Week 13

Feliz Navidad! (Ugandan Style)

The "Big God Missionary Team" Holding their "Jesus is Coming Soon" Christmas concert! It looked like a lot of fun. As we passed by passed by they started yelling "Yes! Men of God! Hallelujah". That was certainly a new experience.

Dinner at our High Councilors house!
 He had a Christmas Tree too!
For some reason this guy
reminds me of my Grandpa Cal!

It's been such a good week!

I don't even know where to start with so little time to E-mail tonight! First off: Merry Christmas! Being able to celebrate here in Uganda while spreading the gospel has really made for one of the most gratifying Christmases of my life! I have been loving every moment!

My trainee is doing very Well! His name is Elder Bratsman from California. I'll tell more about him next week for sake of time, but he is a powerful guy!

We have been working super hard this week especially with finding new investigators. We have probably walked at least 50 miles this week, like no joke! We have found so many people who truly seem to have been prepared to receive our message. I have truly felt the love of Christ as I have put all my effort into serving him this Christmas Season!I am out of time, but I love you all!

Merry Christmas!

Until Next Time!

Love,

Elder Winn

Brother Joseph has a Christmas Tree!
He was kind enough
to invite us over for Breakfast this morning!

 I cooked some Pork and Pilau!
I'm turning into a real Ugandan!

Sunrise: Beautiful as ever! I love living here!

Week 12

It's the circle of life

The Sunrise this morning

The street banners advertising all kinds
of Christmas festivities.

Hello again!

I don't have a whole lot of time this week so I'll keep it short! Hopefully it will still be just as sweet.

The work is going well, as usual. Even with the distraction of the impending transfer news we were awaiting most of last week. On Saturday morning there was still no word from the Zone Leaders... Turns out: President and the AP's were still re-doing the whole list, and nobody was safe. Basically anybody could go anywhere. We were at their apartment when they got the news, and it was very exciting. Elder Brewer is actually on a Bus for Gulu (think of Lion King) Right now, and I am with another Elder in our District who lost his companion two days ago. I am awaiting the arrival of my trainee! Yes, I will be training this coming transfer! I can't believe I'm going to be a "Father". Exciting stuff!

Elder Winn will be training Elder Bratsman. 
2nd from the right

Anyway: I've got to go soon, but I hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas! Until next time!

Love,

Elder Winn

The sweet sandals I had made! The sole is made out of
 a tire, and I had them emboss a W on the top.

Trying them on.

 Clouds

Week 11

I'm Dreamin' of a White Christmas

Christmas party with the other Branch

They went all out with Decorations!

Hey Everybody!

Christmas is on it's way, and it's coming fast!

I've had many ask me what Christmas is like in Uganda, but I really don't know a whole lot yet! Let me tell you what I do know: Christmas is very simple here. I have seen a few Christmas Trees in public places here in the city. Christmas is a big commercial boost here in Uganda. The weeks leading up to Christmas is when everybody comes into town to make purchases. Children generally get new clothes on Christmas. For the most part, the holiday is about coming together as a family. People often go back to their home villages for the holiday and enjoy time and meals together. (as far as I know there aren't any special traditional foods for Christmas... just the normal local food I have showed you before.)

It really doesn't feel like Christmas here. It is warm and sunny! I feel the Christmas spirit whenever we are invited to a members, or sing Christmas songs in church, but it's just not the same. I never thought I'd say this, but in a way I almost miss the frigid white stuff I quite enjoy singing about. I almost miss being cold simply for the feeling of warming up. It made me feel at home when we had a cold rainy morning this week. It kind of felt like Christmas!

Cooking for the party

I work in the Kajjansi 1 Ward, but the Kajjansi 2 Branch invited our ward (and us specifically) to join in their Christmas festivities! Us full time missionaries were asked to share a talent/do some sort of a skit. We couldn't come up with anything, so after explaining that missionaries really don't have that many talents; Elder Brewer started us off with his animal noises. He is actually really good at mimicking Animal Noises. The audience loved it! I then led into my classic rendition of 'White Christmas' with a dramatic story about how far away from home I am, and how Christmas just isn't Christmas without snow. They laughed so hard when I started singing! They took it exactly how I hoped they would! The sisters then did a little skit of their own. One guy told me I sounded like a country singer, and how it was his dream to visit Nashville! They filled the night with fun skits, music, dancing, and some really good food! I'm telling you: Africans know how to party! I hope our Ward Party is anywhere near that fun!

Things here are really pretty normal. Time is passing quickly: I have hardly noticed Christmas creeping up so quickly it's scary. We are keeping busy and working hard. I seriously love being a Missionary in the best mission in the world: #UgandaKampalaMission! Thank you all for your kind words of support. They make it bearable to be so far away! I hope you all enjoy the next week as we prepare for the holiday! Make it a memorable one!

Best Wishes,

-Elder Winn

I asked Brother Evander what how they celebrate Christmas in Uganda.  This was his reply...

Christmas here, people flock the churches for prayers ,Christmas songs are played on the streets ,after church people go home and prepare a different meal from what they eat every day ,they eat, after they flock pubs those who drink ,or entertainment centres for enjoying

Week 10

Nothing lasts forever, even cold November Rain!

Central and South Zone Conference

 Baptism this Sunday.
I Baptized Maureen who is standing next to me.

Hey guys!

November is done, and with it went the cold November Rain. However, December is here, and the rain is still coming! It was cold and rainy for our Baptism on Sunday. Of course, dry season is on it’s way because the rain has let up a lot. The mangos are getting nice and sweet.

I don’t have a whole lot of time to email today because we have an early appointment this evening, and we just got back from our zone activity. Speaking of our activity: We cooked cat! The Zone Leaders invited us all down to Entebbe for a culinary adventure. Elder Anim (from Ghana) knew the routine we needed to follow to do it safely, and Sister Otoo (also from Ghana) was pro at cooking it. It looked and tasted like chicken! I attached a picture!

Sister Otoo Cooking the "Chicken"
for us this morning.

This week was very busy as we were getting the four in the picture above ready to be baptized this week, as well as one more for next week. I can't tell you how much it makes a difference when members give us referrals and are willing to help us out.

This week we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders. Elder Anim came and stayed with me in our area of Kajjansi. I think it was a test to see if I have learned my way around the area, either way I passed! I learned a lot from him as we taught a whole bunch of our Investigators. When I asked him how I could Improve he shook his head and said no, nothing. He told me that I was doing amazing for being in my second transfer, and that I'd only get better with age. That really meant a lot coming from him.

I don't really have any crazy or powerful teaching stories this week. All of our lessons this week have just been simple. The spirit has definitely been strong in our lessons, but again, I don't really have any fun stories to share. We did have a run-in with some stubborn Born-Again Preachers on the

Me holding my cat leg this morning.
See, Chicken!

street. We were just trying to be kind to them but they chose only to be nasty back. Even though they were not so nice to us, I was completely overcome by a feeling of how much Christ loved those two men. It broke my heart that they chose to act that way. It is like Christ taught: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you". My challenge to all y'all is to just be kinder than necessary. It makes a difference in how happy you are!

Anyway, I love you all. I hope you are enjoying the Holiday season. Have a great week. I look forward to hearing from you guys every Monday!

Cheers until Next time!

-Elder Winn

Another one of Central and South Zone Conference

At the Mission Home