Lukes Mission Blog

We arrived safely in Kenya. Even though there was a “no unnecessary travel warning” The Sudwicks came to pick us up at the airport. (I guess they thought we were necessary). There have been elections going on and causing tension in the country. The next morning the Sudwicks planned to show us around Nairobi but as we were about to leave our compound the guard at the gate told us it was unsafe to go out. We spent the day in the flat, we were able to take a short nap and a walk around the apartment complex to help us get over the jet lag. On Sunday we were told we could go to an hour of church but on our way there, Elder Sudwicks received a text message saying that church had been cancelled. We were almost there so we continued on and found a few of the saints had gathered. It was decided that since we were there we would go ahead and have Sacrament meeting. Two missionaries went back to the flats to get some bread for the sacrament and while they were gone another text message was received that the election results were going to be announced at 10:00 a.m. and all should stay in their flats. They returned with the bread at about 9:40 and so we had a very short Sacrament meeting and then went straight back to our compound. The election results were finally announced around 6:00 pm. We have spent the whole day here at the compound. We were invited to lunch at the Elder and Sister Pococks and then Sister Steinments brought dinner over to us. We spent the evening with most of the couple missionaries watching “Presidents and Prophets”. (Which they all enjoyed) We have also received text messages telling us not to travel and of riots going on throughout the city. We have not seen or heard any of the rioting here, but one member who lives in the slums where some of the rioting is going on called and said that the military was not letting anyone out of the slums but the mob was killing people and burning their homes. He was barricaded in his home, so we are very concerned for him. We hope tomorrow things will be calmed down. We also haven’t been out to take any pictures, but we will try to get a few of those sent after we take them.

Our group at the MTC

The rest of the MTC went faster than the first couple of days.  We learned how to teach investigators, less active, and new members.  We also spent time being taught and learning how to use Preach My Gospel.  Saturday we went to the temple with Amy & Brooks, Jason & Larissa, and Jeremy.  We had the rest of the day off to do whatever we wanted.  Sunday we went to church with Jason & Larissa and listened to Jason play the organ.  During Sacrament Mtg.  the Bishop changed the program and asked everyone to sing Called to Serve for the closing song.  (I think it was just for us:)  We then got to visit with Charles. (He happened to be passing through Provo.) We spent the afternoon and evening Sunday attending meetings, a devotional and a fireside.  The BYU Men’s Choir was the main portion of the fireside.  This all finished up about 8PM. After the fireside we drove to Amy & Brooks and being so tired we went to bed. It was an intense and powerful week.  Today we started our training at the Public Affairs office in SLC.   We probably learned more about our duties today, than all last week.  The MTC was general, where we are now learning the specifics of what we are going to do.  They had us read most of Sec. 31 of the D&C.  Please read this, it tells us how our families will be blessed and protected while we serve.  We also learned how to better use  lds.org and all the different places you can go, especially the “newsroom” and how important it will be for Public Affairs. (We even talked about utube and blogs and how to use them for spreading the gospel in a good way. 

This probably won’t be very long, but want to let you know how things are going after a couple of days on our mission. We got though our first full day at the MTC today. Yesterday we checked in, registered and got all the info, books, immunizations checked out, etc. We then went to lunch and had a spinach wrap. After lunch we went to orientation for a couple of hours, then a medical orientation where they sent us to the developing countries section. They told us all we should do to prevent illnesses, like washing fruit and vegetables in a bleach solution, soaking sheets and clothing in some kind of bug killing solution, washing our hands often, purifying water and not being around people that cough. Sounded a little scary. After the medical orientation we watched a movie and were excused for the day. (with study assignments). We stayed with Jason and Larissa and they fixed us a roast beef dinner. We did get to call each other Elder and Sister all day. Mom said she was wasted by the time we got ready to go to bed.

Today we got our training in giving the first lesson, and gave it to an investigator (who holds a temple recommend). We got through the lesson in the allotted time, but the presentation needed some work. We may have lost our first referral and investigator. We skipped out of the last half hour to go to the doctor and make sure my Hernia surgery was good. Took a couple of minutes to tell me it was. We then ate dinner at the MTC. (We aren’t overly impressed with the food yet.) Tonight we attended the first fireside with a General Authority speaking. The GA was Elder Dickson, of the Seventy. We will stay with Jason and Larissa again. I asked Mom is she wanted to write this, but said she was too tired. (Starting to worry about her.)

I’ll have to say this is a little stressful, but exciting. We can talk on cell phones and use computers. I think the worst thing for me so far is the white shirt and tie all the time. I did buy a button extender for my white shirts. It works pretty good.