Lukes Mission Blog

This is the short version of our trip, If you want to read more go to the Ethiopia page. 

Ethiopia had a lot in common with other African countries and several differences.

There was the beauty of the land and the sadness of the poverty. We saw lots of buildings being built. The scaffolding made from logs, is much the same as other places but this was the first place I noticed the ramps also built with logs. There were a lot of beggars in the streets and again a lot of traffic. I also noticed several donkeys that were used as beast of burden. Sorry about not taking very many pictures, I would see something interesting and by the time I got the camera turned on we were way past it. The grounds at the church building where we taught the training were beautiful. I did think to snap a picture there. Everyone has their electricity turned off two days a week. They never know which days that will be and they run out of water often. We didn’t have any electricity for our training so used the computer until the battery wore out. The visit to the Leper’s hospital was heart wrenching but they are doing the best they can to provide for their needs. I wanted to take some pictures of the people spinning and weaving but I didn’t have change in burr to pay them.  I took a few pictures of some of the things they have for sale. (those pictures were free) If you want to purchase anything let me know soon. Haptu is coming to Kenya in May and said he would bring anything I wanted with him.

12 April 2008 We just returned from a trip “upcountry” to Webuye Hospital. LDS Charities donated hospital equipment and computers to Webuye Hospital and we attended the handover ceremony. This is the Head Doctor sitting at his desk with a new computer. Two day old baby in the maternity ward of the hospital. After the ceremony we talked with the reverend Weswa who said the prayers for the meeting. He asked for some information on the church. We are sending him the latest Ensign about the Savior. We also got to meet with John from Eldoret and Clifton from Katallie. They are the Public Affairs Specialists in their areas. Elder Luke with some of the public affairs specialists from Kenya. We met them for the first time at the Public Affairs training for Kenya that we held last week. They are both new to public affairs but are already doing a great job. We also went with the Pococks, Nielsons and Stuts to look at a well for a possible charities project. It was located in the middle of the market in Katallie. The pump is broken and the people have to draw the water with a bucket hung by a rope. They are hoping for a new pump. It is also shallow and goes dry during the dry season so they would like it dug deeper, too. When we walked through the market the children wanted us to take their pictures. Sister Pocock and I did and then showed them the pictures. They laughed and I told them they were beautiful. There were some older boys that saw me taking pictures and wanted theirs taken too. When I went to take their picture I noticed a tall boy take off running. He came back to look at the picture so I asked him if he wanted his picture taken too. He turned and ran away. I guess he was afraid to have it taken. His friends laughed at him. He is the one in the picture who is turned away. The branch President in Katallie is an enthusiastic young man. He came back from his mission about three years ago. Branch President on left. He has converted his whole family, except for his father. He thinks his father will join the Church soon. Church there is held in a rented building and on Sunday there is standing room only. He is hoping they will soon have a new building. His family runs a mill. They have a big grinder and people from the community bring their maize to have it ground into flour.