Now that we are in the final year of our mission, we are experiencing some "lasts". This week was one of those lasts. Once each year we have a member of the Area Presidency come and visit our mission for a mission tour. We travel with them to all the different areas and we have a zone conference with all of our missionaries. Previous years they came in November, but this year it was in September. So for a three year mission, we had our third mission tour. It did not disappoint! We had Elder Joni L. Koch and his wife, Michelle, come and spend the week traveling with us.
We met them in Rwanda. They came early enough that we were able to attend church together. We attended at the K-1/ K-3 building and enjoyed testimony meeting, followed by a combined class that was taught by Elder Koch. What a great opportunity to be taught by a General Authority! I know the members were very happy and uplifted as they were taught by him. He then met with the District Presidency of the Kigali Rwanda District.
Zone Conference was held at the senior couples house and lunch was prepared for us by Sister Opar, the District Relief Society President. She did such a great job! There was plenty of yummy food, and we were able to quickly enjoy it and then go back to our meeting. We really enjoyed the local Rwandan food.
The training in each zone conference by Elder Koch was focused on finding those who are ready, and teaching the Doctrines of Christ, with an emphasis on teaching Repentance. He compared a mission to a car, with our final destination of having JOY. We talked about points along the journey. I really learned a lot form his teaching.
Sister Koch taught about obedience, and compared us to sheep who follow, shepherds who lead, and wolves who can be a bad example to others. She said we could choose to be any of the three. The missionaries were told to guess what she was drawing on the board. During one conference they guessed that the sheep was a bunny. At another conference they guessed that the wolf was a crocodile. It was funny. English is a second language for both of them, but they really taught with power. The missionaries really loved it, and really gained a lot from it.
President Collings and I taught about doing companionship study, and did a role play so they could see some things we were hoping they could accomplish, and even receive their own inspiration on what to do. We ended the meeting with a question and answer session. The missionaries were free to ask all four of us any questions they wanted. Each zone was very appropriate in the amazing questions they asked, and were really able to be taught. I was so proud of them all.
Rwanda Zone
Because we no longer have a senior couple in Rwanda, the Zone Leaders and Office Missionaries taxied us to church, the meetings, and even to the airport. They really helped us to accomplish all we needed to in Rwanda, and we felt blessed to spend the time with all of our missionaries in this area.
Our next zone conference was in Jinja. We combined the Jinja and East Zones, which includes all the Jinja Stake Wards and Branches as well as Mbale and Busia Branches. The missionaries were all very prepared to be taught, and to share what they had learned from the reading they had done to prepare for the meeting. We were so impressed with how well they were dressed, and their reverence before the meeting even started. Because they were so prepared, the Spirit was felt, and the missionaries received inspiration for their own specific areas.
The lunch was prepared by Sister Mbiro. Again, it was wonderful and all the missionaries were filled. It was a very special day.
Jinja and East Zones
The following day was our largest conference. We had a combined meeting with Kampala North, Kampala South, Gulu, and Masaka Zones. This included all of the missionaries serving in the North and South Stakes with all the wards and branches included, as well as two branches in Gulu and two branches in Masaka. The missionaries all came into the Kololo Chapel. As we pulled into the parking lot with Elder and Sister Koch, every one of the missionaries were lined up to greet them. The line went from outside of the church all the way down a breezeway and into the chapel. The missionaries were so respectful and reverent. It gave us a good feeling even before we sat down. We had been concerned that they wouldn't gain quite so much out of the meeting because of the high number of missionaries, but the feeling was really wonderful, and we were all edified.
Lunch in Kampala was provided by Sister Christine. There was a lot to eat, which always makes the missionaries so happy. Sister Koch really enjoyed the chapatti that was served in the first three zone conferences, and even asked if they would show her how to make it!
At each zone conference, Elder Koch interviewed a few of the missionaries individually. It was a really neat experience for the missionaries who were asked to meet with him.
Kampala North, Kampala South, Gulu, and Masaka Zones
After the meeting in Kampala, we quickly left for the airport, and traveled to Ethiopia for our final zone conference. One week before this meeting, we sent a brand new batch of missionaries to serve in Ethiopia. It was so nice to see a zone of 14 missionaries when we arrived! They were all dressed in suits, and again, very prepared to receive Elder and Sister Koch. As I walked in the room, I got tears in my eyes. Throughout this mission tour, I have been so impressed with these good young men and women! It just makes my heart swell with joy!
The senior couple worked it out that the branch president's wife would make lunch for us. I love that at each zone conference we were able to eat local food. This was the Koch's first time in Ethiopia and Rwanda, and Sister Koch's first time in Uganda. I really felt like they were able to experience the local food in each of the three countries. This Ethiopian food was wonderful!
Ethiopia Zone
Now our final mission tour is over. We enjoyed our time spent with Elder and Sister Koch so much! They were serving as a mission president and companion 14 months ago in Mozambique, which is in the Southeast Africa Area. We had met them at the Mission President Seminars and had gotten to know them a bit. Then he was released after serving as a Mission President for two years, and was called as a General Authority to serve in the Southeast Africa Area Presidency. Because of having some of these experiences together before the mission tour, it felt like we were spending time with friends. They were so kind and positive, they really helped us feel at ease.
These experiences with our missionaries and time spent with good people are times we will never forget.
