In the Moment

We have been blessed to be “in the moment”—not worrying about things past or anticipating things in the future (very much.)

Monday and Tuesday we cleaned, packed, finished all the zillions of odds and ends we needed to do before leaving. We spent way too much time at Telkom, calling customer service, and explaining the problem as we worked on a refund for days the internet was off line. I wrote up George’s chicken project. Tom interviewed two sick teens who had not been able to be interviewed for the temple—under the direction of the mission president. A young man came from Busia for passport and Yellow Fever shot in anticipation of going on a mission. And we tried to finish the area book for the missionaries who will follow us.

Wednesday we left. Lots of lasts… last good byes… last visits to people… last hugs and last minute gifts. Last time to drive through the countryside… last diversion… last chance to see the markets and the brilliantly colorful dresses the women wear. Last time to see the acacia trees, the zebras, the Thompsons gazelles. On the way we talked. Had we done enough? Are there things we wished we would have done? Can they carry on? We felt a sweet peace that our work was acceptable to the Lord. The people will step up to the plate. They will grow. They will learn many things as they await a new couple and they will be stronger for it.

We had a wonderful exit interview with President Broadbent. He is a godly man! We and then had a really sweet (and tasty) farewell dinner at the Broadbent’s that evening with all the missionary couples. We got to meet the brand new couple—the Scotts—who are going to Mombasa. One of the wonderful perks of this mission are the fantastic senior missionary couples who also serve here. We have visited, dined together, shared ideas and support and encouragement and picked brains about how to do things better. I think the best missionaries in the world are sent to the Kenya Nairobi Mission.

Thursday we tied up loose ends at the Mission office, contacted those going to the temple to check that their transport was in line, and visited the Nairobi Telkom office in an effort to get the refund we expected. We shopped for food for the last few days and finished most of the area book. We put the things we thought the new couple would need on a jump drive as well. And we had a lovely dinner with Elder and Sister Tuttle.

Friday we went to the Nairobi Park. It has most of the animals except elephants. We drove all over the highways and byways of the park and E. Fox had a great time! We saw a lion, lots of elands and cokes hartebeests, a crocodile and a terrapin, Thompson’s gazelles and impalas and ostriches and a variety of other birds. Alas, we grabbed the old video camera instead of the new one. So we finished the mission as we began—with a snapshot camera and a finicky-zoom camera.

This time was a great time to decompress. I felt the weight of responsibility lift from my shoulders as we left Kisumu. Yes, there were still problems and concerns there… but there was nothing I could do about it now. And yes, I really didn’t know what we would do when we got home, but the Lord has reassured us he has something in mind and when the time comes, we will know it. So we have been happily living in the moment. Well, sometimes the driving in Nairobi traffic is a little stressful. And certainly packing adds it’s spice of excitement. Will it all fit? Will it be within the weight limits? Are the carry-ons the right size? I know at times the Lord has shrunk the truck to fit through a narrow spot. I trust if it’s right and necessary, he will shrink our baggage as well. If not… we pay through the nose.

Saturday we went out to dinner with the senior couples. We met Elder and Sister Judd who had spent two years in China teaching English to university students. This job is handled through BYU from where they are trained and sent. They loved it, and it sounded like fun. Saturday night our temple group left from Kisumu.

Sunday morning we met our temple families at church. They had wanted to travel through the night so they could attend church in Nairobi. For most, it was the first time to see a “real” chapel (as opposed to a rented house.) But the greatest tender mercy of the Lord was that the stake was showing the DVD of general conference and they got to hear President Monson talk about the value and importance of temples and temple attendance. You could almost see them glow with excitement. They were GOING!

Sunday evening I wrote up our seminary activity of last Saturday. E/S Harms from South Africa public affairs were visiting to do training and we got to see some of the new videos they are producing to introduce the church and the Family Enrichment Program (A value oriented but not religious oriented Family Home Evening program.) It’s interesting that now I can see that the people shown in the video are… or are not… from Kenya. African is not African—there are many subtle and not-so-subtle differences between nations and they are working to address this and make the videos country specific.

Today we fly to South Africa and the temple portion of our journey begins!