Week 30

Another one bites the dust

A really pretty crane or something.

Transfer five has come and gone like a chicken nugget on the plate of a twelve year old boy. This transfer went so

The three amigos

fast! I can't even believe that it's over. Unfortunately Elder Bimpeh will be transferring to entebbe. I will really miss him... He is an awesome companion and it feels like we just barely got put together! My new Companion will be Elder Weight. We were in the MTC together so that's cool!

Transfer news was crazy this week. To start with there were rumors/changed initial plans like no other I've seen yet. It sounds like I was originally supposed to train, and there have been all sorts of other changes made even after news was sent out! We will be losing the sister missionaries from the other branch/district, and gaining four elders!

Baptism of Jessica and Ian Clarke

It has been a good week. We had two baptisms! Jessica and Ian Clarke both had their baptisms on Saturday so that was a great day! They were both a bit of a miracle. Jessica is the sister to an RC, and she asked us to come and teach her. We gladly accepted. Ian disappeared for a couple weeks and we couldn't find him because he doesn't have a phone. He showed up to general conference. A member recognized him one day and told him about the conference so he decided to show up. He had to leave before the end because he had work (He works nights). He showed up Sunday Morning for the Sunday sessions. He hadn't been home... He came straight from work to continue watching conference! We were able to re-establish contact and continue teaching him. 

Made some fried rice as a zone today!

Today we had a zone activity. We got together and made some fried rice. It was fun! See the pictures to see our massive pile of rice we made!

I hope you all have a most excellent week. I should have some exciting stuff for next week's email!

Love,

Elder Winn

PS: E-Mail Me. I'm running out of e-mails to read! haha.

Close up

Week 29

Big City Nights (ft. The Scorpions)

 Ntinda with the AP's. From Left to Right: Elder Colvin (AP), Elder Bimpeh,
 Elder Kagson (ZL), Elder Barrington (AP), Elder Obeng (ZL), Yours Truly.

​On top of last weeks trip to Kampala, we got hauled back into the big city again this week to spend like three hours at Uganda Immigration renewing Elder Bimpeh's work permit. We stayed at the super nice Ntinda apartments again (where the AP's, office Elders, and Senior Couple live) for two nights. It felt like we were on a vacation at a nice hotel! The showers had water pressure AND shower heads!  

Our half-ready picture before lunch with
 Sister Juliet. Elder Bimpeh not pictured

Trips to Kampala used to be nothing, as Kajjansi was not all that far away. However, with Masaka being a three and a half hour drive out of town we don't get that many chances to go. So when we do we have to live it up by eating at KFC (Way better here than in America by the way!), and shopping at the good stores. These days it seems like we spend more time livin' it up in the big city than we do in our own area! Gotta love those Big City Nights! 

Alas, all of the fun staying in Ntinda at the extra apartment did come to an end and we headed back to Masaka. On the way back we stopped to see this investigator that the Zone Leaders have been working with. (Sister Juliet)   She invited the four of us to come over for lunch. She lives about an hours drive out of Masaka town (too far for them to teach unless traveling to or from Kampala), but was taught over the Internet by a man in Utah. She will be Baptized on May Fifth, and the guy from Utah will be coming to perform the Baptism! We got to say hi to him over video call and answer some of his questions about how things will go on the fifth. It's gonna be cool! It was funny Introducing myself on the video call because Elder Kagson, Obeng, and Bimpeh are all  Ghanaian. "Where are you guys from?", he asked. "Ghana" says Elder Kagson. "Ghana" says Elder Obeng. "Ghana" says Elder Bimpeh with a chuckle. "Utah" I reply barely holding back the laughter. Of course I had the one up on the others because he could actually ask where in Utah I'm from and Understand!

Equatorial Selfie

We stopped at the Equator on the way home. The 2/3 mark of the journey between Kampala and Masaka. We also saw a Casket on a Boda. I managed to draw my camera faster than an old west cowboy draws his pistol and was victorious in snapping the pic! Watch out John Wayne, there's a new quick-shooter in town... and he'll never run out of bullets!

We are getting close to Baptizing a few of our investigators. It's amazing the miracles we are seeing even while getting drug off to town. I'll keep you posted on them! 

Anyway, I am Loving the work. Masaka is such a fun area to serve in. I am grateful for the awesomeness that is missionary work! I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Winn

 Don't you laugh as the hearse-boda goes by!

Week 28

Long Nights, Impossible Odds

A view of Masaka Town from Ssenyange

Multi-Zone Conference
(Elder Winn is 4 rows back on the right)

We had zone conference at the beginning of this week. As you know, this means that we were in Kampala for two days a night. The zone conference was great, but at the end we found out that Elder Bimpeh and I would be taxi-ing home even though we already took the punch of taxi-ing there. I guess it was because they knew we were strong and could handle it! ;-) It was pouring rain, so the Assistants were kind enough to offer us a ride down to the stage. (they ended up having to drop us on the road at a bus stop where we could taxi to the stage. We needed to get to the "new stage", one I'd only been to once before. 

While trying to get over to the stage we were having a rough time getting a taxi. full taxi after full taxi rushed by. We were beginning to get a bit discouraged. We each said a little prayer. Soon a member recognized us and suggested we stay the night in Kampala because by the time we got there the rides to Masaka would be finished. We felt like we should try anyway, and he offered to help us, as we didn't know the exact way there in the first place. 

Post-Conference Photo Shoots!

After about 25 minutes, he was running out of time and was going to part from us. Just then a completely empty taxi pulled up... at rush hour. We hopped in, and he got out at his destination giving us directions to keep riding until the old stage and ask directions from there. 

 Elder Obeng isn't really that short, he's just squatting!

We got out at the old stage, and another man (a Kampala tour guide) heard us asking directions to the new stage and offered to walk with us there. He was a Muslim, but had often been past the Kololo Chapel and wondered what it was all about. Along the way he told us facts and jokes about the area and how to get there in the future. I really liked the guy. He was funny, and amid the tense situation he had a warm and calming persona. He accompanied us all the way up to the half-filled Bus that would be leaving for Masaka in about 15 or 20 minutes. We arrived home safe at around 11:30 at night. The Lord turned this intimidating journey home into something comfortable, enjoyable, and even fun. 

On Saturday and Sunday we watched General Conference. It sucked up a lot of proselyting time, but was so good. The Zone leaders were giving us a ride there on Saturday and were running a bit late, but we walked in right at the Solemn Assembly: the sustaining of the Prophet Russel M. Nelson. The spirit hit strong right at that very moment. A great way to start the session. President Nelson was dropping announcements like parade candy. Bombs right and left. I couldn't wait to see what he would do next! It was so great!

Anyway, I hope you all have a great week. I only have 1 minute and 20 seconds left, but I love you all! See ya next monday!

 Zone sports today. Craziness as always!

Week 27

Little Ditty about Jackie and Diana

Our Church Building

"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments;."  ~ 1 Nephi 17:13

This week we met Jackie and Diana. They are Cousins. I could hardly hold back my laughter as they told me their

Some beautiful Flowers

names. But life goes on... Long after the thrill of laughin' is gone. If i'm being honest: I'm probably the only one who will ever find this cheezy introduction funny, but it's here anyway. So deal with it.

Anyway, Jackie had to head to town for some reason; However, Diana was able to come to church! So basically she's our best Investigator even though we have only taught her half a lesson. I don't doubt that she will progress wonderfully though. She was a bit of a miracle for us this week. Many of our investigators are just facing crazy circumstances that keep them from coming, but Diana came through!

Yesterday was Easter. We had back to back meal appointments. Sister Faith and Brother Vianni had us and the sisters over for lunch and piled our plates like six inches high. I'm not kidding! The real miracle this

The district before Easter Dinner at Sister Moureens

week was that I was able to finish the whole plate! After that, Sister Moureen fed us dinner. She set the table full of all kinds of food and we weren't able to collectively finish it. She packed it up so we could take it home. I'm honestly not sure when the last time I ate that much food was. I couldn't walk after...

It was a wonderful day. Good food. Good Friends. And to top it off we were able to contemplate the reason we celebrate Easter: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary and spreading the message of hope and peace!

Unfortunately I'm at a sketchy internet cafe today, as we are staying in Kampala for our zone conference tomorrow. As such, I don't feel safe plugging my camera into the computers here, and won't be uploading any photos this week. They don't have an SD Card slot anyways. I will send double the photos next week to make it up to you! (Maybe... we'll see how the internet is)

Anyway, I'm alive. I'm well. You'll get some pictures next week... I hope you all have a great week!

 Monkeys and Black Mamba's? Nah, I think we'll turn around...

 Pictures I found from Elder Bratsman's blog