Who are the Creatures in your Neighborhood...the Creatures that You Meet Each Day!

Large Lurking Lizard

Elder and Sister Noll called this morning, "Quick come bring your camera, the Lizard is here".  Our two minute walk brought us face to face with, what we think is a 6 foot Nile Monitor Lizard. He was as cautious of us as we were of him. He finally found a crack in the wall and climbed up and  away.

It was a lovely day and as we walked back home we took some more pictures of the little creatures in our neighborhood.

This Banded Mongoose is sitting just off our back porch. His friend just scurried around the corner. They frolic and tumble around each other and are so entertaining to watch.   The gardener in our compound likes to have them around because they keep the snake population down. They must be doing their job because, thankfully, Sister Worthen has yet to see a snake here. That is one more tender mercy we are so thankful for!

 We were following a butterfly around the back of our yard when another Nile Lizard appeared! This one was much smaller and quickly scurried away when it saw us. We are truly living in a Tropical Menagerie.

New Swahili Posters Adorn Dar es Salaam Chapels

Pictured below are President and Sister Kachuchuru's precious children, Lulu, Adam and Brian at their Mbezi Beach Chapel prior to a Missionary Open House. They love the new posters that the Church Public Affairs Couple from Nairobi, Elder and Sister Pugmire, have arranged to be printed in Swahili. Each Branch in Dar es Salaam has been given three different posters to display in their chapels and the members are delighted and honored that they are printed in their native tongue.

Zanzibar Revisited and US Embassy picnic

We had the opportunity to visit Zanzibar again, this time with the other Sr. Couples from Tanzania, the Elder & Sister Noll and Elder and Sister Rydalch.

On Zanzibar Beach just a few steps from the America House.

The America House overlooks and is just a few steps down to the Beach.

The Tanzania Senior Missionary Couples and Jeff Smith, a U.S. Diplomat from Kinondoni Branch, at the America House on Zanzibar.

Elder Worthen is ready to use his new Masai picnic blanket at the US Embassy picnic.

Darling Sky Smith got her face painted and joined us on our picnic blanket.

Kenya Nairobi Mission Zone Conference - TANZANIA

Sisters Phiri, Kusina, Worthen, Sibanyoni  and Ndiwalana

We enjoyed another wonderful Tanzania Zone Conference today. It's always a boost to get together with all our Tanzanian Missionaries and President and Sister Broadbent. The young Sister Missionaries provided the special music. Sister Ndiwalana proposed to sing the words of one hymn with the music of another and asked Sister Worthen to accompany them. They sounded lovely and it brought such a sweet spirit to the meeting.  

Elders Phiri, Mahlo, Dobard, Mpahlele, Kazozo, Pocock 
and Sister Ndiwalana

ZL Elder Patten, AP's Pocock and Kazozo, ZL Mahlo

Our fearless leaders, President Steven and Sister Julie Broadbent

From YSA to Mr. and Mrs.Ngindu

Bertin Ngindu, originally from D.R. Congo, and Grace Bandihai first met when Bertin was serving in the Kenya Nairobi Mission in Dar es Salaam several years ago. After his mission, he came back to Dar to work and to get to know Grace a little better. Grace, however, realized she needed to serve a mission.  Bertin felt he needed to work and wait for Grace.   His patience was rewarded when she returned from her mission and they both realized they wanted to spend the rest of their lives and eternity together. With the help of the YSA's in the Dar District they had a lovely reception with dinner and dancing following the ceremony at the Kinondoni Chapel. The Ngindu’s are planning on being sealed in the Johannesburg Temple after it reopens this September.  Grace’s Branch President, Zabron Mwaipopo, performed the wedding ceremony and Bertin’s Branch President, Reverine Sambo conducted. They were supported by many friends and families in the Dar es Salaam District.

The Terrific YSA's of the Dar es Salaam District Institute Class

These terrific Young Single Adult's of the Dar es Salaam District have just finished a Service Project of cleaning the Kinondoni Chapel. Directly before that they attended their Old Testament Institute Class. Before that they either walked or rode dala-dalas (small city buses) to church, some from a very far distance away, and will return home the same way. Most do not have a Driver's License let alone a car to drive.  Most families do not own a car. They love being together and supporting each other. They have been helping plan the dinner and music for their YSA friends, Grace and Bertin who are getting married next week. What a blessing they are to the church!

MEET PHINIAS - An Exceptional Young Adult

Phinias Nyambita is a wonderful young man. He has completed the basic music course and is currently a dedicated student of our keyboard class in Mbezi Beach. He has just finished his final two years of secondary education, grades 12 & 13, specializing in economics. Phinias is looking forward to serving a mission and is about ready to turn in his papers. His father, President Abish Nyambita is the Branch President of the Mwanza Branch (Rock City).  Phinias has been attending boarding school here in Dar es Salaam. Many African families send their children to boarding schools for the last two years because each school has specialized subjects along with the core classes.  He has been serving as his Branch Clerk, and is active in Institute and YSA activities. Phinias is a great blessing to the Dar es Salaam District!

EAST AFRICA SEMINARY & INSTITUTE INSERVICE

We just returned from Nairobi after attending an outstanding and motivating meeting with the East Africa Seminary and Institute leadership: Brother Kumbalani Mdletshe, Africa Southeast Area CES director, from Johannesburg; Brother Freddie Babayo, Country CES coordinator from Uganda; Brother Tasara Makasi, Country coordinator from Zimbabwe; and Brother Prince Omondi, Africa East CES Director from the Area Office in Nairobi. They are all full time CES employees. We are the Country coordinators for Tanzania and Elder & Sister Hunter, newly arrived missionaries, are called to serve as CES and Member/Leader support in Kitale, Kenya.  Brother Alan Thatcher from CES Headquarters in Salt Lake came to teach us about the new computer enrollment and reporting system called WISE. We received essential information that gave clarity to our calling and a big shot in the arm!

 

Brothers Freddie, Kumbalani, Tasara, and Prince

Dinner with Elder & Sister Hunter, Bro. Alan Thatcher, Brothers Kumbalani,  Tasara,  Freddie, & Sister W.

YSA SPORTS ACTIVITY

Each Saturday at 2pm the YSA's from Dar es Salaam District attend Institute. There is always an Activity to follow planned by one of the four Branch's YSA Representatives. This Saturday the Ubungo Branch planned a very successful Sports Day filled with lots of fun and great sportsmanship. Basketball and Football (soccer) were the two favorites. Everyone agreed we need to do this more often!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

What a delightful surprise to have a dozen roses delivered on Mother's Day to our home in a 3rd world city that has few street names, no addresses, and no postal codes. Thank you Jessica, Joseph, Lindsey, Britton,  Anna, Gregory, Megan and Whitney. Thanks so much for your love and support! 
 

TRANSFERS - An Organizational Masterpiece

Unlike Senior Missionaries who usually stay in one area our entire mission, the young Elders and Sisters will work in one area for a few (or several) months until they are transferred to a new area. The Kenya Nairobi Mission (KNM) covers  the entire countries of Kenya and Tanzania. There are 12 zones in the mission (9 in Kenya, 3 in Tanzania).  Each zone has one or two districts, and each district has several areas. Each area has one companionship (two missionaries); there are 51 companionships (or 102 young missionaries) in the KNM. There are 15 Senior couples including the Mission President and his wife. Transfers come along every six weeks ( in 343 missions around the world) with great anticipation. Who will stay and who will be transferred is a prayerful decision made by the Mission President and his two assistants (young elders - who also get transferred around). It is truly an organizational masterpiece; it's not just deciding who moves and where, but the when and how of  transportation. A few missionaries leave; new ones come to replace them. It's always hard to see the missionaries you have come to love get transferred.  However, we know that these transfers are inspired and the Lord knows where each missionary is needed and/or what each missionary individually might need. 

This transfer we lost some of our very favorites. But we are excited for their new assignments and new growth. This is a Divine Work! We are so very thankful to be apart of this Marvelous Work and a Wonder! 

Goodbye Elders Haynes, Madubanya, DeWitt, and Mpahlele...for now

Dar es Salaam District Transfer Dinner

ELDER JOHN KOMBA - Called to Serve - South Africa, Johannesburg Mission

John Komba, one of our favorite YSA's, is the third missionary called from the Chang'ombe Branch in Dar es Salaam District since we have been here. He is an outstanding young man and is so excited to serve in the South Africa, Johannesburg Mission. He was set apart tonight and then a goodbye dinner followed. He leaves at 4:45am tomorrow for the airport and his first experience on an airplane. We love John!!

John's buddies Herman & Patrick are waiting for their mission calls.

Uncle John, Elder Noll, John, Branch Pres. Komba, Elder Worthen

John's proud parents

Family and Friends

A favorite son

YSA's