A visit to Rwanda / Zone Conference

Week 4 of the transfer done, and the time is going by way too fast.  Faster than I'd like.  But we had a good busy week.  On Tuesday, we had a zone conference for my old zone in Mukono.  We had a powerful meeting, talking about the importance of grasping how much time we really have on mission.  President Chatfield would stress the importance of obedience and the blessings it can bring.  It was held at the mission home, so we basically had a home cooked meal right after.  Then on Wednesday, we flew out to the beautiful country of Rwanda.  Just a super great trip.  I've missed my old area and I was able to meet with some of the people that I taught.  There's just a lot of happiness, when you find those that you teach live the principles of the gospel that you have taught them.  Thursday, we had our zone conference, and the meeting was filled with really great insights about the work.  One thing that the church is struggling with in Rwanda is finding people that speak English, but we were able to talk over how we are overcoming this challenge.  Afterwards, we had a nice lunch break at this Mexican restaurant called Mezze fresh, it's like the equivalent of chipotle or cafe rio.  So you could imagine that lunch was the highlight of the conference.  But we had a great time and now we are back.  This week will be busy again.  We have a mission leaders council on Wednesday, then Thursday zone conference with Kololo and Nsambya zones, then on Friday, Kabowa zone, then we crack down on transfers.  Loving the work, and the Lord is blessing us.  We went tracting yesterday in our area, and at the very last door of the day, there was a family all together, and let us in and teach them.  We are super excited to go and visit them again.  not much else to talk about, except missionary work is the most powerful and important work in the world.  And there's no way we can fail.  Have a great week!

Elder Wilson

Ethiopia

So, I'm not dead yet.... jokes.  But Sorry I didn't email last week, we were doing a zone conference road trip around Uganda.  Super fun and spiritual time.  We get to work with missionaries from all around the mission, and help them with the concerns they have in their areas.  Plus, President Chatfield is truly an inspired man, his words are always valued by the missionaries.  We got through Lira, Gulu, Mbale, Iganga, and Jinja.  So we've been a bit busy.  The great thing about going to all these zone conferences is that we always learn something new that can help the mission become better.  We have faith that the missionaries will continue to progress throughout their mission, because mission is the university of life. 
     Even this past week we traveled to Ethiopia to have a zone conference there.  Getting there was a little stressful, because we were already late for the flight, plus my companion forgot his yellow fever card, so we had to get him another one at the airport clinic, and then getting in he forgot his passport at the airport clinic, so just stressful trying to make our flight.  But we made it, and upon arriving in Ethiopia, I was pretty amazed at how different the culture is there compared to the culture in Uganda.  I actually didn't feel like I was in Africa, but I felt like I was in the middle east.  The people look different, their language is super different and difficult to learn.  Just a super foreign environment for me.  But it was a great experience.  The missionaries there are super hard working and they are truly there for a reason.  Even Elder Kapatamoyo, my greenie that I trained a year ago is a zone leader there.  Just a powerful guy if I do say so myself.  But the missionaries were eager to learn in the zone conference and have a strong desire to improve.  I love working with these missionaries, because I can always learn from them.  And they show a lot of great faith in the Lord, to go forth and do the work.  All in all, zone conferences are great and we are not even half way done.  Tomorrow we go to Mukono, and on Wednesday we fly out to Rwanda, which I'm really excited for. 
     The work is doing really well, and I'm trying to live up the time that I have.  I always make sure that I don't go a day without learning something new that can help me on my mission and in life.  I truly love this work and I truly love the Lord.  My testimony continues to grow each and every day, and there's no other place that I'd rather be.  take care of yourselves this week, and always count your many blessings. 

Love
Elder Wilson

New temple in Zimbabwe!

What a week!  From Monday up to Sunday we’ve been going through transfer week over here in the UKM, so I apologize for not being able to write last Monday.  So that you are all up to date on what’s going on over here; Tuesday we got 5 new missionaries that flew in.  It was actually a little hectic because two of them came from the Ghana MTC and their flight was changed at the last minute, they reached us on Wednesday and that disorganized our orientation and transfers a little bit.  But there were no huge concerns.  Having this responsibility can get pretty stressful, but it’s the least that I can do for my Father in Heaven.  We even received another companion, so we are in a three sum!  Elder Afrifa joined us assistants and he is just a super powerful guy.  I’ve already learned so much from him.  Wednesday and Thursday were busy days as we were moving missionaries around to get to their areas.  And we had a ton of missionaries having to stay in our apartment.  And what added more to the craziness, the power was out the whole night.  Typical, but just going through the daily.  On Saturday, we went to do another Jiggers project over in Jinja.  We went to the same village and finished the rest of the kids that we didn’t get around to last time.  It was super great, and we always have fun doing it.  There was a man, who has the same problem of jiggers, but on a more extreme scale.  I would send you the pictures, but I think I’ll just save you the trouble.  Not gonna lie, it’s pretty gross.  But we helped him out as well. 

                Sometimes on the mission, we go through some disappointments that we can’t really avoid.  I had the opportunity to visit one of my past areas yesterday for church.  The branch had been split while I was there serving, and we decided to visit the branch that is having the most trouble in strength.  Hoping to see some people that I’ve taught before, I have found that a man and his children that I taught and who chose to be baptized, was not there.  I was told by the members that he hasn’t come to church for a long time, and he doesn’t want to be visited by anyone from the church.  That pretty much hit me like a rock.  It’s amazing how someone so prepared to receive the gospel and who welcomes the church so quickly, can turn away from it just like that.  I always think about the day where the saints will enter into the rest of the Lord.  Those who receive eternal life will dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness, but the only sadness they will have is for those that they cared about on earth, that chose different paths apart from the strait and narrow.  It’s something that we won’t be able to avoid.  This past week, I’ve been ponderizing a scripture in Mosiah 2 v41, which explains how blessed people are that keep the commandments.  And if they are faithful to the end they return to the presence of God.  Such great blessings for such simple directions.  Keep the commandments and receive eternal life.  That’s why I love this gospel so much, it’s simple but powerful.  I can’t wait to watch General Conference, because over here, we have to wait for copies to come.

                I hope everyone is having a great week.  For those of you that are having a difficult week, remember who you are.  You are a son or daughter of God.  You are of divine heritage.  You may think that you can’t live up to the challenges that life throws at you, but remember who your Father is.  Find those divine qualities every opportunity you get.  Heavenly Father loves you and I love you.  And if I don’t know you……. Well I better get to know you soon, cuz I already love ya.  God speed.


Elder Wilson

Also:  WOOT WOOT for Zimbabwe, they are getting a temple FINALLY!

Servic Project

Hey everyone,
    Another week gone by and a lot of work happening.  I've been really busy, but we've been seeing a lot of good things coming about in the Uganda Kampala Mission.  On Tuesday last week, we went on exchanges with Elders in Mutungo.  It was super hot, and I forgot my hat/sunscreen.  So got a bit scorched, but it was a successful day, we taught a lot of people and found some people who were interested.  When we were walking to get to an appointment, there was just a random guy that asked if we could talk to him for like 10 minutes.  He said that he wanted to know about the church, and he's been trying to find the best info about what we believe.  We taught him the restoration, and he wanted to meet with us again.  The Lord is preparing the people, we just have to find them.  He is leading us to them or he will lead them to us. 
     On Thursday, we had 2 missionaries leaving to go home from the missions.  One of them, was a former companion of mine, Elder Njoko.  I spent 3 transfers with him as zone leaders in Mukono. To see him go was hard, because I've learned so much from him.  And our friendship had grown tremendously through the work.  I'm going to miss him, but I know that just like Alma and the Sons of Mosiah, we will reunite at some future point and find each other still brethren in the Lord. 
     On Saturday, we went for a big service project with the mission president and his wife, all the senior couples, and the workers in the office.  We traveled to Jinja to a certain village, to do some work for the children there.  In the Jinja area, there are these bugs called Jiggers, small worms that can enter through the skin from the ground.  We went to a school with about 200 kids that had Jiggers in their feet.  Some local doctors would remove the worms and leave some large wounds in their feet.  It basically looks like small craters at the bottom of their feet.  Super nasty looking and looked pretty painful.  My job was that after they removed the jiggers, I had to apply Hydrogen Peroxide and antiseptic to their feet.  This stuff stung, but most of the kids were super tough, wouldn't even wince.  If I was in their feet, I would not be reacting as tough as them.  But we went through a lot of kids.  Just a great service project that just made me feel good to serve others.  We are going to be doing another one in two weeks time, so we are excited for that. 
     All in all, the work is moving forward.  We are preparing for transfers this upcoming week.  We have a mission leaders council in two days.  We are pretty busy.  I've been working on being more humble and patient when it comes to some of the responsibilities that I've been given.  I've got a great companion, Elder Ruell, that's teaching me so much about these attributes and is helping me to be a better missionary and person, i'm grateful for him.  I'm also grateful for the Spirit, the comfort and peace that it brings to me.  It's something that I always want with me.  And even though it's not easy to do so, we have to try.  Because if we don't we'll just pull ourselves farther and farther away from our Heavenly Father.  I love you all.  Seek the Spirit.  God Speed.

Elder Wilson

2 extra weeks for transfers

So, I haven't been able to type a letter the past two weeks because our P-days have been hosed.  Last Monday, we were even in Rwanda, which was super fun and exciting.  But anyway, these past couple of weeks have been great.
    We have just finished up interviews at the mission home, and they have been really great.  Throughout interviews, we've had the missionaries watch the missionary broadcast that was put together in January, and I'm pretty sure that I've watched that thing like 11 times.  It's gotten to the point where I can quote the missionary department in their talks and training.  But now it's all over and I must say, that broadcast was truly inspired of God.  I've been seeing the missionaries changing their teaching and finding methods.  A lot of improvement is taking place and we are starting to see good things happen because of that broadcast. 
     Also, I said we went to Rwanda.  Super great.  We went for interviews for the missionaries there, but the branches in Rwanda were putting together a branch conference for all three branches.  Super great turnout and the meeting was held at a hotel conference room.  I've only been away from Rwanda for 2 months but it was like coming home.  I was so happy to see so many friends and members that I truly love.  The Lord is truly blessing the church there, because the foundation of the church there is growing stronger and stronger.  Even though I was there for one transfer, I'm just glad that I had the opportunity to serve there.  It truly was God's will that I go there. 
    So now we are finished with interviews and now we are getting into preparing for transfers.  It's actually super weird because this transfer is an 8 week transfer because of the MTC change for english speakers.  So right now it's week 6 and we haven't even started transfers.  So, we'll be a bit busy, the next couple of weeks. 
    This past weekend was quite a testimony booster for me.  There's just such great power in fasting and prayer.  I have committed myself to improving in every aspect of my life and I allowed the Lord to assist me in doing so.  My testimony has grown a lot just from simple pondering, I've felt the Spirit more abundantly.  I know that Christ lives.  and He has restored His church through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I know that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and he did Not lie about it.  We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission for 90 days, and I'm focusing my study on obedience to the commandments of God.  I've been able to understand more and more about the way the Lord works through His commandments.  I love this gospel, it's the only way to true and lasting happiness.  Think about what you can do to improve this week, find ways to be more happy and increase in your faith.  The Lord will help you if you feel like you can't do it.  Have a great week!

Elder Wilson

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.