Branches in the Hills

The big blue building is the Kyambeke branch

We found this young man who was 14 and named Kevin at the branch that day and he told us we could go in.  It's a nice big building with lots of room to expand

The white building is the Mitini branch who has so many members that it is being split.  When we arrived many were sitting outside the front doors listening to the service.  

machakos

Sarah and her mom Lillian want to be baptized and we will be teaching the discussions as there is no missionaries in the area.  Also other's wanting to be baptized as well.  

In arriving in Machakos we found a small group of saints who are trying to become a branch.  This is an old warehouse where they meet and hold sacrament.

This is Rose and Bernard one of the families who we met in Machakos who helps with the meetings there.

Leaving Mombasa

These 3 kids are Peter's from the branch presidency in Changamwe.  I bought these kids their clothes as their sunday best was not suitable for church.

This is Tina and her husband.  She is R.S. pres. from Changamwe,

Janet and daughter.  She use to be Primary presdient.

Scholastic is a guard at the Changamwe branch who we feel in love with

Saying goodbye

 David and Quenteer was a young couple we met and connected with right off.  We love them

President Mwambere was a powerful Branch leader and good friend

President Mwambere and his daughter, David and Quenteer Ogala 

Well here we are still in limbo . We are going to machouse tommorw and hope that we can find lodging . We have allot to do there . It is real hilly with thousands of terraced farms . We bought about 40 avocados along the road it cost us about three dollars . Were it is a big Ag area we should be able to purchase plenty of local vegetables . Oh by the way we don't have a clue what do do with all those Avocados it just sounded like a good idea at the time . They also raise allot of Mangoes. There is a grocery store in Machoes so  I hope that we don't have to come back to Nairobi very often . The farms are all small family farms consisting of about two to three acres . They live entirely off the things they raise and all labor is done by hand .   We will probably have more teaching experiences and maybe I will get wet more we will see . I am going to ask for a few days early release . I hope to be back home by the tenth or maybe a little sooner . With that in mind we only have four and one half months to go. We really look forward to seeing you all again . I know that we will miss the people but will be glad to see all of you and our friends. The British government has closed there consulate in Mombasa and urges all citizens to avoid travel to the Mombasa area . Kind of crazy but it is not any better here in Nairobi . I will be so glad to move out of here . Well we love you all .

             Mom and Dad

Another family trying to survive in the chyulu area.

The man on the left what showing us some shambas (gardens) with Elder Gotcher

African Bee's.  They eat a lot of honey here in Africa.  They have to be really careful not to be stung as they are lethal.

Typical shack that most live in

I was just hanging out with the kids and we wanted shots of the homes they lived in.

talk about living in the 1800's, they use these oxen to plow in their shamba's

In Chyulu we went and visited all the mothers who were widows. Sister Gotcher took them boxes

This new baby is only one week old and the daddy walked away from his young family of three.

These are the typical type of homes you will see, with some being much worse. They are made of mud and sticks.

A young mother with her kids in Chyulu

Many places have these wells available and most share with families. They use it to wash, drink and water shambas. 

kids

Some cute kids hiding in the branches and playing peek a boo with us. We gave them all suckers.

Meeting house

This is the branch building in the Chyulu area. 

One of the few nice meeting houses in the area.

 We have met the new branch Presidents of the new area we will be serving in.They are from the Kilingu Hills . It is far out in the bush were they do not have Power or Water. It is real Africa. There are five branches in this area. They are some very dedicated saints. Most live entirely off there small farms were all is done by hand and oxen. The Mission President asked the Branch Presidents to come to the mission office for training and to meet us. So they all did. When asked what time they left to take there journey to Nairobi .The branch President from Killi branch said one AM he had to leave to catch the only ride that is available At 2:00 am. The rest had to leave at around 4am to be at Nairobi at nine am. I was astounded at the dedication of these great men. No one owns there own vehicle here. I couldn't help but wounder if such a meeting were called in the states under similar conditions how many would have came.  It is a humbling experience to be in their presence. Time is getting short for us here and we have much to do and are so needed in this new area and we still have to help the Branches in Mombasa . We will be travailing quite often  in these last five months . Please continue to pray for our safety and for all the missionary's. as we pray for you daily. We know that it is by this faith and prayers we are able to be here and do the things that we have been called to do. Thank you all so much. We love you and miss you.

            Elder and Sister Palmer

It has been very hard to leave these people. All three of the branch presidents just sobbed as they didn't want us to go . We had David Ogula and his wife and Daughter over last night more crying it was hard . I never had a clue of how hard it would be . Your Mom said before we left that she just wanted to make a difference ! Well with the help of the holy ghost we have ! You could feel of there deep love for us and we kind of feal like a thief in the night leaving so sudden and not being able to say good by to most . We a least got to tell the branch presidents good by and composed a short letter so they could read in sacrament meeting . I told mom it would have been easier if they would have tyed me to a tree and beat me . Maybe I have all ready told you these things oh well . It has been emotionally hard. We leave in the morning to journey to Nairobi and our new assignment . We kind of look forward to it but kind of don't like starting a new mission as we know so very little of the people and the area. It is going to take a month two to figure it out and we only have a small time left. One couple said that we should extend we said that we don't think so. We are going to request that we come home the first part of November instid of the last. Keep mailing us we probably wont have a chance to Skype and it sounds like you are going to be busy any way Mom and Dad

creature

Thid is what we found in our wall plug.  It look liked a creatures foot.  Dad was fixing it, as I couldn't have it hanging out.  Still not sure what it was

Wow!  You will have the most stories to tell of all the senior missionaries who have EVER served in the KNM!  You are going to LOVE the people in Kilungu Hills and they are going to LOVE you.  It's going to be a million times more peaceful for you there as well.  We went to the Moons' welcome home Sunday and had a good visit with them and the Broadbents and Halls.  The Halls are the last couple to serve in the Kilungu Hills.  Their commute to the Hills and back was tiring but Elder Hall used to say, "We cheated death one more time...I got to go to the Hills with my girlfriend...we had a picnic (they packed a lunch every day)...and people were always telling us they loved us...what could be better!"  The town of Machakos is a nice little town with a hospital and college and a great grocery store.  The owner either studied in the U.S. or lived there and he has a great business going.  I think his name is Peter Muli. They have a little cafe upstairs where the Halls used to stop and get chapatis on their way to Kilili on Tuesdays.  We were with them on their last trip to Kilili and we stopped there so they could say goodbye to the people they had gotten to know...it was fun...they came out and got their pictures taken with the Halls.

The people live with no electricity or running water.  They grow their own food and build their own houses.  The branch presidents are wonderful.  There is a woman in Kilili who has five children and I think four of them have served missions and one is getting ready.  She has a beautiful orchard where she grows oranges, mangos, tangerines.  Her husband was the branch president but died young so she is a widow.  She feeds the missionaries all the time and she took us on a hike with the missionaries on the Kilungu mountain.  Her name is Phyllis Morris.  You will love her and her family.

The branch president in Kilili has a daughter who lives in Utah.  She served a mission here -- went to school here -- got married here.  He was able to come to her wedding and meet up with some of the senior couples.  He has another daughter who is serving a mission now.

In the other area, there are three branches and the people live the same way -- farming on terraces.  It is very peaceful and beautiful there.  There are almost no vehicles other than motorcycles in the Hills.  The meeting houses are nice and the missionaries are in good shape from walking up and down the hills.  The people are very humble and kind.  The Halls used to teach lessons during the week -- family home evening -- priesthood lessons -- and they visited families a lot.  The branch presidents or someone in the presidency went with them to lead the way because there are paths going off in every direction to a house.  The "towns" have market places -- sewing -- hair salons, etc.  The only white people they see are usually missionaries so you will surely stand out.  

It seems like Victor would be  good one to help you find a place to live -- or Peter Muley -- or Francis.

I know the people in Mombasa are going to miss you but will not see you as desserting.  They understand what's going on.  It sounds like Nairobi is a crazy place with the bombings.  We get reports in the national and international news about Nairobi.  With 95 % of the people riding public transportation, the buses and matatus are likely targets.  I can't imagine the missionaries not being able to ride either.  That will limit the times the missionaries go to the mission office.  It sounds like President and Sister HIcken have their hands full.

We were sad to hear the office couple weren't able to make it.  They called just before they were to leave for the MTC and said their doctor told them not to go because of Sister Allred's medical needs.  The Judds have really stepped up.  I don't know if they are able to do their own work at all.

Well, please keep us posted on your new adventures.  We soaked in every word the Moons said and it made us so homesick for Kenya.  I saw Sister Holmes in the grocery store Monday -- they served in Naivasha -- and she said if they could afford it, they would go back to Naivasha when the Dalleys leave.  It's hard while you are there --- and you have definitely had your share of hard! -- but you are going to miss it when you come home.  

We love you guys and pray for you.  We are going to the temple today and we will put your names on the prayer list.

Keep in touch!

Dean & Katherine

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Date: Sun, 18 May 2014 22:17:44 +0300
Subject:
From: lar83id@gmail.com
To: deano7546@msn.com

Well it will be official probably tommorw we will be transferred to Kilungu Hills . For now we will stay in Nairobi at the nest and will travel once or twice a week to KILUNGU . They are going to try and find us a place in Machakos so we don't have to travel so farr. What can you tell us ? We don't know anything and this means that we have to find our way around Nairobi also. We have mixed emotions we feel like we are deserting the people here. We have become quite close. I was kind of hoping for a transfer to Texas or something like that. Oh well looking forward to hearing from you . It seems you know more than most.     Larry and ReNae

We finally heard from the mission President late last night .We are supposed to be in Nairobi as soon as we can. I don't see how Niarobi is any better than Mombasa. We are not going to have any chance to say even the smallest good bye. But we have decided that we will not leave until we have had a visit with the Branch Presidents. I think that we will do a short letter that they can read to the members. This move is allot harder than I thought . I am not happy about living in Nairobi. One of my worst fears. It is kind of like starting all over again. I think mom is happy to be with the others and all the shopping opportunities. Me I am just full of dread. Trying to learn our way around and hoping I don't have the accidents that we had at first here. I have never liked city's and have avoided them all my life but here we go. The new area sounds good other than it takes along time to figure it all out and what we are to do and make new associations. Secretly I was hoping for a return to the States. Mom said I need to have more faith that we will be blessed. I guess that is right but for now I only have a feeling of dread. I will be fine but it is not easy. I just need to man up. 

  Miss you all right now I am looking forward to November . Thanks for your prayers     Mom and Dad

Thank you we so enjoy hearing from friends and family it sustains us during times of trial. We are still waiting for answers . I think they are just trying to figure it all out. We want you all to know that our father in heaven is in charge and is well aware of us all. We would love to come back and finish our mission in the states. But if it is meant that we stay here we will. We so love you all and miss you very much . 

              Mom and Dad

Well here we sit . We know that we are going to be transferred. But we are still on lock down. It is driving me nuts! I do not like lock down Sam I am . I do not like it here I do not like it there. Until the president talks to Elder Cook in South Africa here we sit waiting so we can start to do some things. Until then here we sit . So please email us and give us something to do. I am still not sure weather they might close the mission. Darned if I know. Well Love you guys 

                  Dad

Going home

We had a wonderful send off dinner for them at the President's house and then President & Sister Hicken had a plague made for them shaped like Kenya.  It was beautiful.  

                                       This is Elder and Sister Knecht who was leaving to go home. 

This was all us Sr. missionary sister's.  Great group of Sisters's

Naivasha Lake

It was a beautiful sunny day and as we went further on the lake we saw many Hippo's.

They say the hippo's are very Territorial and you don't want to get too close.

We were amazed at their size.  We also had the boat motor stall in the lake so we watched them for some time.  

This is the Kilungu Hills area

Their shamba's (gardens) are planted in the hills on terraces. 

They grow alot of corn, avocado's, sugar cane and all sorts of fruits and vegatables. 

This is Elder & Sister Shakesphere who took us to Naivasha. We stopped at this little place for a bathroom stop and a cold drink.

This is us getting ready to head out on the Naivasha Lake to see the Hippo's.  Took about 1 hour.  Had a great time. 

Hello to all of you. We were on lock down fore four days kind of boring but I find I have gotten use to taking a short nap. We are off lock down now and can go back out . Yesterday we picked up our two Elders and brought them back to our flat and had our ddm meeting . Mom had prepared a big meal of roast beef . The Elders really enjoy the food and the attention. They have never had such attention . Last Sunday was Elder Kissaka's birthday (22) and we were to have them over after church to celebrate it but with lock down we were not able to attend church or bring them here. At DDM after our meeting and dinner I brought out a cake with candles sparkling on it with 22 of them. He was so surprised and was so happy. We asked him if he'd never got a cake for his birthday and he said no. He had fun blowing out the candles as they just kept lighting up. He had tears in his eyes. We had gotten them a DVD player at the mission home and brought back some DVD's and also sent a box of food and goodies home. He seemed so pleased and so did Elder Banda. Right now we are uncertain about our mission. We have transfers coming the end of the month and feel our missionaries will be leaving us. President Hicken is in charge of the missionaries and feels it's not fair to them to be in lock down so much as to not be able to do their mission so with current things going on we feel we will not have them long. We do have mission tour coming up on the the 21st of this month but unsure whether with the current circumstances that, that will happen. Arrangements have been made but they can change easily. Now if they are transferred we have asked what we will be doing and he told us before that we would stay with our branches here in Mombasa. We were OK with that as we have come to love the people here but now he mentioned he might send us somewhere else for our safety. He has mentioned Kilingou Hills which is closer to Nairobi but in the bush. Not sure we want to give up the conveniences we have here. We will do as directed. We will let you all know. We have so enjoyed getting to know the people here in Mombasa. We also know that after we leave we will not hear from so many of them due to no Internet access . We feel a great need right now to continue to press forward in the things we have been teaching. The branches feel sort of displaced since most of the missionaries have been transferred out but they tell us we at least have our Sr. couple. Dad asked each branch president if they thought they could get along with the knowledge they have now to move forward and teach and bring other's unto Christ and each one answered no. We have come to love these branch presidencies and have felt like Mother Hens trying to keep their chicks all together. Two branches will do good but the new presidency in Changamwe will struggle. We still have so much to teach each one and hope we have that opportunity to do so. We left for Nairobi on the 22nd of April and went half way and stopped in at Chyulu to visit Elder & Sister Goatcher. Elder Goatcher has been put in as a branch president in one ward and Sister Goatcher (Melvina) is a real go getter. We stayed with them for two nights and had such a wonderful time. They took us out visiting the widow ladies and their families. It was so hard to see such young women having no husband and most had 3-6 children. Sister Goatcher had made up boxes of clothes, and food and treats for the kids and they were so grateful. Each one received a nice blanket from the church and many other items. It was so neat to see a 12 yr old boy was given a ball that we batted around like a volleyball. He was having fun as I was too. Each child was so appreciative of the things given. The little little ones was happy to have the sucker with a balloon wrapped around it. We think back of all the many blessings we have each day and it saddens us to think we take things for granted. So many things needed here. One little girl in Changamwe branch comes to church, she is 13 with a white dirty dress that has to have a safety pin to keep the zipper together and it's too small for her so while out giving all this stuff to the families I thought of her and her family. So Sister Goatcher took me around to the Duka's and I shopped for this little family of 4 kids. I bought that little girl a beautiful dress for church and ended up buying the other children as well an outfit. Now you must be saying wow, that was expensive. Everything at the Duka's are second hand and sometimes you can get some nice stuff. I think back at all the things I have given to D.I. and they have been nice stuff. So as of yet we have not been able to give it to them but hoping today. My main concern is the 13 yr old. She is a sweet girl and I hope she will like the dress. It happened to be new. We arrived in Nairobi on the 24th of April and it was much cooler there than in Mombasa. Wished I had brought a sweater. We were asked to stay with the Shakespeare couple which we had the best time. I was able to get a much needed haircut and we came to Nairobi because two couples were leaving to go home and they throw a going away dinner at the Presidents house. What a great feeling it was to be with other couples and to feel of their love for their missions. Wonderful time was had by everyone. We took off on a road trip with the Shakespeare's and went to Naivasha. What beautiful country side we seen. It has 100's of green houses there growing the most gorgeous roses you've ever seen. They told us that the roses are picked at 11 pm and are in Holland by 6 am the next morning. We were amazed at how green everything was. We headed off to the Hippo area where we got into a small boat and they drove us around this lake and there were hippo's everywhere. You would not believe the size of them. We got great pictures and will have them on our blog soon. We also met up with other's and went to our first indoor movie. I believe it was Captain America??? It was fun for a change . We find great comfort in knowing that where ever you go the gospel seems to be flourishing. Oh they have a long way to go to building up the kingdom but it sure has a good start. Well we just want to wish all our daughters and daughters in laws a Happy Mother's Day. You are great mother's. Your beautiful and kind to our grandchildren and we appreciate that. I myself feel much gratitude in having such wonderful daughter's and daughter in laws in my life. I couldn't be more proud of you all. Well we hope you know we love you all and wish you the very best. Thanks again for all your support and love. Love Mom & Dad

This is a 90 yr old man with Elder Goatcher and Elder Palmer.  He was honory when we first arrived and then we gave him a sucker and became our best friend.

The second picture is the old man with his grandkids.  It was such a great day 

    

                                            These pictures show the poverty of the people in Chyulu.

We went visiting all the widows and their families and took boxes of food and clothing.

They live so humbly but are strong members of the church.  Many mothers are very young and have lost their husbands to some sort of accidents along the way.  Was the greates day !