11-18-13

Hey Everyone! So this week has been crazy! There have been a lot of ups, and downs. I will start with the positives though! On Saturday we had baptisms for the first time, and that went well! We had 4 converts, and 6 child of records. I didn’t do any of the baptizing, but it was great to see so many enter the waters of baptism. For baptisms, we have to walk probably 8 or so miles to Kyambeke, where there is a baptismal font. The trip there is mostly down hill, and then on the way back we got a matatu, so it wasn’t too bad. Yesterday we had our service day as usual, and we were planning on helping one of our investigators, but then, she said that she was planting, which we usually don’t do, because we can't do it right haha. So we walked around the many shambas looking for people to help. We came across 16 mamas working in one shamba, so we knew they had to be busy. We recognized 2 of them as members, but the rest were not. It turns out they were hired to pick French beans for someone, so we asked if we could help. We then spent the next 3 hours picking French beans. I can say for sure that my back was sore. It is hard doing that when we are so tall, but it was good! We got the mamas to agree to come to church so hopefully we will see them there. I think it is funny that the French beans as we call them come from Kenya. I will now be calling them Kenyan beans. They are pretty much shipped from Kenya, to France, to the U.S. so that is how they got the name. It is crazy though. They get paid 10 shillings, or 9 cents, per KG of beans that they pick. In four hours they pick probably 20 kg’s of beans, so they make like 2 dollars at the most! It was tough work! Then after they pick them in the valley, they fill these huge bags with the beans, and carry them all the way to Kalongo. The bags end up weighing about 35 kgs, or 75 or so pounds! I was definitely impressed! So the bad part about this week is that our companionship has pretty much reached rock bottom. On Thursday in Comp. Inventory, it turned into Elder U and H just getting way angry at each other, so all day there was no spirit. We decided that we needed to meet with the mission president, because Elder H was getting so stressed out that I was worried about his health. We called the AP’s and they told us not to go out that day, and the next day we would meet with the Zone Leaders. We discussed the problems with the zone leaders but it seemed as if Elder H and U were just yelling at each other again. We have seen a little bit of improvement since Friday, but I am guessing we will be meeting with the Mission President next week, while we are in Nairobi for Zone Conference. Well that is about it for the week. As I said I am in Nairobi next week, and because of that I will be emailing on Monday, so email before then if possible! Also I wanted to ask for suggestions from anyone that may have them. I want to start holding FHE with the whole branch, so if anyone has any ideas of activities that can be done with a lot of people, that don’t really require any supplies, and are good for both adults and kids, then please let me know! Elder Janda Hey Mom! Everything is going pretty good here in Kilungu! I am almost done with training, so that Is good! I am looking forward to getting a new companion and being done with training and everything. :P That is awesome that Courtney and Maren dressed up as missionaries! The funerals aren't too extremely different. Everyone just sits around for a long time, talking. Then everyone eats some food. Then they bring the casket and all the family will say some stuff, and whatever church is in charge says a whole lot. We do a lot of service, but I want to start doing more. I think it is a better use of our time. It was definitely a bummer to miss the primary program, but I try not to be angry about it. It just didn’t make sense as to why he had me go with him, when there was stuff I was supposed to do in our area. He also told me that I was going to be planning last week right before we went to the other area. Because I was gone all weekend, and went to another church, I couldn’t make appointments. Then he was blaming me for the fact that we didn’t have any appointments. It was just annoying. Yes I am still in a 3some, and that is not going well at all. But it is mostly because of the other two. Yeah we have to walk to different villages. There are quite a few in our area. There is Kikoko, Matua, Kyanga, Kyambondo, Ngunga, Mitini, Nuzion, Nzukini, Kalongo, and Mutuyu. Oh and Kyakathungu. Kalongo is obviously the closest. And the only other ones I walk to is Mitini, Kikoko, and Matua, because Utonga goes with a branch missionary to the others. Mitini is the farthest. Its probably three or four miles. If I need new shoes it wont be a problem to find them. The biggest difficulty is finding my size. When I tell people my size, they usually just laugh haha. The President said the Visa situation is improving, and things should get better soon, so we will see. And in regards to a package, pretty much anything you want to send is good, because any American food I cant find here. Candy is good to send, like skittles, starbursts, and other candies like that, but seriously whatever you send will be good. Just don’t send rice, beans, ugali, or vegetables, cause that stuff I can get haha. Well I love you mom! Elder Janda P.S. I will be emailing on Monday next week, just to let you know.

11/12/13

Hey Everyone! This week has gone by super fast it was crazy! It was nice to be in the city for a day last week, but one day in the city wore me out! I was way tired! It was nice to be there but it is nice to be back in the small town of Kalongo again! Anyways, our week wasn’t too busy last week. One of the members mother died, so on Thursday we spent a lot of our time there for a church visit to him. Then on Friday we were back there for the funeral, which took up the whole day. After the funeral we met up with the other elders in our district and went on exchanges. Elder Hiltbrand and I went to an area called Kyambeke. It was pretty nice, but I can definitely say that I missed Kalongo! That area was tough! We were on exchanges to conduct baptism interviews. We had like 30 to do, so we were travelling everywhere. We went to an area called Matuiku. To get there you hike up a long steep road to the top of this mountain. I thought the town was at the top of the mountain, but it turns out it was on the other side. So once we made it to the top of the mountain we had to hike back down the other side. It was definitely the toughest day I have had so far physically. I am still a little sore from it, but it was good. In Matuiku one of the members fed us the best meal I have had since I have gotten here. It included chapattis, rice, soup, sweet potato, and hot cocoa! That was the first time I have not been able to finish eating at a members house because I was full. That was nice because it gave me the energy I needed to get back over the mountain again. On Sunday we went to church in Ilima, which is half way up the mountain to get to Matuiku. I was already tired so that was tough, but not nearly as bad as Saturday. While we were sitting waiting for church to start a few wazungu (white people) walked in and sat down. We were wondering what in the world these wazungu were doing in the middle of the hills, because that was the first time I had seen one in a while! A little bit later the Mission office couple walked in. I guess it was their daughter and grandchildren, coming to see Kenya with them before they leave next month. I finally understand why all the people were staring at me when I got here, because I did the same thing when they walked in haha. After church we got a ride back to Kalongo with the Elders, which was nice because we didn’t have to walk. Yesterday was our service day again. We went to Kalongo, and helped the Kivikivi family in their shamba. We fertilized it, and then dug up all the weeds. It was some tough work, but after they fed us a great meal of bread and cocoa! After that we went to the members house whose mom passed away to help him. We helped him build a temporary bathroom to shower in. I didn’t have my camera or I would have taken a picture of it. After they fed us githeri, which is maize and beans. I am usually excited to be fed, but ever since I was sick, I get sick whenever I eat beans, so that wasn’t enjoyable. Githeri is one of the most common things to be fed here so hopefully I get used to it quickly! Well I hope everyone is doing well! Love, Elder Janda

WOW it's November

11/4/13 Hey everyone! So, this week has gone pretty well! I have recovered from my sickness so that is good! Unfortunately, on Wednesday my companion woke up super sick, so we were stuck at home for another two days! But he is doing better now, so we are finally able to go out like normal. Last week we were supposed to have transfers but things here have been crazy! I really enjoyed this past Sunday. The primary program, or presentation as they call it, will be this Sunday, so I went to primary this past week, and was helping them with their songs and things like that. I am really looking forward to being able to have the presentation, and I think that I will for sure be going to primary a lot more often on Sundays. I understand why Christ loved children so much, and tells us to be like children. Right now a lot of the members are getting angry with us for stupid things, and also are quick to break commandments, even after we teach them about them like the same day. It can be frustrating having to deal with that, but the children love you pretty much no matter what and are innocent. It is a stress reliever for sure being able to go to primary. The rain season also started this past week, which is good and bad. It is good because the peoples crops will begin to grow and we won't have to worry about a drought. It is bad because the power is out a lot! This means bucket showers and doing things by flashlight or candle. Also if I don’t email one week you know why. It shouldn’t be a problem, but I want to warn you just in case. This week we are in because it is the first week of the month, and we have to come to pull out our money. It is a big city, but it was like a 3 hour trip to get here. On the way I saw another Mzungu. I totally freaked out, because that was the first one i have seen since I got here! It was weird. I should be able to get some good food here though because they have huge supermarkets, so that should be exciting! Well that’s about it for this week! I love all of you and hope everyone is doing well! Hey mom! I am feeling a lot better so that is good. Don’t worry about sending me the conference talks, we should get the magazine here in a couple of weeks. Brother Kivikivi is doing a lot better! He has been able to make it to church, and he should be able to walk without crutches by next month so that is exciting! The service day was hard, but it was a lot of fun. I try to serve every day. Whenever I see someone carrying water or a load of sticks and they are walking towards our destination I try to help them. The language is coming along pretty well. I spend a lot of time each day studying, but it is still difficult. My companion has decided he doesn’t want to put time into studying the language and thinks it will just come naturally, so a lot of the times I am the one who has to try to speak to people. Dalee said she was so happy that you took her to the Lion King, so whether it was a surprise or not, she definitely enjoyed it. Kenya is doing well. It stinks that my companion is the way he is, but the Lord knows that I can handle it, and it will make me a better missionary having to deal with it at the beginning. Don’t worry about cutting and pasting the emails. I knew it was just the basic stuff, so you are fine to keep doing it. I just thought it was funny. Feel free to keep doing it, I wasn't trying to make you feel bad. That sounds awesome with Courtney’s soccer. Hopefully tryouts go well and everything. I love you too mom, and I am grateful for your testimony. I know this is where I am supposed to be at this time as well. At times it is difficult for sure, but I am able to find strength in the Lord and keep moving on. Love you! Elder Janda