5 Baptisms

my feet feel a lot better the blisters are gone already. my campanion is Elder Plant, he is from Utah! i was suprised, i would send you pictures but i think im a going to fill up my memory on the card first. I hope paige feels better soon! that sounds like Hope wanting to be a big person haha! tell her she will be able to when she gets older haha. it dosent surprise me that dad would want to take my car hehe it does get better gas milage than his. oh that reminds me the driving here is INSANE! they drive on the left side of the road but! there is no lines to stay inside and so everyone just drives on where ever they want to! Tell hope that have seen lots of monkeys, house  cats, dogs, chicken, turkey, ducks, and lots more. i  havnt seen any tigers, lions or stuff like that.  I might end up going on a safari here soon so i might see some. tell her that they wont be leaving for some time now and they still have a few years left haha.

 

     The area is great and we are planing on having at least 5 baptisms this week!  its great, the food here is good i and i am going to make some of the other elders that live in the house next to us some cookies and spaghetti sometime this week. the money here is so diffeerent i feel like i am spending TONS! but i am only really sending about 70 cents  in america sometimes   even less. i went on splits yesterday with some of the ward members, i was hoping that i knew the area well enough i am the the Uganda , gulu , petche area. its a really big area.  i am still learning the area but i know my way around for the most part. 

  I am trying to learn the second language. I figure it can't hurt, right.

     my new mail address is,

Nakawa House

Plot 7 Port Bell Road

P.O. Box 8989

Kampala, Uganda

 

you should send some candy and stuff like that so i can show some of the other elder the stuff we have there. oh and some kool aid!  so i dont just  have to drink normal flavored water hehe. (just lots of different stuff dosnt have to be big)  it takes about 4 weeks for packages and 3 weeks for letters to arive here.

On Mon, Jun 24, 2013 at 4:45 AM, Traci Erickson wrote:

Wow, 9 miles! Do you have blisters? How is the work going?

This last week Paige went to Girls camp and got sick the 3rd day she was there.  I took her to the doctors the day she got home and she has strep throat. They gave her a shot in the butt so she would get better faster because Trek is this coming Wednesday. Saturday she said she was feeling a lot better but today (Sunday) she isn't feeling well at all.  I hope she gets better before trek because we bought her real pioneer clothes this time and also some from the D.I of course. She is has been looking forward to going and it would be sad if she had to miss it.  I found Zach a felt cowboy hat to wear and we will see if we can get him to wear suspenders. 

While we were at the church waiting to pick up Paige from girls camp, Hope took my phone.  She saw a picture of you on it and said "Hey that is my brother Braden. Braden, can you hear me." I told her No, you are to far away. so she Yelled "Braden, can you hear me now?"  Wow, she makes me laugh.

We have been going to the Lehi pool a few times a week, to try to get Hope use to the water. She starts swim lessons Monday. She still doesn't like water splashed on her face, so this should be interesting.

I have to kick all of the boys out of the house to play or hang with friends -they would just watch t.v. and play computer games if I don't. But what is new-it happens every summer.

We thought of you on your B-day-hope you did something fun to celebrate.

We pray for you every day-even Hope.

We love you.

Love, Mom

Email from Africa

i was a little nervus but thats gone now! the people here are great and the food is good to. i walk about 9 miles a day and my feet hurt a little but thats alright. tell hope that i am fine and eating well.  i have learned a lot and i know there is a lot more to come!

 

You should send me some food hehe

yes i have fuigered out day and night, that wasnt hard at all to be honest it just felt like i had 2 new days in 1 hehe.  the plane was alright the food though was horrible!!!! the food in kampala is great, i will try sending the pictures next week.
Braden

On Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 6:15 AM, Traci Erickson <tracirerickson@hotmail.com> wrote:

I'm happy to see that you made it there safe and sound. Your mission Pres sent us a great letter and pictures of you.

I got worried, when dad told me that you were traveling the last part by yourself. I had faith that you could make it through all of those big airports by yourself. I was however worried that you might not have someone there to pick you up. 

Next time you call, you better call ME. I ran to the bank early so you would have your money and I'd be back home so when you called. Then dad called and said you called him.. That's alright, at least you got to talk to someone.  Home # is 801-847-5845   my cell # 801-400-7598

I decided that you probably didn't know  anyone's phone numbers since they are all here on your phone.

We ran into your friend JJ at the store. He didn't realize that you had left. Apparently he had been texting you and when you never answered, he talked to to (Amy? allison)  I don't remember. And they told him that you had left. He felt bad that he missed your farewell-he didn't realize it was that week and he went camping with his family. Paige is supposed to be giving him your address. 

How did the flight go, besides long?  Have you figured out day and night yet? Send us pictures. Hope thinks that you are going to see girraffes! I'm still thinking about becoming like a duck- is it let things roll off your back?  I'm teaching singing time in Jr. primary for the next 5 or 6 weeks. They normal director is taking a marriage class with her husband during the first hour of primary.  My stake calling is going to take up lots of time and keep me busy. That's probably a good thing.  

Everyone wrote you a letter-so keep an eye out for them.  Hope has started teasing Zach---you can't see me!!!

What day is your P-day-Monday's?   Who is your companion and what is he like. Tell me everything!!!!

I'm as so proud of you. Keep your head up and learn to love the people.

                                                                     Love, Mom

Braden made it to Africa!!!  We received an email today from his mission President.

12 June 2013

 We want you to know that your son, Elder Braden Erickson has arrived in the Uganda Kampala Mission.  I was very pleased to note the preparation, worthiness and commitment of your son to be obedient and to serve the Lord honorably.  He spent his first day at the Mission Home where we had lots of special training and food.

Elder Erikson is a choice young Elder, eager to be an excellent missionary.  His testimony is strong and I am honored to have him serve in our Mission.  Elder Erickson is laboring in Gulu, District with an excellent trainer, Elder Plant.  Sister Jackson and I will see Elder Erikson in a timely manner at Zone Conferences, and I will have an interview with him on those occasions. This is a wonderful Mission and I know that Elder Erickson will be successful.  We pledge to keep our eyes and hearts open to his needs.

Thank you for teaching, nurturing and sending forth this fine young Elder. He will serve the Lord, honor the Erickson Family and other loved ones.  The Missionary Department has authorized e-mail to the family once a week and we are grateful for this added blessing.  May the Lord bless you with peace and assurance that all is in His hands.

Yours Sincerely,

Last day at MTC

June 9th

Dear family,
Today is my last day at the MTC! Is kinda sad, I have had so many good experiences here! I am going to miss all of the friends I made here. They are really great.

I'd like to leave you with my testimony..
I know the church is true and that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. I know that through the gospel families can be blessed so much! I know that through the atonement we can return to our Heavenly Father. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and he translated the Book of Mormon.! I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel to the earth again.- AMEN

I invite you guys to be like a duck!

I will let you find out what that means, if you can't let me know and I will tell you. But try to find out for yourself!

Braden

Dear Mom and Dad,
I still need my yellow fever card!!!
The MTC is going great.
I got a NEW flight plan. I will be going to SLC, to Washingtion D.C. (yes, Paige, that's right)!Then I go be going to Belguim Brussels to Entebbe Uganda!
I Leave June 10th.

 If you can I need to have the yellow fever card by Wednesday, Thanks.

oI have something I want to share and its...
"Try a little harder to be a little better"

Braden


Uhm, with the emails we sent back and forth, we decided that he didn't get a yellow fever card. So, I went to get one from the health department. They were very sure that he got one. It was a good thing that he had signed a release form for me to get his information, the first time I was there, or they wouldn't have given it to me. So after talking to them and them checking their computer, they finally give me the yellow fever card.
I get home, open Braden's draw in the kitchen and guess what, there is his original yellow fever card!
I write hi a letter and get it ready for the mail.  Loren says he isn't sure it will make it to him beforeMonday. So, this morning I drive back to the MTC.  The security there is very strict. They give me a card at the security window and tell me to park in #1 and call this number. I talk to someone in the MTC whom tells me they will let me drop off the card, but only the card and that a security guard will come to me to get it in a few minutes. I take the card out of the envelope and in a few seconds there is a guard asking me a few questions, takes the card and tell me to have a good day.  Wow, they don't even let you into the parking lot.

By the time I got home, there was an email from Braden saying "thanks" that was it , silly kid. -mom

Short email

Will you let my bank know that i will be in uganda the next two years? i dont want my debit card to be come deactivated when i am out on my mission. if you need my bank number or pin to do that let me know. thanks.

The MTC is going great i have learned a lot! the food here is not the best but it will do it all starts to taste the same same after the first few days eating it. today is my P-Day and its going great! we have played a lot of basketball, and some vollyball with the district and some sister that are also in the district. everyone in the district is going to either NY utika mission or the Uganda kampala mission.

our teachers were trying so hard not so say each others name in class so we would know there first name but as my companion and i were leaving our classroom after class other teacher walked by and said one of our teachers name it was great!

I dont think i ever got the yellow fever card and i did get the Immunization card and my patriachal blessing. thanks so much.  tell Hope i am sleeping well, and eating like i pig :) hehe.

From Mom,
Glad to hear you are doing well. I am on your bank account, remember? But I will let them know.They shouldn't deactivate your card. You may have to use it for emergencies.

No, we never got a yellow fever card! Do I need to get one? What day and time do you leave for the airport? 

I finally got Dad to till the garden. Hope and I bought plants and seeds and put them in. I also had to put lots of snail poison out. We have found tons of the big ugly things in the garden and yard. Now to get dad to cut down the dead trees.

Parker and Ethan are still playing ball-starting play offs this week. Ethan actually made it to home plate but got out. 

When we call everyone for dinner- Hope says, "Dad and Braden are coming late,right"  I don't think she has it figured out yet.  She does talk about you being on a mission and you will like it.

I have my first Stake Relief Society meeting tonight to find out what I do in this calling.. They where waiting for me to get you on your way. They knew I would be very busy.
Love, MOM

first letter

Dear family.
The MTC is going great. My companion is Elder Geilman. He is a real funny guy. (Elder Geilman says, HI. We have already had 4 discussions and they have gone really well. The spirit is really strong here. and is with us throughout the day. We have had a lot of time to study the BOM, preach the gospel, Missionary hand book and lots, lots more.

Sorry, I won't be able to get to the email until Wednesday, that is my only P-day.
I have gotten my flight plans. I will be going through ALC to the Chicago Hare, to London, Johannesburg, to Entebbe Uganda, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to London.
Don't really know why I endue in London. Guess I might have to learn french.
I need a copy of my immunizations and yellow fever card as soon as possible.

I am feeling much better.

Hope everything is going well at home!

Tease Hope for me, haha.

Braden

Email from Braden

We received our first email from Braden today. I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. I sent him an email asking him a few questions and how he was doing. His reply, I change my passwords before I came so I don't know them. Just post my address on your face book page and have Paige do the same.

He also emailed Loren. Very short about needing his immunization records sent because they don't have a printer. And that he also needed he's pass code.

I guess things are going well. He didn't complain about anything. Maybe, he sent us a longer letter in the mail. Guess we will have to wait and see.  Silly boy.