KASARANI SABBATH 19th of 27 Emails‏

Happy Sabbath Day to our Family and Friends back Home!

It was a wonderfully spiritual day today attending the Kasarani Ward, one of the five wards here in Nairobi's one stake. Beautiful chapel, but still only 4 other cars in the parking lot besides ours, as all the rest walked to Church, as they do everywhere else. A tremendously powerful spirit throughout the meetings with powerful testimony-bearing of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Because this was a well-organized ward within an actual stake, the people were more mature in the Gospel and more polished generally. They were educated, articulate, most with jobs, well-dressed. Yet, we were all again greatly impressed how they concentrated on the most important parts of the Gospel, just like the people did in the poorer small branches in the villages and bush. Like, the Atonement, the sacrament, the scriptures, etc. And, they did it with great, sober, sincerity. It made me feel a bit sad, remembering how shallow sometimes my own service and spirituality is at times. It really is true that if we are not careful, our material wealth can be bad for us, while those less wealthy may find their poor conditions a blessing in disguise for them...especially in the long, eternal run. These people may not have wealth or even an education, but they know their scriptures and live them better than many of in the heart of Zion!

I was also greatly impressed how these black people bore such strong testimony of a Gospel and Church still led mostly by whites and headquartered in America. They are very proud of Elder Sitati, the first African General Authority, and that he is from Kenya. It was evident to me there will be many more. Today also brought back the amused thoughts Lawana and I had when some folks we'd invited to an Institute concert back in Boise were a little upset when the choir sang a hymn in African gospel dialect and tone. This experience in Africa has more fully taught us that ours is no longer a “Utah Church,” but, instead, is a 14 million and rapidly growing member worldwide Church spread throughout the world.

We were asked to bear our testimonies. Corwin & Peggy expressed their great love and appreciation for being back in Africa and Lawana asked how many of them were converts like her family and we were all amazed as practically every hand was raised except for some small children. The Bishop also told about Shelly's family's visit to this ward 3 years ago and we were later amazed at how many spoke to us afterwards about that visit and their gifts to the children. I spoke about the great impact for good that J. Richard Clarke had on my life. Heads nodded and smiles broke out around the chapel as many of them remembered Dick being in Africa as a young missionary and later he and Barbara returning as Area President over all of Africa. I know they would be so proud of these very strong saints here, many of whom lives they touched, and many who remember them with great love.

Some other highlights of the day:

Josephine: We met this sweet lady who Peggy had helped start a small bead jewelry-making business in 2002. She had been a Catholic nun before she got the courage to read a missionary's pamphlet and then enter the door of the “evil Mormon Church.” as it was known by some of her family and friends. After joining the Church, her family burned her pamphlets and Book of Mormon, but later several joined the Church, too. Since then, her small business led her to a good job and become a pretty classy lady. And, the Ogborns were so pleased when she told them she'd married a good man who subsequently joined the Church and that they are preparing to be sealed in the temple next year. Josephine's great love, especially for Peggy, was very touching and obvious, and it was evident her life and many others were changed forever for great good. During her testimony, Josephine spoke about how she had chosen to pay her tithing and “try” the Lord, as Malachi promised, and how she attributed that to many blessings that had come to her.

The Bishop: Was a great example of the great worth of the Perpetual Education Fund .

He had received a PEF loan from the Church to get an accounting degree and later paid it back with 500 shillings (about $6/month). The Bishop called up his 8 year old boy to bear his impromptu testimony. In shorts and shoes untied, you would not have believed the depth of this young boy's testimony. He is just one of the many strong, young Priesthood leaders here. So, keep paying your tithing, fast offerings, and PEF donations, so this kind of story can be repeated over and over throughout the world!

Sunday School: A young African 20 year old missionary, who had only been converted 2 years ago, taught the class with only a few moment's notice. His teaching skills and knowledge seemed like a good 70 year old High Priest with decades of leadership experience. We continue to be so impressed with these young African missionaries and younger boys and girls. They are incredibly strong with great, sincere testimonies and dedication to righteousness and service. In part, I suppose, it's because they have little material opportunities, so they concentrate on the Gospel and their responsibilities therein. Another example of it all being, perhaps, a blessing in disguise for them...especially, eternally.

Hope you all had a great day, too...especially with it being Conference, which we could not get over here. Like the Kenyans, we will just have to wait for recordings to arrive or to read the proceedings in the Ensign.

We love you all,

Dick and Lawana

NOTE: To continue reading the African Blogs, scroll down or click on the "older post" on the right.