Another One Bites The Dust

This was a pretty good week. Another one bites the dust. This time not only another week but even the transfer. Today marks the start of another transfer in Lugazi. We got news this morning and Elder Bokwe and I are both staying here in Lugazi. 

The week was a good week. Monday when we were playing soccer I rolled my ankle super bad. So much that I couldn't walk at all by Monday night. I went to bed pretty sure and disappointed that we would be staying home the next day. When I woke up I could walk fine with barely even a limp. Tender mercies and miracles of the Lord I would say. 

The work was good the rest of the week. We met a lot of really good people as well. We had the husband of a family come with 2 of his children to church yesterday. The enjoyed it I think. We had a baptism yesterday for a young boy named Elly. He is a super humble and shy kid. His parents have been baptized over the past month or so and he was the last in his family that is able to be baptized. I think he might have a mental handicap but he is a great kid. He bore a powerful testimony after his baptism as well. 

I've started to notice a few things as I write in my journal and review my journal now and then. One thing is that the Lord has given each of us many blessings. We all see miracles every day we just need to identify them. Imagine wehre we would all be if the Nephites didn't keep a journal or if Matthew wouldn't have kept a journal. we wouldn't be in this situation at this time. that's for sure.

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

Elder E.E. Buyers

A Birthday to Remember

Hey everybody,

Well it has been a great week. to start out with I would just like to recognize my great parents for the love that they have shown to me in the form of a can of Nallys chili. All I need are some nice hot dogs and we would be reliving September of 2012, if only for one night. (shout out to Team Ramrod).  

This week was a vary good but also vary humbling week. The peolpe here are just too good. We had some really powerful lessons with a couple of people. One was on Tuesday. we taugth the message of the restoration to an older guy named Joseph. I have taught the restoration hundreds of times but this time it was different. It was so clear that it was impossible to deny the spirit that was felt by everyone. Joseph is stubborn so it is hard to get him to act on the but even he said that he felt it was true. 

Friday was my birthday and it was one to remember. A few of the recent converts and investigators that we have been teaching  thew a nice "surprise" party for me. 

They had food and even gave me a gift. The two things that really got to me were these; one, I had only known these people for 9 days and they were willing to make me feel so welcome and give me this blessing when they don't ever really celebrate their own birthdays. 

Two, They even got me a gift. Most of those that live here, these included, have next to nothing, Yet they were willing to give to me still. It was humbling to see the goodness of the hearts of everybody here. Here I am knowing I'm called to serve them and they insist on serving me.

Saturday we ended with a lesson with a guy named Derrick. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and in the end I spaced (stupor of thought maybe) that he has denied baptism a few times already, and I invited him to baptism. He said that he has already been baptized. Quickly a thought popped into my head of something Elder Bokwe shared with me a few days ago. A book he had said that when this happened to another guy he asked if the person would be baptized if they had not been baptized before. There was more that I had forgotten but I still decided to ask that question and hope it would work out for the best. After I asked it reminded Elder Bokwe and he remembered the rest. He asked Derrick to pray and ask God if Baptism was what God wanted him to do. As we knelt in prayer Derrick was a little hesitant but after an example or prayer from both Elder Bokwe and I he started to speak to our Heavenly Father. The spirit filled the room as soon as he started praying. At the end we asked him what he felt God wanted him to do. All Derrick said  in response was, "Be baptized."  That is the first time that I can remember that someone has received an answer through prayer as I was there. It was a huge testimony builder. 

That night as we were heading to bed we got a call from Sister Oliver. She told us that an investigator who has been fighting sickness for many years had passed away. We were invited to his funeral on Sunday. As we were there they asked me to say a few words. Since I had never really met him I wasn't sure how it would go. As I stood to speak a profound love for Herbert came over me. Herbert was there with us still. With no doubt in my mind I spoke about the atonement of Christ and how its part of God's plan that we leave this life. I testified that Herbert new he was cleansed through the blood of Christ. I testify now that the Plan of Salvation is God's plan. I know that this work is the work of God. I know that Joseph Smith is called of God and the message of the Restoration is God's message. 

I love you all and hope that you have a good week.

Elder E.E. Buyers

Back to Uganda

Well the transfer is over. This time I will be moving. I'm going back to Uganda. I leave Wednesday to go to Lugazi. It's hard to leave somewhere that you have been for 7 months. It's all in Gods plan though. The Lord needs me in another area for reasons that I don't yet know but I'm sure I will know soon enough. Love you all and hope you have a good week.

Elder E.E. Buyers