It is hot in Gulu City!

Normal Life in Gulu and Political Disruption 

Monday, January 5 - Tuesday, January 20, 2026

We have enjoyed some visits with new people and are trying to not think too much about the heat during the dry season. We've had some successes with both. It usually gets up to around 96 degrees Fahrenheit/35.5 Celsius.   Going on walks in our neighborhood in the evenings has led us to meet some very nice people.

In PART 2 of this blog you will see that we found a good routine with the political disruption in Uganda.  

This is a long blog.                Our apologies.  

P A R T 1: N O R M A L   S E N I O R   C O U P L E   M I S S I O N A R Y   D A Y S

A member, Roy, has been asking to take us to visit some people, we have a truck and he has the list of people to visit.  He was not really clear about who we would visit or how much time we needed to block off for those visits. It turns out that he had our whole day planned but we had to compromise once we had a conversation face to face.  We had a great morning with him and visited with some people who needed support in different ways.

We met with a 14 yr old boy who is the only member in his family with 2 parents and 12 children. Not all of the children live at home but we met 5 of the children and the father.  They are a loving, laughing, good family.  We shared a message about eternal families and invited them to church.  

A very nice family.  The 14 year old boy is the only member.

Betty had 2 daughters and one son at home when we visited her. She has a total of 7 children.  Once we were able to sit down and visit, Roy asked the mother and the two daughters how they felt after their baptism.  They each smiled and shared positive feelings. Betty also shared that she felt supported for the first 2 years after her baptism but now no one comes to see her. She also felt discouraged because all of her chickens were stolen the previous day.  She said that our coming made her happy. We encouraged her to return to church, asking them if they will do that, they said yes.  We told Betty that she had to do her part to create lasting relationships.  She needed to show up and be among the Saints to build her testimony.  The Spirit told Sister Kaiser to share with Betty that the Lord is aware of her and her hurting heart. She was happy and full of hugs when we left.

Betty and two of her daughters

Roy took us to visit a sister who works at a rock quarry.  The sister was away at her village. The quarry was an unknown area to us so we stood and observed for a few minutes.  Almost all of the workers were women, there were only 3 men. The women were working extremely hard.  It was amazing and heartbreaking. We had a lot of respect for them. These were some of the strongest women that we have seen since arriving in Uganda. There are a lot of strong women here.

These women are climbing a dirt hill in sandals or barefoot with large stones on their heads.

The goal is to crush the stone by hand to eventually make fine grit.

We visited with an older couple who are not members, they worship at the Catholic church, but their adult son is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. They enjoy social visits. The husband Julius is not well.  Catherine is as sweet as our friend Susan Shiner, if you know Susan then you know what kind of person Catherine is. They are both kind and gracious but had business to attend to with 2 upcoming funerals in the family.  We didn't stay long for that reason.  The sons needed to council with their father since they planned to leave that day for funeral taking place in their village.  Isn't it nice that the sons, all adults, consulted with their father to get his advice?  It was our honor to observe as each son pulled up a chair around their father. Before we left we were able to congratulate Catherine and Julius on 37 years of marriage.  They were "married" traditionaly so they have been together for a longer period of time. It was later that they were married in the Catholic church, that was the anniversary that they were celebrating.

Catherine and Julius and 3 of their sons.

Lastly we visited Geoffrey which was not on Roy's to-do vist list but that was on our program and we like keeping our appointments especially with our future "Army of Helaman." We sent away the cousins who were on break from school and were left with 4 boys who needed to be there. It was a better experience than the previous week.  We gave personal attention and were able to move forward.  There was no tension and far less silliness.  The side benefit from having Roy come with us is that he kept Geoffrey chatting the whole time.  No discipline from Uncle Geoffrey on the sidelines.  He wants the best for these boys.

We met with Alvin K., the Stake Clerk, who we needed to share files with for prospective missionaries who we do not have access to their missionary applications any longer now that Gulu Stake has been created. We like Alvin, he's very capable, and friendly. He is serving as a service missionary and has a job, 2 busy callings and and juggles all of those responsibilities along with helping with his younger brothers at home with grace. We think he is in his 20's but too old to serve a full time mission. He is very computer savvy and our visit went smoothly.  He appreciated the order that was already established by the Ence's and passed on by us.  He invited us to a clerk training on Saturday to teach the ward clerks how to help prospective missionaries progress.  We attended on Saturday and the ward clerks seemed a bit discouraged to learn that becoming a stake meant that they needed to take on this additional task in their wards.  We had compassion for them. They didn't care that we were still supporting all of the prospective missionaries in Uganda who are not part of a stake.  They were thinking about their own newly added responsibilities.  Growth is good and sometimes hard. 

"You are stronger than you think.  Your Heavenly Father, the Lord and Master of the universe, is your Creator. When I think of it, it makes my heart leap for joy.  Our spirits are eternal, and eternal spirits have immeasurable capacity!"  

Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, "Finding A Safe Harbor" April 2000

On our way home we came across the Bardege Elders who were arriving on their bikes to the neighborhood where we stay to find potential people to teach.  We told them about Fiona who said she wanted to come pray at our church when we met her a few days earlier while on a walk. They knew we met her but we hadn't made a plan to introduce the missionaries to her.  Isn't it nice that we arrived at our neighborhood at the same time as the Elders?  Heavenly Father sure loves the missionaries and He knows each of us.  The missionaries were introduced to Fiona and she invited her neighbor Maria, to join the meeting. They both listened to the lesson on Faith and asked good questions.  They both said they would come to church.

 Calvin's Great Grandpa is a cool guy!

Sister Kaiser likes her new t-shirt,

Peanuts purchased from the neighbor.  We had to clear out some of the shells.

This is the machine used to break the groundnut shells and sort the peanuts.

Our visit with Calvin and Eunice was filled with political questions from us. Since our arrival in Uganda on September 2, 2025 there been a presidential and leadership elections underway in Uganda. We were told that it could get intense. As the presidential election day grew close on January 16, 2026 it meant that there is a lot of tension and noise and interruptions. Calvin and Eunice were able to answer a lot of our questions. Eventually we changed the topic and taught them a lesson from Come Follow Me about God and Satan and who we are, sons and daughters of a loving God. 

At Literacy class in Lacor the group was small, so Sister Kaiser started reading the Book of Mormon with those that were there with each taking turns reading the verses.  They were completely absorbed.  Not many people in Gulu read for pleasure or study the scriptures much. They know the stories of the Bible from attending church and school. Religion is taught in school.  It was good motivation for them to open their own Book of Mormon and find out more about Lehi, Nephi and the family. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ, it's an amazing second witness to the Bible.  You should ask for a copy and read it.  It will change your life.

Later, one of the women, Evelyn, showed us her new temple recommend.  We were thrilled for her!  Stella had just arrived, we haven't seen her for a long time in Literacy class, but we've seen her at Temple Preparation with her husband.  She also showed us her new temple recommend!  As far as we know 3 women in our Literacy class have received their temple recommends.  That brought up a discussion on that subject as we were leaving.  It was a good topic for them to discuss but we wish they tried to converse in English, not the local language.  It's hard to speak in English when it's not your native language and your excited.

These women lingered to discuss how they can obtain a temple recommend.

We stopped by the construction site for the Gulu Stake Center. We opened the gate and were met by the guard who welcomed us.  We told him that we were members of the church, pointing to our tags, and that we would like a tour.  He escorted us to the safety manager who also welcomed us and offered hard hats and rubber boots and off we went.  The property surveyor joined us and answered some of our questions.  She was proud of the work, it's coming along nicely.  The foundation and walls are all up.  When we were done we were invited to stay for lunch, rice and beans.  We were appreciative of the invitation but didn't stay. We left with good feelings in our hearts.  Walking onto a construction site and asking for and getting a tour would never ever happen in America.  Too many OSHA rules. 

The walls are up on all of the buildings.

Walking west in the courtyard toward the baptismal font.

Opposite direction (East) looking at the Stake and Bishops offices at the other end.

Literacy Class on Saturday was our biggest turnout.  We divided into 2 groups, Elder Kaiser took the French Speakers and Sister Kaiser took the higher level learners.  We practiced by writing a mock business proposal to our "boss."  It was a good practical practice for them.  Then they had to share their proposal in English, with a partner. 

Writing a mock business proposal.

The French Speaking students and Elder Kaiser

Most of the people who came to Literacy stayed for Temple Preparation Lesson 4, Covenants and Ordinances.  They had A LOT of questions about sealings.  Their ancestors have complicated relationships with multiple wives and cultural marriages. We answered all that we could and testified that if they do their best the Lord will guide and help them with knowing how to address all of the complicated relationships. 

Bardege 1 Temple Preparation Class

On Sunday we chose to attend Bardege 1 and 2 Wards.  We were hoping to see the Sudanese family at Bardege 1 and we did!!! They came to sacrament meeting. Afterwards the mother and 2 young children had somewhere else to go but the 2 young women stayed. The father was not well, he did not come. Sister Kaiser went to Relief Society and there were so many women there that additional chairs had to be brought in.  It was a good problem to have!  The new Stake Relief Society President spoke and taught about the need for unity.  

Bardege 1 Ward Relief Society.  This doesn't show how 

full the room was by the end of the meeting.

In between the two Bardege ward meetings the missionaries had planned a baptism, which we attended. There were 2 women, 3 young women and one young man baptized. One of the women being baptized was the adult daughter of a member. The mama was very happy for her daughter.   At Bardege 2 Ward we had some of Geoffreys nephews sit with us.  They like it when we help them point with their finger to the words we are singing in the hymn book.  

Baptism at Bardege Building on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

We left after sacrament meeting to go to the Gulu ward building to teach a temple preparation class, Lesson 2, We Must Be Worthy To Enter The Temple. We had 3 people attend. Josh and Irene already have their temple recommends and Grace also attended.  Bishop Ochanda was able to come to the end of the lesson to teach about the temple recommend questions.  After class we offered to take Josh and Irene home.  We knew that they lived a long way out of town.  We loaded the bike in the truck and took them on a 40 minute drive to their home out in the country.  Irene would have had to walk with the 2 small girls and Josh planned to ride his bike later. It normally takes them 3 1/2 hours to walk one way to church. They are very faithful. It was SO QUIET where they stay, we could hear our own thoughts.  As we sat outside of their home on stools, the girls played and Josh asked for training on how to fulfill his new calling as High Counselor.  

Irene and Josh and their daughters

Our mission zoom meeting was mostly missed again because of a poor internet connection again.  Sister Kaiser texted Sister Bell during the meeting who put us on speaker phone and we put ourselves on mute so we could hear the important news President Bell was sharing.  Starting, Wednesday, January 14 all missionaries in Uganda were expected to stay home through Wednesday, January 20. The presidential election might become violent, it wouldn't be unusual.  The Church Safety and Security department have been monitoring the situation and gave the directive to have all the missionaries stay home for those dates.  We knew it was coming but President Bell was able to give more details and answer questions.  Tuesday morning there was another brief Zoom meeting for all missionaries with last minute details about getting additional allotment money for young missionaries to buy groceries. Emergency plans were discussed.  If we got to level 2 of the emergency plan all missionaries in Gulu, Lira and Adyel would come to our apartment!!! Thankfully that didn't happen that would have been 28 young missionaries plus us.

Unexpected Teaching Opportunity

While at the Main Market on Monday, Janurary 12 we needed to pick up an item from a dressmaker and Sister Kaiser ended up teaching 4 people who wanted to know more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Kaiser went back to the truck to get pamphlets. The 3 women and one man were all were grateful for the lesson and pamphlet.  We found out where they stay and showed them on a map where the church building is located near them.  Sadly we knew that the missionaries would miss attending church on Sunday, Janurary 18 but we told these people about the disruption. They understood.  Hopefully the members were welcoming.

The avocados can be quite large here.  Sister Kaiser eats 1/2 for her lunch.  

Elder Kaiser prefers to not eat avocado.

Later on Monday we walked to the home of our new friends, the South Sudanese family.  We wanted to simply visit with them but discovered the mother and another woman visiting under a mango tree. The mother, Diana was teaching, Prisca, the neighbor about The Church of Jesus Christ.  The two teen daughters, Franka and Mary, the father, Daniel and the little boy all came and joined us.  What a delightful family.  We love them already.  They are anxious to move forward as baptized members of the church.  We told them they will but they have to have all of the lessons before being baptized and they have to attend church a certain number of times.  They understood.  They asked how long we were going to be in Uganda, when we told them they asked why we were going to leave them, that we had to stay and guide them.  They asked for Arabic scriptures, and want to go back to South Sudan to teach people about the Church.  They are full of faith and have such courage!!!  Did we say that we love them already! 💗

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men and women know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another."  John 13:34-35

Tuesday, January 13 was the day before the "lockdown."  We went to see Jackie who we've been trying to connect with for quite some time.  She is a fairly new convert.  We finally made the connection and she directed us to park the truck at her neighbors property, who we loved meeting.  The teen daughter, Precious, walked with us to Jackies home with her arm around Sister Kaiser.  We kept going around and through and on and on and finally Sister Kaiser asked, "Jackie, where are we going?!!!" She turned and replied "HOME!"  and kept walking but then every few minutes she would repeat our conversation, "Jackie, where are we going? Home!"  Then laugh and laugh.  She is very good natured.  She has a good piece of property, everything is tidy and she is growing good, healthy crops. She has 5 pigs, chickens and water that runs through her property to make washing clothes easier.  She liked showing us all of the things she grows, naming each plant and even showed us where she sleeps and introduced us to her little kitty.  We were sorry that we couldn't stay longer but we had an appointment. We plan to go back after the political disruption.

"Jackie, where are we going?"  "Home!"

Precious, Jackie and Sister Kaiser at Jackie's home.

We taught the new Stake Relief Society Presidency about their responsibilities and taught them how to access the General Handbook of Instructions.  It was getting to be dusk and we started delivering cookies to all of the missionary apartments before it got too late and dark.  We think we made some missionaries happy.  Something fun for the next few days of lock down. The internet was shut down at 6 pm on Tuesday. We were still able to make SMS calls in Uganda but not on WhatsApp. No calls to or from home and no email exchanges. 

P A R T 2 - P O L I T I C A L   D I S R U P T I O N

The political disruption has been quiet from our prospective. We live in a compound with a wall around us and there is a guard. This is standard for almost all of the missionaries. Each apartment has a yard to move around in. The only problem was that 2 apartments in Gulu were sent an extra 4 missionaries. They went from having 4 missionaries to 8 missionaries each.  The Lira and Adyel elders were told to get transportation to Gulu and stay with missionaries here, just in case.  That is a full house!!!  They seem to be doing well.

Knowing the lockdown was coming we had compiled a list of good things that we could do with our time during the political disruption. On Wednesday morning we created a schedule of things to do each day using that list.  We have not been bored.  Each morning after prayers and scriptures we go for a 30 minute walk in our compound, then we go inside and exercises on our yoga mats while listening to uplifting music, a podcast or a General Conference Talk. 

Preparing peanuts for roasting.

Elder Kaiser has made pancakes for breakfast twice and pizza for dinner! Sister Kaiser made bread, cookies, and donuts. Together we've roasted ground nuts, at home we call them peanuts.  Each day one of us selected a General Conference talk to study and we discussed it together. This was a spiritual highlight and boost each day.  

Other tasks Elder Kaiser completed were washing the truck, repairing the inside grab handle on the truck, washing the porch and together we tidied the office supplies, while doing that Sister Kaiser was happy to find the roll of blue tape that went missing. She also cleaned the inside of the truck, mended clothing, washed yoga mats, and deleted photos off of her phone and took an inventory of the medicine box that has extra supplies for the missionaries in Gulu.  She studied another promised blessing from President Nelson and has written and drawn in her journal.  

Rinsing off clean yoga mats and letting them dry in the sun.

In preparation for Home Church on Sunday we both prepared talks.  We continued to write in our journal each day and read scriptures that go along with Come Follow Me. There were a few games of "Deer In the Headlights," "5 Crowns" and "UNO No Mercy!"  Since we are senior missionaries we have watched 3 movies, "Big Hero 6," "Aladdin" and "Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian," which were downloaded on Elder Kaiser's phone. There is no TV where we stay so we used our portable speaker to make it sound better and connected the phone to a chair with a clip-on-cell-phone-stand.  Elder Kaiser said he almost forgot he was watching on a small screen.  

The internet was shut off for 7 days.  We have internet again but not WhatsApp.  That makes it difficult but not impossible to communicate with our family and the Gulu Stake Members. 

The lockdown ended on Wednesday, January 22 but we have a 5 pm curfew each day until further notice.