Upon returning to his home, Kiaruuh talked to a lot of members and elders in his church about our messages and our similar churches, but unfortunately his facebook account would not pull up the older messages for reference, so he could only go upon what he could remember.
Kiaruuh's news to his village people met mixed reactions. Some said that I was a "she-devil". Some said that it was a blessing. Some said that I would come and take him away as a slave. Others wanted to talk to me about our church.
By this time, there was enough trust and history, and sharing his phone number wasn’t a concern, so when facebook wouldn't work, we tried calling. I have a friend named Susan who is originally from Kenya, and at the time that I was considering calling to Kiaruuh on the phone, I talked with her about it and she was happy to call and talk to Kiaruuh in Swahili from our home. She told him about her own conversion to the gospel, and she bore testimony. It was a good way to start out with phone calls.
After that call, their family and ours would periodically call to say hello. Their children would one by one get on the phone for a few seconds, and nervously say their name and age, and then, my favorite part, was when they would together sing a traditional African song of faith to us. Their voices were so strong and clear and harmonious, it was glorious. That was so beautiful! We tried to give them a gift in song too (we sang “A Child’s Prayer” for them, and "I Am a Child of God"), but we all know that Africans rule with their gift of voice in acapella.
A few weeks passed, and things changed here at home. Brad was informed that he would be losing his job, along with most of the company’s other employees, while his company focused on a long-term lawsuit for funds that they were not receiving. The layoff took immediate effect. As Brad tried to find his next job, every effort to start the job hunting process was cut off, and problems arose that took up all of his time and attention just to try to get things to work enough to get by. Resumes were all lost and/or erased from all people who had them, so he had to start fresh. Our home laptop had a permanent meltdown, losing all files and not turning on at all. His work laptop that he planned to buy wasn’t for sale anymore. His cell phone company didn’t want to communicate with ours, so it took several full days of runaround to get that resolved. Our home PC keyboard broke, and after that was fixed, the screen and memory had frozen, then the internet started to completely stop, which meant most of the day we couldn’t even access anything with any of our phones. When a person came to repair it, it would work just so that they couldn’t figure out what to do. But when we needed it, it wasn’t there. The car broke down. Then the van. Then the kitchen sink. Then the dishwasher. Etc. etc. It seemed that there was opposition everywhere Brad would look. And getting a new job seemed so far away, as if it wasn’t something that was meant to be, anytime soon. This was a tough time for us.
At this time, Kiaruuh said it was time for him to go with two of his friends to try to find jobs in the great modern city Nairobi. What great news! That is where the center of the church is in Kenya! Nairobi houses the mission office, the unemployment center, the church, and several branches.
I encouraged him to visit our church, and our employment center that could really help him with his job hunt, and he said that he would.
When he arrived, he strolled the big Uhuru Park and took these pictures of him with his friend, and sent them to us using his friend’s phone.
Kiaruuh spent two weeks there in Nairobi, using his saved money to eat and get around, and to look for a job. His two friends found jobs, but he had no such luck. He was frustrated and running out of money, and getting quite hungry. Sunday he wasn’t able to go to the LDS church because he didn’t know how to get there, and his friend who was going to get him there, had to leave for a family event. He said that he would go the following week, if I could get someone from my church to contact him first. But time went on without money or much food, giving him pressures to go home soon. He made plans to return home to a special wedding of a family member’s, but he would return to Nairobi afterward, to continue to look for work.
Kiaruuh Mnga MmtFriday, August 16, 2013 at 10:01am CDT
Tell me where will i start when i go there to your church and employment center. Will i mention u?
Christin Francom ShumwayFriday, August 16, 2013 at 10:11am CDT
Okay, but the church office is probably closed, it probably closes at 4:00/5:00. So can you go in the morning? Will you travel by foot?
You can mention me if you like, and I can try to call them before you go if you like,also. Are you nervous/worried ?
First call them then inform me i can walk 2morow morning bc thy will direct me
Ok but in case they are not by the phone, I will give you directions also. Will you walk to get there, or bus, bike, etc.? Ok I just saw that you said you will walk. Do you know where the uhuru park is?
It is a park with a lake
I know uhuru park but u must tell them b4 i go there
Okay, I will definitely try to call them. Are you feeling nervous?
No, but atleast i can see light and hope
I understand. I pray God speed to be with you. Does your family (parents and siblings) rely on your getting a job also?
My parents are not educated
Thy are at home, they care alot, bt can do nothing bc thy dnt know more about career
I mean, do you plan to send them money to help them out,when you have some? Or are they comfortable and fine without it?
They hv alot of hope on me. They are waiting me to get job so that i help them to sweep poverty in our home
If a person does not answer the phone tomorrow, will you please still go? I would very much like you to just meet my people and church and hopefully get help for a job before you leave for home. I see many possibilities through it. Please believe me this may be the beginning to many beautiful things, but I am extremely frustrated that I haven't successfully contacted them yet. I really truly wish that you would just have faith and go.
Are they white pple or thy are kenyans?
Is it possible that God hasn't given you a job, yet because he wants you to take this path?
Ok, am happy now although they say its not good to name child b4 he is born
You say you are happy now. Did this change your mood?
At least
? Describe
May be i describe physically
I mean laughing
Joy and hope
(the next day)
Nowe are singing 4 tomrw service. we are many
Enjoy!
How many? Will you finally go to my church?
as i told u we hv pre wedding tomrw and we must go.
we are 8
But you said that the wedding is in your home village? So you leave Nairobi now?
weddng preparatns are at nairobi , bt weddng will be later at home
Meanwhile, I was still still trying to get someone to pick up the phone in the mission office. At this time, I was in Utah, alone without my hubby or kids, at a family reunion. Each late night when everyone else was going to bed, I was trying to contact the LDS church in Kenya. The LDS website was shut down for maintenance, so I couldn’t look for phone numbers or information, and then my phone card account had a problem that caused it to stop reloading, so that I was tied down to only one minute to use. I tried the Employment Office each day too, with no answer on the other end. Kiaruuh was getting hungry and discouraged, just lying in his bed for the last 3 days before returning home. He insisted that I needed to get someone to contact him first before he would consider going to the employment office. But I could get no one.
Kiaruuh Mnga MmtMonday, August 19, 2013 at 3:00am CDT
just sleepng. hv u conducted missineries in kenya
Christin Francom ShumwayMonday, August 19, 2013 at 3:01am CDT
Am trying now, one last time, before I sleep and go home in the morning.
You have been sleeping three days
what else can i do?
Are you out of physical energy?
Yes nearly. But now i want to escort my friend to town just to pass the day there
I'm sorry to hear that. Can you make it over to the church? I think it is far, but it may help you.
i cnt go there without ur hand. u must be mediator. Call them so they call me.
Can you tell me the accurate place where you stay, so that if I can call the missionaries, they can come to you? The name of the apartment, etc
mathare north area 3. but its good thy call me, i wl go there
I’m trying to call them. Please understand, it is like they have broken phone lines.
What can we do now?
do u know thre names? maybe find them in fb
With the last minute on my card, rather than try the employment office again, I thought that ONE MORE TIME I’d try the old number of the mission office. I dialed, and -a miracle- the Mission President answered again! I told him that I only had one minute and could he call me back? He said no, but that he would put me through to his secretary, I was put on hold, then the secretary Elder picked up! With my last ten seconds, I told him to please call a man named Kiaruuh, and gave him the numbers, just in time, finishing with the last number before my card ended the call.
Kiaruuh, They answered! I only had one minute on my card to tell them your number but I think they got it and will be calling you
Please tell me if they call!
(no reply for what seemed like forever…..)
hahaha i have been called by somebody frm uganda. my god cn make my dreams true
HALLELUJAH
TELL ME MORE
he told me tht i wl be called by missionaries frm kenya so that they can come 4 me
Will they call today, and come today?
I have said a joyful prayer of gratitude...
So joyful
I will go, borow money so tht i call them back to know if it is today or when?
Ok I will wait while you arrange that exchange with your person so you can call the church back.
Please, let me know how things go with the missionaries
goodby my sis
He started calling me "sister" after that day.
I called Brad at that hour (3 a.m.!) just to tell him the remarkable news. I slept so well that night, sure that my Kenyan brother Kiaruuh would finally have a Book of Mormon, and be taught the gospel from a person who could look him in the eye and tell him that it is true, and now the spirit would testify the truth of it to his heart. My job was finished, and I slept in heavenly peace.
Kiaruuh Mnga MmtTuesday, August 20, 2013 at 9:29am CDT
i wll go home tomorw.
ok missionars came to my house and we had a talk.
call me for more or wait until i get a good typing phone
Kiaruuh Mnga MmtTuesday, August 20, 2013 at 9:40am CDT
i wll also sent their photo. although thy had no head covering bt they dressed Neatly
He also gave me the cell number that they gave him to call them.
The sister missionaries talked to Kiaruuh about the nature of God and gave him a pamphlet. Although he had to go home the next day for the family wedding, he planned to return to Nairobi shortly, so they set up another appointment for a later date.
So Kiaruuh went home and enjoyed the big wedding that they had prepared for, borrowed a phone, and sent me some photos of it that very day.
From his home village, Kiaruuh borrowed a phone and sent us photos of the wedding live:
Upon returning to his home, and while at the wedding, Kiaruuh saw how dire the circumstances were in his family and community, with the long term drought continuing and money also running dry.
Kiaruuh stayed at home long enough to help the men dig a new well, but while there, he noticed the severity of the problem and, rather than go back to Nairobi where people love to live and thus the job market is tough, he decided to sacrifice and to go Garissa-the town that he vowed never to return to- and get an easily found job for the benefit of the family.
Sure enough, on his first day there, he got a job, teaching young Muslim children. Although he now had a job that his family could receive support from, I knew that he was once again far from the church, and far from getting a Book of Mormon.
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