ISAAC IN MANYATTA

April 10,2013

We took Fred with us to visit Isaac in Manyatta.

(an area in Kisumu).

We also met with his daughter and her friend who is 

also a neighbor.

Ruth (who is the YW President and whose papers

have just been submitted for a mission), 

Sharon (who is getting her mission papers ready to be submitted in August)

and her father Isaac.

Fred who is the Elder's Quorum President.

PArt of the road we traveled. There had been heavy

rainstorms for the previous few days and there

was still a good amount of mud.

Where these people were gathered 

(near the area we parked the truck to walk into the 

home area where Isaac stays)

the music was playing very loudly advertising

the death of a family member and requesting donations

to help them go to the funeral.

Children in the area.

When we came back to the truck there were little

finger prints all over the sides. 

We have found that children like to touch the truck and

to see themselves in the reflection of the panels.

People listening the the music.

The road out of the home area.

Mud and cows and people and dukas!!

One of the local butcher shops. Some have glass over

the front and some don't.

TRANSPORTS

April 2013

We see so many ways to transport items

I still am amazed and startled at what we see.

These yellow cartons are filled with bottles of soda pop.

The "driver" usually is in the bike except on slopes or 

when there are speed bumps.

We have a bike at home so we are wondering why

we would have need for a small truck?

There are two people on this bodaboda and the 

passenger is holding the wood!

In the front of the bodaboda is a tuktuk -

a three passenger plus driver three wheeled vehicle.

Many times there are people in the space behind the seat

so there are more than three passengers!!

Two bodabodas filled with wood behind the seat!
This was on a road with quite an incline!!

FUNERAL

April 13, 2013

There were five men who wanted to attend the funeral

of Hesbon's father but we had room for four

(and they were squeezed very tightly in the back seat)

so one had to stay for lack of funds for other transport.

It was about 30 km travel from our home.

Hesbon (in the SS presidency) and his wife Quenta

and their two children.

This is the home of his brother 

where we ate the food prepared for us 

and other of their friends who came  to the funeral.

The Priest who conducted the services.

After winding from the house where the body lay

for viewing and praying over through the mourners gathered 

 the processional with the casket went

into the smaller tent for the services.

Periodically during the services the women in white and 

others would stand, clap and sing in agreement to what

was said.

More praising and singing.

I enjoyed this part.

Preaching the sermon.

He taught in Luo and presented a message from

the writings of Paul from the Book of Acts.

George was able to translate some of it for us.

Gathering together after the services and getting into

another processional to go to the burial area,

Inside the house where we ate delicious food.

Chicken, beef and fish and chipati were served and soda.

From the left is George (second counselor in Branch Presidency),

Ken (Assistant branch clerk), Fred (Elder's Quorum President).

Elder Moon and President Okila.

People leaving the funeral area.

The road we traveled.

There had been a lot of rain and there was a lot of mud,

but the people were so clean.

Muddy road.

Deep muddy ruts in the road.

We could hardly believe how much had dried 

during the time we were there.

MACHETE CHOPPING

April, 13,2013

Recently near our home a branch was cut from a tree.

It really didn't take very many chops to cut it!!

Then the branches that were cut off

were cut into smaller pieces.

Here are the smaller cut pieces on the ground.

Can you see the machete in the hand of the person?

That is the took used to do the chopping.

BUSIA BRANCH CONFERENCE

April 7, 2013

President and Sister Broadbent flew to

Kisumu on Friday April 5.

They had business here with the branch and 

the missionaries then on Saturday

we took them to Busia for the Branch Conference.

On a beautiful day in April we met in Busia

for the Busia Branch Conference,

This is a lovely flowering tree in the yard next to the

church building. This was taken from the balcony.

 The Women Auxiliary Leadership meeting on Saturday.

, The Security Guard (also a Member), Sister Maria 

(Branch president wife, RS Sec), Sister Maureen ( RS Counselor),

Sister Violet (Primary Counselor/Seminary Teacher),

Sister Broadbent (Mission President wife), 

Sister Chirchir (First Counselor in Mission Presidency wife)

 For the Sunday morning meetings there were many who came.

Sister Hope (Tumiani) Baby Anna and Nicodemus.

They were on the blog in January and

Anna has really grown!!.

Today he was ordained en Elder and sustained

as the Elder's Quorum President.

Peter on the bike is so cute. 

He likes to be with Elder Moon and

touch our arms!!

His mother is Sister Maureen.

 In Primary today I gave the children each a sweet

because they sang 6 songs without using the book!!

I was so proud of them.

Also Sister Broadbent gave them each a 

CTR ring!!!

They were so pleased for them.

And then everyone who saw them wanted one but 

Sister Broadbent said, "They are only for the children!"

 The sisters today in Relief Society,

 Sister Broadbent with Baby Anna.

 Waiting for the men to finish their service.

The Security with Baby Anna -

she made it to just about everyone today!!

 Elder Moon, Sister Moon, President Broadbent,

Sister Broadbent, President Chirchir, Sister Chirchir

President Broadbent, Bro Omondi (First counselor in Branch)

President Imende (Branch President),

Bro Mmbulika (Second Counselor in Branch)

Two young men with mission calls:

Joseph to Zimbabwe on May 2

Edwin to Uganda May 30

Great young men!!

Good missionaries!!

 The last visit before leaving to their homes!!

It was a GREAT day!!

We arrived back in Kisumu about 4 pm and we had

dinner at our home then took Pres and Sis Broadbent to 

the airport for their flight to Nairobi.

NYABONDO IN APRIL

April 4, 2013

Another trip to the great saints in Nyabondo.

This time President Okila went with us and we had a 

good meeting.

I taught how to pray and Elder Moon also instructed

about the Church.

We also divided and I spoke to the sisters about

service and ways to keep peace in the community 

of the Church. Women can do so much!!

I aklso brought with me the pictures we took when

Brian left to serve a mission in Zimbabwe.

His mother was so glad to have them and the rest

of the sisters were also anxious to see them!!

Brian's mother is on the right of the picture.

Still looking at the pictures!

They all wanted to pose when I pulled out the camera!!

Some of the children at the meeting.

Today they had cassava peeled, cut and laid out to dry

in the sun. After it is dried they take it to the grinder

and have it ground into flour to make porridge.

Not having seen cassava before it was a treat for us 

to something new. These are the plants.

The root is the part that is eaten. It also has poisonous

toxins so they must be peeled (a dark brown skin)

and then must be cooked before eating.

The leaves are sometimes also eaten but must 

also be cooked well to destroy the toxins.

It is from cassava that we get tapioca and

I like to use tapioca!!

I don't know the sister in the back bu the

others are from the left:

The sister who owns the compound in which we meet,

he daughter in law and Jane (Brian's mother)

One of the sisters wanted her picture taken.

What a cutie!!

We were finished eating and preparing to leave but the

children were just getting ready to get their lunch.

They ate here - some on the ground and some on the chairs.

A close up view of a mud house that is deteriorating.

The Priesthood leaders of the members in Nyabondo.

They belong to the Kisumu Branch and 

some will come to church there 

but these three see to the needs and 

see that the community FHE is held each week.

We saw a mud furnace to fire brick as we were out and about.

A view of the road we traveled.