RETURNING MISSIONARY

April 3, 2013

Robinson returned from his mission to Ghana

today. He was released by the mission president 

in Nairobi after a LONG flight from Ghana.

He then flew to Kisumu to meet his parents who 

had come by bus from Busia to meet him here.

Robinson greeting his father President Imende!

Two years is a long time!!

The handshake as well as a hug!!

Mom couldn't believe he was really here!!

Let's have a better look at this young man!!

Yeah and Dad, too!

Altogether again!!!

Leaving the greeting area.

Guess they are glad to be together again.

Dad gets the baggage and Mom gets the missionary son!!

Robinson has been a great missionary, 

has served well, 

and is glad to be home.

When asked if w should stop to get something to eat

- he hadn't eaten for more than two days -

"No, I want to eat at home!"

Off to the bus for a two hours ride to HOME!!

TRANSPORTATION

April 2, 2013

Transportation -

for people as well as for things -

is always an important 

adventure in Kenya.

 Here are two motorcycles (piki piki) loaded 

with heavy bags.

We saw these along the road in the sugar cane area.

 

A huge truck overloaded with sugar cane!!

Bicycle (boda boda)

loaded with sugar cane.

Loaded boda boda !!

Loaded and then some!!

Tractor pulling a huge trailer loaded with sugar cane.

The boda boda driver was in the bag to

better secure his load.

These loaded trucks were traveling rapidly along!!

Taken through the windshield so not so clear.

Notice her load -

bundle of something, sugar cane bundled together

 and her

 

That's a pretty tall stack!!

More large bundles on a boda boda!!

SUGAR COUNTRY

April 2, 2013

On Tuesday we took a ride to an area we had not been in Kisumu.

We soon found ourselves in sugar cane country.

At one time there was a great sugar industry here

but  it has had problems in more recent times.

Sugar cane fields

On the north side of the road was a "mountain" range

going directly east and west.

Most of the sugar cane fields were on both sides of the road

and on the left went to the mountain which was

quite a distance!!

The sign of one of the sugar companies.

Along the way to the south of the road was a 

fish hatchery with several ponds.

More sugar cane.

Fields to the mountains.

Beautiful country side!!

Look closely and you see the tops of several huts

hidden among the plants.

Close shot of one of the hut homes.

Everything is so green. 

We have had a lot of evening rain to green everything!!

The post office in Miwani.

There is a sugar factory here and several offices

but we asked a man here and he said the factory

isn't working now.

(Now did he mean right now - 

that it was closed for the day or -

that it is closed because of no business)

Another view of the beautiful area.

In some areas there was still a lot of water on the 

road and also along the sides of the roads.

This bird was taking advantage of the water.

Water on the road.
 
Another large bundle!!

CHAOS LEFTOVERS

April 2, 2103

Saturday March 30, 2013 the announcement from the 

Supreme Court of Kenya that the election held

on March 4 would stand as announced on March 9

caused a little chaos in Kisumu and in some other areas.

We know there were tire fires in some areas 

along with other disturbances.

Tuesday April 2 we went for a drive to see an area of 

the surrounding area we had not seen before.

We drove through the chaos area and saw

some of the remains of the fires, etc.

The pictures aren't very good but 

I hope you can see somewhat of the area.

There was a  very heavy rain storm on Sunday evening

the first that may have washed away some of the signs.

Another fire spot. 

Rocks were used as weapons and in some places there

were rocks in piles or strewn about.

This fire spot was in a junction of the road.

 The road we traveled along where the disturbance was.

Another sign of fire and fighting.

I am so grateful we were safe as were other members

of the Church and the community.

There were several community members hurt or 

displaced and we are grateful it wasn't worse than it was.

The police did a great job at keeping the peace.

TRANSFERS

April 3, 2013

This is our District picture.

We have served together for about 6 weeks.

Sister Kusinam (Kenya), Sister Musana (South Africa),

Elder Ntsele (South Africa), Elder Turner DL (California),

Elder Tsegaye ZL (Ethiopia), Sister Moon, Elder Moon, 

Elder Mahlaba (Uganda)

Elder Tsegaye is being transferred to Eldoret and we

will get Elder Madise to replace him.

He has been a great ZL and will serve well in Eldoret

where we will see him at the next Zone Conference.

DISTRICT ACTIVITY

April 1, 2013

This was transfer week and we have one

activity per transfer so today was the day.

We decided to go to Lake Victoria and then

have dinner together at our place.

Driving out to the lake there were a lot of flooded places

from the heavy rains we have been getting.

More water standing in the yards and fields.

Even enough in one area to create a great water hole

for the young to play.

They were really having a great time in the water.

Even more fun with a piece of plastic..

Today at DUNGA BAY there were many, many

bags of charcoal recently arrived from Uganda.

The boat the charcoal travels on to across the lake.

We've been here several times and have never seen it so

clear of the water hyacinths plants.

We can actually see the water near the shore!!

Elder Mahlaba, Elder Turner, Elder Tsegaye, Elder Ntsele

standing on the pier out on the water.

Sister Kusina and Sister Musana.

Looking over the beach.

Beautiful background over the lake

for the beautiful missionaries!!

Elder Moon, Sister Musana, Sister Moon, Sister Kusina

Sister Moon with the Elders.

Cleaning some of the fish.

Washing some fish already gutted.

How does a cow scratch its ears??

If you click  on the picture it will  be more clear.

Cutting the fish preparing to fry.

This woman is cleaning the nets.

This wood is used to burn the fire to cook the fish.

We then went to Kiboki Bay.

Bird nests in the trees. There were many many birds

hovering around the nests today really singing

beautiful songs.

The bits of yellow are the Weaver Birds.

Different view of the nests.

Elder Ntsele and Elder Mahlaba posing - 

I wondered if they were preaching from

the back of the boat.

This boat is used to take people site seeing 

on the lake.

Looking for hippos and fish.

Good view of good missionaries,!!

A type  of tree lizard. The green is the male

and the grey (that you can hardly see) is the female.

After visiting the lake the missionaries left to
email their families and prepare their contributions
to the dinner.
The Elder were the first to arrive and rather
impatiently and hungrily waited for the Sisters to come.





 The food was good and the company was even better!!
Sister Kusina, Sister Musana, Elder Tsegaye, Elder Turner,
Elder Mahlaba, Elder Ntsele, Elder Moon

 

We were in Nairobi for Elder Turner's birthday so

for dessert today we had cake (with one candle)

and ice cream for his birthday.

Happy 21!!