Better‏

Jebale!

Well, this week was a little better work wise, but my health... that's another story. I was pretty sick for about 3 days, but I was able to go out each one. Threw up for my first time in Africa! Sucks just as much as it did in America. I feel almost 100% now though, but my stomach is a lot smaller. I was super hungry and I ordered some food at this place we always go to in our area called Bon Appitte and I didn't even finish like half of what I usually do. But to be honest that is probably a good thing because I am getting a little fat.

Rose and her Family are on track to be baptized this next weekend so hopefully that all goes well. The sailing has been smooth with them.... too smooth, but I am sure it will continue to be good. They really have been Golden Investigators.

As for finding new investigators, we were able to find this pretty cool guy named Ezekiel! His wife understands small English, but he is loving the message. He prayed and says he feel like it is all true. The problem is that they have only been together for about 5 years so the likelihood of them being married is very low, but luckily it will be easier to help them since we are closer to a major town now. We also have some other people who came to church with their friends. We will contact those people this week and see how it goes.

Today I had my last interview with President Chatfield. He is leaving after this transfer. He has been such a great mission president and I have learned so much from him and I am eternally grateful. I am also very excited to have President Collings come into the mission and to get to know him and have him touch my life.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Hawk


You know you're in Africa when you can't find sunscreen in stores...

 African women are super strong

 Our ride home

 Dinner appointment

My Zone

Rough Week‏

Jebale!

This week was not easy. It was very long. Not much occurred this week. Tuesday the Elders from our Zone and we had a sleep over because they were leaving in the morning for transfers, which was kind of fun. Elder Le Chemenant got a new Companion named Elder Dibatye. He is from Congo. In Congo they speak french so he has an accent. It's pretty funny.

Well, Dale has been dodging us for like 2 weeks now, so I think we are going to have to drop him soon. I don't know what happened . Maybe some one told him bad things about us, or what. I just hope we can meet with him at least once more to see what the problem was. Rose is still doing good. She has Malaria though and so she wasn't able to come to church. Yesterday evening we went to Patrick and Elizbeth who have been a little luke warm about the message since the whole internet thing and they told us that they didn't want us to teach them anymore. You think you would get used to getting shut down after it has happened a lot, but you just get to know and love people and you know how much this gospel can bless them. It's okay though. I think one day they will pick up and read the Book of Mormon and feel something and get another chance. Still having a hard time getting people to come to church. Our area is far, so it's not easy.

Today we had a sports day with Iganga Zone and Jinja Zone. It was way fun. I am getting better at soccer. Still not that good though. haha. Getting to see some of my friends from the MTC is always fun. But not much else happened this week. I love you all. Make this week a great one.

Love, Elder Hawk


You know you're in Africa when one of the main modes of transportation is riding on the back of someones bike.

 Matooke and G-nut paste, let me explain. Matooke is like a diffrent type of Banana that you eat before it gets ripe. You cook it and mash it up. The G-nut paste is ground nuts, tomato, and onions. It actually tastes really good. 

 The Sleepover

What a week‏

Jebale!

It was a good week. We saw Rose again this week. We taught her daughters for the first time as well! It was great. They now have a baptismal date for the 22 May. They all came to church yesterday! They seem to be very committed, I am excited to see how they continue to progress!

Dale has been going trough a very rough patch in his life. He has lost his Job, and is having a hard time finding another one. We weren't able to see him at all this week. Actually, cool story: We kept trying to call him and he kept hanging the phone. When we were closing our day, I said the opening prayer and asked if we could get in contact with him. Literally 2 minutes after I closed the prayer, the phone rang and it was Dale! He just told us how he is having a rough time. I know that the only thing that can help him in his life now is the gospel. I hope he will give us the time to share with him.

On Friday we were able to see Patrick and Elizabeth. When we got there Patrick seemed really distant, which is not like him. I asked what was wrong and he told us that he doesn't want to become a part of the "Mormon Church." Then I asked him what he had been reading on the internet! haha. Were able to answer some of their questions which gave them slight comfort. I hope that they will continue to investigate the church and find out what we are really about.

Well, Transfer news came this morning. I am staying with my companion (who is the new District Leader). I am excited to continue the work here in Njeru! I am having a blast and learning lots! Also, shout out to all the mothers! Thank you for all you do. I was very happy to get to talk to my family yesterday! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Hawk


You know you're in Africa when you get a bad English accent (just ask my family).

 The District

 My companion is our new District Leader

 Sweet backpack

 Wippin' out the rain jackets

Greetings

Jebale!

Well, super slow week when it came to the work. Probably the least amount of lessons I have had on my mission so far. But some funny and cool things happened this week.

First, last Monday, in the evening we went to this family the other missionaries are teaching. They are way cool. Their names are Brenda and Isaac. They are getting married and baptized next week! But we went to their house and they wanted a blessing of comfort. As Elder Thomas was giving him a blessing he opened and then said, "Brother Isaac" and Isaac responded, "Yes?" hahaha! It was really hard not to laugh. Especially when Elder Le Chemenant had his hand on my shoulder and was bouncing with laughter trying to hold it in! hajkl;ha. It was hilarious.

Also, Last week we had this random lady come to church, her name is Rose. No one invited her, she just showed up. So we got her number and went to her house. We taught her the restoration, but she doesn't know English very well. So we were just going to see if she came again. She came again this week! It was super powerful. She has 2 daughters and her husband ran away, like a lot of them do here. She probably doesn't have very much money and could be many different things, to be honest she probably walked to church from her house which is pretty far, and she still came. When people decide to follow God instead of make excuses he will provide a way. She is such an amazing woman and I am excited to continue to teach her.

One more story. This one is about a pair of twins named Collins and Robert. Although they have only been members for 3 or 4 months and are only 13 years old, they make it a priority to do their priesthood duties. They show up to church every week at least 30 minutes early. They show up to seminary every week. And to top it all off they live like a 30-40 minute walk away!

This made me think about how we can all get in the habit to just excuse ourselves when things get hard, or inconvenient.  But we need to be like Rose, Collins, and Robert and just decide to find a way instead of make those easy excuses. Follow the council of the prophet and make the hard right choice instead of the easy wrong. Be who God has intended you to be. Take the chances he gives you to prove yourself as a worthy servant. He will bless you eternally for it.

Well, I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Hawk


You know you're in Africa when you find the source of the Nile.

 With a super awesome family

  at Lake Victoria/Source of the Nile

  Touching the Nile for the first time

 Our ride home one night