You're Welcome!

You're Welcome!  Traditional greeting when you go in somewhere to let you know you are welcome.  It was a bit strange the first week at church when they were all saying "You're Welcome" and I was trying to figure out why...

Another very busy week!  The time is flying by and life back home continues to move along as well.    We love and miss family but have been very busy so it really helps the time move along.  We learned a long time ago not to wish our time away, it will happen very quickly on its own so enjoy each and every day and whatever is put in our day is there for us to learn and grow.  We are learning and growing as we have so many new and exciting things happening almost every day.

We had our first new Elders come in.  The three that arrived are all from Africa so they come from the Mission Training Center in South Africa.  They have training the first day at President Chatfield's home.  It is amazing what Sister Chatfield has to do while all the meetings are going on. She has breakfast ready for them and starts preparing for lunch.  They along with the assistants tothe President are all there along with the office couple and us as the medical.  We each have a role in teaching them about health, money, safety and working hard as a missionary.  We have four Elders from America that have been waiting for visas for over four months.  We could sure use them.  We love these sisters and elders that have come to serve the Lord.

The evening brings all the senior couples from far away in to bring in and pick up the transferring sisters and elders.  The sisters moved earlier in the week so it was just the elders.  We came back to the President's home for dinner and then have a meeting after to discuss any changes or problems the Missionary Leader Support couples may be having.  It is difficult with so many new members to teach the proper way the branch should function.  The MLS couples are responsible for everything the sisters or elders need for support, along with training the branch on how to function.  Africa is learning but it is a slow process.  We are told to only teach, not to take over and do.  One problem in Africa is that many senior couples will not come to Africa and that is unfortunate because if they put their trust in the Lord they will find it a most rewarding calling.  The MLS couples that are scheduled to leave over the next few months currently have no one to fill in behind them.  It is critical we teach the African people how to lead and guide without senior couples in the outlying areas if the church is unable to fill behind the current couples.  Where else can you go and get a completely different - total cultural experience like you can get in Africa?  Almost every day something will happen that we just would not have experienced if we weren't in Africa.

I am in charge of the mission vehicles and we were able to sell eight vehicles this past couple weeks.  They are offered to the employees first and then to the local leadership next.  Six were sold to the church employees and the last two were sold to the district leadership this week.  I think we are done with that for quite some time now.  Most of the vehicles have lower milelage but the miles on the trucks are not easy miles.  The roads are full of potholes or are dirt roads that have large gullies you have to navigate.  We took some back roads home from Church last Sunday hoping that we could miss traffic, and we did, but the road was narrow and when two vehicles had to pass you had to move off the blacktop and it was very bumpy.  It was a nice change but even with stop and go traffic on the main highway that we always get in the afternoon it took quite a bit longer to get home.  We didn’t take that shortcut (longcut) today.

Our mission scripture is Mark 5:36: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.  Doesn't that scripture have something in it for everyone?  We go forward with faith that The Lord knows our needs and will strengthen and bless us, we can go into any difficult situation with a believing heart.  I know I have a way to go in this but when we put The Lord to the test, he always provides.  We may have to look back on a difficult situation to see His hand but it is always there.  He will lead us forward and we will find safe passage if we are obedient.

The bar is being raised in Africa for new missionaries.  Over half of the missionaries in the Uganda Kampala Mission come from Africa.  Most are supported by the Church.  In the past there was a one page medical checklist that as long as you could walk and talk you could pass.  Missionaries in Africa will now have to pass the same stringent medical checklist the rest of the church uses for prospective missionaries.  This will be a major change because they will find many of the problems that currently occur after they are in the mission field.  When you have a sick elder it keeps at least two people from work as his/her companion has to stay with them.  If they are able to get the dental and other medical conditions diagnosed and treated before they go on a mission the work will move forward much better.  Africa is a very poor continent, but these new missionary guidelines help ensure missionaries sacrifice and prepare appropriately for a missionary experience.  Over time, working under the guidelines of the church, people will have that change of heart that will lead to prosperity and happiness. 

We did have the first baptism since we have been here last Sunday. A young man (Moses) who was baptized last week and confirmed a member of the church this week.  We only had 24 people in our branch this week but the core of the branch is very active.  We had the Elders Quorum President baptize his fiancé this week in anther branch.  That will be nice for wherever they end up to have a strong couple as part of the congregation.  

This is already too long and without pictures (computer is still down and out) I don't know how many of you will make it this far.  

I will have some wonderful pictures and will cover our humanitarian visit to cut jiggers (Chigoe Flea) out of children's feet next week.  We were able to keep and eat any jiggers we cut out...yuck!  You can find some interesting photos on the internet if you would like.