Week 48

Thanks for the Memories

Pinapple Boda

With Sister Khumalo

First things First: I finally got a picture of your average Pineapple transporter! These guys are always rolling around town ready to sell you some pineapples. Take a look!

With that out of the way, we can continue with our previously scheduled update.

 

Despite the angsty feelings implied by this week's song title, the memories I have of Masaka are very great. I have loved serving in this Area, but my time has come to open a new chapter in Lugazi (Part of the Jinja Zone). I will be serving there, still as a District Leader, this coming transfer.

With Sister Mangwegape

This Sunday was my final one here in the Masaka Branch. Luckily enough it was the Primary Presentation. The wonderful singing of the children diluted the sadness of saying goodbye. When you spend six months in an area people tend to get attached (including me), and I have felt an especially large amount of love from the amazing members of Masaka. I may have shed a little tear as I gave my departing words in Sacrament Meeting. However, I am excited to see what's next in Lugazi.

It has been a good week. Jonothan and Jarom who I talked about in last week's email had a family emergency that pushed the Baptism to next week so unfortunately I will not be around for that. We have just been working hard progressing people, and I have started making the goodbye rounds.

I have a lot of pictures to upload so my words will be brief this week. I know this work is true and that the Gospel has power to change lives more than anything else. I love you guys!

-Elder Winn

With Elder Hardy

The District

The District

The Branch Presidency. Brother Charles left, President Sekito Right. (Brother David is Missing)

Just us boys trying to look cool. Me, Elder Denison, Elder Weight

With Faith and Vianney (members)

Week 47

The Wedding Crashers

Wedding Reception

I've decided to start using Movie Titles when appropriate. This is not just because my music knowledge is getting

We were invited to speak a bit.

diluted, but as part of a continued effort to provide a better experience for you: the reader!

This week all of us went and crashed a wedding... By invitation, of course!

It was a very interesting cultural experience. Since the wedding itself was far away in Kololo, we were just able to attend the reception. There was a lot of dancing and interesting tradition things I can't really explain. I think most of my pictures will come from that this week as I didn't really take any others.

Wedding Reception's aside, the week was pretty normal. We have been working hard to progress Jonothan and Jarom: two brothers to Sister Joviah (A recent Convert from before I got to Masaka). They are learning fast and should be ready for their Baptism Dates this next week!

When Elder Young is too hungry to wait for the actual meal...

Brother Musana Paul who we baptized a couple months ago has been sharing a lot with his friends. His testimony is strong even though his off day from work was taken away, making it impossible for him to come to church for quite a while!  (Yes, He works seven days a week... Is that even legal?). We went to visit him last week and he gave us a list of questions he wanted help answering better for his four friends. So far we have only been able to meet with one of them. 

A couple weeks ago I shared about Kaweesi Paul and his experience with the Book of Mormon. Musana had a very similar situation he overcame. He was able to bear his testimony to his friend as to how much this Gospel has changed his life. It is so gratifying to see a convert share his feelings openly with a friend. I am proud of both Paul's! Powerful testimonies!

That about wraps it up for this week. I can't think about much else to say unless you want to hear about the Derby Car that came ripping down the road and did a bunch of donuts right in front of us. That was our lunch time show on Thursday. They will do anything to show off for the white guys, haha. The real show was watching all the drunk Boda Drivers junping i excitement.

Now that's everything... I hope you have a great week. I Love You Guys!

-Elder Winn

Elder Jensen and Elder Denison

Week 46

People say we monkey around! -The Monkees

Monkey

This week was a really good week for us. We got a lot of great work done! We have had a

Glad we didn't find the drunken sailor that did this!

lot more success in the day to day work we have been doing.

On Wednesday I had an exchange with Elder Young. We had a lot of Fun and taught some good people. 

Our Book of Mormon study class was a lot better this week than it has been in the past. As a district we have been trying to make it a more powerful missionary tool. As part of that we have really been trying to motivate Members to bring friends so that they can learn more about it and feel the spirit that way. Hopefully it will be even better in the weeks to come. The Book of

I promise! I wasn't the drunken sailor!

Mormon really is the greatest converting tool as it so effectively teaches the doctrine and brings the spirit to the learner.

We have been struggling to get people to come to church on Sundays. This week however, we were very pleased to see Jonothan there. He is the brother to a recent convert sister named Joviah. He is learning very quickly, and should be baptised on the 25th if all goes well. He's a pretty solid investigator!

Today for our activity we went to Namugabo Beach as a zone. We messed around around with some monkeys. (not just our fellow missionaries... like, real monkeys!) It was pretty fun!

I can't think of a lot more to say. Things are going great, and I am loving the work here in Masaka! I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Winn

Seascape

Week 45

Hello darkness my old friend (Simon and Garfunkel)

Kids eating at the Historical Celebration. 7 years since the church came to Masaka!

The power has been pretty unpredictable this week (Especially during the most inconvenient night time). We have

Elder Hardy

spent a few good candle-lit nights this week. The worst power struggle was Saturday Night it went out and didn't come back until about 4:00 Sunday Afternoon. I couldn't even Iron my shirt for church! 

Elder Weight was pretty sick on Friday so we had to stay home. Hopefully he's defeated whatever germ has been inside him once and for all. I am still holding strong! (Thanks mom and dad for the good immune system; I haven't had to take a sick day for myself yet!)

Despite all the darkness both literal and figurative, this week was full of quite a bit of light. We were able to Baptize Brother Paul on Saturday. Paul is the Brother to a wonderful member named George Ssentalo who is always so kind to help us out. One

Just George and Paul.
(I promise they actually smile a lot when
 their picture isn't being taken!)

night we had an appointment drop so we stopped by to see George. That's when we met Paul who had just moved in next to his brother after being in the village for quite some time. He had many obstacles standing in his path towards baptism including alcoholism and a smoking addiction; However, his time finally came to where he could be baptized by his brother George. It was a beautiful day. He later testified of the power he found through the Book of Mormon to change his life and overcome his addictions. 

I know that this work is true. It makes me so grateful to be involved when I see such changes in the lives of people like Paul who are just waiting to hear the gospel and come unto Christ. I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Winn

Us with Brother George (Left Middle) and Brother Paul (Right Middle)