SOME THINGS ARE SO INTERESTING

December 2013

Somethings we see are so interesting and 

usually are things we would not see at home. 

ENJOY!!

This is a pretty big load for a piki piki!

Even another with a passenger AND milk cans.

Theere are many hills near us and nearly any way we travel

we come to hills. Some are rather steep and other not so steep.

We see many with their boda boda's walking up the hills!

There are so many beautiful scenes and views.

Our camera does not do them justice!

A LOADED boda boda going up  hill then

a ride down hill!

Another load!

Even another...

Slow down road repair ahead!

Notice the woman sweeping the road as part of the repairs.

I think the road repairs are so interesting!!

Walking along the road.

Carrying water is an everyday occurrence for most people here.

The yellow jugs have water is gotten from a pond, stream,

puddle or a tap somewhere.

These carts make perfect containers for 

carrying items on a boda boda.

A market along the roadway.

On the head is a great place to carry packages and

bags and baskets and.....

There are hundrerds of these hand carts and just about anything 

you can imagine are carried in them.

This is sugar came.

The roadside in Kibuye after a rainy night!

Traffic in Kibuye.

Boda boda repair shop.
How would  you like to repair boda bodas in this area
along a main thoroughfare!

Kondele Junction after a night of rain.

The road is under construction and very busy.

I am totally amazed at the amount of items and the size 

of items that can be carried on/in a tuktuk!!

Carrying bags on the head!

A real TALENT!!

Common site on roads!

Notice the woman with her baby side saddle on a boda boda!

Perfectly balanced and her flip flop flopping.

AND the wagon loaded with brick pulled with a tractor .

Now that is a heavy load!

Head loads.

Markets along the road side.

I hope you enjoyed some views of rural Kenya.
and Kisumu.

GROWING THE CHURCH IN SOUTH EAST AFRICA

December 13, 2013

Elder Cook and his wife came from South Africa to 

instruct about the building usage and growth of 

the church in South East Africa Area

especially in Kenya.

Elder Moon, Sister Moon, Sister Cook and Elder Cook

of the Seventy and the South East Africa Area Presidency.

While they were here I  thought it was a good idea to take 

a picture with them and FLAT MAKAI 

(like Flat Stanley)

Sister and Elder Cook were excited because they had just

returned a FLAT VISITOR back to their grandchild 

in the United States. They wanted the picture to send

home to their family also.

Eldler and Sister Moon, Elder and Sister Anderson, 

Sister and Elder Cook.

At the famous picture spot at the Eldoret Chapel!!

All of the Branch Presidencies, Clerks, and District Presidency  

in the Eldoret District and the two Mission Branches in the area

were invited to the meeting.

Also the two couples of Senior missionaries were invited.

The Busia and Kisumu Branch Presidencies and Clerks with

Elder and Sister Moon.

Bro Mmbulika (B), President Okila (K), Bro Imende (B),

Bro Opino (K), Bro Odhiambo (K), President Imende (B)

Bro Oyuga and Bro Wandera and Elder and Sister Moon.

 

Brother      who is over the church buildings in South East Africa 

Area also from South Africa came. He is on the left with 

Bro Odhiambo, Bro Oyuga, Bro Opino and President Okila

from Kisumu.

The Kiaumu Branch Presidency with Elder Cook.

Bro Odhiambo, Bro Oyuga, Bro Opino, Elder Cook and 

President Okila.

We took these four men to Eldoret and then home again.

Eldoret is about two and a half hours from Kisumu if there

isn't much traffic.

A good day with great men and we learned so much 

about the growth of a branch, a district and then a ward 

and then into a stake.

So glad we could come!!

ROSES IN ELDORET

December 9, 2013

We took Elder Lewis to Eldoret on Sunday and we did not 

time to return to Kisumu so we spent the night with

Elder and Sister Anderson. 

The next morning, our preparation day, 

we went to the Flower Green houses.

 Here are some of the green houses we saw from the road.

Elder Moon and Elder Anderson entering the main office 

building. Here are the offices and the cooling, sorting and 

packing areas.

This plant of the SIAN ROSES FARMS

is the Equator Flowers Kenya Ltd. in Eldoret.

Flowers are brought here from the cooler and 

trimmed, sorted and packaged.

Beautiful arrangements of the roses available.

Each couple of us purchased 7 bunched made up of

20 stems. We also included two bunches of carnations.

These all were gorgeous!!!!

Women trimming and sorting the small flowers.

Sister Anderson with some of the sorters

These flowers have been measured, sorted, trimmed and 

packaged in for export.

The flowers are exported to the UK, USA, and other countries.

The lower leaves are trimmed off and then the flowers
are laid here for the packaging and cutting.

Cutting the stems so they are very even.

Inside one of the green houses with rows and rows of

long stemmed roses.

When the roses are clipped off the bush they are brought to this table 

they are measured as to the length then bundles together 

according to the length.

She clips clips the stems with a small hand clipper.

These workers are sorting as to perfection.

Many are just thrown on the floor because they aren't good 

enough to export. they look at color and blemishes and

well just all over perfection - some of which we could not discern!

Walking down the row with a water sprayer watering each plant.

Being very careful not to disturb the flowers or plants.

See the heavy gloves they wear as they bundle the 

roses so they don;t get scraped with the thorns.

After bundling and lightly wrapping they are brought to the

cooler to keep cool before the final sorting and packaging.

There are two cooling room - one where they are initially brought and

then the next day they are put in the second cooler.

And that day they are taken to the sorting and packaging 

floor to prepare fro export.

These flowers have just been brought from the cooling rooms.

We had an enjoyable time in the green houses and we learned
so much about the growing of long stemmed roses!
Loved being with the Anderson's!!
We collected our flowers and then we were on our way.

On our way to the main road we saw the corn stalks bundled 

for use later. These are later chopped and fed to the animals.

Down the road a ways we saw a huge area where charcoal was

being made. It is made from wood being burned to 

get all of the moisture out. 

Charcoal is used here for cooking food and used

mainly in the jikos.

Wood is piled then covered and fired.

What a great day and it was just beginning.
We left soon after we arrived at Anderson's and
on our way home to Kisumu we stopped and visited
Sister Ericah.
We gave her a message to feed her spirit and she
fed us some food to feed our body.
A great day!!

TRANSFERS - COMING AND GOING

December 8 - 11, 2013

 GOING HOME

Transfers always means sending off the missionaries you love so much.

It is good for them to be involved in other areas and members and

it helps them grow in the Gospel and the Church administration 

but it is hard on those of  us left behind.

On Sunday we took Elder Lewis to Eldoret so he
could fly from there to Nairobi so on Monday they could fly to USA!

Elder Schneider, Elder Cook, Elder Lewis
These are very strong Elders each leaving with a lot
of mission and Church leadership experience.

Elder Lewis wanted to redistribute his luggage and maybe

share some heavy items with the others so he

wouldn't have to pay so much in extra weight luggage.

Elder Cook, Elder Lewis, Elder Schneider and Elder Beacom.

Looks like that may be the end of juggling...

...but it wasn't enough!!

Saying good-bye to a great young man.

Elder Moon, Sister Moon, Elder Lewis

Elder Lewis, Elder Jackson have been together for six months

and have worked so well together. 

They are both great young missionaries.

Ready for security and then off they will be!!

Hope they have a great "life after mission"

TRANSFERS

On Wednesday we took 

Sister Namugaya and Sister Eises to the bus to travel to Nairobi.

Sister Eises will be serving in Nairobi.

COMING HOME

Sister Otwane from Busia flew into Kisumu on Wednesday 

as she returned  from the mission in Ghana.

We met her and took her to Busia to be released and 

meet her family and friends.

As we drove into the Church compound people

came running out of the building to greet her!

Everyone was so excited to meet her again. 

They love her and are so glad to have her home.

Sister Otwane greeting her sister who is the the RS President.

Sister Margaret, Sister Otwane, Sister Mourine.

President ChirChir and Sister Otwane as he was 

about to release her from the mission.

She is really a sweet young woman.

She will be a great help to the branch!!

Members singing as they wait to visit more with 

Sister Otwane as she is released by President ChirChir.

TRANSFERS CONTINUE

As we left Busia we brought Elder Nyambita with
us so he could serve in Kisumu.
Elder Jackson returned from Eldoret but was not
in Kisumu when we arrived so we took Elder Nyambita
doe some dinner and visited with him until
Elder Jackson arrived.



The next day we went to the bus again to find
Sister Namugaya and Sister Chipfuwamiti
who came in from Nairobi.
It feels good to have the transfers complete and
the missionaries tucked away in their new homes.

Great days with fantastic young members of the Church!!