Ok...so now I feel like a dork

Gabe would be so embarrassed if he knew this so don't anyone tell him. I was at the temple today and my friend Kathy Laret said I should have gotten an email letting me know that Gabe had arrived at the MTC. Apparently that's the policy at the MTC in Brazil. So acting on this information I called the Provo MTC to make sure Gabe had gotten there. Of course he had and he is all checked in. He even arrived early so that's good. But I did learn that he can email from the MTC. It depends on their P day but they can email so I'll let you know when I hear from him. Don't let Gabe know I'm a dork. Oh and you can use the website dearelder.com to send "letters" to Gabe for free just in case you were wondering.

Gabriel has left the building...

We arrived at the airport early and Gabe let me take his picture right after we got out of the car. We got there really early, like 5 am early. Yawn...


Got Gabe's ticket, checked the bags, took a photo of Gabe with his favorite tie, didn't breakdown or start sobbing. All in all a wonderful trip. Gabe is off and running at this point. He checked into the MTC at 1pm Utah time. We don't have his mailbox number yet but here is the address to the MTC and I'm sure he will get whatever you'd like to send him.

Elder Gabriel Alexander Hulewsky
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

He has an email address too. Not sure when he will be able to access it but here it is.

gabriel.hulewsky@myldsmail.net

I'll post his emails here from time to time. I am surely going to miss that young man...

Temple Endowment

Not sure that my email reached everyone but just in case you didn't get the message. Gabe is going through the temple this Friday the 20th at 10 am. Those of you with temple recommends that can come please be there by 9:30 am. Thanks for your support.

Gabe's Farewell

As most of you know Gabe will be entering the MTC August 25th. He will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, August 22 @ 11:00am. We meet at the Deseret Bldg. in Fair Oaks. Hope to see you there. Of course there will be food and festivities at the Hulewsky's following the meeting.

this beautiful city

We have truly enjoyed being here this summer, and we have seen so much! We will miss the free museums with wonderful history, the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the ward here, Mount Vernon, and so much more. We have been so amazed how much Liam loves the museums...Emma not so much, but she loves to be able to walk around, pushing the stroller, and/well keeping us on our toes. The kids have enjoyed our walks everywhere, as that is how we have traveled this entire summer, unless it was a weekend and Caleb drove us (I havent driven since we have been here, as it is frightening, and he has had the car!). We have been to the mall multiple times, playing at the indoor playground, and going to the outdoor mall with the fountains for kids to play in. So much fun! We have also enjoyed swimming in the pool!

Although we will always treasure the memories we have had here, and have had a great time, we all look forward to getting out of our hotel room!!!!! I cannot believe we made it, a mere 12 weeks, in this tiny space. Something we will always remember, but not sure that we ever want to do it again...we look forward to sleeping in our own beds, our own rooms, having a bit bigger kitchen with 4 stove top burners & oven.

Here is a picture of all of us right before we left for here, and when we get home you can see how much the kids have grown. See you soon!

Farewell Uganda!!!

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe I will be leaving Uganda tomorrow. The time has seemed like it has flown by so fast... I feel like I was able to do some good here....but I could do even more. The people here have taught me so much about love and concern for one another. I have felt so cared for here by the Ugandans. They are such a happy people even though they have practically nothing.... It amazes me really! This experience has also opened my eyes to the world and that life can be so difficult, yet we can find good and hope in all situations. I also have really learned that as I return home I need to seek to serve those people at home also. I learned I can do good whenever and wherever I am at. Thank you so much for all of your love and support and prayers since I have been here. It has really meant so much to me. I love you all so much!

This week I have finished my teacher trainings and today we did a day long disability training where we worked with disabled children and their families. Disabled children here are outcasted from the communities and so we were able to bring 30 families together to join a group of families with disabilities. It was amazing to see these families unite and plan for their futures. It was such an amazing experience to talk with the families. I was able to do many house visits with these families and learn of their personal difficulties and now was able to help them find others so that they can find strength in one another. It was a great way to end my adventure here!

I am so happy and blessed from coming to Uganda. I will see you all soon.... I love you!

Love,Jen

The Latest from Uganda

Hello Everyone,

Well, I have a total of one week left… I can’t believe that it has gone by so fast. It is crazy how time flies… I feel like I have so much more to do here. I feel like this experience has enriched my life in so many ways. I am will forever be grateful for this experience.

Last week was amazing. I spent most of the week in Gulu which is up North about 6 hours. This is where the most recent conflict/civil war has been in Uganda and the “Invisible Children” documentary was filmed. This is a very damaged area and the people there are still recovering. I was able to meet with 2 women groups. One women group we are working with makes paper bead necklaces and we are working with them to sell them in the U.S. to help them pay for their children’s school fees. The other women’s group we are working with we were able to help buy pigs to help them start a piggery project where the women will raise pigs and sale them to help pay for the many orphans they are taking care of due to the conflict in Gulu.

Also, last week in Gulu I was able to work in the schools… I taught teacher trainings which were pretty amazing. The teachers were very honest about their concerns about teaching. For example at one school they have 1300 students and only 17 teachers. They had 140 students in primary 4. It is overwhelming. I also was able to teach students about staying in school they have a huge problem with children dropping out of school especially girls at the age of puberty. The girls feel like when they hit puberty it is there time to have children. So our goal is to educate as many of the students as we can to remind them to stay in school and the importance of staying in school. To put it into perspective they had 240 girls in primary 6 and only 54 girls in primary 7. They all drop out! It is a huge problem and makes me so sad. My time in Gulu was a time of learning. War can destroy a people for a time being but the people there are hopeful and on their way up.

Then I finished last week with a three day adventure at Murchison Falls! Yes, It was absolutely amazing. Day one was a game drive… I saw giraffes, elephants, buffalos, hippos, antelopes, birds… and so much more… it was incredible to be in Africa in these animals habitat. Day 2 was another game drive… this was even more entertaining because an elephant charged at us. Then we went on a boat drive to the Murchison falls on the boat ride hippos surrounded us and it was incredible yet scary they were so close to use. I felt like it was the jungle book ride at Disneyland. Literally! Then there were crocodiles swimming nearby. It was amazing. Then we hiked to the falls it was the prettiest waterfall! The hike was humid and hot but so worth it. Day 3 was filled with even more excitement, we trekked Chimpanzees and we found them… Many of them. The shrills of their cries were overwhelming as fruit and leaves fell on our heads as they moved along the trees above us. They were only about 10 feet away from us. It was awesome! (yet freaked me out quite a bit) Then the last part of my adventure was visiting a Rhino reserve where we hiked the grasslands and stood within 2o feet of a rhino (not behind) a fence. It was so funny they told me if it looks at you and starts to charge, run and climb a tree. You should have seen my response; I did an awkward laugh and said really. I can’t climb a tree! But, no worries I did not have to climb a tree and I was able to see a Rhino up close and personal!

Needless to say last week was really incredible and I was able to see so much and experience so much. If you have heard on the news about the bombings here there is no need to worry. I am 45 minutes away from the location and I was on a safari when it happened. I feel very safe here and am not very concerned. My group is being very cautious and careful. Well, I need to go now but I love you all very much and I am so excited to see you in a week! Thank you for all of your continued prayers and love.

Love you,

Jen