No Drive Sunday in Kigali

After encountering 9 roadblocks, off-roading on dirt roads, driving over a rice paddy, seeing a rural market in full swing and thousands of pedestrians and bicyclists, we made it to our church meeting, just an hour and half after we left home. It's only about 3.5 miles away. The reason the government shuts down the roads on the second and fourth Sunday is because they want the citizens to get exercise and walk or cycle to Church. At the seventh roadblock, we were WAY out in the outskirts, (I thought they wouldn't go so far out and we could swing around from the back,) I got out of the car, wove through the traffic stopped at the block and asked the policeman to let us through because we needed to deliver a sermon at our Church.

Those are babies strapped to their fronts. Groceries on the heads.

He looked at my badge and said, "Let me see your minister card."

I ran back to the car and pulled out my minister card. He looked it over and said, "You can go."

I walked ahead of Jeff through the traffic and the policeman helped clear the way, gesturing for some to back up. Two more road blocks and two more card-flashings, and we parked at the branch. "I want a kiss," Jeff said.

It was hair raising to drive through everything we did, but then again, Jeff is getting REALLY good at navigating the motos, (motorcycle taxis,) pedestrians and crazy traffic patterns. I navigate and watch for obstacles (and tell him to slow down, even though he's already driving well under the speed limit.)

I took this photo because the traffic was light for a moment. Gigantic loads on the back of a bike are common. Today I saw a guy with a bedframe and wardrobe ON HIS BICYCLE!

The bananas alone probably weigh 80 lbs.

We had planned to attend the Kigali 3 branch but we were about an hour late for that. So I attended Relief Society, (which a sister in the branch named "Ruth" translated for us) and then we spoke in the Gisozi branch.

My talk was on how Jesus worked many miracles during his mortal life. He helped Peter walk on water. He paid the bribe demanded by border control by directing Peter to go fish until he caught a fish with a gold coin in its mouth. He turned water to wine. Good wine. Plentiful wine.

When 5000 men and their families followed Jesus into a remote area to be taught, only one boy had thought to bring any food with him. The Lord who created this earth could have turned the stones into bread. He could have turned it into roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. But he didn't. He asked the boy for his food. The boy didn't know what Jesus Christ would do with his food, but he gave it to him anyway. Then Jesus multiplied the boy's sacrifice over and over and over again, growing exponentially until all ten or fifteen thousand people were too full to eat any more. THEN they gathered up the leftover and filled 12 baskets. It would be reasonable to assume that the leftovers would be returned to the boy, but he couldn't possible carry so much.

The Lord askes us for a small sacrifice. He asks for one tenth of our increase. What will he do with that sacrifice? He promises to "Open the windows of Heaven and pour out a sacrifice that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:7) Just like the boy couldn't possibly carry home twelve baskets of bread and fish, we will have the same logistical problems with the Lord's blessings when we pay an honest tithe. The Lord promises that when we keep his commandments, we will prosper in the land. He makes that promise at least 38 times in the Book of Mormon.

After Sacrament meeting, I went out to help the Cravens with their family history station set up under the open air shelter. The little children were swarming the area, interested in the laptops, phones and swiping pencils. (Nine pencils got away)

Once I sat down, I felt them touching my hair and then when I didn't object they began stroking my head like they were petting a cat. Pretty soon they were touching my jewelry, feeling the fabric of my blouse, and examining the freckles on Elder Craven's arms. Sister Craven has beautiful blond/white hair and soon they were petting her hair in the same way. They're so cute and unafraid and interested.

Elder Stephenson with a few of our new friends. They were pleased to have their picture taken and all wanted to see what they looked like.

The internet wasn't working well at first and then not at all, so we packed up and headed to the cars, trailed by half a dozen little ones. One little boy waited for us to pull out and then chased us up the driveway. I admit, it brought tears to my eyes. We have long had a tradition in our family that when we are departing from loved ones for a long time, those left behind will chase them down the street. When we left Rob's house for the last time before our mission, he and Makayla chased us down the street and around the corner. When the little fellow chased us up the driveway today, it was like a love note from God. "I see you. I know where you are, you are ALL my children, and you are loved."

We are really enjoying the other senior couples. What a blessing to have such good people to work with.

Back are Elder and Sister Craven, next Elder and Sister Ensign, Elder and Sister Stephenson, and in front of me, (Sister Stephenson) is Sister and Elder Bird. The occasion is the going home luncheon for Sister Jokonya, front, returning home to Harare, Zimbabwe.

The mission conference was fun and inspiring. I was impressed by how thoughtful and insightful each of the 6 youthful missionary's presentations were. They are pretty amazing! The whole spirit of the mission is happy and eager. There must be ones that are natural grumps, but we haven't seen any of that.

Love their ties. They put the sunglasses on for the picture.

The Elder in the red tie is Elder Petersen, 3rd day in the mission.

Center: Luckily, my favorite missionary in Rwanda is also my companion!