Couple's Retreat

Last week we were on the road again, only this time we were off to join with all the other couples in the Uganda Kampala Mission. President Jackson asked us, along with three other couples who serve in the outlying areas over branches, to come a day before the others so we could report on our stewardships. We all found that we were facing very similar problems so we felt a real kinship with each other.
It was a treat to stay in such a beautiful, well constructed hotel on the Nile River. Here are some pictures of the Chobe Lodge, the view, our room and dining area in the open air.

Our room with its very firm bed...but we slept well.

The view from our balcony overlooking the many tiered swimming pools and the Victoria Nile.

The happy group of missionaries; next to me are the Jackson's, (our fearless leaders), then the Grundys, Crayks and Woods.

In this picture I'm checking out the giraffe that doubled as a place to post letters while the couples were paying their bills and preparing to leave for the next adventure at Murchison Falls, Paraa Lodge.





We left the lovely Chobe Lodge to eat the President' dust down the long dirt road. He is a speedy man with places to go! We didn't see many animals due to the high grasses and bushes but they were probably seeing us.





It was great fun joining the other couples at the Paraa Lodge, eating lunch with them and then going on our first game drive which turned out to be more of a four-wheeling experience because of the bad roads we encountered.

Sisters Crayk and Grundy knew how to get the most out of the experience. Don't know if their husbands were hanging onto their ankles or not??

Some highlights to share from our boat ride up the Victoria Nile,
crocodiles and a lone bull elephant in the rushes.

On the afternoon after the boat ride we co-rented a game drive vehicle with our very own guide, Ammon. We saw many more animals by standing up with our heads out the top. We probably got more bruises on our ribs and arms but it was really fun!!









And our favorite sight was the giraffe nursery as we were leaving the park on our last day! Nothing cuter than a long necked baby.

Mission Transfers

We recently had to say goodbye to four of our special missionaries, something we have to do each six weeks, but it is not easy. These great missionaries have a way of getting into our hearts and so we are happy for them and their new challenges and for the people they will be serving next...but for us, we will miss them!!
Elder Tyler, on the right, has served in Busia since it opened to the missionaries in June. He has been a fantastic organizer, support to the members and someone we relied on greatly. Elder Ndlela, second from the left, has the funniest laugh and he always loved it if we brought them a chicken to cook in their crock pot. They can't buy meat in Busia unless it is still on the run with feathers, etc., you get the picture. Elders Ngqoyiya and Kaseve will continue to work hard with their two new companions.

All of our missionaries become like sons to us.



Elders Ndlela and Kaseve teaching a Book of Mormon class to very attentive members.

The elders in Mbale have been very diligent in their missionary work. They desire to be obedient and bring down the blessings of heaven upon their efforts and it has paid off in many baptisms of converts. Elder Brough and Elder Musonga, the two on the right, have both been reassigned to other areas. Love these guys!!

The Introduction

Living in a foreign country is an education in itself. We were invited by our friend Charles, (the one on the left above), to attend the "Introduction Ceremony" for his sister. The introduction is to bring together her family and her fiance's family for the first time. In this case (which is not unusual in this country), she and her fiance' have been living together for a number of years and have a few children. Anyway, we were interested to see how the tradition played out. We were there about noon, thinking that we were a little early and all would get under way any time... but we learned another lesson in patience waiting for the ceremony.
After Charles greeted us and sat us in a nice shady spot we were then greeted by these two little fellows. The littlest was not too sure he wanted to get by us but soon warmed and while we waited, and waited he climbed on my lap and fell asleep. His father soon came and retrieved him, not knowing that it was perfectly ok by me to have the little guy there.


The guests kept filling in the seats around us and under the other canopies. It was really a big to-do. The family had rented four big tent canopies with all the chairs, had a big sound system and many other decorations. We were thinking how simple it would have been to just bring the guy over to the family and introduce him and save thousands of shillings.

The ladies next to us had traveled from Kampala to attend and so we told them this was our first introduction and would love their guidance about what to expect. The ladies in the crowd were all wearing their traditional gomez dresses, beautiful and colorful; while many of the men wore their formal long shirts and suit coats.


After awhile a big truck drove into the compound loaded with the cattle and goats which constituted the 'bride price' the fiance' pays to the bride's family (probably the reason it took so long for the introduction in the first place). Then the fiance with his family arrived all decked out in their best.
They waited at the arch for some time until they were greeted and given flowers or ribbons to wear. Then together with some of the bride's family they cut the ribbon in the arch and entered bearing more gifts in bags such the one below.




The poor fiance spent a good deal of the time on his knees begging for them to send out his bride.

But instead they sent out the mother, grandmother, aunts, uncles, sisters and brothers expecting from him gifts and trinkets.


The sisters of the bride-to-be received sunglasses from him, the brothers each were given an apple the rest received similar gifts.
But they were unrelenting in bringing forth his soon-to-be bride.



It was all very interesting but seemed to be dragging on and on so we entertained ourselves by watching the babies, children and people around us. One of the out buildings on the property caught my eye as I thought of our artist, daughter. She would have been taking pictures of it for sure, so we did!!

The funny part about the whole experience was...we never did see the future bride because we had to leave to attend a baptismal service.
You would think after four and a half hours the ceremony would have reached a conclusion.
Not this time....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOLL

On this day, 30 years ago a most remarkable daughter of God came to earth and began blessing all with whom she came in contact. She had a bit of a journey in her first few days to make her way to the right home where she has been loved more than words could ever express.
Neighbors made welcome signs and brought gifts. One neighbor went out and hugged her tree because she was so happy for the family across the street who just received an angel from heaven to grace their lives.
All the children in the neighborhood had to have their turn pushing her buggy around, much to the chagrin of her brother who wanted to do it himself!! We all had to learn to share her with others because throughout her life people wanted to be close to her. Her personality is such that people like to be around her. Seeing her eyes light up when she sees something beautiful that others normally would walk past without noticing is a joy; a splash of color on the mountainside, a dandelion in a mass of dead weeds, a pumpkin hanging from a basketball hoop or stuck on the top of the City County Building. Life is more interesting around her.

She's always had a love of furry things, creeping things, slithering things and jumping things. You name it and she wanted to touch it or pick it up and make friends with it. One day she put a grasshopper on her nose until her friend noticed and went into a screaming fit.










She makes friends easily because she loves so genuinely and completely. Loyalty and sincerity are two of her best qualities along with so many more which shall be listed below....



Caring about the 'one' and wanting to make a difference in helping just him or her.
Knowing where to come for comfort and security and always learning from those she trusts.

Loving a good ride on a bike and having the wind blow in her face and hair....











She loves family, church and country and serves each well.















Is never afraid to get her hands dirty for a good cause.










The journey is more fun with her because she knows where the scenic and less traveled roads are found. She once remarked that you haven't been on a real trip unless you've gotten lost at least once.

She celebrates others achievements and doesn't worry that she is not in the spotlight all the time.
Her arms are always ready to hold a loved one close and let them know they are special to her.Happy, Happy Birthday, Jenna. You will always travel life's roads in an interesting and unusual way. No one is quite like you. You are unique in every way and we love you for who you are and how you make us feel being close to you.

Great people

A mission has many elements to it: the country and culture, the climate, the native people, teaching and loving the message of the gospel and the people that are serving with us. Elder and Sister Barlow were the Humanitarian missionaries who have now gone home to Kaysville, but they brightened our lives whenever we were able to spend time with them. They accomplished some amazing things while here and the people of Uganda are reaping the benefits of better health, cleaner water and so much more. Here is another picture of them in a sea of children. We attended a 'hand-over' ceremony with them and were amazed how the children were just drawn to them.



Elder and Sister Sutterfield will be going home to Park City next week to rest from their hard labors of the mission field.





They were the office couple who solved the problems of the whole mission and we have appreciated them more than words can tell. Not many people would sign up to have 'headaches' every day but they were courageous and true to the end. Watch out for them on the slopes this winter.

Elder and Sister Thayn have been our friends ever since we went to Israel together in 1981. They are such kind and good people, we love to be around them. In fact, when we go to Kampala they graciously let us stay in their spare bedroom and feed us their precious yogurt and granola. He is one of the best Priesthood leadership trainers in the church as he has made a lifetime study of the principles on which the priesthood functions. This mission is blessed to have them as they serve in the PEF program, leadership training, keyboard instruction and where ever they see a need or are assigned. We want to be like them!!
The Frost's decided that they wanted a real adventure with us as they heard we were accepting a call to Uganda. They have jumped in with both feet serving in Gulu and surrounding areas, training branch leaders, teaching whole congregations of investigators, preparing people to go to the temple and are now living in Kampala so they can travel into Southern Sudan to teach the people that are hungering for the gospel there. They do a wonderful job wherever they go because they love the Lord and his work.

Elder and Sister Shipley, on the right, were diligent during their service in Jinja. They kept the place in line and well cared for. They have returned to their home in Canada to enjoy a new grand baby and the rest of their family. We will miss playing games, enjoying her cooking and his dry wit.
The couple in the middle of this last picture, the Harris', have also become dear friends. She is the mission medical adviser and you can believe her phone rings any time, day or night, with health problems which she is very capable in handling. He is a man of many trades who can fix any maintenance problem the mission throws at him. We love having them come stay with us as the doors swing better, the lights shine brighter, the desk drawer doesn't fall out anymore and they beat us at games to keep us humble.

Masai Village

From beautiful sunrises to strange looking bugs, the Masai Mara was an experience we will remember and treasure. You can't go to this area of the world and not go to visit the people after which it was named, the Masai. They are a nomadic people whose existence revolves around the raising of their cattle. The mainstays of their diet are: milk, meat and blood. They are a polygamous society where the women have to make their own homes out of sticks, mud and cow dung. Each home had the same floor plan...not much variety or interesting architecture for our tastes. Their village was enclosed in a thorn bush fence, the center of the community is used for corralling the cattle at night and the little calves are actually housed in the homes so they don't nurse the mothers dry before the people can get their supply of milk the next day.
Ky, our guide, was very intelligent and was able to answer all of our questions about their society and the future they have before them.

Terry, taking part, wearing the lion hat while the natives chant and dance by him. Sister Thayn's turn was next.

The women came out to greet us after the men did their chanting, dancing and jumping routine. I was so concerned with the baby that had flies all over its face I really couldn't enjoy the women's song very much. The women had their ears pierced and had many decorations hanging from them and around their necks but most of them were not very pretty.