October 23rd 2012

Hey there everyone!!!! It's ME!!! haha

So another transfer has come and gone. This weekend through today

(Tuesday) we are dealing with the transfers of missionaries all around

the mission. Right now I am in Kampala doing some stuff at the mission

office and I was able to find a few minutes to email my favorite

friends and family. ;D

Not much with regard to transfer news, I'm going to be staying in

Mbale another transfer and bringing another companion in. I have not

had much luck at keeping companions, they seem to stick 6 weeks then

bounce...oh well. haha My new companion is called Elder Ngqoyiya, try

and pronounce that one first off...haha It is obviously a South

African name with the fun tongue click at the beginning.

(clickNOY-EE-UH) the click is on the "N" consonant. It is fun to

finally have someone with a really interesting African name!!!! haha

He is awesome and I was actually in the Busia district with him from

October to December of last year, so it has been a good reunion. We

are really looking forward to helping out Busia reach their highest

potential. Elder Stewart (another former companion) is the District

Leader there and I'm really looking forward to having him there to

keep things moving.

As far as the missionary work is concerned, we are working with a

really great family which Elder Barton (senior couple) found for us.

They are really great and we are hoping that they will progress in the

very near future to baptism and experience the blessings which come

from membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!!

I have such a strong testimony of this gospel. Jesus Christ the Son of

God DID come to the earth, He DID call 12 Apostles and He DID organize

His church. His church HAS been restored to the earth and is here as

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For those who don't

know this truth for themselves YET please take the time to check out

www.mormon.org or www.lds.org you will find many things which are of

eternal importance to you there. I know why I am out here in Uganda.

It is not easy, but it is worth it!!! Yesterday we sent home quite a

few missionaries (honorably of course...haha) and they all wished that

they could stay longer. Missionary work brings such great blessings to

the lives of Elders, Sisters and their families. I am so happy to hear

about the recent influx of missionary applications. KEEP THEM

COMING!!!!!

Love you guys, have a safe week and I'll talk to you next Monday!!!!

-Elder Winters

October 8th 2012

Hey there Family and Friends!!!! Another week has gone by, and another week has begun!!!

I just wanted to say hi from here in Mbale and share a few thoughts with you today...

Obviously, the first thing on everyone's mind right now is the General Conference which has just finished this past weekend.
I'm still blown away by the new revelation received by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve concerning missionary work. I just wanted to say something about that...when a new "church policy" comes out…. I have come to realize and have a testimony that God truly does "...reveal [everything] unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) This new policy regarding the age of missionary service is a REVELATION FROM GOD!!! I testify to you that it is, and every other announcement made over the pulpit (as well as the words spoken in the many talks) ARE for a fact directly from God!!! President Thomas S. Monson is God's called and ordained prophet on the earth. We have 12 LIVING Apostles who act as special witnesses of Christ. God lives and loves each and every one of us, that is why He has restored his church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the earth. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." All of us must understand the importance of the Gospel and the Church in our lives. My District Leader mentioned this in one of the past District Development Meetings.

The Gospel is: The principles which we must follow and ordinances to obtain in order to receive eternal life.
The Church is: The vehicle which God uses to help us learn and obtain the ordinances of the Gospel.

I testify that God's priesthood, His power and authority is on the earth. It is used only for the betterment of man and the moving forward of God's work. We must seek to gain a testimony of this fact, for that is why we are here, to prepare to meet God.

I love you guys, and miss you bunches!!!!

-Elder Winters



The Garden of Eden, aka, Sipi Falls!