Week 5

Runnin' on Empty

A sweet panorama from the shore of Lake Victoria

Hey everybody!

It's been a fun week with a few surprise twists and turns!

Jackson Browne's Lyrics grace our Subject Line today because we had some fun water issues this week! We got a call from the District Leaders asking us to take a couple of our Gerry Cans full of water down to the sister's apartment because their water was out. They don't live super far away, but it still sucked carrying them all that way! We arrived home and proceeded to fill up our water bottles. The water lasted just long enough to fill them as the stream gently slowed to a drip.... So here we are with like one Gerry can full of water and we just hauled our other ones away! We gave our Leaders a call, and word got around to the Sister's who apparently felt bad enough to give a call straight to President Collings! The Zone Leaders were on our doorstep with four more Gerry Cans the next morning.

 In case you were wondering what
 $14 looks like in Ugandan Money

It is also the end of the month, so we are low on money. I have plenty, but it is just sad seeing that you only have one 50,000 Shilling bill left to last you the rest of the month. (that is about $14.00, and it was plenty to last me, but seeing everything you have in one bill is scary!)

Zone Conference with Elder Palmer

This week we had Zone Conference, and Elder Palmer of the quorum of the seventy came to participate. I got to say the opening prayer for the conference. The Zone Leader laughed when he called to give me the assignment to give the prayer in front of a General Authority! It was fun though, a very inspiring meeting. Elder Palmer is truly an amazing guy! He gave a talk in the May General Conference if you want to see what I mean.

The making of Pilau

This week Brother Evander taught us how to make Pilau (Really good Ugandan Rice). We are hoping to learn how to make lots of local food. I don't really know what else to talk about... If there is anything specific that you would like to know about Uganda, or interesting questions you have, please ask me! I would love to give you guys a better feel for what it's like out here!

Have a Spectacular week! I love you all! Stay safe my friends!

-Elder Winn

Eating Pillau

A cheezy selfie I took just for kicks and variety

Some awesome potatoes and eggs
 I made to prove I know how to cook

Week 4

Baptisms, Wild animals, and Drunk Guys

 Overlooking the town

Hey everyone!

We've had an amazing week, I had my first Baptism!

He is a little boy who wants to be an engineer (which in Uganda is really just anyone who fixes stuff, but nonetheless awesome!). It was so fun and spiritual I don't even have words.

It's honestly not worth giving a day to day update, because (correct me if I'm wrong) they can get a little boring. This has been a crazy week though, because we got fed four times by families. Twice in one night! We were coming home from a dinner appointment, and we saw some white people in the apartment next to us. We asked the family who the Mzungu's (white people) were. They then invited us into the party! We had rice, pork, all kinds of fruit, and best of all, Ice Cream! It was some dang good ice cream too. Crazy how that stuff works.

The next day, however, we went to Ddewe. We do this once a week, but this time our Taxi never came to take us back into Kajjansi so we had to get a ride in a giant truck that was hauling rocks and walk a long ways to get another taxi... But some more members fed us that night so it was good. We are just super blessed out here, I can't explain it.

My new Chameleon Friend!

We saw a Chameleon, and a Monkey this week! pretty sweet! 

We also had a really fun time talking with a drunk guy who waved us down yelling "Mormons! Mormons! I love Mormons!". He ended up being a former member of the US Navy. He showed us the pictures and certificates to prove it. He kept referring to me as Elder Winnie and related that to a hot dog brand (come to think of in, he might have meant Weenie). Elder brewer obviously reminded him of Beer. He kept telling us about his Mormon friend named Mormon, and reminding us how much he loves Mormons. I really liked that guy, he was fun. I hope he's that much fun when we meet him sober. (if we ever do)

Anyway, Thank you so much for your support, I love hearing from you guys each week! I hope you all are staying safe, and having fun!

Have a fantastic week!

With Love,Elder Winn
Uganda Kampala Mission

One of the brother cutting us some Jackfruit that grew in the church yard

These Pictures were sent to me (Elder Winn's momma) by a brother in Uganda.  I cherish them and am so grateful for him and his family and the efforts they are making to help the missionaries.  I love that he sends me pictures and lets me know how Elder Winn is doing.    

Elder Winn has changed A LOT

The blue box is where the baptism took place.

Week 3

Learning to Fly

A landscape in Ddewe

Hey everybody!

It's your favourite time of the week!

This week flew by so fast, I can't even believe we are headed into week four of the transfer. I am loving it so much out here! Thus, I decided to quote Tom Petty in the title (yes, I can still remember a little bit of the music I listened to at home!)

Me standing next to a cool African tree!

The highlight of the week was going out to Ddewe on Tuesday! It is a more rural area near Kajjansi. We took brother Odoch with us as a translator (the lady we were teaching only spoke Luganda). That is where most of the pretty pictures below came from!

Thursday: We went on Exchanges. Fun Times. Elder Quateng and I had a blast. We taught like seven lessons. 

Friday: Sad day. All of our appointments fell through. However, we had a district lunch which was fun! Surprise! our last appointment of the night didn't fall through after all! They came rolling up on a Boda right as we started walking home (half an hour late)

More Ddewe

Saturday: Elder Brewer was making some Bisquik biscuits his mom sent him, and he dropped it on the floor. He scraped up all of the powder and made/ate them anyway. Legendary. He offered me one, but I passed... and decided to boil a sausage and wrap it in Chapate (those tortilla things) instead.

All in all it's been another amazing week out here in Kajjansi. I am so grateful for everybody's prayers and support. You are all spectacular. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

A sweet view of Lake Victoria from a members home

Elder Winn visited a family who sent me these pictures over Facebook.  It was such an unexpected, wonderful surprise.  I love how happy he looks playing with the little children.  I cherish these pictures and am so thankful for the thoughtfulness of the family that shared them with me.  The  darling children just melt my heart too.

  

Week 2

Due to a power outage, Elder Winn was delayed in sending out his update.  Once he was able to send his email, he had some interesting things to say about life in Uganda.

I really like the local food here!  Let me tell you what's what.
Bowl on Left: Beans with Beef.
Left: Pumpkin
Yellow Mush on top: Matoke
White Mush: Posho
Middle: "Irish" Just regular potatoes.
Bottom left: Sweet Potato (way sweeter than home)
You dip the Posho and Matoke in the Beans/Meat Sauce. It's all really quite tasty, and very filling. I just can't really explain the flavors.

I have previously described the Boda Boda's. However, any of you in America have no Idea based on my previous description which was "reckless motorcycle drivers". If you can fit it on a standard pickup truck in America, people probably haul it on a Boda. Pictured below (sorry, it's blurry) is a guy hauling some Wood on his Boda. This is literally nothing compared to what I've seen. I'll send funny Boda Pics in the future if I get any.

As far as my week goes, I don't have my journal. However, we have just been working hard, and teaching lots of lessons! I get more and more confident in teaching here every day!

Thanks everyone for your prayers, and everything. It means a lot!
Stay safe, and stay blessed!

With Love,
Elder Winn

Uganda Kampala Mission

Just a guy out walking his cow.

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." 

 ~ D&C 112:10

Some Banana trees in someones yard

Elder Winn Arrives in Uganda

September 26, 2017

I remember when Elder Winn was participating in High Adventures in scouting.  I was so grateful for his leader who kept updating their Facebook page.  It was fun to see what they were doing and reassuring to see them having a great time and were safe...well relatively safe.  I remember making a wish...That my son's Mission President would keep us posted with Facebook.  Sometimes we are granted the wish of our hearts.  Although it is not the Mission President himself, his wonderful, caring, amazing, technologically savvy  wife keeps us updated on Facebook and also has a blog.  The first I knew of his arrival in Uganda was from the Facebook page.  

Later that day...

The subject line read:  Almost Paradise

Hey Guys!

I am at the Mission Home in Uganda Now!

It is beautiful here! There are palm trees, lots of hills, and plenty of reckless motorcycle drivers.

I am alive and well, and will be able to send a real update next week on Monday!

Stay tuned.

Love you all!

-Elder Preston Winn

Elder Winn in Uganda

His First Week

He is chillin' at the airport in Johannesburg

Elder Winn has been in Uganda now for several weeks.  Here is what he had to say about his first week.

Hey Guys!

It's me, Elder Winn! That guy most of you forgot about! :-) It is good to hear from you guys, Thanks for the support! 

Elder Winn has not been forgotten.  Everywhere I go, people ask me how he is doing.

Looking off the Kajjanse Stage (Pedestrian Bridge)

Here is what he has to say about his first week in Uganda.  

I am assigned to the area of Kajjansi (South Kampala). My trainer is Elder Brewer, and he has only been out for 6 weeks! We are technically training each other. 

Tuesday: I flew to Uganda, and was greeted by President & Sister Collings. I stayed the night at the mission home.

Wednesday: We went proselyting/street contacting near the mission home. I met a few members. I arrived at the flat, and the power was out. #Africa. I bought a Rolex for 2000 Shillings (about 65 cents). Unfortunately, it wasn't a really nice watch. It is actually food made with eggs, cabbage, onions and tomatoes rolled up in chapate (kind of like Pita Bread). It was tasty.

I have been assigned to learn how to make Rolexes and Chapate.  I think he is enjoying the food.  I don't think the same can be said about his showers...

Thursday: I got up and took a shower. There is a shower head sticking out of the wall next to the sink, and we stand in a bucket. We dump the water under the washing machine and squeegee off the floor. We did a lot of street contacting, and I met some members. Night-time here is a huge party. there is music blasting from every street stand, and people everywhere! The water went out today. Again, welcome to Africa!

The pretty Clouds of Uganda 

Friday: We met with a lady who let us in while tracting. Turns out, the house was an office for the Baha'i faith. They literally believe in everything, it is a combination of all religions. She taught us, then we shared a short message. Let's just say that we didn't realize she would end up trying to teach us. We also taught a family of fourteen (five kids were not there, so it is a much bigger family) that we met while tracting. They ended up coming to church.

Saturday: Our appointments fell through so we went to the church where we saw a young man we often see hanging out at the church to steal the Wi-Fi. We taught him about the restoration. it was cool. 

Sunday: Went to church. We later went finding, and met a guy that we committed to be baptized at the end of the month.