The Palmers in Africa: August 2014

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

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.