August 9th 2009 Update

This is our visit to the giraffe orphanage where they bring in young giraffes that have been orphaned due to being abandoned by their mothers, or their mothers may have been a meal for a pride of lions, or poachers have killed their mothers. These young giraffes stay here until they are able to go out into the wild and survive on their own. Brenda, Mom, or Grandma is shown feeding one of the orphans. The food is like rabbit pellets - they are specially formulated to be nutritious and provide the animal with everything they need to grow up healthy. If one is brave enough they can hold a pellet in their lips and the giraffe will take it from there - hence the person is the recipient of a sloppy kiss from a giraffe. Neither of us did that.

This picture is Elder Flinders dressed in a cap and gown to deliver an address to graduating students from DALC University. The invitation to speak at the graduation came unexpectedly after a visit with Dr. Obarah whom we talked to about the role of PEF as it pertained to students at DALC. Dr. Obarah is the Director of the University. We told him about our call to serve as missionaries and that we do it without receiving pay from the Church. His response was nobody does something like that here in Kenya. They just don't volunteer anything without asking what is my compensation or what's in it for me. A few days after our visit with him he sent us an email and asked me to speak at the graduation. I was to be the motivational speaker and talk for ten minutes on the topic of "Human Sacrifice In The Community - The Case of Missionaries". This was a big challenge especially when I found out there would be over 1200 people in attendance along with press from all the television stations and local newspapers. I told them about how we serve for 23 months and our assignment to work with the Perpetual Education Fund. I encouraged the students to get involved in community service now that their education is completed and not expect to receive anything in return. A few days after the graduation Dr. Obarah sent me an email informing me that during a board of directors meeting the voting was unanimous by the board the I should become one of their board members - the first one to serve on their board as a non-Africian. We are still waiting for instructions to become further involved when school starts up next month.

Last month we attended a CES conference held here in Nairobi for all the CES couple missionaries in this mission. The Area CES Administrator from South Africa was in attendance as well as the administrators from Kenya and Uganda. This conference was held at the Fairview Hotel, one of the best ones in Nairobi. The conference lasted two days - we ate lunch both days at the buffet which was comparable with any in the U.S. The last night of the conference we ate dinner in the gourmet room upstairs - the food was excellent and we think very expensive but the tab was paid by CES so we loved it. We are having a wonderful time interacting with the PEF and Seminary and Institute students. These young people are so humble and teachable and grateful for the chruch and the progams it provides for them. We are thankful to be serving here in the Kenya Nairobi Mission and having this opportunity to interact with these choice young members of the chruch.President Hinckley was certainly inspired with this program. It is truly blessing the lives of many students, especially here in Africa. We add more students every month. They are very thankful for this opportunity. We are grateful to the Lord that He allows us to interact with these great people. The gospel is true of this we are sure. May the Lord bless you all.