God gives me that one or two reasons to stay...

Once again not much is going on.  The week was good, though.  We have been working on incorporating into our teaching the things that we learned at zone conference last week.  It's been going pretty well.  We do the same exact thing every day.  Day after day.  haha.  It’s good though if you look for the good.  Every day Satan gives me thousands of reasons to go home but God is there to give me that one or two reasons to stay.  Generally, in the moment it isn't that great but when I look back I realize the blessings.

This week is transfers.  I can't believe this transfer is over already.  It feels like I just got to Rwanda Yesterday.  The time is flying by.  It really shows how short the time is that we have here and how much we need to accomplish. 

Elder Ndlovu and I

I’m still waiting for my religious visa.  There were a few more things that they wanted for it.  We turned them in last Thursday but still haven't heard anything.  They keep changing the requirements and stuff they want.  They said they wanted all my schooling (elementary and up) and my mission call.  I'm the third to apply and they have never asked for them before.

I hope everyone has a great week.  Love you.

Elder E.E. Buyers

 

The Power of the Priesthood

Unlike lately this week was full of stuff.  President Chatfield and the APs got in town on Friday.  The church was officially registered in October and they were having the celebrations and all this weekend.  Friday night there was a big dinner for all the head guys in government and religion for all of Kigali.  Only a few of the missionaries were invited and we weren't them (well we were invited then the night before we got uninvited) but we heard it was really good.  We got a bit of the food the next day though and it was good. 

On Saturday was the celebration at the church.  It was a big party and President gave really powerful opening remarks about being an example and member missionary stuff.  We had some fun.

Church was good on Sunday.  Today, Monday, We had Zone Conference.  I was chosen to give training on How to follow up.  I think it went pretty good.  The entire conference was great.  I learned so much I can't even describe it.  I also had a really good interview with President Chatfield.  He is a very powerful guy.  He has taught me so much these last few days.  We worked with Elder Reed, one of the APs, on Saturday and Sunday.  We learned some good things from him too.  All around it has been a good week.

(Mom asked “If an Elder doesn't have his Religious Visa there in Rwanda, can he baptize?  Have you had any baptisms yet?”)

The only thing that changes for missionaries that don't have visas is they can't tract or street contact.  Everything else is the same... teaching, baptizing, everything.  The only thing is that we can't talk to anyone unless they are a referral from someone else or unless they talk to us first.  We had one baptism at the beginning of the transfer but that's it.  We didn't really have teaching pool at the beginning of the transfer and there is a rule here that if they miss church once then their date gets pushed 2 weeks.  So week one you find someone week one give them a date for 4-5 weeks after.  If they miss church once then they are already in next transfer.  That’s what has happened.  Next transfer should be pretty good though.

We have this investigator named Didiear.  About a week ago he got typhoid.  He isn't too well off and wasn't able to afford but one of the 4 drugs the doctors told him to take.  The branch wasn't really able to help because of how things are so it didn't look to good for him.  A few days after he got sick we went to see him and ended up giving him a blessing.  Things still didn't look to good for the next week.  We went a couple days ago to see him and he was almost 100%.  The power of the Priesthood is real.  If the faith is there and it's God's will anything can be done with it.  It really strengthened my testimony about the priesthood.  It reminded me of the blessing that Dad gave to me the day before I left.  The comfort that came from that was great.  Thanks. 

Well I love you all.  Have a great week.  Rely on the Lord.

Elder E.E. Buyers

Still Waiting..

Hey Everyone, 

Once again, not much to talk about.  The week was pretty good though.  Nothing too interesting happens in Kigali that I can write about.  We just work like usually every day.  Try to get referrals from everyone.  My visa still hasn't gone through yet.  I turned in my application last Monday.  Usually they hear back in about 3 days whether it is good or they need more stuff or whatever.  We went and checked on Friday and it was still being processed.  I'm not sure what is going on but hopefully we find out soon. 

On Saturday we helped a family move.  They moved into this really nice house that sits way up on one of the hills.  They have a great view.  I wish I would have had my camera but I left it at home.  On a more depressing note, remember those camo flip flops I got when we were in Cali 6 yrs ago because my shoes got flooded.  Well, I wore those to help move and one of them broke.  Sad day, they were good to me for a long time.  Sorry there isn't really anything to write about.

Everything is going good.  I hope everyone is good on your side of the world.  Have a good week.  Love you all.

Elder E.E. Buyers

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.

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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}