On Wednesday we headed back to Jinja for the rest of the missionary apartment inspections and to handle some medical needs. They have a steak place called Ozzies (she - the owner- is from Australia) and for $18,000 shillings ($8 bucks with tip) you get steak, mash, salad and a water. Sister Squire has limited me to only one trip a week for this delightful respite. I will have to take a picture next time but the food disappears quickly so I haven't had time to snap a photo. The trinkets are cheaper here in Jinja than they are in Kampala so our poor girls will be loaded both coming and going from Africa. They will be here soon and we can't wait.
We had an Elder Makasi visit our District for a meeting this Saturday. We were to read four articles: More Diligent and Concerned at Home (Elder Bednar); Power in the Priesthood (Elder Andersen); The Gospel Culture (Elder Oaks) and the Family Proclamation (Prophets, Seers and Revelators). For the first half we told what we individually learned from the articles and what it meant for us. He wanted us to articulate how something from the articles was going to change our lives. The next part the audience could ask any question and he, the Mission President along with his wife and the District Presidency would answer the questions.
I will share a couple of the questions and their answer. One asked when they would have a temple in Uganda. Elder Makasi quoted Elder Nelson who said building a temple is easy, building a temple worthy people is the hard part. I thought that was profound because isn't living our life to be temple worthy the really hard part of life? Some others stated how difficult it was to start a family with such limited resources. President and Sister Chatfield have six daughters and not one of them married someone who was already "making it". The same can be said of our daughters and our daughters-in-law. You look at the potential of someone, not where we are today. Isn't that what the Savior does with each of us, provide opportunities for us to grow and develop through trials and hardship? I like an example President Chatfield gave of no one starts out on top unless you are digging a hole. We have to work for what we get and working together with your spouse gets you there faster. It you start at the top - there is only one way to go. Prayer was also discussed and how important it is to weary the Lord with our prayers. In D&C 10:5 it reads: "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work." A comment was made that if we want a "million dollar" blessing we shouldn't try for it with a $3 prayer. I know I am lax in this area and will try to do better.
We love being here on our mission and while we love and miss our family so very much, it doesn't change where we want to be at this time in our life. Speaking of crazy things that happen in Africa, it had been a long time since I have presided in a meeting but I was set apart as the 2nd Counselor in the Mission Presidency this week. It will be fun to learn this side of things over the coming months. I was able to do my first pre-mission interview Monday morning and what a great spirit these new missionaries bring. Love it!
Tell me we don't have the cutest missionaries in the world. And they chose hot dogs over hamburgers so they have that going for them as well.
Sunrise in Jinja
Halloween decorations here in Uganda even though the Uganda's don't celebrate it!
Here we are - busy as always.
Some pictures just don't have words...
The gang after another fun home evening.
Sure, the week we are leaving they come and grade the horrible road in front of our apartment.
Again, some things just don't have words to explain.
Nancy's father will turn 90 on Halloween but had an open house last Saturday so we broke out the musical instruments to sing to him.
When you hear the music, you have to dance. I don't think the little girl in front "gets it."
Go ahead and stop to pick out how ever many chickens you need for dinner.
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