Week 12

Monday, February 12, 2018

Today was fun we cleaned our house and it was really dirty after not cleaning it for two weeks, never doing that again. Then we went to town and went to the zone leaders house for lunch it was really good and the sauce that was on top of the rice balls had some surprise meat in them that I didn't know was there until after. It was cow stomach and intestine and it wasn't half bad actually, surprising. We then went and got haircuts I just got my neck and sides cut so next transfer both the sides and the top are gonna have to be cut because both the sides and the top are going to be super long cuz I didn’t even get it trimmed this time. Then we went and emailed the families. My grandpa Davis sent me an email which I and the family think is a scam about a guy wanting to start a horse farm in Uganda because this isn't the best place to raise horses as foot rot will come pretty easy because in the places where you can have horses it’s really wet. My mom asked me about it, she said, “Have you told any investigators or Ugandans about Grandpa’s ranch?” I said, investigators or Ugandans? no, but missionaries? yes so I'm pretty sure it's a scam, but I still can’t believe we are into the 3rd week of my 2nd transfer time is really flying by I love working for the Lord. It’s the best as long as I stay focused and forget myself and go to work, time just flies by. The days are long, but the weeks are over fast. So that’s everything for Monday, February 12, 2018.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 today started out weird, on the way to JaJa Cuba’s we were almost attacked by dogs actually I was scared cuz the dogs didn’t understand English cuz the owner came out and started yelling at them in Ugandan and they stopped, so yeah that was really scary because we couldn’t have done anything to stop them from attacking us. At the end of service we also ended up giving JaJa Cuba a blessing because she was sick and feeling dizzy and just laid down outside in the shade so yeah and I was the one who gave the blessing it was scary because it was my first blessing I actually gave I'm just so grateful that I was worthy to give it to her and that I had the Holy Ghost to help prompt me. She started to feel better by the time we were getting ready to leave so that's good. Then the day just went by normal and in the evening it turned because as we were heading home, Joseph, a kid who we hadn't taught in awhile because he was bouncing us after being a pretty serious investigator he stopped us and told us he’d gotten another job and so he was ready to start sharing again which is super awesome and also he wants to bring his girlfriend who was taught by the sister's a little bit and so hopefully everything goes well and we'll get them interested again in the gospel and hopefully get them baptized, so that would be awesome.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018, Happy Valentine's Day. Oh well, the festivities are now over for me today. So today we had interviews and they were actually really good. So I asked President Collings questions about me and how I could be a better missionary and have constant growth throughout my mission.

He gave me three questions to ponder and prayfully ask and answer and write the answers in my missionary handbook and continue to look at them throughout my mission. Also today since Elder Ankrah and Burnham were going to be late getting back for an appointment, Sister Collings she gave us a ride back to Walukuba which is super nice. I got the front cuz I'm the tallest, it’s the best and I had the AC blowing on me and it felt so good. I miss the cold so much, it was really hard to leave that car and get outside but as we went throughout the day it was good cuz we were busy all day. Also I was able to ask a member, who is Moses, and he’s the Elder’s Quorum President, if he could find me a weight bar so I could start to workout and he said he knew a guy and would talk to him and get back to me on it. So fingers crossed cuz I’d like to workout on my mission because two years not working out is a long time.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

So today was a good day but it was really tiring we walked a lot. Hopefully with all this walking I’m not losing too much weight also I hope Moses comes through with that weight bar. Today made me tired, but things that we accomplished today were good sure we got bounced some today but we were always busy and we didn’t have any down time so the day continued to pass by fast which is really good. We got to meet with Geoffrey today, it was only like the third time that we have taught him, he told us that he knows what we teach him is true, that the Book of Mormon is true and that the church is true. It was really amazing because it came so fast so in like some cases Heavenly Father works faster and in some others they or like you and me we need to develop patience with him and everyone that we meet and teach only then can we get our answers because sometimes we need to learn things before he can answer us so we need to stay faithful and trust in Heavenly Father always.  We were talking to a street contact lady today who was just sitting and she was asking us all these weird questions but more like she's asking Elder Johnson cuz I was talking to her younger brother who's actually interested in what we were teaching. She asked if we are allowed to have girlfriends and we told her we can, but we don’t and we are not allowed to have girlfriends in Africa. I was just glad that she was asking Elder Johnson these questions, but he took care of it and gave her a restoration pamphlet and told her to come to church and we would try and help her so hopefully she doesn’t show up on our doorstep drunk one evening. Fingers crossed. That was an experience that I will forever remember.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Today started off long because we had weekly planning so I have a feeling that every Friday will start off being long which is something I'm not looking forward to. But we did set goals and figure out who we are going to focus on in this upcoming week so that's good. After weekly planning we started doing normal missionary work and the day flew by, we got so many things accomplished we had great lessons today and the people who we teach are great and so humble, it's the best.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Today was long and it made me happy knowing that we have service on Tuesdays and Thursdays or else every other day basically would be super long and tiring. So we taught with a member today and as we were teaching an investigator named Florence we were going to extend a baptism date and Bro. Wilson, the member, told us that she is a member just a less-active one so that surprised us actually tons. She has been a member since 2002 haha so yea long time and the rest of her family are members and she is single because her husband passed away, but he also was a member. We were able to meet with Thomas who we haven't met in a while because he has been working the day and night shifts so 23 hours a day and when we saw him he looked so tired, so I don't know how he is still going.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Today was good, but right as I was getting ready to start breakfast the power went out good thing we have a gas stove so we were still able to have breakfast. Church was normal, but just as we were about to start church we had a senior couple who served in the mission visit and it surprised everyone. We were able to chat with them and they are from Utah, so that's sweet and they are awesome people. So yea today was super fun and long, but still really good because we were busy so it flew by.

Week 11

Monday, February 5, 2018

So today in the morning we just went and helped clean up Elder Appiah and Elder Robi's old apartment so now that there are no other elders coming so they shut down part of Walakuba. We just cleaned it up and took some of the stuff that they didn't need anymore. Then we had another sports day which was fun we got to meet all the new elders that just arrived in the mission. There are two new elders in my zone. Their names are Elder Payne and Elder Hyer, they are awesome guys. Elder Payne is jacked out of his mind we actually both had a lot in common. We both played football and baseball. We both wrestled and we both like to work out too. I think that we are going to become really good friends and he's leaving a transfer early so he'll be coming home with me for school. He's in the semester for January 2020 so if he came home in his transfer he would miss school so he'll come home a transfer early with me. Today was an okay day because I'm still sick and in a grumpy mood. Hopefully I'll get better and my mood will change here pretty quickly so Elder Johnson doesn't have to deal with my grumpiness. So that's everything for February 5th, 2018.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Today wasn't a bad day actually except that our water is out so we have no water to get ready and such. So we went and did service for Emily who is a less active and we just cleaned up her backyard which is honestly like 5 feet square big so not very hard today. Came back hoping the water would be back on but it wasn't so we headed back over to the other elders apartment and got ready there so it worked out actually. We had 4 lessons planned and we ended up teaching 4 lessons even though they weren't all with the people we had planned with. I think I'm starting to get better because I'm not feeling as crappy as i did yesterday evening so that's good.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

So today we figured out why we had no water. Our water tank had been switched off by someone so we went back outside and we switched it back on so now we had water to drink and to get ready with today so that was super nice. We had DDM today and we realized that we don't have another DDM until week 5 of this transfer because of interviews in week 3 and zone conference in week 4 and so that is kind of cool. We came home, had lunch and went about our day. We taught Stella and Peterson which was awesome because they are getting married on Saturday then Stella will be baptized on Sunday. So we printed out some little wedding pass out invitations for Peterson but he wanted more so instead of each family getting one he wanted everyone to have one so we went back to the church and we made up some more, but he ended up taking us to meet his family super funny guy and family. I'm still not feeling so great hopefully I can start to feel better and not half and half and hopefully my knees won't hurt anymore when walking anymore. I love this chance to serve a mission. Sure it's hard but its also easy when I focus on what I have to do. That's everything for February 7th, 2018.

​Thursday, February 8, 2018

So we had service today at Sister Irene's we dug in her garden. Then she popped us some popcorn which is literally homemade straight from the cob which is awesome so good. We taught Mercy who is being baptized on Sunday, Stella and Peterson who will be married on Saturday and then Stella will be baptized on Sunday. So this weekend will be crazy but fun I'm looking forward to it. So I'm beginning to understand the people better here and even better is that they are starting to understand me haha yes. Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jake hope your day is amazing. LOVE YOU TONS.

Friday, February 9, 2018

It was super busy today we had a lesson before weekly planning it was with Fabrice who is a RC (recent convert) so it was good, but we found out that he is moving back to his home country of Rwanda which is sad because we wont see him anymore. So maybe I'll get transferred to Rwanda and we can see each other again. I have a bond with him because he was the first person I baptized on my mission and he is powerful. I realized I love being in Uganda and I love being a missionary. I am really going to be sad when my time ends here, but luckily I have lots of it left.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

So today was the day of the wedding it was so busy wow for such a small wedding it was still super busy. Peterson wanted to borrow some stuff so he could look good so I let him borrow a tie and belt while Johnson gave him one of his shirts. The wedding was awesome and funny its not like the weddings at home at all. But its the best wedding I have been to in Uganda so far. Also the day even ended up turning into a better day because I got some letters from home from Grandpa and Grandma Brady finally they are here, but only 5 of them so far. So the rest are still out there hopefully they come soon. This day was amazing one of the best days so far on the mission.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Church was amazing today. We had 2 baptisms today its amazing. I got to baptize Stella while Johnson baptized Mercy both of them are powerful RCs. Baptisms are the best part of the mission because you get to see how much the investigators grow while you are teaching them. You really do grow to love them and that love is so strong especially when they are baptized. I love this blessing because really the mission no matter what happens while I'm on it is the best because I'm serving the Lord totally for these 2 years and forgetting everything else. I can see how much I have really grown in this short time I have been here and I cant wait to see the end product when these 2 years are done. But for now I'm devoted to serving the Lord only and I will serve him the best I can for the time I have left here.

Stella & Peterson's Wedding 

Following Stella & Peterson's Wedding

Peterson & Elder Brady

The letters from Grandpa & Grandma Brady finally arrived!! 

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Mercy's Baptism

Stella's Baptism 

Our ward mission leader.

Week 10

Monday, January 29, 2018

Today was super fun we left early from the house and we went and hung out with Barber because he gets transferred on Wednesday. But he is moving to the Iganga Zone which is right next to us so we still get to see him every Monday. So for sports days today we played soccer and a little of football and so i asked Elder Barrington if i could have his football because he is getting transferred to be AP and he said yes so yea he doesn't care considering he has 2 transfers left after this one. We then went into Jinja Town and ate at Streetlight Pizzeria which is super good almost as good as pizza at home, went and then emailed family the best part of the day always. Came back for a appt. but got bounced but it was ok because we got invited to a dinner appt. and there was a white girl there and all the other american elders were terrified of her so i was the only american elder to talk that whole evening i hope i don't get terrified of white people while on i'm on mission that would suck.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Today was the beginning of the 2nd transfer and it was a long day. Went and played basketball with Barber one more time before saying good bye. For service again we went and cut down a tree number 5 for Jaja Kuba honestly i don't know why she needs so many cut down oh well it is so much fun cutting down trees. Had two lessons so yea lots of finding today but that's ok. We had a dinner appt. with the branch president and it wasn't half bad but we were supposed to start at 8pm but the other elders didn't get there till around 9:30 pm so yea that sucked and shame on them for being late. But yea the day was long here is to hoping i don't have very many more of those while i'm here. Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aunt Dusty hope your day was amazing LOVE YOU.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Today was transfers so glad i'm not moving at all its the best. Now we actually had 3 elders leave Barber, Appiah-Kubi and Roab which was a surprise to all of us because he was told the morning of so that would suck if it happened to me hopefully it wont. Went over to Barber's before he left and played cards for like 3 hours and then didn't have DDM cause of transfers and all. Had a normal day then till about 5pm then we went and helped the branch president move and i have to say it was nothing like moving day at home we were done in about a hour so yea that was nice. And we got a whole lot of investigators because we are down a companionship they took one out so we are down to 4 elders here.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

First day of February wow where has the time gone. We did service for Sister Janet who is the chorister in the branch so we dug up her garden and slashed her grass. Then she fed us which is the best right after service. We had some jack a fruit which is pretty popular here and not bad tasting. Went through a normal day and came home and the power was acting weird like it was turning on for like 5 secs than shut off so yea sleeping is going to suck tonight without the fan on not looking forward to that.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Today was a ok day had weekly planning which took a little longer than usual because of all the new investigators we got from the other companionship that left. We ended having a normal day and then came home early at like 7pm because i was not feeling good at all. Hopefully i get better soon so i can continue the Lord's work while i'm here. Power is still acting up tons i don't know why so it sucks.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Today not good both Elder Johnson and I were not feeling well at all. So we sat around till like 4 pm and it sucked hopefully i'm not sick at all for the rest of my mission because it is so boring sitting at home all day. We went to the church and helped with wedding invites for Peterson and Stella which was actually fun and they are not like the ones at home they are little pieces of paper to pass out. Went and bought food for lunch but didn't eat dinner because we both are sick so yea it was a crappy day today. Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY Malia hopefully you had a great day and that it was better than mine.

Sunday - February 4, 2018

Today started out good i was felling better and so we went to church and went home for lunch. Then went back for a lesson which bounced us and i started feeling crappy again so was Elder Burnham so i went and hung out with him while Elders Ankrah and Johnson went out for our lessons and completed our day which was good. So Elder Burnham and I just napped and watched movies all into the evening.