Finished

   It's hard to believe that 2 years can go by so fast. I'm proud of how my mission has gone, and of the hard work that I put in each day of my mission. I'm well satisfied with what I've accomplished and what I've become.

   I can't wait to see everyone at home. I love you guys will see you soon!

Lady named Prossy

   This has been a pretty nice week. Things are going pretty well. The area I'm in is prospering fairly well, and we have got some people to teach. We should have two baptisms my last week, and there are several that are getting prepared for next month (after I'm gone). I'm pretty proud of the work I've been doing the last few weeks.
   There is this one lady named Prossy that has a baptismal date for my last week. She had been taught by missionaries for years. She is the sister to the Sunday School presidents wife, and she had met many missionaries but had never really been interested in joining the church or being baptized. She allowed us to teach her a couple of weeks ago and all of the sudden she just started keeping commitments (reading the Book of Mormon, Coming to Church, Praying...) It was pretty cool. This last week as we were teaching her she opened up and thanked me for finally helping her to understand, that she had been taught for so long but she only started to understand when I taught her. It was a really satisfying moment to know that the lord had prepared that individual for me and that I was able to make contact with her because I was prepared and worthy.

   I'm thankful for everyone's emails. You guys are great, it will be nice to see you all in a few weeks time. Love you all!

-Elder Grilliot

P-Day in Entebbe

   This has been a rewarding week. We've got a lot of work done, and I'm pretty satisfied with how things are going in Kajjansi. Today for P-day our whole zone went to the beach in Entebbe, it was pretty fun. We played beach volleyball and soccer. Afterwards we went to KFC (they just opened one in Entebbe).

   DAD, that's cool that the missionaries back home are teaching a Congolese, they are really spiritual people. There's a reason why they are about to get a temple in the DRC. There's a cool story my mission pres. told me about a state formed in a village in Congo. It's kinda long though, so I'll have to tell you about it when I get home. The people of DRC are supper awesome though. There's a place in Kampala named Makinde where all of the refugees from the DRC go. In Makinde Ward there's like 50 Congolese, and everyone who serves in that ward just talks about how awesome the Congolese are. If the missionaries convert that Congolese guy make sure they get referrals from him. One cool thing about the Congolese is that once they find something good, they share it with everyone.

   I'll listen to conference my last Saturday and Sunday in Uganda. I'm really looking forward to it.

   Yes! please bring a thick coat when you guys pick me up. I would appreciate that. We may have to go clothes shopping when I get back too. I don't know what I have back home that will fit me...

   I'm doing well right now. Though I'm anticipating going home a lot. My comp and I made a goal in weekly planning though that I won't talk about home this week and if I do then he gets to hit me on the shoulder. I think it will help. I'm pretty focused on the work though, and I'm still working hard.

   Love you guys have a great week.

-Elder Grilliot

Hard Working Week

This has been an hardworking week. Opening a new area is no joke. We have a lot of finding to do. The branch has been very suportive though, they have a goal that each member gives the missionaries at least 2 referrals per month. In the first week we got a good number of referrals, but not many of them really worked out for one reason or another. We hope that this next week things will really go well.

   I don't really know what else to talk about... Have a great week!

-Elder Grilliot

Picture of me back in Lira with Elder Cardon at the start of my mission

In Gulu towards the end of my mission

Starting up Missionary Work in Kajjansi!

   This has been a difficult week. Adjusting to a new area, and trying to learn where everything is at. For like the first few days I really missed being in Gulu, it was almost as if I were homesick for Gulu.

But after being in Kajjansi for a few days I started really pushing and becoming immersed in the work.

   Kajjansi is actually an old branch in the mission (it's been there for like 13 years) but because the branch wasn't doing any missionary work at all, they took the missionaries out and for a while they had no missionaries there. Then they eventually put in sister missionaries, and then Elders, and that's when I came in. Because they went for a while without any Elders it kind of humbled the branch and now they are really motivated to do missionary work. They also got a new branch pres. this year and he is very good at making sure the members are unified with the missionaries.

   The first few days in Kajjansi was hard. We didn't know anyone, or the area. But the members have helped us out a lot this last week and we already have a few people to teach. There are like 3 or 4 branch missionaries who are going on their missions in the next 3 months, and they are always willing to help us, so that's also a plus.

   Kajjansi is part of the city of Kampala, or I should say that it's like a subberb of Kampala. It sits just between the International airport in Entebbe, and the City of Kampala. We have to go into Kampala to be able to do our shopping though, and even to email.

   Time should go by fast here. I'm with a pretty good companion, (he's been out for around 18 months) Elder Mamani, from South Africa.

Funny enough, he was in my zone last transfer. He's a good guy, pretty laid back.

   My last Saturday and Sunday in Uganda will be General Conference.

You guys will receive it earlier than us but we will watch it at the end of October.

   Love all you guys! have a great week!

-Elder Grilliot

New Area-Kajjansi

   We received transfer news today. I felt pretty confidant that I would stay and finish my mission from Gulu. It was my last transfer news. I was surprised to hear that I was to be transferred for my last

6 weeks on mission, and to open a new area in a place called Kajjansi (It's in the southern part of Kampala). I suppose that it will comfort my parents to know that I won't be driving in Uganda any longer.

   I'm going to miss Gulu a lot. It was my favorite area on mission thus far, and I had the most amount of success here as well. I am leaving like 5 people who are ready for baptism in the area as well, I really wish that I could have stayed to witness their baptism.

   I look forward to going to my new area though. And doing some great things in Kajjansi. I plan on Finishing my mission strong, and I hope that opening this new area will help. I think that if nothing else it will make time go by fast.

   Love you guys, hope that you all stay well.

-Elder Grilliot

Teaching English class with Elder Frakes

   Thanks for all of the birthday wishes, from family and friends. I love you guys. To be honest it's hard to believe that I'm 21 years old, but I'm excited to know that I am finally old enough to drink. My birthday was on a fast Sunday, so I didn't really do anything too outrageous, but the day before my B-day, I started my fast at a fancy restaront called Cafe Hut. I ate a nice juicy hamburger and a banana smoothy.

   The companion that I have right now is a cool guy named Elder Frakes. We get along well, but the problem is that we are only a month from apart from each other on mission. It gets pretty tempting to talk about home with him from time to time. Just gotta keep on pushing though.

   My comp and I have been teaching an English class for the last month or so. We have a few students that come every week and are making some very nice progress. We intended it to help us find more investigators, but so far only like 2 have come since it started, but It's a nice experience for myself. Perhaps eventually it will pick up steam.

   We found a nice family this week. They are from the central part of Uganda (near Kampala) and live in Gulu for work. They are very humble and nice. The man is like 50 yrs old and his wife is like 27 but they get along really well. Very nice couple. and very smart as well. Hope that things go well for them.

   Love you guys, have a great week!

-Elder Grilliot