Started this post on Jan 12 and am just getting back to it today - the 22nd - pretty slow. Seems like posting to the blog gets pushed to the 'bottom of the list' lately. And my mother (N) is in a 'crisis' health situation. Feel so bad to be far away and not much help. Much thanks and appreciation to family and friends who are trying to help out. Seems to just be a hard time for all involved right now. We may need to be released early if we are needed at home. Guess we will just have to see how it goes. Our prayers are with you. In the meantime, we are trying to carry on as best we can.

A couple of weeks ago, we knew some of the elders in our area were probably going to be transferred. So for Tuesday's district meeting, we decided to have a feast - did barbecued spare ribs, baked potatoes, cream pies etc. But as soon as lunch was over, we had to leave quickly and two of the elders needed to stay to use the fax machine to send some receipts over to the mission office. So we walked out and left them a key to lock up. That afternoon we took two of the other elders with us for a hospital visit where they gave a blessing (Bro Jeff - more about him to follow) a home visit for a young man who had a knife wound in his stomach, (you really don't want to know the details) and a 'new baby' visit where both mother and baby were facing health concerns. It took all afternoon and was pretty physically and emotionally taxing. Then the elders got a phone call inviting us to visit with them to a new investigator family later that evening. We were pretty tired, but knew it was something we should do. So after dropping off the elders, we pulled into a parking lot and had a quick power nap. (too far and not enough time to run home) Then picked up other elders and headed to the appointment at 8 o'clock.

So glad we made this visit. This is one of those 'golden' families that every elder wishes they could find. So welcoming and warm and developing strong testimonies. They can't wait to be baptized, and anxiously await each lesson as they seem to drink in the gospel teachings. We were so glad to be able to meet and visit with them. She had been cooking all day in anticipation of 'missionaries' arrival. Sister Dina is closest to the front on the left and is a 'member helper.' The elders love this family and unfortunately were transferred before doing the baptism. But of course, others are carrying on. They have 4 children and will be such an asset to the Masai branch. Baptism is scheduled for the 29th. We arrived back at our apartment that night at 10:30 - pretty beat, but instead of the messy kitchen we'd left - the two elders who'd remained had done a total clean up job and washed every dish and pan to perfection. What a nice surprise!

Then Sunday the elders asked if they could choose the food for the next meeting. I said, "What - you don't like what I choose?"

"No," they answered - "We have one more Tuesday before transfers, so we will all chip in and could we have the same meal again.?" So - another 'last supper.' Yup - we did a repeat and it was fun. Fond farewells for those leaving, and this time everyone stayed until all was cleaned up. Now the mission has placed two additional elders in this area - so we have 10 elders. When we first came here, there were 4. President Clark is already talking about splitting the new Masai branch in June if it continues to grow at this pace. When we voiced our concern with him that the numbers may be here but the leadership is sorely lacking. He told us that the missionaries 'get them in the water' and it's our job to get them ready to serve. Scary. Apparently studies have shown that when a branch reaches around 130 people - the same people continue to do most of the leadership and the branch seems to deteriorate - a split brings a branch closer to some members who are traveling long distances and creates a need for all members to serve. Interesting.

So we are now trying to help the new elders find a 3rd apartment here. Yesterday they did find a terrace house in the area called Kota Masai and the rent is very reasonable, but it is totally unfurnished. We are waiting to see if the mission wants to rent and furnish or if we need to keep looking. Although there are a few other rentals around - most of them are in very bad shape. The missionaries always say they could clean it up and live there, but we often nix it as it is beyond awful. Even the unfurnished one will need quite a bit of clean up and repair to make it habitable. Ah - young people - so good at adapting.

Also, they are doing a remodel in the JB building - taking part of the primary room to make a district president office. We're back in the building\furnishing\shopping business. But the office is much needed.

It is now Chinese New Year - so much celebrating. Fireworks every night - schools and business closed. We read on the internet that this is the world's oldest and most celebrated holiday. News to us. This week will probably be quite slow for us, as everyone is busy visiting family from out of town, or hosting family and having parties. When we try to get appointments for teaching, they ask us to call back in a couple of weeks - after the holiday. It's a very festive time here - we think it's a lot like Christmas in the U.S. Christmas here is just a little side note for the few Christians who celebrate.

A member of the JB branch presidency a young Chinese man named Chee Lee Seng (we call him Jeff) is in serious condition in the hospital. He experienced the same problems when he was on his mission in Hong Kong a few years ago and it has all the earmarks of Crohns disease. He and his girlfriend just got engaged and were planning a big Chinese wedding. But everything is on hold now. He's super thin and has just been moved to a Singapore hospital. Cheryl- the fiance- is having a very hard time emotionally. They have now taken him off all food and inserted a tube for nutrition and the hope is that avoiding food will help the intestine heal. He's already had one surgery while on his mission and the doctors do not feel it is safe to do another one at this time. Everyone is very concerned, as he's been hospitalized for several weeks. We will try to go over to S'pore this week to see him again. All are hoping for a turn around very soon. It looks quite grim.

Tonight we are invited for a Chinese New Year dinner at Wee Lee's Mom's restaurant - it will be 'steamboat' - a very popular fondue-type of eating here. Although she is not a member she does this every year to show her appreciation for the missionaries. So very kind of her - she's somewhat elderly - works very hard cooking all day long every day and should be having someone do that for her. But she won't allow it. I just cringe when I look at her very 'arthritic' hands. She's had a tough life of abusive husbands. We've gone to her little restaurant before for lunch, but feel we can't go there any more, as she will never allow us to pay for our meals. Sometimes we throw the money on the counter and run. But we have to run pretty fast to get away. Such a 'salt of the earth' kind of person. So many people here live in such tough situations - makes us weep. Life just isn't easy.

We are not going to teach Seminary and Institute this year and are trying to get members to take over. Oh My - what a job - would be so much easier to just teach it ourselves. But if we go home soon, then no one would carry on. We're trying to get it 'up and going' before we leave. Garald as the district presidency counselor has called two teachers in one branch and one in the other. The course is Old Testament. We're getting supplies delivered and trying to give them some direction and help in getting started. Hopefully it will work. All pretty new to them. The teacher in the JB branch is the district president's wife and one of the teachers in the Masai branch is the Branch president's wife - people who already have much responsibility but are willing to try to do more - hopefully they won't get overwhelmed. We're hoping for the best. And we're hoping the youth will be supportive and attend.

Who could resist taking a pic of this cute face... I couldn't.

Hope you're getting snow in Utah, so it can all be melted by the time we get home. Love to all.