Weird End to a Whack Transfer (LOCKDOWN continued)
Ogamba ki mukwanos ne makka!
(What's up friends and family!)
Yes sir I'm alive and kickin' and back with another update including the weird end of this whack transfer. Not saying it has been bad, just saying its been kinda whack. Lockdown does that. Also WARNING: The contents of this Update may make you hungry. You've been warned.
Togende! (Let's go!)
August 16, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! I talked to fam, relaxed, got dressed. It was Elders Reese's, Gumbato's, and Sister Mutheu's last one so they wanted to do something fun.
Reese & I met up with Bitter & Khamisi at Java House. I got a bacon cheeseburger and we had a fun lunch. After that, the 4 of us met up with Gumbato & Cates at Rolex Joint where Gumbato was saying goodbye's to some members from Njeru! It was Suzan and Brick who I worked with a number of times while I was in Njeru! It was fun to see them.
Reese & I then tried to get a plan communicated for our excursion with Walukuba, Wanyange, Njeru, and us. Reese & I drove the STL's and everyone else got a Taxi going to Bujagali Falls. Turns out it's flooded and non existent now, so we decided to take a trip to the dam.
The dam view was really nice! Super beautiful, lots of water and greenery all around. We laughed, took lots of pics, skipped rocks, super fun.
In the end when all were leaving, everyone got home safely. Fun day!
Today Elder Reese & I went on exchange with the Njeru Elders. Bitter went with Reese in our area, while I was with Khamisi in Njeru! It was like seeing an old friend, mainly because I did see old friends.
I got a Rolex from my man Adam, went to the chapel and saw Beni, Brick, Brother Nathan, and Bob! It was fun to chat and catch up. Khamisi & my lesson bounced, so we got ice cream from Anisha and walked around Njeru.
It was crazy to be back. It's changed a bit since I was there. The chapel has a legit stand and pulpit now, plus an actual baptismal font in the compound rather than a giant plastic crate.
After our scenic walk back to the apartment we rested by listening to Devotionals and Conference Talks. Elders Reese & Bitter got back around 6:30, we ended the Exchange, got back to Jinja apartment, and then ran with Musungo which killed me today. I was exhausted, but 100% worth it.
August 18, 2021 Weds
Today we had our District Council Meeting which was good, but afterwards Elder Reese & I got some shocking news. Elder Reese & I will be parting ways a lot sooner than we thought. We're going to take Elder Fierro to Kampala on Friday morning for a Mission Driving test (which is a test for licensed missionaries who need to be approved to drive mission vehicles), and Elder Reese will be staying in Kampala until he leaves Uganda, while Fierro & I will go back to Jinja Saturday.
This all was really sudden and Reese was kinda stressed about last minute stuff that just became A LOT more last minute. But even with that news we were hungry and so we went to the Deli where I enjoyed a super good chicken sandwich that was a little spicy, plus a big ol' chocolate chip cookie which was also delicious.
After that we dropped Mutheu & Soluka at the hospital, went to the market for Elder Reese to buy some things, picked up the Sisters, took them home, picked something up from the chapel, used Wi-fi, then headed home. Luckily Reese is pretty much ready to go so this should go well.
August 19, 2021 Thurs
Today I hit 20 months! And we had Mission Leadership Council! It was good and got a lot of good council for how to be a better leader and unify the Zone.
After MLC, Reese & I got Rolex Joint to-go (the owner gave Reese 2 extra slices of Banana Bread as a going away gift), then to Iganga to grab Fierro. The 3 of us were basically a trio for the rest of the day. We went to town to get stuff for Reese, then to Sylivia's for Reese to say goodbye. It was full of jump roping, laughing, singing, emotion, and fun. I can tell Reese will miss all this.
Today around 7:30 Reese, Fierro, & I left for Kampala. We got stuck in traffic as soon as we got close to Kampala. The first thing we had to do was take our truck to a service station to get new tires, which was supposed to take about an hour, so the APs O'berhansley & O'driscol came and picked us up and took us to the mission office.
We chatted for a while with the APs and The Cutlers, then they had us Three Amigos take the Isuzu Truck at the Office to Pick up our truck at the Shop then drive with both to drop the Isuzu at the Isuzu Dealership to get it fixed. But our truck wasn't done getting new tires, so we went to FoodHub while waiting.
Oh man have I missed FoodHub. I got a Shwarma "Burger" (it was just a sandwich) which was SO GOOD then a waffle with ice cream which hit the spot! Then we Three Amigos got the truck, dropped the Isuzu, came back to the mission office, I helped Sister Chatora with a little technical difficulties, then we all left.
Elder Fierro basically did his driving test with Reese & I, but Kilama wanted to do it anyways. So Fierro drove with Kilama and O'driscol to the Ntinda apartment, and Reese, O'berhansley, and I followed. Kilama left, then us 5 went out to this Fancy Rolex Joint nearby. It isn't at all affiliated with Rolex Joint, but it also serves specialty Rolex, and it has Good Vibes . . . legit, its literally written on the wall, so you know its got 'em. I got a Rolex with sausage in it and it was GOOD.
After that we hungout at the Ntinda apartment (where we were spending the night) and winded the day down. I also officially found out Fierro's going to be my new comp!
August 21, 2021 Saturday
Today all 5 of us went out to breakfast at a nice resturaunt called Café Javas. I got what were called Monte Cristos, but they looked more like breakfast club sandwiches (yes Breakfast Club so funny "hahaha's"), but that's not a complaint, they were really good and very filling.
After breakfast, Fierro & I had to part ways with the APs & Reese. I'm missing Elder Reese already, I'm gonna visit that Sack after the mission haha! Fierro & I headed back to Jinja which took 5ever because of LA levels of traffic.
We got back exhausted, but Fierro had to go pick up the Wanyange Elders and drop them off in Walukuba for transfers, then came back and grabbed me. We went to Iganga to get the rest of his stuff (He only brought a little because transfers weren't confirmed until we got to Kampala), came back, Rolex Joint for dinner, then filled the Walukuba Elders gas tank and said goodbyes to Gumbato whom I will also miss like nothing. I'll try to visit him after the mission or get him to America to goon around with for sure!
We ended the day exhausted . . . I am again always so tired, haha.
August 22, 2021 Sun
Today Elder Fierro had a busy schedule. Because of transfers and restrictions Fierro had to drive alone to get Njeru Elders, drop Khamisi here, take Bitter as well as Mutheu from Jinja Zone to Ntinda, then picking up missionaries coming to Jinja Zone, Elder Mensah and Sister Mananga. Fierro was gone from 7:30ish am to 4 or 5 pm. Poor guy.
In the meantime, I took the Sacrament with Musungo, Lubwama, and Khamisi then did some Zone Leader organizing/planning, did studies, and relaxed. When Fierro came back he told me that Reese is very much enjoying in Ntinda right now, kinda jelly haha!
To end the night we played Phase 10 and Fierro won choosing Musungo to wash dishes haha! Got 'em!
With my Transfer with Elder Reese officially over I have begun to reflect on what an impact he had on me and what I learned from him, and as a result, everyone I've served around on my mission.
I've officially entered my last 12 weeks of my mission which is weird to think about, so I kinda avoid it, but then I look back at the people that I have met and all the amazing friends I've made, and realize how much I have gained from these crazy past couple years.
I'm reminded of a talk from Elder Carlos A. Godoy called "I believe in Angels." In it he talks about the "Angels" that are put in our lives. The people that bring to us joy, love, hope, and assistance, even and especially in the hardest of times.
I recognize how many of the people I've served around brought me each of those things and it makes me feel so grateful for what kind of life I've lived and for those people that have made it so much better than it would've been without them.
So my invitation to you is to find those "Angels" in your life, remember what they've done for you, and thank them. It's very likely they don't know that they have helped you or that they've been an angel in your life. So tell them! I promise that when you do, your gratitude and joy will grow, as well as the love for those people in your life whom you would call angels. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.
Alrighty that's the week! Weird and whack, but dope and fun. Funny how that works. SEND ME AN EMAIL Y'ALL I beg for em cause I love 'em! Also, shout out to Elder Jamiel Stanley who just finished his mission! Woohoo! Give him a hug for me!
Qwagala mukwanos era makka gwange!
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford
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