Sister Bishop told me that these good families live about a two and a half hour drive from Nairobi. They live in mud huts with no electricity or running water. The women cook over fire stoves and much of their time is spent in cooking and caring for the needs of their families.
Both of the mothers are named Agnes. Isn't that nice?
Fathers, Brother Mutiso and Brother Kasere.They walk over an hour to church in a very hilly region of Kenya so going both ways it is a difficult task every Sunday. There about 80 people in their branch and the members say that there are many others who would be active if they didn’t have to walk so far on Sundays. They are hoping to have a building built nearer to them and it is in the process of being approved. This building would be only about a 15 minute walk for them and they are very hopeful that it will all go through.
This is Fredrick and Agnes Kasere and their children.
Spending a few minutes looking at the fish in the pond on this beautiful sunny day.In the family below the father (far right) is named Bonface Makau Mutiso. The custom is that his children go by the name of Makau which is the father’s middle name. He told me that it is very difficult to find work in Kenya but that he plants vegetables and sells them. He pointed to the sky and said, “This is the work that Heavenly Father has given me.” This family came to the temple to be sealed together before their son departs for his mission.
Today the administrative director of the MTC, Brother Moake, arrived to take the good young missionary, Dominic, (far left) away to begin his adventure. He will be serving in the Cape Town Mission.Brother Moake handed the young man his name badges and invited his younger brother (age 17) to do the honors. One was placed on his shirt, the other on his brand new suit jacket!
After he was officially tagged he said his good-byes to his mother (seated in gold blouse) and father, siblings and friends.
Elder Makau, his father, and younger brother age 17.
Brother Moake escourted Elder Makow to the MTC van and he was whisked away! (our office window is the dark one directly above the elder's head)What a wonderful occasion for this good family and a powerful example for all the children who were watching.
4 comments:
Wow! Mud huts... do those poor elders come home spoiled after their missions? That's neat that those women are named Agnes! I didn't know that was a name used by Africans. Thanks for sharing these marvelous experiences with us!
Anita
How do the families find a way to get everyone to the temple and MTC? If Mud huts are their homes, what kind of expense it must be for them to make this trip.
There is a Temple Patron Visitors fund that the church has in place to help these families. The people must raise some of the money themselves - at least enough to acquire their own passports and visas. Our understanding is that the church helps with the rest. It is very expensive for them and takes them many years to get it all together. The two fathers in these families are the new Branch President and his first counselor in the Branch that was formed in April. The other counselor was not yet able to come.
Missionaries are also assisted but must contribute a certain amount themselves. They live as missionaries better than they have ever lived in their lives. It is indeed difficult for some of them to return home to live the way they did before.
humbled again.
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