"And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end." Moroni 6:3
Sunday, October 19 - Sunday, October 26, 2025
The church services on Sunday was watching recordings of General Conference Sunday morning session. It was preceded with an opening song, prayer the sacrament hymn and the blessing and passing of the sacrament before the TV was set up to watch a session. We watched at the Laroo building but didn't know that was the plan until we showed up. Unfortunately we had to leave early to go to the Bardege 2 branch starting at 12pm to support Florence and Brenda. Florence went to church but she went to the Bardege 1 branch at 9 am so we missed her. She got there 30 min late so it was a little confusing to her but she liked the talks. We were able to explain things to her on Tuesday.
We had a long shopping list on Monday which required 3 stops. We found a new vegetable seller who took good care of us. We think we will go back to her. Sister Kaiser had a broken bracelet with her, which was purchased on her first night in Gulu. The beads from the broken bracelet were all found and bagged. We asked a seller if there was someone who could repair the bracelet, she stopped her work and led us to a woman who works with beads, that was so nice. The woman who works with beads set down her project, a ceremonial hat and repaired the bracelet in a few minutes. While we waited we notice a man sewing layered gathered skirts with a lot of fabric. He was ironing them. Sister Kaiser went to have a closer look at the iron. He was using pieces of coal to heat his iron! He was glad to let me take his picture. He was proud of his work.
We had our bi-weekly training with the Ence's. They say we are doing great! They say we are about ready to do this on our own. NOOOOOOO!!! Sister Kasier was a little grumpy that day. She and Elder Kaiser clearly stated on their mission application that they did not want to be doing office work on their mission. The Lord must have need of us learning to do this now and maybe someday we will see the full value other than the fact that we will be helping young missionaries get their paperwork properly submitted for President Bell's interview. (Remember he is the presiding priesthood authority for all 7 Districts in Uganda that are not organized as a Stake, yet). Having said that I shouldn't complain, not one teeny tiny bit. We went where the Dear Lord wanted us to go but we are not necessarily happily doing what He needs us to do in this regard. We will make an attitude adjustment as necessary.
Teaching
It is becoming abundantly clear that there is a lot to learn about preparing people to teach Temple Preparation Lesson. Elder Kaiser felt strongly that we simply needed to teach the teachers the principles of Teaching In The Saviors Way and they could plan and prepare lessons with those tools. What we have learned is that planning, preparing and teaching a lesson is not intuitive for everyone. It hasn't been a part of everyones church culture, especially those who have not been established in the church and not everyone here has served a mission. We saw the flaws in the original plan and repented and offered the following to the Temple Preparation Teachers:
- We will teach the first lesson.
- We will help them plan the second lesson and co-teach with them.
- We will help plan any of the remaining six pre-temple lessons but pull back on co-teaching if they are comfortable or continue teaching with them until they are comfortable.
- We will attend all 6 classes as long as we are able and follow up with the 7th lesson with them after the group has returned from the temple.
Our offer was well received. We've planned and co-taught lessons with the teachers of 2 classes one at the Pece building and another at the Laroo Building. They are doing great with about 7-8 people in each class. We are teaching 2 individuals to help them be ready before they leave for the Nairobi Kenya Temple at the beginning of November. We are also supposed to be teaching a husband and wife but only the husband showed up for the first lesson at the Gulu building. They have to get up at 3 am to walk to church that starts at 10 am. They have 2 small children. The wife went to fulfill her calling in the District Primary Presidency by visiting the Pece Branch Primary with the rest of the Primary Presidency.
This week Sister Kaiser introduced Calvin and Eunice to The Living Christ Proclamation. They had not read it and did not know about it. It is no surprise that they liked it and made sweet observations about how perfectly written it is. Unfortunately we didn't have much time with them but the goodbye gathering was fun to watch! The school children sing a song and dance with actions to the words of the song. The dance is fun! We have been asked by our grandchildren to learn it and teach it to them.
Driving
About driving here in Gulu, Sister Kaiser has been behind the wheel plenty of times. It's always a lot of work no matter who is driving, 4 eyes on the road is not a joke. She is confident at remembering how to get to the 5 church buildings in Gulu and to the regular shopping places without depending on a google map. Parallel parking is going just fine when needed. She gets a lot of double takes and long looks as she drives by some people. Women don't drive cars or trucks here, it is extremely rare, we have seen one woman driver. There have been a small few women boda drivers, but only for their personal use, they aren't taxing people for money. They look smart in their business clothing and nicely plaited hair and painted nails zipping by on their boda.
We have discovered that no matter where we park in the business district of Gulu we have to pay to park. There is never anyone around to pay, there are no signs or machines but when we return to our car there is either a notice to pay on our windshield or a girl with a receipt book who suddenly appears while we are putting our things in the truck. Its feels like they teleport Harry Potter style. They don't stand out since most often there is no orange vest or uniform to distinguish them, they wear regular clothes. The fee to park is usually 2000 UGX which is 58 cents in USD.
Literacy Class
The largest group of women showed up for Literacy Class in Lacore since we have been going there. There were 6 students and Aida, the interpreter. We were delighted! There were also 3 children who kept peeking in the window and around the door frame so we invited them in. They are Evelyn's grandchildren. The children were so respectful and good. We taught them along with the women.
We dropped several women off along the way back to our area. Lilly asked us to take her to the hospital to see her neighbor who had a broken leg. There was a horrible bus accident on the highway between Gulu and Kampala, 2 buses collided while driving at night. 42 souls perished. Many others were injured. It has shaken the Gulu community, everyone seems to know someone on the buses.
Special Announcement
On Thursday the whole mission got a text from President Bell who wanted to have a zoom meeting that night. The announcement he shared was probably seen by many others before we knew about it. It was exciting to hear that the Uganda Kampala Mission will be split into 2 missions which will be one of 55 new missions added throughout the world. President Bell answered questions and ended the meeting.
"Jesus spake unto them saying, ...Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...." Matthew 28:18-19
Friday morning we had a 3rd lesson with Florence. Brenda had other things she needed to do. The lesson was at 10 am. Sister and Elder Kaiser were there for most of the lesson but had to leave for our training with the Ence's. Florence wasn't interested in getting baptized. We are sad to hear this but she is still going to get visits from us. We enjoy talking with her, she is our friend.
We had a training meeting with the District Relief Society Presidency on Saturday at the Bardege building then invited the Relief Society Presidency to join us at the baptism. They stayed and we watched as 6 people were baptized including 2 sisters, ages 17 and 10. Afterwards the District Primary President asked to get caught up on the training we did with her counselors 2 weeks before. We are trying to help the District start acting like a stake.
One of the new young missionaries, Elder Pettit, mentioned to Elder Kaiser that he sees us teaching but wondered what we are we doing. Ha! Ha! Elder Kaiser got him updated.
It was nice to go back to the Gulu branch and re-meet the members, they thought we had abandoned them. Every branch thinks that we should be with them every week. Joy was baptized 2 weeks before and on Sunday she received a calling. We met Joy several weeks ago when we attended her lesson with the Gulu Elders. Well done Gulu Branch Presidency!
Church History
The Church History Department sent 2 member/employees from Kampala to train the branch clerks of the Gulu District on how to create and submit a Unit Memory. They said the more content added on the Unit History helps the branch get noticed and then their needs become more clear. That got them excited! We were interviewed afterwards by one of the Church Historians. Our interview will go somewhere in some archive after being listened to by someone at Church Headquarters.
Mission Zoom Meeting
At our regular Sunday Zoom meeting with all the missionaries President Bell shared his notes with the missionaries from his time with Elder Rasband and other mission presidents in Africa. They first met at the Nairobi, Kenya Temple. Elder Rasband said that they are beginning the conference with the end in mind since the end goal for missionaries is to see the people they baptize progress to be endowed in the Temple of the Lord. President Oaks is preparing for what is to come. He is making positions and places open for more missionary work and there are many more announcements to come in the coming months.
Currently there are 7 operating temples in Africa at the moment and 21 announced or under construction. The Lord has a great gathering coming. The Lord has created 55 new missions. We need to retain new converts and find the lost sheep. He wants them to be gathered. Bring them back! The goal is where we started, the temple.
Elder Rasband said 3 things to the mission presidents to take back back to the missionaries:
1. We love you.
2 We thank you, for everything you are doing for the Church of Jesus Christ.
3. We need you.
"Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." 2 Nephi 31:20
Uganda Kampala Mission- Zone Baptism Reports for the week of October 20-26:
Busia 10
Entebbe 2
Gulu 27
Jinja 2
Kapala North 3
Kampala South 1
Masaka
Mabale 12
Wayange 33
86 baptisms this week
202 baptisms for the month
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