Week 61

Closing Time - Semisonic / Snowblind - Styx

Saying goodbye to Tony, Bryan, and Leah

This week has been a wild rollercoaster, and thus deserves two songs!

Saying goodbye to Eric

Monday through wednesday we wrapped up the work in Lugazi. It was "closing time" the missionaries are being pulled out for a little bit. We said some goodbyes and cleaned the house good. A little bit emotional, but I am very excited for the opportunities ahead.

Saying goodbye to President Charles

This brings us to the snowblindness!

This has been more than your average whitewash. Lira has been without missionaries for

Homes on the road north.

around two years. We took the long way to Lira around the country as we were picked up directly from Lugazi, it saved time in the long run. We arrived in town Thursday night and received a very warm welcome from the leaders. The house was empty, but still a sight for sore eyes after a good six hour road trip. The Lira Branch President helped Elder Gilbert find a shop to buy Mattresses... a bit hard to come by at 9:00 at night. Luckily they found some. Those mattresses are about all we have besides the stuff we packed in our luggage. Our mattresses are just on the floor and we are living out of our bags until tomorrow when Brother Godfrey comes with some supplies, furniture, and appliances! I have also gotten destroyed by mosquito bites as we have no mosquito nets yet. (Thank Goodness for Anti-Malaria Medication) Good thing I always liked camping! (for you Missionaries/RM's, We don't have area books or planners yet)

Adyel Branch Building

The branch members have been a big help in teaching us how to get around Adyel, mine and Elder Tshimanga's new area. Once we recover from the snowblindness things will really be moving. We have already seen so many tender mercies here, more than I can even express in one email. I'll let it suffice by saying that people are more than prepared for the gospel here. I will share some powerful experiences and stories as the plot continues!

I am grateful for the experience I've already had serving in Adyel. It's been an amazing, faith building week. 

I'll share more next week, but I'm running out of time. It took us forever to find a working Internet Cafe. Between the lack of cafe's, and the fact that a big internet line into town was cut that proved to be difficult!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Winn

Sunset on the way to Lira

Week 60

Don't go chasing waterfalls (TLC?)

The Falls

... Or you are going to find some strange witch doctor stuff in the bush! More on that later.

First Leg of the journey-
among the sugar canes
(Out of order... should be first)

It's been a bit of a tough week for me. We've known for quite a while that missionaries will be pulled out of the Lugazi area, but it didn't hit me too hard until this week. There was one morning where I was really struggling to find the drive to keep going through it all. As I read my scriptures I found counsel that seemed directed right tome (Alma counseling his son Shiblon): "And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end... See that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness", (Alma 38:2, 12). These words really hit home and gave me the desire to keep going. I once

Signpost to Adventure

again felt the spirit of this divine work, I felt God's love for me and those I serve, and I felt the motivation to 'bridle my passions' and get to work. I am grateful for the scriptures and how they help, guide, and uplift me.

I hope you managed to enjoy my last email... I wrote a few scattered thoughts but didn't really write anything about the week. I read through it today and was confused, not a lot of flow... I think my brain was turned off. I promise I am thinking about this one.

With all that out of the way: here's the story of today's district activity. Let me get this straight... We did not plan to go hunting for Witch Doctors, that was just a strange treat (if you can call it that) and a side-affect of our waterfall chasing. I got some gorgeous pictures of the trip. It was a very nice hike despite the hot weather. As the walls of sugarcane turned into tall trees with dangling vines, the faint sound of rushing water became audible and we knew we were close to our destination. An

Up Close and Personal

even better sign of our close proximity was a sign reading "Ssezibwa Falls" which pointed to the right fork of the road we were traveling. The trees grew thicker and thicker, but soon we saw a clearing and even further out a pool of water. The mist in the air and the increasing noise said, "You're here!". As we entered the clearing a bridge fell into view, and soon we could see the falls.

It was such a wonderful sight. We were even able to explore up and around the falls, to where you could look over the drop from above. Now in the middle of all that we found some strange pots, and other relics that Elder Ojakol (the local) said looked like some ritual setups. (Like possibly the witch doctor kind).

Well, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves from here... it was a fun day. Aside from

The 'Daredevil' pic 

all that I can update you on Eric, who I wrote about finding a few weeks ago. He is still faithfully coming to church, and progressing well. He was the first one waiting to catch the taxi to stake conference this week. Hopefully without us missionaries here he will still be baptized in a couple weeks! Hopefully I can keep you posted on that! With our going to Jinja for Stake Conference we were also able to visit Elder Ojakols mom who had to have her leg amputated recently. It was great to see her in such good spirits!

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Winn

District Photo

Selfie, of course!

The road to Ssezibwa

Week 59

I Wonder - Kid Rock

Namengo, near where we live.

Sometimes in life you can't help but wonder things. 

 In case you think I'm starving,
 I know how to cook a couple things.

For example, some mornings as I pick the worms out of my shower water I wonder what I am still doing here. After three close calls in one evening- narrowly escaping death by Ugandan Taxi- I wonder how I am still alive. Each week as I cross the Nile to get to Jinja Town I wonder what it looked like when it all got turned to blood (Exodus 7), or if the effect ran all the way to it's source in Uganda. 

There are many things we may wonder. We could ponder anything varying in importance from extraneous whims to crucial life choices. Some of those unimportant questions may just remain unanswered, but for anything important there is one unfailing source of wisdom: God.

Me with Elder Tshimanga (My son, left)
and Elder Mboya (My Grandson, Right)

Recently I have really been thinking about revelation and how to better receive it. Consequentially (or not?) a big topic of our Zone Conference happened to be Revelation, which has also been a big motif in the teachings from our other church leaders. A quote that was shared stuck out to me: "[our] first and foremost duty [is] to seek the Lord until we open the path of communication from God to our own soul" -Brigham Young. I have truly felt that revelation come as I seek it.

This principle is crucial to the people we teach. The first thing we do is invite them to find out if what we share is true, then comes their conversion. When someone who has felt the spirit testify to them of the truth is asked to give up alcohol they are more often than not determined and empowered to do so. Without this witness however, it is a different story; There is rarely much commitment, at least to the Lord. 

Revelation brings confidence, as long as we are committed to live the principles we know are true. God will do his part when we act on what he has taught us. I am grateful for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, and I know that if we seek with full purpose of heart we will receive the Lord's guidance.

I hope you guys have a good week!

Love,

Elder Winn

Our District at Zone Conference

Week 58

Hello, It's me... (Adele)

Just a nice view

It just little ol' me again... writing another email. In case you forgot what this letter is popping up in your inbox each week, It's Elder Winn with yet another update on his mission.

Elder Tshimanga is still progressing well. I have really enjoyed getting to train again. It is so gratifying to be involved in such a way, getting to lead and guide a new missionary and help him be the best that he can be. 

This week we were walking on a road we travel often heading to see an investigator. Off to the side of the road

Cows are cute

there was a man sitting behind his sandal stand stitching some tire tread to a pair of shoes. When he saw us he haulered, and hailed us to come talk. He was a bit dirty, chewing some sort of herb, and all in all didn't look like much of a "golden" person to teach. This is a common occurrence, so often we tend to wave and continue on our way. This time however, we felt like we should go and talk to him. 

As we talked to him he turned out to show a lot of genuine interest. We taught him and invited him to church. To make a long story short he showed up at church on Sunday only to find a good friend of his is a member of our branch. He has been learning very well.

I know that as we are sensitive to the spirit we can be guided in whatever circumstances big or small. I love you guys! Have an amazing week!

Love,

Elder Winn

A street performer we caught a glimpse of near the church.

Week 57

Why are there so many songs about rainbows?

My first Ugandan Rainbow!

I finally saw a rainbow! It made me want to write another song, but I guess there are plenty... It was a super weird rain shower, it was really bright outside while it rained, and resulted in the rainbow you see below.

Elder Tshimanga and I

Elder Tshimanga is progressing really well, I don't think he'll even need me soon. He has caught on and learned very fast. 

On Tuesday we had Interviews with President Collings, and on top of that we were told that he wanted to spend the evening working with Elder Tshimanga and I. False alarm, he changed his plan to coming on Thursday to work with us. There ended up being a wreck that slowed him down so it got postponed. He said he still wanted to come though, so basically President Collings could show up any day ready to work with us! If that won't make you plan well, I don't know what will! Hopefully it will happen this week.

More interesting messages at a local school...

I don't really know what else to say. I probably have some exciting stuff coming up in the next few weeks but I'll save all of that for now. I am really enjoying working with this district, we are like a family. Hopefully we will all get to stay together a while.

I love you guys! Have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Winn

 ...In case you wondered why our power is always out