NYABONDO THE FIRST TIME

December 4, 2012

THE MEETING

 

On December 4 we took
President Okila to Nyabondo for a meeting there.

It is an hour and a half travel time for us
and is part of the Kisumu Branch.

The people here first heard of the Church from the internet and

searched information from there. They found the church
first in Nairobi then was told about it 

in Kisumu and the missionaries went there to teach them.

There were many baptized (in fact about 18 were baptized

last summer) but many cannot come to Kisumu to church

because of the cost of transportation!
One of the young women here in Kisumu said it is a
"backward" area as far as language
social and economic advancements.

Two men joined the church about the same time in Nairobi

and they are having a bit of a struggle as to who should be the 

leader!! The father of one built a building in his family compound

where they meet for church. It is still quite a distance for  some

of the members to attend and as it is on his property

you can probably see the problems that can arise.

We were invited to go there for a meeting an we went -

not on a Sunday because they have no authority to have 

the full meetings of the Sabbath although they do meet

and study the scriptures together.

President Okila had given us the background

of the area and what he thought they needed to know

but had given us no warnings as to what

the meeting would involve

or what our part would be..

 We arrived on time but only a few children were in the 

"church" building - so

we waited.

We waited at least 45 minutes for others to arrive.

 This is the outside of the building. 

The building behind is another building used for the

children and women during some of the Sunday meetings.

A closer look you can see the mud balls and 

wood branches that form the walls.

 The floor is also mud. I hope you can see the fancy design in 

the mud. In some homes the floors need to be 

"slurried" about every week but I don't know how often they

do the floor here. The designs in the mud is made

by someone experienced in this kind of work. 

They use a piece of cactus with spines on it to made the

designs in the floor.

 The children who came early for the meeting!

As the meeting started we sang and prayed and welcomed.

Elder Moon and I were treated as someone VERY special.

I was embarrassed by it!!

President Okila announced that He would speak then

Sister Moon would speak then Elder Moon

would speak then the men and women would separate

and the sisters would be instructed by Sister Moon

and the brethren would 

be instructed by himself and Elder Moon.

On the spot preparation or leave it to the Spirit!!

THE SEPARATION

Some of the benches from the meeting room

were taken to the back building

and I went with the sisters and the children.

Here are most of the children.

Most of them did not speak English so Sister Bathsheba

translated for me when necessary.

They sang "I am a Child of God" and 

"Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" for me.

Here are some of the sisters - many of which are not 

members and many do not speak English!!

Later I found that many of them attend the 

Institute classes that are taught here.!

 Sister Bathsheba is the sister in red

and she was a BIG help to me!!

I talked about FHE and what we do at FHE.

Some of these sisters live alone so I told them that

a family could be only one person. 

I took them outside and "taught" them 

"Ring Around the Rosy" and "Hokey Pokey".

The Back

This was so cute I had to take a picture of this little boy.

Notice the mud dust on the back of his head where
he rubbed against the wall!!

 The front.

I couldn't get him to move his hand.

THE LUNCHEON

 Following the meetings we were invited to lunch

in the home of the father who built the building.

It was his compound.

These sisters prepared the meal.

This building was where the food was prepared.

Notice there are no cupboards or tables. 

It is all done on the floor.

There was an open fire in the back to cook the food!! 

Here are the women who did the cooking.

We were taken into a home with a fairly large room with

about a dozen chairs around the perimeter and two large coffee

table in the center. Our food was served on these tables.

I was the only woman in the room. 

I told President that maybe I shouldn't be in here

but he said you must be with your companion.

Most of the conversation was in another language 

so we didn't understand much that was discussed.

President Okila sometimes apprised us of the conversation.

When we came outside from eating these people were in the yard.

They indicated that they had already eaten there.

THE COMPOUND 
 Beyond the church and at the end of a path is the 
family compound. The family has a home here and the sons 
also build their home in the same compound.

 This is the granary. Where the dried maize is kept
It is empty now waiting for the new harvest.

 When the dishes are washed (outside) they are laid

here to dry in the open air.

We have since seen these at most homes we visit.

 A home on the compound.

Roofs such as this last about a year then need to be replaced.

The walls are mud. Made with mud balls and branches

then dried then covered with more mud and smoothed.

Sometimes a third layer is put on to make them even smoother.

Notice the painting for decoration on this home.

 This was pointed out as the kitchen. They were proud that 

they had a building for the kitchen.
There was no shelf, table or racks in the kitchen!

Notice another dish drying rack.

 The toilet and bath house. Enter from the other side.

 This was the library for the church.

The young man who showed us this was quite pleased with it.

I asked him why the newspapers were hanging on the lines 

across the room and he said ---

DECORATION!!

These reeds were lain out on the grass to dry to be made into 

brooms. As we were looking around this woman sat

to bind the pieces together for the brooms.

They make them many sizes and are very good for

sweeping the leaves from the yard, the floors and even

the sidewalks!!

When we go to so service Elder Moon has used one to

sweep the play area and yard at the orphanage.

The yard in the center of the compound. 

Good place for the animals!!

When children see a camera they come running and 

immediately ready to pose.

Then they want to grab the camera and see what they

look like!!

 

 TRAVELING HOME

Here are some views of our travels home.

The road out of the area to the main road

Isn't this a pretty valley!!??

We were in the hills and in some areas fairly steep.

A hut hiding in the surrounding foliage. Very typical!!

Home near the side of the road.

Beautiful and lush country!!

 So green and beautiful!!

These are rice paddies.