Reorganization

Once we left Nakuru, it was back to business. Friday we prepared. Jackie came and cleaned. We did 5 loads of laundry. We prepared food. Elder and Sister U were arriving Friday night. It’s always fun to have visitors! Saturday we had leadership training meeting. Tom and I were both teaching that class. We spent much time praying and preparing. It was a blend of practical (calendaring and budgeting) and spiritual (How to strengthen member’s testimonies.) The more we do this, the more we realize the organization of the church is like nothing else. Not like other churches. Not like business. Not like government. Truly it is not of man but of God.

The U’s taught our first teacher development class. We’re told that learners have responsibilities to learn. And that people learn much better if they are part of the process. So they discussed the process of preparing to teach. They did an excellent job and got rave reviews. Elder U is also a doctor and agreed to meet with several of our members with undiagnosed sicknesses. He was a big help there, too.

Immediately after the Leadership Training, we had a baptism. Brother M had spinal meningitis at 14 and for the first 3 weeks, they treated it as malaria. When he got the correct treatment, he was very ill. He has been recovering for about 2 years. He’s regained his speech, his ability to sit, then stand, then walk a few steps. He can now hold a pencil. His mind is brilliant. The missionaries love teaching him. He reads and remembers. Here he's helped into the resort.

We had the service here at the church, then drove him to the Milimani Resort as they thought the pool would be easier for him to get into. They supported him into the pool and here Elder H. explains to him how he will be baptized.
I loved the look of delight on his face as he came up out of the water. Then we returned to the church for the rest of the service. As we were finishing, Pres and Sister Taylor and Pres. Kogo, of the Mission Presidency arrived to arrange the reorganization of the Elders Quorum and the branch presidency. They did interviews through the afternoon.

Pres Kogo is also authorized by the Kenya Government to perform weddings. So we had 4 couples that had a traditional tribal marriage, joined in marriage in a civil ceremony. Elder Fox was the photographer, and we made a cake to celebrate. They were so cute! They were hesitant to kiss in public, so we asked if they needed a remedial kissing course. The kiss:

The Newlyweds and Pres. Kogo (center).

I spent part of the afternoon making a giant bowl of potato salad (and a little German Potato salad for me.) because we would need to feed people before they left to go home on Sunday.Sister Taylor and U. helped out. We had a late dinner. I’d planned on fixing Hawaiian Short-ribs and putting it in the oven after leadership, but I was pulled here and there, and Sister U ended up doing most of the work, bless her heart! Good thing we ate at 7:30… the meat still was not very tender. Sigh. I think the cows here spend too much time trotting around instead of standing still and making tender meat.

Sunday morning we had a quick Father’s Day celebration. I made banana nut muffins. I’d used all the eggs for the potato salad on Saturday…. Uh oh... But I looked up substitutes and a banana and 2 tbsp of corn starch did the trick. They were tasty. I also had bought matching ties (for Elder U and Elder Fox) on Friday when we went to check the mail and develop pictures. THIS Father’s Day, they were actually delighted with their ties! They were getting tired of wearing the same ones over and over. Note tie below.

Sunday also brought the reorganization of the Branch Presidency. The branch president remained the same, but his experienced counselors were replaced with men with great hearts and the desire to be obedient, but not a lot of leadership experience. I love how the Lord is moving people around so that many people will gain leadership experience. We are growing men and women who will lead this church when it becomes a stake. I’m convinced of this!

So our new purpose is to help train all these new leaders! This week we have appointments with the counselors, Primary, Compassionate Service, Sunday School, and Elders Quorum. I tell you, I’m learning the church handbooks better than I ever have before! This learning thing is always a two way street.