I can't believe this transfer is already over! We are continuing to work hard here in Makindye as my companion and I are for sure staying together for the 12 week training period. Man, I had a WONDERFUL week! Missionary work is truly the most powerful and rewarding force on this earth today. This week definitely had its ups and downs but overall it flew by and was full of tender mercies
.
Our mission president told us on the first day that "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles." As I have exercised this thought, I have seen these miracles!
I will briefly give an example of two tender mercies this week. One of which is small and the other is bigger.
On Tuesday we found out that Elder Nambale (a missionary in my apartment) was out of money because he wanted to buy some things before he headed home at the end of this week. Sadly, he was low on food and was eating small, weak meals for the week. One day he ran out of bread and had only peanut butter and jelly. That was about all of his food for the week. He really needed bread and had no money. The end of the month was and is close and we receive our monthly money soon but all of us are too low to help out. That night my companion and I went to an older woman's house name Sister Felister. There, after our lesson, she stopped us on the way out the door and handed us a loaf of bread. She told us "I think you will need this". Having no idea that only hours before Elder Nambale was praying for food and specifically bread, Sister Felister provided us with a full loaf. When we returned home we gave him the bread and as he accepted it he said, "I knew that if I was faithful in my work the Lord would provide. Though Elder Nambale heads home in just one week, he is still pushing hard and knows that the Lord will provide. I loved that moment.
The other tender mercy was
on Saturday. A young boy came running to me to touch my hands and say some words to me in English. I was having a rough few moments and was annoyed with the boy so I wasn't being too kind back. As he walked with me for some time, trying to talk, I gave him a pass along card and told him to give it to his parents in hopes that that would make him leave. Sure enough the boy ran off with the card. Only
10 minutes later a woman called me and said that she wanted to meet "her son's new Muzungu friend" and have us share our message about Jesus with her. My companion and I were a little surprised that a pass along card actually worked because many missionaries know that they are kind of a lost cause. We continue to use them every day though. Later that day we found time to teach the family. They are from Tanzania. It is a mother, 3 daughters and 2 sons. The father is still working in Tanzania. They loved our message and even told us they were speechless to have us in their home. They came to church
on Sunday as well. At church the Mom exclaimed to us in very, very broken English that she has been waiting to find a church like this her whole life and wants to work as much as she can to be baptized. Every one of the children accepted a baptism date to work towards
December 25th as well. They love us and we love them. Her children will be a powerful future for this church as well. Like Dad's story last week, this family comes from humble circumstances but is very well raised, smart, literate, and all the children speak wonderful English. Pass along card miracle!
So this week I wont be doing a day by day update because I shared those two stories. The days were very normal and busy. I had a great week but got a little homesick on Thanksgiving and as I prepared a small Christmas package for my family. Thanksgiving was not celebrated in my apartment because I am the only white Elder. All others are African and really couldn't care less about the holiday. I splurged a little that night and bought chips and chicken and ate it alone in the living room around
. I will attach a picture of the celebration.
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