Okobaki?

It was a good week! It was quick. I was kind of sick at the beginning of the week which wasn't nice, but I felt better by Wednesday night. We have been teaching a lot of people and we are having some success. We had three baptisms yesterday. Pamila, Geoffrey, and Christine. They are awesome! I especially love the family. They have 3 little boys and a brand new girl. It is fun to go and see them. My area is 90% mud houses, but that means the people are humble and teachable. I am excited to see what the coming weeks will bring us.

I gave a talk in Church on Sunday about the Book of Mormon. I didn't have much time, but I just talked about the importance of reading and how I gained my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I felt the spirit pretty strong as I testified so I think it went pretty well. But I just want you all to know that I know the Book of Mormon is the best book I have ever read. It has helped me more in my life to get through problems and challenges. I love it and know it is true.

Love, Elder Hawk

You know you're in Africa when life is simple.

The Baptism!

Walukuba!

Okobaki!

Well, not a bad week. Walukuba is a great place. Lots of work to be done. Hopefully we will be having 3 baptisms this coming week. A family and a young woman. Should be good. We are teaching many families, but the big thing with that is marriage. We are going to try to work through that though. Elder Obeng is a great elder. He has been out for three months and he is from Ghana. I am sorry to say that I didn't take pictures this week.  But I will try to get some out next week. Not much else to report. I love you all! Have a great week.

Love, Elder Hawk

You know you're in Africa when almost every house you enter is made of Mud and sticks.

Leaving so soon?

This email is from Monday, August 14, 2017

Okobaki!

Six weeks have gone by and for the first time in my mission, I am leaving after one transfer.... I am a little bummed, but Walukuba will be a great time. I will also be doing only 6 weeks there, because that is as long as I have left. Crazy how time flies. Everything went pretty well this week. It is hard to say goodbye after only six weeks, but I am only moving about 5 miles... haha. Elder Denison is going to be training. My son on mission, Elder Yemoh, is going to be the Assistant to the President... So that is pretty crazy. Not much to report, but maybe I can share a spiritual insight. 

I gave a training in our District meeting this last week and I shared about what I call, "the Why". It is love. We have many different motives or reasons behind all of the decisions we make every day. Sometimes we might even be doing something good for the wrong reason. When we do this, we will eventually stop because the motivation is not strong enough. I like the scripture in Moroni chapter 7. It talks a lot about charity and it says in many different ways things like, "Charity endureth forever," and "Charity suffereth long," and finally, "Charity never Fails." I know that it is true. That is what has gotten me through this mission. I could not still be here if it wasn't for my love of God, and the people of Uganda. I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Hawk

You know you're in Africa when little kids use their front steps as a shower room...

With Robert (guard/investigator)

 Me and my comp

 The district

Scrabble.

Okobaki!

What a week! We bought Scrabble last week and have played at least one game every night for the last week. I used to hate Scrabble, but it has grown on me. I have gotten a lot better at spelling too! haha

Well, on to the important stuff! Panisha was baptized yesterday! She is awesome! We were supposed to have two other Baptisms, but we had some difficulties. Hopefully soon though. We had to go to two different Sacrament meetings yesterday which was weird. Oh and it was a pretty crazy baptism too! The font was all filled ready to go, we sit down to start the service. Then the Ward mission leader comes in and says he wants us to come into the hallway. And we look in the font and it is empty!!! Some little kid had pulled the plug. So we used the fire hose and filled it with buckets... It was about knee height, but it worked out. It was a bit crazy. Well, not much else to report! Things are going good! Martin and Phiona are setting things up for their Traditional marriage which will hopefully be on the 25th of this month. I hope it all works out, and they can be baptized! They are awesome!

Well, I love you all and hope you are all doing well! Keep being awesome!

Love, Elder Hawk

You know you're in Uganda when a man holds your hand in a picture... (see picture 1)

  

 Martin and Phiona, and their son Josiah

 Me and a kid

 Panisha's Baptism

Woah.

This email is from Monday, July 31, 2017

Okobaki!

Some awesome things happened this week. We had Zone Conference which is always nice! Something cool about that.. At the end of the conference after the closing prayer, he stood up and said he had received a prompting. He told us that we would be able to find the Elect and that they would be able to recognize us and to keep it in our heads. So that same day, after the conference, we were walking and twice someone stopped and asked us about the church! The first one's name is Philip. We told him about church, and got his number and left him. We saw him the next morning at the church at the YSA activity!! He just came, not even knowing there was an activity! He even came to church the next day! The other guy we met seems pretty solid, but we haven't met with him yet, but it was quite a miracle!

Also something else that is pretty cool: So we have been teaching a man named Martin and his Wife Phiona. They are awesome! The only thing stopping them from baptism is marriage and they are planning on getting married soon so hopefully it all works out, but something cool happened. So Saturday he came and cleaned the church, after he told us he needed to talk to us. So we went and he said that some one had told his boss that he was a member of our church now and so they were firing him. (He was a nurse and the hospital was owned by a church organization). So instead of denying and trying to get out of it he said that is was fine and told them to give him his benefits! He had so much faith! He told us he knew that God was going to provide him another job and that he knew the church was true!! He is awesome! 

The ward was also split. Everything went well. I just want to testify to each of you that I know that this gospel is true! It brings me joy to see others come to accept it and to be willing to sacrifice for it. The joy of the gospel is in the blessings we receive as we sacrifice all that we have to the Lord! I love you all and know that as you give everything to the Lord you can find Joy too.

Love, Elder Hawk

You know you're in Africa when people clean the ceiling of the church with a fire hose....

 Some kids

 Railroad tracks

The district at the source of the Nile today

Iganga Zone Conference
This picture is from the Uganda Kampala Mission Facebook page 
thanks to Sister Collings