A Man and his Crown

Some weeks are more difficult than others to decide what to post.  We had a busy week but nothing extraordinary happened.  What is with that?  Here we are in a foreign country and nothing too exciting happened?  Crazy.  We always see new things like a bodaboda riding down the road with a couple of huge fish strapped to the back.  Or the vehicle that was passing me that had several fish strapped to the front of his car.  I may have to use some of these ideas when we get home for getting attention. 

We did finish our 90 day challenge of reading of the Book of Mormon this week.  I love Ether 12 and several of the verses that shine so much light on how we should be living.  "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Ether 12:6  Isn't it true that we have to often walk a step or two in the dark before we are shown the way forward.  We receive these small or large tests all the time it seems.

"For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith." Ether 12:12  Do we not sometimes only think to ask for a miracle in our behalf with no thought that we need to believe it will happen.  I know many of us have asked for a miracle in our own behalf or a loved one and it hasn't been answered.  It is sometimes years before we see how the Lord has answered our prayers and I truly believe that miracles are all around us when we learn to look.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."  Ether 12:27  I know that those of you who know me know that I have been blessed with an outpouring of weaknesses.  Even I, with so many areas where I am weak know that his grace is sufficient for me and all of you.  Some things I have even overcome like eating vegetables...

"And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father."  Ether 12:37  Charity, something lacking in the world today.  We see it every day all around us but we have to overlook that and realize that what other people do or don't do mattereth not to the Lord, only what we do will we be held accountable.

There are more in that one chapter of scripture but so much to learn.  I am grateful for it.

That doesn't mean we sat around and nothing happened this week.  Here are the pictures to prove it.

We have an Elder that has a really bad knee from kneeling on a poison fish and getting a bone in his knee when he was 12.  He almost lost his leg over it.  We were taking him some medicine and out front of his house a truck had somehow run off the side of the road.  There are very deep ditches all over Uganda to handle the heavy rain that comes often this time of year.  This looks bad, he is throwing whatever is in the back out of his truck.  

Whoa, what are all these people doing?  This is just the people that happened to be around when it came time to try and get the vehicle out.  Africans are very nice and capable in figuring out how to get out of a jam.

They got the back out first and then had to lift the engine and vehicle out.  They did it and he was able to drive it away.  Cool.

Here is a short video of the final outcome.

Here we are at Mulago Hospital, a government facility where Beatrice will receive chemo and radiation for her cancer.  The soccer (football) is for PC Squire.  Yes, there is an African baby named after me.  Poor kid...

Beatrice needs visitors so we try and get over every couple of days and bring her some food.

This cute little one was outside and agreed to have her picture taken.

Isn't there one in every crowd?  Man, this guy has lost some brain cells somewhere along the way.  Oh well, he wears the crown well.

We found a very nice restaurant where we had Chinese food and BBQ.  Why both, oh come on, why not both!

This was desert.  It was an eyeball in some type of solution that you then put sugar on.  OK, I needed a bit of drama so it is really a spot of sweet bean and covered with a flour mixture.  Meh...

These two guys were riding in the back of a truck as we were taking an Elder to the doctor.  We loved the hats so we took a picture.  When they noticed we were taking a picture they ran for cover.

Here he is peaking out to see if we have gone away.  Now then, where would we go... We are sitting and waiting in a traffic jam!

We had three baptisms today after our block of meetings.  The primary had a craft that Sister Squire had arranged and here they are 30 minutes after the normal block of meetings are over, still working on the project.  Those are stickers on some of their heads.

Because the water was off they filled the font with river water.  It was very dirty but with a bit of Clorox it was safe for a baptism. 

We had three baptisms.  What is really cool is that Jennifer was baptized by her husband who was only baptized a month ago.  The two young men were baptized by another member who was baptized only a month or so ago as well.  I love how the gospel changes lives.  Here are the Elders from Lugazi Branch.  Elder Okech from Tanzania, Elder Bokwe from South Africa, Elder Buyers from Idaho (Rigby) and Elder Ogollo from Kenya.  Also in the front are Bro. Ochitti, 1st Counselor and Bro. Charles, Branch President.

Random photos, here are some sisters selling brooms.  The will carry them on their head and you can stop and buy one any time you want.  Uganda has a problem with litter.  They drop whatever trash they have in their hand anywhere they are standing or riding.  Some of the older ladies get to bend over with one of these brooms and sweet the sides of the street.  It would be nice if they learned how to pick up after themselves.

Here in Africa the people are very resourceful.  Here is a car/bodaboda washing spot along the road to Jinja.  They are fixing the road by tearing up the old road and then doing nothing for several weeks until they finally pave it again.  Here they have taken the blacktop pieces and used them to make a very nice spot versus the mud they had before when it rained.

Here is a picture of one the many local nurserys.  They use plastic bags with soil and plant the  item in it.  You see them all over.

Finally, a random video of the day.  This was my ALS video to answer a challenge.