May 26. 2014

Hello Family and Friends! 

Well this week wasn't really all that interesting except for a few parts haha.  At church yesterday Kiyomars got up and bore a power testimony and it was so great to hear it and see how much he has changed.  He is such an amazing guy! He went home teaching yesterday with the ward mission leader for the first time so can't wait to hear how that went! We also had two birthday parties since there were three birthdays this week.  I had pictures but forgot my camera so sorry! They were a lot of fun since it was with a recent convert and all the missionaries in the ward.  It was such a blast! And then the last exciting thing this week was  I sorta got beat up.  I am completely fine but it was a very interesting experience.  We were saying a prayer with a guy on the street and during the prayer I heard this women cursing and yelling and it kept getting closer and then all of a sudden I got hit from behind like she was trying to tackle me.  She then kept hitting me on my shoulder and back which didn't really hurt.  The guy we were with kept trying to get her to go away but she just sat there cursing and when she saw our name tags she started saying some very crude things about God and it was terrible. She finally decided that she was going to leave but before she did she stretched her arms out and then hit Elder Bognar and I as hard as she could.  The creepy thing was is that she wasn't drunk at all.  We could tell that she was all there but she seemed possessed or something.  Very weird.  The good thing was is she left we finished our prayer and that was that.  IT is so crazy how people will always seem to pick us out and attack us however they can.  Sad world we live in.  Well that was my week!  Nothing to crazy but just enjoying life as a missionary!  It is also pretty nice living with members cause they always update you on all the latest.  I heard the new Xmen movie is good and that a new transformers is coming out.  Well that is my worldly though for today haha.  

My spiritual thought will be short this week and is really just story.  We read in the Bible and Book of Mormon that Christ will sit as Refiner and Purifier of Silver.  What does this mean? Some of you may have heard this but it is always a good reminder for all of us! 

There was a women who had a weekly Bible study with her church and they read about how Christ will sit as a refiner of silver.  After the study she was very curious on what this meant.  So she found a silversmith and then was able to work her way in to see how he does things.  He took her around and showed him were they heat up the silver and basically make it silver.  She asked do you ever just leave it?  He said of course not I have to be there to make sure that nothing happens to it.  She saw that he sat there the whole time watching it.  After being there awhile and having a few questions answered it was time to go.  Before leaving she asked how do you know what it is done?  The silversmith said, 

"When I can see my reflection in it."  

I hope we all will work to become more like our Saviour and follow in his footsteps.  He is the way and there is no other name under heaven whereby we can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

I hope you all are excited for summer and will have a great week.  LOVE YA TO SHREDZZ!!  

Love,

Elder Wilson

May 19, 2014

Collin did not send out a family letter this week but I am adding a clip from his letter to me.  Also adding a couple of pictures that he sent from visit to the London Temple with an investigator.

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"Well things are going great here and just to share a cool story saturday we decided to call random people on our phone and one of the guys said he would come to church.  We didn't think much of it, but he did come to church! HE is from Zimbabwe and is running his own shoe line.  HE is flipping sweet! We will also be having a baptism at the end of this month which is very exciting! Thats about all I got to say. "

Love,

Elder Wilson 

May 12, 2014

Hello Family and Friends! 

Well I just counted how many weeks I've been out and this will be my 40th week!  That is so crazy! Hard to believe I am almost half way done with my mission! This week was pretty good! Started it of with being able to go to the temple with my zone which was amazing!  Love going there so much.  The next day we then had Zone Conference which was amazing.  One of the AP's goes home after this transfer and he was been AP for the last 10 months.  He is 28 years old and is basically the definition of AP.  4 years ago he was a chav (Counsel House and Violence) and now he is one the best missionaries.  Just look for an Elder Patton in a few years at general conference haha.  Also my first district leader Elder Smith will be going home so I was able to see him one more time which was good.  He told me that he would say hi to my parents for me at his homecoming haha.  The rest of the week wasn't to exciting.  We found a guy on the street though and he is super cool.  He listened to everything we said and was very interested in the Book of Mormon.  We invited him to be baptized on the street and he said yes!  We meet with him tomorrow so hopefully all will go well.  His name is Mark so keep him in your prayers! And then of course I was able to skype home yesterday.  It is always amazing to be able to see and talk with my family.  Was even able to see my GG and Grandpa and My Grandma Griffin!  Everyone seems to be doing very and looks happy! I just love them so much!!! This week we are going to be going to the temple with investigators twice this week so looking forward to that.  Sorry for the boring week and hopefully this week will be a lot better for you! 

For a spiritual thought I would just like to mention three gifts that came to us from our loving Heavenly Father.  

1. Creation 

We are so blessed that we are able to be alive and know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves so much that he created all this for us.  He knows us and loves and we should show our gratitude for all that he does for us. 

2. The Fall

Many people believe Adam and Eve to be evil and what that what they did was terrible.  We know though that what Adam and Eve did for was one apart of Gods plan and two an amazing gift to us.  Their sin will be upon there heads but if they had not fallen we wouldn't have been able to come to this earth and experience this life.  I love the versus in 2 Nephi 2:25 " Adam fell that men MIGHT BE, and men are, that they MIGHT HAVE JOY."

3. The Atonement

Just as in Adam all day so in Christ are all made alive.  Of course the greatest gift ever given to us from our Loving Heavenly Father is of course his son Jesus Christ.  Through Him we all can be cleansed from sin. Through him we all will rise again and be able to stand before God and me Judged.  Through Him we will all be able to live with our families forever.  We must remember though that we must do the things that he asks of us in order to obtain all the blessings and eternal life.  Yes all will be saved and rise again, but in what state we are risen to depends on us.  Do we want to be raised to a state of Eternal Bliss or a state of Eternal Misery.  Our Loving Heavenly Fathers work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  That means that he wants us to inherit all that he has and become like him!  How amazing is that!?  All we have to do is humble ourselves, keep his commandments, and strive everyday to become like his son Jesus Christ.  In the His Name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all to shredzz and have a great week!! 

Love and Forever Faithful,

Elder Wilson

His District

Elder Wilson and Elder Smith(His first Companion in the Field)

May 5, 2015

Hey family and friends! 

Well it finally happened!  I had my first baptism and it was on my birthday so that was pretty cool!  That isn't the important part though.  The important part is that someone has allowed the atonement of Jesus Christ to change there life!   It was so amazing to be apart of Kiyomars baptism and to have the honour of baptising him.  I even got it on the first try:) It was funny cause when I had said Amen he shouted AMEN! and then basically dived backwards it was pretty great.  The best part was how quiet he was in the changing room and how he looked at me and said I feel peaceful.  It was so amazing!  I just am on a high right now!  And just to add the greatest Portuguese lady that got baptized last week made me a cake for after the baptism! Everyone sang me happy birthday and it was a lot of fun! IT was probably the greatest birthday ever! The Lord truly has blessed me:) The next day was pretty great being able to be apart of his confirmation.  It was cool cause last night his sister fed us some Persian food and he had skyped his wife and she isn't a member yet (according to Kiyomars)  but she said that he looked and seemed different.  I thought that was pretty awesome! Amazing how this gospel can change us so much!  And then today since it was a bank holiday in England and I live right by the temple we got to go today!  It was super amazing and I just love the temple.  Can't wait to go whenever I want!  You people in Utah need to take advantage of it! And tomorrow we will be having zone conference which is epic! Going to kill it this transfer!  Can't wait for all the amazing miracles we are going to see for Miracle May!! Thank you all for everything and I hope that you have a great week! LOVE YA'LL TO SHREDZZ!!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

 Collin and Kiyomar

After a hard day of service 

Said he needs to start swinging the bat and lift more to get his man hands back!

April 28, 2014

Hello Family and friends! 

Well this week sure has been crazy! I got into the new area Tuesday afternoon and met Elder Bognar.  He is a pretty great guy! We seem to get a long pretty well.  The area itself is very big and has lots of people to talk to in the streets which is a huge blessing since no one walked around in Hedge End haha.  We also live with some members which is really cool. There called the Craggs and they have a son that lives with them named Ben who 23 and super cool.  He will probably be serving a mission soon.  He takes us shopping and makes food and deserts with us which is a whole lots of fun. The place in the home that is ours is rather small but it has a super nice couch and recliner so that makes up for it during lunch hour haha.  The nicest thing is that the chapel is only a 5 minute walk away which is just amazing compared to how far the other chapels were in my last two areas.  It is the second biggest building in Europe.  The chapel inside is huge.  Felt weird being in a normal size chapel after nine months of not being in one.  We also live like 15 minutes away from the temple and get to go there on P-days sometimes which is so great! 

Now time for the greatest news. We have this super cool investigator that they found just before I got to the area.  The only thing they had taught him was the first lesson and part of the second.  And the first day I got there we ran into him in the street and he told us he wants to be baptized as soon as possible.  So the next day we went over and he picked the baptismal date! He chose May 3(My Birthday)!  It is so sweet since it will be my first baptism as well.  So we started seeing him everyday and he is so prepared! He loves everything we teach him and is always telling us that when you are baptized you do away with old life and start new.  He even is waiting to get baptized first before going to get his wife from Iran.  Oh yeah his name is Kiyomars (Qmars) and he is from Iran.  He doesn't speak the greatest English but enough to understand.  He is always so happy as well.  He is even sharing the gospel with others and is always telling us he can't wait till he knows more and speaks better English so he tell everyone.  HE IS AMAZING!  I will make sure to have pictures for next week as well:)  

We also have another investigator name Sonya from Portugal.  She should be getting baptized in about two to three weeks.  She really likes the gospel and has a good attitude about it.  Just got to get her to stop smoking first haha.  We find new people to teach everyday and the area is just amazing! 

Well I hope ya'll are doing amazing and striving everyday to grow closer and become more like our Saviour Jesus Christ.  I know that as we will do the simple things like daily pray and scripture study along with family home evening that we will be able to face the storms that Satan throws at us with more strength and courage.  I love you all and hope you have a great week! LOVE YA TO SHREDZZ!!! 

Love,

Elder Wilson

April 21, 2014

Hey Family! 

Well do you guys want to know where I'm going?  My new companions name is Elder Bognar and he is from Hungry.  So will be my first companion outside of North America! That is pretty sweet! My new area is Crawley in the Crawley Zone!  To pumped to go there.  One of the Elders in my district served there and says it is a great area! Have a huge ward and big building.  I will also have 8 Elders in the ward.  The Zone Leaders, and four digital zone missionaries.  Going to be one big party!  It is kinda funny how my first ward had 4 missionaries, and then this ward had 6 and my next one has 8.  Hopefully the next doesn't have 10 cause that will just be a big ole mess! It is hard to believe that I am leaving Hedge End.  I am super excited to go to a new area and see more of England, but I have learned and grown so much here in Hedge End.  I have had amazing investigators and the ward has been so great.  I remember one I arrived at the MTC and one of the teachers said I cried more and harder when I left my mission then when I left home.  I never understood how that could be possible, but I sorta have an idea now.  You learn to love and serve these people everyday and they become your family and then 4 months later you have to leave them and may never see some of them again.  It is very heart wrenching and it sucks, but the good thing is you can always visit and the Spirit World will be a good place to catch up as well:)  I would have to say that the biggest lesson I learned while serving here is to just be yourself and love the people and serve them.  To any future missionaries out there you don't have to just be a strict no slack missionary when you go on your mission.  Yes you represent the Lord and should always act like you do, but remember you represent the Lord! Love everyone and help them to feel through you the love the Saviour has for them.  Sure am going to miss this place and can't wait to come visit it again.  

As for my week nothing to great happened.  Just took a lot of time cleaning the flat and having people come visit to see if they wanted to buy it.  Pretty annoying, but hey what are you going to do.  I was so glad to be able to spend my last week in Hedge End on Easter week.  What a wonderful experience it was to be able to be a missionary during this time of the year.  You really come to know who the Saviour is and what he did for us.  I love the video the church put on call "Because of Him."  If you haven't seen it go and watch it! It is so amazing! Missions are so amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Hard to believe I have almost been out for a year.  Doesn't seem like that long since two missionaries in my ward are going home this week, but even that makes it seem like I have hardly anytime left to serve.  The days go by slow at some points, but the months go by so dang fast.  One kid is from Riverton will be entering the Field tomorrow so that will be cool to see him! And in 6 weeks my friend Brady will be entering the Field so hopefully I get to train him! That would be such an amazing experience! Missionary life is just the best! 

For the spiritual thought I would just like to end on the Theme of Because of Him.

Because of Him we can all be forgiven.  Because of Him we will be resurrected.  Because of Him we will be with our loved ones again.  Because of Him we can have peace in the life and eternal life in the life to come.  Because of Him we are able to change and become more like Him.  Because of Him there is no end.  

He is the Light and Life of the world.  He is the Bread of Life. He invites all to come unto and to take his yoke upon him for it light and easy.  I hope this Easter we were all able to feel of the love that he has for us.  I know that He lives and that Because of Him I can return to live Him and our Loving Heavenly Father.  In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love ya'll to shredzz!!! 

Here is the link to the video Because of Him

http://easter.mormon.org/?

Forever Faithful,

Elder Wilson

April 14, 2014

Hello Family!

Well found out this week that they are closing down Hedge End due to the fact that 17 missionaries are going home and only 6 are coming in.  We have a really small area so it is has to go.  I am excited to go to a new area but it does suck having to leave such a great ward and a good area.  Of course we would start finding really cool people but just how it goes.  Yesterday we were waiting for a member to go on a teach with us and this girl walks by and we say hi and  then her dog kept sniffing us.  She then asks us what church belong to.  So we get all excited and start talking and testifying to her like good missionaries do.  She got really interested and wanted a copy of the Book of Momon and wanted to meet with us again soon.  She even texted us that night.  So that was super sweet and amazing to see how God puts people in to your path.  We then went and taught this lady for the first time.  Her daughter was going crazy the whole time but she is 6 so what do you expect.  She read from the Book of Momon for us though which was really cool.  The lady is still interested and says she will come to church so just another miracle! Heavenly Father really knows how to bless us.

Had a baptism with an 8 year old I have been teaching since I got here.  Had to give a talk about when I got baptized so that was fun.  That family sure is crazy but going to miss them a whole bunch.  Rest of the week was pretty normal with England rejecting us and having to give it everything we've got! Sure do love being a missionary and doing missionary things haha.  Probably the craziest thing to happen to me this week was trying to ride a rip stick in a suit.  Doesn't work! Haha Elder Fuller fell pretty hard and hyper extended his elbow so I had to tell him how to take care of it.  He then asked me last night if I had faith.  I said yes then he said good heal me.  So I gave him a blessing.  I didn't think I was going to get prompted to heal him but at the end of the blessing it came so I said the words and well now he is healed.  Pretty crazy and definitely strengthened my faith! Mission life is just the best! I hope you all have a fantastic week and don't ever forget who you are! We are all Sons and Daughters of a loving Heavenly Father and he wants to bless our lives.  We just have to let him.  I LOVE YOU ALL TO SHREDZZ!!

FOREVER FAITHFUL,

Elder Wilson

Views from his window

Old JO.  He passes by his friend every day!