Welp it was transfers this week! So it made for a busy week, pretty hectic,
but productive none the less. My companion and i stayed together here in Kisumu,
the sisters also remained the same, but for Busia, it was whitewashed meaning
two new elders are coming and the old two have been transfered to new areas. We
are receiving Elder Elliot and Elder Obiko, Elder Elliot began his mission in
Busia and served there for 7.5 months, so it will be great to have him back
there, he has the potential to really be an instrument in major growth in Busia.
When we called Busia they were shocked, they were happy though and we needed them to be in Kisumu before dark the next day. That next day being Tuesday, we had planned to be used for some housekeeping sort of stuff so that the Zone can be in proper order and therefore function better. So for the most part we were running around filling up gas tanks, dropping off stuff at the sisters flat and moving the Busia Elders from place to place. We also had some good lessons during the day. On Sundays we have been trying to use it to do more contacting in the Sports ground because there are more people there, Well it has turned out to be somewhat fruitful and we have had some of those we talked to call the number on the back of the pamphlet to arrange times to meet, also some of those whom we took their number have also agreed to meet again. We taught a man named Joseph who had read the pamphlet then having questions about the Book of Mormon called us and we arranged to meet him again in the sports ground. We had a powerful lesson discussing the Book of Mormon, then we committed him to baptism if he comes to know that the things which we have taught are true. So we have another appointment to meet with him this week. Once Busia arrived we dropped their bags at the flat and went to go make some repairs in the sisters flat. The sisters made us dinner of Omena! it was awesome, gotta love it when the sisters want to feed us. Then we briefly stopped at the Horners so that they could say Goodbye, its always strange seeing someone leave an area, its a whole new chapter of mission that they start.
Wednesday we got the Busia Elders on the bus at 11:00, but it was a close call, traffic jams and late Tuk-tuks, made it a pretty intense morning. My companion and i speed walked to the EasyCoach stage to try and find a way to hold the bus from leaving before our elders arrived. We just made friends with the guy loading the cargo compartments and in doing so he was distracted and gave us a bit of time, luckily the tuk tuk got through the jam and made it okay. So they got on and then they were off! After the chaotic morning, we returned to the flat for lunch and to plan for the day because we werent able to do so with the busy morning. Our day was interesting, we showed up at the sportsground to find that there was a big crusade going on for the whole week. Some Preacher from America came and teamed up with a few Kenyan Pastors, so they made it a pretty big event. So in respect to the crusade we chose not to contact in the park for the week. You know being here makes you really want to talk to the white people you see, especially those coming for religious purposes, we would love a good talk, but we know that they would only want to attack the church and the dorctrines we teach, so we stay away from that. We had a lesson with Elsie who was a referral from Sister Joyce the wife to the first councilor. It was a great lesson, she is a law student, so it was cool to see her really ponder the teachings and ask great questions, when talking about the Book of Mormon and the law of witnesses, she totally understood it and how just as in courts of law on the earth, there is a need for at least two - three witnesses for evidence of something. She committed to be baptized January 4! So many are just waiting to hear the gospel and all it takes is for a friend to invite them and share with them the things that they love and grow from. We had another great lesson with one of those whom we contacted in the park, it was a awesome he brought two of his friends with him to also learn. One of them rode a bike and because we were just sitting in the grass for the lesson, he brought his bike in, sadly after the lesson while jumping over a bush to get his bike out, a supervisor or something of the sort ran over and grabbed him and took him away with his bike, similar to an arrest... it was so sad to see that happen after having had an awesome lesson together, but there was nothing we could do.
Thursday was one of our most successful days this week, the new busia elders were traveling to their area, and they were sent straight there, so we got to have a full proselyting day. We went out to an area called Manyatta, any members come from that area, its a bit more of a rough slum area because of the low income living that is there. Well we were there teaching and happened to find the sisters also there. Ill get back to the sisters in a sec.. Well for the most part we had some really nice lessons.. we had tried to figure out a better way to teach one of the less actives who stays there, he always speaks to us in kiswahili, so we brought him a Kitabu Cha Mormoni (Kiswahili Book of Mormon) Well in presenting it to him, he turns to us and says english is better for me, i dont understand much Kiswahili... haha we thought that was funny. Interesting thing about the Luo tribe is they speak JaLuo and English, Kiswahili is hard for them... Its a blessing to be in a place where everyone knows english, but its a tough place to learn kiswahili because of that. Now back to the sisters, we were walking back to the main road after our last lesson in the area and we see the sisters up ahead with some drunk guys up being rough with them. So we got up to them and the guys saw us and immediately moved away and started going on their way. We asked them what they were doing, they made an excuse and then said some vulger things so we just said "okay have a good day" and they took it as though we were mad and tried to get up in our faces. these were pretty big guys but totally drunk so we just said our peace and left. The sisters were pretty shaken up by the instance, but the lord definitely put us there at the right time in order to take care of the situation. The lord protects his servants, it may not always be how we expect, but he does. The sisters said they would no longer return to that area and would leave that area for us because the people dont pester us as frequent. Later in the afternoon we had a lesson with David, he is still progressing well, he had many questions about the government of the church regarding missionary work and tithing and local leadership and financial support, he was amazed when we told him that no one within local congregations is paid, totally a foreign idea for him and his past life as a pastor, but he understood well. He is seeking the church for the right reasons, he loves the doctrine and is embracing the truth. He will be such a great support to Kisumu and the growth of the church in Kenya.
Friday wow it was a terribly slow day, totally full of bounces... The morning was good though having our weekly planning and then correlation with the Branch Mission Leader. but all of our appointments after that were bounced. So we went contacting and visited sister Doreen in the hospital. Caline her daughter is sick so they were admitted in the hospital. The set up there consists of many beds in a room and then two sets of mother and child per bed.. Rough situation.. We have been visiting her each day since then and she says its literally like hell, no sleep, constant fear because there have been three children die just in the last few days of them being there, and nothing to do besides sit there with the child. She was very grateful for us coming and visiting her.
The end of the week resulted in some great teaching. We met with Brother Wafula and his family again, we can see improvement every week, next week we have scheduled to go with the couples to teach and we strongly feel he will be touched by the message they have to share about families being together forever. I really love the Wafulas, they are one of my favorite families, i have never desired for a family to be an eternal family as much as i have for them. I hope that one day i will get to hear that they have been sealed as a family in the temple. Such great blessings come from it and it brings such joy for the family because they then know that they will be together forever regardless of what happens in life.
Sunday at church we had 113 people present in sacrament meeting, if it remains consistent at that and continues to grow then it has the possibility to split in the future. After church we went and visited Doreen again, she said she has been asked many questions about the church from those around her, she's really powerful and was able to answer many of their questions, we brought her two liahonas, one for conference and one about families so she has something to read while she is there, plus those there can also read them and see what the church is all about.
One thing to learn is that there will always be those who try to find negativity about the church. THose people will exist, but one thing is for sure. the adversary does not want the truth to get out to all of Gods children. Take the challenge and ask God for yourself. He will not lie and will confirm the truth to you.
Thank you everyone for your continuous love and support. Thanksgiving is fast approaching, then it is Christmas... Happy Holidays!
Love,Elder Rushton Jay Hiltbrand
When we called Busia they were shocked, they were happy though and we needed them to be in Kisumu before dark the next day. That next day being Tuesday, we had planned to be used for some housekeeping sort of stuff so that the Zone can be in proper order and therefore function better. So for the most part we were running around filling up gas tanks, dropping off stuff at the sisters flat and moving the Busia Elders from place to place. We also had some good lessons during the day. On Sundays we have been trying to use it to do more contacting in the Sports ground because there are more people there, Well it has turned out to be somewhat fruitful and we have had some of those we talked to call the number on the back of the pamphlet to arrange times to meet, also some of those whom we took their number have also agreed to meet again. We taught a man named Joseph who had read the pamphlet then having questions about the Book of Mormon called us and we arranged to meet him again in the sports ground. We had a powerful lesson discussing the Book of Mormon, then we committed him to baptism if he comes to know that the things which we have taught are true. So we have another appointment to meet with him this week. Once Busia arrived we dropped their bags at the flat and went to go make some repairs in the sisters flat. The sisters made us dinner of Omena! it was awesome, gotta love it when the sisters want to feed us. Then we briefly stopped at the Horners so that they could say Goodbye, its always strange seeing someone leave an area, its a whole new chapter of mission that they start.
Wednesday we got the Busia Elders on the bus at 11:00, but it was a close call, traffic jams and late Tuk-tuks, made it a pretty intense morning. My companion and i speed walked to the EasyCoach stage to try and find a way to hold the bus from leaving before our elders arrived. We just made friends with the guy loading the cargo compartments and in doing so he was distracted and gave us a bit of time, luckily the tuk tuk got through the jam and made it okay. So they got on and then they were off! After the chaotic morning, we returned to the flat for lunch and to plan for the day because we werent able to do so with the busy morning. Our day was interesting, we showed up at the sportsground to find that there was a big crusade going on for the whole week. Some Preacher from America came and teamed up with a few Kenyan Pastors, so they made it a pretty big event. So in respect to the crusade we chose not to contact in the park for the week. You know being here makes you really want to talk to the white people you see, especially those coming for religious purposes, we would love a good talk, but we know that they would only want to attack the church and the dorctrines we teach, so we stay away from that. We had a lesson with Elsie who was a referral from Sister Joyce the wife to the first councilor. It was a great lesson, she is a law student, so it was cool to see her really ponder the teachings and ask great questions, when talking about the Book of Mormon and the law of witnesses, she totally understood it and how just as in courts of law on the earth, there is a need for at least two - three witnesses for evidence of something. She committed to be baptized January 4! So many are just waiting to hear the gospel and all it takes is for a friend to invite them and share with them the things that they love and grow from. We had another great lesson with one of those whom we contacted in the park, it was a awesome he brought two of his friends with him to also learn. One of them rode a bike and because we were just sitting in the grass for the lesson, he brought his bike in, sadly after the lesson while jumping over a bush to get his bike out, a supervisor or something of the sort ran over and grabbed him and took him away with his bike, similar to an arrest... it was so sad to see that happen after having had an awesome lesson together, but there was nothing we could do.
Thursday was one of our most successful days this week, the new busia elders were traveling to their area, and they were sent straight there, so we got to have a full proselyting day. We went out to an area called Manyatta, any members come from that area, its a bit more of a rough slum area because of the low income living that is there. Well we were there teaching and happened to find the sisters also there. Ill get back to the sisters in a sec.. Well for the most part we had some really nice lessons.. we had tried to figure out a better way to teach one of the less actives who stays there, he always speaks to us in kiswahili, so we brought him a Kitabu Cha Mormoni (Kiswahili Book of Mormon) Well in presenting it to him, he turns to us and says english is better for me, i dont understand much Kiswahili... haha we thought that was funny. Interesting thing about the Luo tribe is they speak JaLuo and English, Kiswahili is hard for them... Its a blessing to be in a place where everyone knows english, but its a tough place to learn kiswahili because of that. Now back to the sisters, we were walking back to the main road after our last lesson in the area and we see the sisters up ahead with some drunk guys up being rough with them. So we got up to them and the guys saw us and immediately moved away and started going on their way. We asked them what they were doing, they made an excuse and then said some vulger things so we just said "okay have a good day" and they took it as though we were mad and tried to get up in our faces. these were pretty big guys but totally drunk so we just said our peace and left. The sisters were pretty shaken up by the instance, but the lord definitely put us there at the right time in order to take care of the situation. The lord protects his servants, it may not always be how we expect, but he does. The sisters said they would no longer return to that area and would leave that area for us because the people dont pester us as frequent. Later in the afternoon we had a lesson with David, he is still progressing well, he had many questions about the government of the church regarding missionary work and tithing and local leadership and financial support, he was amazed when we told him that no one within local congregations is paid, totally a foreign idea for him and his past life as a pastor, but he understood well. He is seeking the church for the right reasons, he loves the doctrine and is embracing the truth. He will be such a great support to Kisumu and the growth of the church in Kenya.
Friday wow it was a terribly slow day, totally full of bounces... The morning was good though having our weekly planning and then correlation with the Branch Mission Leader. but all of our appointments after that were bounced. So we went contacting and visited sister Doreen in the hospital. Caline her daughter is sick so they were admitted in the hospital. The set up there consists of many beds in a room and then two sets of mother and child per bed.. Rough situation.. We have been visiting her each day since then and she says its literally like hell, no sleep, constant fear because there have been three children die just in the last few days of them being there, and nothing to do besides sit there with the child. She was very grateful for us coming and visiting her.
The end of the week resulted in some great teaching. We met with Brother Wafula and his family again, we can see improvement every week, next week we have scheduled to go with the couples to teach and we strongly feel he will be touched by the message they have to share about families being together forever. I really love the Wafulas, they are one of my favorite families, i have never desired for a family to be an eternal family as much as i have for them. I hope that one day i will get to hear that they have been sealed as a family in the temple. Such great blessings come from it and it brings such joy for the family because they then know that they will be together forever regardless of what happens in life.
Sunday at church we had 113 people present in sacrament meeting, if it remains consistent at that and continues to grow then it has the possibility to split in the future. After church we went and visited Doreen again, she said she has been asked many questions about the church from those around her, she's really powerful and was able to answer many of their questions, we brought her two liahonas, one for conference and one about families so she has something to read while she is there, plus those there can also read them and see what the church is all about.
One thing to learn is that there will always be those who try to find negativity about the church. THose people will exist, but one thing is for sure. the adversary does not want the truth to get out to all of Gods children. Take the challenge and ask God for yourself. He will not lie and will confirm the truth to you.
Thank you everyone for your continuous love and support. Thanksgiving is fast approaching, then it is Christmas... Happy Holidays!
Love,Elder Rushton Jay Hiltbrand
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