An African Heart

An African Heart

Friday, July 27, 2012

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From Elder Arineitwe


Dear, Father,
Thank you for all that you have said. Thank you for planing to send to me a camera of my own, l honestly did not know how to start telling you that l need one, l thought that was much for me to ask. All is well and l feel loved at the reception of your email. thank you. l know that the Lord will not allow us to sink to the bottom, because He never did. Any ways this week us quite remarkable, We recently walked out of our flat and we did walk on our reft, then a feeling came,"walk to the right". then l told Elder Law. Lets shift to the right side of the road. Well , he never complained, He simply followed me. We did walk for a few steps and in flont of us was a man moving facing down with his hand on his mouth in a way of expressing solution seeking, We came closer, It was  Mr Lumuuli, Member of Naitiri branch, After all the greeting and every thing, He looked at us and said, "My son, my first born son has recently returned form Sudan( country on the North of Uganda). And he is cold. He is not the Evans l knew. Now he does not even want to come to church. His wife and children are my concern now". Then we looked at this old man sharing the concern in his heart to Young men as if he has gotten the right people to talk to about this matter. There was silence for a space of two minutes. Then we assured him that we will go and talk with him. Immediately his face was cheer full, he smiled as he bid us farewell, I did not understand why his face was cheer full, may be every one needs some one to talk to. Then this came to my mind, by An Apostle.(The laborers in the Vineyard)

"Which leads me to my third and last point. This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.


I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.


Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. “Come boldly [to] the throne of grace,”3 and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast “without money and without price”4 at the table of the Lord.


I especially make an appeal for husbands and fathers, priesthood bearers or prospective priesthood bearers, to, as Lehi said, “Awake! and arise from the dust … and be men.”5 Not always but often it is the men who choose not to answer the call to “come join the ranks.”6 Women and children frequently seem more willing. Brethren, step up. Do it for your sake. Do it for the sake of those who love you and are praying that you will respond. Do it for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, who paid an unfathomable price for the future He wants you to have.


My beloved brothers and sisters, to those of you who have been blessed by the gospel for many years because you were fortunate enough to find it early, to those of you who have come to the gospel by stages and phases later, and to those of you—members and not yet members—who may still be hanging back, to each of you, one and all, I testify of the renewing power of God’s love and the miracle of His grace. His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.


So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen". By Elder Jeffrey R Holland. General conference 2012. 

When we talked to Evans, we told him that he is part of the team and will ever be. His face was full of Joy and the miracle of the week is that he came to church.


Hey Daddio,

I am really glad that everything got to you safely! The Lord is merciful, and He loves our family. Seriously, God is so merciful and loving to our family. We need to be strict in keeping the statutes and judgments of the Lord because of all that He has done for us. And, of course, because we love Him :)

Thanks for the pictures Dad! I love them. It's great to see everybody and how you are all looking nowadays. Guess what Dad? I do 200 pushups every morning now, plus other upper body workouts. I HAVE to stay strong! And how is your workout stuff going? Because time is rapidly closing pops. And i wanna climb that mountain reeeeeeally badly.

I am glad to hear that people are caring for me back home! And you gotta send my hellos to them too. That Batman thing is crazy though. What a horrible thing man... not just crazy, Satan is everywhere. But he can't win, and he won't win. Jesus Christ made sure of that with the Atonement. The Saints are always going to be victorious! Not the football team but the actual meaning of Saints... except the football team is also very good huh?

And that Kenyan movie sounds really cool! [Editors Note:  Leah and I watched a film called "The First Grader" about an old Kenyan man who went to first grade to learn how to read.  Great show!  I highly recommend it} I would love to see it when i get home! I could probably point a few places out here and there! How recently was the movie made?

As for the work here, transfers are this week. I am fairly sure my companion and i are going to be staying though. We will see i guess, anything can happen if The Lord wants it to. ALEX WAS BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!! It was awesome. I have not been more happy for a convert than Alex. He is going to be a great help to the Lord's work.

Anyways, besides that, nothing new Daddio! I put 40 new pics on Walmart. And again i am so glad you got the journal and everything. If you have questions about any of it just email me ok? Love you Dad :) Christmas is just around the corner, huh? Be happy, and know that i am working hard to make you proud. Love you forever Dad.
Love,
Conrad


HOLY JALISCO'S BATMAN!!!!

I am so glad you got the pictures!! And i am glad you liked them!!!! Do i relly look like i am filling out? I do over 100 pushups plus other upper body workouts every morning except Sunday. Am i bigger than Ben? Cani still whoop him you think?

I got homesick there for a moment when you mentioned scout camp. And guess what? Mom sent a picture of Ben and Dan in a restaurant booth and i recognized that it was BIG JUD'S! COME ON GUYS! WHAT THE CRAMP DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!?!?!?!?! I'M DYING NOW!!!!!!..

I am glad you are still in contcat with both of them(Elder Arinieitwe and Elder Kagame.) They are both amazing guys. I am trying hard to keep in contact with them as well but it's difficult sometimes. but yes, keep it up with them ok? And guess what? For zone conference recently, i was asked by some elders to write an arrangement of Come, Come Ye Saints. I did, and everyone was flabbergasted! They loved it :) I saved it and all the other songs i have written out here so that i can  fine tune them (no pun intended!) when i get home.

Other than that, we gots a baptism this Saturday! Awesome man named Alex. He asked me to baptize him. I love him so much man, he is just such a sincere and sweet guy. He is ready for baptism. I love my mission Dad. It is building me in so many ways that i can't even comprehend! And you know what else? I am coming to see that the Atonement has a WAY  bigger role in our everyday lives than we see. Not just for the redemption from sin. For MUCH more. I will explain more if you want me to next time.

Really though... am i bigger than Ben? :)
Love ou forever Daddio. Tell Danny to email me too ok?
Love,
Elder Your Son Schneider

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

From Elder Kagame


Dear Father
Yes am doing great. For sure we live five minute walk to that large stradium and am always happy to go there on mondays to play with some guys that plays at the national team of Kenya,as you think for sure there is a lot of people here .Next week we're goming to have a zone conference and am going to meet conrad again so we will take some pictures and i will send some to you hope you will like them.Dad don't worry any player you will find i will appreciate and i am really happy to have you in my life you're such are blessing to me amnd i will always do my best to make you happy. Wow jessica she looks so smart and am sure she is doing grate even at school with that course of pre-veterinary science am sure god know our desires and i know he wil help her to persure that course an she will be blessed wirh a good job. It was good for Benjamin with his team to have that success but in order to be the best always he need to practice always because practice makes perfact.Daniel is gonna be a grate soccer player i can real feel it i know one day we will play together and i will make him the best player i America and everyone will screaming his name am so proud of him and i can't wait for that day .Yes i was named Douglas after a British guy who took care of me the hospital when i was you because i was pre mature being born before the exerct time of seven month pregnacy so he made me survive and after he gave me his name wow nice guessing dad. Yes i graduated from the university in bussiness administration and am planing to start a bussiness may be by God's will proberbly in Uganda because in Rwanda it's tough to start you own business.My sister is staying in Ethiopia and is married to guy from Pakstan though i don't get along with him because he made my sister to sale everything we had and they ran to pakstan and after wards they settled in Ethiopia and i bearly visit them but i hope they are doing grate. 
The snake was at the members house so when they killed it they called us to have a look and when we reached there my companion skined it and he said he was going to make a belt out of that skin but i left before he made a belt.Dad i love you so much take care and send my greetings to my beloved mum and Jessica plus my young brothers.

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Hi DALE!
Wow sorry, i just thought that since i am almost 20 i can just call you Dale... just kidding!
I am going to try the Walmart thingy in just a minute, and if it doesn't work,  will scream and punch everybody in here in the face. HARD. That's about 6 people.


Flippin cool man, Ben won! Ugh i wish i could have been there. Did Ben have any awesome plays? And was the game flippin intense? He looks kinda big and scary... good thing i am going to work out until i am massive!


As for the flat, we live right in Kalongo, RIGHT next to the primary school. We go to Kikoko like, once or twice a week, but yeah our flat is right there in the Kalongo market. Actually on a hill next to the market. Send a quadrant map and i will pinpoint it for you. 


I am going to try and upload those pictures now. Don't tell the fam, but i am sending my journal that has the first 6 months, with a short letter and my 4gb memory card in a protective envelope and it should be there in a few weeks. WOO! Pray that it is safe. I love you so much Daddio! Christmas 2013 is going to be the best dang Christmas of our lives, i know it. 


Love, Conrad

From Elder Arineitwe

Dad, yes Am so happy that Ben won the game, some day we some day will congratulate him for wining in the world championship. well like you say we all slow down some times. Me too, its not that am always in tune with the spirit of the Lord. And am working on a lot of weaknesses. Thank you for giving me such a good compliment. l  will admit that am not perfect and  there are a lot of things in the past l wish l never said and did. l will also admit that me alone can not stand. l have tried that before. lt never worked and l hate to say that there are some mistakes in my past that l have repeated in the present in my past that, l know that with out the Lord Jesus Christ in my life it will never work, l can not gain my full portentail with out him. I admit that at several times in my life thought my actions l have shown Him that l do nt need Him. Yet He has never shown me that He never needs me. I happens in twinkle of an eye and am in a mistake. However, I have a testimony of Him that I will never deny, that He lives so that we too can live.  I desire to send to you my picture but I have no camera. I will have to see if my companion can help me use his to take the picture. The any thing that I want the most Dad is to hear from you. I know that I need to hear of your advice and the words that you write to me are a great help. No one from Uganda really writes to me and my Muslim father does not care weather am on a mission or not. Emailing me helps me to feel loved and l feel that am not a lone. To be honest I know that this gospel is true but a also human, some times l pray hard that my faith can not fail me. It is hard to know that no one from Uganda will send a massage of confert at the end of the week. Right now all I ask you Dad is to maintain communicating to me. lt is more to me than any thing else.  LOVE YOU DAD.