"Weekly Update~ Transfer 1 in the Books!"

Baptism for Charles and Charles

7x7 Rolex

Hey Everyone,

I hope you all had a great week! To start things off, because people say I always talk about food in my emails, (not naming names), Id just like to announce I conquered a 7x7 Rolex this week and it was one of my finer feats of eating. My mom would be ashamed and my dad would be proud.

   I had 2 baptisms this week that I'm so excited and happy about. We didn't think we'd be able to pull it off because the font wasn't full and they were out of water in kololo, but after draining the backup tank outside using buckets and trash cans, and quickly getting the candidates in white
because we discovered the drain plug was broken, we pulled it off. The Lord works in mysterious ways! Both canidates' names were Charles and they're two of the most powerful people I know. I love them both to death. One is a Mze (term of respect for someone old) and he has had his fair amount of trials in life. He is a retired cop and is just a super selfless guy. The other Charles is Dan's brother, the one who's family we began to teach. After they were baptized, they both talked about in their testimonies how excited they are to share the gospel with their families. I can't wait to work with them as well! Charles has already brought 2 of his friends to church.

   Also, transfers were this week. I found out this morning that I'm staying and my new companion's name is Elder Mair. I'm so excited to work with him!

   I'm so grateful for Elder Oliphant, my trainer. He has taught me so many important lessons. I think the biggest thing I've learned is humility and how to listen and communicate with others. He is like a big brother to me, and when I saw him packing his stuff this morning, I got so sad. I'm going to miss my Trainer, I love him for everything he's taught me about missionary work. If I stay focused and devote everything I have to the Lord, I'm going to be okay out here. 

   Continue counting your blessings and enjoy conference this week! For me, Ill be hearing the Prophet speak in 2 weeks from a dvd broadcast from the stake center!

Love, 

Elder Hazen

"Weekly Update~ Ugandan Kids Love Candy, Stickers and Magic"

Hey everyone, 
Love, 

I had an amazing week this week. I have so much to talk about I don't even know where to begin! First of all I'd just like to state that my coca-cola consumption has been about as much as the average Mormon Utah County mom's diet coke consumption. Haha way too much! Also, this week I had a knack for falling and slipping down hills etc. I had some pretty magnificent falls on my mission (I've already torn a hole in a pair of pants) but this week it was pretty bad. My highlight was stepping in one of the sewage canals in the village. Awesome.

 This week 3 mosquitos got under my net one night and i woke up eaten alive. I was so mad!  I had some pretty interesting food too. I don't know if I mentioned this before but the Relief Society President is from Utah and she invited us over for dinner my second week here and we had spaghetti... super nice!! This week I had a meal of posho and mukenne. Which is basically posho drowning in a soup with an entire fish inside (bones, scales, etc) haha I felt like a full Ugandan after that and it wasn't too bad! For the most part, we're fed super well by the members which is a blessing. 

  This week we had my first zone conference at President's home. He taught some powerful things and it was good to get the chance to reflect and see what I need to improve in. The biggest thing I got out of it is that we need to constantly be mindful of our body language when we're working and that attitude is everything! We carry the happiest message in the world. No one is going to believe that if they see us walking around all day with our heads down and shoulders slumped! I'm grateful for the inspired leadership here.

  This Sunday, my first two baptisms, Raymond, and Dennis got the priesthood. I was so excited for them! The gospel has seemed to have a huge influence on them. I love seeing them wherever I go because they always have the biggest smiles on their faces. They were ordained by some aaronic priesthood holders who recently got the priesthood as well. It was cool to be able to see them be able to exercise that power for the first time. It doesn't matter how old you are in the church. as long as you are clean and prepared, you can be used as an instrument in the lord's hands.

  This Friday we were able to have a missionary fireside at Sister Mufabi's home in Kisugu. Basically, all the members in the area were supposed to invite an investigator and all 4 of us from my district had the opportunity to teach throughout the night. We had an amazing turnout. It was probably my favorite memory so far on my mission. I had a bunch of candy and stickers from home so I brought them and handed them out and the kids flipped out. They began singing "happy birthday" because they felt like it was a birthday. so cute. We had an egg toss and it reminded me of the Melendez 4th of July family picnics. Then, Elder Oliphant and Elder Hart started pulling out magic tricks and the members loved it. Haha they were so mind blown! Then we got to roast maize and teach more lessons. At the end of the night, we had at least a dozen new contacts. I'm so thankful to have gotten the opportunity to work with these wonderful members. 
  I love my mission so much and I want nothing but the best for these people because they deserve it. We have two baptisms this week I'll talk about them more next week.

I love you all so much keep doing all you can to strengthen your relationship with your father in heaven every day!

Elder Hazen

"Weekly Updates~ I Gave a Talk In Sacrament"

Hey everyone,

   I hope everything is going well and you're recognizing the lord's hand in your lives as the week goes on! For me, nothing too interesting happened this week. I was able to lead the area twice this week because of exchanges!  It's great because I'm capable of doing so, but it's difficult sometimes when plans don't work out and you can't accomplish what you set out to do for the day.  We had the zone leaders spend the night Wednesday night. I got the opportunity to work with Elder Rindrafifaliana from Madagascar Wednesday. (it's a mouthful I know) I was also able to work with Elder Ndolvu from Zimbabwe this week as well! 

  Our Ward reserves the second week of the month for Missionary Sunday where the Elders bless and pass the Sacrament and speak. I was the lucky one to speak.  I spoke about how Jesus Christ shows us that he loves us. I hope that the people of the ward were able to understand me because I have a thick accent.  Communication isn't too bad, I just have to talk slow! Everyone speaks English for the most part. But, I am trying to learn luganda:) 

  We are still gaining new investigators and are nearing some of our baptism dates for our progressing investigators including Charles, Dan and Mary so stay tuned for that! 

  For me, I didn't add onto the size of my Rolex this week, but I did buy a pineapple for 2000 shillings which is about a dollar and it was super nice! Tyler Thompson sent me a workout to do in the mornings and I got Elder Hart in on it... we're having fun in the UKM:)

  I love you all! For me, I'm trying to find ways every day that the lord has blessed my life and have found my life is happier as I'm doing so. I encourage you all to do the same!

Love,

 Elder Hazen

"Weekly Updates~ Continuing on with the Work!"

The Famous Rolex

RJ's $1.00 Bananas

Exchanges with Elder Hart 

Investigators

Tracting

RJ Just Gets A Little Dirty At Times

Hey Everyone!
So, this week wasn't too eventful, we're just continuing on with the work! The district is doing well. We had two more baptisms this weekend from Elder Ndolvu and Elder Hart, the other two Elders in the Kololo district. If things keep progressing the way they have been, we should have 5 more baptisms by the end of the month! We are still teaching Dan, Charles, and Mary as well as their two daughters. We're meeting with them tonight and having family home evening with them! We also started teaching a family close to us in Naguru. The mom, Stella, is a single mom and had a bad experience with missionaries about 10 years ago. We went to her house last Monday and had a powerful lesson re-explaining the Restoration but, she didn't understand why she needed to be baptized. After explaining the priesthood, she finally understood and got really excited to be baptized next month. Her 10 year old daughter wants to be baptized as well.
My ward is strong. we have about 150 members consistently. Bishop Oketa is such a good man. He got back from his mission in 2010 from South Africa. He has a young family and is perfect for the ward. The ward members are great! The powerful ones are just a 5 mile walk away... but its worth it:)
I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Hart and it was a great day. The spirit was there in every lesson and it was neat to be able to teach and learn from someone with a different teaching style.
The food here is amazing still! This week I bought a fat bunch of bananas for a little over a dollar. I also had a 3x5 Rolex which is basically a breakfast burrito with 3 tortillas and 5 eggs. The mission record is an 11x11. I might go for a 12x12 before my 2 years are up... we'll see:). I honestly think I'm getting thicker. I'm working my butt off in the morning to make sure its muscle weight and not fat. The Lord blesses his missionaries:)
This fast Sunday a guy talked about an experience he had getting possessed by demons. I love Uganda:)

Miss you all and hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Elder Hazen