Rats...Why Did It Have To Be Rats

Ogamba Ki mukwanos gwange! (what's up my friends!) This week was...was something. I'll get in to it in a bit, togende! (Let's go!)

March 22, 2021 Mon

   Ladies and Gents, today marks one year to the day since "The Escape From Uganda" as I once referred to it. I cannot believe it, this confirms one fact...I'm an old missionary... *sigh*.

   Anyways, Today was P-Day! Talked to and laughed with makka (family), emailed, and joined my Zone in our PIG ROAST! It was super fun and pretty good, I also kissed the Pig head. It was still whisker-y so it felt weird. It low key confirmed that I wouldn't enjoy kissing men, also that was my first kiss since December of 2019. Fun trivia I already knew.

   After that we went shopping (bought an apron souvenir!), relaxed, and also bought a pizza. Super chill and fun P-Day, also passed out at the end of it.

   

March 23, 2021 Tues

  This morning I got super angry at technology. The Gmail and Gospel Library Apps on my phone kept crashing every time I tried to open them. The mission phone wouldn't call anyone (even though we had data/airtime), and Areabook stopped working for a bit. 

  I wanted to nunchuck both phones into the sun. I was so done and it was 1:00 in the afternoon.

  Luckily we had a lesson with James which made me feel immensely better. We taught the Njelli ya Yesu Kristo (Gospel of Jesus Christ) and answered most of his questions. One he was interpreting Jesus preaching to the Spirits in Prison as if the Spirits weren't dead. I then gave him 1 Peter 4:6;

  "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit"

  As soon as he read it he was confounded. I high key wanted to laugh because it was so blunt haha. Don't worry he still wants to meet with us.

  In the evening the Tech Specialists gave a Zoom training on the Importance of studying the Tech Safeguards and advisory stuff.

March 24, 2021 Weds

  Today we had District Council Meeting and it went pretty good. Sister Marimo made lunch for Gumbato and I afterwards, which I didn't expect, but enjoyed and appreciated.

  After that I started working on a video for y'all at home, A missionary Edition of The Anytime Show (one of the video Series I would do on youtube) in which I did a parody of Binging with Babish and made my usual meal that's not burgers. It was fun and satisfying. 

(The file is too large to download onto the blog so we will upload it to Elder Bradford's Instagram.)

  At the end of the day I was in bed when I heard rustling underneath it. I checked and saw nothing, but my carry on suitcase was under my bed. I slid it out, opened it, and out popped a RAT. It ate my suckers from home I had been saving for bad days, my gum, and ate through the cloth lining the inside of the suitcase. 

  I proceeded to become so angry I vowed to find and kill the rat and light it on fire...IDK if I actually will, but needless to say I now fully share my Father's hatred of RATS.

March 25, 2021 Thurs

  Today we finally fixed our phone so we could call people, but when we called people, tewali (nothing). We ended up listening to talks, I finished my Missionary Anytime Show, called people, texted people, and that was the day. 

  BUT one thing that made the day better was what I do when I feel like the pilot of the Hindenburg. BURGERS! I was missing American goodness pretty hard. So I made some, oh yeah!

March 26, 2021 Fri

  Today was a mix of stuff. Gumbato and I have exchanges with Rwanga and Reese tomorrow. Gumbato will be with Rwanga here, and I'll be with Reese in Nyendo. We'll be busy in the evening so I packed earlier in the day.

  We went and saw Ana today and taught her about the Sabbath day which went very well!

  After that we went back to the apartment, the Zone Leaders came by, and we began exchanges. When I got to Nyendo, got settled for the night, I joined Reese, Madziza, and Su'a (the other two Nyendo Elders) and watched a Missionary Devotional. After that I legit talked with Reese for HOURS it was legit a blast to reminice and swap tales. This'll be fun!

March 27, 2021 Sat

  Today Reese and I had our studies, I showed Reese The Gospel of Jesus Christ Rap and The District (2 of the greatest things I've ever made/had a hand in making), then Su's made us lunch which was very nice of him. 

  After that we had 3 lessons back to back to back at the church building with people Reese and Rwanga are teaching. One of the people is this boy who said after he prayed to know if the church was true he had a dream. 

  Essentially he saw the Church building, another church, and a forest. Madziza and Reese were in front of the Church Building. Madziza asked they boy, "Which one do you want to go to?" The boy pointed to the Church Building. Madziza says "You choice is good." Then the boy woke up. 

  MIND. BLOWN. SO. FREAKIN. COOL. 

  After the lessons we met up with Gumbato and Rwanga and ended exchanges. Then I had a mega fail attempt making burgers. Among other stuff, I put the 2 top buns on one burger and both bottoms on the other. Oops haha

March 28, 2021 Sun

  Today Ana came to church! Other than that Church was pretty normal, mostly in Luganda and making me sleepy. After church we did join Branch Council Meeting which was good. 

  I tried calling Oscar, no answer twice. I'm very worried about him. He seems to be upset about me cancelling the Baptism last week. I'm starting to second guess myself, but it just didn't feel right. Pray for him and pray that we will be able to talk to him.

Well...guess where I was one year ago. Home, in a country, in a state of confusion, aka the State of California *budum-chh*. 

I spent a good three months at home, which was the same amount of time I was on my mission up till that point. So that was enough time to learn things. Mainly from mistakes I made, but that's par for course.

I had become accustomed to having a plan somewhat laid before me, because of school and even the mission. As a missionary I have one purpose; to invite others come unto Christ. And in the span of 3 days I lost it, really not knowing and not sure I would ever get it back. 

I understand something now I wish I did then. We need a purpose to guide and goals to fulfill in order to truly be happy. 

Even though the gospel brings us SO much joy and SO many blessings, none of that matters if we don't use what we have been given to go where we must and to improve the way we need.

I remember feeling I had no purpose and felt lost. 

Where am I to go? 

What am I to do? 

What am I to become?

Lucky for me, my mission wasn't over and I gained a purpose again, but unfortunately, at one time or another, for a multitude of reasons, each of our missions end, and we no longer have a purpose given to us. At least not one that explicitly said.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is taught to be our God given purpose in this Life, but, at least for myself, it's not what motivates me to keep going everyday, and I assume its not the reason for many of you. So what is?

Well that's something that we kinda for ourselves, but not alone. Remember when I said we don't have a purpose that's explicitly said? Well that doesn't mean its not said.

The Teachings and Gospel of Jesus Christ are the keys to finding out our own purpose. As we read them in ebyawandikibwa (scripture) and pray for guidance, we are able to find it. No matter who we are. 

James 1:5

If any of ye lack wisdom ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.

This truth I share mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.

Love you all and I am sad to report I got not one email this week...I'm not crying about it, but I wouldn't say no to an email this next week. They truly make my week 1000% better.

Qwagala nyo makka era mukwanos gwange! 

(I love you my family and friends!)

Elder Bradford 

Here's a short clip of Elder Bradford kissing the pig.