Almost One Month

This is the first letter from Elder Lloyd in Uganda.  We received it on Monday Dec 10th at about 2:30am.  Nate's P-days are now on Mondays.

The letter is prefaced by Tammy talking about her Sunday School class where she was teaching about Alma and Moroni.   Here is his reply.

Mom,

Speaking of Alma, look up Teancum! You can find him in Alma 42 and 51??? I think.  He is my favorite guy ever! He fought for liberty and freedom! Have a FHE about him ok?  So I'm just going to write this one big letter to everyone, so please Mom and Dad put it on the blog.  I can't get on it till I get more settled in the mission so please put on the pictures I will send and put my letters in please. Thank you.

So! I'M IN FREAKING AFRICA!!!! Haha I can't believe I am here! The MTC was good. We got on the flight for a couple hours and when I got off the plane, Bam!! Like a demon from heck slapped me in the face! So humid!! And hot. I was in a suit too! ( I dont like suits here...) But we got off the plane and went into the airport (what they call an airport) and a ton of elders and sister were there to greet us.  We then went back to the Assistant to President's home, they have washing machines!!! Not fair.. Anyway we stayed there then went to the Presidents home and had traing ALL day! Then I met my
companion Elder Chisor, pretty cool guy.  We then went to our house really late and the power was out.. Great! But the next day when I got settled it was a TON better.  We went teaching and one thing that annoys me is that everyone can't understand me..  And they talk so quiet!  But I'm kinda getting it. There are so many languages here! I know a couple words already though, so that's good.  We stay in our house with 2 other elders.  One from Utah, Elder hull.  Anyways we go tracting all day on little tiny dirt paths through the bush (forest).  It's like in the movies!! It's so insane! We tract like ALL day! One second, I have to switch computers.

Ok so now I can send you pictures. Back to my stories! We tract at LEAST 10 miles a day.  Tough, I'm not gonna lie.  But we get lots of new investigators.  They eat the Gospel up! In the short 4 days I have been here we have had 14 baptismal dates set and 8 people show up at church!!! The church is a little house and 101 people were there yesterday.  Momma I'm sorry but we buy off the streets... potatoes, peppers, fruit...! Yum! They have these things called a rolex.. mmmm so good! I have not received your packages yet.  I will not get them till somone goes to Kampala.. I may be able to use skype here.. MAYBE if I can do it at this cafe but probly not. Probably just going to call home.  Have everyone you can there! And in that next package send a couple more small preach my gospels, they are very nice.

So story time! Yesterday my companion and I are walking down this mountain on a tiny dirt path passing villages (mud huts with straw roofs! yeah, Im in africa!) and this old man starts screaming at us! He says he wants us to come back to him and he is the Savior Jesus Christ and he forgives us!!!?  Ha, so we start to walk back to him when a young man (24) stops us and says "He is a drunk man, don't go back. He will just waste your time".  He seemed very hesitant like he wanted to say something.  But we thanked him and parted ways and walked back to this old man.  When we did this I immediately felt wrong. We said hello and goodbye. He was right.  He wasted our time.  When we were walking for a couple seconds my companion said we "made a mistake, we had a chance to meet with a drunken distraction or a promising member of the church".  Right after my companion said this I started booking it! I was running as fast as I could, Looking for this guy. I was praying so hard to find this guy. Well, we passed several roads going different ways, ways he could have went, but I
ran down this one I felt strongly about, and there he was a quarter of a mile down this hill! I ran down and he saw us coming! I was wasting my companion by now.  But the biggest smile came across his face.  We were breathing VERY hard when we got to him.  The first thing he said was "I know you are men sent from God to teach me, I wanted to speak with you yesterday and today but it never happened.  When I walked away from you today I asked God if he would send them again.  And there you were, running down this hill as fast as you could."  I was amazed we got a second chance. He ate everything up and wanted more.  He said he was going to village for Christmas but would stay home to be baptized and hear our message. WOW!? So really cool guy. I can't believe it happened. After that we were tracting again and a guy gave me a smile but seemed very sad.  I got these words in my head that said, "I wont give you a second chance again."  I immediately did what? Turned around and started to run.  Same thing with this guy. 

Ha, I also had a 30 minute talk in church yesterday. BEST talk I have ever given.  And I prepared it in 10 min.  But guess what! They didn't understand me. Haha, that's for sure humbling.  Something funny they do here is mumble and kinda groan like, "mmm,  mmm, mmmhmmm.  Haha, it's its own language. I'll tell you more when I get to call home.  Please everyone keep emailing. I look forward to it a ton!!

I wake up in sweat, I sleep in sweat, I walk in sweat and I live in sweat here. Also have to cook ALL of my food! But don't worry the food I buy from the street are thoroughly cooked first. Oh and Mom you will love this! I had to HAND WASH ALL OF MY CLOTHES TODAY! Took 2 hours! Ha DAD! I need you to ALWAYS keep looking into my iccu bank account to keep my checking account at 100 dollars always PLEASE!  I love all of you soo much. I miss you and this is very different.  I just need to get used to it.  Matt look up D&C 24:18. I think... Megan, Gavin! I love you both immensely! I love you Matt. I have been thinking about you a TON! Not sure why. I think I just miss you so much. Tell Grandma and Grandpa I love them very much and tell Grandpa Happy Birthday! And to read his Bible! But I prefer the Book of Mormon;)  Randy and Dani and Lil Ainslie I love you so much. Momma Bear! mm I want to cry when I think of you.  The love I have for you is hotter than the Sun.  I dream of the time I get to hug you again and say, "Thank you, and I LOVE YOU" But til next time;)  Dad, you have wisdom ya know?? I look back on my life and remember all the things you have told me when I was growing up.  And I remember a couple months ago you said, "I feel like I need to say something, something wise for you to live by." Dad, you already have. Your example exceeds your words so much. I love you thank you for everything. 
 
So this Christmas I will be away from family for the first time.  It will be sad but Elder Holland gave a talk about it in the December Liahona.  Its powerful.  Keep in touch with Katieboo.  And please in the next packege SEND FAMILY PICTURES!!! Of everyone!  I NEED them! Oh I made a typo.  My companion's name is Elder Chisoro.  From Zimbabwe.  I will send some pictures. I love ALL of you sooo much. Please continue to give me support. I desperately need it. This is a VERY hard mission.  This will be the hardest thing I will ever do. The best 2 years FOR my life.  We are going to go shopping for food in the SAFE market Momma! Right now, and go look for my new bag. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my family. It can not be said enough. 

Til next time,
Elder Lloyd

P.S. Please have ALL the family write on email. There is a chance it won't get here if you send normal mail.  And Mom send as many emails as you can!! I love em!  dont listen to Matt and Dad ;)

P.P.S The kids here are adorable..."Mazungoo Mazungoo Mazungoo!!!!" They all run and jump on me and shake my hand they are adorable! And they have beautiful singing voices. It is beautiful!