New missionaries, seizure, being dirty and still making it to appointments, the persecution of Florence Abedi, Easter baptisms, living with Zimbabweans, weird disruptions when teaching of Joseph Smith

The Elders that just went to Ethiopia are Stoddard and Batt. It sounds like it may have just been a typo. Welsh is here in Uganda. I spoke with him briefly at the activity today in Kampala. He seems like a cool guy. He'll get a testimony of missionary work for sure being trained in Seeta. Last year they had one baptism. We did just get a new sister missionary. She came from Kenya, Nairobi mission with 10 months remaining. I also met her very briefly.

Never found out anything more about that guy who was paralyzed. I did see him walking into the church with assistance and quite a limp. Yesterday one of the Teachers in the Aaronic Priesthood was on his way to class and had what seemed to be a seizure. I was standing right there when it happened. I grabbed him, and we took him into a room and held him until he was done shaking. I felt a bit helpless just sitting there holding his head and watching his whole body convulse like that. The scary part was that it had never happened to him before. Elder Curran happened to be there for his last Sunday in Uganda with his parents. His Mom is some sort of nurse/doctor and kind of helped us solve the situation. Even she seemed a bit confused with the hows and whys. But me and another Elder gave him a blessing and sent him home with his parents. I think he'll be just fine.

By the way, Elder Huskinson and his wife have watched my DVD and love it. The want a copy of it ASAP. They tried to burn a copy from the one you sent, but there was some sort of block on it. If you get a chance, send them one. They'll love you for it. They'll probably be the ones to help me situate all the hotels for when you come. They were just talking to me about it today actually. I don't know if you made contact with him through e-mail yet, but I would advise it. I'm really stuck here as a missionary. At least for them they don't exactly have a teaching pool, and their car helps them to get around a little quicker. And the internet access at their home. But they are more than willing to help. They're from Rexburg.

We just got back from a mission activity. Soccer obviously. Every missionary in Uganda was there. Full field, zone verse zone. I organized a little tournament with brackets. We made it to the final, but unfortunately we lost 1-0. I only had one goal for the day. I'm very out of shape, and very tired! But it was worth it. It rained all day yesterday. So the field was really nice and muddy. We kind of have a rule now that we have to show up to these activities in proselyting attire, and leave in proselyting attire. Well, the showers weren't working at the complex, so here I am sitting in my missionary clothes with muddy everything. I'm hot, sweaty, dirty, and very tired. But I'll still make my 6:00 appointment.

Florence Abedi came back from boarding school for Easter. She is one of Keny Armstring's daughters. She was telling us that they won't let her leave the school compound to go to one of the LDS branches near her. So on Sunday when all the kids go for church, she stays in her room. And they punish her for it! She said she has to clean the latrines every week. But she stays in her room, sings hymns the best she knows how and studies the Book of Mormon. And then she told the school that she can't take tea because the doctor forbids her. She's read up to Alma 23. So I can definitely say that Florence is converted. She was very happy to be back to attend all the services and visit with all the members. I hope we'll be able to help Keny understand one day that he needs to find a school here in Nsambya so she can stay at home and go to church.

Nothing very special for Easter. Like I said, it rained all day. The best I can say is that it let up for about 2-3 hours so people could come and go from church. But even during the baptismal service everyone stood out in the rain to witness it. Two baptisms. One was Prova. A girl who has found the church through a miracle and has gone through severe persecution to stay faithful to the spiritual witness that she has received of this truth. She sang a solo during her testimony after she was baptized. Then there is a girl named Sarah. She's only 10. To be honest, I was ready to fail her baptismal interview with the perspective I had of her teaching process. But surprisingly enough, she's just a very shy little girl. Her English was great, and her understanding was just as good. But more importantly is that I honestly had a very warm comforting feeling towards the end of the interview. I knew she was ready.

I'm living with three Zimbabweans. I like it. I can see that they're all very happy around each other. I've noticed in this mission that Elders just like to be around people of their nationality. Even if they wouldn't have been friends at home, the simple fact that they're from the same country makes them friends here. It even happens to me.

Just to end, I want to mention the weird reoccurring event of restoration lessons always being disrupted. It's not just me either. It's an agreed fact among the missionaries here that for whatever reason, there's always some random disruption right when we start to talk about Joseph Smith and the restoration. We'll get all through prophets, Jesus Christ's ministry, the great apostasy, but right when Joseph Smith comes up, I can't count the amount of disturbances I've had.

I got my Birthday cards yesterday. Thanks so much! Thanks for everything! Hope you have a good day.

ELDER ZAC WRIGHT