The Rock of our Redeemer
Ogamba ki mukwanos ne makka!
(What's up friends and family!)
Yes sir I am back with update number... A LOT. We had a pretty bust week so this update is a little long, which is pretty normal at this point. Hope y'all aren't too bored of me yet, because soon you'll get a lot more of me haha!
Tugende! (Let's go!)
October 18, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! Talked makka, sent emails, and relaxed. We are chilling a lot of the day, then myself and the rest of the District went shopping, came back to the apartment, then went to the chapel to meet up with the Seeta Boys. We played basketball which was fun, then Elder Muringa & I went to go grab some stuff, we came back to the chapel, then went to go play pool. W/L=5/0, Pog Champ.
After pool the Seeta boys left, we grabbed some food, and headed back to the apartment, and we watched Best Two Years! After that I read some emails and . . . I got my ITINERARY!!! You probably know by now, but I fly home November 16th and arrive November 17th.
October 19, 2021 Tues
Today I hit 22 months! Yay I guess, I honestly don't care about counting up and I am trying not to count down . . . well . . . trying to.
Today President Kilama came by to pick up our washing machine to get it fixed and Elder Valentine had to go to the clinic to get his stomach checked out. It was still hurting him after the initial day of problems. And since on that day I had problems too, Sister Chatora wanted my companion & I to go with him.
After a couple hours we had a diagnosis. Valentine has mild Typhoid! We think it hasn't completely destroyed him because Typhoid is one of the required Immunizations to get before the mission.
When finished, we headed to the apartment, cleaned it up, then President & Sister Chatora came over. President wanted to do our District's interviews today. In my interview President asked me if I was still here or at home. I enthusiastically responded I was still here.
After they left, President Kilama came by, dropped off our washing machine, and left. Muringa & I went to buy some things then came back. We watched Mobsters & Mormons as a District and it was pretty good.
October 20, 2021 Weds
Today was lowkey weird. The morning was pretty normal, but District Council Meeting was strange. First off, we had the plumber over setting up our washing machine in a different spot, then the Seeta guys showed up 1/3 into District Council. They joined us because they had to go to the clinic, but the Doc was out so they joined us.
DCM went well, after it we played a little bit of cards, then decided to go to our neighbor's rolex restaurant, but this time the rolex were really bad and the Seeta guys were short on time, so it was just not at all worth it. Definitely won't be coming back.
After that Muringa wanted ice cream so we grabbed some, went to the apartment, and tried to called people. After 17 attempted calls I turned on a devotional, then Iga & Valentine came back and we had a big conversation about temples. We then had dinner and watched "Mountain of the Lord" a movie about the Salt Lake Temple.
October 21, 2021 Thurs
Today we were successful. We had a lesson over the phone fall through, had a little lunch, then went to the chapel to meet a member who was taking us to where he lives. He goes by Eric or Raymond, I call him Ray Ray.
Ray Ray took us to his house and introduced a new friend for us to teach. His name is Shimon and we had a great lesson about the Restoration, and he said he would come to church!
After that we went to share with Ibra & Tahiyah about the Plan of Salvation and they actually read The Book of Mormon!! They also said they would come to Church!
After that we had Iga & Valentine buy some things for us while Muringa & I taught a lesson with a new guy named Eric. We shared the Restoration and he said he wanted to come to church! So awesome!
October 22, 2021 Fri
Today we had District Exchanges. Elder Valentine came with me and Elder Muringa went with Elder Iga. Elder Valentine & I already get along so well, so I was kinda excited. We had some great studies and planning, then did 12 weeks before lunch.
After lunch (and waiting out the heavy rain), we went out Street Contacting and made some promising contacts, before heading to the chapel for a couple lessons over the phone.
After our lessons (which went really well) I got to see an old friend, none other than Stanley Lubwama! Lubwama just finished his mission and Mukono is his home ward! It was really good to see him.
Elder Valentine practiced the "Pinano" as we called it. After that and making a couple of calls, we left to buy some cheese for *drum roll* BURGERS.
I am back in business! I made Cheese Burgers for the District and they turned out REALLY good. So that was a delicious success.
October 23, 2021 Sat
Today was kinda weird in schedule. We had studies up till 10:00 because at that point Elder Muringa had to go get checked out at the clinic for something that was bothering him. Iga & Valentine came with us and we were at the clinic for at least a couple hours.
After the Doctor, we all went to lunch at this nicer place that had Mzungu food. We got a couple pizzas that were pretty good, not gonna lie, but they weren't any Italian Cowboy from Pizza Wagon in Hurricane.
After coming back to the apartment, Muringa & I made calls, did Daily Planning, Weekly planning, then did a combined 12 Weeks with Elders Valentine & Iga. We did roleplays which I think was really good for both Muringa and Valentine.
After 12 weeks I went to clean the kitchen a bit with Valentine while Muringa & Iga went down the street to buy spaghetti for tonight. When they came back Iga said that Muringa lost the phone. I look at Muringa and his face is buried in his hands. My heart sank. Elder Iga said that Muringa was on the phone while walking and a boda boda came and snatched it from his hands. I was quite unhappy to hear that news to put it lightly. I told Muringa to tell Sister Chatora, but he refused every time and I was getting more and more frustrated each time he did until Iga pulls out his phone and puts it on the table, then another phone and puts it on the table. OUR PHONE. They played a prank on me and got me good. I was so mad, but I eventually started to laugh after about 5 minutes. Those guys made me gain more grey hairs and raised my blood pressure!
October 24, 2021 Sun
Today we didn't have very many people come to church, like one. None of the people we thought would come came. The one who did was a street contact Elder Valentine & I met while on exchange, named Theo. Church was good, I got to hear Lubwama give his homecoming which was powerful.
After church we had a quick lunch, then went and worked with the Elders Quorum councilor over missionary work, Brother Onen. He took us to his place and we met his family. We ended up eating some fruit and staying in their house while a crazy rain storm blew by. It was kinda fun, they have a boy that is 2 and is hilarious. I gave him a fist bump and pretended that it hurt, then he did it EVERY TIME he gave someone a fist bump and made a little "woo!" noise haha!
President Chatora gave me the invitation to build myself on a firm foundation, and recently in my studies I have just so happen to come upon some scriptures that are connected to that. One is a great parable Jesus gave on a few occasions.
The occasion I read was recorded in 3 Nephi 14:24-27;
"Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
This scripture gives an example of what happens when we build upon a strong foundation and a poor foundation.
So in the context of our lives, what is the foundation we should build on? Helaman 5:12 is the answer to that;
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Life is hard. We constantly are faced with difficulty, even shafts in the whirlwind. We have storms that beat upon us, but if we build our foundation upon Christ, who is the rock of our redeemer, the storms of the world will have no power over us and we cannot fall.
Who would want to fall?
Who wouldn't want to be safe in the storms of life?
Life is hard, who wouldn't want a little bit of help?
Christ is willing to give it to us if we are willing to ask. So please, ask. Seek to build your foundation on Christ and I promise you will not fall. Ever. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.
Thank you for all the emails this last week, they made my week! Keep em coming! I NEED EM.
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford
(What's up friends and family!)
Yes sir I am back with update number... A LOT. We had a pretty bust week so this update is a little long, which is pretty normal at this point. Hope y'all aren't too bored of me yet, because soon you'll get a lot more of me haha!
Tugende! (Let's go!)
October 18, 2021 Mon
Today was P-Day! Talked makka, sent emails, and relaxed. We are chilling a lot of the day, then myself and the rest of the District went shopping, came back to the apartment, then went to the chapel to meet up with the Seeta Boys. We played basketball which was fun, then Elder Muringa & I went to go grab some stuff, we came back to the chapel, then went to go play pool. W/L=5/0, Pog Champ.
After pool the Seeta boys left, we grabbed some food, and headed back to the apartment, and we watched Best Two Years! After that I read some emails and . . . I got my ITINERARY!!! You probably know by now, but I fly home November 16th and arrive November 17th.
October 19, 2021 Tues
Today I hit 22 months! Yay I guess, I honestly don't care about counting up and I am trying not to count down . . . well . . . trying to.
Today President Kilama came by to pick up our washing machine to get it fixed and Elder Valentine had to go to the clinic to get his stomach checked out. It was still hurting him after the initial day of problems. And since on that day I had problems too, Sister Chatora wanted my companion & I to go with him.
After a couple hours we had a diagnosis. Valentine has mild Typhoid! We think it hasn't completely destroyed him because Typhoid is one of the required Immunizations to get before the mission.
When finished, we headed to the apartment, cleaned it up, then President & Sister Chatora came over. President wanted to do our District's interviews today. In my interview President asked me if I was still here or at home. I enthusiastically responded I was still here.
After they left, President Kilama came by, dropped off our washing machine, and left. Muringa & I went to buy some things then came back. We watched Mobsters & Mormons as a District and it was pretty good.
October 20, 2021 Weds
Today was lowkey weird. The morning was pretty normal, but District Council Meeting was strange. First off, we had the plumber over setting up our washing machine in a different spot, then the Seeta guys showed up 1/3 into District Council. They joined us because they had to go to the clinic, but the Doc was out so they joined us.
DCM went well, after it we played a little bit of cards, then decided to go to our neighbor's rolex restaurant, but this time the rolex were really bad and the Seeta guys were short on time, so it was just not at all worth it. Definitely won't be coming back.
After that Muringa wanted ice cream so we grabbed some, went to the apartment, and tried to called people. After 17 attempted calls I turned on a devotional, then Iga & Valentine came back and we had a big conversation about temples. We then had dinner and watched "Mountain of the Lord" a movie about the Salt Lake Temple.
October 21, 2021 Thurs
Today we were successful. We had a lesson over the phone fall through, had a little lunch, then went to the chapel to meet a member who was taking us to where he lives. He goes by Eric or Raymond, I call him Ray Ray.
Ray Ray took us to his house and introduced a new friend for us to teach. His name is Shimon and we had a great lesson about the Restoration, and he said he would come to church!
After that we went to share with Ibra & Tahiyah about the Plan of Salvation and they actually read The Book of Mormon!! They also said they would come to Church!
After that we had Iga & Valentine buy some things for us while Muringa & I taught a lesson with a new guy named Eric. We shared the Restoration and he said he wanted to come to church! So awesome!
October 22, 2021 Fri
Today we had District Exchanges. Elder Valentine came with me and Elder Muringa went with Elder Iga. Elder Valentine & I already get along so well, so I was kinda excited. We had some great studies and planning, then did 12 weeks before lunch.
After lunch (and waiting out the heavy rain), we went out Street Contacting and made some promising contacts, before heading to the chapel for a couple lessons over the phone.
After our lessons (which went really well) I got to see an old friend, none other than Stanley Lubwama! Lubwama just finished his mission and Mukono is his home ward! It was really good to see him.
Elder Valentine practiced the "Pinano" as we called it. After that and making a couple of calls, we left to buy some cheese for *drum roll* BURGERS.
I am back in business! I made Cheese Burgers for the District and they turned out REALLY good. So that was a delicious success.
October 23, 2021 Sat
Today was kinda weird in schedule. We had studies up till 10:00 because at that point Elder Muringa had to go get checked out at the clinic for something that was bothering him. Iga & Valentine came with us and we were at the clinic for at least a couple hours.
After the Doctor, we all went to lunch at this nicer place that had Mzungu food. We got a couple pizzas that were pretty good, not gonna lie, but they weren't any Italian Cowboy from Pizza Wagon in Hurricane.
After coming back to the apartment, Muringa & I made calls, did Daily Planning, Weekly planning, then did a combined 12 Weeks with Elders Valentine & Iga. We did roleplays which I think was really good for both Muringa and Valentine.
After 12 weeks I went to clean the kitchen a bit with Valentine while Muringa & Iga went down the street to buy spaghetti for tonight. When they came back Iga said that Muringa lost the phone. I look at Muringa and his face is buried in his hands. My heart sank. Elder Iga said that Muringa was on the phone while walking and a boda boda came and snatched it from his hands. I was quite unhappy to hear that news to put it lightly. I told Muringa to tell Sister Chatora, but he refused every time and I was getting more and more frustrated each time he did until Iga pulls out his phone and puts it on the table, then another phone and puts it on the table. OUR PHONE. They played a prank on me and got me good. I was so mad, but I eventually started to laugh after about 5 minutes. Those guys made me gain more grey hairs and raised my blood pressure!
October 24, 2021 Sun
Today we didn't have very many people come to church, like one. None of the people we thought would come came. The one who did was a street contact Elder Valentine & I met while on exchange, named Theo. Church was good, I got to hear Lubwama give his homecoming which was powerful.
After church we had a quick lunch, then went and worked with the Elders Quorum councilor over missionary work, Brother Onen. He took us to his place and we met his family. We ended up eating some fruit and staying in their house while a crazy rain storm blew by. It was kinda fun, they have a boy that is 2 and is hilarious. I gave him a fist bump and pretended that it hurt, then he did it EVERY TIME he gave someone a fist bump and made a little "woo!" noise haha!
President Chatora gave me the invitation to build myself on a firm foundation, and recently in my studies I have just so happen to come upon some scriptures that are connected to that. One is a great parable Jesus gave on a few occasions.
The occasion I read was recorded in 3 Nephi 14:24-27;
"Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
This scripture gives an example of what happens when we build upon a strong foundation and a poor foundation.
So in the context of our lives, what is the foundation we should build on? Helaman 5:12 is the answer to that;
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Life is hard. We constantly are faced with difficulty, even shafts in the whirlwind. We have storms that beat upon us, but if we build our foundation upon Christ, who is the rock of our redeemer, the storms of the world will have no power over us and we cannot fall.
Who would want to fall?
Who wouldn't want to be safe in the storms of life?
Life is hard, who wouldn't want a little bit of help?
Christ is willing to give it to us if we are willing to ask. So please, ask. Seek to build your foundation on Christ and I promise you will not fall. Ever. Mbyogedde mulinya lya Yesu Kristo, amiina.
Thank you for all the emails this last week, they made my week! Keep em coming! I NEED EM.
(I love you my friends and family!)
Elder Bradford
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