New Chapel

Another week!

   Yes, the week has already passed and now I am here to report.  So, over the past couple of days we have been seeing some amazing stuff happen.  For one thing, we have two young boys, Jordan and Phillip, who are sons of James, who was baptized earlier in the month, who are getting baptized this upcoming Sunday.  They have such a strong desire to learn about the gospel and their father sets a good example for them.  They love the gospel and they love the church so much.  And since James has the Aaronic Priesthood, he will have the opportunity to baptize his kids.  My heart is hurting right now just thinking about it.  Then there is also Barbara, who was baptized two weeks ago.  I remember when we first started teaching her and how she was somehow shy about us teaching her.  Now about 7 months later, everytime I see her, she is glowing with the spirit.  She has never looked happier then she does when she comes to church.  She even came to stake conference yesterday, and the stake center is really far.  It just goes to show that the Lord works in his own time.  Even if they are not fully committed at first, if you give them time, they will come to feel and understand the spirit when they exercise their faith.  She is a person I will never forget because of her faith and love for Christ.  

    So yesterday, was stake conference and Elder Hamington of the Seventy came to address the Kampala Stake.  His words were truly inspiring as he discussed the importance of faith and trust in the Lord.  Then later that same night, the chapel that has been waited for 6 months now was finally dedicated by Elder Hamington himself.  The dedication was a special moment for the members of Kajjansi because it is a fruit of all the effort that was put into sharing the gospel with others.  It was a day I've been waiting for a long time and the spirit now dwells in that newly opened chapel.

     Anyways, my companion and I had a really interesting experience.  We went to teach this referral who was apparently a retired pro boxer.  We went into his home and something was off.  Man, this guy was completely wasted.  He would just go on and on about how we need to listen to him teach us.  Even at one point he was talking about the Catholic church that he is apart of and he said," I know we worship Maria,....... and ...... and I don't know why......... and,.... who.......how did Joseph become the father of Jesus.........and........ who........uhhhhhhh who.... is Jesus"  "Raymond,..... have you been drinking today?"  "YES!!! I'm even from drinking now!"  How on earth did you know that"  Brothers and Sisters, it was the spirit.  That's how I knew....... and common sense.  Then after we were trying to leave, he kept trying to make us pick fruit off of his trees even though we didn't want any.

      I love being a missionary, there's a sense of power that I have never felt anywhere else.  It is a peaceful power that can work miracles, if we are obedient to the direction that the Lord has set.  I love the people here in Uganda.  They help me to learn a special kind of love that the Savior has for all of us.  I hope you all have a good week, and know that the gospel is what brings happiness that will last. 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Happy Valentine's Day

Hey everyone!

   I hope yall had a superb week.  Everything here is super nice.  The rain is falling, the sun is shining, the tank is clean(Finding Nemo reference), it's been a good week!  Now since it's halfway through Feb, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy valentines day and I hope you all ate as much chocolate as I did, which you probs didn't but that's ok.  

    This past sunday, the stake president of the Uganda Kampala Stake came to Kajjansi Branch to dissolve the branch and to create two new branches.  It was super awesome to be apart of it, because it wouldn't have happened without missionary work and it was amazing to see the fruits of our labors.  Half the members would go to the new chapel and half stay in the old chapel.  As far as the missionaries go, we also have to split to cover both branches.  We don't know the entire plan for it but at our district meeting, it will be all settled. I've been in Kajjansi for 7 months and ever since I got here, I've been waiting for this event to happen.  

    Also, we've been teaching this one nyabo since September.  Throughout the course of that time, she's been on and off about baptism.  And at one point we even stopped coming to teach her.  And then about a month ago, all of a sudden she came to church!  Besides that time of her absence she's been coming to church all of the time, even everyone in the branch thought she was already a member, but yesterday she was baptized and she had such a wonderful experience.  I could just feel through the spirit that her testimony of the gospel was so strong and she was truly happy with the decision she had made.  I'm so grateful, to be apart of the experience of helping her enter into the fold of God.  

     The mission field is an amazing place to be.  and the mission field is more than just being in some part of the world, it's a different state of existence.  With the call that missionaries have been given and being set apart, they are no longer apart of the world.  I was on exchanges with my zone leader and he made an interesting point.  He said, "Can you believe that God takes the most unstable of all of His children at the age we are at and has them do His most important work in eternity" That got me thinking about how much God trusts us with missionary work.  I'm so grateful to be apart of this work force that helps people to have a second chance, that helps them feel loved, helps them to feel belonged, and helps them to return to their Father in Heaven.  I know that there is nothing more important than what Im doing right now.  I wish you all a blessed week and continue to rely on the Lord and seek after the good things that draw us closer to our Heavenly Fathers.

Love,

Elder Wilson

Just turned 20

What a blessed week!

    My companion and I have been working hard to bring as many people into the fold of God as we can.  Even though we find disappointments here and there, we are never disappointed in the work that we put in.  I've been learning so much from my companion and I've really strengthened my Christlike attributes.  The point of the work is love, love and charity.  When we help others when they are down or struggling, we have to always remember the Savior and how He sacrificed His life for everyone, even those who are not willing to accept His gospel.  I have so much room for improvement and as a trainer, I'm learning so much more about the weaknesses I have, but I also remember that through the Lord, we are able to make weak things become strong.  It all comes from humbling ourselves and aligning our will with the Savior's.  I truly have a testimony of the Savior and the importance of His work.  Now before my mission, I would occasionally have doubts about my testimony.  There were times, where I didn't know for sure of my knowledge of Christ.  But, I have strengthened my testimony so much since then.  The result from seeking that testimony is me going on a mission.  And now I have learned to let questions arise, but never doubts.  This gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  As missionaries, we hold the keys to bringing the world to the knowledge of the Savior and the way we can live with Him in the mansions of the Father.  This email is short, but I want to just say.  Never doubt the Savior.  Never doubt His power, His gospel, and His church.  It is through Him that we can receive eternal life and we can have true and lasting happiness in this life and in the life to come.  I'm so grateful for this calling that I have.  Being a missionary is the greatest thing that I will ever do in my life.  And I know that it will bless the lives of others here in Uganda.  

    Also, just turned 20 so,...... feelin pretty good.  I love you all, have a blessed week and always remember the Savior. 

Elder Wilson

Birthday Week

Yes my friends!  Mbalamusize!

    This week has been pretty dang powerful.  My companion and I have been working hard to find more people to teach.  And the Lord has blessed us with exactly that.  We have found a couple families to teach and they are prepared for the message that we have for them.  Something else really awesome happened.  Sunday evening, Elder Kapatamoyo and I were trying to think of who we could see.  When we were walking along the main road, I looked down this one ragged street, and while walking I was debating whether we should bother, and then the spirit pushed me towards that direction.  We were looking around down the road and we saw a house that was open, and it just clicked in my head "This one"  We went in and we found a husband and wife at home together.  They were just relaxing and they welcomed us into their home.  They attend the Anglican church near our apartment and we taught them the Restoration.  And they were genuinely interested.  They really wanted to know about Joseph Smith and whether this is a message that they need to act on.  God works in mysterious ways and I'm blessed to be guided by Him. 

     Also, James got baptized!!!  Super proud of this guy.  He is the most powerful man I've taught on my mission so far.  He loves the gospel, the church, and he promises us everyday that he knows the church is true, and I was touched when he requested me to baptize him.  This guy became more than just a recent convert, he became a best friend.  He's one of those people that I will never forget for the rest of my life.  And I show gratitude to the Lord everyday for leading us to him. 

    
      Something crazy that happened was that apparently a mob tried to break in to our compound when we were sleeping last night.  Luckily our guard/branch missionary leader called the authorities and they got arrested.  And all of the missionaries slept through it.  Goes to show that missionaries work hard.  Plus there's news that the Kajjansi Branch will be splitting and one branch will be attending the newly constructed chapel.  Nutz!  This area is really pushing forward. 

      Anyways, I hope you all have a lovely week and that you stop and look at all of the blessings that the Lord has given you.  And know that the work moves forward in Uganda.

Elder Wilson

Week of January 26, 2015

Hey Everyone!

     At the close of this last week just wanted to say that the work is pushing forward and Africa is amazing as always.  I had my first week with my new companion from Malawi, Elder Kapatamoyo (last week I accidentally spelled it wrong woops).  He's got that fire and excitement that new missionaries have when they get out of the MTC.  And he's a super powerful missionary for sure.  Being the new District Leader is quite the step up from being trained in the same area.  But it's a challenge that I am truly learning from.  I seriously love my district and we are all super tight with each other.  But overall, missionary work is the best work.  

     Some people that we are working with:

   James, this guy is the most powerful, prepared investigator that I've ever had, and the best part.... we are basically best friends.  Even though he is like 50.  He tells us everyday how much he knows that the church is true and how he feels like his life is going in the right direction.  He's getting baptized this upcoming Sunday so we are super excited for that.  

     Mark is someone that we found tracting and he's such a super solid guy.  He loves us teaching him and he even came to church.  We will be trying our best to help him receive a testimony for himself, especially when his parents are against the church.  

   Anyways, I don't have enough time to write more about who we are teaching but they are seriously super powerful.  

   just wanted to say how grateful I am to be a missionary, because not everyone gets this opportunity.  I feel my testimony growing each and every day and I am loving the people here.  This truly is the Lords work and there is nothing that I would rather be doing.  Have a great week everyone! 

Elder Wilson

Baby Bryce and family.

Me, my companion and Samuel.

I'm Training - 1/19/15

Hey everyone!

    I hope everyone is having a fantastic week!  Here in Uganda, everything is doing awesome.  We just finished another transfer and new changes are here.  So, for this upcoming transfer, i've been called to be the district leader in Kajjansi.  I'm really excited for this opportunity to serve others and this new responsibility to help the work push forward.  Something else that's new is that IM TRAINING!  Pretty crazy.  My new companion is Elder Katatamoyo from Malawi.  I seriously can't believe that I will be training in the same area that I was trained in.  Im really excited to help new missionaries get excited for the work.  This email is going to be short due to time, but I just want to let everyone know that i'm doing ok and theres a lot of work that still needs to be done here.  I love all of you so much and I hope you have an amazing week! 

love,

elder wilson

Hot and dry season.

Hey friends,

    What a crazy week!  Sorry I didn't have time to email last week, so please forgive me, and if you don't, remember Christ said so.  Anyways, so much has been happening and time has been flying by.  I've been seeing many miracles in this work and I'm excited to work hard to get more. And in this time of the year, it's the super dry hot season.  The entire month of January is known as the heat stroke month.  That also means a lot of dust because of no rain.  But the work is doing great in this part of the world.

     We truly had a miracle recently.  One night my companion and I had nothing to do for the last hour of the day, but we were inspired to go to the area book and search for former investigators.  As we searched through, we felt inspired to call a man named James, who was taught by missionaries 2 years ago.  We called and he gladly allowed us to come over.  He lives alone with his dog Max and his cat Garfield (great names), and his wife passed about a year ago.  We talked with him and we found that he went through a lot of hard times in his life.  He even told us he got mugged one time and was severely injured in the brain, he had surgery and is partially paralyzed on one side of his body.  We taught him the Restoration, and I could just see it in his eyes that he has found peace and comfort.  The spirit was so strong and by the end of the lesson, his own words "It's true.  I cannot doubt"  We extended a baptism date and when we told him Feb 15, he stood up grabbed a pen, and went straight to his calendar and marked that day as his baptism.  He even came to church and loved it.  This is a divine witness to me that God does prepare his children to receive the restored gospel.  And even the time when he was taught before by missionaries, truly planted a seed in his heart to prepare him to accept the message.  This man has a heart of gold.  And I am more blessed than anyone to be able to know and teach him.  

     Being in Africa there are certain traditions that I am really not used to.  One of them being dowry or like bride price.  In order to marry a girl, you have to pay her father a  certain amount of cows.  There is one old guy we have been sharing with that believes in this tradition and even doesnt understand value of American money.  He said "Ahhh my friend you give me $6 and you can marry anyone of my daughters".  We simply told him that he strikes a hard bargain and when we save up enough money we will marry.  Nutz!

      Anyway, just wanted to wish everyone a happy week and know that God is watching over you even if you are not watching for Him.  Keep an open heart and an open mind and you will find joy in everything that you do.  I love you all.  Remember who you are and what you stand for.

Elder Wilson