Our story of Busia is one that we will always remember. At the beginning of our mission we toured all of the mission branches. Busia was quite far, and it took us longer to get there than any of the other branches. We made it there in August 2016. At the time it was struggling with only about 25-30 people attending sacrament meeting. We met with the Branch Presidency and Auxiliary leaders, and tried to motivate them and see where the struggles were. There were 4 missionaries serving in Busia at the time, and from what we could tell they were having success in baptizing, but retention was a problem. At the meeting we talked about how members needed to be loving and friendly as people would come to church. They needed to welcome them and help them feel the love that the Savior would have for them. The Branch leadership made a decision to reach out to people who had stopped coming to church, and invite them back. They even apologized to those who might have been offended. The very next Sunday, attendance at sacrament meeting jumped from 35 to 75. There was a renewed excitement for missionary work, and we have seen continual progression from that time forward.
Branch Council Meeting: August 2016
Busia sits right on the border of Kenya. In fact, there are branches of the church in both Busia Uganda and Busia Kenya, it is only about a 10 minute drive between the two branches. President Collings talked with the mission president in Kenya, President Msane, and they discussed the benefits of moving the boundaries of the mission to include both branches in the same mission. They put in a proposal to the Area Presidency, and it was decided that in October 2017, Busia Kenya would be incorporated into the Uganda Kampala Mission.
Then in March of 2018, we went on a Saturday for Priesthood and Auxiliary Training for both branches. There was an excitement in the air as President Collings also had come to divide the Busia Uganda Branch, making 3 Branches in the Busia area.
Women's Auxiliary Training: March 2018
Priesthood Training: March 2018
Now fast forward to January 12, 2019. President Collings received authorization to create the Busia Uganda-Kenya District. We have been working to get a building for Busia 3rd Branch, which would also house the District Offices. The Facility Managers have found a plot, and will probably be building a chapel. In the mean time, we will be holding church in a tent on the property. The property is very close to the border of Kenya, and centrally located between all three branches.
District Conference was the first meeting held at the property where the church will be built. It was so fun to see so many people come to the meeting!
There are now 8 missionaries serving in Busia.
This choir along with a primary children's choir both did an amazing job.
During the conference, the new District Presidency was unanimously sustained, and there was a great
feeling of excitement. Testimonies were given by President Wafula, his wife, President Ojiambo, President Imende, as well as a few members who were called out of the audience, including Elder Dlamini from Swaziland, who will be going home in just a few short weeks.
President Collings spoke to the people in attendance about their example. He said that others will see their example and will be drawn to this church because of the light they radiate. He encouraged them to be a shining example of what the Savior would do. To sustain and support others, including fellow members, leaders, and those who are not of our faith.
President Ondoga spoke about what it means to be converted. It means to change our nature, a spiritual rebirth, or a change of heart. He said everyone must be converted to live with God again. It doesn't happen over night, but is a process which requires us to do a righteous effort, including faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ, regularly partaking of the sacrament, repentance, receiving the ordinances through proper priesthood authority, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He showed examples of people in the Book of Mormon who were converted.
President Collings and I stood together at the end and talked about them about doing the small and simple things. Reading the Book of Mormon, family and personal prayer, faithfully attending sacrament meeting. Then we bore testimony of Jesus Christ and promised blessings if the people would remain faithful. The overall feeling of the meeting was really good.
Busia Uganda-Kenya District Creation: 317 people attended
District Presidency with the Mission Presidency
New District Presidency
President: David M Wafula, center
First Counselor: Emmanuel K Ojiambo, left
Second Counselor: Boaz A Imende, right
We also have new branch presidencies in two of the branches, however, I failed to get pictures.
Busia 1
Branch President: Francis M Kazomwa
First Counselor: Patrick Munuhe
Second Counselor: John Ondunga
Busia 2 (Pending)
Busia 3
Branch President: Stephen K Sande
First Counselor: Stephen Sanya
Creating two Districts in two weeks has been such an amazing experience. There is still a lot of work to do, but it's so exciting to see the growth in this mission.
A couple of weeks ago, President Collings was contacted by the Southeast Africa Area President, and the Africa West Area President. They were concerned about a young couple and asked President Collings to see what he could do to help them.
They are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and are both return missionaries. After their mission, they got married and were trying to start their life together. Fighting broke out in the area where they were living and they were forced to flee for their own safety. They are now living in a refugee camp in Western Uganda. It is very far from any of our branches, and the young man, Innocent, suffers from Epilepsy. They are struggling to find him proper medical care in either of the countries they have lived in. Life in the refugee camp is not easy.
President Collings spoke with them many times on the phone, and tried to see how he could best meet their needs. Then he traveled to the refugee camp to visit with them and bring them some supplies.
Traveling through the camp
He struggled to find any good roads to take him there on his GPS, and what he thought would be just a couple of hours driving, turned into about 8 hours. He finally made it to the camp. The problem then was actually finding Innocent. When President Collings would speak with him on the phone, he used one of our missionaries to help translate, because Innocent mostly speaks French. While looking for him at the camp, he couldn't find anyone to translate, and struggled to communicate where exactly to find him. He finally was able to communicate with a boda-boda driver, and found out that he would not be able to drive his vehicle into the camp. He also found out that if he tried to walk to the area where they stayed, it would take a couple of hours. So, he ended up getting a ride on the back of the boda-boda (morotcycle). The ride was about 20 minutes to the home of Innocent and his wife.
A very special afternoon spent together
The experience was so sweet. They were thrilled to meet him, and spend time with him. President Collings brought them some church supplies from Distribution Center, and helped them understand how they can worship, and even have sacrament meeting in their home. He brought them some temple garments, which they said they hadn't been able to get for about two years. He was able to truly minister to them.
Innocent and his wife in front of their home.
We still don't have answers for them about his medical condition, but he felt like he was able to lift their burdens just by letting them know that people care about them, and are praying for them. We keep in touch with them still, and are able to send fun notes, and uplifting comments. We are praying they will be able to get somewhere where he can get the medical attention he needs, but they are so positive and faithful, it's truly inspiring.
We had Mission Leadership Council this week. Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders from all over the mission came to be trained at the mission home. The Mission Leadership is an ever changing entity. We have quite a few new leaders this transfer, and it has really been fun to see them step into their leadership roles. They all came early enough that President Collings did a special training before the actual meeting started. It really brought a great spirit to the group, and I believe made the Council meeting even better.
It's really amazing how this mission is constantly changing. Missionaries come and go, but there are always capable missionaries who are able to step up and take on those leadership roles. It's a great training ground for future leadership, whether in the church, employment, or any other life experience. I love watching the mission leaders as they train each other, and continue to grow in their knowledge of the gospel. Missionary work is the BEST!
