Additional information on Zachariah

A couple of other things I meant to mention, but forgot to add in the narrative below: Zachariah recently told me that I was the first white person he had ever spoken to and that he had a hard time deciphering my accent intially. Also, JaLayne and David are supporting Zachariah financially until he goes on his mission in a year. The church pays the mission expense for Africans.

"Low Hanging Fruit"

Zachariah is a nineteen year old who heard something about "Devil Worshiper" and Mormons and so decided to check it out.  When he went to church and heard the speakers he was quickly disabused of that notion and began feeling the spirit.  We were at some of our other five branches and the young missionaries were in transit and so he sort of "fell though the cracks" missionary wise, but still he kept coming week after week.  When his family found out he was attending a devil worshiping church they threw him and his meager belonging out. They even feared he might kill them all.  When we first met him he was sleeping on the lawn in front of the chapel and had been for several nights - no blanket or pillow.  Obviously we fixed that and he's now living with the branch President and his family (President Kwendo pictured above on the left).  He will continue living with them and finishing form four (High School) until his mission in one year.  Needless-to-say he is something special ("My sheep shall hear my voice") and has an amazing testimony, so it really shouldn't have been much of a surprise when a General Authority (Elder Joseph W. Satati) of the First Quorum of the Seventy) just happened to show up at church today.  We asked if he would be willing to stay after to preside at the baptism. Not only did he preside but he and Sister Sitati spoke (they were there visiting their daughter who lives in the branch). Pretty amazing! 

CES activities

About to begin our last  (of six) Seminary Graduations, at the "chapel" in Sikhendu.  It's really a tent, built to accommodate the growing branch.  The Zone Leaders are manning the refreshment table.

My comp enjoying the nice kitchen of the new chapel in Misikhu.  We had a Single Adult activity there for the five branches north of Kitale.  75 YSAs attended!!

One of the attendees was our investigator.  We found him sleeping on the lawn of our Kitale chapel.  Because of his interest in the church his family threw him out, calling him a devil worshiper and were convinced that he would kill them all. He refused to stop attending or investigating the church.  JaLayne's family is sponsoring him and he's now living with the Branch President's family and attending school again.  He turns 19 on December 9th and is anxious to be a member a year so he can serve a mission.  First though, I get to baptize him in two weeks!!

Sugar rush

These kids have never had sugar, and THEY LOVE IT!

 This little girl doesn't quite know what to do with it.

The teachers know how to prevent insurrection, form a circle and then distribute the suckers.

African personalities

Three of our orphan boys, Moses, Patrick and Dominic just graduated form four (high school) and are out to seek their fortune.  We gave them a little money and they immediately blew it all on new clothes.  They can be forgiven since they've never had money before.  We've working to get them into trade schools so they don't have to go back on the street.

With two of our newly assigned missionaries.  The one the left just arrived from Ghana and the one on the far right is from Ethiopia.

Kenyan scenes

Our truck in the shade of the quintessential African tree.

Three orphans looking to bust out.

Working with the staff and contractors

My companion with the social worker at the Rescue Center, Juliet.  They are both super excited for the construction and equipping of a therapy room for working with children who have experienced trauma. That would be most of the orphans.

With our general contractor, Leonard who did the cement floors for both dorms, the kitchen and all of the offices and classroom.  He also built the new latrine, main gate and playground.

Some orphans just won't be happy no matter what!

 She's a doll.

My goal is to get this kid to smile before we leave for home.

Aspiring missionary

Having fun with the kids

Sharing the road with the ubiquitous donkey cart

One of the beautiful trees of Western Kenya

Projects at the orphanage, compliments of generous donors

Digging the pit latrine.  I made him stop when he hit bed rock and water at 30 feet.

Women's Conference

 My companion delivering the key note address to 185 sisters in the Langus Chapel, Eldoret.

Amazing group of women who traveled for hours from our nine branches to spend the afternoon together.

Fagan, "Prince of thieves", a.k.a. The village idiot.

My buddy Fagan, who is something of a "charming rogue".  I named after the character from Dicken's "Oliver Twist" because he has a pack of street boys to do his bidding.

After and Before (I posted them in the wrong order)

The cook at the orphanage farm with her "new and improved" kitchen, complements of the donations of JaLayne's California friends and extended family members including the Bryan and Donna Christensen family.  This is just one of myriad projects such funds have financed.

Primitive cooking conditions at the farm kitchen

Chillin with the conquerors of Kilo

 Jolynne (Forrest's wife), Lucy Lowe (Bryan's daughter), Forrest, Bryan, Sister Flake (non-climber).
 Not pictured because they had already flown home: David and Anthony Beal (Claudia's husband and son), and Dallan (Forrest and Jolynne's son).

Pink flamingos at Arusha National Park.

African Adventure

The brothers Flakein Tanzania (the younger half anyway)

Great White Hunters

Two great volcanos

Mt. Meru (15,000 ft) overlooks the city of Arusha

Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft. )consists of two peaks; Kibo on the left and seven miles to the right, Mawenzi.  Bryan and I climbed it in 1999 and he returned this month.

Our heroes!

 JaLayne's friend Jenica performing at a benefit for our Kenyan orphanage.

These amazing women raised thousands of dollars for the kids.

Kenya Happenings

Feeding breakfast to the zone, our orphan Peter and President Barasa of the District Presidency.

Our boy Peter.  He's our favorite of the kids at the school/orphanage.  Both his parents died before he was two years old and he spent twelve years on the street.  He loves being around the missionaries and want to serve a mission.  Baptizing him would be a delicate maneuver - we'll see.

Taylor and his kids with some of our favorite members.  He's in counselor in the Kitale Branch Presidency and washes our truck for about $6.25 per week and she does the Zone Leaders' laundry for the same amount.  That's their sole income and they're better off than most of the other members.

Kenyan activiies

Unique Kenyan road kill (leopard)

Orphan kids at the farm enjoying the sink and water my brother Bryan's grand children helped to provide, selling pop and golf balls door to door.

One of our Branch Presidents (with the backpack) and his PEF specialist arriving at our meeting on the standard mode of transportation here, a "picky, picky" (commercial motorcycle).  Our truck is the only vehicle in the entire district.

Kenyan activities

Branch member from Kitale helping out at our Orphanage/School on "Helping Hands Day"

Taylor and Alyssa, Joseph and Benjamin's trip to Kenya

 A fallen tree blocked the road to Mt. Elgon Peak so we settled for Endebess Bluff.

With the extra time we decided to go into Uganda for a couple of hours.

Taylor hosted seventeen orphan boys from the farm to dinner and a movie (Captain Phillips) at our house.  They loved it and worship him.

Taylor also bought chickens for the farm and paid for the installation of a solar panel and five wash basins.  The farm had a huge Grand Opening celebration of all the project he and JaLayne and David's family sponsored, as well as, the Greenhouse financed by Aaron and Kim Christensen's family and the new concrete floors in the classrooms and dorms financed by The Tyler and Audrey Tiberius family.

Taylor's visit

Walking safari with Taylor and his kids

Some of the African animals we strolled among on our "walking safari" in Naivasha

Taylor and the kids visit

On our "Walking Safari" at Naivasha