Staying in Mukono

What a blessing to live another transfer.  We just got news that I'm staying in Mukono for my 5th transfer with Elder Njoko.  It's actually pretty eye opening to think that I'm still on my second area in Africa and I'm almost three quarters done.  But nonetheless, the Lord has reasons for me to stay and I'm grateful that I continue to have the opportunity to serve other missionaries.  This past week was quite the close to the transfer.  We had our mission leaders council and we have been able to gain plenty of insights as to how we can help our missionaries to meet our goals, considering that we are coming close to the end of the year. 
    This week, something new that I've done is that I accidentally ran over a chicken.  It was crazy too, there were feathers everywhere, people were cryin, and there was just one less chicken to worry about in the world.  But other than that, we've been having some pretty good rainfall over here, which can be a blessing if there is not too much.  But even this past week, we've been doing a lot of finding for potential families and investigators that want to hear the gospel.  Our teaching pool has dropped a little bit, but we are looking hopeful into this next transfer. 
    Other than that, we are pushing the work forward over here.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve here in this part of the world and there's still so much to accomplish.  And we are here in the world to not just do our will but the Father who sent us.  I love you all have a great week!

Elder Wilson                                             
                                                     District t-shirts

                                                    Leaders of the mission

                                                       sleepin big

6 months in Mokono

Another blessed week in the UKM.  The week went by incredibly fast, but it was filled with many wonderful experiences going about serving the Lord.  We are entering into the last week of the transfer and we still got a lot of work to do.  In the Mukono Zone, we have a baptismal goal of 119 for the year and we are very close to hitting it, and as a zone, we've been seeing a lot of improvements in all aspects of the work. 
   Just recently we got a referral named Rajab from one of the members in the ward for a man that stays about a 20 min drive away from Mukono, who also works at a gas station.  We went out to visit him and it turns out he has a family, and even neighbors who want to hear what we have to say.  We have been teaching them and encouraging them (probably you could say we were exhorting them) to prepare for baptism.  And the great thing is that on Sunday they all came to church! except for rajab because he couldn't get out of work.  But it's truly a blessing to see people act on the faith that they gain. 
    Something that had really discouraged me is that we've been trying to meet with a recent convert of ours that we haven't seen in 3 months.  He has a sister who is a member that came to church and told us that that he and his other sister who is also a member, talked to a pastor who was calling the church a cult and talked all this nonsense that scared them from coming to church.  We've been trying to meet with them, but they won't even pick our calls.  What keeps going through my mind is how Lehi envisioned how people would taste of the fruit of the tree of life, but then become ashamed because of the world mocking them and pointing at them.  That's why it's important to hold on to the truth when you have it and hold fast to the iron rod. 
     This past week, I've been learning more about how I can be a more faithful missionary.  Because there are times where no matter what, I just feel like a mediocre missionary.  But I've learned that it all comes with diligence in what we do.  If we do what we do with all of our heart, might, mind and strength, then we will understand and recognize the fruits of our labors.  I'm grateful for the time I have to serve the Lord and it's through His Atonement that I may be found spotless at the last day, when it comes to living the gospel and staying true to it.  I love you all, and have a great week!

Elder Wilson                      


                                        Found a rabbit and named it Cornelius. I'ts a girl rabbit.
      

Book of Mormon

What a great week.  A lot of challenges and a lot of success.  We've been working hard towards improving the spiritual game for the missionaries in the Mukono Zone and we are seeing some improvements.  This week my companion and I have been working hard to find new investigators to teach, and that comes with finding, street contacting, tracting, and referrals.  The bummer thing about that is that you will find people that will get your hopes up and then they end up denying your calls and avoiding you like nothing.  But that is where we are in the UKM.  We are getting towards the end of the year, so we are trying all that we can to hit our goals and work extra hard to do so. 
     Just recently, we had a zone conference in Kampala and the whole focus was on the importance of the Book of Mormon.  We talked about what it means to declare the divinity of the Book of Mormon to everyone.  We have the unique message of the Restoration and with it, the Book of Mormon.  A stumbling block that we have here is teaching people that we are not like these other churches, but we are the true church of Jesus Christ.  Through the Book of Mormon, we are able to give evidence of that.  We discussed a lot about how we can incorporate it more in our teaching and something we learned that everything hangs on the Book of Mormon and I mean EVERYTHING.  And the most important thing we can do about it is gain a testimony of it and share it with the world.
    This past Sunday, Mary got baptized!  She was a referral from two deacons at church and it's just the greatest thing, because these deacons are trying to get all of their friends to come and get baptized.  We also see like 3 more children at church every Sunday.  If we can get the whole church to be like these deacons, we will see the world change for the better and we will see the work move forward.
   Thanks for reading these emails.  I hope someone is getting some good use out of them.  But know that all is well in Mukono and the work is rolling forth and covering not only in Uganda but the whole earth.  Have a great week!!

Elder Wilson

Zone Conference pic
Mary's baptism
Ntambi, Mary, and Kafelo
Eatin big at zone activity

Exchanges in Lugazi

What a week.  A lot of shortcomings, but a lot of learning.  It's now halfway through the transfer and the work has been a little slow lately.  But I'm truly grateful for the experiences that I have to make me a better missionary.  We've found some pretty good people to teach this past week and we've been inviting them to make a change in their lives for the better.  The problem though is that they are saying that they want that change but then they just don't do anything to get it.  This past Sunday, I felt pretty disappointed at those that we were teaching that said they would come to church and they didn't.  I don't usually get disappointed, but it just hit me pretty hard.  But you know what they say,.... some will some won't, so what?  someone is waiting. 
    Recently, my companion and I went on exchanges with the elders in Lugazi.  It was just a really interesting day.  In the area I went to, we experienced persecution and just critical people.  Here in Uganda, people are generally humble, so it was kind of a wake up call to me to experience something like that.  But I always remember that as disciples of Christ, we have to experience a small token of the struggles and trials that He went through.  But all in all, we kept our heads high, and focused on the bare essentials. It even rained a lot unexpectedly and just walking through it got me pretty sick, so...... double wammy. 
      Other than that, we are enjoying the work and we are grateful for the Lord and His gospel.  Have a great week everyone and enjoy the blessings in your lives.

Elder Wilson

English Class

What a blessed time to be here in Uganda.  the work is pushing forward, and plenty of miracles are out and about.  Something amazing that we've seen is that in the ward, we had 13 investigators come to church.  We have a lot of those 13 preparing for baptism and it looks really good for the ward.  Something that we have a hard time in this mission is the language barrier.  This is an english speaking mission, but there's only a handful that know english fluently.  Something that the ward has put together is an english literacy class to teach english for free to investigators and new members.  Everyone is excited for it and it looks like we will have a lot more people attending church.  A miracle that we have seen is that one night my companion and i decided to go contacting outside of the church.  I talked to this one man and he shared with me how he had a rough life and he's a single parent with two daughters.  We set a return appointment and he had to bounce us a couple of times, but we eventually got to teach him and the family.  We taught him about the Restoration of the gospel and the spirit was filled in the room.  I could just tell that the spirit touched his heart so strongly and the humility he showed was inspiring.  we invited him to church.  He came super late to sacrament meeting but it was only because he had a program before church and after he was planning on picking up his daughters.  His commitment just makes me super happy.  I'm loving the work that is going on and the spirit of the Lord that leads and guides it.  I just feel very blessed to know that I have done some good in the world. 

Elder Wilson

                                             Stickin my hand down a morgue drain.