Our story of Masaka really starts when we first arrived in Uganda. Our very first Sunday, we wanted to go to Sacrament meeting in a Mission Branch. Our Senior Couple, Elder and Sister Goodwin drove us to Masaka, which was the closest mission branch. We really enjoyed our first sacrament meeting. I remember there was a baby blessing, confirmations, baptisms, and it just felt a lot like going to church at home. Here is a LINK to our first Sunday in Uganda.
Our First Sunday in Uganda
That first couple of months on our mission, President Collings and I visited all of the mission branches, and held training meetings for the Branch Presidencies and Auxiliary Leaders. We visited the Masaka Branch for this training in September of 2016. Our journey to Masaka that day was riddled with problems, and it really felt like something was trying to stop us from getting there. If you follow this LINK, you can read about our experience trying to get to Masaka on that day. We obviously made it, and it turned out to be a very special meeting. President Collings had a strong impression that there would be a Stake in Masaka one day, but on that day during the meeting he said that he felt like there would be a District there before we completed our mission. Of course everyone was very excited about this. At the time there was only one branch, but about 75 people were attending church. Also, there were only 4 missionaries serving in Masaka.
Fast forward two and a half years, and there have been two more branches created, the Kijjabweme Branch, and Nyendo Branch, along with the Masaka Branch. There are 14 missionaries in the Masaka Zone, and they are baptizing about 100 people per year. It's really incredible to see the growth in this area of our mission.
President Collings submitted the documentation requesting that a District be created, and it was quickly approved. On January 6, 2019 the Masaka Uganda District was created. The members were invited to the Conference Room of the Hotel Brovad.
Our senior missionaries, the Maughans, traveled from Kigali for the Conference. They have been so helpful in training the Auxiliary Presidencies and helping the District Presidency and Clerks in Rwanda, President Collings has asked that they divide their time between the two Districts for a while to help them get up and running. They are an amazing couple. We are so blessed to have them in our mission! And Elder Crankson, between them, was my photographer during the conference.
Fun pictures of the members arriving at the Hotel. Of course, our missionaries like to make a memorable entrance!
President Collings and I arrived at the Conference Room around 9:00, an hour before the meeting was scheduled to start, and there were already many people arriving. It was such a wonderful sight to see all the members in Masaka gather together in one meeting hall. We had 313 people in attendance at the Conference.
A choir had prepared for the meeting and sang prelude music, as well as two hymns during the meeting. They did an amazing job.
Leaders were unanimously sustained.
President Collings, Okello, and Ondoga were all in attendance. They organized the Masaka Uganda District, and sustained a new District Presidency, along with key auxiliary leaders in the District, and a new Masaka Branch President. There was a very good spirit in the meeting, and the members were excited to witness a new District being created.
Along with the changes, the speakers included: President Collings who focused on Jesus Christ. He encouraged the members to strive to be like the Savior. If you have the will of the Savior and Heavenly Father in your heart, you will not go astray. People will be drawn to this church because of the good example you set, and the light you radiate. It talks about this light in Doctrine and Covenants 50:24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
And in Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
And in Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
President Okello focused on true conversion. He gave examples of people who were truly converted
and encouraged the members to gain this unshakable testimony, or conversion. My favorite story he told was the one about Shadrach' Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. They are told if they do not worship an image that was made, that they will be thrown in a fiery furnace. In verse 17 they say that they believe their God will deliver them from this fiery furnace, but in verse 18 they say, "But if not, be it known that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image". They are so converted that it doesn't matter to them if they live or die, they will continue to do what they know is right, and worship the true God.
I spoke about service to one another, and tied it into ministering. I encouraged them to look right inside their homes, or at their neighbors or people they work with, instead of looking to places far away where there are major disasters, and to follow the spirit. It was a very uplifting day.
I spoke about service to one another, and tied it into ministering. I encouraged them to look right inside their homes, or at their neighbors or people they work with, instead of looking to places far away where there are major disasters, and to follow the spirit. It was a very uplifting day.
Picture of the Masaka Uganda District: 313 in attendance
District Presidency
President: Robert Ssekitto, center
First Councilor: Monday Kayinamula, left
Second Councilor: David Akatwijuka, right
New Masaka Branch Presidency
President: Santos Kabyemera, center
First Counselor:Charles Mabibi left
Second Counselor: Mark Muwanika, right
New Nyendo Branch Presidency
President: Vianney Ssenyonga, center
First Counselor:Yasin Kiyimba left
Second Counselor: Amiidu Kabonge, right
These are days never to be forgotten. We are so thankful that we have been able to be a part of this amazing experience. I really felt like I was witnessing a miracle as this new District was created. I know we will continue to see great growth in this area of the mission. There are amazing and wonderful people living here!
