Week 5: Big Spiritual Events in little Email (get the movie reference?)...

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Week 5: Big Spiritual Events in little Email (get the movie reference?)

Hello Everyone! 

This weeks email will be short due to time, but I wanted to share some things that happened this week that stood out to me!

The Lord provides ways for us to be prepared to meet others as long as we ourselves prepare to meet the Lord. This can be done as we strive to be unified with all of our loved ones and with those we work with each day! Elder Driggs and I have really seen the blessings that come from this as we have worked together to strengthen the faith of our investigators. 

Sorry again for keeping this short, we have a zone meeting in preparation for Elder Palmer coming for a mission tour. I promise that next week will have more!

Haircut from Elder Driggs

Scenic Tree

Scenic View

I love you all very much!

Don't lose hope and faith and Trust in the Lord!!

-Elder O'Hagan

Week 4: Becoming Rwandan, Exercising Faith, and so much more...

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Week 4: Becoming Rwandan, Exercising Faith, and so much more...

Hello everyone! I hope that life is treating you all very well! Life here in Kigali is starting to become second nature as I am now starting to speak the language a little bit and now officially have a worker's ID! It's pretty neat. Also, I'm in a random internet cafe, so there won't be any pictures sadly this week. 

Monday: Normally I don't add P-Day in my weekly email, but this one really stood out to me. This is because I went to the Rwandan Genocide Memorial with my District. I do not have words to describe the pain and sorrow that I felt for these people as I saw the entire event unfold before me. I now understand how Moroni and many other Book of Mormon prophets felt as they wrote about the wickedness and bloodshed on the Lamanites. However, I have also never felt so much love. To see the unity and progress that this country has made in response to this catastrophe is remarkable, and I have a newfound respect for everyone I meet.

Kigali Genocide Memorial Website: http://www.kgm.rw/

Rwanda: How the genocide happened: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13431486

Tuesday: Nothing too exciting happened today aside from preaching the Gospel of Christ!!!

Wednesday: We had interviews! President Collings is one of the most inspired men that I have ever met!  He and I were able to talk about how my mission is going and where I want it to go and I loved it. Some key things that I learned from this experience is that Preach my Gospel and personal studies are key to be progressing efficiency as a missionary! Later on in the day Elder Driggs and I went to teach a recent convert, Redempta, about Temples and Family-History work. I have never seen someone get so excited about these things, and it brought us all joy and happiness for her to know that she can be eternally sealed to her husband that she lost in the genocide. It was a very powerful and uplifting moment.

Thursday: I'm not going to lie. Today was not the best day for me, but it was still a good one because I used it as a learning opportunity. Whenever we have days where we feel that we didn't meet a requirement fully or even at all, we can have hope in knowing that the Lord will provide a way for us to quickly turn around and be able to do more than we thought we could. He often does this through the small moments of joy that we have. So never take the good small things in life for granted, they might just be what keeps you going!

Friday: Today we got to do the Lord's errand and I learned even more that hope is key!! In addition to this Elder Driggs and I are really working well together and I learn much from him each and every moment of the day. He is a powerful missionary.

Saturday: In today's training I learned a lot about the importance of being a member of the Church and it's organization. Rwanda doesn't have the church as fully developed as it is in Utah. As a matter of fact it's only 7 years old here. So being able to establish the Church here is equally important as teaching investigators is. I encourage you all to truly do all you can to learn about how the Church is organized and even to do all you can in whatever calling you have if you are a member. (Especially if it means feeding the missionaries ;)

Sunday: Today I really got to connect with the members of the branch here and we even have a Branch Cultural Game night planned to unite the branch and invite non-members to see who we are. I'll talk more about that in the coming weeks when it happens November 4th. The other thing from today is that I didn't realize how much being a stage tech would help me on my mission. We were having trouble with microphones, much like a theatre department I know ;), and so I was able to solve the issue and we were able to have one working mic instead of two because the cord was fried. 

Anywho, I am very happy to be out here serving the Lord full time! It has helped me gain a better testimony of the church and it's origins. I also know that it has been making me a better person, and one that God would want me to become. I love you all very much and I am grateful for your support! Never give up on prayer or scripture reading, and never surrender to any doubts or fears that you may face each day. You are enough! And you can become more through those spiritual essentials of faith and study!

Much love from the Heart of Africa!

-Elder O'Hagan

Week 3: "And the rain rain rain came down down down"...

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Week 3: "And the rain rain rain came down down down"...

This week has been yet another great one! That being said, it has had its trials, but that's just life!

Tuesday: As the subject line suggests, it rained hard!! On the upside though, we got to develop a stronger bond with the members here in Kigali 3. 

Wednesday: First things first, Elder [Sam] Martinez is now a part of this wonderful work and I am beyond excited for him! I know that he will do very well in the field. As for me, it rained again. However, I got a stronger testimony of the Spirit and it's ability to help us be more efficient teachers and disciples of Christ. I urge you all to seek this guidance whenever you are in need, because it truly brings peace to our souls.

Thursday: We went digging again!! And I forgot sunscreen for my shins!! So my legs looked like tomatoes all for the rest of the week! The moral of the story: don't underestimate the sun at the equator my friends, it's not wise! What was wise, however, was to see the reality of missionary work for what it is and can be. Often times, expectations supersede reality, and we might feel inadequate or that we aren't meeting the bar just quite. From my experience so far, I can say that we must realize that life often doesn't goes as planned, but we can use that plan to spring back from discouragement and move forward to success.

Friday: It was Friday the 13th in October, so that's pretty neat. We also had this bird that continued to attack our flat (apartment) all morning as we got ready. It was really weird. We had some great spiritual lessons this day and we were feeling pretty good, until it rained incredibly hard. Normally we would just trek right on through it without any comment, but this time we decided to sing hymns together as we walked. As we did so, the rain actually went down! So that was nice, until I realized that I was singing very loudly and a lot of people looked at me like I am a crazy Mazungu. That means "white man" by the way.  

Saturday: Today was interesting. It rained a lot, and Elder Driggs had the flu this time. With this I had the opportunity later on in the day to give him a priesthood blessing to help him do the Lord's work, and he is now feeling much better! There was also a member of the branch presidency who has Malaria that I gave a blessing to. Hopefully he is getting better soon. The power of the Priesthood is truly a wonderful thing, and I am so glad that I can take part in its power to help others! Also, The Plan of Salvation is great! I won't go into too much detail, but all I can say is read 2 Nephi 9 and the first three chapters of Jesus the Christ and you'll see what I mean.

Sunday: Today we had another baptism! Her name is Sister Redempta and she is one of the funniest ladies that I've met out here! We finally had normal church services instead of Conference, so we got to know the members better and even bore our testimonies for testimony meeting. There was one man that was visiting for the first time from a different church who decided to bare his testimony as well. He got up and started yelling "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" multiple times while the members were confused with how to respond. He thought that we were the weird ones and asked if he could get an Amen, to which the branch awkwardly said amen back. It was one of the funniest things I've seen out here! And now we are going to teach him, so that'll be fun! 

To wrap this all up, I love the work out here! It's truly where I need to be and what I need to be doing. Without this opportunity and the spiritual growth that I'm developing out here, I'm not sure where I'd be or what I'd do. I know that as you all pray for strength and search the Book of Mormon for answers to anything that ails you, that you will truly receive those things.

Elder Driggs, Brother Predonce, Elder O'Hagan

View from our Service Project Area

View from our Service Project Area

View from our Service Project Area

I love you all very much!

-Elder O'Hagan

Week 2: Serving Boldly Where Others Have Served Before...

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Week 2: Serving Boldly Where Others Have Served Before...

This week has been a great one to be sure​! ​

But as I am doing many things all the time, I forgot my day-by-day paper to help me with this email. So here are some highlights​!​ (Woo hop)

Tuesday: I got the flu from something I ate on P-Day and lost my voice. Which is problematic when your one job is to testify and preach the gospel! However, whenever I needed to bare my testimony in a lesson (since that's basically all I could do) my voice would return to bare that testimony and would disappear immediately afterwards. This showed to me the true importance that Christ has in our lives, and that He will provide when we make Him the center of our lives. I also received a blessing from my companion, Elder Driggs, that helped my voice to be mostly restored the next day to further the work.

My Companion, Elder Driggs

Thursday: We did a service project today! We hiked 5km to a Sister's plot to plant beans, and let me tell you, that is not an easy task! They do it by putting the seeds in their mouth and spitting them out as they dig the holes for them like they are sunflower seeds! It was so much fun though, and we got to teach a lesson afterwards, so it was fantastic!

Friday: Today was a bit difficult because we went on splits for most of it to cover baptismal interviews for the Sister missionaries. Brother Predonce and I went to visit our planned investigators for the day, and they were all asleep or not home!! Now, before I continue, Predonce is hands down one of my favorite people here in Kigali 3! So with that, we went finding and shared spiritual thoughts with recent converts after we said a prayer for guidance at the Chapel. We also found many new investigators along the way, and I pray that they will be receptive to the Lord's gospel.

Random note: Our chapel is a re-purposed apartment complex. So it's pretty cool.

Sunday: We got to watch Conference again because we didn't finish it last week!!! So that was a great spiritual morale booster! It also gave me the opportunity to really ponder the talks given in the Sunday afternoon Session. In addition to this we also had 4 new members confirmed today into our Branch! Being a part of that Priesthood circle is truly amazing, and it reminded me of how truly blessed we are to be a part of this great church! 

To wrap that all up, we also had dinner at the Branch President's home. President Charles is one of the sweetest and most spiritual men I have ever met! He has been a member of the church here in Rwanda for 7-8 years now and every member of his family is in the church. There should be a picture of Elder Driggs and I with them attached. 

Elder Driggs & Elder O'Hagan with President Charles and his family

Elder Driggs, Brother Hertier, Elder O'Hagan

As for you all back home. I hope that you all are doing well and I love each and every one of you!

May the Lord be with you always,
Elder O'Hagan 

Hello from Rwanda! The Land of a Thousand Hills!

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Hello from Rwanda! The Land of a Thousand Hills!

Hello everyone!

So I am now officially in the field as of five days ago, and I have learned so much about myself and the spirit and what I need to do each day! This email won't be like the last one because so much has happened since the MTC, so I'll share some highlights and my testimony with you all. 

So, I am in the Kigali 3rd Branch District with Elder Driggs as my Trainer. He is from McKinney, Texas so we've been able to have that Texan bond a bit. 

Our area is fascinating! The people here are so very humble and friendly! The only downside, Kinyarwanda. That is the language spoken by many, with very few people aside from members being able to speak English. Luckily, the Lord answers prayers and I have been able to pick up the language little by little and we've found people to teach who won't need a translator! 

With that, we have already had one baptism and look forward to another one in the oncoming weeks. His name is Bonifas and he was taught mostly by the Elders that were here before us. He has a strong testimony, and I hope that he will remain constant in church attendance. 

The food here is pretty good. Granted the meals Elder Driggs and I have had have comprised of Ramen and Strawberry Jam/Nutella Sandwiches until we go shopping today. 

Anyways, as for my testimony. 

I know without a doubt that Jesus is The Christ. He has shown me who I can be out here and I strive to become that man each and every day. Life is not easy in this day and age, whether you are serving the Lord full time or not that is obvious. However, I tell you this, that God would not put you in whatever trial you now face, whether it be at home, work, school, or in your own mind, without the guarantee that you will overcome it through faith and emerge with renewed strength and capability. I know that as we read the Book of Mormon with an eye to God to seek answers, that we all will receive those answers and rejuvenation from the Holy Ghost. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God, and I hope that you all had the chance to hear the words spoken at Conference, for they are truly the exhortations and blessings of God. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Also, I am apparently an "I.T. expert" because I knew how to use Youtube to get conference going for our Branch. Who would have thought that wasting my time watching videos back home would ever benefit me out here? ;) 

Again, I love you all and I hope that you see the hand of the Lord in your lives everyday. 

Okay! One last thing! These photos are courtesy of the Senior Couple, Elder and Sister Wright, and my Mother. The first should be of our district here in Kigali 3A With Elder Driggs and I, Sister Maqele (the "q" has the clicking sound that is very hard to do) and Sister Ramson. The other person is one of the coolest people I've met in our Branch, who is sadly moving to another Branch for School, which is great for him!​

​This next one should be of my MTC brothers when we first arrived in the Entebbe Airport. They are all really great missionaries!​

(Additional photos, courtesy of Sister Wright)

Elder Mukaro, Elder O'Hagan and Elder Wright

Elder Driggs and Elder O'Hagan

With love for you all,

Elder O'Hagan