July 21, 2015 

So being the sneaky dad that I am.  I snuck on his email account and found this picture today.   Looks like he is all packed up and on his way to the mission home before he flies out tomorrow.  We are so excited to see him!

July 20, 2015

This is Elder Collin Wilson's final email home as a missionary. We are sad that he is finished and won't be getting these great emails but excited that he is coming home!

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Well the day has arrived that I leave England.  I can't believe that it has come this fast.  It wasn't till yesterday during church that it finally hit me that I will be leaving.  It has definitely been the hardest and at times the longest two years of my life, but I have never been happier and the good times out way the bad by so much.  I'm so grateful for all the wonderful people that I was able to meet and rub shoulders with. All of you have helped me to become the person I am today. 

I have learned so much from my mission and am so excited to use it at home. From my first taste of England being a mini middle east in Slough, going to God's waiting room in Hedge End. Chilling with the Craggs in Crawley, and can't forget the blessed Isle of Wight were I feel I really started becoming who God wanted me to be. Plymouth with some of the craziest districts I ever had. Then my 1 week tearing up the streets with Elder Ertmann. Then 4 days in Worthing with my ginger Elder Gunnell. Then there is Addlestone where I feel like I met my family away from home. I'm going to miss this great Ward here in Addlestone. Feels like I'm leaving home now. 

I'm so grateful for all the missionaries I was able to serve with and around. There is truly nothing more inspiring then meeting as a group of missionaries and all singing Jerusalem.  I have been able to experience so much in the last two years that I won't even attempt to typed it up here.  I just want all of you to know that the number one thing I learned on my mission that will carry me for the rest of my life is the knowledge that we are literally children of God and that Jesus Christ lives and is our Saviour and Redeemer. I know that this is true with all my heart.  I know that they appeared to a humble 14 year old boy and turned him into a Prophet of God who restored the true church of Jesus Christ to the earth again.  All this knowledge and conviction has come to me though because of simply reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. That book is the most true and inspired book on the earth today. I love it, and I live it.  Hold to the iron rod and you will never go astray. There is truly nothing greater then sharing the message of The Restoration and that Jesus Christ lives, especially with the people of England. True happiness really does come from serving others and bringing them unto Christ.  I feel to end my last email with the last few sentences from Jerusalem. 

I will not cease from mental fight, 

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:

Till we have built Jerusalem, 

In England's green and pleasant land  

I love you all so much and look forward to hopefully seeing you soon! God be with you till meet again! 

Love,

Elder Collin Wilson

New Email: ccwilson11@gmail.com 

The picture with the yellow tie is from June 2013 and the other is July 2015. Hopefully I'm a little more of a man;)

June 2013

July 2015

July 13, 2015

Second to Last Letter before he is home!

Well this week was a long one! I swear everything that could have kept us from finding did. So much service was done, and even though I love doing service it can be a bit much sometimes when you don't get to do any finding. Good thing I love these members to death! London was also pretty epic! That city is so big and so full of life! I wish I could have served there and contacted those streets! Would have been a hoot!

Some pretty cool things. Big Ben was my favourite and it felt so surreal to see him. Really cool place. I took pictures on my other camera so you will all have to wait for when I get home, good thing that is not to long;)

We had a really cool DLC (district leader conference) were we had a great counsel for the new mission training plan. It took three hours but the Spirit was so strong and it was great! Since we didn't do a lot of finding this week and Sunday we wouldn't have time either, so I started fasting and praying that we would find someone somewhere that would want to meet up and be baptised. Well after Presidents interviews (which were awesome and my last one) We were on the train and happen to bump in to he Sisters from Aldershot and were talking to them when the crazy Finish sister looks between the seats and just starts talking to him between the seats. Was pretty great haha. Well turns out he lives in our area and we are meeting up on Tuesday! One, I love God and His ability to answer prayers and two, I love Sisters they always know how to show off and show you how to do things:) Super great!

So two funny moments from Sunday. First one I was talking to some members about a dinner appointment and then right before they leave she says oh since your going home we will have to hook you up with a few single girls we know😮And then Elder Redd tells me he might give me some referrals and at dinner with the Tarrs Sunday night Sister Tarr tells me that if her older daughter wasn't taller she would definitely have me look her up😵 I guess it's good that I am a worthy candidate for these moms daughters and nieces, but holy cow! I am pumped to date, but the fact that it's actually possible now is scary haha. I'm going to die!

Probably one of the greatest things I have learned on my mission that I knew before, but have had reaffirmed and strengthened is that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet. I have no doubts whatsoever that it is true. Not only have I received the confirmation from the Spirit that it is true, but having read it 5 times on my mission nearly 6 and sharing it with the people of England everyday I will never be able to say that that book might not be true. The power that comes from it is beyond words. My understanding of gospel doctrines and The Bible have grown because of reading the Book of Mormon. Most importantly my love and desire to serve Heavenly Father and my Saviour Jesus Christ has grown so deep that I just want to stand on roof tops and shout it to the world that they live and we are their Sons and Daughters! The Book of Mormon is true! I read it, I live it, and I love it! In the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith,

"The Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”(Introduction to the Book of Mormon)

That is the key though. We must not only read the Book of Mormon everyday, but abide by its precepts every single day! We are Children of God and I promise you that you cannot feel closer and more of Gods love then through the Book of Mormon. In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

LOVE YA'LL TO SHREDZZ!!!

Love,

Elder Wilson

Family Home Evening

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We had Collin answer a few questions about his mission and here is the response.

-3 Apostles met and Elder Holland twice 

-7 member of the Quorum of the Seventy 

-Between 5000 and 5200 miles walked 

-To many friends made to count 

-3 baptisms I was apart of 7 total if you count the ones I found and were baptised after I left 

-Mugged once 

-Really only one weird food tried which was Fu Fu 

-20-21 zone conferences/zone training/IPad training/ Apostle meetings 

-About 79 district meetings 

-7 times going in the temple 

-Skyped  home 4 times and called once 

-24 razors 

-New grandparents, Palm, president and sister Millar, and president and sister Gubler 

I can tell you lessons when I get home:) love you!

16 DAYS LEFT!!!!

July 6, 2015

Well this week was pretty much as if I lived on the sun or more like hell. It was about 90 degrees for two of the days this week and near there for the rest. And guess what we have no air conditioning!

Luckily today it rained and was super cool and I think I finally stopped sweating...maybe. I thought England was suppose to be rainy and miserable. Well the miserable part is still here:). I don't know now how some missionaries deal with that kind of heat everyday for two years. They are my new hero's.

Anyway the week itself was actually a lot of fun. We had exchanges with the zone leaders and I was with Elder Lloyd again, but this time in Staines! It was another great and memorable exchange with Elder Lloyd. We had two teaches right of the bat in the morning. Two really solid people and even extended a baptismal date to one and they said yes! Super cool girl. In the second teach we get a call from my Sisters saying they need me to come to Kingston now to give a baptismal interview. We were like we will be there as fast we can.

They had canceled it that morning so it was a surprise to us. We get down there and I do the interview which was an amazing experience.

When I told her she was worthy to be baptised and saw the tears come into her eyes I was just filled with the Spirit and wish I could have given her the biggest hug. That's probably the hardest thing for me is not being able to give the sisters or other females hugs of joy or comfort. I don't say that just because I want to hug a girl, but sometimes words and handshakes just aren't enough and a hug is the only thing that is needed. So rough being a missionary. After that though we drove back up to Staines got a quick bite to eat because we hadn't had anything since breakfast and then went and did an act of love for one of there investigators and then went to a dinner appointment with the craziest and best member ever named Carol. She was so funny. She has this cat and she calls her Satan because as soon as you touch her she claws you to death. I was like well I'm pretty much the spawn of Satan so I should be ok. She warned me not to, but I go over and just start petting the cat and cuddling her. She was shocked haha. So funny,

Alright so that is not even the best part of exchange. As always Elder Lloyd and I work hard, but play harder. We get to the flat quickly plan (because this was the hottest day of the week) so we can change.

They have a four man flat so we were like hey it's pretty much a sauna in here so why don't we sleep outside since they have a backyard. We chuck the mattresses out there and it's wonderful and dandy and slept so beautiful and it was cold. Well we forgot one thing. To shut the back door to the house. Well at about 4:30 in the morning we see this fox trying to get into the flat. We shoo him away. I then have to go use the toilet and Elder Oh comes with me. Well I finish and go back outside to sleep and Elder Oh comes out a little bit after and is like the fox destroyed my bag. Well apparently the fox made multiple trips into the flat where he ruined Elder Oh's bag, stole a whole bunch of cookies, ate part of Elder Lloyd's belt, and stole Elder Hartshorns wallet with all his cards, money, and drivers license. Of course all of my stuff was ok:) All of us were laughing so hard, but Elder Oh was one angry Korean. He was making some secret combinations to destroy the fox. I interviewed him with my iPad on what he was going to do to the fox and how he felt and it was pretty funny. Great exchange!

Friday we got to meet our new mission president! President and Sister Gubler (goob-ler) are the best! Wow are they awesome and so full of life! He has some great ideas and they are both so full of love! Sucks I only get them for two weeks:( They are in our ward though and they came to church which was awesome being able to get a little personal time with them. He was super loving to me and kept telling everyone that I'm staying for another two years so sorry mom and dad President said I got to stay so there is that;) I was able to get my first date set up for when I go home as well. Brother Jones daughter Elsa came up to me after church and was talking to me and asked when I go home. I told her and then she said hey me to! The best part is right after that she says,"I can't wait to see you in Utah because then you can give me piggyback rides and I can sit on your lap." Haha she cracks me up. We also were able to have a dinner appointment with Bishop after church. His family all went to Utah so we spent the afternoon with him and a really great family he baptised in Kingston when he first moved to England. They were a proper miracle!

So it's been a great week, but we are struggling to find people to teach. Keep us in your prayers and for the hearts of the people to soften to the gospel. One of the greatest lessons I have learned on my mission is obedience. Obedience is key to everything. When we obey we show our faith and when we do everything the Lord commands us to do with exactness we receive these promises, His Spirit to be with us(John 14:15-16 and sacrament prayer), we gain power(Alma 17:2-3), miracles(Moroni 7:37) and we receive blessings(D&C 130:20-21). As I have obeyed the Lord I have seen how he fulfils all of these wonderful promises. Who of us would not want to have His Spirit to be with us more, or to have power to do whatever the day brings, and who doesn't want miracles or blessings. They are all ours to have if we will just follow Jesus Christ and strive to do the will of the Father as He so perfectly showed us. I am obedient not because I can't see, but because I can see. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I give my witness with the Angels that beautiful Sunday morning, "He is not here, for He is risen." I know this to be true with every fiber of my being and is why I have spent the last two years of my life proclaiming it to these wonderful people of England!

I LOVE YOU ALL TO SHREDZZ!

Love

Elder Wilson

Dinner With Elder Lloyd and Carol! Don't mind my fat face

June 29, 2015

Can I just say that i love you people so much!? I find it hard to wake up and not smile. I know a lot of us have trials and the world just seems to keep trying to kill itself, but what makes me smile is the fact that I know that we all have a Loving Heavenly Father who is in control and as long as I do my best I know myself and my family will be alright. Over the last two years I have come to know and understand more and more everyday by what Christ meant when he said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). I hope you all will be able to feel this peace like I have. I will tell you now though that it cannot be found in anything the world has to offer. No amount of money, no government, no popularity, and no sin will ever bring that peace. In simpler words used by a father to a son,"Wickedness never was happiness."

Anyway it has been a pretty dang good week! Mostly because all we did is find. The people seem to be softening up a little bit more. The English tend to be nicer when the weather is hot and nice. In fact the English pretty much reflect what the weather is like. I call it the English forecast (I just came up with it right now). We didn't have to much success finding, but it was one of those weeks where I felt like a did all the Lord wanted me to do just simply because I followed the Spirit. On Wednesday we were suppose to teach this guy. He flogged us and I just had this impression to go to Woking which is quite a distance away. So we went there and had like an hour and half we could be there. We ran over to a less active we had been teaching, but her husband needed a little bit of a break. We just talked to her at her doorstep but it was the greatest visit ever! She was like yeah I have been reading the Book of Mormon more. We asked her if she felt a difference when she read and didn't read and she was like yeah when I read I don't get angry as fast and I feel more calm during the day!

She also has been praying out loud! She didn't do any of these things when we were teaching her, but she said she felt like since we weren't coming around for a bit she needed to step it up. AWESOME!!

After that we remembered this guy we talked to who said his son in law and daughter were Mormons and to come by in a couple weeks. Well that was like almost two months ago so we ran down there quickly. We knocked on the door and this guy comes out and says NO, and slams the door in our face. We were like ok they don't like Mormons and started to walk away.  Then this girl comes out saying sorry excuse my brother. Then another man (with a sick ginger beard) comes out. They were the people we were looking for and their names are the Hookers:) In my prayers I told Heavenly Father to bless the Hookers and how grateful I was to meet the Hookers. It was great:) Anyway they just moved back to Woking and are getting settled in and coming to church soon. Super awesome couple. The girl looked just like Nancy(exgirlfriend not aunt) but with short blonde hair. It was weird.

Super cool day that was. The next day we had zone conference and it was awesome! Love my leaders. President Millar leaves tomorrow and we will then have President Gubbler. Bitter sweet moment. After though we only had two hours to work and we had some solid people to stop by and before we went out I was looking over a list and got this feeling to go stop by this guy out in the middle of no where. At first I thought it was just me wanting to be a waster but I felt pretty strong impression to go there so we just went and did it. Travelled way out there and he wasn't in. On the way back when we were close to our flat and having no success I see down the road a guy who was preparing to be baptised but we had lost contact with him. I love how the Lord blesses you more then you could ever imagine when you just listen to His Spirit. Meeting up with the guy this week so should be good!

The rest of the week was great. Had a wonderful dinner with a former investigator named Keten. He is a great guy, but is a transgender and wasn't interested in our message, but we are best friends with him. He loved Elder Redd and I and fed me for my going away party haha. Love Keten! Went to a born again fellowship that was held by one of our investigators named Ramond. Lovely bunch of people showed up including this crazy Italian lady who loved us so much haha. Was a lot of fun being able to see how other people worship. Different, but their hearts are still so big and full of love. I love them so much! I also had to give a talk in sacrament and said goodbye to everyone because most of the American families are leaving for holiday before I go home and then everyone freaked out because they didn't realise I was going home as soon as I am. So now the dinner appointments are all full:) I love being loved haha. One of the biggest things I have come to learn on my mission is that Love is the most powerful thing out there. The love I have for the people of England just cannot be described using words. I was physically born in America, but spiritually born in this great land of England.  I'm going to miss this little island and it's crazy people!

It is super hot here so I can't wait to have air conditioning again when I get home. Will be nice to not sweat when I sleep:) Pray I don't die from sweating! I also know I have it easy compared to some of you, but I'm use to the cold so leave me alone haha. I love you all to SHREDZZ and have a great week! The church is true!

Love,

Elder Wilson

The born again fellowship. The dark guy and the lady he has his arms on are our investigators.

Dad's Note

In the email to his mom today Collin gave us stats from his mission which are fun to see.

Areas: 7
Comps: 14
Suits: Total of 4 but two destroyed
Shoes: 5 destroyed shoes
Shirts: 13 Destroyed shirts
Trousers: 4 destroyed trousers
District Leaders: 13
Mission Presidents: 2

June, 22nd, 2015

So Collin did not send a family letter today but sent a bunch of pictures.  He is doing well and is excited and sad to be coming home in just one month!   We will miss getting his Monday morning letters.   He arrives at the Salt Lake Airport July 22nd at 8p for those that want to come out and see him come down the escalator!   We will be having his homecoming on August 9th at 9am at our Ward House Chapel in Herriman.  

His look when missionaries freak out about going home

Mission conference

His companion

Just some swans we pass by a few times a week. They are so cute! Swans are very aggressive and are confused if they are snakes or swans since they hiss haha.

Cool flower that grows here in England 

June 15, 2015

Sorry I am late in posting this.

Hiya everyone!

Well this week was pretty much awesome! Monday and Tuesday were mostly finding. We found a really cool guy named Andy that we taught on Friday. He doesn't really have a belief in God, but is willing to read the Book of Mormon and pray. He even told us that he would pray for us next time. Pretty cool dude. Morris is doing quite well too. Met his mom for the first time which was great because she is a less active member. We met her and then she sat in on the next teach and said I will be at church on Sunday. God loves us so much here in Addlestone!

It has been a lot of fun just being able to have a nicely balanced week of finding and teaching. Makes for much better days and week!

Wednesday we were knocking and this one guy wasn't very fond of us asking him about his religion and trying to share ours. It was getting heated real quick until he recognised my American accent and was like I love America. The whole mood of discussion flipped 180 degrees. He wasn't interested in the end, but he said that he would take me on a tour of London before I go home! Before we left he was like I'm serious about London so you better be back. I may not be able to baptise many people, but I'm good at making friends and getting free stuff!

Had a great dinner Sunday with our ward mission leader and his family.

He is the one with the four daughters. It was funny because while we were helping getting things ready his second youngest Elsa came up and started holding my hand and was like can you please come play uno with me? I told her  "go ask your mom first if there is anything you can help with then I will." So she bounds across and asks her mom, who has her set the table. She then comes back and grabs my hand and says can we go play uno now? I told her to go ask her mom one more time so she runs over real quick. Her mom has her do some things and then I picked there new puppy up and he fell asleep in my arms right away so of course the girls start freaking and saying how cute it was that the dog loved me and then started taking pictures (mostly Elsa haha). Such a cute and fun family. Brother Jones was able to spend 4 hours with Elder Holland in a priesthood leadership training and recorded his testimony at the end and then shared it with us and wow was it amazing! All I have to say is parents with struggling kids, just love them and keep your covenants and I promise it will be worth it in the end. Love my ward mission leader! Which leads me into the highlight of my week!

So Friday I went to London to listen and meet Elder Holland! It was a fun trek there because I've never been to London and it is a sweet city! The AP's had me guide everyone to the chapel because it was quite a walk from the Station. So I had like half the mission following me around London haha. Hyde Park Chapel is beautiful and an amazing place! The best part of course was having Elder Holland walk in and just feel the Spirit enter the room like a flood. I was able to shake hands with Elder Holland and listen to him for an hour and a half! It was probably the most amazing thing ever to happen to me! Any of you who doubt or don't think God has once again called Apostles and Prophets again, I testify to you that he has and these 15 men God has called to lead us our holy and truly chosen by God. I have never felt such an out pouring of love for one person before. When I shook his hand I was filled with the Spirit and love of God so much! There were so many things I loved about what he spoke about. We were joined with London Mission which was cool to see people I hadn't since the MTC.

But our two missions were where Elder Holland served his mission. Man does he love this country! So here are the things I learned from him that I really liked.

- We are apostolic for the two years or 18 months we serve as missionaries. Elder Holland is a capital "A" Apostle and we are lower case "a" apostles.

- They send us to the temple to prepare us to the best of their abilities for our missions

- Everything is built around the law of obedience

- When we say we are the Only true and living church, we are not saying no other church has truth in it, we are saying we are the only church that has God's full authority to preform saving ordinances for salvation.

- The war in heaven never finished, it was just transferred to earth

- The road to Salvation always goes through Gethsemane and ascends to the top of Calvary

There was so much more I learned and that was said and I wish I could share it all with you, but more importantly I wish I could share the Spirit and love that I felt in that meeting. If you ever have a chance to listen to an Apostle whether you are a member or not do it!

I bear witness to you hat God speaks to us this day through His chosen servants. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father lives and that Jesus Truly is the Christ and that he is our Saviour and Redeemer. To those of you who are not members I specifically speak to you. This is the truth and there is no other way to fully accept Christ and His Atonement then by being baptised by His authority into His church. I know this is the way and that there is no other way. Christ's arm is out stretched always and all you have to do is grab on and trust him in what he says. I love this Gospel and the light, love, peace, and joy it has brought into mine and my families life! In His holy name, Amen.

I LOVE YA'LL TO SHREDZZ!!!!

Love,

Elder Wilson