains and afflictions and temptations, so that he would know best how to help us through this life. Imagine him taking, one-by-one, all that suffering. And there is so much suffering here in Africa. He is God. He could prevent much of it-- kill a tyrant here, mitigate an earthquake there. It would have alleviated His suffering, too. But he did not. Therefore, we can be absolutely sure that as it stated in Doctrine and Covenants 122:7 "...all these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good." Perhaps our questions shouldn't be "why me?" but "How can this experience bring me closer to the Lord?"
It rained most of the time we were in El Doret... and we left our umbrella in Kisumu. On the way back from El Doret we saw two of these amazing Gray Crowned Crane.We came back from El Doret for a baptism, but it was pouring rain and the font is outside, so it was postponed.
You two are SO busy and doing such good things. I am happy for you and really enjoy reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteJenna's baby is due any time now. She is feeling great and still showing up to work. Ellen is going to do some extra hours while she is off being mom. We are pretty excited for her.
You all take care...you stay in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Carolyn and the Gang!!