Last of August

Update on the “Helping Hands” project.

See the full movie here:

http://gallery.mac.com/richryd#101208

Aug. 21, 2011

We visited the Rasheed family (at least that’s the children’s name).

Then when we got done there Sister Juliet said we needed to visit the home of some other members near by. We cannot find their records on our branch list so we will need to do some digging for them.

Aug. 22, 2011

Today we went with Pres. Spear to see his friend’s farm. We had talked with him about growing strawberries and thought we were going to see if his friend’s farm would support such a project. As we headed out he said, “stop here” so we did and he took us into a garden thing. They have these places on the side of the road with all kinds of plants in plastic bags. They are their way of having a greenhouse. But they are just along the side of the road. He showed us that he had found strawberry plants and then said he already bought several. So we loaded them up into the truck and headed for his friend’s farm. Spear had told us it was a big farm. And after seeing the farms on the way to Themi Falls we were thinking, “big farm”. It was about 1 acre. But it was nice and was very well kept. Mostly banana trees but room around them to plant other things. He said he had plenty of water and could take care of the strawberries just find. He showed us his chickens, cows and pigs. When we asked about the pigs as compared to the pig project the volunteers had set up. We were told this WAS the volunteer’s pig thing. Still not sure we understand how that works. 

and then decided to go see the volunteer’s house.

We had been told before that we could not go there, but now that most of them had already left to go back to America we thought it would be okay. It is a very large house, the house of some big government official. 

Aug. 24, 2011

Up early & took Elder Mbao to the airport. All the Elders went and we had DDM in the truck on the way. Dropped Elder Mbao at the airport, said goodbyes and walked around the grounds for a few minutes.

On the way back into town we spotted the Wall mart. So after we dropped the Elders off we went back to check it out.

Elder Mbao going home made the Elders here in Arusha a three-some. So we spent many days of the next week working splits with the Elders

This past week we had a member from Dar drop in at our branch. He came over for a funeral in Moshi and then on to see a friend here in our branch. We came to find out he did not have money to get back home. So along with the branch presidency we came up with a project to pay him for so he could get back home. It was removing the brush that has been accumulating out behind the branch building for a long time. We worked all day Monday the 29th to get that done.

Aug. 26, 2011

We woke up to another flood in our apartment. The taps to the sink in the center room were leaking badly. We called David and fixed a jury rig system to catch the water. David said he could not get ahold of the plumber but would have his helper (nephew I think) take care of it. So we figured out where the main water valve is and shut off the water. After about an hour the nephew came with a couple of guys. They assessed the situation and left to get parts. Five hours later we were still waiting for them to return. TIA. We gave up and went to the church to meet with the Elders and do a baptism interview. 

The rest of the day we spent with Elder Harper visiting investigators because of the three-some thing.

Aug. 27, 2011

We had a baptism today of 4 new members. Moses (the one that we went to see his family when we first arrived here) , Paul (the one who asks a lot of questions) , Lillian (a young girl that has been coming out for a long time) and Anna Ezekim (the one we met when we first came here. The one that lives by Isaac).

The service was great but the water was cold. Elder Rydalch baptized Moses. Bro. Kibanda gave a talk and the spirit was so strong he could hardly speak and there was hardly a dry eye in the place.

Aug. 31, 2011

Today we went to the dowery meeting of Ziada’s sister. This is the family of Pres. Spear’s wife. What an interesting thing. We spent the whole afternoon there watching them prepare the food, eating with them and then watching the negotiations for the dowery.

Sister Rydalch was served chicken feet but couldn’t pull herself to eat them.
Enlarge to see the chicken foot.

What an experience. Now we are involved and will probably be asked to provide some of the transportation for the wedding. 

Sept. 1, 2011

Today we wanted to take the DVD of our Helping Hands thing out to the Shanga. We ran out to Pres. Spear’s in-laws to pick him up to go with us. We dropped off the DVD and they were very happy to have it.

Then we dropped Pres. S. off in town and headed for the couple’s conf. in Nairobi.

Helping Hands

Most of this week has been spent helping the branch get ready for the Helping Hands service. 

We went there on Wed. and had a good meeting with them. They were a little in awe of the offer but agreed to come up with something we could do for them on Saturday.

We visited several members of the branch this week. The attendance at Relief Society has dropped off and we needed to see why. Two of the members live way on the other side of town. We had never been on that side of town so it was fun to see where they live. It is the area where all the rich people that are working at the conference center live. One of the members, Jackline the Primary Pres., is a maid for a couple of the homes. Then we went back to the area of the church and walked to another couple of homes. We had good visits with all.

Aug. 18, 2011

Swahili lesson again as usual. Then no one showed up for english class. Monica (the 1st Counselor in the Primary) asked if we could go to the hospital to take food and give a blessing to her uncle (the one that sat in on the lesson we had at her house). She said he was very sick in the head and not doing well. We said we would love to. We waited for about an hour then she called and said the food was ready. So we took Elder Nagapasare and Harper and went to her house to pick her up. We presumed her mother would be going with us and thought the Elders might have to sit in the back. As it turned out only Monica and a friend went. We also presumed it was a hospital here in town. They gave directions as we went and we soon ended up on the other end of town near the Shanga River House. We just kept going and going. Another one of those “not too far” things. When we got clear out of town we asked how long until we would get to the hospital? She said probably 45 minutes. We were a bit shocked as we thought it would be in town. We kept going and going. We passed the Snake Park and were still going. Then all of a sudden she said “turn right here”, we were already past the road. They do that to us a lot. They only walk so they don’t have the relationship to speed and when to tell us to turn at the next right or left. Anyway, we turned around and went back to the road and it was another 7 or 8 miles to the hospital. Then we came to a building off the road that looked like a string of apartments and Minica said, “this is it”. We pulled in and someone came out and asked what we wanted. Monica asked about her uncle and they didn’t seem to know anything. They directed us down to the other end of the building and Monica got on the phone. Eventually we found the room he was in (there were only 2 that were hospital rooms). They had a women’s ward and a men’s ward each with 5 or 6 beds. The condition of the room left a lot to be desired for a hospital. He was there in one of the beds asleep, still had on his street clothes. We then found out that he was riding one of the Picky Pickys (motorcycles that take people around and drive like idiots in and out of traffic at crazy speeds) and was in an accident. We explained to his relatives that were there what we wanted to do. We gave him a blessing and Monica proceeded to serve them the food she had brought. After a while the uncle woke up and the 2 relatives helped him sit up as he could not keep his balance and would wave his arms around like he had no control over them. But he ate and drank quite a bit and seemed to be doing pretty good. He then laid back down to go to sleep and Monica cleaned up and we headed for home.

The next day we spent all day running around town with Pres. Spear, Bro. Kibanda and Bro. Rwiza (the chairman of the project) to get stuff for the project the next day.

Aug. 20, 2011

Today was our “Helping Hands” project. We started the day off by going shopping. Then to the church. We ran into Pres. Spear on the road and decided to take him to get a card to give to the owner of the Shanga. Then Pres. Spear went to line up dalla dallas for the ride out to the Shanga. We waited for what seemed like forever for them to come. Then we loaded up and headed out. We arrived there about 1:20 PM and had an orientation meeting to tell us what they wanted us to do. Then they gave us a tour of the facility showing us what they do. This was a great experience for all. They employ disabled people to make various gift items. They sell them all over the country and also there in their gift shop. They cater to tours so they also serve a buffet at what they call the “River House” to people on safari. The safari companies bring their people to see the place and then eat. They charge $25.00 per person for the buffet. A really good buffet.

They take old bottles and melt them down to make glass beads of all sorts. 

They make necklaces using the beads. They also make a cloth scarf type of necklace that Sister R. really liked. We had seen them in stores but didn’t know they were built here in Arusha. 

They cut mirrors to decorate items like shoes and all kinds of things, glasses or bottles they cut the top off from. 

They melt down old aluminum window frames and make all kinds of things. Like plates, spoons & table decorations, jewelry etc. They make a particular bracelet that they had a current order for 1,000. 

They make all kinds of cloth items. 

And all this is done by disabled people. Some were crippled, some were deaf, some had no fingers on one hand, some were blind, it was just amazing. The people live at their homes, they have to come to work every day (they do have a bus to pick some up), they are paid by deposit into a bank account so they learn how to handle money that way. Many of them support their whole family. After the tour we were assigned to different parts to make the products. We were taught by the people who do the work. Several men made glass beads in the kiln. Several made necklaces. Sister Rydalch wanted to make the cloth necklace she likes. She made several and bought one. Then some of us were assigned to clean things around the facility. Some were assigned to wash bottles hooked together to make a sort of barrier between areas. 

Some were assigned to clean the decorated walkways. Some were assigned to water plants. All in all it was a great project. The management said they had never had anyone offer to help like we did. 

They also had monkeys running all over the place. 

At the end we had a session to teach us some sign language. Then we met with all the employees and managers and presented the produce we had purchased for them. And we took photos and all that stuff. They really seamed pleased with what we had done. But the best part was what they did for us. I think all had a really good spiritual experience and a great day. We even had one of the managers tell us she would come to church the next day.

Then we went back to the church and had chapatas and soda. We were so wound up about the success of the project we decided we needed to send it in to the church and see if it makes the Liahona.

If you are interested you can learn more about the Shanga here:

Shanga Welcome

The Past Week and a Half

Aug. 4, 2011

Elder & Sister Tuttle came to Arusha to check out some places that manufacture wheelchairs for the disabled. We met with them the next day and took them around to see our city, then we went to the Maasai Cafe for Calzone.

Aug. 6, 2011

We had a baptism at the church today. Elder R. was asked to do the baptizing. He was pretty nervous about that. But it went okay. It was the baptism of the lady we went to help teach a couple of times. She will be a great member of the church here. She is the one Sister R. thought was a member because of all the comments she made in Relief Society. 

Then we had the Elders over for cake and CoolAid (yes, CoolAid, sent from Idaho by our daughter) for Sister R.’s birthday.

Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011

We had some members from Utah come about half way through Sunday School. They stayed to the end of Sacrament Meeting. That was rather fun. It was Fast & Testimony Meeting and we had several investigators bear testimony. Sister Jackline bore her testimony about how she just did not feel like going to church that day. But she came anyway and felt so good it just made her happy. She is such a bubbly person anyway. The spirit was so strong you could have cut it with a knife.

Then after church we ordained 3 brethren to the Melchizedek Priesthood and set apart a new branch clerk. Elder R. did some training with the new clerk then we helped teach an investigator. Then we took Bro. Elias and Pres. Spear to Spear’s house to give blessings to his 2 daughters that have some kind of infection on their face and head. Bro. Elias had never been to Spear’s home.

Aug. 8, 2011

Today Pres. Spear came to our flat for some training. Then he and Elder R. went to the church to fill out the quarterly report and do some training. Then we went to pick up the 2nd set of shelves from his brother-in-law. We ran into terrible traffic on the way there. Today is Nane Nane, a holiday for farmers. They all bring their produce (along with all kinds of craftsmen) to a place out by the Cinama. Pres. Spear said we needed to take a back road to get to his brother-in-law’s house so we did. Wow, what a ride. The dalla dallas had also found the back road and they were in a real hurry to get back to town to bring more people out to the Nane Nane grounds. Then to get back we decided to take another back road which lead us up over a hill with a beautiful view of that part of the city but the road was so full of holes we could hardly get out of first gear. 

After about what seemed like an hour we got back to our building and carried the shelves up the 5 stories to our flat. Then we took Pres. Spear home and Elder R. had a great time playing frisbee with his little girls. Who by the way looked 100% better than the day before. Then we had the Elders over for Family Home Evening as usual.

Aug. 9, 2011

We attended our regular swahili lesson today and afterwards helped the Elders teach Moses a lesson about how he needs to read the B. of M.  Moses is the investigator we went with to see his aunt and uncle. He is progressing very well and is scheduled for baptism on the 27th. We have had several young men join the church in the past few weeks. Two of them gave lessons in Priesthood meeting this month. That really amazed us that they were strong enough to do that within the first few weeks of baptism.

Aug. 11, 2011

Today after swahili lesson we did some training on the church leadership with Bro. Kibanda the new 2nd Counselor in the Branch Pres. Then we went to Bro. Kibanda’s home with Elders Ngapasare & Harper. We met Bro. K.’s wife and saw his chicken coup and property. They served us peanuts (ground nuts as they call them), chipatas & soda. When Sister K. (I guess we can call her sister. She is not a member) brought out the traditional water & pan to wash our hands in, the water was warm. That was nice considering they do not have power to the their home yet. We talked about a number of things including the center of the conference edition of the Liahona with the pictures of the church leadership. Then Elder Ngapa asked Sister K. if they could come teach her about the church. She said yes. We were a bit surprised but very happy. It would be wonderful if she would join and prepare with Bro. K. to attend the temple. She is a strong Catholic so we will see what happens.

Aug. 13, 2011

We went to get some screws to try to fix our kitchen drawer set. We had gone to a little duka before to get screws so that’s where we went. We asked the lady there if she knew where we could get some holes drilled. She said her husband was a cabinet builder and could do it. She called him and he was close by. He came to her shop and we took him up to his work shop to drill the holes. It was way up the hill towards Mt. Meru. We met some of their children (they have 4) and saw their home. The older daughter that was there is in her 4th year of medical school and spoke very good english. She looked like she was about 17 or 18 years old. They are a very nice family and we hope they will let us come teach them in the near future.

Then we decided we needed a break so we went to see if we could find the Snake Museum we have heard about. We knew it was out the road where we turn off to go to 

Sister Oboya’s home but didn’t know how far. We had been told it was not too far. But we have learned by sad experience that “not too far” can mean a long way. We drove for what seemed like hours. Finally we stopped and asked someone. They said its just on up the road about 3 km. On the way back we clocked it and it is 20 km from the Nairobi road. We found it and spent a couple of hours going through it. We saw all kinds of snakes, 

birds,

crocodiles,

lizards, 

turtles 

and had a great tour of the Maasai Museum. 

And Sister R. decided she wanted to ride the camel they had there.

Aug. 14, 2011

Meetings all day today. We just wish we could understand more of what is discussed in classes. They got pretty wound up today about whether you should beat your child or not.  Elder R. ordained another Melch. Priesthood candidate. Then we helped teach an investigator (the one with all the questions) with Elder Rapiya and George Nicanor, a Priest in the branch here. He asked who Cain married if you are not supposed to marry your sister. He really comes up with some wild questions. One of the hardest things to control here is what questions are asked in Priesthood and S.S. class.

Aug. 15, 2011

On Sunday an investigator asked the Elders if they wanted to go up the mountain to see a waterfall. It is called Themi Falls. They invited us along and after the drive up we realized why. Wow, what a climb. Just the climb in the truck would have been a great experience. But then we had to walk about 3 miles back into the forest. 

Then down a very steep canyon to the river bed and up the river to the falls. 

Sister R. spent a lot of time on her back side.

What a beautiful falls. It is in a lava tube and the water drops 197 feet. Even the photos do not do it justice. 

Sister R. almost didn’t make it back up out of the canyon. 

This investigator is a guide here (as are many of the men in Arusha). 

He said he has guided many groups to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. He said he even took a 72 year old man up. He wanted to know if we would like to go up sometime. We told him we would love to if he could provide the helicopter for us. 

Then we did some shopping, picked up a package at FedEx, came home and threw something together for the Elders to eat (with no power) and had a short FHE and crashed. A great day but we were both really beat by the end of the day.