1st Week of The Transfer . . . kinda (LOCKDOWN continued)

Ogamba ki mukwanos ne makka!
(What's up friends and family!)
I am back with another update! To explain the title, most of our Zone did not get to their new areas until the latter half of the week, which was the first one of the Transfer. Kinda weird! But what can I say THAT'S MY MISSION! Haha!
Togende! (Let's go!)

August 23, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! Talked to makka, sent and received some emails, bought some groceries, then Lubwama wanted to go take pictures by the water front at Lake Victoria so he, Musungo, Khamisi (who's staying with us until he gets to his area), Fierro, and I went.
I love water views. It's refreshing (pun half intended). After pics we got some good ol' Rolex Joint then headed back to the apartment.

August 24, 2021 Tues
Today we started the day with a pretty chill plan, but as per usual, our plans changed, lol. Fierro had to take Kyalimpai with Ramson to the hospital which took a few hours, so while he was out being a taxi I was at the apartment listening to devotionals, drawing, thinking about Disneyland (I can't help it. It runs in the family).
After lunch, Fierro came back and we went to the chapel, contacted referrals, and used wi-fi. Eventually we headed back to the apartment, after making a stop at the Walukuba Elders to drop some stuff off and to chat for a bit. We ended the day with dinner, working out, shower, and sleep (my favorite).

August 25, 2021 Weds
Today we had District Council Meeting which was good and afterwards (HUNGER WARNING) we went to this place for pizza. They had a 2 for 1 special, so we got 6 for 3. The Pizza was awesome and we had some good fun too.
After eating Fierro & I dropped Musungo, Lubwama, & Khamisi at the apartment and headed to the chapel and waited for a new friend interested in The Church. His name is Joshua and we shared about the Restoration. The lesson went great even though he was an hour and a half late.
Then, after he left the chapel, Fierro & I stayed for a bit then headed back to the apartment to finish the day with dinner, "gym-ing" as Ugandans call exercise, shower, and sleep.

 

August 26, 2021 Thurs
Today was pretty chill. In the morning, Godfrey came to pick up Khamisi and take him to his new area and in the Transfer Van was Elder Max who was in my District in Makindye! And I saw the one and only Elder Logan Sheppard! He's on his way to East Zone, which Jinja Zone normally has Zone Conference with when it's in-person, so hopefully it will be before I go home. Logan's doing awesome though, so full of fire its great!
After they all left, Fierro & I took Soluka to the Hospital for a check up. It took a couple hours, but afterwards we dropped her off with the other Sisters, grabbed food, and headed to the chapel, scheduled a lesson and used the wi-fi.
Afterwards, when we got back to the apartment Fierro and I washed and cleaned the car which was sorely needed, but also took a few hours.
I got a call from President Chatora, and found out I was getting released from my job as Technology Specialist, which means I am to give my Tech Spec Phone to the new one, who is actually Elder Woods. I am a little sad about it, it was actually pretty fun.
I worked it off by doing my new nightly schedule.

August 27, 2021 Fri
Today was MY 20TH BIRTHDAY!! I find birthdays kinda funny because the kids are being celebrated for doing nothing. Just some food for thought.
The day was honestly pretty normal, but really good. For lunch Fierro & I went to The Deli (HUNGER WARNING), I got a nice roast beef sandwich with a chocolate chip cookie and a beer of the root variety (shout out Enrique). Following such was the purchasing of Jif peanut butter and pretzels!! Happy Friggin Birthday!!!
After that, Fierro & I actually had a couple of lessons. One with Joshua again which was a great one. Another with a new friend named Stanley who also seems powerful. Both lessons were at the chapel and were absolutely fantastic!
Then Fierro & I had to drop some stuff at the Walukuba Sisters, then take Musungo & Mensah to begin their transfers, both are staying the night in Bugembe until their new companions come tomorrow.
I got A LOT of Birthday messages today, THANKS Y'ALL!!!

August 28, 2021 Saturday
Today Elder Fierro was to take Elders Lubwama and Cates (who has been staying in Walukuba for the last week) to their new areas in Kampala. I was to stay with Merzlock & Nabikamba until Fierro returned the next day.
I joined them in teaching, walking, having a lesson bounce us (not show up), having lunch, listening to devotionals, and hanging out. All around it was a fun day!
Eventually it came time to do the nightly schedule to finish it out! Also slept with a pretty janky mosquito net set-up, 3 chairs next to my mattress on the floor . . . could be worse.

August 29, 2021 Sun
Today I joined all the Walukuba Missionaries for their Sacrament Meeting which was super cool. Not long after the meeting finished Fierro pulled up.
He was supposed to have the new Jinja Sisters with him, but they weren't. Apparently one of them got covid so both of their transfers are being delayed. So Fierro and I are District-less at the moment haha!
Fierro was also telling me that he and the APs had so much fun, which was salt in the wound, I was a little jealous about that.
We didn't have much else to do today other than Weekly Zone Leader stuff.

Well here I am. Another year older, another year wiser. J/k I am not wise, I just have read my scriptures, seen crazy things, and read crazy things in the scriptures.

Speaking of which, this last week I read the Story of the Brother of Jared (whose name is Moriancumer btw) and how he asked the Lord to touch 16 clear stones to make them give light.

A little background. The Lord instructed Moriancumer to build barges to get across the sea to "A Land of Promise" (The Americas), but Moriancumer had a problem, they had no reliable or safe source of light in the barges. So Moriancumer asked The Lord what he should do. The Lord responds, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" Moriancumer then presented 16 Stones transparent as glass to the Lord and says a beautiful and truth filled prayer in Ether 3:2-5;

    O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.
    Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.
    And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.
    Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.

Did you catch that?
Rocks.
His idea was to have The Lord touch ROCKS.
Then The Lord actually does it!
Why?
Well in Moriancumer's prayer he shows 2 things that I am going to call "The 2 Keys to Miraculous Answers."
1: Humility. As we humble ourselves, seeking with a sincerity of heart we are then worthy of receiving and willing to receive the answer.
2: Faith. As we truly believe that The Lord has power over all things and power to do all things, then anything we ask that is not contrary to His will can be given.

I invite you to apply these two principles, or at the VERY least, deeply think about them. As you do you will see those miraculous answers you've asked for. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.

Thank you all for the Birthday love, it was a good day! I hope everyone has an awesome week! Shoot me an Email and tell me about it!
Qwagala mukwanos era makka gwange!
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford