Lock down!

Aloha,
   So just an update on this past week, been SUPER busy.  I had a good birthday on Monday, and my district made a cake for me.  Good way to top off my first day of being 21.  The very next morning, we left for our interviews tour.  We traveled up to Jinja on Tuesday, Iganga on Wed, Mbale on Thursday, Lira on Friday, Gulu on Saturday, and back to Lira on Sunday.  Just crashing with other missionaries in their apartments and working with them was quite the fun.  The best part about that is how we get a feel for what all of the areas are like in the mission.  Plus the way we interact and teach missionaries, and how even they teach us some new things, just super great.  Then on Sunday we came back to Kampala.  During the interviews, missionaries got to watch the worldwide missionary broadcast that was put together in Jan.  It was the first time in the history of the Church that something like that was put together for full time missionaries.  We got to hear from Elder Bednar, Elder Anderson, Elder Oaks, President Clayton, Bishop Waddell, and Sister Oscarson.  It was a powerful broadcast, filled with different insights on the fundamentals of Preach My Gospel.  So far, I've watched that thing probably 6 times, and I learn something new every time.  It's definitely something that can really help the missionaries if they are to apply those teachings into their areas. 
     So this next week is the presidential elections in Uganda.  On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, we are on lock down throughout Uganda.  No missionaries can leave their apartments, because we don't want to risk anything.  The people here are crazy about elections, so to take extra precautions, we   want to keep the missionaries away from any possibilities of some shenanigans going on.  So we are going to be quite bored. 
    Nothing else to really update you on.  But I've been reflecting on my personal knowledge of the Savior.  How important it is to come to know Him and not just know about Him.  It takes a commitment to change your own life, and sticking to that commitment, to be able to achieve that knowledge of Him.  The Restoration of the gospel is true, and because of it, we know more about the Savior than any other organization, scholar, or church.  Never take for granted the knowledge you have of the Savior, and strive to know Him even more.  I know He lives, He has restored His church by calling Joseph Smith to be His prophet.  I know that He died, and atoned for us, and is now a resurrected and glorified being.  Stay the course and focus on the little things that bring us closer to Him

Elder Wilson

It's my birthday!

Dear people,
     The week of transfers is finally over!  On Tuesday night this past week, we went to Entebbe Airport to pick up the new missionaries.  Such a great group of young guys ready to serve the Lord.  What amazes me the most is the unity they have with each one of them.  They are a great group and we can just tell that they are going to do some amazing things out in the field.  Wednesday morning we held the New Missionary Training Orientation at the Mission home.  It was great to hear their testimonies and their excitement to do the work.  It's really interesting to be apart of the beginning of these new missionaries experiences.  It makes me to think back on when I first came on mission and was in their exact same position.  To be honest, it gets me a little sentimental, but It amazes me to see the transformation that I went through over the past 20 months.  After the orientation, we took them to the Ntinda flat and transfers commenced.  All the zone leaders in the country come, dropping off and picking up missionaries.  It was a pretty hectic day, and even I had to take a van full of missionaries and drive almost 4 hours to take them to their areas.  Busy, but the work is done for the week.  Then thursday evening, we held the farewell dinner for the departing missionaries going home.  They bore powerful testimonies of the restored gospel that really moves others to become more diligent and excited about the Lord's work.  Those missionaries will be missed.
     Even the past couple of days, we went to a zone development meeting in Jinja and went on exchanges with the missionaries there.  It's really great to get out and work, because sitting in an office is not what I think of when I hear "thrust in your sickle with your might."  We had a lot of fun working with the missionaries in Jinja and Walukuba. 
    Now this next week we go on tour with President and Sister Chatfield.  Each day this next week, we have interviews with all the missionaries and we will also be watching the worldwide missionary broadcast.  Super excited for that, and I'm pretty sure that I will be watching that like 10 times.
     I'm so grateful for the restored gospel.  I've never been happier in my life than when I have been on mission.  I'm so grateful for my spiritual development that has helped me become a more mature and better individual than when I left.  I know for myself that the work is true, and that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to have true and lasting happiness in this life, and in the life to come.  I hope you all have a great week, and spend a prayer just thanking Father in Heaven for all that you have.

Elder Wilson

PS.  Woot woot!  It's my birthday, big 21.  Go do something fun for me today.