Transfer from Kitale to NAIROBI

Soooooooooo... this week..... was very interesting. Let me tell you why.

SO! I'll just get right to it.  Monday we received transfer news. And to be honest, i thought that maybe elder Dick would leave and i would stay. Plus i really like Kitale so it would be ok to stay again.  NOT SO! At this time.... right here.... right now.... at this very place i am sending this email... is not in Kitale.  Now I am serving south of the equator again.... and im back....  in NAIROBI!!! It will be the first time for me to serve in a WARD, called Upper Hill Ward. I will also be serving as an office elder, helping out the assistants and President Hicken with some few things. So now im right in the middle of Nairobi.

It was really tough to say goodbye to Kitale.  I really love all of the people there that i got to know and work with.  On tuesday i was able to say a few goodbyes.  It was really weird thinkin that i would not be seeing these people any more.  These past 6 months here have really flown and i already miss being in Kitale and Sikhendu.  There is a time and season for everything i guess.  But Kitale will always have a special place in my heart!!  

Wednesday, I took a 9 hour bus ride from Kitale to Nairobi with two other elders in my zone, Elder Makazi and Elder Molosankwe.  It was an ok ride.  There was an OLD mama on the bus, strait out of the bush.  Halfway thru the ride she go up and started walking towards the front of the bus. I was sitting at the front and saw here, and was curious as to what she was doing but soon understood. It didnt take long to realize that she came up there to throw up in the waste basket.  The driver took one look at her, paused, and then kept driving.  He didnt even stop for her i felt pretty bad.  But anyways we arrived in Nairobi at about 6 at night, then went back to the assistants flat.  Then they called me and told me that i would need to drive some elders to there areas. Havent driven in a year and a half and have never driven on the left side of the road, but hey ill be honest i didnt do half a bad job.  Ya when i first started driving i was on the wrong side of the road, but after about 5 minutes of it i got the hang of it hahaha.  

So this week we have been driving around Nairobi a lot, taking people to the airport, taking people to the doctors office, dropping people off in their areas, going to do interviews, and just a bunch of other stuff.  Not a whole lot of time for just doing missionary work, which is weird to me.  Im used to just teaching and visiting people all day, now im stuck in a car going from place to place.  It will take some time to get used to but its ok.  

We have a few people progressing towards baptism here, and we teach all of them at the church because we are not allowed to use matatus or buses here.  Still trying to figure out the area but im excited to be here.  

Also it was weird being in a ward.... everything was done orderly, the songs were sung  correctly, i didnt have to give a talk, teach, or prepare or bless the sacrament.  So it was different to say the least haha.  

But all is well with me. Just trying to get a hold on living life in a city haha.

I read a great talk this week from Elder Bednar called "Converted unto the Lord". Has to be one of my new favorite talks.  It talks about the difference between testimony and conversion, and how having a testimony is good, but not enough.  We have to convert ourselves to Jesus Christ and his gospel. If we have a testimony, when things get difficult and tough, we will probably fall.  But if we are converted unto the Lord, we will have the strength and capacity to overcome.  Even he quoted a great scripture that i LOVE! Alma 23:6-8, talking of the people the sons of Mosiah taught, and how they were "converted unto the lord, and never did fall away".  Even this is something that i have seen a lot of in the Book of Mormon, becoming converted.  Its a challenge for all of us, but it comes line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.  The small things of the gospel will make the greatest impact on us, if we apply them.  

But LOVE YOU ALL!!! 

Elder Thomas

PS...... GOOD LUCK HAILEY AT UVU!!!!!!