Today!

Young Women about to be baptized, her sister, brother, neighbor, Branch President and Sister Missionaries.
I got to give a talk on the Holy Ghost.

Baptismal Font

US and three of the sister missionaries.

Bear and some Members of the Eldoret Branch


Me and the IU Guards wife that is also taking the Missionary Discussions.

Young Women making gifts for the Young Women back in Indiana

Sally Test

Sally Test is a part of AMPATH.
Sally Test is a place where abandoned babies can stay during the day and be fed, held and played with.
Sally Test is where well enough kids on the Ped's wards can do activities and can have some school lesson.
Sally Test also provides Parent/Child Classes Etc..
Basically it's a great place for kids.

Here's a couple of pictures of the Bear holding one of the abandoned babies.


Kids at Sally Test with Donated Roses.

Do You Know This Song?

Rich and I decided to put our new Swahali lessons to work and sing a familiar song. We got a little rusty between the time we practiced for everyone here and the time we recorded. Can you figure it out?

BEAR'S BIRTHDAY in the RAINFOREST!

For the Bear's Birthday we heard of a relaxing retreat in Kenya's only Rainforest.
*The Princess was especially excited because we'd heard there were lots of Monkey's.

First, we had to overcome the bumpy roads. The most bumpy we've been on while we've been in Africa. You'll see in this first short clip that we aren't even on the road, we're on the side, because its smoother than the road.

SIDE ROAD


CRAZY CARS


Here's a few pictures we got before our camera died.
Here's part of our crazy awesome room. There was an additional room with a bed and a bathroom.




Here's the veranda off our room.


Some views from the Veranda.


Part of Our Hike



Blue Monkey's


We also saw Colubus Monkey's and we think we saw some red monkey's later.
There are lots of butterflies and birds that can only be seen in this rainforest (sorry no pictures).

Coming soon! Rainforest sounds (when I figure out how to download it).

Camera Curse Continues!

Rich and I were so excited we had our digital camera to take to the Rain forest (see next post). However our batteries were almost dead and the charger for our batteries stopped working!
Luckily as you will see in the next post we were able to get some pictures before the batteries died.
We also found out from a computer guru that some laptop plugs also work for our camera battery charger. Ours is too much voltage, but the computer guru's worked. So he let us borrow it. Good thing...because we wouldn't have even been able to get the pictures we'd already taken off of our camera.

SCRIPTURE READING

Everyday Rich (and almost everyday I ) read scriptures with one of the guards at IU House. WE also practice our Swahali. Friday we went with the missionaries and visted their home (sorry no pictures). It started pouring rain so luckily we got a ride, but the driver couldn't drop us off right by the house. I dropped Rich's scriptures in the red mud and the wife grabbed my hand and pulled me along as it poured rain and we ran through the on lookers of neighbors and children. It was fun!

LACE (Legal Aid Centre of Eldoret)

This is where I go most days.

CHURCH

Today at church not only did we both get asked to give an impromptu testimony, but I was also asked to teach Young Women's!

I did get some pictures though and a short video.






A year or so ago we ordered some CTR ("Choose The Right") rings for geocaching, but I was glad that I had them instead to give to the Eldoret branch as even the Nairobi distribution center does not have everything. Can you see his CTR ring?

Insights into Persecution

We were sitting in gospel doctrine the past few weeks and talking about the persecutions in Missouri and I start to think about how to explain to Kenyans about what the persecutions must have been like when one of them pipes up that, "Yes, that is like when we had elections here in Kenya in Dec. 2007 ......

Then I think, maybe they understand this part of history better than I do.

We had a discussion the other night where several Kenyans told us about their experiences during the 2007 violence....

See http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/KE_VIO.htm

*this blog has been edited for personal safety.

Another day at work in the hospital

Today we have another 42 year old female with cough, hotness of body (fever), headache, stomach ache, diarrhea, and altered mental status coming from an endemic area for malaria, a family member has tuberculosis, we suspect typhoid or meningitis or pneumonia or malaria or tuberculosis or leishmaniasis (leishma-what??) or another infection of some kind, we have a done a lumbar puncture which was negative for meningitis, an x-ray which is negative for pneumonia, blood smears which are negative for malaria, sputum tests which are negative for tuberculosis (by the way, none of which tests we trust the results to truly rule out disease), we are treating with the only two antibiotics we have available in the hospital (one of which is generic and thus may be produced in someone's garage and may not contain any antibiotics at all), the patient is getting worse and may die any day now.

Dr. S., what do you think?

(Uhhhhhh) Good job, let's move on to the next patient.

Alright, the next patient is a known HIV patient with no immune system at all who presents with ....

Where We Live

We live in the servants quarters which is a one room...um...room, I guess. It is behind the carport of one of the houses. There is a bed and a desk and a chair and a a couple of shelves and, well that's about it.



Our bathroom is 3 by 4 feet, you can shower on the toilet, and you have to go outside to get to it.

Our shower is heated, of course, but only if you run the water very slowly through the showerhead water heater.

We live in a complex of four houses all occupied by the IU Kenya Program, with another 7 houses nearby also all occupied by the IU Kenya Program.




We have a pool at one of the houses nearby but it has been 60 to 70 degrees and rainy most days.

We all eat lunch and dinner together in a big mess hall and kitchen attached to one of the houses. We also have fireside chats in the front room of one of the houses.



We are not far from the hospital and the church is a little further away but reachable by a 30 minute walk.

The main downtown area is just past the hospital.

By: the Bear

Is it Hot or Cold? & Who needs a Road?

HOT OR COLD?
I seem to be finding a lot of Irony in this trip. Today as Milkah (the Kenyan advocate/attorney) and I were talking with a client and her family, I became really dizzy, and had to go sit down, because it was so hot.

About half an hour later, it started to rain, then it started to hail, huge hail. I wish I had my camera with me. For 45 minutes I was stuck with our client, her cousin, some other random guy under a small metal car port while it hailed until the ground looked like snow. Afterwards we walked home in the mud!

WHO NEEDS A ROAD?

Yesterday I tried not to get run over by the cattle to and from the clinic. Today I almost got run over by a motorcycle and a security bus, neither of which times was I on the road.


******
I really do want to get pictures up, but Rich and I have been so busy! We have not had time to take any. Plus we are competing for the laptop and the lap computers. Hopefully soon.

AMPATH; LACE and SWAHALI lessons.

The last few days Rich and I have been trying to figure out where to go, why we are here and what we're doing.

Rich is working in the MTRH (Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital) and with AMPATH
(Use to be Academic Model for Provided Access to HealthCare). It has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I have been working with LACE: Legal Aide Centre of Eldoret, which is a part of AMPATH and provides legal services for people with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Today was not very productive as we had a big storm and then we had a power ration, so the internet has been in and out.

Swahali lessons: Today we took our first official swahali lesson. We learned words such as Hodi, Karibu, Asante and (Jina Langu ni Princess).

More to come.

LUGGAGE & LOVE AT HOME! (Sunday Aug. 9)

Woke up late! Ran to Church in my sandals, new skirt, in the red dirt! I feel like I'm really in Africa.

In Church I was so impressed by Kenyan's knowledge and understanding of the gospel; how much the members in sacrament meeting and the woman in Relief Society expressed how the gospel had affected the love in their home and the happiness that they have felt. I could tell the gospel had made a difference in their lives.

Sunday night our luggage came! YEAH! It was like Christmas!

THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

I just want to say how much I love going everywhere and finding that "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" is the same and you have instant friends.

Today we met Eli the guard and his friend, Kim. Eli called the missionaries. There are several sets of Missionaries here. The husband of the "couple" missionary and one of the members came and picked us up. They showed us where church will be tomorrow. They also took us into the main part of town so we could buy some clothes to wear to church. Day 3 of the same clothes. Good thing most of you are 1/2 way around the world and can't smell us.

Eldoret--FUN FACTS

*Eldoret is where most of the Kenyan world class middle distance runners train due to its elevation (and facilities?). I heard they start training when they are 5. Maybe I can learn something!

*There are over 1 million people (wow) in Eldoret and it is the fastest growing city in Kenya.

* We don't have to wash our clothes by hands--YES!! We have a washer--but have to line dry.

*Can't drink the water--but staff boils the water for us and puts it into bottles. We actually drink out of wine bottles quite a bit.

*It's winter in Kenya right now, so it actually get's pretty cold (alright only jacket weather), but I have been wearing pants when I am able and snuggling up in a blanket at night.

EQUATOR

TODAY WE DROVE OVER THE EQUATOR!!
(We must have flown over it Friday morning).

*Pictures when we get film developed.

*Did you know if you are on the North side of the Equator, water goes clockwise.
*If you are on the Equator, the water doesn't go either way
*If you are on the South side of the Equator, water goes counter clockwise.

(We got a fun demonstration).
How FUN!

Water-Cheap or Expensive Commodity?

In America you order water if you are cheap, or you just happen to like it better than pop or other things (like me).
In London we order water...and of course it comes bottled, should have clarified and Duh...I already had my camelbak with me....had to pay for the water.
At our Awesome Resort in Nakuru park... (see next post) ...we get free delicious meals and crazy good meals. We go to leave and they ask us to pay for the water...WHAT!!! FREE Crazy expensive meal and I have to pay you for my water. What a commodity...I'm going to think twice before ordering water again.

Safari

Even without our luggage or our digital camera...we had a great time at Nakuru National Park and got to see some amazing animals.
Wow! I wish I had our digital...zoom is amazing. These pictures were taken by our cell phone camera (hopefully will get replaced by our disposable camera photos later). The animals were actually a lot closer than they look.
We stayed at a nice resort in the park..fenced in ...and not aloud to roam out of the fence...unless you want to be eaten.

Favorite Quote I saw in Utah...but applicable here "There's nothing cooler than telling your friends that the red stain on your shirt is Tiger's blood".

ANIMALS

Baboon

Flamingo (that sea of pink..those are Flamingo's)


Zebra's

Rhino

Waterbuck

Lionesses...you can't tell but one was eating a carcass.
(We saw other Lions, but they were much too far away to get with a camera phone)


Monkeys
*Have to fill in later*

Giraffe (never realized they had three horns) (we even got to see them doing a buck to buck ritual?)

OVERVIEW OF THE PARK



Our Resort

Rift Valley vs. Salt Lake/Utah Valley

After being picked up from Nairobi airport our Safari Driver showed us a little of Nariobi at 6:00 AM (traffic is already crazy).

He showed us where parliment was..

Where Hillary Clinton stayed this week...

We then went to drive to Nakuru to our Safari...

But along the way we went through and still are... in Rift Valley.

As we drove down the mountain..I couldn't help but notice the similarities between it and Salt Lake/Utah Valley.

Driving down the mountain was like looking at Brighton (?) Copper Canyon, when going across the Wasatch Front. Big hunks of red/yellow cut out of the mountain.

Yellow dried grass covering the ground, with green trees/bushes above,
some Fresh lakes and some Salt Lakes (not all seen at the same time) Utah Lake vs. Salt Lake
Some Red Rocks (okay that's more Southern Utah) and other random mountains around it.

Now you don't have displaced people, or Niuasha--the Rose town etc. . . but if you took out the people, I don't know if I could tell the difference.

Sunday one new Sister Missionary from Uganda said.."As I was coming from Nairobi and descended into the Rift Valley I about cried because it looked like a dessert!...but then we got closer to Eldoret and saw more trees and greenery and I was happy. "

Cairo Continues Camera Curse and 41 Bags missing

CAIRO CONTINUES CAMERA CURSE--
Or should I say, Egyptair, or the fact that we put our digital camera in our checked in luggage.

*Honeymoon--had to buy a disposable camera

*Philippines-Both were going to bring camera's, didn't want to take two, so we both left them home and had to borrow a friends and mail it back to them.
Here..... See below

So much for good pictures on the Safari.
(luckily we have a disposal camera---and Rich's cell phone that takes pictures, but the screen does not work too well, so half the time you don't know what you are really taking pictures of).


41 BAGS MISSING--
Get to Kenya at 3:30 am to find our bags along with several other passengers bags are missing. Oh...yes...they all got left in Cairo... (everyone who had come from London)...yes..when we left London, Egyptair, took their time..dut ta do...dut ta do...were just going to take our time...maybe we'll leave sometime...left an hour late.

Not only did they leave our luggage, but they will not be forwarding it to us...like ALL other airlines (according to the airport). Fill out a form, get it tomorrow...can't we are leaving on a Safari and a 6 hour drive to Eldoret...luckily the Safari place is stationed in Narobi and said they would take care of it (As of Saturday night we don't have our bags and probably won't see them until at least Monday...the bags are not in Kenya yet) (Wonder what kind of pretty penny it is going to cost us).

So happy I somewhat planned for this... and at least have

*an extra pair of underwear
*toothbrush/toothpaste
*BINOCULARS for Safari (I didn't think they were there...but they were)
*Disposable Camera
*Cell phone that takes pictures
*Sandals
*an extra T-shirt

Thursday August 6th Adventures

Two Adventures....

Running across the no signs/unorganized Cairo Airport with random stops and having to ask people where gate G3 is.

Finishing reading the Book of Mormon (65 day challenge) at 12 Am Cairo/Kenya time (5 pm Eldoret time)...before Youth Conference started for the Young Women/Young Men.

*It's so nice to get the flow of all the stories when you read so quickly. Especially when you read the last 60 or so pages all at the same time.

ABC's of LONDON

A is for ...Amazing

.....for Artisan Artifact (hope I have the right picture).

B is for...BT Tower

Big Ben (which is really the Bells not the clock)

and Books

* I've always avoided reading "Harry Potter" because it was popular. Ironically I went inside a London Bookstore looking for a popular children's book. At first, I didn't even think a second about "Harry Potter", then I realized the Irony, that it was the most popular children's book. I also remembered a friend from law school telling me how the books in England are original in that they have different wording such as "biscuit" etc... in them vs. the American version. So I decided that it was "okay" to buy "Harry Potter" after all (just the first book) as not many American's would have the English version. I also bought "The Monkey Pirates".
As you will see in Notes later we ended up watching the newest "Harry Potter" movie, which actually was fun to see in London...because I knew what London looked like.

C is for...Clocks (the rest ended up in other pictures)

County Hall

D is for...Double Decker Bus

Dream House

E is for..Egypt

and Exquisite Bodies Exhibit at the Wellcome Center (no pictures allowed).

F is for...Flag

G is for... Guards (changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace)

H is for...Highgate Wood


and Harry Potter.

I is for...the London Eye (the all seeing Eye)..what can you see from the Eye?


J is for...Joseph Towne and Joseph Hall (?) (earlier) anatomical wax bodies which make up the Exquisite Bodies Exhibit at the Wellcome Center.

Before they had Cadavers...they had anatomical wax bodies. (no photographs allowed).

K is for...King Albert Monument (Kennsington Garden's)

Kennsington Garden's

L is for. . . . LIONS


....... and Leicester Square



M is for. . . Moon


and....Museum (British Museum) ("the greatest collection of plundered artifacts in the world")(and totally amazing).

N is for..... Night (see above and W(aterfront)).

...Northern Line (the way to get to VTD's)

....National Museum of Art (no pictures allowed inside..but got to see Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet and Van Gough)

O is for . . . .Odeon (where we saw Harry Potter and Rich wishes he could see GI JOE)


P is for. . . . Plundered Pantheon Pediment

Physical Energy Statute (Kennsington Garden's)

Polka Dots
and Piccadilly Line

Q is for. . . . the Queen's House [Buckingham Palace] (no pictures allowed inside)
*Could you live in a country that still had a Queen?


R is for. . .


ROSETTA STONE

S is for. . . . . Salvador Dali statutes.

T is for Telephone Booth

U is for Underground (Tube)

V is for. . . . Victoria

. . . .Video in Progress


. . .and Vases


W is for .......Wellcome Centre

........WagaMama's (yummy food)

and

.....Waterfront at Night.

X is for excellent Trip

Y is for You....You should come to London

Z is for ZZZZZZ's, I need my sleep now.