The First of Many "Lasts"

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. 

More Missionary Experiences

While in Ethiopia, we went to Portuguese Bridge for preparation day with the missionaries. I didn't do a lot of research, so I'll just say it was built in the 1600's and it is beautiful! It's about a two hour drive outside of Addis Ababa. I think the local people cross it all the time, but they charge the tourists to cross it. During the rainy season the amount of water that crosses under the bridge is incredible! Apparently, some of these missionaries came during the dry season, and they were able to jump across the river on the boulders. That would not be possible with the river we saw while we were there.

Elders Schuler, Munsey, Cooper, VanDerzee, Chandler, Trippe, and Adu-Mensah

The night before going to Portuguese Bridge, President Collings had an experience where he couldn't get a thought out of his head. There was a woman in the branch who he felt we needed to visit, or minister to. The impression was so strong that he felt like we shouldn't wait. We went right after our activity in our preparation day clothes, with the missionaries who are serving in that branch, and visited with her and her children. Her husband was still at work. It was a wonderful visit, and we really felt like we strengthened her. She even said that she knew God had sent us to her that day. President Collings has learned that when you receive a prompting, it's important to act on it. There's no harm in doing good.

We ended our visit to Ethiopia with a zone conference. I got pictures of the zone leaders who were training, but forgot to take a zone picture. The pictures from preparation day will have to do this time.

Elder Trippe

Elder Schuler

The next adventure took us to Gulu! We have had Phillips, work at the mission home for over two years. He has worked for previous mission presidents as well (I believe for about 10 years). After we moved to  the new mission home, he waited until we were settled in and then decided to move back to the village to be with his wife and some of his children. They live about 4 hours outside of Kampala. We knew he lives somewhere on the way to Gulu, so we arranged to stop and say hi on our journey. It turned out that Phillips was not there, but we were able to meet his wife Evelyn, his kids, and some extended family. It was so nice. Evelyn gave us some ground nuts (peanuts) and pumpkin that she had grown herself in her garden. It was so thoughtful of them. We had such a good experience with their family. We feel blessed to know such wonderful people.

Once we got to Gulu, we had zone conference with the Gulu zone, and afterwards planned to have a fireside with the two branches combined. The zone is very strong, and we really enjoyed our meeting with them.

The branches all met together in the Gulu Branch and President Collings talked to them and trained them on ministering. It was a pretty good turn out, about 50 people from both branches came. We provided chapatis and sodas for everyone after it was over.

On Sunday President Collings had a lot of interviews to do, so we went to the Gulu Branch for sacrament meeting, then he did interviews during Sunday school time for those who needed them, then we had a joint priesthood and relief society meeting in the Bardege Branch. After church he met with those who needed an interview from the Bardege Branch. I just kept noticing all the cute babies in both of the branches!! There's nothing cuter than babies!!

These babies are twins!!

I love seeing these beautiful families!

We met President Okeny's mother at church. It was fun to meet her! She is very proud of her son, who is the Branch President.

On Monday for preparation day, President Collings let the missionaries go to the game park. They were able to take pictures of a lot of the wild animals, including giraffes, spring bok, cape buffalo, and wart hogs, etc. Then we played a few games of volleyball together and had lunch before President Collings and I had to leave.

 View of the Nile at sunset

Elders Payne, Ankrah, Klu, Laryea-Akrong, Godfrey, Newman, Harris, and Kabemba 

with President and Sister Collings

This police officer was watching us until I asked him to take my place so I could take pictures. 

We have had Akao Jackline work in the mission home helping me with house keeping and cooking for the missionaries. She has been with us for over two years, and with the previous mission president and wife since 2013. Through the past couple of years, she has been preparing to go on a mission. She has worked so hard, and is always helping our sister missionaries in her ward. Well, the day finally arrived, and she received her mission call! We are all so excited for her. She will be such a great missionary! She was called to Zimbabwe Bulawayo Mission, and her mission president will be President Jimmy Okot, who was her stake president before he was called as a mission president. It was so much fun to be there as she opened her call!

It's transfer time again! Which means we say goodbye to  the missionaries we have grown to love so much. We had three that left this transfer. Sister Abeo, Elder Boakye, and Sister Manqele. All three of them have been great missionaries. We have watched them go through trials and struggles, and we have seen them grow and become incredible teachers. They will be such a strength to the church when they go home, but they will surely be missed!

Final picture together. 

On the way to the airport

Farewell dinner at Thai Gardens in Entebbe

And while we were at the airport, we picked up our new missionaries. We have three coming in as well, but it is two Elders and one Sister. We are looking forward to getting to know them better, but really feel like they will be a strong addition to our mission.

Elder Ebondo, Sister Ntlhane, and Elder Bukasa

Welcome to the Uganda Kampala Mission!!!

Last but not least, this was a very exciting transfer. We have had such a struggle getting missionaries into Ethiopia! Several months ago we sent a new group of elders, and after 3 weeks they had to return to Uganda. The government changed the documents that needed to be authenticated, and we did not have the correct documents for any of our missionaries. We were able to keep the missionaries there who already had a work permit, but we could not bring any more in. This has been an issue we have been working to take care of for several months. And finally, this transfer we were able to send in 8 new missionaries! Making it a total of 12 serving in Ethiopia. There have been many people who have worked many hours to get us to this point, and we are so grateful for all they have done. The missionaries in Ethiopia are excited to be there, and are ready to go to work!

Elders Denison, Johnson, Trippe, Chandler, Brewer, Jensen, Arnett, Smith, Gagon, Kramer, and Cooper with Elder and Sister VanDerzee

It's a great day in the UKM!!!