March 3rd, 2014

Hello Family!

Well I think all of you deserve a good email? I am such a slacker but I'm 5000 miles from ya'll so you can't do anyting about it!;) Life has been going pretty great. I will start with the pretty cool miracle that happened last week. We were knocking some doors before going in for the night and this lady opened and right away she wasn't very interested. But we started asking questions and getting her to think a little bit more and pretty soon she was opening up to us and telling us how she is looking for something and trying to find out if God is really there. Her husband tried shutting the door but she told him to shut up and that she was talking. That never happens so that was great! We gave her a Book of Mormon and tried getting her number but she said she would text us. That usually means no. WEll that night while we were just being lazy bums we get a text from her! She had started to read the Book of Mormon and was very excited to see us again. So we got a return appointment. Well the bad news is the day we were suppose to see her she text us saying that her husband didn't want us coming over because he wasn't comfortable with it. She was respecting him but has a friend thats a mormon in another ward she is talking with and she is so excited about this new door being opened for her. Sad we probably won't ever teach her but a good seed has been planted!

Our one investigator we have been working with for ages has just been going downhill so fast. She basically wants all the blessings but wants to live in the world. She likes loop holes and things she has found on and won't let go of it. It is really frustrating and sad to see her just give up so easily. We are going to try one more thing with her and if it doesn't work we have to drop her. She was suppose to go to the temple Saturday but canceled on us. It sucked since we had a member drive us to another flatt to sleep over so we could catch a bus going up there. So that was annoying but had a fun sleep over with 4 other elders haha. The great part is that God loves and has blessed us with another great investigator. She is basically just like Becky but a little bit smarter. She has a partner but isn't married so will probably be awhile till she is baptized but ya never know the Lord works miracles! She has a paryting problem as well so thats going to be another fun lesson as well haha. We started teaching her last Thursday and she came to church yesterday. Since it was fast sunday all the kids were bearing testimony and the adults as well. It was great because almost all the testimonies were about Joseph Smith and The Plan of Salavtion which was perfect for her. The greatest part though is that towards the end she leaned over to us and ask if she can go up. We said if she wants so she did! It was so flippin sweet to see it! She jsut said thanks and that she was excited to learn more and that she had all the members to lean on. Just so great! God just loves his missionaries haha. Well after a great time at church and being in primary.... AGAIN Elder Green and I faced the opposition. That morning had been really niced so we just wore are suits and no coat. Well when church was over it was freezign and raining. We had two hours of work before a D.A. so that was a blast! We got super wet and cold but got two new investigators so it was ok. When we got to the members home it was so funny. She was making fun of us as she was coming to the door and when she opened it she was still saying something funny and then realized we were soaked and went "OH NO LOOK AT YOU TWO!!" It was so funny and then she percided to mommy us and dry us off.  It was so great.  We had a nice dinner and then it was time to go back out.  We got a bus back to our flatt but still had a 15 minute walk back to the flatt.  It was raining harder then before and I was about to pee my pants.  So we got super soaked and Elder Green found a tiny umbrella which was hiliraious haha.  Good thing was we made it back to the flat safe and wet and I got to pee:)  Just one crazy week!

One more story.  We are teaching this family in our wards kids since one is 10 and not baptized and the dad is less active.  There are 6 kids between 10 and 18 months and one on the way.  There are also kittens haha.  Well this week we made plan of salavtion pizzas that went very well.  But while they were cooking the kids went bonkers.  They were jumping on us and kicking us.  NOw missionaries arent allowed to have kids on them or even tickle them.  But there were so many and everytime we sat down we got killed.  We would have to kids on us and one would come flying out of nowhere and just body slam us ahah.  It was a good ole WWE! We lost but once the pizza came everything sorta calmed down haha.  Life is just crazy as a missionary!!

I don't have time for a spirtual thought but know that I love you guys and that I know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  The inner peace we all are looking for can be found by livving the gospel.  Our loving Heavenly Father knows that we will fall down many times but because he loves us so much he gaves us his son.  Turn to him in every thought and doubt not, fear not.  I hope you all have a great week and LOVE YA TO SHREDZZ!!

Love,
Elder Wilson

February 24, 2014

Hello Family!

I had to send pictures to make my Mom and Dad happy so sorry for the short email this week.  This week was really great.  Had interviews with President and Zone Conference.  Had it at Staines which is right by my last area.  The coolest part was the Relief Society from Slough made the food so I got to see them! Made me so excited! They are doing well and made me realize how much I love and miss them! We sang Army of Helaman for them and they started crying and I almost cried as well because of how happy they are.  Such a great experience.  Got to learn a lot from zone conference and am already applying great things.  Had an awesome miracle last week that I don't have time to share so stay tuned for next week.  Sorry for the short letter again, but know I pray for you all and love you all! Have a great week and LOVE YA'LL TO SHREDZZ!!

Love,

Elder Wilson

PS. dad fill them in on things i sent you:)

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Dad's addition:

Not sure what he was wanting me to share since he told me more in this letter  about hos week than in mine but I will add a couple of paragraphs.

"Well this week has definitely been a good one! Had interviews with President Millar and zone conference as well! They were both super great.  I will tell you most of it in my family letter, but President did easy my mind on the whole spiritual witness matter.  He said that the Lord will answer you the he sees fit, but to remember not to sign seek.  Miracles aren't what give us faith they only confirm it.  He told me if I want a spiritual witness that the only thing I need to worry about doing is keeping his commandments and I will get it.  So that brought a lot of comfort to me.  Probably will be going to the temple this Saturday with our investigator and some members! To pump for that! Going to be so much fun and yes there will be pictures:)"

Collin also wanted us to study this scripture and here is his explanation

"Now about the D&C 29:35.  When it says that Satan was before Adam what is it telling us?  Well when we think about the War in Heaven we see that there were two that came before the Father.  One was Christ and the other was Satan.  So we automatically see that they were the first two to progress and become like the Father in the Spirit. Christ being the greatest and Satan second.  So Satan being before Adam means that he was suppose to play the role of Adam had he not fallen. Pretty weird huh? Now why does he say give me thine honor which is my power? Well how does God gain power?  Everything honors God.  So by him getting honor from everything he has power.  Same applies with Satan.  If we give God honor he will be able to have power over us and bless us and give us things for our good.  If we give Satan our honor he will have power over us and we will be destroyed. That is why it says in the scriptures that when we die that spirit that we allowed into us will still have power over us.  So "Choose this day whom ye will serve."  "

Here are some pictures he sent.  I think he and his companion are trying to be twins with the matching suits!!

February 16, 2014

This is a email I received today from a member in his first area.  This sure makes Rox and I proud parents to know we raised such a great young man.

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Hi Brother and Sister Wilson,

Your son Elder Wilson was working with me when he was serving in the Slough Ward and asked me to keep in contact with him through you.

I have been what would be termed "less active" for a number of years and Elder Wilson often came just when I needed him!

He is a very spiritual young man and is a really dedicated Missionary. He always bought the Spirit into my home and I always felt so much better after one of his visits so can you tell him from me that I appreciate all the effort he made because they did make a difference.

Also I got the note that he left me and tell him that I agree that there are some similarities about us in spite of a difference in age and gender. I finished re-reading the Book of Mormon as I said I would and have actually started it again.

Thank him for the picture of Christ that he left me which was very touching and I realise that everything he (Elder Wilson) said is true.

He is going to be a very good man. Congratulations to you both!

February 10, 2014

Okay, this letter brought tears to my eyes this morning.  It is amazing to see the spiritual growth in Collin.

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Long time no email Family!!

Well I am just the biggest slacker in the whole wide world and the worst missionary when it comes to writing family.  It is funny when you first come out on a mission all you want to do is write and read emails and the longer you are out the more you just want to read emails and the less you want to write them.  I do apologize for leaving everyone in the dark and being such a waster but you all love me and I know you will forgive me:) The last few weeks have just worn me down emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I have never felt so tired when I go to bed and and when I wake up.  It's been rough needless to say.  Elder Green and I are working our little missionary butts off and nothing seems to be happening.  Every time we plan a great day something always pops up that makes us waste half the day to fix the problem.  The Lord is really testing our patience and faith in him.  We always have one day a week though when Heavenly Father has mercy on us and gives us a few tender mercies and they are so great.  I have learned a lot about myself and the power that faith and obedience have in being a successful missionary.  Our progressing investigator is now at a stand still due to some concerns.  Every time we go over there we bear as much testimony and try to help her understand how this gospel can bring her the happiness she is looking for but this one concern is stopping her from doing anything.  Elder Green and I come home and just collapse like Ammon because of how spiritually draining it is.  At church her kids are super loud and we always have to watch them and try and keep them quiet.  So hat off to you cousins and friends with crazy kids.  Mission life is just great fun. 

For some reason Elder Green and I seem to teach more kids then we do adults haha.  Out of my 5 weeks of church here I've been in primary for 3.  Two of our investigators are under 12 so that makes it fun.  Hopefully the Lord is just preparing me for the loving angels for kids I will get and not little devils;) It is great to be around kids all the time and to teach them.  It really helps you break the lessons we teach down and make them so much simpler.  I have learned a lot over the last few weeks from all the kids I have taught.  This was the last week of the transfer and so we got a new district and zone leader.  The district leader is from Poland and is 1 of the 5 polish missionaries serving around the world.  It is pretty flippin sweet! And the zone leaders uncle is a seventy haha.  I don't know if I mentioned this but the senior couple in our ward are the parents of the son whose wife and him were in the plane crash that scared them really bad.  Elder Holland talked about her in his talk in October.  I have served and am still serving around so many great people.  Mission life is just amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I am still a boy but I know that I am changing for the better and becoming the Man and Priesthood holder that Heavenly Father wants me to be.  For my spirtual thought I want to share a dream I had the other night.  It probably will sound cheesy, but it really affected me and helped me to see how important serving a mission is. 

 

Here it is...

I had just gotten home from my mission and was finally settling down for the night after my homecoming.  I was making some cookies with my mom when I started feeling like I didn't serve a long enough mission.  I told my mom and she was surprised I felt that way.  I had served a good and faithful mission and had come back converted to the Lord with a deep abiding faith.  I kept telling my mom that I need to go back and try again because I didn't do well enough.   All of sudden I was looking at a picture.  I was in the middle of it and around me was my family.  I saw how happy everyone was and could tell we were all still active members.  I realized that it was a picture of the future.  I knew that my brothers and I had all served good missions and that my Dad was still around as well.  I then realized that I was married and had kids.  How many or what they looked like I don't, but I knew that I was happy and loved my family to death.  Then all of sudden the picture zoomed in on me and I saw that I was buff. (I know weird but don't judge)  I could tell that I was successful in all the fitness goals and career goals I had set and that I was still full filling them.  I woke up right after that and felt at peace.  I knew that the photo I saw was my life how it would be if I served a good mission and remained in the church as a strong active member.  But what stuck out to me more was that I had the feeling that even though I was serving a faithful mission right now that I could more and that I had been holding back my talents.  That is why I felt really bad about my mission in the beginning of the dream.  The Spirit was so strong and testified to me that I there were great things in store for me on my mission.  All I have to do is just put my trust in the Lord and let things happen in his time.  I know it sounds weird and all but this dream is already changing my attitude and work ethic as a missionary.  I have a lot to work on, but am excited to see all the blessings and miracles the Lord has in-stored for me.  I know that Heavenly Father lives and that he answers our prayers.  He has answered my personal and family prayers more then I can count.  He shows his love for my family and I through each other and the thoughts and feelings he puts into my mind and heart.  I know that the least I can do for him is to serve these next 18 months with all my heart, mind, might, and strength for him and his lost children.  There is no better way to show our love for our Heavenly Father then serving those around us and walking in Christ footsteps. I know that Christ died for us so that we may live.  I know with out a doubt that he is lives and will come again.  The time is now for us to prepare to meet him.  "Choose this day whom ye will serve."  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Have a great week and love you to shredzz!!

Love,
Elder Wilson

January 13, 2014

Hello family and friends!

Well this week has just been a rollar coaster of emotions and working hard.  I now know why it is called missionary WORK.  This week i have never worked so hard both physically and spiritually. Preparing someone for baptism that is basically doing everything a member of the church shouldn't is defintly taxing on everything.  I have never been so excited for P-day so I can jut relax for two seconds before starting everything all over again.

When I came in we had an investigator that they had taught twice and been to church once.  She hadn't had a baptismal date yet, but we brought her to someones baptism and she said she wanted to do that.  So last Monday we extended the date.  She excepted.  Now we had to get her to quit smoking.  So we tried taking her tobacco, but she said it would be better if we hid it.  Well the next day she had one cigeratte.  So she tolds us to come over and take the tobacco and stuff to roll it. We had a good conversation and left.  Taught the Plan of Slavation Thursday and it went well.  She asked some deep questions that I didn't ask until I was a missionry haha.  She accepted the deep answers though and it was awesome.  She really loves the scriptures and if we show the laws in there she accepts it without a doubt.  Well we taught the law of chasity and realized there were evn more problems.  So we had to move the date back.  Well yesterday she found out about the law of tithing on her own and wanted to drop us since she couldn't do it cause it could affect her kids since she is young single mom.  Well we talked it over with her on the phone last night and atthe end she told us she hates calling us cause we always prove her wrong and she doesn't like that haha! We had her watch the talk by Elder Bednar on tithing and she liked it alot how it was put in there.  She then said she gets goose bumps all the time when talking to us and doing the things we ask her to do.  Elder Green and I just started shouting over the phone the gospel is true!!  It was so funny and epic!  She is going to be such a great member.  She will be teaching us the law of tithing tonight which is funny and will be interesting haha.  LOVE THIS WORK!

My spiritual thought this week is just the lesson I learned this week.  The Spirit it the one who converts people not the missionaries.  I new that was true but hadn't experienced it for myself until this week.  Elder Green and I aren't the greatest missionaries, but we just love all our investigators to death and teach the doctrine as plain and simply as we know how and it is amazing how the Spirit works with in our investgators.  One lady we taught had all these questions about after life and thought these different thngs, but her church said she was wrong.  Well we taught the Plan of Salvation and after she said "Wow that just makes sense."  It is amazing what the Spirit can do when we keep ourselves worthy and speak with power.  This is Christ church on the earth again and it is the only true and living church! Jesus is the Christ and he invites all to come unto him that are willing.  In the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

Have a great week and love ya to shredzz!!

Love,

Elder Wilson

January 6, 2014

Hello Family!

Well I guess I am no longer a greeny anymore.  I have a new area and am on my third companion.  I was told that it is your second or third companion that will be our toughest, but that hasn't happened to me yet! I love Elder Green and his work ethic.  So far we get a long and have the same goals and ideas.  The area itself was opened 3 months ago so it has so much potential! It was quite a shock to find out that I was getting transferred, but looking back it was definitely something that needed to happen! I love the how the Lord knows when we need something and when we need it.  The thing I miss most about Slough is probably the coolest member ever named Robin.  He just new the scriptures so well and was exactly the person I need to help me get over my dumb fears and start becoming the missionary I needed to be! Plus I learned some great DIY traits helping remodel his whole home.  It was a great time in Slough. 

Nothing to exciting is going on yet since I am brand new and getting the hang of things, but we will possibly have 3 baptismal dates by the end of the week!  So that is flippin sweet! Also had a cool experience on the bus last night.  I was sitting there and notice a guy reading a the bible so I leaned over to Elder Green and told that we should go talk to him.  We sat down by him explained who we were and started talking to him.  He had a great faith in Christ and was very interested in the Book of Mormon.  We gave him one and he told us he wanted to meet again so that was awesome! I love how the Lord works and can give us tender mercies throughout the day. 

My spiritual thought is going to be a short one since I am running out of time, but it is on fear.  Now what is fear?  Fear is the opposite of faith and therefore destroys are faith and hope.  How do we get rid of fear?  By doing what the Lord tells us to do in D&C 6:36. "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not."  That means  that we must push every negative thought and doubt out of our mind and onl say postive words and things about ourselves and others around us.  That even means sarcasm and little side jokes that are funny but don't need to be said.  Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and cast away all fears and doubts.  We have no need to fear! We should fear nothing and no man.  Why?  Because we know that there is more then this life and that if we but focus our efforts on keeping the commandments and being the best person for ourselves and families we will have the power to do all things and overcome all things.  Our fears and doubts won't go away in an instant, but if we read and pray everyday and ask for the the Holy Ghost to guide our lives everyday we will find out how powerful of an instrument we can be in the Lord's hands and all our doubts and fears will be gone!

LOVE A TO SHREDZZ!!

Love,
Elder Wilson

January 2, 2014

Hey pops!

I have arrived safely in my new area in Hedge End.  I am in the Portsmouth zone and my companions name is Elder Green.  I will give you more detail monday. Hope you had a great new year!! LOVE YOU TO SHREDZZ!!

Love,

Elder Wilson