Narobi Hockey Tournement

Last Friday morning some of my friends and I got on a airplane to Nairobi to participate in the under 11 and under 13 field hockey tournament. I have never played hockey before and I had never touched a hockey stick before so the odds didn't look so good. I did end up signing up for the under 11 B.M.I.S hockey team. I have been taking three one hour hockey lessons each week for 6 weeks, two on Monday and one on Tuesday all with my best friends. There was about 12 girls on the team and two wouldn't play in Mombasa, and four wouldn't play in Nairobi, a bit nerve racking. In the end, I was picked for the team.  I was so excited. Some girls on the team that weren't picked had played for at least 2 years, it kind of made me seem like a pro. We won the league in Mombasa, but the Nairobi girls are really competitive, big, and aggressive. I play wing and its a lot of effort; especially when its boiling hot out side.

When we arrived in Nairobi we went to the boarding house of Garden Estate Braeburn. I felt like I was in jail.  The rooms didn't have pillows, sheets, or blankets and the walls were made of dark grey stone. Nairobi felt so nice out it was the first time I have been cold in a long time; not air conditioning cold, weather cold. The next day was the big tournament and it was raining, uh oh. It was raining all night and all day with loud thunder followed along with lightning. When everyone woke up in the morning all of the flying termites that lived outside were inside EVERYWERE! There was thousands of them, the bathroom sinks and the showers were full of them the halls were full of them. I was petrified of them, I thought they were going to bite me.  They looked so scary and so big.  The worst thing was it was still raining, that meant there was tons of mud, I mean tons.

 The tournament still went on. We got on the bus after breakfast and made our way to Peponi. Peponi all ways wins; they win all of the tournaments.  They won the rounders tournament and the previous hockey tournament and they win every year. But we didn't give up, even though it was super cold and muddy we played all four games and lost and had the best attitude. That's all that matters right? Peponi won, but really I think we gave it our all and left with smiles on our faces, and next term I am hoping to find myself back in Nairobi for net ball. Wait, what is net ball?

diffrent look

 Once upon a time there was a baby born named max. He was the most intelligent baby, he knew everything how it is and why it is. He was perfect until one of the doctors dropped the little baby on the head, now all he thinks, hear and read is the opposite of the real world, and he can never learn his punctuation. Now his future is to an end, or a big journey just stared....

30 years later
Angry boss- max get out there and get my food!

Max-yes sir, I’ll put it on my schedule that you’re going on a diet, and thank you for being so polite.

Angry boss- [sigh] when will he learn, okay I need my food umm... i could say the the opisit so he can under stand me hi five. Then the [odd] angry boss hi five.

Ummm..... a max start right over there you are getting promoted.
Max- what, no please don't fire me, I’ll do anything please.

Angry boss- no leave.

Max- I can stay.

Angry boss- I mean stay.

Max - nooooooooooooooooo.

Max- stupid boss he kicked me out in the rain, on a Monday.


But I guess I can try to get a new job.

Hay look a magazine of all job's, wait none of its there. I could make a list of what I want to do.
Now he's driving home.
Max - aw home at last, Joe! You home [Joe is Joe - Baw wow = [here sir].

max - good boy can you fetch me a paper and a pen.

Joe - rrra rraara =[do it yourself].

max - ug okay.

max - [writting] um.. 1. soccer player


2. asronot

3. singer

4. dog vet

5. umm i forgot this

one

6. i also forgot this one
max - joe what do you think of my list.

Joe - raw [good]

max - thanks time to do number 1.


max started to driving to the soccer place.

Max - hi I’m here for the job

Coach - job? We had a job free?

Max - what do you mean you didn't have a job? You do it says it right here on this sign.

Coach - no that says no job free.

Max - yay I know it says that.

Coach - then why did you say that?

Max - because I had to because if I didn't you would not understand.

Coach - now that you said that I don't under stand

Max- well... then they both started arguing really loud.

5 minutes later...

Coach - shut up! Coach now has a gun...yay. Coach - I will shoot you if you don't shut up!
Soccer player – hay, hay cool down.



The soccer player started to walk over to



Them. Soccer player - don't fight.

Max - he started it.

Coach - shut up!!!!! Bang, bang!

Soccer player - hay no!

now the beloved soccer player is dead. coach - no... wait... i didn't mean to...kill you.

max - your fault

coach - arg! okay you can have the job!

max - why not!

coach - okay now you don't get the job.

max - thank you for the job.

Coach - okay we got to practice we'll start off with this. Now pass me the ball and don't shoot a goal.

Max - okay, I’ll shot, just for you.

Coach - you’re fired!

Max - you mean it! I’m getting promoted!

Coach - you, getting promoted?

Max - no you can’t fire me.

Max - well, okay than I’ll leave

Time for number 2. Astronaut. [Driving to astronaut place.]

Umm... can still have a job even thogh it says no job free.

Astronaut coach - but that says job free.

Max - you know what never mind this. Do I get the job?

Astronaut coach - no.

Max - I can!

Astronaut coach - ehh, why not.

But first we need to go on this, it will help you to be prepare for the rocket.

Max - hay it’s one of those spiny thingies.

Astronaut coach - here are your partners.

John, Johnny and john.

　

Max - okay let’s get started!

Astronaut coach - okay, everybody in. ready, go!


Then the thingy is spinning fast
John - max, you look really nice, and cool and...

Max - shut up! You getting out of this thingy! Max opened the door and john flew out and died.

Astronaut coach - stop the spin! Stop the spin!

Max! You killed him!

Max - let me guess you want to fire me to.

Astronaut coach - [nod]

Max - well okay then I’ll leave.

Max - do you know what I’m not going to give up, because I have been fired after fired? So you can't fire me. So ha!

Astronaut coach - look, max that’s just life.

You get fired you don't give up.

Max - okay then. [Sniff]

Astronaut coach - now good bye.

Max - okay


To be continued....

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!