Week 77- Iganga, Uganda with Elder Bukasa

Wow it’s been a lot of change lately. After being emergency transferred out of the area, we had to move across the country staying with different missionaries while President figured out where to put all 11 of us. I am now in Iganga, Uganda training a new missionary Elder Bukasa. He is really cool, and I like him a lot. One of the hardest things was I had to leave a lot of my food-including the turkey I just bought. The shower here is rough and my area is hot and dusty. We are still looking for places to buy food and get things figured out. We met with the members; this area has not had missionaries for a long time. Overall this week was just fine. On Tuesday we worked really hard and found 8 new people to teach just on that day. and I taught maybe my favorite lesson of my mission that day. We taught this 18-year-old kid named Wasswa who has grown up a Muslim. He wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ, so the entire lesson was just focused on the Savior and it felt so good to be able to share what I know to be true about our Redeemer. That was the highlight of Tuesday. Wednesday, we went back and taught Wasswa more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wants to be baptized but I don't know if we will be able to baptize him because of his Muslim family. They're super hard on people who convert, at a the very least he would be disowned and abandoned. We found some more new people to teach that day. All of our lessons were really spiritual and meaningful. That night walking home a drunk boda guy smashed into a cow right in front of us. Kind of wild. We had a really good week of finding, we taught 18 new people. (sadly, only one came to church, Wasswa.) Saturday, I spent most of the day working on my companion police report, so he doesn't get deported back to Congo. His English is improving big time. I forgot how weird it is to be with a new missionary. It's funny to see other people adjust to such a crazy country.
Some other fun things we did this week, we set up a basketball hoop in our living room and have been playing dunk ball at night. You'll be super proud knowing my team is currently undefeated. This week I have been studying the first few chapters in Alma. I've been thinking a lot about how trials help us grow, but to maximize our growth we have to handle the trials correctly. I'm working on that. Also, my testimony that happiness is found when our lives are built on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ seems to grow every time, I read the book of Mormon. I think my mission has really changed how I look at a lot of things and what kind of person I am going to be. I know that at home many youth feel pressured to go on a mission, care about what others think if they don’t go or think they have to go because their parents expect them to go. I think a little pressure can help push them in the right direction-but more importantly I think the youth need to know that parents and Heavenly Father ONLY want them to serve because its what is best for them. It is motivated by love and a testimony that serving will bless them. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve a mission. 

Week 75 Masaka, Uganda

We won’t be hearing from Elder Payne this week. He is one of the 11 missionaries being emergency transferred out of Masaka. He briefly let us know he is fine and heading to the mission home for now. This is the letter we received from President Collings.  Please pray for him and all the missionaries in Uganda.

Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders,

You are receiving this letter because you have a missionary serving in the Uganda Kampala Mission.  We have received news that the Ebola Virus which has been active in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has possibly crossed the border into Uganda. We have been watching this situation closely for the past several months and our missionaries have been completely safe.

The news we received today was that there have been 4 deaths in Masaka. It has not been confirmed that these deaths were actually Ebola, but we are being extremely cautious, and don’t want to risk exposure of any of our missionaries to the disease. 

The 11 missionaries serving in Masaka Town are being transferred as we speak. They will move to Kampala until we are sure there is no risk for them. These and all other missionaries are receiving training on how to keep themselves safe and how to recognize signs and symptoms of Ebola in people around them. They are being told to contact us immediately if they show any signs of illness. 

Please know that we love and care for each of our missionaries and are doing everything in our power to keep them safe. We don’t want this to alarm anyone, but feel that knowledge can bring great comfort. If you are a priesthood leader, please contact the family members of your missionary and make sure they are aware of the situation in the Uganda Kampala Mission. 

We will continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated as appropriate.

Sincerely,

President Collings

Uganda Kampala Mission

Week 74, Masaka, Uganda with Elder Ahome'e

 
Awe man-I love President Collings and Sister Collings. I really look up to them. Sister Collings has a powerful and amazing testimony. I love the spirit that comes when she speaks. We went into Kampala for our last zone conference and interview with the Collings. Our new president will be here July 1st. I even sang in the choir for them...cringe. I got to stay with Elder Hall and Ankrah while we were in Kampala.  Both APs now and both former companions- Love em both. That was fun.
The rest of the week we taught a lot of lessons. We had a baptism for Assie scheduled on Sunday-but she didn't show up. She is the lady that had the asthma attack in church. we need to go find out what happened. Brother Wasswa is amazing-he's so old, he forgot how old he is. But he comes to church every week and blesses or passes the sacrament. He sews for a living on a pedal machine. He also had us come teach his friends and bring them some church literature. He is a good gospel teacher himself. Anyway he gave the closing prayer on Sunday and it was rather entertaining. It was a 10 minute biology lesson prayer.  So humble and thankful for Gods creations. He thanked Heavenly Father for being a scientist, for the beautiful plant, chlorophyll, oxygen, human, carbon dioxide cycle. He is only 5'1", speaks loud, doesn't close his eyes while praying but means every word of his prayer with love and gratitude and a whole lot of biology. He was even thankful that we could gather oxygen to go to space or the bottom of the ocean...
I love the kids here, they love to tease and play. They yell our names until we come talk to them or play with them. The play a game where a child stacks cups as fast as they can and another child throws a sock tied in a knot and filled with dirt at the cups trying to knock them down faster then the other kid stacking. I love playing that game with them. I took cover your assets over to Annettes's house and played it with their family. It was soooo funny-they kept calling their mom a "moobie" which means thief.  When you really get to know the people here and become their friends you come to genuinely love and care for them. It makes me think about their specific needs in the gospel and is what truly makes missionary work joyful! Love you all- Elder Payne 

Week 73-Masaka, Uganda with Elder Ahome'e