Who Can Glory Too Much In The Lord?
February 1 - 8, 2026
"Yea, [men] whose heart[s] did swell with thanksgiving to [their] God, for the many privileges and blessings which He bestowed upon His people...Yea, and [they were] men who [were] firm in the faith of Christ." Alma 48:12-13
That is how we feel about the members of the Church of Jesus Christ in Uganda. We keep finding that their faith and love of the Savior is why we love them so so much. They are not perfect, no one is. The Lord looks upon the heart and that is where He has directed our spiritual eyes.
We are so grateful. It is a blessing to be among such devoted followers of Jesus Christ each day. Here is what we have been privileged to experience over the last few days.
House of the Lord
Teaching Temple Preparation classes is one of our favorite things we are able to do to offer support to members who have prepared themselves to go to the temple. They are very serious about preparing. In general they show up consistently, they ask good questions and many of them are keeping time (arriving on time). That is an achievement since keeping time is not the Ugandan way! We now teach 4 different temple preparation classes. Some are finishing up and others are just getting started.
Several of our temple preparation class members are going to the temple soon in a very large group made up of members of the Gulu stake. The members benefit from the Patron Temple Assistance Fund (PAF). The closest temple is in Nairobi Kenya. Gulu is 7 hours from Entebbe Airport. To fly to the Kenyatta airport in Nairobi is 1 hour 15 minutes. The temple is a 30 minute drive from the airport. Transportation is arranged to pick the people up from Gulu and get them to the airport early enough for their flight. Transportation is arranged to pick them up from the Kenyatta Airport and take them to patron housing at the temple grounds. They have 2 days to spend in the temple with travel days on each end. Our hearts are full. We feel honored to be a small part of their covenant path progression. We always look forward to getting their feedback and hearing how their temple experience went. Going to the temple strengthens the members. We can't wait for the ground breaking for the Kampala Temple, we haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully it happens while we are here in Uganda.
Prospective missionaries
We have been spending more time on prospective missionary paperwork lately. It's a love/strong dislike relationship. We prefer to not be sitting at a computer. We would rather be teaching and supporting members locally. Interestingly the "love part" outweighs the strong dislike part. We love seeing the young missionaries progress and enjoy watching them clear the checklist that we ask them to use. It's exciting for us when they get their mission letter, we can see that is there on the records we access on line. Sometimes we message them and tell them to check their email. They always do and respond by telling us where they have been called to serve. It is our honor to be excited with them and for them when they tell us where they have been called to serve in the Lords vineyard. Sometimes they are the only member of The Church of Jesus Christ in their family and their family doesn't fully understand about their mission call. We encourage and give guidance. They are always grateful and very polite. The interesting part is that we have never met them in person, and rarely do we have a phone conversation with them but they become endeared to us. We detect their personalities and enjoy their messages. Sometimes we have to decipher their texts and emails but that's okay. We encourage each of them to read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, out loud to or with someone or simply on their own. We promise them that their reading, speaking and understanding of the English language will improve if they read that book faithfully and of course there are also spiritual blessings that come with reading the Book of Mormon. We are waiting for feedback on the advice we give but it may take a while for them to connect the dots.
An example of an delightful exchange with a prospective missionary on WhatsApp:
Sister Kaiser: Elder D Check your missionary email or your personal email ASAP!
Elder D: i have checked it
Sister Kaiser: Do you see your mission call letter?
Elder D: Yes, i have received it
Sister Kaiser: Tell me where you have been called to serve. Online I can see that you have been assigned but not where. You have to open the letter then I can see but tell me so I can be happy for you.
Elder D: i was assigned to Nigeria Uyo Mission
Sister Kaiser: Wonderful!!!👏👏👏 Elder Kaiser and I are happy for you 😊. Read your Book of Mormon every day and never stop for the rest of your life. Go out with the missionaries and serve with all your best effort in your branch. Repent daily and rely on the Lord. He will bless you beyond measure for your decision to serve. 💖
Elder D: Thank you so much for your kind words and blessings, Sister Keiser Mission! I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to serve in Nigeria Uyo Mission. I'll definitely follow your advice and strive to be a faithful servant of the Lord. Your support means a lot to me. 😊
"Wherefore, labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last time--for the last time call upon the inhabitants of the earth."
Doctrine and Covenants 43:28
Priesthood Power
It has been discovered recently that the power and access to the Holy Priesthood of God has not been fully understood by the members here in Gulu. Here is an example, Elder Kaiser needed a priesthood blessing and asked our friend, Sunday Okwera, a returned missionary from about 1 year ago, to give him a blessing. Since it was a blessing for the sick and afflicted a second worthy priesthood holder was needed. Elder Kaiser asked a prospective missionary, Reagan Ocot, to come help with the blessing. He didn't know anything about how to perform the anointing or the blessing. It became a teaching opportunity. The young man was a patient learner and this experience opened our eyes to bringing up and teaching about priesthood duties and responsibilities more often in our interactions with members. We are discovering that it is an underused gift and responsibility.
Mama Preacher, Dinosaurs and a Pig and Piglets
There has been a seriously long gap in our last visit to see Stella and Vincent. Stella is baptized, Vincent is not. Once the couple was married then Vincent started attending church with his wife. They like us to come visit and strengthen them. Its easy to be with them. We went for a vist recently and there was a Mama (grandmotherly woman) there. She hopped up off of the chair she was sitting on and went to sit on the mat despite our repeated protests. (We are never allowed to sit on the ground even if there is a mat). She read the scriptures to Stella, Vincent and us in the local language and then reinforced what she was reading by saying, "Matek" with emphasis of repetition and putting a fist in the air each time she said the word. Sister Kaiser asked Vincent what she was saying. He said, "Stand Firm!" So Sister Kaiser repeated the word with this valiant woman. She ended by standing and saying a prayer then packed her Bible and said good bye and left.
After the roaming Mama/Preacher left somehow we were on the subject of dinosaurs and Vincent was not shy in telling us that he really likes dinosaurs. We agreed that dinosaurs are cool. We were surprised that this bright man then asked us if dinosaurs still roam the earth today. We were quietly shocked but his world can be so small and he didn't have a good education, he simply doesn't know. He is a self taught learner, he speaks 5 languages, he is accomplished in many things including mechanics but book reading and learning has not been his opportunity. We kindly explained about dinosaurs and Sister Kaiser wished for Amazon in Uganda so that she could order Vincent a really good dinosaur book. Maybe we can find the perfect book in Kampala sometime.
When we were preparing to leave Stella invited us to come see her pig. We were glad to check on the pig. We were surprised to see that she had 5 piglets!!! Her pig is part of the Self Reliance Program. We suspect, but are not certain, that funds from the Giving Machines help pay for members who qualify and do the training receive to receive an animal or animals such as a goat, a pregnant pig, or chickens to help them become self reliant. The Church has a trained representative that gets them started, checks on their progress and helps them to have a brighter future financially but they have to be willing to put in the work, they are up for the task. Pigs are a lucrative endeavor and Stella is doing a great job, so is Mama pig!
Favorites, They Are There
It was our delight to take Anthony Oweka to lunch. Anthony was one of the first people we met and interacted with when we came to Gulu. He showed Elder Kaiser and I about his BYU Pathways studies, he was David Porcaro's Institutue Student, David is in our home ward in Colorado. Anthony is soft spoken, patient and has a bright smile. He was easy to remember and immediately became our friend. He is waiting for his mission call, he is the only member of his family, there are 7 kids, he is the oldest, there is no father. We haven't seen him around much lately and wanted to catch up. Our visit was enlightening, we found out that he has been waiting tables at a local hotel. He says the people can be mean and super picky, (that is true of people eating in restaurants all over the world). He is earning money to help with expenses at home and trying to save for his mission. Wherever Anthony is called to serve he will be a dream missionary for any mission president, he has been invaluable to the missionaries in Gulu. He goes with the missionaries to lesson appointments and translates the lessons from English into the local language. He is going on his mission well equipped. No doubt his family will miss him and his support at home.
Simple Surprises!
We needed to stop by the Gulu Elders Apartment where the Zone Leaders stay. A transport van full of missionaries being transferred had stopped by to drop missionaries off. The transport also brought mission supplies requested from the Mission Office for Gulu. When we arrived the zone leaders handed Elder Kaiser an unopened box with a brand new toaster inside. Elder Kaiser handed it to Sister Kaiser and said that it was for her. It was a fun surprise! Our old toaster was in bad shape. We had to watch it carefully because sometimes it burned the toast but only sometimes. Our old finicky toaster was donated to the Laroo Elders. We warned them but they haven't complained to us about it since receiving it.
Greens
The locals keep telling us that we need to learn how to make greens but no one has taught us yet. When we were at the market Sister Kaiser decided to buy some greens. Greens can also be called "spinach" but its not American spinach. There are a variety of greens and she has no idea what kind she bought but they came home with her. After rinsing and separating the leaves from the stems she used some of the things that she already had in the refrigerator, onions, garlic and tomatoes. She sauteed the onions and garlic, then added diced tomatoes to the skillet to break them down a little then added the greens, sprinkled with a little salt to take away the bitterness. She turned the heat low added a sprinkle of water put the lid on to steam the greens. It turned out well. Nothing amazing but it was something different for our diet. We would eat them again and try a new way of preparing them once we can nail down a teacher.
Literacy
We are trying something new at our literacy classes and it seems to make all of us happy.
1. We have started by singing a song with simple words and an easy tune, "I Am A Child of God" is a perfect example. There are repeated small words that are used commonly in the English language. We sing and touch each syllable or word with the lower level readers. Then we find words in the song that we see in English every day such as I, Am, My, The etc. We write the words on a dry erase board then they have to find them in the song after we read them.
2. After an opening prayer we read the Book of Mormon together, once again touching the words and reading slowly for those who need it most. We stop and explain or make sure that they understand who is narrating, what is happing and identify words that they don't understand. Example: "[Lehi] departed into the wilderness... and took nothing save it were his family..." Wilderness = Going into the jungle with your little family without following any path and not knowing where you are going. No cell phones, no shops. They can see that it would be difficult to do because we explain in relatable context.
3. Play a game to reinforce words or phrases such as tossing a beanbag with the expectation of them tossing it back with the proper response.
4. Showing the higher learners how to construct interesting sentences using adjectives and proper english.
The change in our teaching pattern keeps them interested. They feel like their understanding is expanding. Recently we gave Stella the opportunity to find the words, "I" and "Am" in the song, "I Am A Child of God." then Sister Kaiser taught her about the title of the song and where to find it. They pointed to it together. When Sister Kaiser asked Stella to read the title Stella was able to point to each word and speak it in English. She smiled and folded her body in half. It was another moment for her. The moments are far in between with the older sisters but they are powerful when they happen.
Political Disruption Ended!!!
Imagine how we felt on Friday February 6 when our lives got back to normal. Freedom!!! We were on lockdown for over a week January 14-20. Once that ended we were allowed to go about our day as normal but we had to be in by 5 pm. That really hurts the work of young missionaries here in Uganda. For safety reasons the sister missionaries normally have to be in by 6:30 pm and the Elders by 7:30 pm. That already cuts a lot off of the time of day when people are available and want to make appointments. We had a total of 23 days of Political Disruption, 7 days of being in lockdown, 16 days of having to be in by 5 pm. It was a relief to have the restrictions lifted. In addition to the restrictions on our movement we did not have the internet until several days into the 5 pm curfew. That was also very restrictive and annoying but we had no choice but to move forward.
Straightforward Talk
Paying tithing is a constant conversation here. The members learn very quickly that in order to be able to get a temple recommend they must be doing certain things, living the law of chastity, keeping the sabbath day holy, living the word of wisdom (health code), and paying an honest tithe among other things. We attended Pece ward and the Relief Society president taught the lesson. She picked up a tithing slip, and the accompanying envelope and began to teach them about tithing, why we pay tithing, who benefits, where the money gets used etc. It was basic information but these people need it to be basic and in the local language. She was very clear. One sister asked why there isn't a basket or pan passed around like other churches. The answer was, "This is the Lords Church, we do things the way He has instructed. Passing a basket would take away from the sacredness of the meeting. These are His instructions. This is a house of order and of records."
The relief society president also addressed Fast Offerings and spoke on who can access them and what they are for. Clarity with these people is best. She addressed the subject the way the Ugandans do - head on, no guessing what is on their minds, at least thats true for some. We often wonder what is on the minds of the Seminary students who don't talk in class but come in chattering. We need to break the code for teen talk and we don't speak the local language. We need to get some tutoring. 🤣
Sayings and Phrases Straight from Acholi Land:
- What what? = "You know," "I'm asking you."
- Example: The person is what what? He is a big man.
- Big Man = Rich, A Boss
- Somehow = Not so well, getting along
- Example: Q: How are you doing today? A: Somehow.
- Where do you stay? = Where do you live? (They have their local home and they have their village home. If you ask where they live they might tell you about the location of the village where their ancestral home is located).
- Footing = Walking
- Example: I was footing to my neighbor.
- Moving = People going somewhere
- Example: The people are moving a lot today.
- Program = Schedule
- Firesite (Fireside) = Devotional
- Devotional = Ward Christmas Activity
- It is there = It can be found. It's available. Yes.
- Q: Can I buy a jumprope in Gulu? A: It is there.
- The other side = In a different area than this (they assume you know where "there" is).
- Example: Q: Bishop can you tell me where Brother so and so lives? A: He stays on the other side.
- ABCD = Etcetera
- Example: "For school supplies they need a uniform, a back pack, a notebook, shoes, pencils, ABCD like that." '
- Junction = Intersection, large or small.
- Meet me at the junction near the mango tree.
- Rubber = Eraser. There might be pencils with an eraser on the top but we haven't seen them. You have to buy a separate little rubber eraser if you want to correct a mistake written in pencil on your paper.
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