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

New Years week

Yes my friends!

     I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas full of joy and happiness and love......... AND food.  Don't forget food.  So Christmas was definitely different here in Uganda, but it's also a Christmas that I will never forget.  We visited some recent converts and shared with them the story of Jesus Christ's birth in the book of Luke.  We even sang Christmas carols and we just loved reaching out to those who were alone.  Because no one should be alone on Christmas.  Later, we had like 3 dinner appointments all within 5 hours.  And I just want to add, I ate everything and it didn't come out the way it came in.  Super proud of myself.  But the spirit of Christmas was so strong through out the day.  It's not about the things that you get or the feast you have at the end.  It's about remembering the Savior and the gift He is to the world.  

      So we have been teaching this one sabo named Danson who's good friends with some of our recent converts.  He gained such a strong testimony and He truly loves the gospel.  We committed him to be baptized and yesterday was his day!   Such a strong soul we are so happy to be apart of his big day.  Even, a couple days before, one of his teeth got super irritated and infected.  And we thought Oh no!!!  But it was all good, he toughed it out.  What a beast.  

     Something that I found to be really funny is that when we meet new people and they ask where we are from, I tell them California and every one of them say, "Ohhhh yes I know about California."  Apparently, kids that go to school have California as part of there curriculum.  Even they tell me things that I never really new about Cali.  Nutz.  

    But anyways, now that the New year is coming up, it's time to reflect on the things that you have learned in 2014 and make goals for 2015.  Like for me, I'm making a goal of learning how to cook.  Because I'm getting sick of oatmeal.  But there are other goals that you cannot physically see that can change not only you, but the people around you.  Maybe one of those goals is to meet someone new every day.  Or maybe it's giving a compliment to every person you talk to.  No matter what, make the best of 2015 because it's gunna go like that.   I hope you all have a good and remember that the Lord is always bearing you up and preparing you for something greater. 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, is what we need to always focus on.  Not only on Christmas, but throughout the whole year.  He is the gift that our Heavenly Father has given all of us.  It is through Him that we can find true and lasting eternal happiness in this life and in the life to come.  Never forget the importance of giving and gratitude.  Christ, sacrificed His life for every one of us.  Take the time this Christmas to find the things that you are grateful for and what you can give to others.  Spend time with your families and show them how much you cherish them.  I want you all to know that I know that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the light.  He is the Savior of the world and He lives.  I know that His birth marked the start of the gift of eternal life given to us by our Heavenly Father and I want you all to remember the true importance of Christmas.  I love you all!  Have a great Christmas and enjoy the time you have with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas,

Elder Wilson

Testimony on change

Yes, my friends!

     So, start of another transfer with my new companion Elder Wightman.  So far so good. So since Elder Wightman is new to the area, I have had to show him around and lead the area, which I find pretty stressful.  There's so much work when you are a missionary.  And when you don't have as much experience as the other missionaries, I always wonder how much I've improved as a servant of the Lord.  

      This week I don't have that much to talk about.  But, I just want to share my testimony about change.  As a missionary, I continually have to change certain attributes or teaching tactics to help others draw closer to Christ.  And, sometimes, change is just super hard.  When someone makes a routine, it is always hard to leave that confidence that you have.  But when change comes, it can either strengthen us or bring us down.  It all depends on how we view it.  I know that after my time on my mission, home will never be the same.  But I know that if I know it's to bring me higher, then it will.  Our purpose in life is to change, to be better, to improve, to be the people that our Heavenly Father wants us to be.  My Father in Heaven has blessed me more than I deserve, and I wish more than anything that I could go back to when I first received those blessings throughout my life.  But change is what keeps us on that path to eternal life, as long as we know what to do when those changes come.  As we enter into the Christmas season, I want everyone to remember the Savior and how because of him, we are able to repent and change our lives for the better.  I love you all, have a great week, and know that I love you and your Father in Heaven loves you.

Elder Wilson