Happy Sabbath Day from Kenya!
We had a delightful Sunday in Church meetings at the Changamwe Branch here in Mombasa. This branch in the city is the most modern and advanced we've attended so far...microphone, little child-like piano, and cement block building...but, still no electricity or running water in the sinks and we didn't dare use the toilet. This time there were two other cars there besides ours. One belonged to the Branch President and another to another American couple like us. The other 100 or so people walked, some from very long distances away.
Everyone, as usual, was dressed in their very best and it was obvious they placed a very high value on attending Church and taking the sacrament.
As usual, the spirit among the Saints was so very strong and true to the faith and their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Most of the men were in white shirts and ties and even the young men who blessed and passed the sacrament. We attended Primary and admired the local woman who tried so hard to teach the children about the iron rod, though she spoke little English herself. Again, we were proud and amazed at the very attentive attitudes, respect paid, and Gospel knowledge of the children at such a young age. The iron rod story was told with the classic technique of blindfolds and a string of yarn to find the tree of life.
A highlight was the baptism of another convert today. This time it was an older gentleman who was baptised after Church in the font in the front of Church right along the street. He had a beautiful, big smile on his face throughout the service and baptism and later when he bore his testimony afterwards. He began his testimony with a loud “Praise the Lord” It was good to see a man baptised because of the great need for Priesthood leadership everywhere here.
There are few older couple missionaries in Kenya and none here in Kenya except Corwin & Peggy, but those who are here and elsewhere in the vast country try to provide “shadow leadership” wherever possible in order to help the locals learn how to fill their callings and serve. It is harder, of course, like it is everywhere in the Church around the world, because we have no paid ministry anywhere.
Yet, like everywhere, the people quickly receive inspiration from the Lord and grow into their callings, fulfilling the adage, “Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies.”
And, amazingly, it works as a chapel is dedicated every day around the world as each individual member devotes much of his time, finances, and life to service in the Church...and, the Church continues among the fastest growing in the world. Along the whole process, each individual member grows in leadership skills and gospel knowledge and testimony much more than if a paid ministry was involved.
It was nice to come back to the apartment today and finally relax a little. It's really about the first time in over two weeks we've done that. This is a pretty hard-working mission for Corwin and Peggy as they go from dawn to dusk and then do lots of work till bedtime around 10 PM. Many of theirs and our e-mails home to you are done around 5 AM in the morning so the regular day can begin at 6:30 AM with showers and breakfast and out on the road by 8 AM. We're trying to see some sights while we are here in this great country, but also trying hard not to keep them from their great work. We've given more than 3/4's of our time so far to helping the measles work, which we have enjoyed very much and feel very good about, even though we're missing out on some sights along the way.
Well, it's time for bed. It was a nice relaxing day, but the work begins again tomorrow with meetings in the Chyulu hills.
Much love to you all,
Dick and Lawana
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