Humble McSkirmish

¡Qué pasa mis amigos y familia! I'm back with another update on my life serving in a very Non-Spanish Speaking mission! Haha, felt like mixing up the intro a bit. Anyways, this week was something so togende! (Let's go!)

March 15, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! Talked to makka, sent emails, went shopping, cleaned a bit, and hungout with our whole Zone (minus the sisters) playing pool. Elder Reese played me after I beat Elder Gumbato and beat me by one ball, it was a fun game. We also grabbed a pizza after and I killed that with Gumbato.

 

March 16, 2021 Tues
Today was alright. We had our lesson reschedule and didn't have much else. But we did grab some veggies, listened to a missionary devotional, and attended a Zone District Leader meeting (there I received training on how to be a District Leader... nearly 3 months late. It was good but it would've been better in January. lol)
Not much else just trying to stay sane, burgers help with that. Mmm...burgers.

March 17, 2021 Weds
Today we had a District Council Meeting, the first one of the Transfer and I think it went alright. One person steered it a little off track, but whatevs. We've got a cool District. Afterwards we met with Oscar and reviewed the Baptismal Questions and I feel he's ready, this guy is Powerful!

March 18, 2021 Thurs
Today we met with James and again he asked questions focused on the very minor details o the gospel. He didn't like how we called the 3 Kingdoms the 3 "Kingdoms" cause they weren't called "Kingdoms" in the bible and there is only one kingdom in Heaven. Very small bush in a very large painting of a Lush Jungle Waterfall. My scripture knowledge is limited, unlike my hyperactive imagination, so I decided to go the "Spiritual Witness" route to truth rather than the intellectual one he was looking for.
I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and how we need to focus on and learn the basics rather than focusing only on the minor details. I think it helped him. If not, it definitely helped me.

March 19, 2021 Fri
Today I hit 15 months! It feels like it took forever to get from 14 to 15. Weird.
Anyway, we had good plans today, but like a couple weeks ago, nothing went according to plan. We planned to have Oscar's Interview at 2, but the ZL's were an hour late because of some miscommunication and confusion, but it still happened and Oscar Passed! Unfortunately the Branch President will be out of town so Oscar will have to wait til Sunday.
We also went and taught Ana with Junior as well as Elders Kisegerwa and Sempijja because they know Luganda. Junior was an hour late, but the lesson still happened!
Even with all of this, today wasn't bad. I had a lot of laughs and I had burgers for dinner.

 

March 20, 2021 Sat
Today was very ok. We didn't have anything scheduled, so we called some referrals, studied, and (for me) did a lot of thinking.
Our Zone is having a Pig Roast on P-Day and Pulu is spearheading it. They bought a pig today, killed it and gutted it. Then Pulu needed a place to put it, so we let him put it in our freezer. Gumbato and I didn't think it would fit, but...we were wrong, cause Pulu made it fit! I was surprised and a little terrified haha.

March 21, 2021 Sun
Today marks one year since I (among many others) received the news I was going home. Time has flown by hasn't it?
We went to church early to prep for Oscar's Baptism, but the font wasn't filling. I was whelmed by it though. Then Oscar didn't come to church and I started to think maybe we need to explain something about committing and the church, so no Baptism yet, but hopefully soon.

Alrighty then. Quite the week. Like I have said many times, nothing goes according to plan. Should I be used to it? Yes.
Am I used to it? ...sure.

As is a running joke at this point, I was thoroughly whelmed by everything that didn't happen "correctly" this week. This is pretty normal because Life is like that 80% of the time.

If my life thus far had gone the way I planned it I would be buff, be able to sing, and would've spent my entire mission here in Uganda. But, for better or worse, it didn't happen that way. I'm not buff (not sure I would even look like me if I was), I still can't really sing (no matter how hard I try), and I spent an eighth of my mission at home and a quarter of my mission in St. George Utah (which I now know was meant to be).

Life doesn't go according to the plan you have for yourself, it goes according to God's plan he has for you.

Humility is a big part of becoming a more patient person and a better person all together. Being humble in conversation and in action has blessings of being more likable, more kind, and more level headed. But it also allows us to take the backseat and let Kantonda (God) guide us to where we ought to go and to who we ought to be.

I'd like to think that I learned at least a little of that before the mission, but I've definitely learned it now. I now know for a fact Kantonda (God) knows where we are needed, when we are needed, and what we are in need of.

If you don't know the path, pray to Kitaffe Alimugulu wafe (Our Heavenly Father) and read ebyawandikibwa (Scriptures), and you will find at least a place to start on this path.
This I promise mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.

Thank you all for the love and support. Extra special thank you to those few who emailed me. It made my week that much better! Until next week!

Qwagala nyo makka era mukwanos gwange!
(I love you my family and friends!)
Elder Bradford