LOCKDOWN: Days 29 to 35/42+
(What's up friends and family!)
*Singing in the tune of "December 1963" by Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons*
Oh what a week!
Early July here in 21!
Lots of stuff and then some!
Oh my people, what a week!
Togende! (Let's go!)
July 5, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! And Still the 4th in The States so I got to watch Fireworks when I called makka and talk to Grandparents on top of talking to my immediate family.
After that I didn't have much, so I swept, cooked some Bacon for breakfast, studied, and relaxed. Eventually I got stir crazy so I grabbed Hachijika and we went shopping, I bought a bowl and some Cereal, and when we got back to the apartment I feasted on 2 bowls of it. No American Brands, but I don't care I enjoyed every Second. After that I sent emails, chilled, and played pool with 'Emelio, love pool.
July 6, 2021 Tues
Today I had a lot of studies and I nearly fell asleep at one point. Also in our apartment we do not have a small stool or coffee table, so we have been using boxes we have whenever we need one for cards, eating, church Movies. So I have decided to make one out of Pizza Boxes, Water Bottles, and glue . . . this is what my life has come to. Also ended my day with a Workout which felt great! And Power went out for a bit, buuuut we got Candles! Be Prepared.
Today we had District Council Meeting which was good and the last one of the Transfer. We have a really close District so it will be kinda sad at Transfers. After DCM Elders Pulu and Dah joined us for Pizza at Coffee Plus, it was all pretty good.
Once back at the apartment, I turned on some Conference Talks and Devotionals as I worked on my Cardboard Coffee Table (who knew my weird childhood obsession with Cardboard stuff would pay off on my mission).
In the evening, I decided to run laps in the Courtyard again, which felt good and was needed. While I was doing that the kids of the members that stay in our compound started running with me. A little boy around 6 or 7 and a Little girl around 3 or 4. It was pretty funny and pretty adorable. After that Fakebook wasn't working again, not sure it works anymore . . . yaaaay. Well it was fun while it lasted.
July 8, 2021 Thurs
Today I had studies, sent messages to people, listened to Devotionals, played Cards, worked on the Coffee Table, and studied some more.
Also President Chatora called me today and told me some news. I have a new calling in the mission. I am a *Drum Roll* . . . ZONE LEADER! With Elder Reese! In Jinja!?! President said its confidential until Transfer News comes out tomorrow so I couldn't say anything, which was actually so Hard, cause this is THE ONLY transfer News I have received on my Entire mission that has made me excited. I have been either Neutral or Negative, "whelmed" to "Scared" to "Angered" by Transfer news, but never Positive and never Excited, until now!
At one point in the evening the power went off and on staying mostly off for a couple of hours, so again with the Candles. Also it looks like the Tongans will not be going back for a couple more weeks. Please pray for the way to be opened for them.
July 9, 2021 Fri
Today I had to go to Immigration for work Permit stuff. President Kilama came and picked me up at 9:00 in the morning and took me and a Sister Missionary, Sister Uwera, to the Mission office. We waited at the mission office for a bit with The Cutlers (The Senior Couple in the Office) for President Okello to take us two and another Sister, Sister Mahlalela, to Immigration. When we arrived we waited . . . a while. I was having DMV flashbacks, it took 5ever.
After all was finally said and done, President Okello took me back to the Makindye Apartment, by then it was around 1:30 in the afternoon. I ate lunch almost as soon as I got back cause I was STARVING.
Following my triumphant mini feast, I went on to study, had a lesson reschedule, finished my table, power went out for a bit, I exercised, and what all of us were waiting for . . .
TRANSFER NEWS: Hachijika is going up North to the Hot Bush, 'Emelio is going to Seeta, y'all know where ya boy is headed, and Max is staying here. Fun Stuff!
July 10, 2021 Sat
Today was the holder of a few things. I had lots of study time, played lots of Games of 3 Up-3 Down with Hachijika (won most of em cause I'm a Champ), then I also went to the Chapel with Hachijika to use wifi for Uploading, downloading, and streaming and to shoot some hoops (I still have NO Handles btw), 'Emelio and I had a lesson over the phone which was good, and I "worked out" with Hachijika. I say worked out loosely, we ran laps in the courtyard and the kids through balls to us, so we played catch with the kids and ran at the same time. It was pretty fun.
July 11, 2021 Sun
Today we again had "Church" which, again, was great, always love Sacrament and Come Follow Me. Afterwards we had lunch and watched the Commemorative Devotional for The Hill Cumorah Pageant, which qas pretty good and they also played a recorded version of the Actual Pageant which was pretty Wizard. I definitely missed out on seeing it, but oh well!
Not too long after that all of us joined a Virtual Tour of The Conference Center on Temple Square, which was awesome! I forgot how HUGE that place is, adding it to the ever growing list of places to visit after the Mission haha!
Well this week I would just like to express something I realized this last week . . . I am lowkey scared to finish my Mission.
I know I sound kinda crazy, but hear me out.
Before I left on my Mission and after I Received my Call people would ask me, "When are you leaving?" "December" I'd reply. Then they'd almost always ask something along the lines of, "Are you excited?" And I'd say, "Yes" because I really was excited to go on my Mission.
Then the day came closer and closer, and my excitement slowly turned more and more into fear, and on the Day of Departure I was sad and TERRIFIED, but eventually it got better.
Now that I am an "Old" Missionary, people ask me essentially the same questions, "When do you finish?" "November" I say. "Are you excited?" They ask and I respond, "Yes" because I really am excited to go home. To see my family and friends, to be able to do stuff that I can't now, to eat stuff I can't now, but I can draw a comparison here, and you see where I'm going with this. The closer I get to going home, the more scared I am to.
Now for all of us we each have things in our lives that stand in front of us, THE NEXT BIG STEP OF LIFE if I may. It's different for everyone, but everyone has one. Something we see in the distance that fills us with excitement then as it gets closer fills us with more and more fear.
How do we avoid it?
We can't. At least not for long.
It always catches up to us.
So what can we do?
What can we do to negate the fear?
Prepare.
I have said this many times in the last couple weeks, I didn't like Scouts, but dang it "Be Prepared" is a good motto to have.
We can't know what exactly will happen, but we can have a clue. So we ought to take that clue and look at it, study it, understand it.
Then, when the time comes, take the goals we've set, the hopes we have, and the knowledge we've gained and conquer our Fears, taking a leap of Faith.
I don't know what Life holds in store for me in 4 or 5 months. I've heard life gets complicated as soon as I step off the Plane home and that life will get even more difficult, but I know one thing, I will be prepared.
Not just with goals, guidelines, and hope, but with a Firm Faith and Testimony in Jesus Christ. And with that I know I can conquer any fear and so can you. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.
Thank you to the wonderful peeps who emailed me this week! You all are awesome and I want you to know it!
Qwagala mukwanos era makka gwange!
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford
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