I Saw Special Olympics Rwanda!

There won't be a general letter this week because nothing really happened.  It was kind of a tough week again.  Getting bounced.  The curse of not really being able to plan seems to be following me.  I got my visa application put in this morning.  I should have it in a few days.  Things are going good enough though.  No worries.  We aren't discouraged.  My theory is if we can't make plans than the Lord has made them for us already.

A few days ago we were on a bus heading home and as we were going I looked out the window and saw a sign for the office of Special Olympics Rwanda.  I was pretty excited.  Then I saw a woman with a son with downs syndrome and told her to take him there, haha. 

Deegan was baptized?!  Man I can't believe he is 8 already.  That's crazy.  No we aren't all in the same house.  There are 4 in each house. The food is pretty good.  It’s a lot of rice noodles matoke (cooked banana) and poco.  There is only rally one place to eat in our entire area and we are only close to it maybe twice a week.  Usually will just have to stop in a shop and grab a drink and a mandasi (scone).  

love you guys. have a good week.

Elder E.E. Buyers

"I will live to remember you guys"

Before I get to Elder Buyers' email from today I want to share something I came across on the Facebook page of one of the members from his area in Lira, Uganda. Included is the caption that he had with the picture.

"I will live to remember you guys." 

I thought it was an amazing example of how he is touching the lives of the people that he is meeting.

---------------------------------------------
Hey Everyone,

Not too much to say about this week.  We are just working as hard as we can given the visa things.  Attached is a picture of how our time goes when we can't make plans to see people.  Don’t worry, it doesn't happen as often as you would think.

Rwanda is good.  It is a lot different from Lira.  Maybe it's just because I have been away for so long but it actually reminds me a lot of the states.  Not the Rigby life but like in the cities and stuff.  It's actually been kind of tough adjusting.  You get comfortable in one place and start to learn the language, build relationships, and all that stuff then it all just changes.  It’s getting better though.  Attached are some pictures of our house and room. 

Yeah I’m feeling better.  I woke up with a little something that has been lingering but I don't think it's anything big. I was able to weigh yesterday and I’m down to 180.

My comp is pretty good.  I spelled his name wrong the first time it's Elder Ndlovu.  This is his second transfer so he is still kind of unsure of himself especially when it comes to making plans and stuff.  I have kind of been leading the area even though he has been here longer.  Things are getting better though.  No worries.  He is from Swaziland. 

Today we went to the Genocide Memorial.  It's a museum that takes you all from leading up to the genocide to the aftermath and stuff.  It was really interesting and (I'm not sure what words to use) it was just shocking.  They had rooms full of pictures of people that were killed and things.  It’s a crazy thing that happened here.  Fun fact for ya, it is illegal to ask a person what tribe they are from.  Everyone is Rwandese.  

Not much else to talk about.  I hope you all had a great week and will have another one.  Love ya.

Elder E.E. Buyers

Take a piece of them with you & leave a piece of yourself with them...

Hey Everyone,

It was another interesting week.  As you know it was transfers.  On Tuesday we took the day to say sweet goodbyes to all those that have changed my life.  They will be missed but there is a quote that I really like, "You never leave someone behind.  You take a piece of them with you and you leave a piece of yourself with them.”  I guess I have done all that I had been called to do in Lira and now it is time to find my friends in Rwanda. 

Tuesday I woke up throwing up and stuff.  Not fun.  Then we sat in a car for about 7 hours to drive to Kampala.  Once we got there I spent most of the day sleeping.  Right before I went to sleep for the night I asked for a blessing From Elder Manyakanyaka (it’s crazy to think he is home now).  I woke up in the morning feeling quite a bit better.  Our flight left for Kigali at about 11:45.  We got here and got a few things squared away, then got to work. 

The work here is a bit different from in Uganda.  In order to tract you have to have a religious visa.  So far there is one elder out of the 8 here that has a visa, but that's mostly because it is hard to get clearance from other countries in Africa for the elders that are here.  From the looks of it I will be the second.  Once I have everything it could just take a few weeks.  When they say no proselyting it means no tracting.  Both missionaries in a comp. have to have the visas.  We work just by referrals and people that show up at church.  The branch is really strong here, at least compared to Adyel.  The people are amazing.  I am looking forward to a good transfer.

Rwanda is good.  It’s just a city so there isn't much pictures I can take and I’m not sure of landmarks or anything either.  It is really hilly.  Just up and down hills all day.  We actually have address here so I will find out what it is.  Rwanda time is one hour behind Uganda.  I think that's a 9 hour difference from home.

Love you all and I hope you have a great week.

Elder E.E. Buyers

A Call From Rwanda

News about Elder Buyers came today in the form of a phone call.  One of the “Senior Couples” Elder Palmer called me this morning. 

As a mom, hearing who was on the phone, “A senior Elder in Kigali, Rwanda”  kind of alarmed me. (Just a little) 

He said right away that all is okay and that he had picked Elder Buyers up from the airport this past Wednesday.  He said that we have a marvelous son and this Elder Palmer is very excited to get to know Elder Buyers better.

He asked if we could get a copy of Elder Buyers’ police report sent to him right away.  They have miss placed, not lost, just miss placed Elder Buyers’ visa for Rwanda. 

Elder Palmer said that without a visa, Elder Buyers can’t proselyte in Rwanda. (Share the Gospel) so, I asked what he would be doing until they get him another visa. 

He said that Elder Buyers can teach to new members, inactive members and members.  He just can’t share the Gospel to nonmembers. 

So, Elder Buyers won’t be on vacation until his visa comes through. Just busy in other ways.

Elder Palmer said that they had over 100 baptisms in this new area last year.  There is lots of work to do!!!

I asked Elder Palmer to give Elder Buyers our love.

Very short call, but good to hear Elder Buyers is in Kigali, Rwanda Africa safe.

You know me, (I’m such a baby)  this all brought a few happy tears to my eyes.  Not that he is having visa trouble, but I’m just so proud of all he is doing and I love and miss him.

The papers they need to complete the visa application for Rwanda are in the mail and they should be getting them in 3 to 5 days. (We paid extra, a lot extra to get them there fast).

We don’t want to hold up Elder Buyers sharing the Gospel longer then needed.

-JoAnn {Mom}

Transfer News...

Another transfer done.  It's crazy.  The time is flying by.  It was a good week.  One Tuesday we had Zone Conference.  Each district was given a topic and each missionary was told to prepare a training for that and President would choose day of who would give trainings.  I was chosen to give the training for our district on commitment.  It went really well I thought.  The focus was kind of recommitting at different stages of the journey.  Pre-earth, when we put our papers in, when we receive the call, then also when we are in the field.  I really liked studying it out and stuff.  The major focus of the Conference was not giving in to fear.  It was really powerful. 

Saturday we had 2 baptisms.  They were helping to complete families and it was great to see the joy the families had on Sunday after those received the Holy Ghost.  

We also baptized an older guy (muze) on Sunday before church.  His name is Ojok and he is a powerful guy.  He really strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it changes us.  A few weeks ago he was questioning everything and what not.  Then that all just kind of stopped and we found out that he had really been reading the Book of Mormon.  It changed him completely and now he has a powerful testimony of everything. 

This morning we received transfer news but I'll come back to that.  We went to Chobe again and had a really good time.  We saw a lot of monkeys and warthogs but not too much else.  Anyways back to transfer news.  You guys probably won't be as excited as I am but I'm going to RWANDA!  I'm way excited.  That is the one place I wanted to go while I was here.  Enduring Adyel for the past little while is all worth it.  I'm really going to miss the people here though.  They are really great...  But RWANDA!  Wahoo!  My new comp is named Elder Ndgovu.  This will be his second transfer.  Some people think I am opening a new area but I'm not sure.  From the sounds of it I have to learn a new language as well.  I'm excited.  It will be great.

Love you all and have a great week.

Elder E.E. Buyers

P.S. Grandma, the Elders loved the spaghetti. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

I was actually able to email back and forth with him a little bit this morning and ask a few questions about his transfer news.

Kelly - Rwanda?  Cool!  When do you move??

Elder Buyers - I leave lira on Wednesday day but that's all I know.

Kelly - I’m sure it'll be awesome!  Is it pretty rural there too??

Elder Buyers - It probably won’t be.  The church is really new there so I think it is mostly just in the cities.  I’m really excited though. 

Christmas in Uganda

Hey Everyone,

This week was pretty good.  On Monday all of Lira zone took off to go to Gulu.  We stayed the night there and enjoyed for nice football/soccer and relaxing.  Before coming home on Tuesday The Moores (Gulu Senior couple) made us some food.  A LOT of food.  It was great.  We had a good Christmas here in Lira.  Christmas came and went without too much.  It didn't feel like Christmas. I really liked all the letters.  I was actually curious how you got all of them. We visited a couple of people that evening and ate a lot more food.  That is usually how people celebrate here.  Lots of food.  Thursday it was back to work like usual.  It was a good week. 

It has been a great year.  It really has.  This next one will be great as well. 

This is week 6 of the transfer and looks like it will end really well.  There are a few people that are almost really for baptism and there are some families that we have been led to that will be really good for the church and are ready for the gospel. 

Everyone have a good week.  Love you all.

Elder E.E. Buyers