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!