June 30, 2014

Just a quick family letter from Collin today.

The mission is going pretty.  Two of our investigators got anti and the guy that was suppose to be getting baptized no longer will answer his phone so that sucks.  Another investigator is going back to Portugal this week so that sucks again but hopefully she can get in contact with the missionaries there.  And we got a new investigator who wants to be baptized but got anti from some friends and is now a little hesitant.  She is still meeting with us to clear things up.  We are working hard and my allergies are slowly getting better finally which is heaven! Waking up isn't painful anymore haha.  It has been pretty humid but not overly hot yet.  Been really nice tan lines going on haha.  My neck is gross!! My companion and I are getting along great and we are having a blast! He is a big ole Farm boy! We get fed more than the other missionaries in the ward so that is really nice as well.  The ward is just a blast and life is really good.  

Collin's Zone

Cooking time

June 23rd, 2014

Hiyaa Family! 

Well to be honest the last two weeks nothing that exciting has happened.  Just one those times of the mission where nobody likes you or maybe that is just all the time in England?:) I had an exchange with my new district leader for the first time and he was super cool guy! He is from Texas and was a band geek haha.  Super spiritual though and so hard working.  He has only been out three months longer than me but has had a tough mission and yet has baptized in all his areas but one.  He is a huge example to me of persevering even when it is tough.  Our investigator that is close to baptism doesn't like tithing at all yet accepts everything else just fine.  Very frustrating but all you can do is love him and help them to see the blessings.  Been doing a lot of contacting and trying to see lots of LA.  Hard life ya know;) People in England basically hate the World Cup now because England has lost twice now and America still kicks butt:)  Ah I love this country and its pride:)  Probably the biggest blessing I have in my life right now is my companion.  With all the challenges I'm going through right now his hard working farm boy attitude helps so much.  Lord always knows how to bless you in the small ways that make all the difference.  

Just a random thought I will be getting my haircut but will no longer have the english style but some other really short spiky style:)  Hopefully I don't look to young haha. 

Just for a nice spiritual thought I would like to remind all of you of the wonderful promise the Book of Mormon Gives us.

Moroni 10: 3-5

 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

I hope all of you still apply this promise throughout the year even if you have already had the confirmation that you know that this book is true still do it cause it will light a fire in you that will help you continue to endure to the end.  It is also an amazing reminder that all you need to receive answers to prayers is to 1. Have faith in Christ 2. Sincere Heart 3. Real Intent.  As we do these things the Lord promises us that the Holy Ghost will let us know the truth of all things.  

For those of you that do not have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true I invite you to come and test it out.  As the prophet Alma says 

Alma 32 27-28

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Do not harden your heart and deny the mercies of the Lord.  His arm is always extended towards you.  As one of his representatives I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that everyone can find out for themselves as well.  It is amazing how much happiness this Book has brought into my life and  and the lives of millions of others.  Never forget the power of prayer.  Remember that because of one Prayer by a 14 year old boy the true Church of Jesus Christ was restored.  Remember that because of one prayer from our Saviour we are able to be made clean again and return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven.  All we have to do is strip ourselves of pride and humble ourselves and strive everyday to become like Christ.  I know that he lives and loves all of us with an infinite love.  He is the Bread of Life and all who partake will never hunger again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

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

Love,

Elder Wilson

June 16, 2014

Collin did not have alot of time to write today since his district was going to play basketball so he was only able to write personal letters.  He talked about how his baptism was postponed since the investigator is struggling with the Law of Tithing.   Said the work is slow but they keep working had to try and find people.

I did get a picture

Collin and his new companion

June 9, 2014

Hello Family! 

Well this week was pretty boring once again but I got a new companion!  Elder Gunnell is such a boss and a hard working missionary!  Probably just the farmer in him.  We already having loads of fun and even though I loved serving with Elder Bognar being with an American is so nice! We have had a lot of funny moments already.  I think the funniest was when Elder Gunnell went to stop someone and when the guy realized who we were he told us to "Go beep off" and then a guy in balcony above said "Hey thats what I said!" So we just busted up laughing cause it was so funny! We will either unite you with the Lord or in your hatred towards us haha.  Basically this companionship is going to be like it was with Elder Green so I can't wait!  It is also getting nice very nice weather here!  Also allergies is kicking in so now I am just dying and looking like I'm crying all the time, but oh well maybe people will take pity on me haha:) Elder Gunnell also got bit by a big ole German shepherd.  Dumb redneck has this thing with petting every dog haha.  It was pretty funny only cause it wasn't that bad.  We also went snail smashing on Saturday.  It had rained so all the snails came out and we were just smashing the into the distance with our umbrellas. About the closest I have got to playing ball on my mission:) We have a baptism coming up this week so will be getting lots prepared for that.  There will be two baptisms the other being the Zone Leaders investigator.  It will be the 5th and 6th baptism in this ward in one month.  So many crazy wonderful things are happening in this area! The Lord is truly hastening his work and it is amazing to see all the wonderful miracles that are happening in this mission and all around the world.  How grateful I am to be in the field playing for the Lords teams in these final minutes! This is when it matters most and when true character is measured! How grateful I am to be apart of it!  My spiritual thought for you this week is short but powerful! 

Doctrine and Covenants 35:13-15

  13 Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;

 14 And their arm shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me; and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them.     

  15 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand—      

I know that this is the Lords work and that he is coming is nigh at hand.  Let us all prepare ourselves both physically and spiritually so that the day that he calls upon us we are ready to serve him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.  There is no better time then now to suit up for the Lord.  I know this is his church and that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I know that just as a humble 14 year old boy knelt down and prayed with faith knowing that his Father in Heaven would answer that if we will do this same thing that we can have the truth made known unto us.  Let us not be like those that wanted to follow Jesus but wanted to go do a few things first.  Let us be like his apostles and straightway drop our nets and follow him.  We may live in this world but we do not have to be of it.  In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you all are doing amazing and growing stronger and stronger in the gospel! Those of you that aren't apart of this wonderful gospel I invite you to take up Gods promise in the Book of Mormon an to just read it and pray to know if it is true.  I promise you that he will answer you and that he loves you more then you realize.  I see that love he has for all his children each and every day.  In the words of President Uchtdorf "Don't sleep through the Restoration!" 

Love ya'll to shredzz!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

Dad's Side Note

Yesterday we had the wonderful opportunity to go to a Homecoming of one of the Elders that Collin served with.  Elder Smith was Collin's first District Leader and they became great friends and he really helped him out being a greenie in the field.   After meeting Elder Smith and his family we really know why Collin got along with him so well.  He and his family are incredible Christ like people.  When we arrived at his church as we were getting out of our car President Eyring walked in front of our car and said good morning.  That was pretty amazing!  President Eyring just happens to live in Elder Smiths home ward.  What a great day we had.

June 2, 2014

Hello family! 

Well I don't really have anything to say about this week.  It started off super good and then was one of the toughest mentally I have had on my mission so far.  We worked so hard but nobody wanted to listen to us and we were just hated on.  It was really tough.  The good news is we will be having a baptism on the 14th and most likely one in July!  It is transfers week this week and not to much is happening in our district.  Our district leader is leaving and we are getting a new one.  I'm told that he is crazy and lots of fun so we shall see what happens.  I am also getting my fourth companion from Utah but he is a stud. He is basically like my stud of a cousin Tyler.  Only difference is he is a ginger:) He is a farm boy from Cache Valley who loves hunting, riding quads, and shooting things haha.  It is going to be a great transfer! Other then that nothing to exciting happen.  We had stake conference this weekend and there was a whole lot of people.  Our recent convert Kiyomars participated in it which was awesome! He is going to be a something great! I Hope all of you are doing super well and I LOVE YA TO SHREDZZ!!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

P.S. just my Hungarian companion during comp study and us trying to catch the slugs in the flat! England is just great.  Also the blue things were given to us by Kiyomars when after a teach it was dumping rain haha. 

Collin's District