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