July 31 2007

We've finished our first round of zone conferences. It takes us four weeks. One week we have a zone conference here in Nairobi, the next in Mombasa (on the coast in Kenya 8 hours away), the next in Dar Es Salaam (on the Indian Ocean in Tanzania) and the 4th in Eldoret (north of Nairobi 8 driving hours). We've had a great time meeting and getting to know the Elders and Sisters and Couple Missionaries. What some wonderful people!! Tanzania is more tropical than Nairobi, but it's their winter, so it was really pleasant. We have 4 branches there in a district. Nairobi has one stake and one district (Chyulu). Eldoret has 3 branches with 4 additional branches in nearby Kitale. Mombasa has 4 branches. Many of the branch presidents are returned missionaries and give good leadership to their congregations.
Driving to Eldoret we saw a herd of zebras, some baboons and a huge tortoise on the road. We also saw a monkey running on top of the fence that surrounded the cabin we were staying in. There is a bird here called the HaDaDa--I guess that's how you spell it. It makes a horrible noise, a cross between a crow and a chain saw. It's our alarm clock. There are a couple of birds that start in crowing each morning around 6:15.
The people here in the upcountry (that's what they call outside of Nairobi) usually walk everywhere or ride bicycles--their own or on one called a "boda boda" , or catch rides on a "matatu" which is a VW bus that carries about 15 people. They strap their produce, or bags on top of the matatu and sometimes they really get loaded down. The matatu drivers are not the most courteous in the world. They have a law here in Kenya that no one can import a car more than 10 years old. They did that so that Kenya wouldn't become a dumping ground for old junkers. So the cars look pretty new. They have to pay a 50% duty on the cars that come here. They don't have any manufacturing like that here so have to import all cars and trucks. The cars are mostly small, which is a good thing, because the roads are skinny with very little shoulders on the roads, they just drop off, and in Nairobi there are many cars trying to go the same place, so smaller is better.
The sister that lives in Eldoret lived in Rigby for 3 years around the time of the Teton Dam flood. She lived over by the rodeo grounds and so knew President and Sister Pieper. Elder Scott is related to Lyle Scott in Annis and Ron and Dixie Johnson in Milo. Elder Nielson in Kitale area taught Crystal at Ricks College and his wife was the libriarian at the Powells school. We've had a fun time finding the connections. They are wonderful people and are doing a marvelous job of helping the missionaries and members and strengthening them.
We've survived our first month and are grateful for the Lord's help in our learning and growing.