Weekly Update~ 'I Can Make Chapatis!"

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was the long awaited Stake Missionary Fireside we coordinated with the Stake leaders of the Kampala South Stake. It was wonderful to see missionaries' efforts with the Stake leaders and it turned out to be a wonderful success. Leading up to the fireside, we had a combined zone finding activity near the stake center. 

A little background information for the experience I'm about to share...The first mission president in the Uganda Kampala Mission was President Duke. Halfway through his mission, he died in a car accident on the main road from the airport to Kampala but, his wife survived. Wednesday evening, at the end of the activity, as we were about to get into a taxi to meet up with everyone again, we heard someone behind us call, "Hey Mormons!". That's not a common thing to hear around these parts so I turned around to find a YSA guy walking behind us. I asked him, "Surely you've been to the states, where are you coming from?" He told us he had just gotten back to Uganda two days ago from Idaho. He told us he knows all about the Book of Joseph Smith and stuff like that and that his neighbor would talk to him about it all the time. He said we probably knew her and that her last name was Duke. I asked him if they lived in Uganda and he said that her husband died somewhere in Africa. We took the time to bear testimony that the things which that sister shared were true and that the misconceptions he heard about us aren't and invited him to get properly informed by coming to the fireside on Friday. Unfortunately he didn't come to the fireside or church but I know we didn't just meet the man by chance.

P-Day was great! We did something different for a chage and spent our day with our family who will be baptized next week.  The mom taught us how to make chapatis (soft layered flat bread similar to Tortillas and Naan) and we taught them how to make pancakes.  Then we took all our food and watched Meet the Mormons!

As I've shared in the past, we are focusing on teaching repentance and baptism as a Mission. Yesterday evening, we taught a sister who is a neighbor of a member in the elders' quorum presidency. It was the first time in a long time that I actually felt I was "preaching repentance".  As we shared with her how she can become clean from the poor habits she has developed and be free from the feelings of guilt she feels as a result. The re-occurring thought I'm having is how the basics of the gospel are so necessary to pass through this life unscathed by the whirlwinds and storms Satan brings. As we drove home from this lesson, Elder Moyes and I talked about how the things we teach tend to influence us as well. I have noticed personally that I am more mindful about renewing my covenants with the sacrament and my desire to continue to improve on the little things. I love this Gospel and the way it has helped me progress on my mission. I know it is true.

I love you all, 

See you in 3 weeks,

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