Opening new areas, teaching difficulties, smells, 120 years old!, Ebola and death

Thanks for the insight on sharing my opinions. Opinions can confuse a lot of things in the church. And then I have to ask, when does opinion become doctrine? Does every opinion that slips the lips of an apostle become doctrine. I guess that's why many people argue over some of the things that slipped the lips of people like McConkie. I like that guy. At least he could back his stuff up.

I did another baptismal interview this week. I found out that his father had eight wives. So that was a big red light. No big deal though. I've been through the procedure enough times. Pres. Christensen left for Rwanda on Wednesday so he authorized one of the senior couples to do the polygamy interview. But he was baptized on Sunday in Mengo.

So once again Elders are talking about Gulu and Rwanda. Even in our zone leader council, President Christensen referred to himself as the presiding authority over Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda. So when and if it does get opened up. It will be apart of this mission. But I know very little of the details. I was told that Rwanda would open before Gulu would though.

Some of the difficulties I've noticed that we run into a lot are questions like, "Is Joseph Smith in the Bible?" and then the misunderstanding of the word "church." Members of the church use the word church differently than other denominations and I think that confuses people when we meet them. I no longer refer to other religions as "other churches" but "other denominations." They seem to understand that better. I no longer say "the church" was lost during the apostasy but "the fullness of the gospel" was lost. I've realized that arguing over the meaning of the word church is a dead end path to progressing the discussion. I think most people need to realize that they are right, but they have room for more truth. Sometimes we'll start talking about the restoration, and someone will start quoting John 3:16... We have to say, "We know that." Then they give a confusing look like, what else matters? But I know that we'll find the ones ready. Diligence. The Lord is testing us.

Amber Court actually used to be a jumping club. Probably back in the sixties. If you drive through Jinja, all the buildings have dates from the 50's and 60's. Once upon a time, England was making this a nice place. Then the Ugandans thought they could do it on their own. But they seem to be ok with it. "Independent."

About the nativity set I sent - the great thing is that I bought it a few weeks before your e-mail. So it made me feel very good that you were asking for it the very day that I sent it. I bargained the lady down to 13,000 shillings. I talked with one of the senior couples that also bought one. I think they spent over 50,000. I felt bad. They obviously don't go to the markets very often.

This week we entered a house and I was immediately knocked in the face with a foul odor. I wanted to leave. Fast. But my companion hung around. We ended up sitting down and started to chit chat. I realized that that smell was coming from whatever it was that they were cooking on the hot coals a few feet away. Then we found out that the owner of the house was this man’s grandmother, and he looked very old himself. We asked his grandmother’s age and were answered, “120”! He pointed in the corner of the room to a sheet hanging from the ceiling and said, "She's there." Well it's official. I've seen a person 120 years old. She was lying on a mattress sleeping under some sheets. Then I had a feeling that some of that smell was coming from her. But I'm not sure. Also, I prayed that that guy wouldn't offer us food, and he didn't. I almost felt "born again" coming out of that smell.

We've had some serious scares with this whole Ebola outbreak in Kampala. I guess it started in the west, but it got here somehow. On Tuesday when we were going to Mengo for a Zone Meeting, all the paper guys were sticking the newspaper into the windows for us to buy. I just saw the headline, "Doctor dies from Ebola in Mulago." Mulago just happens to be probably the nicest hospital in Uganda. But no worries. We were told to try and not shake people’s hands, and stay away from people coughing. Personally, I'm not scared at all. I rode a rhino and I shake people’s hand during the Ebola breakout. If I get Ebola and die, I just see it as an opportunity to rest in the Spirit World. Maybe I'm young, but I don't quite understand why members of the church would fear death so much.

We saw our progressing family again last night. We were supposed to meet with them and then take them to a member’s house to teach them there. When we got to their house, no one was there except the mother who doesn't speak English. She said that everyone else was already at the member’s house waiting for us. That was nice, but we wanted the mother to also be apart of the lesson. So in broken Luganda, I was able to convince her to come with us and her husband would translate. And that's what happened. The children are very smart! Especially their youngest, Jolly, who is 12. Actually she was the one who did most of the translating. She had already read the pamphlets and even the first few chapters of "Book of Mormon Stories" that we had waiting there at the member’s home. I think good things will come from this family.

So thanks again for the Christmas package. I've also decided that I will wait and open it Christmas morning. That is if it gets here before Christmas. We'll hope so. I'm still a little confused on how my package can get to you faster than yours can get to me. I guess Dallan was really supposed to have that shirt before he left for Finland. Have a great week!

Zac