catching back up

FW: Halloween, etc,

On Mon, Oct 27, 2014 at 8:04 AM, Loren J Erickson

Hey Elder,
Heard about your little "run for your life" episode last week.  I hope that ended well.  I know what it's like to have an over-zealous member (or non-member) take too close an interest in the missionaries.  In one area I was at there was this older lady who kept calling the missionaries (us) early in the morning, like 3am.  Not fun when you have to get up at 6am.  We finally had to get the local branch leadership involved.  Anyway, I hope you don't have a stalker problem.  Be careful, and understand that not everyone has your best interest at heart.  "Be wise.  What can I say more?"  Now who was it that always used to use that scripture in FHE?  Oh, yeah.  :)

Before I write you again Halloween will have come and gone.  Hope is super excited but she's still trying to make up her mind about what she's going to be.  Only Hope and Parker are still young enough to go trick-or-treating, if you can believe that.  Zach is headed to some friend's party dressed as an English gentleman, complete with top hat, sash, cane and monocle.  I have to say he certainly looks the part.  Ethan is also headed to a friend's party but I have no idea if he is dressing up or not.  The kids are getting old, that's for sure. We're carving pumpkins for FHE tomorrow.

I installed a new light switch in my office.  Not one from my company.  It's from a company called Belkin and the product family is called WeMo.  Not sure what that stands for, but it's pretty cool.  I can control the light switch from anywhere in the world with my phone.  I can also set schedules for when it turns on and off, including what it does when we're away.  It's supposed to support motion detection too I think, but that function is not available in the mobile app, so maybe that's something else.

I think my company may be in a little bit of trouble because it's kind of ignoring the home automation mass-market, which is growing like crazy right now.  I think if they don't do anything, they could find themselves in a position where they have a very limited potential market.  That's what they call being a niche player, and that's not a good thing.  Anyway, it's good to keep up with what's going on in this space.  I also applied at a company called Vivint, which is a competitor to Control4, and had a screening interview over the phone that I thought went very well, but I haven't heard anything in over a week, so who knows.

Bishop Gooch asked about you today.  I told him you were working hard and doing well, but that there was a little friction between you and your current companion.  I hope that's getting better.  Maybe that has changed, or is in the process of changing.  How are your suitcases holding up?  They were recommended by missionary moms, so I hope they are serving you well.  What do you want for Christmas?  Any other durable goods that you need?  Stuff you can't find over there?  Gotta get that box off soon.

Send pictures when you can.  One thing to consider about emailing pictures to yourself is that your hotmail account (if that's the one you're using) has a limited storage capacity, and you don't want to lose any pictures because you overflow that.  If you are using that account and the password is still the same (the one about the car?) then would you mind if I logged in and put some of those pictures in a safe place?  It's completely up to you and I won't do it if you don't want me to.  

Not much else has happened since I last wrote.  I'm going to have to take the van in for service, because the transmission is shifting really hard.  That sounds expensive.  I hope it doesn't turn out to be a lemon.  :[

Take good care of yourself physically.  Be mindful of who you come into contact with. Watch your personal hygiene.  Be obedient to the mission rules and listen closely to what your mission president counsels you to do.  You are on the Lord's errand and He will protected you if you give him your whole heart, might, mind and soul.  I love you deeply, and am proud of the example you are setting to your siblings and others. 

Love,
Dad 

Things are going well here in Uganda, the work is going well, we have 4 investigators that are progressing and we also have a mission tour coming up soon with one of the 70 so that will also be fun. we also had transfer news and me and my companion will be staying, but there is a elder in the district that is driving me insane i have just resulted to ignoring him and pretending he is not even there anymore. besides that not much has happend.

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

Re: Another week

Braden Erickson

 

 

10/27/14 

 

 

To:  Traci Erickson

Sounds like you have a lot going on haha. everything is going well here we had transfer news and my companion and i will be staying together and there is also another elder staying that is driving me insane, i guess we will have to come up with some way of solving this haha. umm so we are also having a 70 come to uganda to talk with us and take us on a tour. that will be fun! besides that we have 4 progressings and so that will be nice! but thats about all. not much has really happend

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

On Mon, Oct 27, 2014 at 7:18 AM, Traci Erickson <tracirerickson@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hey Elder E,

What's up? Have you see anymore of your stalker? Hope she doesn't get to creepy.

So, I was just thinking that I should be getting a Christmas box put together for you.  Do you need anything special?  I know you want food-but what else?  I can't believe that is already so close to the holidays.

We bought hope a princess costume for halloween and now she wants to be a builder.  We'll see what she really goes trick or treating as.  Parker hasn't decided yet, so he thinks we need to go shopping tomorrow.

Zach was asked to Sadie's-yup, he was. It was by a girl in choir that he doesn't really know.  And of course, I can't remember her name.  Hopefully, Zach will email you and tell you more.

Paige is keeping busy-working 5 days a week. She got a call from the school district to see if she wanted to be a teacher's aid-she did apply for a few positions months ago. But since she is liking smash burger's and only has a short time left, she isn't going to do it.

Ethan tested for his orange belt on Friday. He was the only one his level testing, so he had to do it all by himself.  he did a great job and remembered everything.  They gave him his sparing gear in a huge bag-ya know, like you had- but fancier, since they bought everything for him.  He is pretty excited about it.

Fall is really here. It is getting colder and darker way to early. The sad part is, that day light savings is next week and then it will be darker even earlier. 

Hope that things are going well for you and that you are staying healthy and happy.

Loe ya, MOM

---

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 17:37:04 +0300

Subject: Re: Another week
From: braden.erickson@myldsmail.net
To: tracirerickson@hotmail.com

Okay, thats good. So something very interesting happend yesterday! we had a crazy girl come to FHE at the church, i already know her because one of my old companions and i tought her anyway. lets say she likes mazungu (white people) and she ended up staying the hole time the scary thing is what happend after FHE, she remained behind as we talked with some of the members to see if there  were any referrals. we realized that she was still there and asked her why she was still there. she said she wanted to see where we stay!!! we told she that visitors are not allowed and she asked why not after sometime of trying to help her realize that she would never know where we stay we told her to go home, wait and ate some fries that the members made for us. after eating she was still there!!! we went up to her and told her GO HOME! very boldly she just looked at us and said okay......you think she would get the point, well she didn't she was determined to find out were we stayed. it was then we realized we had to get her to talk to a member so we could leave without her knowing. as we got her to talk to a member she saw us heading out and ran to the gate and tried to meet us on the road, well i saw that and so i started to run so she would not find us. luckily she didn't find us or we would have had a long time trying to get her to leave us.

So your probably wondering why i am emailing on tuesday...lets just say we got a call from the ZL saying we had to fill out a survey that we have to do and i finished and have to wait for my companion to finish as well. 

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 6:54 PM, Traci Erickson <tracirerickson@hotmail.com> wrote:

Your jar of quarters are safe in their jar, up high in the kitchen cabinet.

---

Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:52:43 +0300

Subject: Re: Another week
From: braden.erickson@myldsmail.net
To: tracirerickson@hotmail.com

Sounds like your having a fun time, with everything going on. So about Ebola it has not come to Uganda yet, but we have had its twin here for a little but now that is gone as well. Mission president has had a very close eye on it, and he is handing out hand sanatizer to everone. he gave it to us first (the zone) because the the twin was in the hospital was in the area. by the way the twin is MALBERG or something like that if you wanted to know it has the same simtrums as Ebola but just kills you slower. but like i said its not here anymore.

My companion and I have been doing better we have been working hard and i think that helps a little.

So, just wondering you know the quarters that i had did you save those or did you just give them to zach or something??? I saw the pictures of the coins and it reminded me about the quarters i had haha.

So about the pictures i wont be able to send them today because i forgot my camera...next week i hope the internet will be ok because today it is really fast. 

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 8:51 AM, Traci Erickson <tracirerickson@hotmail.com> wrote:

Braden, Sorry that you are having so many problems with slow computers.  Hope that they are working better today.  How are you doing? Have you heard of anything about the ebola virus lately?  So some guy that was infected by it in Africa, got on a plane and went to Texas…he died and now so has a nurse. Scary times in Texas.

On a brighter note, we went to the R's to start our yearly family service project for Christmas.  We are making hats out of yarn.  Dad even figured it out.  So, hopefully, we will have lots made for Christmas.  

I subbed in primary for the chorister. It was fun doing my old calling again.  Hope decided that she had to stay with me both hours.  Dad had a rough night and didn't make it to church.  Oh ya, Ian Miller had his farewell today. He gave a good talk. He joked about if he stutter a lot, it was because his dad has horrible handwriting. Pretty funny. He is going to the Philippines, he leave this week. I don't know which MTC he is going to. Guess I'll have to ask. They'll have two missionaries out for a while.

Grandma E. had a hip replacement this week. She is home now walking with a walker and in lots of pain. But hopefully when she heals she will be out of pain.

We had fall break and the kids don't go back to school until Tuesday. It has been nice to have a few days off-even for me.

Hope you are doing well and teaching lots.  Send pictures when you can.

ove ya lots, Mom

---

Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 14:47:09 +0300

Subject: Re: Another week
From: braden.erickson@myldsmail.net
To: tracirerickson@hotmail.com

So we will get to see general conference on the 25 and 26 of this month they have to send the dvd's to us because of time difference its hard. the baptism was push back to next week though. umm me and my companion get into a little fight but now it is all settled down and we are working hard. besides that not much happend

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

Quick note

Re: Another week

On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 8:56 AM, Traci Erickson

Hey Braden

Just a quick email.  This week was good.  The best part was General Conference.  Hope was excited about it because we got to stay home.  She did a good job of coloring and keeping herself entertained quietly.  It was neat to be able to hear some of the talks given in the person's home language.  

Were you able to see it? Or do you have to wait to see it until later?  

I loved all of the talks. Some of course, more than others.

Did your baptism go through this week?

Hope all is well with you and that you are keeping healthy.

Hugs and prayers, MOM

So we will get to see general conference on the 25 and 26 of this month. They have to send the dvd's to us because of time difference its hard. The baptism was push back to next week though. umm me and my companion got into a little fight but now it is all settled down and we are working hard. besides that not much happend

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

Ogden Temple

Date: Sep 22, 2014 6:57 AM
Subject: Re: Ogden temple dedication, flu shots

On Mon,

Hi Elder,

I hope you are well and happy.  Ebola is still a problem so make sure you're taking very good care of yourself.  I hear you have a new companion from South Africa.  Are you training him?  I hope you appreciate that for many hopeful missionaries from outside the U.S. the prospect of going on a mission can be a big challenge, and many make huge sacrifices to do so.  Treat him well, and be patient.  If you are his first companion, he will always remember you. 

I also understand that you are once again close to an Elder that is a little annoying.  Something about bouncing around all the time?  Just remember that you are there for the same reason, and he has a very different background from you.  Also, you have dealt with a LOT worse.  Just put the people first and you will be able to handle Tigger.

Friday, most of the family got flu shots at my work.  Mom, Zach, Parker, Hope and me.  Paige was working and Ethan was camping (more on that later).  By that evening we were all feeling pretty yucky.  Mom and Parker are still not 100%.  I guess sometimes the treatment is as bad as the disease. 

Ethan went to the Little Sahara desert for an overnight campout.  Did you ever go there?  I went LONG time ago (meaning, when I was a scout), and remember it being a very alien place.  Sand dunes as far as you could see.  Ethan came home pretty tired since they didn't get to sleep until after 3am apparently.  He is totally into scouts, and should be getting his Life rank at the next court of honor. 

Today was the rededication of the Ogden temple.  It was one of the older temples in the region, not counting the Manti, St.George and Salt Lake temples of course.  It was in bad repair, so they "reconstructed" it.  If you recall what the Provo temple looked like, it was kind of like that, but now it looks completely different.  Paige, Zach, Ethan and I went to one of the dedication sessions.  They had three altogether.  That is always a special experience.  I learned a lot from two talks that were given.  One was by a member of the first presidency of the seventy, and was about time.  The second was from the relief society general president, and was about the scripture that goes: "Come, and let us go up to the  house of the Lord, where he will teach of his ways...."  Or something like that.  It was very inspiring.  The only downside was that the choir was not very good, but maybe I'm a little sensitive to that.  It must be pretty intimidating to sing in a small group (20 people) in front of hundreds of thousands. 

We need to start putting together a Christmas package pretty soon, so let us know what you need. 

I love you and am so pleased with your example both to the people of Africa and your brothers and sisters. I'm sure you are not aware of the positive influence you are having on them, especially Zach and Ethan.  Take care of yourself, be obedient, work hard and you will find success.

Love,
Dad

So my companion is not new he has been out on mission the same time as i have Yes, thats right hes a mission brother! this is my 3rd mission brother kinda crazy! The work is starting to pick back up again, thats good we are even having a baptism next week as well. besides that not much has happend. just working hard.

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮ 

Flu shots

Re: Another week

On Mon, Sep 22, 2014 at 7:41 AM, Traci Erickson

Braden, 

How was your week? Who is your new companion, I hear he has quite the name?  Is he a greeny?  Is the Elder that is a trouble maker, making trouble?

This week was quite an adventure. I decide to go on a diet and bought some diet stuff through an essential oils place.  I took the it twice on Monday and was fine.  I took it again on Tuesday morning and during preschool started to feel funny and itchy.  It got so bad that I had dad come home from work and called the preschool parent to come pick up their kids.  I took Benadryl and started feeling better but that stuff makes me sleep.  I guess, I have to loose weight a different way.

Dad's work had flu shot day at his work on Friday. So, I took everyone that was home and we all got shots.  Paige mixed it because of work and Ethan was at a campout for scouts.  Lucky them because the rest of us felt yucky Saturday and Sunday.

A few of us did make it to church though.

The Ogden Temple was re- dedicated today.  So normal church was cancelled.  Only people 8 years and up with their special yellow temple card could go to the rededication at the stake center. Hopefully we are all feeling normal tomorrow.  And the shot better actually work. Cause who wants to be sick for no reason.

Zach got new glasses a few months ago and already broke them. Okay, so they wren't really broken.  The little screw came out so the ear piece came right off. He didn't even tell me until Friday night. So, when all of us went feeling so great, I took him and his glasses back to Standard optical to have them fixed. He can't drive blind for some reason.  We also picked up his and Paige's contacts that have been sitting there for probably 2 weeks.  So now they both and see.  

Both Paige and Zach are still working at Smash burger but have told the manager that they can no longer work Sunday's.  They were being scheduled every Sunday and Paige has a primary class so it just wasn't working out.  She was a fraud that she might be fired but she wasn't.  They like her too much. Zach told them that he can only work 2 days a week.  Working 4 days a week and getting home at 10 p.m. and then trying to do home work was getting a little too much for him.  At  least they both can still work and earn some spending money and college money.

Hope all is going well in Africa.  Hope all of the sudden relayed that she is 5 and when are you coming home.  She was disappointed when we told her not until May. But hey, it is getting closer.

Love ya, MOM

Wow, sounds like you had a interesting week, You do know that the flu shot they give you is normally the wrong one right they is a small % of them giving you the right dose. anyway lets hope it was right one. Zach was blind huh thats silly of him not telling you till now. Yeah, paige sent me a email saying she might get fired or quit if they wouldnt give them sundays off haha. Normally people understand. Just like Winger's did. Hope finally remembered huh thats funny haha its not all that far away just about 8 months. my last companion did the math haha.

So not much has happend really we are just trying to get the area back on its feet again from all the napping we did last transfer. So my comp is not a greeny he came out on mission same time as i did so we are mission brothers thats the 3rd mission brother i have served with wow thats crazy. oh well. so the trouble maker has not been making to much trouble but he has a little i think he has realized that i was no fun to teaz anymore. besides that i am having a baptism next week thats awesome.

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

Training a greeny...

Re: missed you

.

On Mon, Sep 15, 2014

Hey Braden,

What's up?  We missed the pictures…so remember to send them.  How was your week? Anything exciting or interesting happen?

I forgot to tell you last time… Parker received the Religious knot, Weblos badge and compass and arrow point And the ARROW OF LIGHT at the last Pack meeting.  It was also the pinewood derby and he got to race again.  We thought last year was his last time…so nice of them to do it on his birthday.  He and dad whipped the car together really fast and guess what? It came in 4th place out of all of the cars.  No more boys in Cub scouts now.  Parker is now in New scouts and likes it.  Both Ethan and Zach are very close to getting their life…then they can do their Eagle project.  Hopefully we get them that far.

This weekend was Stake Conference.  All of the talks were on Hastening the work.  They had a returned sister missionary talk about how it is really helpful for the members to do the finding and the missionaries to do the teaching.  More people get baptized that way.  All of the speakers had great messages.

It was Regional Conference so we got to watch it live from the Stake center.  Russel M. Neilson, Richard G. Scott, Elder Clayton  and Sister Stephens spoke.  They all spoke on different topics but it all tied into having your own testimony of Christ.  Sink your roots down deep so you will be firm and immovable when trials come.

They also talked about sharing our spiritual talents with those around us.  

Russel M. Neilson spoke about the Ogden temple being rededicated next week and that we should prepare ours selves by doing family history work.  He also spoke about Angels and how we believe in them.  He spoke about Joseph Smith and the angels that visited him.  He touch on the angels that are spoken of in the scriptures and how they are messengers of good news.  He ended by telling us that we can be angels on earth by giving angelic service-loving acts of kindness to  those around us.

A lot of good information  and a lot to think about.  General conference is fast approaching and i can't wait to hear all of the good news they have to share.

Hope was talking to Paige this week and asked her if she was earning money for college. Paige said yes, Hope quickly ran up stairs..opened up her piggy bank, poured all of the mont into it and brought it to Paige and told her that it was for her college. What a sweet girl she can be.

I hope you are doing well and things are going good.

Love ya MOM

______________________________
































Sorry you didnt get the pictures i will try to send them again. Sounds like you had a interesting week though. I think its kinda funny how when you try to make a car good it doesnt but when you dont try it does really well haha. so the most interesting thing that really happened this week is transfer news, turns out i will be staying in the same area and will be serving with a new companion. There is also bad news to transfer news as well. there will be a elder coming to the house that like to joke around way to much!!!  i was around him in Gulu and now i will have to be around him again!!! its going to be along 6 weeks.

Never be ♯

Never be ♭

Always be ♮

 On 9/8/14,
 Braden,So I wrote you 1,000 word email last week and you didn't even write
me back.
 wait-no I didn't. I only thought about it cause we were camping and didn't

have any service! I know-sad. Poor Paige and Zach almost didn't survive not being able to text for 3 days.

 We went camping for Labor day. And we dealt in a tent. Although we did have
 restrooms with flush toilets but no showers. So we all came home pretty ripe and
smelly.
 We camped at a place called current creek camp ground. It is about an hour drive from Strawberry Reservoir. We actually went to Strawberry one day and rented a pontoon boat to go fishing. It wasn't such a good day to go…very windy and rough waters. We had a fish finder but all of the fish were down really deep. We didn't catch anything. Guess who got sea sick? Yup, me! So after a few hours out we came back in without any fish.The waves kept spraying up over the boat and soak all of us. Poor Hope said that we should call an airplane that lands on water to come save us. She told me that we should never get on a boat again.
 We then went back to camp. Did I mention, we dealt in a tent? One night the wind blew our tent part way down and dad had to fix it. Sound familiar, at least it didn't break. The kids decided to put on skits for us. They turned out pretty funny. Silly Zach, found Hope rain coat and decided to wear it
around. It was hilarious.
 We bought 3 bundles of wood from the camp store. The wood burned really fast. So we sent the kids out looking for wood. We all took turns going and collecting it. It kept us busy. This guy camping across from us showed up with wood that he had brought and told us that he couldn't watch us  anymore. aIt was pretty funny.
 We found out that chipmunks love poppy seed muffins. We watched them eat one that had been dropped for over an hour. And decided that they were probably getting high and addicted to the poppy seeds. It was a fun experience even though we dealt in a tent.
 Do I sound like Lehi yet?
 Hope turns 5 tomorrow and she is soooo excited about her Birthday and present and of course a party with friends. She had me make a birthday list for her sand this is what was on it…pierced ears like Paige. A bookshelf like Ellies, A lamp, an alarm clock, and finally a scooter. Does this sound like a normal 5 year old birthday list-nope. Silly girl. I took her to the mall on Saturday and got her ears pierced because we will be to busy on Monday to do it. She didn't cry but did say her ears were sore and painful.
The sister missionaries in our ward are doing an church open house every Thursday. I helped with one a few months ago. But know they do it on their own for investigator's and anyone wanting to see the inside and know more.
 Our war is now in charge of cleaning the building twice a week so it will look nice when people come through. We helped out on Friday. I was amazed at all of the people that showed up to help. There were probably 20 of us.
I think that is a record.
 I hope that you are doing well and have lots of people in your teaching pool. Keep busy and enjoy the sights while you are there. How is your comp. doing? What does he have? It doesn't sound good. I pray every night that you won't get sick. I know all to well how that is in a far away country.
 Love you lots, MOM 

 So my companion is still sick and he is expected to stay sick for a
 few months it will take time for his body to fight it. so until then
 we are on the nap schedule........not really that fun. He has tetnis
 luckly he had his shot so the effects of it were not as bad as it
 would have been. He said he is going to try to work all week this week
 so we will see what happens i dont think he will be able to because he
 has been struggling these past few days. besides that the ward has
 started to help us a little and so we have people to teach again. but
 slowly they are also leaving so i guess we just have to work even
harder before they all run away. Sounds like school is a blast so
 far. Sounds like the normal UT weather haha it did something similar
 not to many years ago. i think i will let the picture explain what
 happened here... i never thought it was possible though guess it is!!!
 Sounds like you had a fun time camping hope still looks like a big
 girl haha. just hope she doesnt remember the day you said i would be
 home or you might not ever hear the end of it haha. we had have
 interviews with president again that went well nothing really excited
 happend though, although we did have some of the Senior couples come
 and teach some of the elder how to cook Crapes and Alfredo sauce haha
oh also tortillas as well. to bad I already knew how to make it :(
guess i will just have to make it more interesting some how. So the

 district leader said i might end up training next transfer OH BOY that
 cant be fun!!! there are going to be 17 new elders coming dont ask how
 i know this kind of stuff! i just do i hear things haha i have people
 on the inside hehe that sometimes leak information. anyways the work
 is going well i am healthy still teaching pool is still growing but
 thats about it.

  

New area-Makindye

 Dear Braden,
 Glad to hear that you didn't starve and that people feed you lots of good food.
 Zach got his license. Yup he is now legal. He is taking over your car. it is nice that he can drive himself to his friends and school now.
Hope woke up early one morning and decide to cut her own hair. :( I had to take her to great clips and have them fix it so it looks alright. She is quit the handful. Today at church she got mad at me and left during
sacrament. I told dad he better see where she was going-she actually made it half way home on her own before dad caught up to her. She thinks she is bigger than she really is.
 So Tanner Todd had his farewell today. he did a good job with his talk. He
 spoke on service. He leaves in just over 1 week.
 I took the kids to the sir for back to school shopping. I think we got
everything they need. We will find out this week at back to school night, I
 guess.
 How is your new area? Who is your new companion? Do you have any
 investigators?
 Love ya lots,Mom

===========================

Zach is driving my car!! That cant be good at all! sounds like i might
not have a car when i get home. Hope is a handful though thats the
thing haha she might slow down in a year or 2 we will see. tanner is
going where again for his mission? there might be someone from one of
my areas that is going to the same mission.

My new area is Makindye its a good place i like it a lot but the
apartment is terrible its super dirty and wont ever get clean because
it is stained, the pluming gets clogged all the time and the church
has to pay a guy to come unclog it every 2 to 3 weeks and that costs a
ton. we had the stove catch on fire and almost melt one of the handles
to it as well. So needless to say we have been looking for a new house
to go live in and hopefully we will be going with in the next week or
2. besides that i love the new area, it reminds me of Ntinda but with
a lot more hills to it :( i hate hills oh well. the area i am in is
actually not a branch but a ward!! its kinda strange i have only been
in branches. My new companion is awesome!!! he from Dallas Texas and
turns out we played lots of the same video games like LOL, WOW, and
Starcraft. he is also a very funny guy he likes to make jokes a lot as
well. i think i will have no problem with this transfer haha. dont
worry when we work we are focused on the work. we have a small
teaching pull because he had tetnis when i first came so we need to do
find like normal haha.

Mutungo

On 8/4/14, Traci Erickson
Hey Braden, How was your week? Hope it was good and that you got enough to eat. Are you being transferred?
 I think (maybe you already did) you should report your money being stolen to the mission President. If it has happened before, maybe they can figure out who is doing it and put a stop to it.
 So, we have been keeping an eye on the news of the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
They are having all missionaries moved to different missions in the Sierra Leone and Liberia missions. This is a precaution, to make sure No missionaries get sick. Thankfully, there aren't any reports of it hitting
 Uganda, yet.
 This week was actually pretty quiet and low key. Which was nice for a
 change. We do need to go have some fun before school starts. I was
planning on going to 7 peaks one last time but it is supposed to be rainy all week. Maybe we will have to hit the dollar movies instead. Ethan
thinks we should make spud nuts one day. We will see, if I have the energy.
Pres. Spencer and his family took their youngest-CECE- to the temple to be sealed on Saturday. They gave her a name and a blessing today in church.
 They had a big family turn out. Russ Lasson and his family were there. It was fun seeing them again. All 3 of their girls had their white temple dresses on. It choked me up-remembering seeing all of you dressed in white in the temple when we blessed Hope. What a great experience. One that most member's don't get to do.
 In RS meeting today, we talked about not being to hard on yourself or
 comparing yourself to others. That God know that we aren't perfect and he also knows our talents. it was a great reminder.
 Both Zach and Ethan got their school fees in the mail. They both got
classes that they are excited for. And both of them are in choir classes.
Yeah, Ethan-finally something musical. Ethan made sure Dad went on line and
paid the fees because he can't wait to get his real schedule and find out if
he has classes with his friends. I think he is the only one excited about
school starting so soon.
We all pray for you, daily. Keep up the hard work and remember to smile and
 be yourself. 'Cause no one else can do it.-be you-that is.
 Love ya lots, Mom

HUGS

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So a lot has happend these past few days! We were invited to the
branch presidents house for dinner on saturday then invited to the 1
councilor house on sunday for dinner and today we had a big feast
with the ZL's in the area, and received transfer news! turns out i am
leaving Lira already!! kinda strange its the first time i will be
staying in a area for only 1 transfer! i am going to a place called
Mutungo sounds like a good place we will see soon i guess. I kinda
wanted to stay in the north a little longer than that but oh well
atleast i got to come back :) Ethan is taking choir class!!! NO WAY
thats awesome.







 On 8/4/14, Loren J Erickson 
So apparently I don't pay enough attention to know which terrible disease
 is ravaging parts of Africa.  I think I told you it was the bubonic plague
last week  Wrong!  It's the e-bola virus.  It sounds like it is getting
quite serious.  They are transferring missionaries from the affected
regions to other missions.  It still appears to be some distance from you,
but please, PLEASE take good care of yourself.  Watch your hygiene habits very closely.  Don't take any chances with food or drink.  This is serious stuff.  Listen closely to everything your mission president says about it  and follow his counsel exactly.  Hopefully, it will never reach your area, but you need to be prepared.

This week was the first choir practice I attended where I wasn't leading.  It was kind of weird.  I think I can get used to singing in the choir again, even if I'm not much of a tenor any more.  It's hard letting go of that desire to be leading though.  The new ward music chair and choir director is Sister Perkins (again, probably someone you don't know), and she will do a good job.

How are things with your companion?  I think you said there were transfers this week.  Did that affect either of you?  I know it's tough being with a companion that you don't get along with very well, but it doesn't sound like this elder is as bad as some companions you've had (one in particularcomes to mind).  He's just quiet, right?  Do you feel like there is any
 hostility or disrespect behind the silence?  I had a companion like that once and it was a long couple of months.

 We are losing one of our Gospel doctrine teachers, so there is a remote
 chance that I may be asked to fill in while we find a new teacher.  That
 should be fun.  Very intimidating.
 I hope you are healthy and as happy as your present circumstances permit.
 How are your investigators coming along?  What do they have to say about
 what you are teaching them?  I hope you are remembering that the most important thing is to love them and sincerely care about them as sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven.  You know the old saying, "people don't  care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

The last thing I want to do is distract you from the important work you are doing, but I thought you should know that Malynn Erbe is coming home in about three weeks.  I can't believe how fast time has flown.  Your time
will come soon enough. Just keep your head in the work and it will be here
before you know it.

 Know that we love you dearly and pray for you every day.  We worry about
 the current health situation in Africa, so please be careful.  I am so
 proud of everything you are doing to bring the happiness of the Gospel to
 the people of Africa.  Know that you are changing lives eternally.
 Love,
Dad


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I know what you meant when you spoke of the plague haha, i think i
heard about it 3 or 4 weeks ago, even the UG government has a close
eye on it as well so if it does get to UG we will know.  So i will be
getting transfered already!!! its my first time to come to a area and
only stay for 1 transfer haha. its kinda strange!! The thing is I dont
want to pack my suitcase again... oh well guess i dont have a choice
do i. we have one investigator that will be baptised on satuday to bad
i wont be around. they just enjoy talking to us and having a good
time, that area is very friendly to missionaries and most of the
people like us a lot.  we did get to help in Mormon Helping Hands this
week as well that was really fun we got to pick up trash on the roads.