November 25, 2013

I’ve got very, very short time today, so I’ll just say a few things and

send some pictures. I think I’ll be able to get back on a little later

but here are a few things

 

You think my hair is short now? This is after it has been growing for

7 weeks! I also got my transfer news today, no change. Same companion

same area. However now Elder Hall is the DL...

(This is the caption he sent with this picture “Restaurant” haha)

 

 

My stories,

Its Nsenene (in-sen-nen-aye) season! It lasts about 2 and half weeks.

Nsenene is a type of grasshopper that they eat here. And they love

it! They set up big aluminum sheets in a box or circle then they put

extremely bright lights in the middle. Then the grasshoppers come to

the light at night, hit the sheets and slide down the sheets into the

barrels. Then they pull the arms, legs, and wings off, cook them in a

pot over the fire. Then they eat them like popcorn. I tried it this

week. It’s weird. It doesn’t taste bad.. It’s just that I know what it is

so that was my first and last grasshopper.

(metal sheets with lights to catch the grasshoppers)

 

 

(barrel full of yummy grasshoppers)

 

 

 

(yummy bowlful of grasshoppers! When in Rome, huh? Haha)

 

 

 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week! Read the whole thing in about

3 months! I'm starting the New Testament now.

 

Bats,

There are a lot of bats here. This week we found some baby fruit bats.

We found like 40 of them all over the house ha I caught one! It was

very cool! They feel very odd. They are furry, but they are very soft

skinned on their wings it was really neat!

 

(New house pet. I just know I did not send enough hand sanitizer for this!)

I'm always glad to hear about the way this mission is having an effect

on so many here or at home. It’s comforting especially in this area

where we just can find anyone.. :(

 

Carter missing me yet? I’m glad to hear his testimony is growing

that's almost all I could ask for being here. I really think about him

a lot, where he will serve. How he will feel. I really miss him!

Carlie I think is fine haha I think her and I will have plenty of time

together while carter is gone on his mission haha if she isn’t married

by the time she is 18 ha I really miss them.

 

Elder Bennion

 

November 18, 2013

I miss Grandpa R a lot :( I can never explain the impact he left on

my life. The example he set, everything he did for our whole family is

just so incredible. Dad is the same way. Dad just has a little

less resources. Haha I carry the two names of the greatest men I know. It’s

almost hard for me to pick which one to go by haha but everyone

already knows me as Calvin. I really wish he could have been around

for the things I’ll do with my life, Ciara never even knew him :(

which breaks my heart. But I know he is just fulfilling another

calling. I can’t imagine how hard he is working up there. Even at 80

years old he worked hard over at Alta pines, I can’t imagine the work

he does now that "limb and joint have been restored to perfect frame"

He is no longer hindered by his age, if he even was before ha ah I

really do miss him; he left behind such an awesome legacy.

 

 

This week I took a sick day. I woke up and felt like crap. It was the

same thing I get when I was at home. My back and knees started to ache

and I felt like I had the flu. It went away after I slept the whole day

but it’s just annoying that my body just shuts down now and again.

 

Also this week we went 3 days with no Electricity.. it was really

fun.. Not! All of our food in the fridge went bad :( but after hearing

about Dylan I consider myself blessed.. ha

 

 

I got my first baptism this week. I haven’t said much about her because

we didn't find her. She was being taught by the missionaries long

before I came on mission. Her name is Leila, she is the wife to the

2nd councilor in the Bishopric. I didn’t feel like I really did

anything so that’s why I haven’t said anything but at her baptism

yesterday she bore her small testimony. She was so happy. Happier than

I had ever seen her. And afterwards she came to me and shook my hand

and said "thank you for helping me to understand" she had been

reluctant to talk to the missionaries for 4 years. Then about 3 months

ago she started to listen to them. Then I came. It just turned me

upside down I didn't realize I had made an impression on her at all. I

just shows that you never really know whose life you are touching, you

may not see the results. So always be someone that can leave a good

one (impression). It was a very powerful experience and lesson. I hope you are able to learn from it as well.

 

Well I think that’s all for this week, no real funny stories of

anything. I wish I could explain all of the lessons I am learning

being here, but there is just no way. A mission truly showed me so

many things. Who I truly want to be, how others see me it’s just been

crazy!

 

Mom and Dad,

I can never thank you enough for the way you raised me. The way I am

able to see things and understand what the lord is trying to teach me

is all because of you both. I’m so grateful for all that you have

sacrificed for the family, and especially me. You have shown me how I

want my family to be in the future, you’ve shown me the relationship I

want to have with my wife and my kids, how I want them to learn and

act. Just thank you so much I love you with all my heart and will

never be able to thank you enough for everything.

 

till next week,

Elder Bennion

 

November 11, 2013

 

Thank you for all your support! Everything you and dad say really does

help me so much!

 

I know exactly why I'm in this area, I know that I am on

the Lord’s errand, I know that this is his work. Just wish I could see

the gospel bless someone’s life. Every house we step into I know that

our message can change their life forever, but they rarely act. :( But

like you said He has a plan and his is better than mine. It’s just

frightening how much power Satan has here.

 

Bed Bugs. So my legs, feet, and back are covered with all these itchy

bumps. However I don’t think its bed bugs. We searched everything and

there is no trace of them. So I think it may be an allergic reaction

to the Malaria pills. If that’s what the problem is then they

can give me different medication.

 

It is serious rain season over here! It rains two or three times a

day, and HARD. Like nothing you would believe! The dirt roads

temporarily become rivers! It’s crazy! And of course I have no rain

coat haha the stuff here is junk it’s all second hand and usually

defective or has holes.

 

 

 

This week at an investigators house when we arrived they were milking

one of their cows. We taught them then when we were about to leave

they handed us each a cup of hot milk (People always give us hot milk

when we decline tea, they don’t know what to do after we say no to tea

so they just cook us milk it’s weird) They milk was a yellowish color

and pretty thick. Yup, it was the milk we saw them milking out of the

cow earlier! haha How’s that for fresh?

 

 

 

So another story we were walking along a small dirt road when behind

us we hear some kids running and yelling and they came around the

corner. Just behind them was a HUGE bull! Galloping straight towards

us! We just looked at each other smiled I said "what the heck" and

started to run! hahahah it chases us for about 100ft before wandering

off haha

 

I purchased a new camera in Kampala today as well it cost me a

whopping 500,000 shilling(~$200). I got a Cannon: PowerShot A2300. It

looked the closest to the one I had before. I'll be trying it out this

week.

 

I finally worked up the courage to buy minced meat. I cooked it and

added the taco seasoning, then cooked some cabbage into it. Then

rolled it up in a Chapati. Best thing I’ve ever made. So good! Send

taco seasoning! haha

 

( I found this picture on the internet. It sounds like what Calvin said he fixed. It looks like a type of hamburger.) So yay! he's only been gone 3 Months and he's finally learning to cook? haha

 

 

I think that's all for this week, Thank you so much for all your love and

support! I am doing fine. So no worries.  Well

till next week! I love you!!

 

Elder Bennion

 

November 4, 2013

I have really, really bad news.. :( My camera got stolen at church yesterday.. I never take it to church, but for some reason yesterday I took my whole bag, instead of just my scriptures. I guess someone horked it while I was teaching gospel principles or putting away chairs, I don't know which. All of it's gone. The camera, extra cards, batteries, the little case.. :( Mom, I'm so sorry.. I think I can get a new one in Kampala pretty easy but I don’t know how much that camera cost.

This week has been pretty crapy. None of our investigators are progressing. Pias has been too busy to meet with us, so we have to keep pushing his baptismal date. Probably won’t baptize him this transfer. I'm looking at 0 baptisms again this transfer..

I have bed bugs or fleas I don’t know which. Elder Jimu and I both keep waking up with little bumps on us. I'm currently washing my sheets and I sprayed everything down. Hopefully it helps.. ha

 

This week I've learned the importance of Family Home Evening. It’s come to my realization that as much as we were stubborn about it, it is so, so important. It’s what allows the family to grow closer together spiritually as well as getting to know each other. I'm so thankful for all the FHE's you made us do. Mommy, thank you for teaching me so well. I love you so much!

There was a lunar eclipse here yesterday (Sunday 3rd Nov) at around 3:00 pm. It was cool! It was super dark in the middle of the day! I wish I could have taken so pictures but that's the day my camera got stolen :(

 

Q. How many people in you ward/branch? How old is the branch president?

A. The church record says there should be 200 people in the ward, but like I said there are retention problems here so only about 60 are active. The Bishop (This is a ward not a branch, it’s actually the oldest ward in Uganda) is about 35. He is an RM and is a really nice, great guy. His Family is awesome and very helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. What is one of your favorite thing about Mukono?

A.  I guess it would be the church. We are one of the few areas that actually has a church building, it’s way smaller than the ones in the states but everyone (missionaries) says how much better it is than other churches.

Well that’s about it for this week! Sorry no real stories.. It was a slow and rather disappointing week.. I love and miss you all so much. Everyday I'm here it makes me appreciate home that much more. The US truly is such a blessed land. Don’t forget it! Till next week!

 

Elder Bennion