Shoestring Vampire

Having a bad day?  I had a young man write to me this week with all the problems a young man who has been abandoned by his family and struggling to find friendship in a troubled world.  Every day here in Africa we are reminded of how blessed we are with our struggles being what kinds of programs to put our children in or how soon we need to change our vehicle or a host of other “problems.”  It reminds us that the temporal blessings that are so real for each of us matter little when it comes to happiness.

I love the quote from President Kimball: “If all the sick for whom we pray were healed, if all the righteous were protected and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended. No man would have to live by faith.

“Should all prayers be immediately answered according to our selfish desires and our limited understanding, then there would be little or no suffering, sorrow, disappointment, or even death, and if these were not, there would also be no joy, success, resurrection, nor eternal life and godhood.

“Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle,Deseret Book Co., 1973, pp. 97–98.)

The mission tour continued with Elder Cook and President and Sister Chatfield teaching the sisters and elders of our area.  We fed this group shepherds pie and it was a hit.  It was tough to find enough ovens to cook 7 casserole dishes of the stuff.

 

Elder and Sister Cook.  They are crazy busy and both are great teachers.  I wish we could have sat through all the teaching but alas, someone has to be Martha.

Getting ready for the show.

The elders get the handshake and the sisters the hug.  Lucky sisters!

OK, the truth now.  How many of you have had your jowls scrubbed along with your haircut. The first time for me but not the last.

Jowl scrubbing takes a lot out of you so it deserves one of my favorite meals (unfortunately I have many favorite meals beginning with whatever is in front of me).  Italian sub with Trevor's fries and Coke Zero.  Love is in the air.

Besides, playing with food is another of my favorite past times...Don't worry, nothing goes to waste.

I had some interviews at Walukuba and we had a basketball game, volleyball and these kids kicking a soccer ball around.  Cute kids are everywhere.

Oops, like so many, they wear what they have until it falls off them.  When we go out and do a jiggers project Sister Hannan takes some extra clothing to pass along.  A never ending need but they don't let it stop them from having fun.  No judgment from other children because most of the kids are in the same predicament.

Just being silly.  It actually looks real comfortable.

Sister Squire has a cake business but she never gets paid so I am not sure how long we can stay in the business.  We had one of our former missionaries get married to one of the High Council members and a returned missionary from the Kampala Stake.  That is some fancy foot wear.  She has grown taller since we last saw her.

This is proof that I do unpleasant things like go to weddings because I am told to.

This is a family of ten children in the Busia Branch.  We helped with the marriage, so they could get baptized, quite a few months ago.  Wonderful family.

On the way back from Busia people were lined up for something.  It turned out to be a bike race and inside all the boda bodas was the lead rider of the race.

We also came across this band in the back of the truck.  He started to play the drums as we got behind him waiting to pass.

Sister Squire has a habit of making the elders and sisters happy on their birthday.

Some odds and ends from our jigger projects.

These two were always clowning around.  For some weird reason we connected.

So many stories this one could tell.

She was walking up the road with her harvest of beans.  She will strip the plants and dry the beans for future use.

This is the same school we went to with Rachelle and Alysia in November last year.  You can see the line and we only had funding for 100 children.  The church humanitarian loves this project because it helps so many children.  I am sure we will be back again to keep the good work moving along.

They rely on fossil burning materials for cooking so you see kids carrying wood around all the time.

Just chillin...

And so we just keep doin' what we are doin' and loving it.