LOCKDOWN: Days 8-14/42+?
Ogamba ki mukwanos ne makka!
(What's up friends and family!)
Another week of lockdown, another week of beans to spill. "Boop *can falls over*, beans."
Togende! (Let's go!)
June 14, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! Talked to makka, sent a couple emails, relaxed, figured out District food budget, pulled allotment, and bought food. Hachijika and I went to Freedom City and we came back to the apartment sweatin' like a sinner in church. I bought a small chocolate milk (to drink in honor of my MTC Companion, Trent Magill who loves his chocolate milk) and even African chocolate milk after a workout (which was basically or trek back) hits the SPOT. Also bought a big ol' sausage roll which was also SO good!
I had to virtually attend a Zoom Technology Council Meeting as well and it was pretty awesome actually. It motivated to keep going and keep trying to do what I can. After the meeting, Elder Hachijika and I watched a really old church movie called "And Should we Die." I was pleasantly surprised by it, it was actually pretty good.
June 15, 2021 Tues
Today I tried to do more work. Langi and I called Referrals and tried to set up video/phone call lessons with them (one of our Referrals was a Guy named LABAN! I really hope we get to teach him haha!).
Other than the calls, it was devotionals, study, meals, and uplifting media. We planned on having some lessons over the phone in the evening, but we got ghosted which isn't new to me. It happened often in Hurricane (members in the wards I covered there really don't like to answer their phones).
All things considered, today was good. Work can still be done, and studying is fun (accidental Bars).
June 16, 2021 Weds
Today we had our District Council Meeting and during the opening song we had a Surprise Visit from President and Sister Chatora! Which I was fine with, they didn't stay the whole time just the beginning of the meeting. DCM all around though was pretty good.
After DCM Elder Langi and I had a phone lesson . . . which fell through, but we had another phone lesson which went through with an Online Referral named Betty. It went really well and she seems very interested so we'll see how it goes.
We also had our Guard go grab our order from Coffee Plus, so for lunch we had PIZZA! We each had our own Pizza, they box the pizza weird so I had to put all mine on a plate. I've never eaten a pile of pizza . . . until now!
Other than that calls, Devotionals, studies, some cleaning, and went over to the church to use Wi-Fi again.
June 17, 2021 Thurs
Today we contacted some more Referrals, one of them we ended up having an Informal Text lesson which was interesting, she said she believed in science, but also was a Catholic that really believed in "God Almighty" but didn't really believe in the Bible . . . too many mixed messages.
Other than that, studies and Devotionals and I drew a bit. Also towards the end of the night Langi and I were in our room and the ground started to shake for like half a minute. We felt an Earthquake! I was/am kinda confused though because as far as I know Uganda doesn't have any fault lines in it, but I could be wrong!
Oh yeah, water turned off again too . . . and power went out in the night . . . so that's pretty wizard.
June 18, 2021 Fri
Today water and power were on and off throughout the day, sometimes on and most times off. All this is temporary, it won't last, so how bad can it be? . . . I'm gonna regret asking that, aren't I?
Other than dealing with being in a third world country, I drew, studied, called/messaged people, and messed around with Langi's guitar. He just got it back from letting other missionaries borrow it. I think I might try to learn how to play that way I will have something to contribute at jam sessions and not be just snapping along.
Museveni spoke again, shutting down all public transportation and extended the Lockdown because numbers are still increasing A LOT, so that kinda stinks. Not sure by how much he's extended the Lockdown, but it's at least by 12 days and at most by 42.
Oh, and I put my sheets in the washer when power and water were on . . . then power went out . . . aaaand then water turned off . . . guess I'm sleeping with a towel as my sheet tonight . . . oh well, it could be worse!
June 19, 2021 Sat
Today I hit 18 Months! Because we had no power we went to the church building to charge stuff, so I also listened to Devotionals, tried calling people, and looked through the church Library.
When we finally got back to the apartment WATER RETURNED! But not power, so I still have no sheets . . . hehe. But hey at least I can bathe with hot water! No longer have to soldier on like I did my first transfer. I don't know how I survived that!
June 20, 2021 Sun
Today we again had Sacrament at the apartment. Same as last week it was great, plus Power came back before we started so I turned on the washer for my sheets. We also had Come Follow Me after we had the Sacrament. All in all, church at the apartment is nothing to complain about.
I made myself a sandwich and I was tired of "Sadwiches" so I put effort into it and it turned out good I guess. 6/10, but an improvement so its a win.
Elder Langi and I had a Video Call lesson with a Referral we received named David. He's a cool guy and seems to be really interested, we had a great lesson with him.
Soon after the lesson, we joined our mission as well as others in a Virtual Tour of Kirtland, Ohio! Which was pretty sweet actually. Definitely gotta visit in person after the mission!
Oh boy was this a week. If I hadn't figured out the necessity to be positive a couple of weeks ago I probably would be depressed, buuuut I'm not! And I am feeling good, because of a single phrase that I repeated to myself and to people around me stating how obviously terrible our situation was, "It could always be worse."
It could always be worse. It really could.
Y'all this week alone I spent over 24 hours with no power, in a 48 hour span water was mostly off, slept 2 nights with no bed sheets, and on top of that, a Lockdown that just got more intense and Long.
But . . . it could've been worse.
I could've had a rat eat my stuff again.
I could've had no washing machine again.
I could've felt depressed again.
I could've cut my head open again.
I could've been evacuated again.
I could've been sick with malaria or COVID.
It could've been worse.
And it could be worse.
Sometimes it does get worse, and if I get to that point I would still say, "It could be worse."
Why would I say that?
Because nothing any of us endure in our lives will ever be worse than what The Savior endured.
He endured the WORST, so that we could enjoy the BEST.
So when life hits you in the face, and it will, say "Well . . . it could be worse." And (if you have the same luck as I do) it will get worse. And when it does, say again, "Well . . . it could be worse." Eventually it will get better and WHEN it does, enjoy that blessing and remember the one who endured EVERYTHING so you didn't have to. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.
Keep your heads up, stay strong, stand tall, and SEND ME AN EMAIL. I love hearing from you peeps and it makes my WEEK! I hope y'all are well and remember, It could always be worse.
Qwagala mukwanos era makka gwange!
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford
(What's up friends and family!)
Another week of lockdown, another week of beans to spill. "Boop *can falls over*, beans."
Togende! (Let's go!)
June 14, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! Talked to makka, sent a couple emails, relaxed, figured out District food budget, pulled allotment, and bought food. Hachijika and I went to Freedom City and we came back to the apartment sweatin' like a sinner in church. I bought a small chocolate milk (to drink in honor of my MTC Companion, Trent Magill who loves his chocolate milk) and even African chocolate milk after a workout (which was basically or trek back) hits the SPOT. Also bought a big ol' sausage roll which was also SO good!
I had to virtually attend a Zoom Technology Council Meeting as well and it was pretty awesome actually. It motivated to keep going and keep trying to do what I can. After the meeting, Elder Hachijika and I watched a really old church movie called "And Should we Die." I was pleasantly surprised by it, it was actually pretty good.
June 15, 2021 Tues
Today I tried to do more work. Langi and I called Referrals and tried to set up video/phone call lessons with them (one of our Referrals was a Guy named LABAN! I really hope we get to teach him haha!).
Other than the calls, it was devotionals, study, meals, and uplifting media. We planned on having some lessons over the phone in the evening, but we got ghosted which isn't new to me. It happened often in Hurricane (members in the wards I covered there really don't like to answer their phones).
All things considered, today was good. Work can still be done, and studying is fun (accidental Bars).
June 16, 2021 Weds
Today we had our District Council Meeting and during the opening song we had a Surprise Visit from President and Sister Chatora! Which I was fine with, they didn't stay the whole time just the beginning of the meeting. DCM all around though was pretty good.
After DCM Elder Langi and I had a phone lesson . . . which fell through, but we had another phone lesson which went through with an Online Referral named Betty. It went really well and she seems very interested so we'll see how it goes.
We also had our Guard go grab our order from Coffee Plus, so for lunch we had PIZZA! We each had our own Pizza, they box the pizza weird so I had to put all mine on a plate. I've never eaten a pile of pizza . . . until now!
Other than that calls, Devotionals, studies, some cleaning, and went over to the church to use Wi-Fi again.
June 17, 2021 Thurs
Today we contacted some more Referrals, one of them we ended up having an Informal Text lesson which was interesting, she said she believed in science, but also was a Catholic that really believed in "God Almighty" but didn't really believe in the Bible . . . too many mixed messages.
Other than that, studies and Devotionals and I drew a bit. Also towards the end of the night Langi and I were in our room and the ground started to shake for like half a minute. We felt an Earthquake! I was/am kinda confused though because as far as I know Uganda doesn't have any fault lines in it, but I could be wrong!
Oh yeah, water turned off again too . . . and power went out in the night . . . so that's pretty wizard.
June 18, 2021 Fri
Today water and power were on and off throughout the day, sometimes on and most times off. All this is temporary, it won't last, so how bad can it be? . . . I'm gonna regret asking that, aren't I?
Other than dealing with being in a third world country, I drew, studied, called/messaged people, and messed around with Langi's guitar. He just got it back from letting other missionaries borrow it. I think I might try to learn how to play that way I will have something to contribute at jam sessions and not be just snapping along.
Museveni spoke again, shutting down all public transportation and extended the Lockdown because numbers are still increasing A LOT, so that kinda stinks. Not sure by how much he's extended the Lockdown, but it's at least by 12 days and at most by 42.
Oh, and I put my sheets in the washer when power and water were on . . . then power went out . . . aaaand then water turned off . . . guess I'm sleeping with a towel as my sheet tonight . . . oh well, it could be worse!
June 19, 2021 Sat
Today I hit 18 Months! Because we had no power we went to the church building to charge stuff, so I also listened to Devotionals, tried calling people, and looked through the church Library.
When we finally got back to the apartment WATER RETURNED! But not power, so I still have no sheets . . . hehe. But hey at least I can bathe with hot water! No longer have to soldier on like I did my first transfer. I don't know how I survived that!
June 20, 2021 Sun
Today we again had Sacrament at the apartment. Same as last week it was great, plus Power came back before we started so I turned on the washer for my sheets. We also had Come Follow Me after we had the Sacrament. All in all, church at the apartment is nothing to complain about.
I made myself a sandwich and I was tired of "Sadwiches" so I put effort into it and it turned out good I guess. 6/10, but an improvement so its a win.
Elder Langi and I had a Video Call lesson with a Referral we received named David. He's a cool guy and seems to be really interested, we had a great lesson with him.
Soon after the lesson, we joined our mission as well as others in a Virtual Tour of Kirtland, Ohio! Which was pretty sweet actually. Definitely gotta visit in person after the mission!
It could always be worse. It really could.
Y'all this week alone I spent over 24 hours with no power, in a 48 hour span water was mostly off, slept 2 nights with no bed sheets, and on top of that, a Lockdown that just got more intense and Long.
But . . . it could've been worse.
I could've had a rat eat my stuff again.
I could've had no washing machine again.
I could've felt depressed again.
I could've cut my head open again.
I could've been evacuated again.
I could've been sick with malaria or COVID.
It could've been worse.
And it could be worse.
Sometimes it does get worse, and if I get to that point I would still say, "It could be worse."
Why would I say that?
Because nothing any of us endure in our lives will ever be worse than what The Savior endured.
He endured the WORST, so that we could enjoy the BEST.
So when life hits you in the face, and it will, say "Well . . . it could be worse." And (if you have the same luck as I do) it will get worse. And when it does, say again, "Well . . . it could be worse." Eventually it will get better and WHEN it does, enjoy that blessing and remember the one who endured EVERYTHING so you didn't have to. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.
Keep your heads up, stay strong, stand tall, and SEND ME AN EMAIL. I love hearing from you peeps and it makes my WEEK! I hope y'all are well and remember, It could always be worse.
Qwagala mukwanos era makka gwange!
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford
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