Good Times

Saturday we had to get organized. We needed to pack clothes, to pack food for Sunday, to make a cake and figure out how to carry it, and had to prepare a lesson for Sunday. Early Sunday morning, we drove to Busia for church. That is such a good branch! They had a fabulous Helping Hands day with nearly 75 people helping-- more than the branch has members! The Mayor attended their project of cleaning Empath- the wing of the hospital that does HIV/AIDs and drug counseling and treatment. The women cleaned inside, the men "slashed" (human lawn mowers) trimmed, and picked up debris. So Sunday we taught about temples and family history. Elder and Sister Byrd were there to teach the employment workshop and they had been family history workers. They should have taught the class but it was great to have their comments.

After Church we gathered the Busia Missionaries and headed for Eldoret for Mission Tour/Zone Conference. The road had improved!!! It only took 3.5 hours instead of over 4. On they way we stopped to watch a flock of crowned cranes frolic.We had dinner at the Missionary House-- it used to be the Littlefield's house and I guess it will soon be the Lurf's house. Anyhow, it's beautifully landscaped. We got a chance to see it as we waited the hour or so for the missionaries to come home with the keys to get in. I'm not complaining, they were doing missionary work. My bladder, however is disconnected from the mind. It complained.

We remembered food, sheets, towels, washcloths, and three of the 5 rugs we'd taken home to clean. Alas, we also forgot the comforter we'd taken home to wash. Not good. We added a flannel sheet, a towel and some small yarn crocheted things on top of the sheet and snuggled really well and didn't freeze to death (it is cooler in Eldoret than Kisumu). Monday we bought a blanket.

Monday was also Zone Conference and Mission Tour. Elder and Sister Watson (of the Area Presidency in South Africa) were there as were the Mission President and wife, the new senior couple from Kitali, and about 30 missionaries. Many of them had been there on Sunday when the new chapel had been dedicated. I think this is the first chapel built and dedicated west of Nairobi. It is beautiful! I'd forgotten how nice our chapels are. They had about 300 people attend the dedication and open house, many of them opinion leaders.

Some missionaries murmured that we didn't go to Nairobi for the Mission Tour-- so people could reconnect with friends as well as learn. But it was awesome to have such a small group and have a chance to listen to a Seventy in the Church Priesthood and to be able to ask questions and visit one-on-one at the breaks. Here's a photo of the Watsons and us.

Elder Watson said: What's on the Prophet's mind matters. This is what's on his mind: To rescue individuals, strengthen families, increase priesthood activity, to gather Israel. He told how to help new members learn and grow and strengthen their testimonies. He talked of the power of the priesthood. He said, we're doing a good job of spreading priesthood authority, but not the power of the priesthood. The Power comes only from righteous living. He said, "When we are righteous, the blessings and power of the priesthood is manifest and God's will is done in His time and way." I was struck by something I'd read for institute. It said that there are two kinds of faith-- the faith that something will happen and the faith that makes something happen. Wow! How does one gain faith enough to Make Something Happen? To call down the powers of God? We see it in the scriptures. We see it in the lives of faithful saints. I know it starts with righteous living coupled with steadfast faith, prayer, and action. I think many of us choose to live well below the faith we are capable of.

Elder Watson reminded us the the Church did not start in 1830 with Joseph Smith, it started in the beginning of time with Adam and all the prophets. This is the Church Jesus established when He lived on the earth. Joseph Smith restored the truths which came from the foundations of the earth.

He quoted John A. Widsoe who said people must put forth an effort to learn and study the Gospel or they can't test it for truth. We must study constantly for it is eternal. People will spend a lifetime studying science or the arts, but they expect that an occasional glance at the scriptures or a few classes will teach them the Gospel which covers ALL science and arts. The Gospel is eternal. It takes much time to learn it. He said those who pass an opinion on the truth of the Gospel with only a cursory glance-- their opinion is worthless. (That's not the full quote, I couldn't write fast enough, but I thought it was profound.)

After the conference we had a delicious lunch. We visited, we took Pres. Kogo to see the senior missionary house and see the repairs that needed to be made before the new couple moves in. By the time we got him back home and drove to the cheese factory... it was closed. Sigh. We decided to buy a few things at Nakumatt and eat at the house instead of going out to dinner so we could work on our institute lesson. This was a real sacrifice; it meant passing up a great chocolate mouse dessert!

So this morning we returned to the cheese factory (20 km the opposite direction of home) and then headed home with another set of missionaries. This is the first time we've seen monkeys on the way home.We got home about 12:30 and found enough water to do laundry. Yippie! But no water coming in. Boo! We called and now there is a trickle. Hurray! I have hope that my faith will produce water.