He then gives this example, that is very powerful to me, because it is one that almost anyone who has any experience with will agree as being something very difficult to deal with. "A woman had been physically abused as a teenager by her father. As time passed the abuse affected her increasingly and she allowed it to consume her life. She began to harbor anger toward her father and was confused and hurt when others didn't feel the same. At the same time she could find no peace in her life...She would not forgive him because he did not ask for her forgiveness. One evening she learned the principle of giving grace to receive grace. She recognized that forgiving her father - even though he had not asked for it -- was the grace that she could give. It may have been unmerited or even undeserved and that's what made it grace. A great spiritual awakening began to happen within her...These gifts were Gods grace for her willingness to give grace to her father." As we give grace we begin to receive even more grace for ourselves. We are already His sons and daughters, so now we need to use our time here on earth to become like Him so we can be with Him.
Grass doesn't grow under your feet on a mission unless of course you allow it to. We were able to go and help with the Jinja Branch Mormon Helping Hands project. It was cleaning a medical facility a few miles up the road from where we live. We cleaned the outside getting all the cobwebs and such from under the rafters to everything else around the place. You really don't want this stuff in your eyes.
I found this cute girl cleaning the windows and dusting.
Getting the "lawn mower" ready. It takes a group of men to sort thing out. It sure beats slashing the grass.
Sisters - always ready with a pose. I wonder if I could learn to do this...
Yep, even the elders get to sweep, mop and squeegee the floors.
After you get grass all over the dirt driveway you need to sweep it clean again.
Even the area around the place needs to be swept clean of grass.
The sisters had some kind of dance to make it fun. I like the one in the middle that doesn't have a broom but works it anyway.
Good thing we were all clean at the medical center because a three star someone drove into the compound. He didn't stay to help us clean...darn-it.
Here are the famous helping hands of Jinja.
This group of kids came to watch the action and they did help a bit in picking up the grass clippings. You can see why the average age in Uganda is 15.
After we had finished cleaning the kids were playing games just like anywhere else in the world. We heard the clapping and went to investigate. While in the circle they were yelling "succo." I asked one of the Branch members what it meant in Lugandan. She said they were saying circle. They have a hard time with the letter "r" in their language. They would clap and take turns going into the middle to show off their dance moves.
Someone has to show them how a real man dances so by default it has to be me. Nice to see that I still "have it" when it come to shaking a leg.
Why are all these kids looking at the weird man? I am just waving goodbye so we can get going onto our next project.
Zone Conference! Sister Chatfield teaching them about time management. She and Sister Squire teamed up to help everyone understand we only get so much of it and we decide how we spend it.
Yea, preach it sister! She did a great job.
There was a time limit dice game to help teach the principle.
After the meeting we finished up by feeding the 40 people sloppy joes, pineapple, watermelon, chips and cupcakes. Sister Squire was a busy girl with all this going on. After the conference we asked the Elders if they wanted a picture and they all said they had plenty. However, the sisters are always ready for a photo and they were kind enough to show me how to do the famous right arm poke. I nailed it!
Sister Squire is a natural. Notice the gentle lean toward the lens, I will have to work on that.
Time to move to the next activity, the Relief Society Birthday party. Sister Squire made the cake and helped with the activity. I got to go home for a while. Guess how all these sisters arrived from Iganga...yep everyone popped out of the van behind them.
Everyone wanted to hold the knife as they ceremoniously cut the cake.
One of the more cute attendees. (Baby Patience)
No need to set up a bunch of chairs, just chill on the lawn.
Another senior couple bites the dust. We had transfers this week so everyone was in town and we had the dinner for Elder and Sister Story who will be leaving the first week of May. Great couple that helped a lot of people learn self-reliance. (Sister with pink scarf and Elder behind her)
Sister Squire with the twin girls that work at one of our favorite eating establishments. They are cute and fun to visit with.(They are also our neighbors!)
I just like how this tree still trying to thrive even with many parts dying off. Well done tree!
Anything I say could get me in trouble so I will only say that I find witches hot.
- Q: Why don't angry witches ride their brooms?
A: They're afraid of flying off the handle! - Q: What do witches put on their hair?
A: Scare spray - Q: How does the witch know what time it is?
A: She looks at her witch-watch. - Q: What is a witch's favorite subject in school?
A: Spelling! - Q: What did the witch do when her broomstick broke?
A: She witch-hiked! - Q: What does a witch kid want for Christmas?
A: A haunted dollhouse. - Q: Why do witches wear name tags?
A: So, they would know which witch is which! - Q: What do you call two witches living together?
A: Broom-mates. - Q: What does a witch ask for when she is in a hotel?
A: Broom service. - Q: What did one witch say to other when she asked for a lift?
A: "There's always broom for one more." - Q: When do witches cook their victims?
A: On Fry Day. - Q: What do you call a witch who lives at the beach?
A: A sand-witch.
