I came on my mission expecting to change others and found that it is changing me

What can I say? This kid continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Every week he seems happier and happier. It just shows in his face. There isn't much that brings me more joy than to hear his words of gratitude at the end of his letter. He wakes up every morning grateful to be there. I wake up every morning grateful for him!

Hello everyone! 

It has been a great week for me and even a great transfer! The week has been full of good things. I am just enjoying every day so much right now. It is crazy how I am just engulfed in the work and culture! Everything seems so normal now. I am really getting lost in the work here in Ntinda and my companion and I are seeing the fruits of our labors!  All around Ntinda is the best! I love it. 

This week we had some very powerful moments that really showed the Lord's hand in our work. We got to see Odongo Sam get confirmed in sacrament and then bear the most POWERFUL testimony ever! Man, he will be an amazing addition to this ward. On Sunday we also got to see Ntinda go from a Branch to a Ward and have a new Bishopric called! That was a heart touching thing to see the church growing here! It's the best!

Our week started off somehow slow. Not many lessons were being taught a day and we were really having a hard time finding new people to teach. Our mission has a weekly standard of excellence we like to work for: 7 new investigators 4 lessons a day (28 for a week) and 3 investigators at church. It can be difficult to reach and I have actually never reached it.... until this week! On Saturday morning we woke up with 0 new investigators for the week and far too little lessons too. So we got permission to head out early after studies and work for our goal. Both my companion and I had unshakable faith that if we were obedient and hard working that the Lord would put people in our path. Sure enough, after the hardest day of my mission, we finished with 10 lessons taught and 9 new investigators for the day! We surpassed our standard of excellence in one day! It was a LOT of work but we knew the Lord would help us do it. With him anything is possible! On Sunday morning we had enough lessons and investigators for the week and were pretty devastated when only 2 came to church. Really?! After all that work we came short of our goal by one person?? To our surprise, even after praying at church for something to happen, a man came in on his own. Our man Paul just came to church entirely on his own with the desire to learn more. He attended all 3 hours and made for a really powerful lesson after. So because of Paul we had 3 investigators at church! Our goal was achieved! It was great!

It is amazing to see what our Father in Heaven can do if we increase our faith. I can testify of that. My faith definitely increased this week and my testimony right along with it. Ntinda is an amazing area. The people are so awesome and the ward works hard to help us. We are seeing the miracles here as we establish the foundation of the gospel here in Uganda. The mission is the greatest experience of my life and I wake up every day so grateful to be here. I came on my mission expecting to change others and have only found that it is changing me. 

I look forward to another great week and wish you all the same! Thank you for all the love and support!

Love,

Elder McLain

p.s. I got a really nice outfit like you saw in the pics! Custom made by one of our investigators. It is sweet! 

Three Ugandan princes.