Life is an Adventure

 Nov 10-Nov 15, 2025

Baboons along the highway. 

We are learning that grocery shopping can be an adventure.  When we find something we like we should stock up on it because once it is gone from the shelf it could really be all gone.  For example, we had white chili with 2 cans of white beans but now the store has no more white beans so that is off the menu until who knows when.  Some of the fruits and vegetables are the same way.  No more pineapple for now.  Who knows what will be next?? 

                                                                       A taste of home

We did find a good wood fired pizza place.  When we talked with the owner he said he recognized our truck but we are different missionaries.  I guess we found the pizza place Elder Zaugg liked.  We found out why...it was pretty much like pizza from home.  It is funny to us that people often say they recognize our truck.  There are a fair number of white trucks here.  Ours is a Nissan so that could be the difference or maybe it's the two white people sitting in the front seat.

We are working on our new assignments with the prospective missionaries and English Connect for missionaries.  Not our favorite, sitting in front of a computer and working but we know it is important so will persevere.  

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

We visited Calvin and the school today.  He told us that after the new year they will have to find a different place for school because their landlord is not going to let them return.  They have land but don't have the capital to build a school there.  We feel bad for them but as missionaries we are directed to not set up any kind of Go Fund Me account or other type of support.  That is not the purpose of our mission in addition, there are so many needy people, if we are seen helping one person it doesn't go unnoticed.  We have helped Calvin a bit with the school's  graduation celebration, we aren't heartless. The need never ends here in Uganda and all over Africa.  Being from America the people in Gulu view us as really wealthy, to them we are, but helping once means we are approached again and again to help with another issue.  For example, a young man, a new convert, told us one day that he was hungry so we gave him a little money for food and now when there is a need he thinks that it is our problem to solve. We refer him to his Elders Quorum President who is the young man's priesthood leader who is called and set apart with authority to help those in need. It is hard because one wants to be unkind but when you give them a sliver of hope the gate is open and they are not shy in asking for more help.  If you refuse up front it seems harsh but then it doesn't begin a cycle.  No easy answer.

Our English students and interpreters.

"The glory of God is intelligence, 

or, in other words, light and truth." 

Doctrine and Covenants 93:36

English class at Lacor was a bit different this week.  Attendance was down, only three attended.  Sister Kaiser worked with the two lower level learners and I worked with Lily, who is the star student.  She was able to read and write pretty much everything I gave her.  So we started reading church hymns, she wants to sing like those in the tabernacle choir. She sang every word on the pages. Then we read scripture verses to see if she understood what the meaning.  She did pretty well with that too. I told her she gets to teach next week. 

One of the sisters in class wanted Sister Kaiser to have an African dress so after some trips to get fabrics and then a stop at the tailors with design instructions. It was ready after 4 days but we picked it up the next week when we were in Lacor again. Now Sister Kaiser has a new dress. 

Hemming up the dress

We crossed the Nile River.

Friday was a different change of pace. We had to drive three hours towards Kampala to meet the assistants to the president where we met at a gas station. They brought a new sister missionary fresh from the Ghana Missionary Training Center.  She was assigned to start her missionary service in Gulu with her compainon and trainer.  After meeting them we drove the three hours back and got to know the sister missionary, Sister George is from Nigeria. We got to know her a little better and listen to her story, everyone has a story.  We got to Gulu just in time for a major rain storm. The Sister George needed groceries so we took her to the grocery store to get her some food and found eight other missionaries there hiding from the storm and getting food as well.  It was definitely a party, it was fun! I wonder what others thought when they saw 10 missionaries in the store. Maybe, they just thought we were hungry??

 

Momma and baby baboon on the Kampala Gulu highway.

We ended the week by helping with a Relief Society training meeting for all of the Relief Society Branch Presidencies from the six branches in Gulu. As a joke, I told them I had never served in the Relief Society  but they replied, "you are most welcome." That's who they are. There were 18 sisters who came to be trained so we felt good about that.  After the training they were all very positive and felt empowered to do their callings.  Next was a baptism for a young adult woman, Winnie. Sister Kaiser and I were tasked to be the witnesses.  Sister Winnie had to be immersed 4 times because a part of her body kept poking out of the water.  The water was really really low.  Total immersion is how individuals are baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ,  Sister Winnie was not upset. She was smiling after receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We sat with her at church the next day and she whispered a thank you.  

After the baptism of Sister Winnie, a brother asked me to come help him. There is an English/Language class that he is responsible for teaching and he wanted us to help teach the class with him. Knowing that  I could help with French support was a bonus.  We are happy to help but a little communication and preparation are always appreciated.  We will be teaching this group on Saturdays from now on.  Temple preparation class scheduled right after the English class, starting next week.  Saturdays are filling up.  We need to pack some good snacks and plenty of water on Saturdays!!!

Fun Stuff:

Pretty big horns. We have seen larger.

Ugandans do not know how to simply say "yes" to a question.  Their answer is "It's ok."

They also do not say "no."  Just silence or change the subject.

When Ugandans talk they often ask a question in the middle of what they are saying.  Such as, "To do what?"  or "About what?"  and then they answer the question themselves, very matter of fact, as if everyone knows the answer (because they do) and then continue on with what they are saying. 

At baptisms they announce the names of those who will be baptized who are sitting on the front row.  After they say an individual's name everyone says "You are welcome."  Then the person conducting the meeting announces the person who will baptize the converts, who are also sitting on the front row, and those in attendance reply "We know you."