We had a great week. We drove to Nairobi on Tuesday. While my “eek” alarm went off too frequently for Tom’s taste, it really was a good drive. (The “eek” alarm goes off when I think he’s too close to the edge or too close to the center or veering off in a dangerous way. Sometimes swerving around potholes into oncoming traffic qualifies for the alarm sound.) No trip is complete without zebras. I just love them!

It also seems it’s impossible to take too many pictures of zebras for us as well.

It was Great to be in Nariobi. Not the city itself or the traffic, but there’s a great spirit at the Mission Office and we had a fantastic Mission Conference. Elder Turley and Elder Jensen from the Church Historical office spoke to us about the importance of record keeping. I felt guilty as my journal entries have lapsed a bit. But I have been trying to capture conversion stories so I felt a bit redeemed. We had testimonies from the arriving and departing missionaries that touched our hearts. Some quotes that impressed me:

· A Missionary is someone who leaves his family for a little while so that others can be with their families for eternity.

· Be strictly obedient. What we think of Christ determines what kind of missionary we will be.

· When we come to a meeting, we should EXPECT revelation. We should have the desire and prayer to receive revelation from the Lord about what He would have us know and do.

· Listen. Write down what Heavenly Father whispers to you. We are here to hear the messages of heaven.

· History is about remembering. When you keep a record, don’t keep it about unimportant things. Keep it about your experiences with Jesus Christ. Ponder and observe these things.

· If this isn’t a happy time, you can change it in the snap of a finger. Repentance can come instantaneously.

· There is hope for us all in Christ and the Gospel. We hold the hope of the world in our hands.

· Your calling is to be angels to God’s children to bear testimony of what you know. The millions of people around us were all there in the counsel of Heaven, willing to follow Christ. Your job is to help them remember. The Holy Spirit will help them, too.

· In our mission more than 50% of the missionaries are first generation church members—the pioneers of Africa.

We had a couples meeting that was very helpful as we discussed how we can best support and lift the church here; as always, poverty and how best to help is a concern. The consensus is to pay a generous fast offering and then refer the people to the Branch President who is inspired by God on how best to help. One person said to be very careful about loaning money because you may be digging a pit for them. Difficulties arise and they are not able to pay and then you have caused them to sin.

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Thursday we got fingerprinted and got our work permit. So we can leave and re-enter Kenya. We also get to go to the National parks at citizen rates. Hurray! We also spent much of the day at the mission office—correcting records, getting materials- including a “voice projection system” which some might call a sound system. I spoke with public affairs and we decided to create a Kisumu PA plan to help the church become more recognized here. Tom got some things fixed on the truck. All in all it was a very fulfilling time.

Friday on the way back we stopped at a lookout over The Great Rift Valley...

... and sucumbed to the lure of the shopkeepers there. This is a soapstone carving that reminded me of how connected we all are.

We picked up a few veggies and got a 5 gallon can of potatoes for 100 shillings ($1.30). We’ll need to give some away. I love these village scenes. It's so hard to capture the humanity, the color, the activity, the dust and the intertwined lives.

We made good time traveling home… except for the last stop. Something about speeding. But the chief saw Elder Fox’s name tag, and let him go with a warning.

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Saturday seemed filled with papers scattered all over the place and lists half checked off. We had two baptisms and met with the Branch Mission leader for the first time in months to discuss how we can support and strengthen these new members. I made two kinds of potato salad and egg salad as Elder and Sister Littlefield and President Kogo (of the mission presidency) were coming down from Eldoret on Sunday. We always try to feed them or else they don’t eat for the day. I helped a new sister learn how to conduct music and visited with a friend about his struggle to get his business going. I felt very depressed on Saturday. There is so much need. People struggle so and it seems there is always something to knock them down. I felt sad and incapable. Then I realized it was lack of faith. Heavenly Father knows these people. He has promised to bless them. I need more faith that he will do what he says. I need to stand back and watch for the miracles of the Lord. So I am praying for more faith and more trust in the Lord and I feel better.

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Today, Sunday, was a good day. I actually practiced some hymns so I could play them sort of well. Then the conducting member changed them all, but I still played them okay. A youth choir sang. “Sister Fox will you play for us?” What?? I played one handed. They galloped through the hymn and would have done just fine on their own. A number of men were interviewed for advancement in the priesthood. That’s very satisfying as it shows the church is growing. We really are blessed here. There are many good people, many looking for the truth, and many who are living the best they can. We are blessed to be here and see the Lord's work unfold.