Our Elders Next Door

 

Elder Awaluch - Kenya, Elder Tanner - Canada, Elder Crane - Idaho and Elder Nzima - Zimbabwe

They had these jackets and ties made by ladies in a market for $15 USD.  They came to have a photo and dinner before transfers this week and Elder Awaluch's departure. 

Training with E&S Mellor

 

We have had a wild week with SL Director and Area Director here plus legal people as we are dealing with government issues in Rwanda.  Will be Back to Uganda next week to have a bid review meeting on 2 projects.  Will only be there one week as we need to return to Rwanda for city meetings with government officials, Elder Carpenter and an Apostle.  After the dust settles and we catch up on paper work, we plan to return to and stay in Uganda for two other project reviews with proposing agents and sector engineers. Hoping to be there a while and make a trip out to Mbale to find a project there. 

Elder Carpenter will be in Rwanda May 18th to meet with Mayor but Mayor is refusing the visit until legal MOU is presented to the City.  Will keep you posted on legal issues as we can.  OGC (church legal department) is presently here to advise on city and government understanding.  We are moving gently but quickly before the City deadline of the MOU next week.

New couple, E/S Bickmore from LV, are settling in. They need a few item which we will take them to purchase tomorrow after our Head Quarters guests leave. 

We might get a chance to breath next week.  They really need a humanitarian couple in both Uganda and Rwanda.  Know anyone who wants to sign up?  

Today is Palm Sunday.  As we passed several other churches on the way to District Conference, the streets were lined with people selling palm leaves to worshipers going inside to worship.  The thought came to me of the people selling outside the temple when Christ came to the temple.  There he found people more concerned with the selling than with the attitude of worshiping. I will admit I loved the idea of the palms to wave.  It gave me food for thought.  Would I have chosen to be one waving those palms when the Savior entered into the gates of the city?  Do I now wave palms of consecration in my personal life?  

As I get to know the members here in Rwanda I am amazed at their level of commitment.  We have a branch president who joined the church 5 years ago.  His wife is not a member.  He does not have a job.  He comes every day to the chapel to assist in pathway, seminary, cleaning, or to help his members through interviews of encouragement.  Many of his branch members are also unemployed.  Last week he baptized his oldest son who is 18.  He has such a positive attitude and with optimism says God is preparing a good job for him.  

I am sitting here in-between conference sessions.  We are listening to the meetings in the language of Kinyrwanda. A translator then speaks in English for those few that need translation.  Our visiting area Authorith, Elder Ndinga, from Nairobi speaks French.  So when he speaks his words are translated from French to Kinyrwanda and then into English.  We wonder how accurate his message is when we finally get it but always the message is inspiring.  They teach from the scriptures and the handbook.  We had about 300 attend today including 21 investigators.  

Speaking of investigators, two weeks ago we had 2 investigators come.  Last week those two returned again to sacrament meeting and between those two they brought 15 more with them.  The Missionaries can hardly keep up with their teaching load.  President told us last night he has  expected to receive an additional 18 missionaries assigned to Rwanda in preparation of the new mission but has been given none.  Rwanda is a young adult district.  There is only one high priest in the entire country.  The church is young and rapidly growing.  

We are struggling with government leaders in Uganda wanting bribes to get our projects moving.  We are doing what we can where we can but this week we did get exciting news - clearance for our Grace School Project.  We can only do half what they need but we think we have a partner who is interested in completing the remainder of the school classes we can not build.  This will give that school 7 classrooms.  We are now looking for a sponsor for a borehole to give them water and to pay for a kitchen.

This week we had a power week.  On top of the news for Grace school, the Lord Mayor of Kigali City requested a meeting with us.  We went fasting not sure the purpose of the meeting but needing support in city sectors and other districts /sectors beyond.  Rwanda has recently changed their requirements to do humanitarian projects.  Each sector or district is now requiring an organization to register and join a form which gives permission to do work and tracks where and what the projects are.  Until now many organizations were just doing work and asking the districts to maintain projects but the districts can’t keep up with the maintenance load.  In addition they found some organizations doing the same work in the same areas when other equally needy areas went without help. This decision to get organized is amazing idea but it has slowed us down in receiving permissions. 

Back to our city meeting.  To our relief, they were very warm and welcoming.  They asked for our help.  They are very concerned with their youth getting into drugs, alcohol, immorality, and stealing.  In our first meeting last December the city asked for the help of the church in three project focuses.  One was a business mentoring program which is out side the parameters of humanitarian so we could not embrace it.  The other two we are slowly embracing, one school at a time.  Where we failed is that we have not informed the city of our projects, just the sectors.  That kind of information is cultural so thay forgave us and smiled as we told them of our projects. So now, we will write a letter to inform them on a monthly basis.  Secondly we gave a copy of the non denominational My Standards Booklet which the area presidency has recently published.  This is a booklet much like the Strength of Youth booklet but is not church oriented.  The area presidency has asked us to get permission to distribute it as we meet with the ministry of education in both countries.  The Lord Mayor and the entire committee loved the booklet idea to give their 6th to 12th grade students.  They asked if it could be translated into Kinyrwanda for them.  They want to roll it out as quickly as possible and he will present it to the government at large. 

To top off a good week, we were told we have a water specialist coming from Lehi, UT to train us in water wells and spring captures.  We are so needful of his help and we get him for a whole week.  3 days in each country.  We are very excited.  Elder and Sister Mallor are serving a 15 year mission in water.  They consult all over the world so we feel very blessed to get a chance for training.  

The only disappointment is that our new CES couple arrive in Uganda the same day as the Mallors arrive in Rwanda so we can’t be here in Rwanda to properly welcome them.  It will be so nice to not be the lone couple serving in Rwanda.  

Happy Easter to all and to all a good night as it is now 11:30 pm.

Elder and Sister Bird

 

 

Hi everyone,                                                                            March 8, 2022

Time for an update on our work.  We are in Uganda right now and dying in 98 degrees and no air conditioning.  Can't wait to go back to Rwanda in two weeks.  It is 10 degrees cooler there.  Each Country and home have their advantages and disadvantages.  That is good because it gives us something to look forward to when we need to return to either country.  Tomorrow we are receiving a shipment of 10,000 PPE kits for Covid.  Aren't we about through with this Covid stuff?  Rwanda is still masking but Uganda is beginning to shed them.  We are still required to wear them as missionaries.  We hear you are back to normal in Utah church meetings.  Can't wait for that decision here.  Receiving a huge wheel chair shipment as this week.  That program has a lot of hic-ups in it.  It's taken about 4 months to get them across the border from Kenya and even though the chairs are donated by the church and are supposed to be free, they often charge the patrons for them.  Somehow that money slips into someone's pocket but no one knows who's pocket that is. 

We have at least three emails per week asking for us to support someone's NGO which usually is paying someone a wage.  Good thing we have guidelines so we can say sorry - that isn't within our guidelines.  Uganda is so full of NGOs it's become a joke among all the senior missionaries.  The white skin and tags seem to attract the requests.  We all joke that when we go shopping there are always two prices, the black man's and then the white man's.  One couple even pays a ward member to do their produce shopping for them because it is cheaper and they get quality produce.  Wish I had that option.  We are in cities.  They are VERY rural.  (Wouldn't trade jobs with them.  They are real sports.) 

Held a bid opening for a medical center last Friday.  We will build a new critical care maternity unit for mothers and a neo-natal baby unit.  Ladies were laying on the ground under a tree waiting to deliver. One delivery bed only to service about 20 babies a day.  All 6 recovery beds in one room were full.  Attending mothers, sisters, aunts, or friends bring them meals until they go home which is usually within eight hours and on a motorcycle holding the new baby. 

We are hoping to start two similar projects at other medical centers. We have several school projects adding new classrooms, squat latrines and water tanks to public schools.   Schools are the bulk of our work.  We are hoping to diversify a little by doing a hillside flooding retention project with the city and a pig farm project with the Episcopal Methodist church.  Both the latter projects are in planning stages.  Funding still needs to be approved.  I can't believe how much work it takes to get a project completed.  It has taken us until this month to even get one started.  That has been three months of identifying, planning, estimating, clearing funding and now bidding.  The construction work now begins. Hand over in four to six months if all goes as planned. 

Our biggest frustrations have been – poor or no internet service, power outages, a landlord who is awful to deal with, and no church credit card to charge office expenses and gas to.  The internet service issue we will live with because there is no fix.  We bought our own toilet seat and tools to repair a few things in this new apartment.  We learned that we pay for power ahead of time each month, not just when the meter runs out and our mission credit card finally arrived today.  We are doing fabulous!!!!! 

We had two prayers answered this week.  In fact, both within the last two days.  We arrived back in Uganda last week.  Thursday was the health center bidding with contractors.  On Friday we had a long list of things we really needed to get accomplished while in Uganda but we needed to have contacts in the government to assist in the goals.  The Area Presidency have published a non-denominational My Standards book that is much like our church Strength of Youth booklets.  They asked us to present it to the schools as we meet with them when doing projects and to also ask for permission to hold Seminary for the teen age students who are members as well as any other students who wish to attend.  We included our needs in our prayers and then moved forward patiently as we waited for Heavenly Father’s help. Within two days both needs were met.  At Christmas I baked cookies and took them to each neighbor and wished them a Merry Christmas.  The lady across the hall from us stopped us as we were returning from our morning walk.  She welcomed us back and thanked us for being so kind.  She asked about our church tags so we invited her in.  Rita visited with us for an hour asking about our beliefs.  We found out she works for the Kampala Board of Education. She knew the name of the person we needed to talk to in education and has made the appointment for us.  The very next day a member of Parliament who attended the kick off to the Health Center addition asked if he could meet with us.  He wants a project in a neighboring district to be considered because their health center needs a full maternity center.  They have nothing and the mothers are delivering in their one and only exam room. We were shocked he wasn’t asking for more in his own district area.  Good man.  And we found out he is a less active member.  He was very interested in our education project and wants to embrace it.  He asked if he could arrange a dinner meeting with 5 to 10 other members of parliament for us to present our program to.  Oh how the Lord does work in little ways to accomplish great things.  We are simply his tools. 

I have sincerely been reminded how many blessing come when we try to live the gospel.  Just try.  No one is perfect at living all the commandments or putting forth effort to be good every day, but the Lord forgives our mistakes as long as we just try our best.  The blessing just pour into our lives when we put our heart into good works.   

Have a great week.  Try to stay focused on goodness this week.  Read at least three verses of scripture every day. Find gratitude in something every day.  Pray to be a tool to do something good for someone and then watch for the miracle.  It will come.  Don’t forget to record your miracle. 

Sister Bird

Bike Loads

 

 Gratin's Baptism

Three weeks ago Elder Bird was stopped on a small street where he was delivering something to a member.  The gentleman asked what he was doing there.  He noticed we were coming often and we wore a sign that said Jesus Christ so he decided to ask who we were. Elder Bird told him we were missionaries and a little about the church.  He mentioned his neighbor was a member and would be glad to tell  him more.  Gratin said he liked his neighbor and he was a very good man always doing good things. Elder Bird ended the visit by inviting him to come to our church next Sunday.  Gratin did so we introduced him to the missionaries.  They began to teach him.  Gratin was thrilled to learn and could not get his lessons fast enough.  What a wonderful day!  This Father of 3 plans to be ready to baptize his wife and his children but he could not wait for them

.  He was just dancing up to the front of Sacrament meeting to be confirmed today.  

February Letter

In Rwanda we attend church alternating between 4 branches.  We will soon have a 5th branch.  All are in the native language of Kinyarwanda.  They give us an ear set and a returned missionary who speaks English will interpret for us.  It is so sweet to feel the spirit of these sweet faithful members.  If someone speaks in English or French another person interprets. Into Kinyewanda.  All testimonies and talks go on like this for the entire meeting.  Attending these small branches takes my memory back to my childhood when our little branch was so small. Our faith so strong that the missionaries would be successful in their teaching so the branch could grow and become a ward.  Just in my life of 50 years there is now a Stake in Kingsland, GA.   It will come here also. The new mission will have a huge effect in moving the work forward quickly here in Rwanda. 

Rwanda is a small country but a fast developing country.  People are generally honest and respectful.  The country focus is on the education of the children.  The schools here are focused on teaching English and technology in all the government schools.  This little country will advance quickly now that the church is recognized by the government.  We notice how strong the families are in this country which was war torn just a few years ago.  Maybe that is a result of war.  I don’t know.  We read the dedication of the country by elder Jeffrey Holland.  He blessed the people of this land to forget the hatred and mistreatment they have experienced.  That has happened.  We meet people all the time who have lost one or both parents in the genocide in 2002.  Yet these people, now parents themselves, are strong and loving in raising their own families.  

Today is the first day of returning to Sunday classes for the branches.  Rwanda has been very strict fighting Covid.  Masks in public are still a strict mandate.  The 7 pm curfew in the country just lifted this week after a mandatory 3 day quarantine.   Last night was the first time we have experienced night life in Rwanda.  We went to a close eatery for a wrap for dinner.  It was amazingly delicious.  It is cheaper to eat out than fix.  $3 for a chicken wrap.  Yet groceries are outrageously expensive.  IF you find a can of vegetables or tomatoes you pay about $6.  No such thing as frozen veggies or frozen goods of any kind beyond fish except Ice cream which is $20 for a small container.  It sure tastes good though.  They have amazing gelato.  So, I am on a quest it find a few choices in eateries.  So far we found a sandwich shop, a pizza joint, two nicer restaurants and a hamburger spot.  We are careful of eating things not cooked but I ventured a wrap one night and so far I am good.  I would not be so brave in Uganda though.  Milk is only purchased in 1 liter boxes with a long shelf life of 4 months. Juices are available in boxes like the milk.  Apple being the most popular but you can get pineapple and mango too.

Our projects here in Rwanda are mostly schools where we are assisting in providing new classrooms and desks.  The culture here is to capture rain water in large tanks to be used in cleaning.  If for drinking they have a tank that is filtered.  Of course few schools have filtered tanks so the kids drink the rain water.  At least it is better than the ditch water in the rural areas.  We have a water filter at our kitchen sink and we drink only filtered, boiled or bottled water.  

The country of Rwanda is a lot cleaner.  Although the streets are still red dirt, the wind doesn’t blow so much and it rains more so the dust is controlled.  In Rwanda we mop weekly.  In Uganda we mop daily.  After being in the field inspecting, our truck in covered in mud.  Our gate guards also wash our truck for $5 and they scrub it inside and out with a small scrub brush and soap.  At first they washed it daily until we finally said to the boss they must only wash the truck on Saturday night.  Now they all want to work the Saturday night shift.  All five are members and returned missionaries except one who is preparing to go soon.  They are great young men.  They often accompany the missionaries to interpret for them.  No pay of course.  They spend every day out proclaiming the gospel and loving it.  We don’t know how they live.  Most of our meals are prepared for three, and sometimes 7 if the elders next door are home.  We eat a lot of pasta and rice and extremely little meat except fish.  Tilapia is harvested from the Nile and adjacent rivers so it is very plentiful and very delicious. 

The people in both countries are generally well kept and clean at church.  During the week they don’t bath quite as often which is a challenge if you need a repair man.  The more educated are definitely cleaner and well dressed.  The older generation bath over a small tub by splashing the water up onto them.  The rising generation have apartments with showers.  

Our living accommodations in both countries are very comfortable.  Like most of Africa they seldom put electricity in bathrooms.  But in Rwanda we do have a razor plug which is amazing.  We have all the comforts.  Hot showers, king bed, fans for cooling, a washing machine but no dryer.  Here in Rwanda we have a toaster, rice cooker, an insta-pot, a popcorn popper, and a waffle iron.  In Uganda we could find them all if we wanted to buy them at our own expense.  We feel ok with a toaster and a hand mixer.  

This has been a week of paper work.  We had one very important meeting with sector engineers and directors over a hill side water project we are hoping to embrace.  

 We visited two drug rehabilitation programs that are asking for machinery.  The rehab patients spend six to twelve months in a facility getting their addictions under control.  After that they are given the opportunity to enroll in a tailoring or carpentry training center where they learn a marketable skill.  This is where they are asking for assistance in needed tools. Some graduates choose to stay with the program for three years to earn a certificate and can then become mentors and teachers.  Many are street kids with no family and no homes to return to.  Living on the streets they eat anything they can find and if someone gives you anything you take it.  Easy to see how they get addicted.  

 One of our projects that was cleared for funding was Empower the Future.  You can look it up on line.  This organization takes street kids the police find and returns them back to their parents.  Parents send them away to the streets if they can’t feed them.  The organization provides training for the parents giving them a skill to earn money, provides professional counseling to the family, teaches money management, and aids the kids in their school studies.  The organization is funded by the items they make being sold. Of course we have purchased a few items from them like aprons and hot pads we needed.  Elder Bird will buy a tie when he sees one he likes.  They make other things like pin cushions, computer bags, children’s toys, and such.  The church will purchase 10 sewing machines and some carpentry tools for them.  We have partnered with The Sterling foundation on this project.  An amazing foundation from Provo who does so much good in the world.  It is an honor working along side of them. 

Our Elders next door got transferred so we now have two new sets.  They give us a little more privacy than the last set.  The past elders were in charge of the finances here in Rwanda (and still are).  Before we arrived they came and went from our flat at their pleasure because they used our office and our truck to do all the finance work.  Now they live across town and have to take the bus to our flat when they need to file paperwork.  They no longer have a key to our flat either so now they have to ask permission to come.  Before they just walked in any time.  I had to be very careful never to leave our bedroom until fully ready for the day. 

 

The last two days I helped a prospective missionary get his application ready for submission.  He has been trying to go on a mission for three years.  His brother has raised him and was quite upset when he joined the church which means he gave no support to his desire to serve.  Paul (the missionary applicant) finally moved out to live with some other member returned missionaries.  He has been working and saving then covid hit.  Now he is finally able to submit his application but is so worried he can’t go because he turns 26 the first of May.   Today we had another young man approach us at church in the same situation.  Too old now to apply because of the covid shut down.  We feel so badly for them.  We will speak to the mission president in hopes they can receive a call to serve locally like stake missionaries. 

 

Yesterday was the first day we quit work at 4 pm being all caught up on everything.  It felt so good after so many midnight bedtimes.  We made popcorn, relaxed and watched a movie last night. What a nice break. 

 

This is the beginning of the rainy season.  It rains every day and I am becoming a wuss.  I am wearing a windbreaker jacket in 80 degree weather because I am cold.  Can you believe that?  We even put a blanked on our bed.  We are going to have a hard time adjusting to the cold again when we return home.

 

“Urabeho” from the Rwandan  “Mazungoos”.