A group of Saints arrived from Kenya the second week in April. They were excited to be here and had worked hard to be able to make the trip. The Odhiombos were one of the families that had come to be sealed in the temple. Almost everyone that made the trip was going through the temple for the first time.
The Odhiombos have two son's and a daughter and they all made the trip. The second son, had been in the hospital in Kenya and had been released just 2 days before they came He had been diagnosed with malaria and was given some medication and released. He improved a little and made the trip. On Friday, the day after they arrived, he took a turn for the worse and it became obvious that he was very ill. The Area doctor, Elder Callahan determined that Elvins was too ill to be left in housing. He conferred with the Area President and they decided to take Elvins to the hospital. By the time he was admitted he was almost comatose. Elvins could not be rallied. He did not respond to or recognize any one during the three days of testing and isolation. The doctors had a difficult time pinning down exactly what the problem was. It was finally determined that he had TB and the same bug that causes Meningitis. This bug had settled in his eye and brain. His face began to swell and his left eye took on a strange look with the eye swelling more than the face and turning outward as if the muscles of the eye no longer worked. We had to wear protective gear when we were in the room with him. The doctors were very concerned that Elvins was not responding to treatment.
Nicolos and his mother Caroline spoke only of faith and the miracles of a loving Father in Heaven. They were told that had they not made the trip to Johannesburg Elvins would have died. The hospitals in Kenya treat all poor for malaria and send them off; many die. Making the trip was an answer to prayer. The Odhiombos freely spoke and speak of the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven. How is it that Elvins recovered slightly to make the trip? They are very quite people, very humble, but they spoke with confidence, nothing doubting about how Elvins would recover. I have the written testimonies of the parents. They express themselve in such a loving way. These testimonies will be shared in the August issue of the Ensign. I interviewed both Brian and Michelle and their stories will be in the Friend along with their pictures. I turned them over the Sister Jensen who submitts articles to the church magazines.
Elvins took a turn for the worse. He vital organs seemed to be shutting down. His liver and kidneys were not working properly. We were all very worried. The Odhiombo's decided to go ahead with the temple ordinance of marriage as well as being sealed to their children. We were with them in the temple. They felt they needed to take care of this ordinance and did not want to wait any longer. They also needed to move out of the temple housing because a new a group of people were coming in from Zimbabwe. So they moved to a vacant missionary apartment just down the hall from us. The Callahans have been taking them to and from the hospital a couple of times a day.
Elvins began improving slowly. It was some time before the doctors acutally smiled at his progress but they finally did.
This week, Elvins has improved at a much faster pace. Yesterday, Friday, found him walking around the hospital. Caroline, Brian and Michelle flew back to Kenya this morning because the children are missing too much schooling. Nicolos is staying with Elvins and it looks like he may be well enough to be released from the hospital later next week.
I think the thing that has effected me the most is watching these sweet people wait patiently for the Lord to reveal His will, knowing all the time that He could and would heal Elvins.
Caroline and Nicolos live in a country home in Kenya. They are a 5 hour bus ride from the Nairobi airport. They live in a home that has a dirt floor made from cow dung. The roof is a reed roof glued together with cow dung; they have no running water. Carolyn cooks on a fire pit and washes her clothes in water she has fetched herself. She also runs a business selling grains to locals to provide for the family. Nicolos had an attack of TB several years ago and it left him weak unable to do his job as a landscaper. He now tends their home garden and watches out for the children. Brian, their oldest, just started school at a boarding school many miles away from his family. He will be away from his family for three months at a time. He is 14. Elvins is 12 and Michelle Obama Odhiombo is 5.
President Obama is of the same tribe as the Odhimobo's and they are very proud of him as are most Black Africans.
Michelle has become a regular at our house. She sneaks out of her house while her brother watches TV. We are two apartments away from the one in which her family is staying. She climbs up our steel security gate until she can ring the bell to let us know she is there. She comes to play with the tiny nativity set I have. It is made from banana leaves. She does not talk much and when she does it is so quiet I must sit very close to hear her, but she was beginning to feel very at home. Michelle runs to me for a hug whenever she see me. She does that to all the sisters with whom she has spent time. Some of us have had the pleasure of watching her while her parents spend time at the hospital. I'm afraid she will be in for a rough time when she goes home. While her parents do not discipline her in public, all the Kenyans we have met are very disciplined. When she goes back to school she will have to adjust. Discipline is understood.
I have wondered if it would be difficult for Caroline to return to their home and all the work that goes with it after having experienced all the conveniences of this large city. It may be difficult in someways, but she does not complain. In fact she is very anxious to get home, to check on her chickens and her business. It is her home, and she loves it. This experience has taught her much, but she has not allowed herself to get caught up in the material things that have surrounded her while she has been in South Africa. She is just very grateful for the experience and for meeting and getting to know all of her new friends. Before Caroline left she taught me how to make Chapati a flat bread that is part of their everyday experience. It is made from flour, eggs, oil, water and salt. It is cooked on a skillet over the fire. We used the stove. It was very yummy and I will share it with loved ones when we return....
Sunday after our Mothers Day get together:
I just spoke with Nicolos and he said Elvins may be leaving the hospital tomorrow or the next day. They will need to stay in the area for another week in order to check back in with the doctors to make sure Elvins is still on the road to recovery but it will not be long before they head back home to Kenya. Their faith has made us stronger.
Still looking for a thumb drive to transfer some pictures. I have a number of our friends the Odhimbo family
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