September 15

I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS THIS WEEK!! There is a group of 25 of us going to Missouri on Wednesday, September 26.  Ours is the biggest travel group I have heard of this far. I've learned a lot here at the MTC but I am ready to be out and about putting into practice those things they have taught me. Most of all, I'm ready for REAL food and a more private bathroom. I don't like community bathrooms.

Every day here is like 3 24 hour periods but the weeks just fly. Our Elders leave on Wednesday morning and we are super sad to see them go. We've really learned a lot from each other and have come to love them like the brothers they are. All five of them will be serving in the Tulsa, Oklahoma mission. We've already got a district reunion planned in a couple years. I wish you could meet them all. Good news is, though, that us Sisters will get to begin our visitor center training. We've met 3 other sisters that will also be serving in Independence, Missouri. I'm excited to get to know them better. One of them is another Sister Wilson. Crazy, huh? Make sure any mail you send has my first name on it or she might get it. :D As part of our training we will get to go to Temple Square a few times. I'm not sure exactly what we'll be doing but I'm excited to see the outside world. :D

This weeks devotion Elder Bruce A. Carlson (of the Seventy) and his wife spoke to us. It was on September 11 so Sister Carlson talked a bit about that and told us to never forget that day. She also talked about the mothers of the Army of Helaman and told us not to disappoint our mothers (and everyone else that prays for us) by coming home. Her words definitely brought the Spirit to the meeting. Elder Carlson talked about obedience--that's a big thing with missionaries. My favorite part was when he told us that God knows how obedient we are or aren't going to be. He knows us so well already that we don't need to prove our obedience to Him. Our obedience transforms us. How awesome is that!

One our investigators this week was a less active member--Brother Johnson and his wife. They taught us so much more than we could ever teach them. He read a few scriptures with us in Alma 13 then said a beautiful prayer for us. Not only as missionaries but he also blessed our families. It's amazing to me how and who the Spirit works through. Sister Harding and I both needed to hear different things in his prayer. We had a small crying fest in the bathroom after we left. Anyway, after that meeting I decided to study Alma 13 in depth. Here's what I found in Alma 13:3.... (I'm gonna make you read it for yourself) Before the world was created God KNEW ME! He knows me now and knows the amount of faithfulness I would or wouldn't show. He had a plan and a purpose for me before He had somewhere to put me. He knew what I needed to do and how I needed to do it. Isn't that great!

Well, that's about it here. We get to go to the temple this afternoon. My next p-day is on Friday. I love you all! Hugs and kisses coming your way!

Cris