Having our first Young Womens activity in our small branch!

By Kesley Pope
  
 A couple weeks ago we planned our very first Young Women's activity! When we first started talking about "young women's activities" they had no idea what that it was! It was my time to be a mini missionary! I was able to explain what you usually do and can do for activities! They were so interested in it!
     The upcoming sunday we were deciding what we should do for our activity. We had all sorts of ideas like, bowling, going to see a movie, going to get ice cream ect. Then one of our girls came up with an idea to go visit the less active members in the village (thats where all the girls live) I thought that was a great idea! Our final decision was to make home made cookies for these girls that were un-active in the church!

  That following Saturday Tasha and I made these really yummy cookies! We were all going to meet at the Kindergarten in the village. I was kinda scared cause I have never really seen a village before only in pictures! So I was nervous. To be honest me and Tasha thought no one was going to come! We thought it was just going to be us. We are driving there and I was so excited! We get to the elementary and one of our girls were there with the Young Women's president! We are waiting for the girls its been like 20 min or so! Then we see them come through the gate! All the girls were right there! It made me so happy that they all could make it!
     We start to walk towards the village its sooo hot outside like at least 90 degrees! They keep asking
"Are you okay? Do you need to rest?" Me and Tasha say no but secretly we are dying!! We get to the first girls house! And of course... She's not there! The family says give her 40 mins she will be back home soon! Ugh thats soo long! It was so hot also! I left the house and I went to play with the kids they were so cute oh my goodness! Finally the girl came back to the house and she was so happy to see us! She started to cry she says " I didn't know you guys really cared about me that much!" it was so cute! We gave her the cookies and she was just so thankful it was adorable!
     We start walking to the next girls house and we have seriously been walking for hours! Its killing Tasha and I. All the girls are so used to it! Its amazing! We get to the next girls house! She was really cute and kind! We got to share some thoughts with her and she was so happy and she says " I wont disappoint you ill be at church tomorrow!" - Next day at church I was able to bare my testimony in sacrament about what we did and how grateful I was to be able to do that activity! It was a unforgettable experience!

Missionary split #2

By Porter Fairbourne

While my cousins were here, Adam, Johnny, Josh and I went on splits with the missionaries. We were  first dropped off at the missionaries' house to study the scriptures.  After studying for an hour we left and started to walk.  We walked on dirt roads filled with trash and goats. We walked for about 20 minutes until we got to our first house and it turns out that they were not there.  So we walked about 10 minutes to our next house.  We went to this community of connected houses and so we walked in. This house was a nicer house.  It has good couches and a TV.  We taught a 30 minute lesson on the gospel and then we went next door.  There was a young lady and she was really new to the religion and so we just went over the introduction of the Book of Mormon. Then we  met up with Adam and Josh and so we headed to get on tuk tuk.
Then we remembered Troy gave us four Book of Mormon's to give out.  So before we left we had to give them out.  So we stopped these two guy and we told them what we were doing and what our religion is about and they were not interested. So we had to try again.  I saw another guy across the street looking at us.  I walked to this guy and  I told him about our religion and the Book of Mormon and he asked, "is this true?"   I looked straight into his eyes and said "yes, this is 100 percent true" and I said "I want you to read this book and pray about it and if you fill something inside of you will know this book is true."
Then after that every one gave out there books and we started for the tuk tuk's.  When we got there we waited for 10 min for Adam and Elder Kakarie.  Then we met the rest of the family at a beach restaurant.  It was a awesome day. 

MY COUSINS CAME TO KENYA

By Alta Fairbourne

I was so pleased when I figured out some of my cousins were coming to Kenya, including some of my friends. I missed them so much that it made me so exited and happy when I saw them pull in to one of  my favorite restaurants, Makuti Grill. They came in a big white van.  We then celebrated by eating chapati, beans, rice, cabbage, fish, chicken, and lots of soda and juice. They seemed so tired but really excited to there with us. Later that day (after we had a big lunch) everyone was so tired we tried to wake them up by going swimming. They said that they loved it so far they said it was like Hawaii, but then I told them about Kenya's government and what its like to be poor. Then they really got the taste of what really Kenya's like. The next morning we had a big breakfast with me not tired because I didn't have to wake up at 6:00 to ride a hour long bus ride to school. That day we went to the beach. It was everyone's first time (except my brothers and I).The beach was beautiful but it was super windy and the sand whipped our skin hurting a lot but it was all worth it. We headed down to the ocean and one of my cousins Adam fell into a hole in the wet sand and realized it was some sort of spring it went really deep down and it looked as if we had no legs. When we went home everyone seemed to really enjoy the beach and they wanted to come back.  On Thursday my brother,  Johnny--my friend, Josh--my friend, and Adam--my cousin all got to go with the Kenyan missionaries to teach the gospel.  I was so jealous even though I knew would not end up having fun anyway. It was a long day until we went to lunch at Yules. The next day they left for the village I was kind of sad I didn't get to go but they came back on Saturday saying, "I didn't like it but I didn't hate it" or "it was a great experience for me" and "it was very hot and I didn't like the food, but the kids were super cute they sung a ton but could be very annoying like when they wouldn't stop holding my hand or when they jumped on me and pulled my hair." The next day was church and they had brought a notes from someone in America for some of the kids in my primary.  They were so excited that they got a note.  For the rest of the lesson they were writing a note back to them. Some of the notes said things like; God bless your soul, I love you, you are my best friend now, etc. The next morning we had to say goodbye again.  I hate goodbyes.  I wish that everyone I love could come live in Kenya with us.

My mind has grown

By Everett Fairbourne 

I have been doing some art.  In other words, Everett has got art on his mind.  It hit me after one day at school at  the last lesson of class, and that lesson was art and I drew a yeti eating ice cream. and I loved drawing it, when I came home I knew I had to draw that again. I drew it and showed it to my mom and the I tried to draw bigfoot, but then I realized, why don't I draw them both trying to hurt each other? One has a tree in his hands to hit him with it, that one is Bigfoot.  The other one is throwing two penguins at bigfoot, and that one is the Yeti.  

That's not all the art. I have been playing, "making my own Lego". When I say that I mean I ripped them apart and re-built them in a different image. And I don't use the instructions to build my ships.  

I also have been writing a loooooooong story. It's called, "Different Look". It's going to be a movie in 2031.

Getting Use to Kenya

By Kesley Pope
Kenya has been soo fun and also crazy. It was so hard leaving Utah and my friends and family but I know I won't regret the decision coming to Africa.
     My flights were from, Utah to Detroit from Detroit to Amsterdam from Amsterdam to Nairobi from Nairobi to Mombasa. It was so boring. From Utah to Detroit I could not stop crying I was so sad to say goodbye to my friends and family! I got my self together and said this trip is going to be so cool. I slept every single long flight which was so nice.
     Once i got to Mombasa I got off my plane and it was so humid, I felt wet! I asked myself, "how am I suppose to get used to this?"  So I get my bags and I see Natalie and Jason waiting for me.  It's about midnight! It gave me such a relief. When we were driving home I thought I was going to die driving with Jason! There are not a lot of rules with driving here which I am still not used to! But I just couldn't get off my mind, I was just so excited to see Porter, Alta and Everett. We get to the apartment I walk in and i give all the kids a hug! Natalie says "Get to bed you have church tomorrow!" I was like are you serious?! I'm gunna be so tired!

     My first day at church was NOT what I expected. I expected a normal church but, no. This church has about 40 people in our branch.  It's super hot and they don't really know what they're doing! It's really different but I actually really enjoy this church, it's really interesting! The one thing that is a little odd is that women are so open with breast feeding there children here. If there child is crying then your gunna see something that's a little different then what people do in America.
 
  Everything is just happening so fast! Its only my 2nd day and it's my 1st day of school! I was super nervous not going to lie! I get to school Natalie takes a "First day of school picture!" I go and get my classes all organized and right as i walk in all the girls, there's about 9, say "Hey American come sit next to us!" The girls there are all super interesting here and there all soooo nice! They ask me " Do you have Facebook?" I was like, wow you guys are so last year;).  Anyway they are such smart girls and make me wanna do so good this term. It will be a big challenge, I can already tell! Just because Mapleton Junior High is just what I'm so used to and making a change from going to the American system to the British is so hard but that won't get in my way.
     My first weekend here was a blast!! We woke up around 9 and went to the beach! My first time!! I was so excited! Right as we get there we got out the paddle boards! It was amazing! Right after the day at the beach me, Alta, and Porter went to the pool to tan... Not a good idea! We got the coconut oil going on! Oh I did not think the sun over here was so strong. Adding that I haven't seen the sun for about 3 months. From the long day in the sun I  came back home and I realized how sunburned I was! I could not move for 3 days it was horrible! Its been about a week and a half now and I'm still peeling! Then of course the Fairbourne's decide to go paint balling with some friends! I knew it was going to be so painful adding that I was soo sun burnt! It did end up being really fun though! My next weekend wasn't to great,  I was so sick from Wednesday-Saturday.  We were not for sure what it was but it was miserable! 
    Africa has been so great so far! Ive realized Africa is not meant for woozy and I'm looking forward to everything that's coming my way! 

     
     

10 Reasons Why Lilli Should Come To Kenya

By Alta Fairbourne
I think there is no doubt about it Lilli Holmberg should come to Kenya (I'm talking to you Lisa and Troy).

1.   Lilli is the sister I never had.

2.   Lilli hasn't been out of Utah for a while.

3.   There is a room in our house not getting used.

4.   I miss Lilli she misses me.

5.   It would be good for her to learn a new culture.

6.   Lilli needs to see Esther's new baby.

7.   It would great for her to come to our school, Braeburn she would learn a lot.

8.    Lilli would come back ten times more responsible.

9.    Lilli loves Kenya.

10.   She will get to always go to the beach.

Petronilla

Petronilla helps Porter with his Kiswahili homework

By Alta Fairbourne 

I think I have talked about everything there is to talk about except one thing, my moms assistant Petronilla. She is the person who is kind of like a nanny who cleans our apartment. She is super funny when she doesn't understand things. She has been with us for five months and she stays in our apartment in the servant quarters. After about a month of her staying with us she bought a t.v and she never stops watching her soap operas. She gets super scared to be alone so she all ways locks the doors. On Saturdays and Sundays she leaves to her house in Ukunda and when she comes back she all ways has a new hair-do. But now, her dad is sending her back to Culinary Arts school in Nairobi she is leaving us. We will really miss her.