Week 82- Iganga, Uganda with Elder Bukasa

This week marked the end of another transfer. Although I'm staying in Iganga with elder Bukasa it's starting to feel real. I'm getting close to home.
As far as missionary work goes, I don't think my week could've been any better. We are really focused on teaching the people who we are preparing for baptism and we didn't do much finding this week. Somehow, we still ended up teaching 10 new people -which itself is super amazing in this area. It's kind of funny, one of our challenges now is making time for everyone we want to teach, definitely a challenge missionaries in Iganga don't usually face. Today we baptized Shalom, Joana, Patricia, and Wasswa. The first three are sisters and have a super fun family and great testimonies. We had to see them every day to make sure they were totally ready and committed. Now that they're comfortable with us they shared some pretty sad stuff about their lives. Some of the things they went through growing up has helped them to have faith in God. It's stuff that I can't even relate to, they talked about how at one point when Shalom (the oldest sister) was 14, her parents left, and she had to take care of her four other sisters for 4 years. She didn't have a real job so every day she would fetch water until she made 500 shillings (15 cents in our money) and then she would buy cassava (it's like a big potato that's really chalky and hard to eat plain) and water for her and her sisters to eat. It really made me hurt for them, and it made me really appreciate the life we have. No matter how hard we think we have it someone always has it worse, the Savior having it worst of all. Even now they're not financially in a great position, although it is a ton better, but regardless of that they're always happy because they've got each other. 
We did something fun on Saturday while our investigators did the baptismal interviews, we played a game like dodgeball combined with monkey in the middle. The whole family played while they took turns being interviewed. It was super fun, and I obviously was super good at it.
Another really cool thing happened this week. I contacted a deaf guy a couple weeks ago, and last Sunday he randomly came to church. We met him and his other deaf friend on Saturday and had one of the coolest lessons of my whole mission. I'm now learning sign language! The lesson was a combination of us showing them where to read in the introduction to the book of Mormon, texting our testimony on our phone, and signing in the little that they taught us. But it was amazing, they understood very well, and they communicate better than some of the people who can speak. We were feeling really blessed as we walked out of the lesson my companion was yelling "God is great" in French the rest of the day, and I was super happy from it. The best part was today, Sunday, they came to church and brought another two friends, also deaf, with them. I sat by them and texted most of sacrament meeting so that they could translate it into sign and understand. Turns out we happened to have 4 girls from Utah show up randomly today. They are here for some medical project from BYU and two of them knew sign.  So, they signed the lessons and the whole baptismal service for them and then taught me a good amount so I can communicate better with them. It was kind of a little miracle. 
Today Bukasa and I had 15 investigators come to church. Don't think I've had that happen my entire mission. It was amazing. We also baptized four people today, so our Sunday was really good. There's lots of hard things about this area but when people come through and start to live the gospel it's all worth it. I finally feel like I'm figuring out how to be a missionary. My testimony of the gospel is growing, as is my testimony of the love and mercy God has for his children. This is the sweet part of missionary work that Ammon talks about, when the joy that you feel is overwhelming and consuming. I sure love the gospel and the Savior and am grateful for the plan of salvation and the atonement that allows us to return to live with Heavenly Father as families. Count your blessings!  Love Elder Payne

Week 80-Iganga, Uganda with Elder Bukasa

Our week was really busy. We had a lot of people who came to church last week and we've been working really hard on finding people so this week we narrowed down our focus on those who are prepared for the gospel and are serious. Tuesday, we went and taught some of the people who came to church and realized that they still believe in the law of Moses. They don't understand that it was done away with in Christ. So, they don't actually live the law of Moses themselves but because we don't "live the law of Moses" in our church I guess it was a deal breaker for them. The explanation was over their heads. Kind of weird that they believe Jesus Christ was the Savior and they still think they live the law of Moses. I tried to explain that the law of Moses meant if they broke the Sabbath they'd be put to death and they said they understood. Then I asked them if that meant they would need to be put to death if they didn't come this Sunday… they said yes if that's the law of Moses.... They also didn't come... We won't be teaching them next week... I won't say if it's because they were put to death or if it's because I dropped them....
 This week we had an awesome experience with this sister we are teaching. We invited her to pray about the church and the things we are teaching her. She had a special dream where someone in white robes confirmed what we were teaching her and told her she needed to be baptized. She and her three sisters came to church on Sunday and are now preparing to be baptized. Iron Man is not progressing, and we will not be teaching him again. Shocker. We're feeling super blessed right now as this is a tough area, but we feel very successful. I'm loving the book of Mormon more and more all the time and my testimony of the truthfulness of that record continues to grow. I've been reading a lot in Alma about pride and have really focused on developing humility. I know that probably made you giggle and go ya right. love you momma! 

Week 79- Iganga, Uganda with Elder Bukasa

  

We have been very successful at finding people to teach in Iganga. We had 6 investigators come to church this week-although it was definitely not the best fast and testimony meeting. There are some growing pains in the church here and we had a drunkard do a comedy routine instead of a testimony. I had to explain to our visitors that this was not the normal feeling in church. Hopefully they will come back. I talked to the bishop and explained that he needed to kindly intervene and stop it from happening again. Luckily we had 2 other testimonies that were great and powerful. This week we were able to teach Ironman again and his daughter. Although I don't think Ironman is serious about the lessons. He is fun to visit and workout with but  his daughter is very interested in the church.
President and Sister Collings have officially been released. I really look up to them and enjoyed serving with them. I had my 1st interview with our new mission president.  And our first zone conference. It was wonderful! We had such good discussion about being better missionaries.  He talked alot about how the Lord can make our weaknesses become strengths. There was a strong spirit and new energy. Sister Chatora is bold and powerful as well. I really enjoyed visiting with her -plus I love to listen to Zimbabweans speak-they have a super cool accent.They also seem very aware of the hardships and conditions we experience as missionaries in Africa. President Chatora feels it is important to be feed temporally so we have the energy and strength to work hard and be great missionaries. I love working with Elder Bukasa. He is a rockstar teacher, hard working with a powerful testimony. Plus he is fun and a roman-greco wrestler from the DRC. His English is coming along well. One thing that has been difficult in this area is buying chicken. so far I have to travel to Jina to buy it. Which became a problem this week as taxi drivers went on strike. Thankfully a member was going and said he would buy it for me. I am adjusting well to the new area and enjoying missionary work!




  

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