The Branches

The Kauma Branch Chapel-the view from the street (when the gate is open)

Divers Mwale - Kauma Branch President

Lilongwe Branch Chapel and President Ntholoa

PRIMARY!!! in Kauma Branch. Look at all the kids! We usually have at least thirty in that little room. It is getting a lot more organized now though. Thank goodness for the Backmans! Brother Backman is from Utah and Sister Backman is from Ghana and they have been such a blessing. The branch has now got a full Primary presidency and, I think, three teachers so they can split into classes then get together for Sharing Time. We even have nursery now, thanks to the toys some of you wonderful folk sent. And thank goodness also for Triza Andrea. She was baptized in January and called as 1st counselor in February. None of the kids really speak English, so lessons, instructions, songs, everything has to be translated.

Another Relief Society activity. What they had planned fell through at the last so I taught them how to make spudnuts and while they were raising, we taught the sisters about visiting teaching and handed out their assignments. Then we did a "speed dating" activity. That is what is happening in the picture. They each sit across from another sister and they were supposed to tell each other about themselves in about 2 or 3 minutes. I gave them some questions they should answer and I sure wish I could have understood what was going on.

Mmmmmmmm spudnuts!!! They were amazing! The sisters had a great time making and eating them.

This was a seminary and institute activity. Another really fun time. We did "Old Testament Olympics". The kids were divided up into 4 teams and they got points for the different games. In this picture they are playing the "untangle the family of Adam" game. You stand in a circle with your eyes closed, stick your right hand into the middle and grab someone's hand. Then you stick your left hand in and grab someone else's hand. After that, you try to untangle into a circle  without letting go of hands.

This is Old Testament charades. Can you tell what story they are acting out? (Daniel in the Lions den)

I can't remember what we called this one but it was a relay where they had to run with a spoonful of water, dump it in their team's cup and race the spoon back to the next person. The first team to fill their cup wins. Everyone had a great time. We had the youth from both branches together. That is a real trick because nobody has cars. We had the activity at the Kauma Branch chapel because everyone in that branch lives close enough that they can walk. We had to gather the kids from the Lilongwe branch from several points because they are scattered through the rest of the city so Elder Prete ran ferry service to get them all there. It was a great success and they were asking when the next one was before we even finished.