Travel to Kitale
Thursday December 9th (Happy birthday Dad) we drove to Kitale. There are several roads to Kitale with the shortest distance wise being the longest timewise. However, there was a woman in Kakamega who really wanted us to come and visit her, so we went the bump…pothole… bump… Kakamega road. It was worth the bumps. She was a delightful woman with thoughtful questions and a strong desire to learn. She plans to travel the 50km or so to come to church here in Kisumu. She’s influential in Kakamega, having taught secretaries employed in the government and businesses. So we had a good visit and moved on.
Once again, we were charmed by the scenery and the people and succumbed to taking more photos. Elder Fox’s favorite is of the children. Me, probably of the markets and the scenery.
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Seminary ProgramWe stayed with Elder and Sister B. in Kitale. They had planned a fantastic end of year activity for the seminary students. Oh my! So much work and so many details planned out. And so many uncertainties. This was their first event like this. How much had the students learned? Would they like this activity? Would they participate. The answers were: They’d learned a lot. And they LOVED the activities!
The students gathered about 9am. We had a little difficulty with registration. The “A through K” they didn’t quite get. Especially since they don’t usually use their last name. They’re more likely to use their middle name, or the names shift position. And seldom do they have a family name. But they all got signed in and got a colored scarf.
They were divided into groups with a “Captain Moroni” as their leader. Each group went with the Moroni dressed in their colors. The day began with some wonderful motivational speakers talking about being obedient, preparing to go to the temple and go on missions. Read the scriptures. Pray.
Then they had a Book of Mormon Quiz. This year’s course of study was the Book of Mormon. And the theme for the event was from 1Nephi 3:7 “… I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded…” After the quiz the groups had 15 minutes to prepare a skit on a Book of Mormon story. They had some simple costumes to help them get into the spirit of the thing. And they did a good job. My group was the Green Group. You see Nephi in the red with Laman and Lemuel with drapery capes saying Nephi can’t build a ship, while the other members of the “cast” are busy working on building the ship. We had awesome wives wailing and begging to have Nephi released when his brothers tied him on the ship.
Elder Fox’s group was the Red group. He thought his group gave the best performance of Nephi and his brothers going to get the Plates of Brass from Labon. Here Nephi is offering up all their treasure to Labon in exchange for the plates. Nehpi was very convincing in his acting as were the brothers, “I’m not going! You are asking too hard things!”
For lunch each person got their own loaf of bread, a bottle of pop, and a banana. They were delighted with the food and there wasn’t much bread left over. In the afternoon, they rotated through games: volleyball, and sack races.
The circle game of “How do you Like your Neighbor” took a little to learn but was enjoyed as they raced from seat to seat. 
And they learned three dances: The chicken dance, the Hokey-Pokey, and the Bunny Hop. Even the mamas who came to help with lunch giggled and laughed as they “put your left hip in… and you shake it all about.”
The last event was a testimony meeting where the youth shared how joining the church and coming to seminary had changed their lives. I spoke with one young man who was looking into the church. He was enjoying himself at the activity and at the testimony meeting spoke of getting baptized.
It was an awesome day! We so enjoyed the company of Elder and Sister B. The next morning we wandered through their outdoor market and I stocked up on veggies I needed for the weekend. We drove home on Saturday and prepared for our Sacrament meeting which was on Seminary and Institute. Their certificates were handed out that day.
We also have a new Relief Society President and new Primary President and counselors. So we trained them a little bit. Did some Choir practice. Learned the Choir is singing at the Branch Christmas Activity this Saturday. We currently have more enthusiasm than harmony. But that’s okay. So many of the songs are totally new to our branch. As we sing the songs in Choir, at least some of the members learn the songs.
This week it seems we’ve been crazy busy. Still don’t ask me what all we’ve done. Elder Fox has had some good opportunities to do some training. I wrote up an article about the Seminary activity that I will submit to the S.E Africa section of the Liahona, and maybe the New Era. I’m trying to collect information for an article on senior missionaries. It is such a rewarding thing to do, and yet I wonder if some people don’t let fear stop them from experiencing the blessings of a mission. We grow to love people and rejoice in their successes—when they are strengthened and overcome difficulties. And we mourn with their sorrows—sickness, death, job loss. So many times as we visit we hear, “I was in such a difficult spot. Then I joined the church. Now things are so much better.” They are small and big miracles—better health, being able to pay off the bride dowry, hope for a better future, a pick up in work, not going hungry any more. What else can one do that will bring blessings like that?
Wednesday Elder and Sister G. came to visit. They went to Mbita today to hopefully resolve a well issue. They will continue on to Busia to look into other water projects there. We always love to have people visit. But we likely talk far too much.
We are being blessed. We rejoice in the celebration of the Savior’s Birth.
And they learned three dances: The chicken dance, the Hokey-Pokey, and the Bunny Hop. Even the mamas who came to help with lunch giggled and laughed as they “put your left hip in… and you shake it all about.”
The last event was a testimony meeting where the youth shared how joining the church and coming to seminary had changed their lives. I spoke with one young man who was looking into the church. He was enjoying himself at the activity and at the testimony meeting spoke of getting baptized.
It was an awesome day! We so enjoyed the company of Elder and Sister B. The next morning we wandered through their outdoor market and I stocked up on veggies I needed for the weekend. We drove home on Saturday and prepared for our Sacrament meeting which was on Seminary and Institute. Their certificates were handed out that day.
We also have a new Relief Society President and new Primary President and counselors. So we trained them a little bit. Did some Choir practice. Learned the Choir is singing at the Branch Christmas Activity this Saturday. We currently have more enthusiasm than harmony. But that’s okay. So many of the songs are totally new to our branch. As we sing the songs in Choir, at least some of the members learn the songs.
This week it seems we’ve been crazy busy. Still don’t ask me what all we’ve done. Elder Fox has had some good opportunities to do some training. I wrote up an article about the Seminary activity that I will submit to the S.E Africa section of the Liahona, and maybe the New Era. I’m trying to collect information for an article on senior missionaries. It is such a rewarding thing to do, and yet I wonder if some people don’t let fear stop them from experiencing the blessings of a mission. We grow to love people and rejoice in their successes—when they are strengthened and overcome difficulties. And we mourn with their sorrows—sickness, death, job loss. So many times as we visit we hear, “I was in such a difficult spot. Then I joined the church. Now things are so much better.” They are small and big miracles—better health, being able to pay off the bride dowry, hope for a better future, a pick up in work, not going hungry any more. What else can one do that will bring blessings like that?
Wednesday Elder and Sister G. came to visit. They went to Mbita today to hopefully resolve a well issue. They will continue on to Busia to look into other water projects there. We always love to have people visit. But we likely talk far too much.
We are being blessed. We rejoice in the celebration of the Savior’s Birth.
The Seminary conference looked like a fabulous activity. What a great things for those young people to experience. I loved hearing about every minute of it. I'd love to be able to do something like this someday with youth here. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSandra--can you send a copy of what you send to the Liahona to Erik Psota? As S&I Coordinator, he would really love to see it! His address is psotaer@ldschurch.org. Thanks!
ReplyDelete