Last week we attended a district conference in the Chyulu area. After the meetings on Saturday and Sunday we stayed in a game park lodge overnight. The lodge had a wide veranda on the back that overlooked a watering hole equipped with large lights. As we ate our meal, we watched the animals (zebras, elephants, gazelles). It was amazing watching them walk out of the darkness to the lighted watering hole and drink and move around. We watched for a long time. Our room had a sitting room, a veranda, a large bathroom, and a bedroom complete with floor to ceiling mosquito net. It was really something! We arose early the next morning and watched baboons playing in the trees, storks wading in the water, a giraffe in the distance, warthogs and gazelles and elands eating and drinking. It was absolutely gorgeous. As we left the lodge to go to the church for district conference we saw three very large giraffes along side the road. They even seemed to pose for us to take their picture—turning their heads this way and that as we snapped their pictures. We passed a soccer field where about 10 storks were standing—we wondered if they were going to play soccer, then we saw a warthog and figured he was going to be either the goalie or the referee. We arrived in good time for the conference. And it was so good. They had a district choir and had prepared the agenda very well. The theme was “growing spiritually through daily prayer and scripture study”. Each of the speakers bore strong testimony and it was delightful to be there. Bill and I each were asked to speak also. That has been a very interesting experience. There Bill and I are sitting on the stand next to a general authority, expected to share our thoughts and testimony to all the people and I haven’t even prepared a talk, yet the spirit helps me know what I’m to say. Bill talked about the importance of fasting and listening to Elder Kolliker who came with assignment from the prophet to teach them. Elder Kolliker told of a little girl who was going to attend a temple open house and prayed that she’d be able to see the prophet and speak to him. Her mother tried to talk her out of it, but she was sure that Heavenly Father would answer her prayer. As it turned out during the dedication, she was in a room where the prophet was not going to be, but he was prompted to look in the room she was in and smiled at her. Then because Sister Hinckley wasn’t able to attend that particular session, President Hinckley asked Elder Kolliker to find a young girl to sit in her place. He was prompted to ask that little girl and not only did she see and talk to the prophet, but was able to get a hug from him as they sang. God does answer prayers. I talked about following Jesus and helping our children do the same. Saturday the theme was “sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven” and I bore my testimony that when we sacrifice our time, talents and energies to teach our children in FHE, hold family prayer, read the scriptures, attend church together and keep the Sabbath Day Holy, the blessings come. I told about being in the temple when Bryce and Krystal were sealed and the great blessings that have come to my life because of my chidren being taught and receiving the gospel. Thanks to all of you for being such good visual aids--examples that I can use to encourage others. We had about 500 people in attendance and the children were all dressed in their nice clothes. Our van and the district president’s car were the only vehicles in the parking lot. Everyone else had walked or ridden a bike or a bus to get to the church. One sister that I talked to had walked 10 miles to be there. That wasn’t even the farthest. But they were there with smiles on their faces, ready to be taught the gospel. After conference, Bill signed temple recommends and Elder Kolliker met with the District presidency to evaluate the conference, etc. The rest of us waited. We left about 2:00 and drove to one of the other chapels where LDS Charities had installed a drip irrigation system in the shamba (garden) behind the meeting house. The shamba was beautiful with lovely crops growing. The members take care of the weeding, and use the produce for themselves and to pay for the water pumping. We then drove back to the lodge to spend the night. On the way into the lodge, we saw a herd of elephants in the bushes by the side of the road. There were about 7 very large bull elephants. Then we saw a herd of cape buffalo—they were so huge and mean looking. I was glad we were in the van. A couple of bush bucks ran across behind our van. We drove to a pool and saw a crocodile sunning itself and lots of “hungry” hippos playing in the water, opening their mouths just like the game. It was such a beautiful spot. The water came from some springs, and the trees were so plentiful and beautiful. We saw an eagle just sitting in the tree. We started walking along the path from the parking lot and there were two baboons walking on the path in front of us. We came to another place there the baboons were playing in the trees. We saw several herds of zebras and a couple more giraffes before we reached the lodge. It was amazing! and so fun to be riding along and seeing those beautiful exotic animals.
We watched the animals again in the watering hole and the elephants really put on a show as they scratched their necks and backsides again some rocks that were there. One even had a complete bath, as he rolled in the water. We saw some elands watering and a jackal. This morning we arose before the sun came up and watched from our veranda as a giraffe came to drink, then joined some other giraffes to eat—we watched them a long time with the binoculars. The baboons were mixing it up and fighting with each other and running up and down the trees and over the water hole and back. The warthogs and gazelles seemed oblivious to what was going on. The landscape was gorgeous and changed colors as the sun came up and lighted the earth. It was very soothing to just sit and watch the animals and see what beautiful creatures and surroundings Heavenly Father has created for us to enjoy. On our way out to the road, an elephant crossed the road in front of us and there were some others waiting for us to go by. What a sight!!