What a Week‏

Afoyo!

This was a very quick week. To be honest, not a whole lot happened. We have been working harder than ever to find families to build the branch. I think that are hard work will start paying off very soon. Since not a lot happened I will tell you about some of my investigators.

First, Jeffrey and his wife, Martha. He is the man! He has come to church the past two weeks and is reading in the Book of Mormon. He knows that the book is true. He keeps all the commitments we give to him and he is really progressing towards his baptism. We talked to him about the opportunity to get baptized and then baptize his wife. He seemed really excited about that. She on the other hand is progressing very slow. She has not yet come to church. She also hasn't read the Book of Mormon. I know that once she does, she will start making progress. I have faith that the Lord will give her the answer to her prayers.

Next, Gloria and Paul. Paul is a very devout Catholic. He seems interested, but has a hard time keeping commitments. Gloria is super interested, but also has a hard time keeping her commitments. We gave her a Book of Mormon on Thursday and she seemed way excited to read it. I know that when they both read it they will get the conformation that it is true just like I have.

I just want to stop and bare testimony about the Book of Mormon. I know that it is a book inspired by God. It contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel, and like Joseph Smith said, I know that a man can "get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book." If you haven't already gained a testimony of this Book I plead with you to take up Moroni's challenge and read, ponder, and pray about it. You will receive an answer. My love for the Book of Mormon grows everyday as I study it and learn of the great men and women in it. What I have learned also is that you can't just read it and expect it to change your life. You have to apply what you learn in your own life. I challenge you all to do exactly that. Read everyday, and choose one thing to apply. I know that as you do this, you will feel yourself come closer to God and feel the spirit stronger in you life.

Well, I just finally want to say what a great zone I have! We have so much fun! We even got Zone T-shirts this week and they are way sweet! We are going to wear them next week to Chobe. Chobe is a safari excursion, so next week I should have some awesome pictures of animals.

Love you all. Keep following the Lords will. Hope all is well.

Love,

Elder Hawk


You know you are in Africa when you get used to not seeing white people.

 Just chewin' on some sugarcane

 The Zone

 Cute little guy

Gulu Branch Primary

Powerful.‏

Afoyo! (That means hello in acholi, the language they speak in Gulu)

This was a very powerful week! We found a lot of new families to teach and they seem to be progressing! To start off the week Elder Rogers, one of our zone leaders, came with us to teach and tract. Wow. What a day. We went to a couple of appointments that we had set for the day and they were mediocre lessons. Actually we took a recent convert named Ben to the first appointment and he fell asleep in the middle of the lesson like twice! hahaha!! But it's okay because the guy we were teaching was fake and we dropped him after that lesson anyways. But after we went tracting. Elder Rogers gave a prayer before we started and that we would be guided by the spirit where to go. Right after he was done with the prayer, he asked where the first place that popped into our head. I said a place in our area and we headed over. We found 4 new families that day and 2 are very powerful. It was one of the first days where I felt like every step was guided by the spirit. It was an amazing experience.

At the end of the day, we went to a man named Charles. Some of his kids have been baptized, but like 98% of Gulu he is a devout Catholic. We answered some of his fake concerns, and at the end I started talking about how he could be a pioneer for his family. I started talking about my grandparents, especially Grandpa Hawk, and how with out him joining the church, I wouldn't have probably been a member of the church, let alone be a missionary here talking to him. As I was talking the spirit filled my whole body and I felt so grateful for grandparents who were strong enough to stray from the foolish traditions of their fathers.

The next day, was another powerful day. We taught a couple of great lessons. One in particular being Gloria and Paul. As we taught they seemed to grasp and understand everything we were teaching them immediately. At the end of the lesson they seemed very interested and happy that we had come. After that a couple of appointments bounced us, and we prayed to know where to go. As we were walking we felt impressed to stop at a couple of peoples houses that we hadn't planned on. Afterward, I said to my companion that maybe we were never meant to go to the people we asked about and just needed a direction to move. This offended him, but I didn't know. We went to the next place and he didn't say a word the whole lesson. Afterward I could tell something was bothering him. I tried everything I could to get him to tell me what was wrong but he wouldn't budge. We went to a couple more places but no one was home. We went to Emmy's house (Charles' son) and I taught the whole lesson by myself. It was decent but the spirit was not there. We both went to bed, me very upset that I had offended my companion.

The next morning we started comp study and at the end I asked what had happened the night before. He smiled, and said, "I was trying to teach you a lesson! HAHA!" He had actually not been offended, but wanted to show me what it was like to not have companion unity. Man had it worked. I am so grateful for such a wonderful trainer. We have a tough job with the branch we have, but I know that we can turn it around as long as we have that unity, and we teach with the spirit!

Well, still very few people came to church. We had one string investigator come though, his name is Jeffery. He even participated in Gospel principles! I also got the privilege to baptize Emmy. It was so awesome. Even though he is only twelve he has a powerful testimony.

I hope everything is good back home! I love you all and I challenge you to invite one person to church this next week.

Love,

Elder Hawk


You know you are in Africa when you only have electricity 60% of the time.

 My first baptism

 Just doing my laundry

 This is where I live and my bathroom/shower... haha

 Would you like to live in one of these?

Loving life in Uganda!

Hello everyone,

Wow, what a crazy week! So much has happened yet it felt like I was just barley emailing! The beginning of this week was pretty rough for a couple reasons. First, the other companionship that was in the Ba-dege branch with us were taken to Kampala, so now me and Elder Majawa have to cover two areas and a whole branch by ourselves. Pretty overwhelming. However, I know that the Lord truly has entrusted us with this struggling branch. We are the ones who are meant to be here and I know that if we do all we can we will see great success.

Tuesday I was feeling pretty down. We are doing a lot of tracting, and we went to a place called Water. This is a very humble place so you think that many would be willing to listen.. Well they would if they knew any English. That is one very big trial in my area. Even if they do speak English they have a really hard time understanding me because I talk really fast. Not to mention they are also hard to understand. So because of these circumstances I was pretty down on myself. However the day did get better. We finally taught a lesson about the restoration. The lady was firm in the Catholic belief and was being very stubborn. When it came time for the First Vision I started to talk. As I recited the First Vision and bore my testimony I felt the spirit so strong, and although she may have felt nothing, I knew at that moment the reason I am here. I know with my whole heart that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and all because that one boy had the faith to pray, I am here in Uganda teaching the gospel that has brought so much happiness in my life, and that it would be selfish of me to not share it with the world.

The rest of the week went much better after that. We are having many lessons. We are focusing on families, because as we know, they are the central unit of the church. We probably have 5 or so families that we are teaching and I think that they are all understanding our message. Just as I was getting confidence in our investigators, Sunday hit.. Not one of the families we had taught that week came. I was pretty upset. However, once again as the day went on we taught a lesson to a family that seemed as if they were prepared for us, and we met with a couple other people and I was probably the happiest I have been since I've been here!

Well, I love you all so much and appreciate your prayers. I can feel them strengthen me everyday. I hope everything is good back in the US.

Love, Elder Hawk


You know you are in Africa when a women starts breast feeding during a lesson...

  Had my first baptism... kind of, he was in the other area and we only taught him the Law of Tithing.

Also a picture of some of the huts

First Week in UGANADA!!‏

 Hello Everyone!

 So many things have happened since I wrote last!! The rest of the MTC was great! But too many things have happened here in Uganda to talk about them!

 When we first got to Uganda it was pretty late on Tuesday night. We got in this van and drove like 40 minutes to the mission home. I will describe the car ride with one word.. INSANE! Number one, we were driving on the left side of the road. Number two there are no stop lights or stop signs. It is complete madness. And there are hundreds of boda bodas (motorcycles) weaving and going wherever they want. Its pretty crazy.

We went to the mission home the next day and had interviews and training. You know, your basic stuff on what types of bugs and animals can kill you.. haha. But honestly its a lot safer here than you would think. President Chatfield is the best!! He speaks with so much power! He talked about how our standing with man is not as important as preaching the gospel. Sometimes we have to do things that make us uncomfortable or embarrassed, but it is worth it as long as we are doing what the Lord wants. Truly living the Law of Consecration! I know that as you live the law of Consecration in your life the Lord will bless you.

 Finally my first area is Gulu!! Its probably the hottest place in the mission so I feel right at home.. haha.  Since we don't get to watch conference until the end of the month, we fasted yesterday, and president told this area specifically that we are not allowed to fast from water because of how hot it is. Pretty crazy. The Zone consists of 4 companionships and a senior couple. We live in the same complex which is pretty nice. 3 separate houses. We also play soccer every morning for exercise and I am getting pretty good actually! It is way north. The furthest north you can go in Uganda. It is as they say, the bush. People live in clay huts with straw roofs. But it also has a city area. It is a great place. Me and Elder Majawa are opening the area. It is going to have a lot of challenges, but we are ready for it. Elder Majawa is from Malawi. He is so humble and is an amazing missionary. He has only been a member for 3 years and already knows more than me. haha. He is so powerful. We have been finding a lot. We already have 5 or so people with baptismal dates. We are pretty united as companions and in lessons. It also helps how humble the people are here! Anyone and everyone is willing to listen. 90% are christian.

 Well, I love you all and I know I am where I need to be. I have a great love for the people, and I can feel it grow stronger everyday.

 Love,
 Elder Hawk


 You know you are in Africa when just throw all the trash you want out the window.

Me with President and Sister Chatfield

A Baboon!! There were soo many of them all over the road after we passed the Nile! It was crazy!

From right to left: Elder Majawa (trainer), me, Majawa's Trainer, Elder Barker, Elder Switzer (Other Missionary Majawa trained. Crazy story about Elder Barker. We were best friends in 4th grade in Herriman!!!! We were in the MTC together and figured that out. 

 Me at the NILE RIVER!! So Cool!!!