What Really Happens on P-Days

You know I'm sure that some of you think that p-days are the days that missionaries go nuts and party and stuff.  Especially when you think Africa, you think safari every p-day and stuff.  Riding the lions that live out front.  Well not really.  What really happens on p-day is a whole lot of nothing.  Especially for missionaries in Lira zone.  There is almost nothing to do in lira.  Sure there are places that aren't too far that we could have a bit of a safari that hasn't happened yet.  What happens is exactly what you see in the pictures. 

We do laundry (by hand of course) and then sit around for a few hours.  I decided to tan and read Jesus the Christ today as you see. 

Then we e-mail.  It’s nice to relax though. 

Anyway, it was a pretty good week.  We had 3 baptisms on Saturday.  The one standing next to me is Anthony.  He is awesome.  Next to Anthony is Joseph.  He wasn't baptized but he is an amazing recent convert.  Next to him is his brother, who he baptized.  His name is Solomon.  Next to Solomon is Oscar.  Oscar is the grandson to a member that lives in her hut right next to our compound.  Oscar and Solomon are both 10 and Joseph baptized both.  It was really cool to see.

One of the days this week we were talking to a member that was working with us and somehow were got on the topic of the wars that were going on here a few years back with the rebels and Koney and stuff.  His name is Solomon too, but not the one that was just baptized.  He is 17 and a very humble and strong kid.  He was saying how he remembers in 2004 when the rebels rolled in to Teso Bar (a part of Lira).  He said that at the time it was him, his mother and his now late brother.  His father had already passed.  He said that there was a big announcement and people started running and stuff.  They left like the rest of them but the streets were so crowded his mother soon got hit and knocked down by a guy on a bake.  After that they went home and his mother said that she would never run again.  If they wanted to kill her they would do it in her home.  It’s amazing to think that basically everyone that I see and meet has gone through that.  These people literally have nothing compared to what we have at home.  Nothing.  Power was out from Tuesday to Sunday afternoon and water for a few days too.  We were talking to some members about it and they were amazed to hear that we always have power.  The things we take for granted are the things they dream about.  Yet, as a whole, they are some of the happiest people I have ever met.  They know what is important.  I have learned more from them than you could imagine.

Kelly, I got the package you sent with the Goodnight Argent shirt.  I love it.  It is by far the softest thing that I own right now, haha.  It's way comfortable.  I attached a couple pictures with me wearing it.  I tried to get some in places that actually show I might be in Africa.

Here are some more pics.  One is of a storm that came in Tuesday night.  We were sitting in a lesson and we were watching it roll in over our heads.  It was pretty intimidating actually.  It was a huge storm though and pretty much ended the day for us.

The other is a couch and a couple chairs that someone had strapped to a bike and was taking home.  He was just resting there.  He actually road the bike though.

Then there is one of Elder Nyoni wearing that poncho that you through in my bag Mom.  That thing is huge.  I could go camping in it, haha.  It rained a ton.  We were told that this is the start to the main rainy season for this area.  The dry season we thought was coming doesn't start till the end of November.

Other than those things the week was the same as usual.  We ran into some Jehovah’s Witnesses that come up and wanted to teach right in the middle of one of our lessons.  That was interesting.  We were teaching Joseph about how it's important to have a strong testimony because things and people will try to shake you.  It made a nice object lesson.  That’s about it though.  A lot of rain and walking.  A missionaries life, haha.  Everyone have a great week. Love ya.

Elder E.E. Buyers

Lots of Pictures

Huge Snail

Hey Everyone,

How are things going?  This week wasn't too bad.  It had its challenges though.  The first few days nothing seemed to go right.  We got bounced almost every lesson we weren't finding people, all that stuff.  We weren't sure what we were doing wrong but we tried to get it figured out.  On Friday I was flipping through Preach My Gospel looking for guidance and I opened to patience in chapter 6 (Christ-like attributes).  I studied it for a while and I think that is kind of what was wrong.  That's what I've been focusing on for self-improvement since then and it is making a world of difference.

The area is looking better.  We have started to try finding in places that we haven't been to too much and it seems to be working a little better.  A change of scenery always helps.  We are starting to get more people to keep commitments and now we have 7 progressing.  Even though we didn't reach the mission goal for lessons, I think it was still a pretty successful week.  It could have been a little better I think but we worked hard.  2 of those progressing probably won't be baptized too soon, one because she is a girl and only 18 and that's against mission standards and the other for various reasons that I'm not sure I can disclose but it could be a long process before he can be.  But as for the others three should be baptized this Saturday and 2 in the next few weeks.  The two are the wife and Daughter to Bruno, the man we baptized last week.  It’s pretty cool.  Referrals and great.

broken belt

I've never relied on Heavenly Father more than now.  I literally have no control over what happens.  If I try to make things happen it will be a bad day.  I leave it to him 100% and I have the best days.  There is no other way than to trust in him in this kind of work.  When we tract I have no idea where I plan to go, we just go and are led.  I can't even stress how little this work has to do with me.  I have never mattered less.  The MTC told me that and I did feel it but this last week has taught me that.

Caught in the rain

Anyways, it rained A LOT this week.  On Tuesday it started pouring hard and we were 30-45 minutes from any place to hide out.  On Friday afternoon the same kind of thing happened but it wasn't raining as hard.  We still got soaked.  Then again Friday night, it poured on us harder than ever.  It’s great.  haha.

first basketball court I've seen since I've been here

Yesterday after church we went to an orphanage as a zone to play with the kids.  It was so much fun.  We played "football" (soccer) most of the time.  I was somehow able to score 3 or so goals.  I think it was because I wore my Uganda cranes jersey.  Some of the kids were pretty good though.  At least compared to me but that isn't saying much.

Some of the kids that were following us

Kelly “enyabo” means women.  If you don't know a girl’s name here or even if you do and you want to get their attention you just say "ENYABO" and they look.  It’s pretty great.  Works well.  haha.  I don't think that's how you spell it though.

bunch of bananas

As for the food, it's the same.  I’ve learned to just bear it.  I eat because I have to not cause its good.  I told you about matoke (cooked banana) but there is also stuff called pocho.  It’s pretty good.  All it is is water and corn flower.  I’m starting to like it actually.

Mom, I would but it is crazy expensive to send things home.  I just sent something to someone, I won't tell who, but it was 12,000 shilings ($4.80) for just 80 grams.  It’s like 100,000 shillings ($40) to send something that’s only 1 Kg (2.2 lbs).  Almost everything that I brought is going to stay here.  All I'm bringing home is like books, letters and souvenirs.  Not much else.

Yesterday we were going to see if this guy was home we have been teaching and as we were walking up he noticed a muno (white person) sitting on their porch talking to his daughter.  We talked to her a little bit and found out she is RLDS (Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints).  When she first said it we wouldn't sure we heard her right but then she said it again.  We were surprised.  She is here teaching nursing or something like that.

getting hair cuts at the saloon {not salon}

A few days ago we were sitting in a lesson and my companion looked over and said really quiet "muno" I looked over and saw a couple walking with a Ugandan and we waved.  We saw them again about an hour later too.  Then a couple days later we were walking down the street and they drove passed.  They stopped and were like “ok we've seen you 3 times in the past 2 days” and we talk for a bit.  They are here from England or something like that.

This sounds bad but as soon as you see another white person over here there is just an instant bond of friendship between you.  Most people are here for religious things but it doesn't matter at all.  You’re already friends, haha.

That's about all that's going on.  Sorry it was kinda long this week.  Have a good week everyone.

Love and miss ya,

Elder E.E. Buyers

I got cracks, on cracks, on cracks

Well my shoes might not last as long as I thought they would.  One of them has about a 1 and a half inch crack in the middle under the ball of my foot with more cracks starting and the other just has a couple little ones but on both the tread is close to gone in the middle of them.  Oh well.  They will still last for a little while.

As for weather it is starting to get really hot here. The dry season is definitely on it's way.  I'm guessing dad told you about how my cloths don't fit any more. I brought an old belt with me and it is smaller than my new ones so I can tighten it more and if it isn't too stretched then I am down to a 35 waist.  It has a tear in it between the 37 and 36 in holes so I thought it wouldn't last long but now I don't have to worry about that, haha.  I used a scale at one of the senior couples houses and I am 91 Kg about 200 lbs so I've lost 20-25 lbs. Hopefully it keeps going.

Anyways, this week was pretty good.  It went by fairly quick.  It was mostly just the usual stuff until Saturday rolled around.  Elder Hall (the zone leader) and I went to a burial in the village.  There was a young boy living in Kampala that was preparing to go on a mission that passed away.  A couple senior missionaries brought his body up so he could be buried in his village.  We met them and went to the service with them.  Over here they don't have cemeteries.  You can get buried basically wherever but most of the time you are taken back to your home village and buried where your family lives.  It was pretty cool to go and see how their services go.  Basically there are just a bunch of people that stand up and say how most don't know the person but it won't be the same without them.  Kinda interesting.  Then they have a ton of food.  We left before the food though. 

There is another burial today but only 2 people from our house were able to go.  Elder Lecheminant and Elder Manyakanyaka wanted to go so Elder Nioni and I stayed behind.  The one today is for a girl that was on a mission and got sick.  She has been home for a little while but the doctors had no idea what was wrong.  She was going to go to Kampala to see the mission doctor today but she didn't make it.  It’s sad but it was God's plan.  I guess her mission wasn't over yet but those she is meant to teach this time are in the spirit world.

Elder Lecheminant and I are going to tear Adyel 2 area apart this transfer.  He has really helped me see the potential the area has.  Everyone calls it the promised land for a reason.

On Saturday we had a baptism.  His name was Bruno.  He is the first one that I found that we have baptized.  It has been amazing to see the change in him since we first met him.  

He said his wife wants to start taking the lessons now too and his kids.  I hope they accept it like he has.  I missed his baptism because of the burial but yesterday he was confirmed.  Man the spirit was strong in that meeting.  Its moments like that that remind me why I am here.  This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done but it's worth it.

Last night when I was writing in my journal and thinking about the past few days I noticed the song that was playing.

"We are as the army of Helaman,

We have been taught in our youth.

And we will be the lords missionaries,

To bring the world his truth."

This church is true, I KNOW that with every fiber of my being.  I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

Have a good week everyone,

Elder E.E. Buyers

Tri-Zone Conference & A New Companion

Hey everyone,

Sorry I'm late. We left Sunday right after church for a tri-zone conference in the Mbale zone.  The ride was terrible. 5 hours in a taxi each way.  We just got back into Lira a little bit ago. 

The conference was great though.  Elder Hamilton from the 70 was there.  He taught us about a lot of stuff.  I can't even remember everything.  At the end he did a Q and A kinda thing about the troubles that we were having with the work.  He really helped  but one of the best things was that everything he told us he got out of Preach My Gospel and we could have found it ourselves. It showed how great of resources we have.

Don't take the temple for granted. I know I did and I am regretting it. It's only been 2 months (2 months today actually) and I miss it so bad. I want to go more than anything right now. The temple is such a blessing and we are so lucky to have them so close back home. 

I'm not sure how much weight I've lost but my pants are way loose and those new belts I brought don't fit. I have to cut holes in them and they still have the tags on them.

Last week we had transfers. I stayed in my same area but I got a new companion, Elder Lechaminant. Not much else has happened though. We have another baptism on Saturday and just working hard. 

Love you all,

Elder E.E. Buyers

No Power..

Well I almost didn't get to email this week. The power has been out for the past 3 days and doesn't show signs of coming back anytime soon. the i Cafe we go to has a generator but half the town is there. We just decided to go to lunch and the place we chose had a few open computers so we took them.

We get mail anytime someone is passing through or goes to Kampala we got it about 3 times this last week.  2 from Natalie, 2 from Grandma & Grandpa Gonzales, one from Grandma Soles, one from Brassels, the b-day card from Mom and one other thing I think.  The package came to and everything was there. The jolly ranchers are all gone though. The only reason I didn't think we would get it too often is because the senior couple that was in my zone left and they are the ones that go to Kampala all the time.

The baptism we were supposed to have didn't happen because the AP's said he was too young and they wanted to see that he was dedicated. The East Africa games were also being held this last week right behind our house. It's multiple countries that come together and for a whole week compete in different sports. Its a huge thing and most of the people in our area went most days. It made finding impossible and it was even hard to get a with our investigators. 

We get transfer news tomorrow. Only 16 transfers left. ONLY!

Love and miss you,
Elder E.E. Buyers