We had an unexpected and wonderful surprise on New Year's Eve. On December 31, 2018 our daughter had a baby boy! He was about two weeks early, but just wanted to see 2018 before it was completely over. We were so happy! This makes grandchild number four for us!
It's difficult being away, but thanks to modern technology, we were able to talk with them and see some fun videos of the two boys. Such sweeties!!
We also had our departing missionaries at the mission home on the 31st. There were five who were returning home on January 1st. These missionaries were in a very unique situation. They served for two years, but actually saw four years on their missions. They were in the MTC on December 31, 2016. They were in Uganda through all of 2017 and 2018, and they were in the mission home on New Years Eve 2018. They left for home on January 1 2019. Because it was their last night on December 31st. I went outside with them on the balcony at midnight, and the whole mission home was surrounded by fireworks. We let them watch the fireworks before they went to bed. It was a nice way to end their 2 or 4 years of service. Haha.
Dinner in Entebbe before going to the airport
This was the view as we were driving to the airport to send them home. It seemed very fitting as the sun was setting on their missions. These are strong young men who can really do many wonderful things in the future. I'm excited to see where their lives take them.
We dropped off five elders, and picked up three elders and one sister who just arrived from the MTC. We are so excited to meet these young missionaries. Two of them are from the DRC, one from the United States, and one from Ghana. All are strong missionaries who are willing to give it their all. I'm very grateful that we are blessed with these amazing young people to carry on the work of the Lord in this part of the vineyard.
During this time of missionaries coming and going, we had to say goodbye to a very special missionary. Jackie Akao has been our housekeeper at the mission home since we arrived. In fact, she worked for the previous mission president and wife as well. When we first arrived two and a half years ago, Jackie said she had been working and saving her money to go on a mission. We really thought she would go sometime in the first year that we were there. She celebrated her birthday in September 2017, and made a birthday wish as she blew out her candle. She said, "I wish that next year I will find myself on my mission!" Well in September 2018 she was still working hard in the mission home. She has had many trials she has had to overcome. Things finally fell into place for her, and January 3rd she reported to the MTC. She will be going on a mission to Zimbabwe. She is already a great missionary. She tells everyone about the gospel, and continues to reach out to people who have recently been baptized into the church. She is wise beyond her years, and will be such a blessing to the mission where she was called. But we will surely miss her. She has become one of the family to us. It was hard to say goodbye. In fact when she came by to say goodbye just before she went to the airport, she was sick with a fever. President Collings gave her a blessing, and I gave her some medication. It sounds like she is doing well now, thank goodness. We will miss her!
