Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all our loved ones

Today is Easter, and I have been feeling sorry for myself that I cannot see or talk with our parents, children, and grandchildren and haven't been able to communicate on a regular basis with any of them. I was unhappy that we are unable to get the conference broadcast except intermittently and will have to wait for the publication in the Ensign or on DVD to get the complete account. I was also lamenting the fact that when we attend Church we are looked at as the Charities couple with money from the Church to give out. We are not viewed as individuals, but as sources of funding.

However, after prayer and contemplation of the Savior on this day when we celebrate His atonement, I remembered that Christ uncomplainingly sacrificed family for His mission. He did not depend on others, but created a spiritual atmosphere wherever He went. He was besieged by those who wanted miracles, and He reacted with love and patience. His mission was fortified with faith in His Father, knowledge of who He was, and the courage to be obedient despite the cost. This put my minor trials in perspective.

Today was fast and testimony meeting, so not too much focus on Easter. There were many wonderful testimonies given, but perhaps the one that hit me the most was given by a young woman from Washington DC who has been in Kenya working for the UN in a refugee camp near the Somali border, an 8 hour bus drive from Nairobi. She gets to attend Church only occasionally. She willingly serves the poorest of the poor. She tearfully expressed her gratitude for being able to attend Sacrament meeting and her love for the Lord. Once again, her trials put mine in perspective.

I returned from the meeting refreshed spiritually and ready to continue the work we have been called to do. We all face difficulties, and can be either defeated or strengthened by them. The Lord places us in situations with opportunities to grow, and John and I are continuing to grow together in the work.

John and I just returned from a visit to one of our water projects on the shore of Lake Victoria, by the Uganda border, a 6-7 hour drive from Nairobi. Lake Victoria is the 2nd largest body of fresh water in the world. It was named during the British colonial era for the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria, who never visited it. You would think that water would be plentiful in this area, however the lake is not clean, as is true of so much of the Earth's water now. Water in the town of Mbite is gathered from the lake, which is a long hike for many, especially when they are carrying it back 5 gallons at a time (many on their heads). The wealthy may have homes with gutters that allow rainwater to be captured in tanks, however most homes are one room affairs made of sticks, stones/adobe brick and plastering of mud or dung with either a thatch or tin roof. Most people get their water from the lake, from ponds, or from standing water if it has just rained. LDSCharities paid for the drilling of 2 boreholes, 5 water tanks on 2 towers, and piping to provide water to a community of about 10,000 people at 6 water kiosks. We traveled there to survey the situation, which is fraught with political overtones.

We arrived in Mbita via a 45-minute ferry ride (the roads are very difficult). The day was beautiful and sunny, and we noticed that it was laundry day as we approached the shore. We watched women with perfect posture swaying gracefully as they walked, balancing plastic tubs and laundry on their heads to and from the source of water. Women stood at the shoreline bending at the waist to wash laundry in plastic tubs they had carried to the shoreline. Their small children played nearby. The colorful clean clothes were laid out to dry on bushes or grass nearby. As we drove along the dirt roads, we saw women working in the fields with heavy hoes, bending over to weed with their impossibly straight backs and legs. I was impressed by not only by their industry, but by their posture since I have a hard time touching my toes.

We have always been amazed that there are so many people outdoors. However their homes are not built for inside living. There are footpaths that lead to homes, but very few roads that can accommodate a car. Cars are an exotic beast; the lucky have a bike or the very lucky, a motorbike. Since the land is not lacerated by asphalt, a beautiful patchwork of different shades of green fields alternate with unplanted areas of contrasting deep red soil. On our way to and from the well sites, we passed through some of the loveliest countryside we have seen...through the Southern edge of the lush Rift Valley, a geographical and geological fissure that extends approximately 5,400 miles from Lebanon to the lower Zambezi River Valley in Mozambique. The valley was formed by a rifting of the earth's crust millions of years ago, which forced up volcanic activity. Its width varies from about 19 miles to 93 miles across and includes important archaeological sites and fossils. The panorama was lush and included lakes that we could see from the distance, with pink at the water's edge, which I supposed were the famed flamingos that inhabit the shores of Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru. Unfortunately we also had to cope with very narrow, shoulder-less roads, enormous potholes, and inexplicable speed bumps that were jarring.

Kenya is rich in beauty and natural resources. It is also plagued by very real tribal conflicts that erupt most forcefully during national elections, as in 2007 when many were killed. If they can get the political corruption under control, they can be leaders on the continent.

We love all of you and hope you have had a wonderful Easter holiday filled with the Spirit of the Lord and an awareness of your indebtedness to Christ.

Love, Mom/Roz

LETTER TO JOAN ROMNEY/UDALL

Joan,

We do see lots of animals here, and it is very exciting. Our last trip to the Chyulu area we saw elephants along the roadside a couple of times. We are traveling West tomorrow and will go by a game park that has lots of flamingoes. We do not have work permits yet, however, an cannot afford to go inside...another time. Without a work permit, the entry fee is $60/person. However a citizen only has to pay $11/person. So we will be patient.

Our testimonies are growing, but we are challenged by the work. We have scripture study each morning and exercise separately and together (mostly up and down stairs). We have spent a total of 4 weeks training with couples here in Kenya, so we are getting a little more comfortable with the requirements. There is a very nice mix of senior couples, so we have a better social life than we have ever had. The caliber of the missionaries is incredible; each couple has strong testimonies, great capacity for work, and each brings unique gifts to his/her calling. We went with 2 couples yesterday to a place that produces hand made clay beads. The company was started in 1976 by a woman who wanted to help single and disabled women. Now there are 240 such women molding, painting, firing, and stringing necklaces. You can see them online at Kazuri Beads. We women, of course shopped afterwards...so many choices it took a long time to come to a decision. Fortunately there was a coffee shop on the grounds, and the fatigued husbands sat, sipped sodas, talked and joked while we continued shopping. Then we ate lunch together and had FHE together with all 6 couples in the evening.

It is raining again this evening. Great for the farms. There is only one season here, so growing occurs anytime and rain has not been this plentiful for several years. We were told by one senior missionary that Nairobi is like Camelot because it only rains at night. The days are very pleasant.

Yesterday evening John and I saw a camel walking along the 2-foot median of a major intersection near our home. He was accompanied by 2 men, but it was a rather shocking sight with cars speeding by on either side of him. They must be very sure-footed! The drivers here are crazy and traffic laws and common courtesy don't seem to apply. The roads are narrow, the truck we drive is wide. And of course everyone drives on the wrong side of the street!

We love you and appreciate your prayers for us. You are in our prayers too.

Roz and John