Feb 16th

We have been in Uganda for a week and the time has flown. We are adjusting to the humiity. I have found it very easy to adjust to the culture the people are so wonderful and people all over the world are the same. I have loved the children spending hours catching butterflies and seeing amazing birds, playing tennis, basketball, football (soccer). I have loved gathering at night and reading scriptures the Stake President here has asked that each member in Uganda read five pages a day. It has been a blessing to us. Even has the electricity goes on and off each night. The children feel like they are in the olden days but the are so happy with the simplicity of this life. Walking half a mile to get drinking water. Walking into town (about a mile and a half) to get groceries and then carrying bags back up hills.
Church was so wonderful. I feel the strength of these members. A sweet sister took off her hand made beads and gave them to me. We went to church today and what a great experience. The members are so sweet. We were all sustained Tim Sunday School President, I am in the Primary, Cariel the ward organist, Liza the beehive Advisor, Mckay Primary greeter, Hannah Primary greeter. They even sustained Mckay and Hannah so tender. After church had a leadership meeting for 2 and half hours and in the middle they brought out bananas and water. The bishop stood up at the end of the meeting and asked if we cared if we went for another hour (he was just joking) and one sister said as long as you have another banana. They are faithful sweet saints. After the leadership conference I was sustained to my calling and that was such tender experience as four Black Melkezidek Priesthood holders laied their hands on my head and set me apart. I still remember the day when the Blacks received the Priesthood. Very special moment in my life. Eric went with the Elders all day yesterday 9am -9pm and came home and told us about his day. So fun to have him share. On that night we had Grace and Davis over to visit. She works on campus and they brought their little baby to show us. They stayed for over 2 hours very typical Uganda. They told us about the marriage process here. The man has to take cows to the bride family very similar to Jonny Lingo. It is very expensive and hard to do. The young men in the ward hate it.
On Monday we had a Sister Julie over for FHE She has just started a small business of raising chickens. Two months ago she bought 200 baby chicks and put them in her garage to raise then to sell. She had been taking a class at the church to help people earn a living. A month into the project her chicks became very sick and she thought that she would lose them all. She didn’t know what to do so she put the Book of Mormon in by the chicks because she knew that the book had power. She says it was a miracle because she only lost 5. The faith of this sweet sister has changed my life.
The elections are this week and some are frightened and others not worried they just all pray for peace. Elections here are very big. Last week was on campus elections and there was noise from 6 in the morning until 3 at night. They take their elections seriously.
We went into town to visit the Bishop’s wife and new baby. On the way there was a parade for elections and so we were clapping and cheering them on and then all of the sudden there was fire. I quess the opposing side was there too. The new baby so so cute and little. The home very small and they wash the dishes outside. It reminded me of my mission in Korea 25 years ago. She talked about being the first mormon on the UCU and how the professor could not believe that she was a mormon because they were not allowed on campus. She was the top relgion student and gave the Ensign and told hime that this is where she got all of her answers. I am grateful for her example because I do not believe that we would be here if it ahs not been for her. She also told us about her mother has not seen her baby because if the son-in-law is at home the mother-in-law cannot be in the same room. Some silly tradition.
Eric has been out with the missionaries and comes home and tells about each days experience so fun together as a family and hear those.
Feb 16th
Went into Kampala today with Rosie a mother who had to pick up her children from school there. Traffic was terrible and no order at all. She has told me about the policemen here and them pulling you over for no reason at all and how much she hated that. We went to Shoprite and I bought lots of things food, bowls. Drying rack ect. Then went to the school to pick up the children darling little school. Then headed home and we saw three people on the side of the road in white clothes and tone had his arm up. It was a policeman and that is how they pull you over. He looked at the car and said that the tire was low. There is a lot of corruption and he wanted a bribe so he would let her go. She said that she was a Christian and worked at UCU and he let her go. They know that Christians do not do bribes so he was not getting any money. Police here only make 120,000 schillings a month(24 dollars a month) so they make more money by bribes.