Week 66 | Mbale, Uganda

Hey dad and mom,

This week went so well. We were supposed to have a baptism of one of
our powerful men we are teaching but he got a bad case of Malaria and
had to postpone it to this upcoming sunday... that was a bummer, but
we are now teaching a Pharmacist and his nurse wife. The branch
president gave them to us as a referral!

I spoke to dylan about 3 weeks ago and I can't believe he is back...
that is good he is doing well though. and I asked about TY last week
and was hoping he was going on a mission, so I am so happy that he is
going to be leaving very soon.

I can't believe the day of the Hunt is NIGH!! Wow all of those photo's
of cade's hunt got me super pumped for you!!! Some of those animals
are massive!! I have seen some similar to here, but none like the ones
i saw in the pictures. I bet you are so excited, and I am for you. You
will have a blast! can't wait to get the pictures either!!!
I can't wait to go to the cabin as well. There is a lot of things I
need to continue to learn from you dad. the time will come.
Oh ya the shooting range will be legendary as well! Good times are
coming our way. I really appreciate those memories now! Love you dad!
Next time I talk to you, you will be on this side of the world!!!!

Love, Elder Halladay

Log- Holy cow sounds like a crazy week coming up! I will be getting so
many crazy emails I am sure! I miss summer man. I miss the
Seasons. It is just Wet and Dry season here and always dusty! haha
mission!!! Hope all is well in your life my brother. As for now,
all is well. Work is great. No complaints.

Al-haha you need to send me a picture of Nolan and his fiance. maybe
you did in the next email.. if so just ignore that... I miss nolan. I
wont forget the time I stayed at BYU with him in his Dorm! haha and we
had some good times in Basketball as well! Tell him hello and I love
him please! you and the Rents will be busy coming up! That is legit.
Enjoy your holiday sister. Love you tons!
Elder Halladay

Week 65 | Mbale, Uganda

Mom,

Sorry that everyone was sick.... that's not fun at all. and yes i do remember that day when we just stayed home from and watched army movies, it was a fun day!
Ya that is so cool that all of the other missionaries are teaching someone from Uganda. Of course the field is white here. they are ready to receive the gospel!!!

WOW Grandpa billy was super cool. I told E. Mkutswana and E. Mothajana what you just said about in cape town and they freaked out they thought is was so cool. They said, I knew you have some south african roots in you! haha I will have to for sure read more about him when I am home. I need to do more family history work... the prophets speak of it so often and I've never done it.... but i can when i am home.

Just a thought for you: Even when before the prophet Samuel from the old testament died he was commanded of God to call a king. Saul, and then he later anointed David who would one day take over the kingdom and become prophet... The reason for this is because Samuels 2 sons were accepting bribes and were not worthy of his Mantle... The question was asked to the Prophet Samuel, when we are in trouble and need to call upon the Lord for help, will he answer? and The Prophet Samuel knew his sons could not.

 I feel I should share with you about my companion Elder Kazimoto. He is a wonderful missionary. From the very first moment to know we have become wonderful friends and I do love him very much. We are teaching smoothly together and with great power and Authority. He's a wonderful Elder. This week we experienced a miracle. A true blessing in the Lords work. There is a prospective branch missionary who for over a year has tried to get missionaries to teach his family of the Catholic faith, but his efforts have been in vain through the harshness of his father who owns a small bean company in Kachumbala. He is a very educated and wealthy man, and his wife is a leader in the local Catholic Church.... Just a few days ago I received a call from this man followed by him son who is a prospective branch missionary in the Mbale branch... The man has a dream that an angel appeared to him and called him by name and told him to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This man with a heart of stone cracked and immediately told me he will be coming on Sunday... He did come with him wife and they LOVED church and after were speechless president. They felt the Spirit... The man then called all his sons and daughters and their spouses and his own brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles just so I could speak to them to tell them the good news. He then invited us to his home on Wednesday to teach his entire family the message of the Restoration. He is bringing family from as far as Siroti to hear the message and is slaughtering a Pig for a feast...
The Lords hand is in his work. I am so happy to see the Gospel change so many lives and to soften even the hardest of hearts. The Lord has blessed us with a miracle.. Glory be to God always. 

Elder Halladay

Dad, It was so wonderful to see and talk to you as well Dad you and mom look great. you've both lost a lot of weight it looks like. and wow your work is growing super quick!! Working with you reminds me of my mission. Going from house to house fixing little things here and there. Haha like going to appointment to appointment fixing little things here and there.

Sorry that you got sick pops.. those shots and pills are beast! and you never do well with pills and shots either! I bet it was weird at father and Sons? Those were the good ol' days huh dad? but I will be home sooner that you know and we will be back to our regular life, but changed to never again be the same.

I can't believe that the safari is coming so quickly! I bet you are getting pumped up! 

"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar". I was offered something in Mercy of my family and if they feel in their hearts it should go to someone else, than who am I to say otherwise or speak ill against it? I would never say or feel or think anything bad. Good for him to have such loving and Kind parents. We should remember what the Lord told those who wanted to stone the women caught in Adultery. "he who is without sin, let him first cast a stone." If we are not to forgive, then how can God forgive us? I forgive him and Think that he should be entitled to his families love as the Prodigal son returning to his father after desecrating his fathers inheritance while his faithful brother sat in pride and envy at the rejoicing of an undeserving brother.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ father is about change, acceptance, and forgiveness. ;"come what may and love it!"

I love you so much father. I hope my words will and have not offended anyone, but that is how i feel.

I hope you have a wonderful week. I miss you and love you.
PS me and my companion are doing absolutely amazing!
Elder Halladay (your son)

Log, sorry not much time. i hear the Crossfit games are coming up! I miss my brother and the good times that we would have. We will have a good time soon!

AL- thank you so much for your email. I can't wait to see harley and get to know my niece!! All is well here. no complaints. when Is rachel coming? love ya.

Elder Halladay

Week 64 | Mbale, Uganda

Hey mom!

It was so good to see you and dad and all the family. you guys

look great and I love that you were reppin the Uganda jerseys!!! that
was legit. I love you and miss you and though the time was short i

enjoyed it so much!

Hey Dad!!!

Thanks for your letter. this is exactly what i want to read about. I like to know these details about what is happening at home. I love to talk to you! especially like now. I try to get on later in the day here so I can talk to you for a minute in the morning before you go to work. and Yes the week was great. We had 3 baptisms of Geofrey Manana, Sarah Nabakenya, and their son Isaac. Here everyone has different surnames. It was powerful.. this is the couple that we married and the gospel saved their marriage, literally. We also taught them how to have a family home evening with their kids who are really young and they loved it so much. the spirit is so strong in their home. He is a builder pops. I think I told you, but he built the US embassy in Uganda... He even built me and Kensie a house to go back and visit in haha I love that man. And we have so many people we are teaching right now, almost too much to handle 40+. It's a good problem. We haven't had that activity yet, but will this Wednesday. So I will let you know how is goes.

I can't believe you guys are coming to the same continent as me! haha that is so cool. Remind me again what day you are leaving? is it hard to get your firearms on a plane? this is what we have always watched on TV and wanted to do, and I am happy for you DAD. I can't wait to see the pictures from that hunt!!! and yes in 2 weeks probable I'll give you the Details.

I sent a bunch of stuff home with Rachel to America!! But I don't want you guys to open anything until I get home. haha It needs to be a surprise. I love ya Dad and hope you have a great week!
Elder Halladay

Log and Al- Man your hair is so long! Good to see you though man. I hope you haven't forgot about
me! haha we only knew eachother like what 12 months before I left, but
we became best friends. ah man we have time to become true Brothers!!!
Love ya man. Sorry I got a little emotional... that was unexpected and
embarrassing, but my spirit is a lot stronger than the flesh.
and i Agree that the time was perfect. I didn't know that the power
would be out, but I think someone a lot better and greater did;). I
love you too Alex. so much. I am sorry I was a punk sometimes at home,
but know that truly I love you. I want you to be a part of my life and
near me all of this Mortal probation. You're the best sister I could
ask for! You are growing up so fast too!!! and don't worry It will all
be worth the wait when I get home. 
Elder Halladay

Week 63 | Mbale, Uganda

Al- I am going to call on phone to set up the skype, but I will skype
you guys for sure from the couple computer and I will get on at 11 pm
your time. and you guys Grandparent's and trey is all. you better have some good things to tell me about home!!! Start making a list now okay? I am excited to see and talk to you all! it'll be stellar!

Log- We give blessings every week. So yes quite a lot! I have seen
many miracles I Hold dear to my heart and I will always cherish them.
I am happy to see you and talk to you too man!!!

I know you enjoyed your mission Log, and I know you were a great
missionary! One thing I admire about you so much is your love and
devotion to the Gospel. I thank the Lord everyday that my sister
married you! Do you still study like you did on mission? one thing I
don't want to happen is to lose my study and personal revelation and
I'll do whatever it takes to keep it! I know there is lots of
distractions, but I gotta know how to live in the world but not of the
world.

PS we had 2 baptisms yesterday and they were awesome! had 7 this
transfer and the branch is growing fast!!

Elder Halladay

Mom,

Hey I am just getting on! Ready to skype in 7 days!?

I  loved all the talks of course from conference!
but the one's who stuck out were Bednar, L tom Perry, Zwich guy with
the Semi and also Rasbands story with the tornado in Oklahoma and
Iring and scott and hales... wow there are too many to count and the
one with the Olympics and 4 minutes! I am disappointed I never took
Conference more serious at home... I was a punk! haha

Did you print the pics and take them to little B? and when Is rachel
coming to see your guys? what's going on up i C City? when I call you it will be the
same day I get transfer news so I will probably just call you and tell
you the transfer news when I get it. I think I will be leaving, but
who knows? haha transfers are interesting aren't they? haha I will cry

when i say goodbye to Geoffrey and Sara and all the kids... but I am
ready for a change again. I can't believe Kensie will be home in 5 months. She is a legend!! 

I love you!

Elder Halladay

Dad,

We had a wonderful week. This Sunday we got to Watch Conference and It

was powerful!! I loved Elder Rasband, Elder Iring, Elder scott, Elder

Hales and Elder Zwick. Uchtdorf of course, Ballard, Gary Stevenson,

and my 2 favorites had to be Bednar and Perry!!! and Monson!

I have a lot that I still need to work on... I need to become a true

disciple of Christ...I am sure the priesthood session in the stake was powerful! young men

definitely need to go on missions! I can think of so many of my friends that didn't go, and I am sad for them and for the experiences they are missing....

I am pumped to hear about your trip pops. When I call I want to hear a lot about what's happening at home as well okay? I love ya and can't wait to see soon DAD!!! 

Ps we had 7 baptisms this transfer. Which was a huge success, My zone killed it this transfer. We had the highest Key Indicates in the entire mission. and we are in the bottom 3 smallest zones! I am proud of my missionaries! 

Love Elder Halladay

Week 62 | Mbale, Uganda

Are you all ready to skype in & days!!!!

(to Loge) I would love to go to Hawaii with you and Alex! we will do stuff like that for sure. and I too am excited to talk to you on mothers day. I miss ya bro. haha when I make you guys african food you will laugh and maybe get a little sick as well haha and I have been crazy busy... golfing, zone conference, ZLC, and Exchanges, this week We'll have our ZDM as well so 4 more hours of driving. But man there is no substitute for the Gospel! I know you as a Missionary know that, there just isn't anything better than living in accordance to God's gospel. Can't wait
to do temple trips and what not.

(to Alex) I love you so much and an so laughing right now at Harley, haha I wish I could see that. I am so happy that I will be able to see you and talk to you all so soon, I miss you sis. and i am glad you got the 1st ever letter i sent to you. it wasn't special but it was something right? when are you talking to Rachel? I sent her with some stuff for you guys! I love you and am out of time so we'll talk more next week! haha funny things happened this week.

Elder Halladay

Week 61 | Mbale, Uganda

this will be short, today have been insane! i have been driving for an accumulative 6 hours!! went golfing and tomorrow i have zone conference and am giving a training on "how to teach the Restoration effectively" and they gave me 30 minutes! haha so that's encha(tomorrow)

I can't believe that i will be skyping you guys again in just 3 weeks time... seems like only a few weeks ago
i was calling on christmas. Do you miss me? ha I miss you guys.
All is well here. I went golfing yesterday with a few elders and the
senior couples and then had to pick up a district for our zone
conference so yesterday we only emailed for a few minutes, I gave a 30
minutes training on teaching the Restoration, and focused on chapter
10 of preach my gospel. It went well. 

Week 60 | Mbale, Uganda

This is The couple we Married, and their kids. They were baptized this Sunday. It was a powerful experience and they all bore the a shaking testimony upon how the Gospel Blesses and Changes Families.

This is a group of people we taught the Restoration too. We got invited by a local Pastor to come to a village to teach them. There was about 100 people in this small house, but many left. Out of the 100, 23 of them showed up to church this Sunday. The Lord is great.

same again. I think they will like it. Gotta promote the business. maybe i'll get a Thunderbird and a razzleberry pie for me and sister Kupfer for free with this international exposure?!

 I drive with crater size pot holes and there are no rules seriously and everyone cuts you off and you have to drive aggressive or die. so that is good, it is helping me for home! haha although driving in the left side in the car and on the right side of the road is wierd to me now... so bare with me... we have a lesson with 100+ people and taught the restoration and it was awesome! And there was a Born again Preacher that wanted to blast us, but we totally confounded him with scriptures and testimony. it was awesome! We teach lot's of pastors now a days. We had 45 referrals and 28 new this week and 23 investigators at sac. with 3 baptisms and 2 next week. so the work is good.

\rachel will have lots to share with you all. she took me out to eat like 5 times and I was so so so happy for that. I had good food!

Elder Halladay