Missionaries coming and going and coming and going....

Sunday we decided to go to church in Mukono. We have visited the church many times to interview the missionaries, but never attended sacrament meeting there. It was a really great experience. There was a very good spirit in the ward. Those who spoke in church did an excellent job, and we really enjoyed it. It was fun to see our missionaries there working hard, helping their investigators, and working with the members. We were very proud of them!

Elder Boakye and Elder Themuka

On Monday night President Collings and I went out and worked with the missionaries. I went with the sister missionaries. I went a little bit early, preparation day usually ends at 6:00, and then they start proselyting again. I went at about 4:00 and walked with them to the internet cafe. They emailed until 6:00 and then we went out and started working. I really enjoyed street contacting, knocking on doors, and giving lessons with them. The sisters really did a wonderful job!

Sister Mukundu and Sister Hedzro

A family they are teaching

That evening they made me a wonderful dinner, and to my surprise, they had prepared some desserts to share earlier in the day. I wanted to surprise them with banana bread, and also brought the ingredients to show them how to make "no bake" cookies. They had prepared a chocolate cake, and a banana, carrot, coconut cake. WOW, we had sweets coming out our ears!

Sister Abeo and Sister Muyengwa

I spent the night and did their morning schedule with them. We got up, exercised, and had our personal and companionship study. For the companionship study I gathered all four sisters together and talked with them about how they can have power as a missionary. They each gave their thoughts of what they can do to become powerful missionaries. Then I shared the story of Nephi in Helaman 10 in the Book of Mormon. I focused on verses 4-5 to help them understand what Nephi had done to receive this power... "thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments." It's really amazing to see the powerful gifts that were given to Nephi because of his diligence and obedience to the commandments of the Lord. We had an amazing discussion, and I think it really motivated them to work a little harder for the Lord.


President Collings went further East and worked with some of the missionaries in Iganga and Jinja. He spent Monday evening working with Elder Falaula and Elder Ankrah in Iganga, and took them out to dinner. He was able to have a wonderful spiritual discussion with them, and even teach them some concepts of leadership. Elder Ankrah was preparing to be transferred to another area as a zone leader, and it was a good opportunity to really help him understand the expectations we have as a mission for our missionaries in leadership positions.

Tuesday morning President Collings joined the Jinja district for their morning schedule. It started out with morning exercise, which is a wonderful time for President Collings to get out and run with the missionaries. It's a perfect way to see the different areas where our missionaries work all around Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. Then he joined them in personal and companionship study, which is always a perfect time to really help them feel the spirit, and motivate them to do a little better.

Elder Kirkpatrick, Elder Kagson, President Collings, Elder Budu, and Elder Millecam

Tuesday is also the beginning of our transfer week. We have missionaries coming and going for the next three days! Our first missionary to come was Sister Auma from Busia 2nd branch. She just returned from serving in the Kenya Nairobi mission, and President  Collings was able to release her as a full time missionary. She is a missionary that we sent out since we got here to Uganda. It was so good to see her again! She looks amazing, and I'm so proud of the great work she has done!

Sister Auma

Elder Taylor

Tuesday night we received Elder Taylor. He is so excited to be here and to just go to work. It was so fun to see his enthusiasm. He spent the night at the mission home along with 6 missionaries who are transferring from Rwanda to Uganda.

We have had some interesting experiences in the last few transfers with missionaries from the African countries. Some of the missionaries struggle to get their visa on time to go to the mission they were called to, so they go to the MTC, and then come back and serve in our mission while they are waiting for their visa. These "visa waiters" stay with us for a couple of weeks, up to a few months. We really enjoy having them, and are so grateful that they can spend that time in our mission. We are blessed to have them. That being said, on Wednesday morning we received a new missionary, Elder Mazaiwana, and two Ugandans who just went to the MTC 3 weeks ago, Elder Aojan, and Elder Ojakol. All three are great, and will be such an asset to this mission!

Elder Mazaiwana

Elder Aojan

Elder Ojakol

Then we have had some missionaries lately who have served in their mission for a year, and when their visa expires, the country they are serving in will not renew their visa. These missionaries are anxious to continue the work and because of this issue would have to go home, but Uganda is a very friendly and welcoming country, and they seem to be able to get visas here with no problem. So on Wednesday we also received 4 new but experienced missionaries who will finish their mission with us! This is amazing because they already fully understand missionary work. We take a small amount of time and help them understand some things that may just be specific to our mission and then they are able to jump right in and go to work.

Elder Stanley, Elder Blamoh, Elder Langai (missing Elder Pantoe)

Every one of these missionaries radiates with the Light of Christ! I'm so excited to work with our 8 new missionaries! We keep saying, we receive the BEST missionaries in the Uganda Kampala Mission!!!

Wednesday night we had two missionaries who had to report to the MTC. Elder Wailagala, and Elder Olara will spend a few weeks at the MTC in Johannesburg and then will serve a two year mission in Johannesburg and Madagascar. They have worked very hard to prepare for their missions, and we wish them well!

Elder Olara and Elder Wailagala

While all of the missionaries were coming and going to and from Uganda, we also had transfers. We had missionaries come and stay at the mission home from Rwanda and Gulu. And during transfers we had trucks and vans with missionaries from all over Uganda dropping off missionaries and picking up others to take to their new areas. I don't know how many came and left the mission home during transfers, but I had food planned for about 20 people each meal and I didn't have any leftovers! It was a great time. I love having missionaries at the mission home!

After transfers were over, we were left to say goodbye to our departing missionaries and send them on their way. I think this is the smallest group we have had go home in two years! We had one elder and one sister being released. Elder Goodrich was our very first missionary to come to this mission our first transfer. We were as new as he was. It's been so fun watching him these past two years! He has studied the scriptures and has really learned a lot while serving here. I also remember when Sister Muyengwa came. It seems like time just flies by so fast here! She has gained a strong testimony, and confidence while serving here. She served a mission the same time as her younger sister, and they both are returning home this week. We will miss Elder Goodrich and Sister Muyengwa, but we are excited to see where life takes them!

Because it was such a small group, President Collings and I took them out to a nice restaurant. There is a new Thai restaurant that just opened up. It was our first time going there and it was so nice! We practiced using chop sticks, but I think eventually we all just used forks so we could just enjoy the food! It was very good!

After the meal we returned to the mission home for a farewell testimony meeting. Elder and Sister Wittwer joined us and we were able to enjoy a wonderful meeting and just enjoy our time with the missionaries before they left for the airport. It's never easy saying goodbye. We love these missionaries so much! Can't wait to hear from them in the future!!