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.