Our good friends Dennis and Bethshaba and members in Nyabondo were expecting their first baby in February. She called and said she wasn't feeling well and was having all kinds of back pain. Sister Jorgensen told her that she was in labor and to get here right away. They only had money enough for her transport so she came alone carrying her bag with clothes for her and her new baby, another bag with pineapples, cabbage, and sweet potatoes. We took her to the hospital where they checked her and admitted her. She had polio as a child and her legs are crippled and we worried about her delivery. At ten thirty that night her baby was born by "C" section. Wednesday the first day of February Errol Jorgensen Obiero entered mortal life. The baby had problems breathing and was put on oxygen. He had problems trying to nurse and was put on an IV. Sunday morning approximately 3:30 a.m. he departed this life after a short struggle to live. Monday February 6, 2012 he was interred into the red Kenyan soil of his native country. We all cried!
We had the opportunity to visit with another of our branch members who was in the district hospital for surgery in January. Sister Jorgensen was appalled at the conditions these patients are kept in. Our hospitals in Idaho are far superior even if they do cost more. When Sister Bethshaba was in the provincial hospital after having her baby they were talking about a shortage of available beds and placing two women in one bed. Sister Jorgensen mentioned that to one of our branch members and he said that isn't uncommon. Sister Jorgensen considers the conditions barbaric. I am not so sure that the women aren't just as well off to stay home and have the village midwife deliver them. We had another sister from our branch deliver a baby by "C" section two days ago. The baby survived, the mother did not.
On the north side of Kisumu the highway winds up the hill and goes on to Kakamega. Just before the highway starts up the hill there is an intersection. On the kisumu side of the intersection the pol;ice set up a traffic check station complete with spike strips. To get through the spike strips you drive on one side of the road around one and then to the other side to get around the other one. A ten wheeled truck loaded with sugar came down the hill at around eight at night after sunset and it was getting quite dark. He lost his brakes and could not stop. He was flashing is headlights, blowing the horn and waving a flashlight out of the window. The police did not remove the spike strips or clear the highway. The truck hit one matatu head one, hit another matatu on the rear corner sending it off the road and into the barpit, ran over three motorcycles killing five people on them and ended up on it's side in a field. Total killed outright, 29 including one policeman. I am not sure how many more died later but I know that some did. When the police reinforcements got there to help clean up the mess they were attacked by irate bystanders. The sugar also got black legs and ran off. They had a case a year or so ago where a bus had the same problem and lost his brakes coming down the grade and ran through the spike strips, hit a matatu and crashed out on the field. If the police want a check point they should move it farther into Kisumu to give the vehicles coming down grade farther to get stopped. They should have certainly realized that the truck was in trouble and cleared the road for him.
Dinner with the missionaries
Christmas presents. My new hat, Sister Jorgensen's new ear rings
Zone leader conference with President and Sister Broadbent
Taking it easy at Christmas
President and Sister Broadbent visit Dennis and Bethshaba at Nyabondo. This was a big thrill for Dennis and Bethshaba. The Mission President does not have time to visit many members in their homes. She started cooking at three thirty in the morning. She was eight months pregnant at the time.
President Broadbent and the Priesthood holders at Nyabondo. What a thrill for the members at Nyabondo.
The Elders at Nyabondo. Gedamu. Dobard, Keno, Phillips Sibanda and Willis
Presdident and Sister Broadbent, Elder and Sister Cook and the senior couples at Eldoret. President and Sister Kogo of the Eldoret district.
Elder Cook and Elder Jorgensen at Eldoret zone conference
Ready for baptism! Kisumu
Sister Jorgensen, Sister Erica and the retired nurses at Sabatia. They get together once a month and that just happened to be on the day we were visiting Sister Erica.
Canning mangoes and bananas and pickles. Sister Jorgensen tried her hand at canning to see if it would work. When she showed the finished product to the local members the almost universal response was "We could can these and sell them".
Another bunch of bananas from Brother Justin. We have to give most of them away since we can't ever eat that many.
Sisters Ndahalele and Sibanyoni. Transfer day for Sibanyoni
Sister Sibanyoni with her bags at Christmas
Elder Dobard with his new hat at Christmas
Who needs a rooster with these squawking birds. 6:30 a.m. they start in.
Solar dehydrator. Elder Babcock in Eldoret
Sister Kaluba
Another baptism
Tilapia, Ugali, sauce for the supper.
The last supper. Sister Okila fixed dinner for the missionaries before they left. Elder Phillips, Elder Dobard and Elder Sanders transferred out
Transfer day, good by for now Sanders and Dobard loading the bus. Below, Elder Sanders, a branch sister, Elder Phillips, Elder Dobard, Sister Ndahalele, Sister Kaluba. The Elders are going the sisters are staying for now. Next transfer is at the end of March
Nice sweater to replace the one that shrunk in the dryer
twins?
Sandals made out of discarded tires
Been a hard week!
Dennis, Leah, Bethshaba at Nyabondo
President and Sister Broadbent and all of the missionaries visit Dennis and Bethshaba. Yes Elder Keno can reach up to the eave of the house
We are having a necktie party!
Supper for our Zone on "P Day"
Beatrice the cute lady at Safari who keeps us connected to the internet.
