Weekly Update~ "When You Can, Do Something!"

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week, we were invited to the newly called Stake President, President Kamya's home to have FHE with his family. As we were seated in his family room, he said a few things that were interesting that took on new meaning as the week progressed. He told us a story about one of his friends who happens to be an entrepreneur and works in the medical field. About 17 years ago, he invested some money into planting 20 pine tree saplings. If you're familiar with pine trees, (I'm sure not) they take about 18 years to mature. Fast forward to last year, he was approached by a lumber manufacturer who offered him 400,000 UGSH (About 411 USD) for each tree. When talking to President Kamya, he just said, "I wish I had planted more of them!". President then explained that in life, all too often we are afraid to take action and be agents acting for ourselves because we're waiting for an opportunity to fall in our lap, an individual to walk up to us and say they want to learn more about the gospel without putting the work in, someone to knock on your door with a ring in hand ready for eternal marriage, a school to send an email offering a full-ride scholarship, or your dream company to offer a position of work. We have to take action for the things we desire and that is an eternal principle when it comes to praying to Heavenly Father and asking in faith. With that thought in mind, I was praying for Heavenly Father to help us maintain both our area and Makindye's as we were working through our three-some. As we acted while petitioning the Lord for his blessings, we saw his hand in the work. This is the key to success as a missionary and it is a simple, eternal principle. 

We went on 3 splits throughout the week and met some amazing people both through our own efforts and referrals from members. Less-active members are also beginning to come back to church. There is an overall excitement from everyone in the Nsambya ward as they are engaging in the Lord's work.

On Thursday, While on splits with Bro. Patrick, Elder Chifamba met 2 separate individuals who were both extremely prepared by the Lord.  The first was a man named Andrew. Elder Chifamba began to teach his sister, Betty, but after adamantly proclaiming to be a "Born Again" and refusing to listen, she brought in her brother, Andrew, and told them to teach him because he refuses to go to church. They began teaching the restoration and in the middle of the lesson, Andrew confessed his fear to join a denomination because he was confused about which church was true...music to a missionaries' ears. After testifying of the reality of the restoration, Andrew committed to come to church and see if everything they shared mirrored what he saw at church. He came yesterday, and when Patrick and I went to his home to follow-up, he told us he absolutely loved the services, he felt like he found his church, and told us we were heaven sent. 

The second was a woman named Primah, who had similar concerns. As they shared with her, she told us her sister had actually just come home from fasting and was actually in her room at that very moment that they came praying to know which church to join. She loved the message of the restoration as well. 

Brother Coleman, an investigator that was in our teaching pool when I first came to the area, has now begun to progress as he has kept his Book of Mormon reading commitments. There is now an increase of accountability and he is now excited to share what he has learned with us each time we have come. During the worldwide missionary broadcast, a question was asked, "how can we know if our investigators live the gospel of Christ? A General Authority answered, and explained that there is a natural inclination towards repentance and there is a change of behavior and an increased motivation to keep other commitments. We have definitely seen that with Coleman and we are looking forward to his baptism in March. 

The area is beginning to have success, the three-some is over and Elder Randall is back in his area, we are enjoying serving in Nsambya more and more as we continue to see member participation in the work, and we are happy. Transfers are coming this week!

Love you all,

Elder Hazen

Performing Service with a Smile!

Our Apartment

Typical Dinner

Weekly Update~"Mission Fasts, Splits and BIrthdays!"

How Many Missionaries Can You Fit In A Truck? Apparently 11

Dear Family and Friends,
This week Elder Tesch and I worked very hard and were able to teach
the most lessons in a week since we've been together as a
companionship. We are still working to find these families that can
progress together towards baptism to establish the foundation of the
young branch in Lugazi. We have a few potentials, it's just a matter
of setting that baptism date with them which we usually do in the
first lesson, but due to small complications, these people are unable
to commit to a date right away. We have that situation with three
couples right now so we're just trying to push through that! Dennis,
Bruno, and Gertrude, the siblings of Everline, are still taking
discussions but we've had to push their baptism dates back due to them
missing church this week. I have no doubts they will eventually be
baptized because we had a great discussion with them last night and
they understand everything and know everything is true.
 
On Tuesday, we had our mission fast which was a great experience. Like
I said last week, prayer and fasting are truly tools of power. I had
the opportunity to go on an exchange with Elder Ward and Tanner Call.
I was grateful for the things I was able to learn from Elder Ward and
the tips I picked up to improve my teaching skills. It was also a cool
experience to ask Tanner for his testimony in the lessons we taught
and it was fun to help him get excited for his mission.

Tanner Call with the Elders

On Wednesday, we took David to Jinja again to see if we could have
better luck in meeting with the eye doctor. Fortunately, we were able
to see him but, we were disappointed in the results we received.
David's blindness is due to optical nerve atrophy which basically
means his nerves in the back of his eyes are dead and there is no
medicine or surgery to fix it. When we got out of the office, David
asked me, "So what am I supposed to do now?" It absolutely broke my
heart. I told him that this trial is NOT a punishment from God. I told him how much God and our Savior love him. And how they are there to support him and his family and the
missionaries and the members of the branch are there to help too. I
encouraged him to pray and find peace with his situation. The times
we've visited him after he's been doing okay. I know that as he
continues to pray and gain a testimony, he will eventually come to
terms with the situation and I know he will continue to have the faith
to come to church and share the gospel with his family. I love him
and his family very much and I will be there for him as long as I am
here in Lugazi. 

Wednesday night, we celebrated my birthday with our
friends from Help International. Thanks to my wonderful mother, we
even had a cake and candles to celebrate. Also, thanks to everyone who
contributed to that video my family sent me. It made my week:)

RJ's Birthday Package From Home

This week, I was studying a lot on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like
I've said in the past, It is so simple yet so complex. I was focusing
mostly on the Atonement and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I was studying
in Alma 34 and really enjoyed verses 15-17. It basically tells us that
the mercy of Jesus Christ can apply to us only when we exercise our
faith unto repentance. If we expect ourselves to be saved only through
grace without doing our part and keeping God's commandments, then we
will be exposed to the demands of the law of justice. The sacrifice of
Jesus Christ is wonderful, and like I always say, I'm so grateful for
it. Also, I'm thankful for the Holy Ghost and the role it plays in my
life especially as a missionary. I know that as I keep doing what I'm
supposed too, follow the whisperings of the Spirit and let it guide me
where to go, what to do, and what to say, I can overcome my weaknesses
and feelings of inadequacy. We are truly nothing without God.

I love you all,
Elder Hazen

Weekly Update~ "First Time Being Sick on My Mission"

African Delicacy~ Crickets 

Baptism

Baptism

Studying with James 

Dear Friends and Family,

So this week, my luck finally ran out and I got sick for the first

time on mission. It kept me from going out and proselyting on

Friday.  It which was awful because Elder Dowdle and I had a lot of people to

visit.  It ended up working out because we arranged for the

Elder's Quorum president, Andrew, to go on a split with Elder

Dowdle all day.  One of our members, James, was able to stay with me

while I laid on the couch. Let me tell you a bit about James.  He's such an awesome kid. I showed him pics of the family and he thinks maddie is cute…he has started calling me "Muko" which means, Brother-In-Law! He was baptized a few months ago, and this last week, while he was working with us, he expressed to me his desire of wanting to serve a mission.  The next day, I decided to bring him an old Preach my Gospel manual laying around the house.  Elder Dowdle and I shared with him chapter 3 and encouraged him to study that chapter to get familiar with the lessons and how to teach them. When he came over to stay with me while I was sick, he brought his Preach my Gospel so we spent most of the day reading out of it and the Book of Mormon. It was one of the neatest experiences I've had on my mission.  I was so sick and felt awful and this made me feel good to be able to share my testimony with him on missionary work and the impact it's had on me these last few months.  I've expressed to him the great blessings it's brought to me and my life and that it can do the same for him. He has been on fire working with us and it's been neat to see his testimony grow.

This Sunday, we were able to baptize Andrew's brother Isaiah. Isaiah

is one of my best friends here and he makes me so happy whenever I'm

with him. He's seriously one of the funnest kids ever and has such a

powerful testimony. He was more than ready for baptism. The other guys

were also able to have a baptism as well. The work is definitely

progressing in Lugazi and the branch is growing. It's exciting to be

apart of! 

  Today, I was able to have pizza and ice cream from a

resturaunt in Jinja, I know it seems like I say it every week, but it

was probably one of the best meals I've had in Uganda. 

Lastly, my Grandparents have been talking to me about the emphasis

they've put on Family History work.  I definitely agree that its

very important. I'd urge all of you to get to know your ancestors and

get involved in the work by doing your work for those beyond the veil.  There's always something to be done! I promise that as you do

so, and find more time in the temple, you'll receive even more

blessings.

          Love,

         Elder Hazen