Transfer 10:3 Pumpkins, Blessings, and a Whole Lotta Change coming!

Hello Everyone! 

It has been a phenomenal week yet again! We saw a lot of blessings come through people that we have found, progress we are seeing as a companionship, and the hand of the Lord in our own lives. 

To start I got to go on exchanges with Elder Taylor in Mengo this week. He is such a great guy! It was a neat experience since we were able to teach really well together right off the bat, which doesn't always happen on your first exchange with someone. Nevertheless, it was cool. They have a lot of amazing people that are preparing for baptism in the coming weeks that they are teaching. 

I also got to go to an area called Kisugu to be on exchanges with the Assistants to the Mission President. I was with Elder Gilbert for the day, and I was really able to learn a lot about the work depends on our effort. We have to put our foot forward before we know which path to take sometimes, and this helped us to find some great people that are ready for the gospel in their area as well as in our own. 

Yesterday Elder Corbridge and I taught Gospel Doctrine as it was the missionary Sunday, and all of us were in charge of the classes. (I wish we could have taught Primary, but here's hoping for next time!) We had a great time and we had great insights from the members as we talked about the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. We were learning about the Gathering of Israel and how the Lord will write His law in our hearts when we allow Him to (Jeremiah 31:33). It was awesome to have a moment to reflect on how God has truly given us every opportunity in this day and age to know the truth and to live by it for ourselves and our families. I am grateful for that blessing and I hope that the work that we do each day can bring the equal opportunity to the attention of those we meet each day! 

Now, I have an announcement to make. With this being my last year on my mission, I want to give all of my attention to what we do here. With this desire I am deciding to move my mass emails to a monthly basis; sending emails to this group on the last Monday of each month. This does not mean that you won't know what is going on anymore, because I will continue to tell my mother what all is new with me each week, and I'm sure that the blog that she runs will continue to give these updates. This also does not mean that I don't love you guys! I'm forever grateful for your support and friendship, and I look forward to the day that I can see you again. 

I love you all and I hope that you have a stupendous week!!

-Elder O'Hagan

P.S. I'm getting a hang of this driving manual thing! 

Transfer 10:2

Hello Everyone!

It has been another fantastic week in Nsambya! We have seen a lot of good happen in our area and it has also been a crazy busy week! 

We have started teaching some cool people! One of them is named Zahara and she is a Muslim. She picked interest in the Book of Mormon and we are slowly helping her to understand how it can answer her questions about who Jesus Christ is and what exactly He has done for us. She is understanding it pretty well, and she prayed at the end of our second lesson with her, which surprised me! I hope that things work out there. 

We also had a great visit with some members of the ward the other night. We shared the message of the restoration with them and committed them to share it with friends that stayed around them. We are going back this Saturday to follow up, and they told us yesterday at church that they have some neighbors in mind already! So we are pretty excited about that!

 Oh! Our area has a truck and I started to learn how to drive again yesterday! It was a bit of a disaster, since I don't know how to drive manual, or how to drive on the left side of the road,and it has been a year, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon! We spent most of our week driving around doing things for missionaries or driving them to places. So hopefully next week there will be more to write about! 

The one thing I learned from this week is that we need to take time to understand why we are where we are when we are there. I know that might be confusing to read, but I feel that as we take time to really see how we can benefit those around us even when we don't understand why we have been placed in that situation, we can be the means of blessing many lives for the better!

I love you all and I hope that you have a great week!

-Elder O'Hagan 

Transfer 10:1

Hello Everyone!

Sorry for the gap (again) the power went out last week. 

This past week was transfers, so there was a lot of moving around for a few days. I am now in the Nsambya Ward with Elder Corbridge! It has been a very warm welcome from the members here and I am excited to work with them and serve them! 

The biggest highlight that we had was being able to watch General Conference! There were so many great talks given and I cannot wait to see what will come from applying the messages into my life. I really enjoyed Elder Rasband's talk about overcoming our fears and trials. I also enjoyed the focus on seeing others the way that God sees them; to withhold judgment and prejudice to instead love and care for them. 

Aside from that there wasn't much else aside from adjusting to the new place and doing the work! I should have some good stories for next week! I love you all and I am grateful for your support.

Until next time,

Elder O'Hagan

Living in Nsambya...

http://www.livinginkampala.com/area-guides/living-in-nsambya/

"Be Not Troubled", by Elder Ronald A. Rasband 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/be-not-troubled?lang=eng

Photo Courtesy of Okurut William, who ran into Elder O'Hagan
at the Mission Office last Monday.

Transfer 9:5 Preparation Brings Revelation

Hello everyone!! 

Sorry for the delay in email! We had a District lunch last week across the city and we didn't have much time for emailing! 

This past week since then has been pretty good! We have been seeing some success that is slow but sure in our area. While some people may come and go, we have ones that are more than willing to stay! For example, we are teaching a man name John Jonan who now wants to do ministering work in the Church even though he has only come twice! He comes to clean the chapel and he contributes in almost every class. He is a super cool guy. He gives me hope in the world. 

Aside from that we have been having a lot of fun, Elder Palmer and I. Unfortunately, this will be my last week with him from what I understand, but it has been a super fun transfer being his companion. Today we even went to a reptile farm with some other elders in our zone. Let me tell you, Cobras are scary! I've got some photos attached from the trip.

There is not much else from this week that I have to share. It has been so great to see the hand of the Lord in my life and in the lives of those around me. When we really need something and it is good, He will answer our prayers and give us the answers that we are looking for. Whether it is through scripture, the thoughts in our heart, or even through the words of his servants we are entitled to answers and manifestations of His love in our lives if we are ready, truly ready to receive it and act on it! 

Speaking of! We have got General Conference this week! I cannot wait to hear what new things are in store for us and to gain a deeper understanding of what I can do to be a better person and disciple of Jesus Christ. Whether you are a member or not, I highly encourage listening in this week to see what you can learn. Not only that, but to even go in with some questions to get answers to. I know that it'll be a great experience for you all. 

I love you all and I am grateful for all you do to support and encourage me. 

-Elder O'Hagan

https://www.lds.org/church/events/october-2018-general-conference?cid=HP_FR-28-9-2018_dPTH_fCNWSxLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng