December 29, 2014

Well only a few more days until my black year or as I call it miracle year is over.  Hard to believe 2014 went by so fast! So many miracles and amazing things happened! Christmas week was pretty great. Hard for missionary work cause nobody was on the streets and everyone seemed to hate us a little bit extra. But like Paul I glory in tribulation. Christmas Eve we had a great dinner with an amazing family called the Hooper's. All the missionaries in the ward went over and while we waited for dinner just talked about all our deep doctrine haha. Love members that can talk doctrine. It's so fun! We then had Elder Gull and Elder Bradford sleep over at our flat. We then had breakfast at our Ward mission leaders home Christmas morning. Hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls! Super amazing! And then the second best part of the day we watched FROZEN! It was super great. Lived up to all its hype. The funniest part was when Elsa lets her hair down Elder Gull and I where singing LET IT DOWN, LET IT DOWN! IT was so funny! Yes I know the two manly men in the district like a girly movie.  Haha it was great though. We then went from the Martin Jr. to the Martin Sr. Had a great big Christmas dinner. It was a lot of fun and really good food. We then went out and contacted for a bit. Talked to some pretty weird, but cool people. Then ended the night at the greatest family the Braganzas. Got to Skye home which was great. My brothers are huge, My dad looked like Santa, and my mom looks like she is twenty.  Its funny cause every time an Elder sees a picture of her they ask if she is my girlfriend. I then say no she is my mom and they just get this funny surprised look on there face and then get really red and walk away. To funny! The rest of the week we just did a whole lot of finding with now success and froze are butts off. So cold right now! Its alright just making me into a little more of a man;)  Yeah so that's my week in a nutshell.  The work is rough right now, but the Lord chastens those whom he loves so I'm happy! 

Something cool I learned while reading in the Bible today comes from Hebrews 2:11

 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren

How cool is that? We become one with Christ as we  are sanctified.  I don't it just clicked in my brain while reading it cause Christ is always praying we become one with him and the Father and this scripture just put a new perspective on it.  

Hope you all have a great a New Years Eve and New Year! LOVE YA'LL TO SHREDZZ!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Hazards of Missionary work

His District

Nativity Scene

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Collin told us he is getting a new companion tomorrow.  It will be his 10th companion while serving.

December 22, 2014

Well this week was just all over the place again. Seems like every time we finally have time to go finding something pops up and we don't have anytime anymore. It sucks because its been like this for the last month and so now just the thought of going on the streets for two hours to find some people is like torture. But its okay we all must have the trial of our faith! We have been doing the 12 days of Christmas for three different families. We just make a different type of cookie each day and take it over. The Ward Mission Leaders wife makes the cookies actually because she is that awesome and then we scramble around to deliver them. It has actually been a lot harder then we thought, but oh well its been fun! 

I few highlights of this week. We were able to visit lots of members this week and share "He Is the Gift" Video with them. So amazing and I just love the video so much. My favorite thing about it is how it is just so fast and crazy in the beginning and then it just slows down. I think that is the message we need to take in.  Yes Christmas is fun and there are a lot of exciting things going on. But we need to just take the time to slow down and think about what really matters and ponder on the First Gift of Christmas being Jesus Christ.  That's probably my favorite thing about being a missionary at this time of year.  It honestly does not feel like Christmas at all, but I have learned more about Jesus Christ at this time of year then I ever have before. He truly is the greatest gift ever given. Now its just our job to share it! 

I had an exchange as well this week with an Elder Bradford. And boy oh boy is he the definition of true greeny. If I had half the enthusiasm he has at the beginning of my mission I would be AP.  He is a good missionary though, just needs to figure out how to be effective and efficient. As well which is the hardest thing to do just stop and listen to those who have more experience. I only share this because he is exactly like me when I was a greeny.  Just try to do everything at once and nothing gets done. The biggest thing I've learned as a missionary is to just do what the Lord asks of you and then think of others as you do it.  So often I see missionaries try and add rules and do crazy things to the mission rules to try and be 110% obedient and be such an amazing missionary.  And often they are just more tired and get the same amount of work done and are usually depressed because they are doing more then Heavenly Father expects, but feel they are terrible.  As the good Old Testament teaches us, "It is better to be obedient then to sacrifice."  Yes if we desire we can wake up at 6 instead of 6:30 so we can study a little bit extra, but Heavenly Father only expects me to wake up at 6:30.  Yes I can go crazy in the streets and chase people and try to talk to every single person I see. But Heavenly Father only expects me to talk to as many people as I can. I'm not making excuses to be lazy, but I feel as missionaries and members we put all this extra burden on ourselves by making these little rules. When we are told to Magnify our callings and membership all it means is to be obedient and to do all you can. Not become like the law of Moses and have a check list on everything.  As we will just simply be 100% obedient (not 110 or 99) and serve others as we do so Heavenly Father will make up for the areas we lack and we will see so many miracles! 

Sorry about the little rant. Just passionate about it.  On Sunday we go to help the primaries Nativity Play by being Shepherds. I Just love little kids! They are so funny and so cute. At the end of the Nativity they had each kid say something that they would say to Jesus if he were right there. Almost all of them said Thank you or I love you. So touching to see how much faith kids really have. The best one said was by the ward mission leaders daughter and she said "Happy  Birthday."  So funny! 

Well that's my week in a nutshell. The work is slow, but just have to keep doing our best. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas remember to always look to the Savior! LOVE YA ALL TO SHREDZZ!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Elder Wilson

Just one of the investigators Elder Gull is teaching and his girlfriend. She is a member and he is getting baptized soon. They are so awesome and gave all the missionaries presents. I got a gun that shoots darts so now I just shoot Elder Mackay all the time during studies:)

December 15, 2014

This week was just crazy and full of so many activities!  We went to the temple which was a blast! The coach ride there and back was so flippin funny.  Elder Gull, Elder Goldsmith, and Elder Olsen, and I all sat in the back and just talked about hunting, sponge bob, deep doctrine, and played this game where you have to try and touch the other persons beard without them licking you.  Lets just say that after 14 hours on a coach it got intense.  On the way back from the temple we also got Elder Gull this little wooden duck at a gas station and surprised him with it on the bus. He named it Carl after the llamas with hats YouTube video.  So dang funny! Just a good ole blast.  Of course the temple was the highlight of the whole trip.  It felt so good to finally be able to be in the temple! The spirit was so strong and I got a nice surprise with seeing my favorite companion Elder Green and going through with him.  It was amazing!  Elder Green and I just reverted back to are old selves from back in the Hedge End days and were laughing the whole time.  After the temple we had a very good Christmas dinner.  We sang carols and everyone got the chance to hit these little chimes to get the tunes of the carols. Pretty funny and spiritual. We then sang a few hymns and the Spirit was so strong and then President Millar bore his testimony. This will be his and Sister Millars last Christmas as mission president so it was very emotional and spiritual.  I will never forget it and am so sad I won't be there next year:( 

Friday we had the Ward Christmas party which we helped set up the last two weeks. The ward mission leaders wife Judith set it all up and did an amazing job! She is so awesome! Tons of people came and it was really good as well.  The next morning we had football and it was so crazy! The field just turned into straight mud. So it became a came of rugby football and ice skating combo.  We got so muddy! And at the end we did a massive victory slide on are stomachs in the mud.  So funny and so cold.  

Sunday was really good.  We had two less actives come to church which was amazing.  We wiped out are whole teaching pool and only have less actives at the moment. The work in Plymouth is very rough and most of our time is spent trying to form a good relationship with the ward and to build their trust. Very difficult.  But we got to listen to the Christmas devotional and it was really good.  The story of the little boy that Elder Christofferson told was amazing. I just love how amazing we human beings can be.  Always amazes me the things we are willing to do for each other. Always is a reassurance that there really is a God and that he loves all his children no matter what.  Oh yeah just to brag a little bit. My mom is the greatest mom ever and does the 12 days of Christmas for me and my companion. It started on Saturday and my companion says every morning "Your mom is a legend." So dang funny and makes me so proud to have the mom and dad that I do.  Especially since the old man looks like Santa for not shaving in so long.  Love my parents! 

I hope you all have had a great week and will have an even better one this week.  Remember what this time of year is all about and may God bless you! LOVE YOU ALL TO SHREDZZ!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Hanging out in the backseat

Buss Ride to the Christmas Party

The London Temple

Collin and his companion from Scotland

Collin and his Favorite companion Elder Green

Ok now a nice pic

War Paint

after a football(soccer)/rugby game

Ward Christmas Party

The Wood Duck

Temple Selfies

December 8, 2015

Well nothing really happened this week.  Just did a whole lot of finding with no success and went and visited are less actives we are working with.  The less active work in Plymouth is always keeping us busy but we have nothing when it comes to investigators.  You would think that the hearts of the English would soften up at Christmas time, but no they just get harder. So frustrating.  Nice thing is we have are Mission Christmas party so we basically get two days off  because of traveling since we are like 5 hours away from the mission home plus we get to go to into the temple!! To pumped for that.  You people in Utah have no idea what it's like to not have a temple 5 minutes away and can go whenever you want.  Use them! They are such a blessing and so amazing.  We also have our ward Christmas party this week so that will be good! 

Basketball and Football (soccer) went will this week.  More and more nonmembers are starting to come out.  Its funny how the two sports I suck at and don't really like are basically the only two sports England plays besides rugby and missionaries aren't allowed to play cause we get worked up to fast haha.  But my skills are getting better and I can almost dribble a football pretty well.  Nothing beats American football or baseball though. Its fun to play American football in England because the English basically can't do anything with there hands.  Its like ok I'm going to throw this at you and all you have to do is catch it. Nope that is just to hard so it makes all the fat Americans in the mission look like they play for the NFL.  Good times.  

I also went on exchange with Elder Gull this week.  Man this guy is so epic! He lives in Salem, Utah and is the biggest redneck just like me.    He also has epic hunting stories.  It's funny though to see this big redneck so loved struck.  He has like a proper girlfriend of 4 years and the stories of him dating her you would think he was Mr.Romantic. So dang funny.  He and I just spent all day talking about our hunting stories and the kind of guns and things we will buy when we go home.  Yes, we also did missionary work and committed one of their Investigators to be baptized! Its was a good and much needed exchange.  Elder Gull is going to turn me into a proper hunter when I get home. He even wants to start a business with me when we are home.  To awesome! 

Well that's all I got. Before I leave something that I got out of my study today that I never noticed before was out of 3 Nephi 21.  Did you know that America has two destinies.  If they don't repent the Lord will destroy them and if they repent they will help build the New Jerusalem. My mind was just blown that I never realized that's what it was saying till now. Go read the chapter it is so intense! 

Anyway I love you all and have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Wilson 

Just what Elder Gull and I do on exchange at night.  May the force be with you

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We found out today Collin comes home July 22nd!!!!

December 1, 2014

Hello Everyone!

As usual I never remember what I did during the week and some how still end up writing long emails?  Honestly this week was just full of tons of traveling and seeing people and traveling some more.  I went home teaching with a really cool guy from our ward.  He is just so strong in the gospel and knows his doctrine so well.  He is just a whole other animal.  The thing that I do like about England is that its a lot harder to be lukewarm in the gospel.  Most the people are either super solid or just don't go to church or could careless.  But it is frustrating cause more and more people are going to the latter of the two.  Anyway home teaching was great and I can't wait to do it when I get home! I remember always complaining when I would have to go do an hour of fast offerings and home teaching once a month.  I thought it was so hard haha.  Those of you that haven't served missions enjoy just doing fast offerings and home teaching because when you go out to serve for two years you have a whole lot of knocking and teaching ahead of you.  

We had quite a few dinner appointments this week which is unusual for the area I guess.  But my favorite one was last night because for the first time in my entire mission a family had made their own family mission plan because they are just that awesome! I just wanted to cry and kiss them.  So epic! Also had a good time talking about pranks the husband pulled on his mission when he was in a 4 man flat. One of them involved rapping suramwarp (I can't spell) around the toilet and then watching some go in and then yell because they got pee all over their feet haha! Another great meal was that we got Thanksgiving dinner from the ward this year! They just had a huge feast so tons of non members came and had a proper thanksgiving dinner. My favorite part were the candy yams and all the American missionaries were fighting over it.  So good, but still not as good as my moms;) 

We have what we call a seminar every Friday.  Just where members, nonmembers, and less actives can come listen to the basics doctrines of the church and learn more and feel the Spirit.  We had to teach it this week and did it on the Family.  It was a ton of fun and the Spirit was so strong.  I had to make the PowerPoint and the first picture I used was one of my Grandma's wedding from earlier this year and it had basically my whole family on my moms side besides about 10 people. I talked about how my Grandma lost her husband and both her parents in the same year and had kids from 10 years old to 6 months old to  raise by herself.  I said she decided to allow God to help her instead of turn against him and because of that decision I was sealed to all those amazing people in the picture.  The greatest part was the Spirit was so strong and everyone was all teary eyed and it was just an epic way to start of the seminar.  Families are just so amazing and I'm so grateful to be able to have the knowledge that I can live with them forever.  And just as a side not to brag I used sports photos of my brothers in the PowerPoint so I could brag about how huge and good they are.  Every time I said little brother everyone laughed at me.  

I don't know if you all know, but the church is doing a big Christmas Initiative called "He is the Gift." They came out with a video similar to "Because of Him" and it is so powerful and will really help with remembering what Christmas is all about.  Something my companion had said the other day that I thought was really cool and never had really thought about was how to get the Christmas Spirit.  And that is to just give of yourself to others.  Isn't that so true?  Isn't that what Charity is? We all know that charity is the pure love of Christ. When I thought about this is put Christmas into perspective for me so much.  We all talk about the Spirit of Christmas and love it so much at this time of the year.  Yet if you just drop the last syllable you get the Spirit of Christ. We all want to have the Spirit in our lives more and all we need to do is give the best gift to our Heavenly Father that we can.  And that is our Ourselves.  I hope you all strive to do more for others then to expect things done for yourself.  Something I will never forget is what my Bishop told me in an interview one time.  He was talking to me about how when he got home from his mission he wasn't as happy as he used to be.  Not that anything was wrong with life he just found that he wasn't as happy as when he was on his mission.  He came to realize that it was because while on his mission he thought of others more then himself and now that he was home he was thinking more of himself more.  I can agree with this.  I have never been happier then when I get to share with someone for  the first time that that they have a Heavenly Father that loves them so much that they are his son and daughter.  And then to just watch the light go on in their eyes and to see them change and catch the fire of the gospel.  I've never been happier when I just reach out to someone by listening to them and giving a helping hand.  To end I would like to just quote President Packer. Its not an exact quote but close enough so bare with me. Hope it makes sense.

"We must share the gospel with everyone all the time, and on occasion use words to do it"

I love you all and have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

My companion Elder Mackay and the Thanksgiving dinner!

November 24, 2014

I have never cried after leaving an area before because I am always so excited to go to my next area, but for the first time on my mission I cried because I was leaving an area.  It was honestly worse then leaving home since I had no idea if I would ever see those people again. I still just want to go back to the Isle of Wight, but I know that the Lord wants me here and there are people here for me to find and bring into the light of the gospel.  As for Plymouth it is a pretty massive place and is pretty cool! It has only rained once since I've been here and it wasn't it hard. But holy cow compared to the Island this place is so big and life is so fast in it.  Everyone on the island is either old or just sorta young and way chill.  Everyone in Plymouth goes to one of the two universities or just works so everyone is just going everywhere so fast.  There are also so many flippin people! And they aren't all English or white haha.  Like a kid on Christmas;) Such a different life style here its crazy.  Are flat is in the middle of the city and is basically 5 minutes away from all the cool stuff there is to see.  We have 6 Elders in our ward but they live in a four man flat a little north of us. One day I will be in a four man flat! We are right by the ocean as well and its beautiful. I really love contacting by it and it's really nice.  As for the ward they are pretty cool as well.  Our ward mission leader is a boss.  We play basketball every Thursday, Friday we have a seminar, and Saturday morning we play football (Soccer).  It's a lot of fun and a good way to get people out. Unfortunately the two sports I just flat out suck at are the two we play. Well time to get good I guess! The sad thing about this ward or should stake is that a lot of people are falling away from the church.  One of the Elders that served here a year ago told me that since he has left 35 people have gone less active. We also have 600 less actives in our ward alone.  Got our work cut out for us! 

My companion is a crazy big ginger Scottish man.  He is pretty funny as well which makes it easy to get along with him.  He is pretty blunt to which makes it easy to change.  He has a great love for the gospel and such a strong testimony and Spirit around him. He told me the other day that since I have come in, that instead of feeling the Spirit like once or twice a day he feels it like every hour. He also told me that the way I can captivate people when I speak and bring the Spirit is amazing as well.  I was just sitting there with my mouth wide opened and thinking is he talking about me? That was such a tender mercy from the Lord! I honestly feel like the biggest waster who can never feel the Spirit or be guided by it. So that was very touching to me.  It will be a good companionship. An interesting one but a good one.  

This last Saturday when we played football we played outside and it had just rained really hard the night before.  So the field was just a muddy mess.  All the English had cleats, but us missionaries were just running around on shoes actually more like slipping around haha. So basically all we did was just sit back and defend by coming up really hard and just either kicking the ball away, knocking people on their butts or what mostly happened falling on our own butts.  We were so muddy! Elder Gull and I kept just trying to take each other out haha. The area basically has no investigators so we are starting from scratch.  Always seems to be my luck:) We have a few less actives that we are working with so that helps with things.  We got a few solid return appointments for this week so pray that we get some solid new investigators out of it!

So last night we stopped a guy right before going in. Elder Mackay had already talked to him about a week ago, but we spoke to him again anyway.  He acted the same, but then I just out of nowhere started talking about the after life and then all of sudden he went from I'll call you to when can we meet up tomorrow and talk more.  It was amazing! Especially since we had been finding for the last 3 hours in the freezing cold and having no success and then the last guy we talk to we get a return appointment for today! The Lord is so amazing! Can't wait to speak to him tomorrow! 

Just before I finish this letter I would like to leave you with two quotes that I have been pondering about for awhile. First one comes from 17 miracles.

"We can't control their actions, but we can control ours."

The second one is from Ephraim's Rescue

"I am ready now, Brother Brigham."  (In response to Brigham Young sending people to save the handcart companion)

I think what it really comes down to is, we all have our agency and can make life good or bad for ourselves and for others no matter what circumstances we are in, and whether or not we will have the faith to just do what the Prophet asks and live our lives in such a way that we can respond with "I am ready now." 

I love this work and I love My God.  I have so many faults and do so many dumb things, but knowing that God's love is always there for me is what gets me to  get down on my knees everyday and then to get up and go to work.  I'm nowhere near the best missionary and really have no idea what I'm doing most the time, but I do know that Jesus is the Christ and that he lives so that we can too.  Look unto him in every thought, word, deed, and action and he will lift you and give you more power then you can ever imagine. 

I LOVE YOU ALL TO SHREDZZ!!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

 The picture of this church has a cool story.  When Brigham Young was serving his mission here this church rejected him and before he left he dusted his feet off and said that this church would burn and never be rebuilt again. Well it burned and every time they would rebuild it, it would just keep falling apart. And now it is just in its skeleton form and in the middle of round-a-bout.  Its just a two minute walk from our flat. So Cool! 

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Dad's Note from a letter I received from Collin

I Just wanted to add a section from Collin from my letter he sent me about prayer.  I wrote to him about how we talked about it in Priesthood meeting yesterday.

"Glad you were able to talk about Prayer.  So true how we can get distracted and have the same ole same ole with our prayers.  Sorta of a funny story.  We talked about Prayer in Priesthood yesterday to and some false doctrine was said on how sometimes because of certain situations prayer doesn't work.  Are ward mission leader said that is false and then every one started arguing about it.  So after listening to everyone I raise my hand and just simply say, "Pray is meant for us to conform are will to God's, not us put are will on God and force him to change.  It doesn't matter how lowly or down you are because no one has ever been lower then the Savior and still in his worse hour he lifted his voice to God and said 'Not my will, but thine be done.'  If prayer isn't working for you then you need to take a step back and see if you are doing God's will or forcing your own."  It was really funny cause no one said a thing and they just continued on with the rest of the lesson.  Nothing like rebuking on your first Sunday."

It is amazing to watch Collin grow into a Spiritual Giant!

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He also sent another email talking about what he is thankful for since this being Thanksgiving week. The ward he is now serving in will be fixing a Thanksgiving Dinner for the Elders so they can celebrate it.  

Family,

Since this will be my last Thanksgiving till I'm home I just wanted to tell you what I'm thankful for.  I am so thankful for my family! Even though we all have are differences you are what keep me going on my mission to share this wonderful message about families and making the happier! You all mean so much to me and I love you so much! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Get fat both in Spirit and Physically. 

Love ya!

Elder Wilson

November 17, 2014

Hello everyone!

Well this week was much better!  Found out Tuesday during President's interview that I would be moving to a new area, but he wouldn't tell me where so I have had to wait till today to find out.  If being on an island wasn't being exiled enough I am now going to one of the furthest west areas in the mission called Plymouth.  Cool thing is I will be in the city so that will be fun! Bad part is.  Quinton L. Cook is coming to speak to the London South and London Mission at the end of this month in the middle of London! Only those within two hours of Hyde Park will get to go so I will not be going. Miss out on an apostle and going in to the middle of London which I probably won't get the chance again as a missionary... Anyway I will also be spending Christmas with a Scottish name Elder Mckiy.  He is a massive ginger and I think he has been out one transfer less than me.  So that will be interesting.   Overall I am really excited about going to Plymouth but a little bummed about missing out on some epic apostleness! At least we get to go to the temple this transfer! YAHOOO! 

As for my week it was pretty chill.  Had some crazy weather on the way to President's interview since we had to cross the waters to get to Portsmouth.  We first got on the Hovercraft and its big but not that big and the waves were crazy! We were flying the whole way I'm pretty sure. It was so fun. Well we get halfway across and then the Hovercraft just stopped and then the Captain said that we had to turn around cause something was wrong with the Hovercraft and that they had no option. I thought at first he had said there is NO OXYGEN.  So I'm like this is how I die.  On a hovercraft with no oxygen.  GREAT! Not the cool death that I wanted, but it was still pretty cool.  Well he didn't say that and we arrived safely back on the island. Lame ending I know you wanted to hear how we were all drowning and then the missionaries save everyone and then convert the whole island.  Sorry, but I'm not Ammon;) Anyway we then have to take the mile and half walk on the Ryde pier while its raining and windy.  We then get on the ferry which is like a bouncing up and down and going crazy the whole way in.  SO MUCH FUN! 

I also had exchange with the zone leaders which was fun.  I got Elder Gugyelka which is always fun with this guy haha. He is the most interesting person to be with.  So different.  It was really fun though.  We had to go down to the southern part of the island to teach someone and we got there a little early so we were contacting. And this guy walks up to us and is like can we talk so of course as missionaries we get so excited and look like a dog that is just wiggling with excitement before he gets a treat.  This guy has been studying with JW's for the last two years but still stays with his baptist church. He is really confused and just wants to know truth.  He wanted to meet with us then but we couldn't cause we were booked full the whole day but set up another appointment.  He even already had a book of mormon! Guy is so awesome! And of course I will be leaving before we even get to teach him, but they don't call me the sower for no reason (they don't call me that).  We then talked to Mike went back up to Newport and then went knocking.  

Well this was the wettest knocking session of my life.  I have gotten wet before and it has rained while I have knocked before, but I have never had a waterfall for 45 minutes come down on me before. NIAGARA FALLS HERSELF WAS COMING DOWN ON US! My upper half stayed dry because of a sweet coat but my lower half was drenched.  It was so crazy, but a good time:) Of course it rained from the time we started finding to the end which was about an 1 hour or so. And then as soon as we finished it stopped and you could see the stars the rest of the night.  I love England's weather...

We have a sweet YSA member in our ward named Roxanne! She works at a chocolate and coffee place. And gives us free hot chocolate! Shout out to her for being awesome! We had another dinner with Sister Russell and her husband and Roxanne.  It was a blast and learned a lot about mid-evil instruments and about sloths.  Yes in case you didn't know the only time a sloth will touch the ground is to take the browns to the superbowl.  And also 10,000 years ago sloths use to be as big as elephants.  Crazy night! 

I will see that the last Sunday on the Island was so sad. I love this place so much and am very sad to be leaving. It seems that every area I leave it gets harder and harder to leave.  Missions are just the worst. You meet all these amazing people and love them so much and would do anything for them and then you leave and probably won't see most of them again.  The island has taught me so much and I truly feel like I have grown closer to my Savior while being here.  Have made a lot of stupid mistakes, but have made some amazing friendships and have been able to see some amazing miracles and changes in people.  I love this gospel so much and I know without a doubt that it is true. If you have doubts remember the words of President Uchtdorf, "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith."  I know that as we turn to the Christ for help and support that we can be lifted up in our trials and become more then we ever dreamed we could be.  

I love you all to shredzz and have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Wilson 

My district and Zone leaders and one of my favorite member Sister Russell. She is the best! 

Sister Russell

Br. Edwards (He has been in two explosions)

Br. Phillips

Favorite little guy Samuel

Ward Mission Leader Jason

Investigator Elizabeth

November 10, 2014

This was probably the worst week of my entire life/mission.  I have never really felt depressed but last week and this week I am still depressed.  One of our recent converts was acting really funny the last month or so. She wouldn't meet with us and every time she came to church she only said negative things after.  Well all of a sudden on Wednesday I wake to turn the alarm off and see we got a text. Well it was from her telling us that she wanted her name removed from the church.  That woke me right up so I sent a text message wanting to meet up and explaining that she had a covenant with God and that you can't just bail by sending a text.  Anyway she then freaked out and we spent the day trying to help her and her telling us all the anti she has received the last month.  She was very rude to us as well which just made it all the worse.  Well we just decided to give her a week and let her think things through and try talking to her later.  Well my big dumb stupid head decides that we need to tell the ward mission leader so he and bishop can discuss it. Well I sent the message to her instead of the ward mission leader. Yep then we get voice mails from her mom threatening to call the police and text messages from her and her mom saying to leave her alone and calling us not so nice names.  Lets just say that I felt like the biggest piece of junk ever.  I have never felt so depressed ever.  Just don't understand how someone could turn on you so fast after all you have done for them and loved them.  So basically the rest of the week for me was just crapped and I have never wanted to just lay on my bed and do nothing and be fine with it.  I just don't know the right words to use to explain how I feel.  Anyway just keep her in your prayers. She has good trust with a member with the bishopric and he told us he thinks he can help her. So just pray for her and her mom that they can have their hearts softened. 

Honestly I don't remember what really happened the rest of the week.  We had a dinner appointment everyday which was really nice.  We got to do some service for a member by cutting some tree limbs down so that was fun especially when you are hanging from a limb with your right hand and trying to cut a big limb with your awkward left hand.  Good times.  We had a really good dinner with two members and an investigator.  The two members are Scottish and when you get them together you don't understand a word and its just hilarious.  Our investigator really enjoyed the night as well. She really loves the members and meeting with us.  Just got to get her faith strengthened! Love her to death.  Oh we also had dinner with our other recent convert Pam and her husband.  I JUST LOVE THEM TO DEATH!!! They are my favorite people in the entire world.  So humble and loving.  It was a good night with them. The weather went from warm and sunshine to flippin cold and raining hardcore every day.  Never seen rain like this! Good thing I have nice shoes and jacket now:) Thanks Pam, Mom and Dad for that one.

That's all I really have for this week.  I was pondering this morning though about the future and how I can prepare for it and be better.  It something that I think about a lot. My major weakness in life is living in the moment.  But anyway I was just feeling all depressed and poor me and like being a bum basically when I remember the words of President Ezra Taft Benson. 

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives."

I recognized that it came from God and it was so humbling to know even with all my stupidity and selfishness he still loved me enough to remind me who to put first and what will happen to my life if I serve Him first.  So my invitation to y'all is to really put God first in your life in every situation and watch what happens in your life.  I remember when I decided to go on a mission instead of play ball in college.  Once I had made that decision I was so much happier and never regretted the decision.  Now baseball is more of a fun thing to do and I enjoy it, but I now have doors opened that would not have opened if I hadn't served.  It's amazing what the Lord can do in our lives when we give it all to him.  

I hope you all have a great week and LOVE YA TO SHREDZZ!!!

Love,

Elder Wilson 

Pictures are of the no tricky or treating signs in England and of a beach on the island.

November 4, 2014

Well it was a pretty fun and hard working week! Started off the week by kicking some major butt at uno for family home evening! I basically won the whole game in two turns.  And then they got tired of me and wouldn't let me play so I joined up with a sister and she would have won but forgot to say uno even though I told her to... Frustrating but a lot of fun! 

We then for the rest of the week spent at least 4 hours everyday finding! I have never blown up so many balloons before. Did lots of balloon contacting and knocking. And we have a lot of potentials but hopefully they will turn into new investigators this week! We started meeting with the excommunicated guy. He is awesome and is going to come back and be such a strong member. Just hope he can push through the hard times.  His wife is less active and asked a question why in the Book of Mormon when Christ gives the Lord's Prayer he doesn't say thy kingdom come.  Elder Allen and I were like WHAT NO! Well it doesn't say it! But we instantly new why it didn't.  I'll let you figure that one out on your own.  Just crazy I had never noticed that and even crazy Elder Allen didn't because his knowledge of gospel is so intense! 

All our Dinner Appointments dropped but one of the YSA mums fed us:) I love her family so much. They have this cute little kid named Samuel who is about 4 and just so funny. He always shows me things and then tries to trick me but will always leave me by giving me hug before he runs away.  He is just epic! Like in church yesterday he came up and gave me a picture he drew and said we can share when I come over to his home.  Love the little guy! Halloween was pretty boring.  England doesn't really do it to much.  And plus they have signs that say no trick or treating. Yes, England has taken things to a whole new level.  I will have a picture of it.  We had a nice dinner with a member though. She cooks the most amazing food ever and I just love talking to her cause she makes every dramatic in a funny way and is so sarcastic.  Her husband is nonmember but so cool and builds cars for Ford.   He helped design the Ford Focus.  The Sisters had a baptism on Saturday and it went really well. Two of our investigators came which was awesome! 

Our Bishop decided to start having the first Sunday of every month be when all our investigators and recent converts come over to his home have a dinner and chat about things and have a spiritual thought. We had our first one last night and it was a lot of fun! Pam came with her husband and the Sisters recently baptized guy named Keith who is just so dang funny. We had a lot of funny times. Pam and I just sat in the corner and I was cracking jokes the whole time and she kept hitting me and telling me to behave. Just like a good Grandma.  It was a lot fun! 

I listen to a talk by a guy named Hank Smith. It was called 5 temptation killers. I suggest you listen to it cause you will die laughing and it is so good to! Its funny cause he tells a story of a kid that didn't really care about the gospel and he described him by saying this, "I don't need the gospel, I have pex." It was so funny and reminded me when my seminary teacher always commented on my muscles in class to make fun me. (yes, I'm prideful about my muscles).

But I will tell you the 5 temptation killers, but go listen to the talk to get all the funny stories and even more out of it.

1. 5 memorized temptation killing scriptures 

2. Going to the Temple often- Make it time for it

3. Mom- Trust her

4. Dad- Talk to him

5. Think of the Savior in Gethsemane 

Hope those will help you and that you all have a great week! LOVE YA TO SHREDZZ!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Pictures are us balloon contacting and  no we don't pop it but it made for a good picture

Held hostage by Storm Troopers.  Use the Force Luke!

Playing Uno!

The Needles

Quarr Abbey- Where the Monks live

Missionary bike?

Transportation off the Island

Eating at an American type restaurant

LION!  Beat 12 British Marines in a Tug-O-War

Hanging out with the Meercats

October 27, 2014

Well it was a good week.  We had YSA Family Home Evening on Monday. Only one YSA showed up but he wanted to stay so it was basically a missionary FHE. It was still a lot of fun.  We played the game where you write or draw a picture to the person next to you and then you go around asking questions to what or who you are.  I basically am the worse at that game.  The funniest thing though was that when I was asking questions for mine the only things I got from the people were.  It is condemned by God, but two missionaries would like to have it but not the YSA that showed up. See if you can figure it out.  Okay I'll tell you.... It was the the Ring in Lord of the Rings.  WHAT THE HECK! SO DUMB. 

On Tuesday we just got flogged on everything so we just did finding and worked hard can't really remember that day in all honesty haha.  Wednesday we did a lot more finding and visited a less active member who is struggling with anti.  I personally don't understand why people struggle with anti.  Its like just read, pray, and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true and no anti can or will affect you.  Questions are good to have but we should not let them forget what we believe and know to be true.  If we truly trust in God then we will not go astray.  Anyway we saw another less active and he just basically is happy where his life is and doesn't want to change, but is okay with the punishment he will get from God.  So sad.  Oh well just got to keep visiting and loving him!  Thursday we had District Meeting.  We also saw Pam my recent convert.  She had slipped and fallen in the bathroom and bruised her ribs real bad.  Poor girl!  Bishop gave her a blessing and we taught her a really good lesson about the Holy Ghost.  It was epic.  We then did balloon contacting.  Its where you put scripture into a balloon and then ask people to pop it.  I was surprised at how many people are scared of balloons haha.  So funny. But we had some success from it. We did it Saturday as well and it was even more successful. We hand out two book of Mormon's got some details.  The best part of the whole night was when these two Born Agains came up and started chatting with us.  It was a good chat and then they left and little bit later chased us down and gave us two books they had written! It was really cool cause they were expensive but being a missionary has its perks:) Can read some Born Again doctrine if they have any that is? 

Anyway back to Thursday.  After balloon contacting we met with our baptismal date who then had to drop her date because she has been living with her partner for 4 years and wont move out or get married. But she really wants to find a faith in God so that is good! Love her to death! Friday we met with our neighbor and taught the Restoration to her.  She said she didn't like going to church or reading but she has now come to church twice and wants to read the Book of Mormon! Is so awesome what the Spirit can do! I just love this gospel so much!  The coolest part about Friday is my last companion Elder Belnap, his dad was in England this week and came to the Island Friday to meet Pam. So we went to dinner with them.  It was awesome being able to meet him and talk about how awesome and great Elder Belnap is! His wife and another missionaries wife gave us a bunch of American candy which was awesome! Pam was so funny around him and all excited about talking about Elder Belnap and I.  She is like are Grandma.  So awesome! Had a great time! Well that is basically all I got for ya this week!  Our Mission President committed us to do 4 hours of finding everyday this week and the promise is that we will have at least 4 new investigators.  Going to be exciting to see what happens!  

I hope you all have a great week this week and love ya to shredzz!! 

Happy Halloween and Love,

Elder Wilson! 

Pictures are of Elder Belnaps Dad, And some awesome random clone troopers in Newport! 

October 20, 2014

There is a country song that perfectly describes missionary life to a tee I just have to add one word in it.  

"God is great, root beer is good, and people are crazy."

This week was just full of meetings!  This month has just been full of meetings! I have only taken the sacrament once this month and have probably sat through at least 20 hours of meetings this week and I'm only a grunt work missionary with no responsibility!  I hope I never become a zone leader.  The church and all there meetings haha. 

Monday we went bowling for P-day.  Were suppose to go with the sisters but the member that was coming couldn't so Elder Allen and I had  a little bro date and played 8 games of bowling! Man we were both so sore the next couple days.  Yes and just as a side I won 5 out of the 8 games.  It was intense and I have learned that I am so out of shape.  Tuesday was DLC.  Just where the district leaders go and chat with the zone leaders for hours on end about what we are going to do this transfer to be better and set some goals.  Had a good dinner with some members after which is always the greatest.  Taught them how and why we teach the Restoration the way we do.  It was really good and effective.  That is right over here in the London South Mission we train our members.  No petty spiritual thoughts. Just kidding Spiritual thoughts are always good too.  Wednesday we went back down to the southern part of the island to finish knocking that road with the red squirrel.  Nothing happened expect for epicness and God showing his love for me.  We walked up to the same tree we saw the red squirrel last time and yes there in that big tree was a beautiful red squirrel. This time I got lots of pictures and videos.  To awesome!  We then also found whilst walking down the road the smallest church building in England in the 12 century.  It was free to walk in and see.  It was really small and pretty dang cool.  We had a really good teach with our investigator Mark. Watch Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration with him at members house eating ice cream.  It was great! Mark makes movies and is an actor so he really appreciated it.  Really cool! He also showed us a movie he made that was 15 minutes long and it was actually pretty dang good!  

Thursday we had a funeral for a member that died in the ward. I never knew her cause she had a stroke right before I came in and then died.  She was 90 and seemed like the coolest member! We then ate over at a members home.  Tried to train them on how to give a proper referral and we had an epic lesson planned out that was spiritually up lifting and then they just like ruined it by talking the entire time on how missionaries do things wrong and why they don't give them referrals.  Even though in our lesson we would cover those concerns and how to overcome them.  So frustrating.  FAMILY! If missionaries come into your home don't talk forever and do the things you are asked with willingness and a cheerful heart.  The Lord will bless you as you do this.  After that we took the ferry over to South Hampton to stay at the zone leaders flatt to go to zone conference the next day.  Had fun there! 

Zone Conference was great.  We had an area seventy Elder Adler there. He and his wife were just so great.  Learned so many things that I can be better at and was a great spiritual recharge. Also got to see for the first time in a year two elders that went home early but returned this last transfer.  They were in my very first district and it was the greatest joy to see them back out in the mission field. I truly felt like Alma when he son the Sons of Mosiah again.  Such and amazing feeling! Rest of the week was just finding and the stake conference.  Was just supercharged this week with the Spirit and ready to just thrash the nations with His Spirit! I love this gospel so much and I know that it is true and that this is the ONLY true  church on the earth.  If we will but humble ourselves and pray and ask God to know if it is true and be willing to act on that answers he will pour out his Spirit upon us and we can know for ourselves that it is true.  

I love you all to shredzz and hope you have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Pictures are of the red squirrel and the Elder Clark and Elder Probst who came back!