KENYA - THE LAND OF DIVERSITY

We just returned from our 14 day mission tour in Kenya.  It was one of those experiences you want to tuck away and just pull out from time to time to remember how much you enjoyed every minute.  The president and his wife are the happiest couple and completely engaged with their missionaries - and you felt it everywhere we went. 

Kenya was amazing - but I first want to write about a couple of spiritual experiences we had - the kind that gives you the chills every time you think about them.

The first was with a new missionary who had only been serving in the field for 2 days - fresh from the MTC.  He is a big strapping young man from South Africa who looks like he could take on the world.  It was his very FIRST day of contacting which came the next day after our time together at zone conference. He and his companion were out walking together - they walked past the Eldoret prison just as  the guards began lowering the flag - which meant everyone passing within the area had to stop and not move.  The guards blew a whistle just after they passed and yelled in Swahili - a language which neither of them spoke - so they kept walking.  Finally after walking about 20 yards a woman they walked past told them to stop and told them the guards were yelling and whistling at them to stop! 

There were thrown in prison for just under a hour and emotionally battered.  They were called traitors, trash, despicable human beings, unworthy to walk the streets of Kenya, etc. etc. etc.  The senior companion tried to explain they were not Kenyans and didn't speak the language the guards were speaking - but the hostility increased such that when they finally let them go, the young elder (remember this was just his second day) said, "I must be transferred!  Now!  I am too scared to be here any longer.  I can't do this!!"  He called the President who was with us so the President asked if Taylor would talk to him.  He was really shook up badly - scared to death! We had spoken on Love versus Fear -  and how being proactive instead of reactive - Taylor talked to him - telling him he had to go back to the prison and apologize and mend feelings - practice the very thing we had taught about - love vs. fear.  The Elder assured him he had NO intention of going anywhere near that prison again!  Taylor and the President tried to calm him down and then suggested he pray about it with his companion - telling him he would call the next day and check on how he was doing.

Long story short, this young man told Taylor the next day that he had come to realize that his Heavenly Father had given him a challenge to stand as a disciple of Christ - so he went back to the prison the next morning with his companion - and HE even did the talking! They met with the head guard and not only did they apologize and smooth over relations - but the head guard was so impressed by their humility that he asked them if they would be willing to come back and TEACH the inmates and the guards in the prison!  They needed permission from the president to teach at the prison.  As he handed the phone to the President, he said, "You are not going to believe this one!!!"  We all had goosebumps! Of course he granted them permission and we all felt like we were living in the day of The Book of Mormon and this young man was like Ammon.  He literally changed the course of his entire mission and life by moving toward Love rather than running away because of fear. Anyway, it was very moving and shows how the Lord is leading this church.  Working with these young people is a testimony every single day.

As if this wasn't enough to make the whole month perfect we had another incredible experience.  One of my favorite "Africa Stories" - was told to us before we left to come to Africa.This is truly 

Elder Oakes (the area president here in Africa several years ago) told us this story.  When he was called here one of the first assignments he was given was to go to a small village named Ilimi - in Kenya - about 3 hours outside of Nairobi - and close a small church on top of a mountain.  The church had no road to it - no electricity and no water.  It took the members about 45 minutes to hike from the bottom of the hill to the top. Most of the members were quite old - the path was steep, and usually very muddy making it almost impossible to get to.

After climbing the hill with the Branch President, they finally came to the small little church.  As they walked around the building Pres. Oakes was surprised to see a baptismal font there at the top of the mountain.  Since there was no water or electricity he asked how they filled the baptismal font.  Humbly, the Branch President said, "63 women would climb the mountain with a bucket of water on their heads - or one woman would climb herself - 63 times!" Then they would all stand in the water to raise the water level so the baptism could be performed. 

Elder Oakes was so touched with their devotion and humility he decided not to close the branch.  It was our blessing to be able to go to church at this little church on Easter Sunday.  Since that time they have added on to the building, and built a small room for primary.  The chapel was filled with over 200 people, most barefoot, wearing hand me down clothes.  The spirit was so strong and we felt so blessed to be there with these wonderful people.

It was a very hot and muggy rainy day - the people have really learned to 

adapt to the heat...I wish I would!

We met these adorable children on their way to church.

                          This is truly a memory we will never forget.

We had so many more incredible moments - like riding camels on the beach... 

Taylor trying to jump higher than the Masai!

                 ...and visiting interesting people and interesting places.

At the end of our mission tour we went to the "Masai Mara" on a quick 3 day safari.  It was magical!  Our first drive we saw 2 cheetahs take down a warthog!  Then as they were enjoying their catch - a hyena stole the warthog!  We watched the whole thing from the beginning to the end - where 2 jackals tried to get their share of the catch.  A "Circle of Life" moment!  We had a wonderful time at the Mara!

                         This is the best "tent" I've ever stayed in!

The hunt...the chase...

the kill... 

the steal(s)...

the circle of life.

Very "up close and personal" These pictures are not taken with a zoom lens!  Yes, we really were this close!

                This is a picture of crocodiles eating a dead hippo for lunch!

One other experience we had there was the opportunity to visit a Masai village.  It was amazing!!  Like going back in time 200 plus years.  The Masai wear red, have multiple wives, live in little dung huts (built strictly by the women) and cherish their cows.  They still drink the blood of the cow mixed with a little milk daily.  However the most shocking thing to me was the practice of drinking the cow urine mixed with elephant dung EVERYDAY while a woman was pregnant.  They believe this keeps the baby disease free!  I could barely keep from gagging - and we definitely didn't sample anything.

Masai women sewing and doing bead work.

Inside one of the tiny mud huts - covered with cow dung - dirt floor - even a small room for the baby cows to share inside the house.  

This is the "kitchen."

This was another of those experiences you cannot even begin to comprehend - but one that will be remembered in our hearts forever.