THE 'LAUNCH' of www.mormonnewsroom.co.ke

This is Scola and I preparing the Mormonnewsroom website mugs we gave as gifts at the Official Launch of the Website.  We had a "fireside" on Sat. Oct. 27th and a dinner on Oct. 29th.  The following photos tell the story.  My camera is acting very strange, so I didn't get as many good pictures as I wanted.  I'm hoping to get more from others. Look up our site, we have to upload a new story every 7-10 days, it really keeps us on our toes.  These new websites are going to cover the earth, from every country where the church is established.  It is amazing how the church is using wonderful new technology to bring the church out of obscurity.  The people here in Africa love the website.  We are finally getting our story out.  There are many lies and misconceptions still floating around about the church, but this website is going to be a huge help in getting the truth out to the public.  It has been so exciting to be in on building the foundation for this new missionary tool. Log in and enjoy!!

Ron, Solomon and Scola (an intern we hired to help us deliver the 100 invitations for our Media Launch on Oct. 27th and 29th).  We worked many long hours for about three weeks getting ready for the launch.

Terrible photo, but only one I got of Sean Donnelly, our South East Area Director of Public Affairs from Johannesburg.  He flew up and spent one day with us, Friday Oct. 26th, the day before our big Fireside Launch on Saturday.  Solomon is having a Documentary made of the beginnings of the Kenya Newsrroom Website, and that is what is happening here. 

Elder Usi, South East Area Seventy, he and his wife Consalata are absolutely wonderful people.  They get to come to April Conference every year, so at least I will get to see them again.

Nairobi Press, TV and newspaper...at our Press Conference

Solomon said this is the most media he has ever seen at a press conference for the church here in Nairobi.  Thomas Hatch said we had more press than they had at their launch in South Africa.

Way blurry...but this is the only photo I got of Dad...making a good point!

A little blurry, but...this is Elder Thomas Hatch, Area Assistant Director of Public Affairs from Johannesburg.  He was our key-note speaker at the Sat. afternoon fireside.  The panel of priesthood leaders at the press conference was amazing.  Great, great men....

President Broadbent making a very powerful statement to the press.  One of the reporters asked..."so what is this Book of Mormon?"....I thought...holy-cow..what a question to ask a room full of Mormons!!!...The press said they could only stay for 10 minutes of questioning...they ended up staying for an hour.  They asked amazing questions...very much to the point. Stake Pres. Jadmire Ndivo is on his right, and Area Seventy Hesbon Usi is on his left.  Very powerful men.  The Africans who have a testimony, are so very strong.  I love listening to them.

Media packing up...they all left with copies of the Book of Mormon.....again...it was amazing.

Elder and Sister Kellems "manned" the refreshment stand for us.  Always the same....soda pop and packaged cookies....but they don't call them cookies, they call them "biscuits".

The following photos show how the "computer specialists" we trained, were showing everyone how to access the website.  It went really well.  Not very many people here have their own computers, but the day is coming for them.  They were  very excited to see the church website, and especially see all of the stories about Kenya and people they knew.  We did this right after the Saturday fireside.  Firesides are held in the afternoon so people can get back to their homes before dark, which comes at about 6:30 p.m....all year long!!

Dad and volunteers.

This was after the Saturday fireside and launch for the Media.  The Upper Hill Chapel is in the background.  It is dusk, about one-half hour until dark.  About 6:15 p.m.  We are loading up, a bit tired but very pleased with the day.  L to R...Big Ron, Betterman, Tom Hatch, Assistant Public Affairs Director of South East Africa...from Johannesburg  (actually he is from a big cattle ranch in Panguitch Utah!!!  we came out at the same time)...and Sis. Pugs...  a good day!

This is the Media Launch for the "Opinion Leaders" that took place Mon. evening the 29th of Oct.  We rented the ballroom at the Serena Hotel.  We had a turnout of over 80 people, which was fantastic.  We invited 100.  That is a really good turnout for African Opinion Leaders.  Solomon knows many people in high positions because of his many years of working in the media.  After the demonstration of the Web we went into the adjoining room and had a very nice dinner...however, my camera went on the blink, and I only got one picture.  Other people got some good ones so I will get them loaded later.

Scola and her fiance Jona.  We were in charge of putting the name cards on the tables, so we of course sat by each other.  We had a very good time...mainly because we knew our job was almost over.

The "Last Hurrah"!!!    Dad erasing all of the ..."things  we had to do list"!! in our office.  This was on Tues. afternoon.  We didn't get to the office until about 1:00 p.m.  We slept in until 10:00!!  It was a wonderful feeling to have it over, but a more wonderful feeling to know it had been a huge success.  We could never have   pulled this off without Heavenly Fathers help. Many people worked many long hours.  It was amazing how many things came together....and NOT coincidently...but out and out help from our Father in Heaven.