Mawwaige is what bwings us togeva today

Ahhh That's so awesome! So excited for those events that have been taking place! That whole day Saturday was kind of distracting. I kept looking at the temple magazine and a picture of the Salt Lake sealing room, and kept thinking, They're probably in there right now! That's good. I'm happy and looking forward to meeting everyone.

Today starts a new transfer. I am finally being taken out of Rwanda. I leave on Thurs. and it probably wont be easy. This has been my home for the last nine months and I love it and the people so much. But I'm going to a place in Uganda called Mbale. I will be reopening an area that had been closed for a bit. And I will be training. I don't know anything about who it is yet. But do you know what that means? Reopening, white-washing again, training, and all in a foreign country for the both of us. This is gonna be big. Also Elder Er, whose training I just finished is going to be training here as well. We had a good transfer. We worked hard and didn't get to see a whole lot happen this transfer but really prepared the area for this new transfer. We've met some great, prepared people.  

Besides all this, I went to church alone yesterday. Elder Em was sick, so my companion had to take him to the hospital. So I was with one of the members all day. I also gave a talk again. Just before we were walking out the door I got a call saying the person that was supposed to talk that day couldn't make it, so they asked me. Talked about prophets and it went well and I was the time-filler at the end so I had to extend to like 20 minutes. But it's becoming easier. Just wrote down a couple scripture references while I was waiting, then just spoke. 
 

Love you!

-Elder Collison

 

 August 31, 2015

 A few short things to hit on this week...

We had the monthly service day Saturday. All the three branches came together as a Mormon helping hands group and shoveled weeds out of the ditches. It was really good to see everyone from the other branches again. Also last night we went over to Mama Cecile's for dinner. I just love that woman. In this new branch we've been fed a lot! I think I'm already past the amount of dinner appointments from my last five transfers total. I'm enjoying it :)

The new missionary finally came. Elder A. Elder N is training him. The transfer is already two weeks over but he was waiting for his visa stuff. He's a good kid and super excited to work. A good addition to Rwanda.

I gave a talk again on Sunday.

So a whole white family came to church yesterday. I guess they just moved here for four years now. They came late and left early so I didn't get to talk to them much, but there's a little boy who is exactly like Gabe. At least the Gabe I know from back then. Same age, looks similar, and sounds the same too. Love you Gabey! Don't change!

As we were walking around one day last week, we ended up walking next to a little girl and felt like we needed to talk to her. Asked if she had a family and if she'd mind taking us to meet her parents. So she led us for a little bit until we came to this house we had knocked on a few days before and set up a return time which fell through. The mama we had talked to last time wasn't there but we talked to maybe a daughter and we're going back this week. But she said she had no idea who the girl was that led us there. So we asked her about that and she took us to a different home and disappeared. So we knocked and they didn't know any little girl like that either. But that other family spoke English as well and we're going to go back this week too. So we don't know who it was. Maybe just felt creeped out and was trying to ditch us, but she did guide us well I believe!

Love you all!

-Elder Collison

September 7, 2015

Well, the rainy season has begun again. Back to being super soaked all the time now. It actually feels really nice though. It gets really cool and windy.

We had a really good week. We met several awesome people and had some really powerful lessons. The Chatfields came down for Zone Conference last week. That was super great. It was mainly focused on faith. One of my favorite thing that he said about that was, "Did Moses go up to the water and say I hope the Red Sea parts? No! He commanded it!" This is the Lord's work and we need to believe that when we do our part, things will happen. It was a really great and spiritual conference and every time we have them, missionary work becomes totally different and is a lot better.

I've been washing all my clothes by hand lately. I have a washer at my new place but the problem is the power is always going out. And every p-day now we haven't had any power. But I actually kind of enjoy it and everything gets a lot cleaner.

Love,

Elder Collison