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. 

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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

Merry Christmas

This week was just another week in paradise.  It was full of the same problem we have been having but that's ok.  We just work through.  On Saturday we had a baptism.  Here name is Lydia.  She is awesome.  She has had a lot of tragedies in her life but the gospel has brought her so much joy.  She wants to serve a mission when she is able to.

Also on Saturday we had the Christmas party.  It was more like a fireside or devotional than a party but there was food so it's all good.  I had intestines for the second time.  I was able to eat them this time.  The party was fun though.

Things are going good enough here.  We are working hard and doing all that we can.  At those times that it seems like there is no way you can find the energy to work (mostly mornings) that is when we just go and the Lord gives us what we need.  1Nephi 17:50 "If the Lord had commanded me to do all things I could do them... and if I should say it (act in faith), it would be done (accomplish the task)."

I hope things are going well though.  I get to call home in just a few days.  I'm pretty excited for that although I think it will be pretty awkward to be honest.  We'll see.  Well, everyone have a great week and a Merry Christmas! 

Elder E.E. Buyers

Bare Your Afflictions with Joy and Patience

The work has been tougher than usual.  This transfer we haven’t had any baptisms.  We will have one this Saturday though and hopefully a couple the weeks after and a couple the week after that.  Finding hasn't been going well at all.  Members don't want to work with us so we can't see any women investigators or recent converts and most of our investigators that we had last transfer have been out of town.  Not much to say other than that.  We just keep working.  Elder Morley and I get along really well and we teach well together. 

Me in my proselyting attire

This transfer has been flying by.  Usually the first few weeks drag on then the last few speed up but this whole transfer has been fast.  It’s been tough but it says many times in the Book of Mormon to "bare your afflictions with joy and patience.”  We're on the Lord's time now and what we hope to happen sometimes doesn't.  Just as the Jaredites had problems with big waves and winds while crossing to the promised land.  We have the same trial.  Also like them we are protected by the Lord and if we have faith nothing can overpower us.  And in the end all those waves and winds will be for our benefit, to get us to the promised land/exaltation/blessing in the work (Ether 6:4-12).

Love you all.  Have a great week.

Elder E.E. Buyers

Prayer Is The Most Powerful Tool That We Have

Hey guys,

How's home?  Not much to talk about here.  We had another interesting week.  Not much to say.  Just know that prayer is the most powerful tool that we have.  The gift to talk directly to God truly is a gift.  He will answer our prayers if we have faith and look for the answer.  He works through others more often than gives a direct answer.  He will help all people through their trials as long as we humble ourselves.  He loves us and wants to help all of us gain not only eternal life but exaltation.  Don't distance yourselves from the one man that loves you no matter what (NO MATTER WHAT!) and the one man that gave his life for you personally, with your name in mind, so that you can find joy.  I'm grateful for all of you and for the encouragement and love you show to me every week.  Love you all and have a good week.

Elder E.E. Buyers

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A few weeks ago he talked about helping a member tear down a mud hut so that he could build a new one. He wasn't able to send pictures then but he was able to send them today.

New Companion

Hey Everyone,

Not much to talk about this week.  Things are just going like usual.  Elder Morley is my new companion and he is awesome.  He is really powerful.  We have already learned a lot from each other these last few days we were together.  It should be a really great transfer.  Other than that not much is going on.  The rain has stopped.  It was really raining like crazy two weeks ago then nothing.  No rain at all for the last 2 weeks.  It is crazy hot.  It's starting to get dusty too because everything is drying out.  Not much else though.  Love you all.  Have a good week.

Elder E.E. Buyers