Nov 26

Oh my goodness it's been a crazy week! Lot's of little events have added up to make it a great week...just crazy! Where should I start?

Well, last week after emailing and grocery shopping I had one of the Sisters give me a haircut...I desperately needed it. You know those days when you just don't feel good about yourself and you need a boost? This was one of those days. My hair is the perfect length (for now) and my grays are no longer showing. I felt much better and got the boost I needed. Seriously, my mood was like night and day. Tuesday night one of our members took us out to eat at Mama Garden-a Chinese buffet and S. Weng's favorite. She hadn't been feeling well so she spent the whole day taking it easy so she would be prepared to eat-it was great. S. Weng is the best!

Wednesday morning we were at the VC just doing our job; having a great time. Got lots of study in. Great day! We went into our area (have I told you it's half an hour away?) and started visiting people and having a great time being missionaries. We really don't know our area well, the map we have is ridiculously hard to read because it's so small so we rely on the GPS for everything. Well, I guess we needed to be tested on our map reading skills or something because the GPS stopped working! AH! It still had sound and was telling us where to go but the screen was completely dark. We couldn't put in an address. We were able to go somewhere, though... Just not where we had planned on ending up. Because we had to utilize the map we were about 15 minutes late for dinner after having a great meeting with a less active family. Then had to navigate our way home in the dark, in unfamiliar territory. I do well if I can get to main roads but I don't do back roads so well. It was a bit of a stressful night but we didn't get lost and we were able to be successful in our endeavors. The GPS didn't work for a couple of days but is now doing better and we haven't had a moments grief with it since. So weird!!! I don't know what it was that we were suppose to learn but I hope we learned the lesson we needed to. I'm still directionally challenged and can't read maps!

Thursday morning S. Weng and I were able to visit a couple people after we completed our weekly planning (not going to miss that) then we had to be on shift at the VC. They were putting up the Christmas decorations when we got there so other than helping guests we were completely distracted as we helped to beautify the center. I LOVE IT! I love the feel of Christmas in the air and the fact that it's the holiday season again. I can't believe it's been a year already. I was just going along helping out when S. Pyne informed me that I had a call. This is highly unusual. There are 2 Sister Wilson's and the other is the Sister Leader at the VC, calls are generally for "the other one." I'm grateful not to be needed most of the time; I wouldn't want to deal with the things she has to. Anyway, the Assistants were calling me! My heart dropped. It's generally not a good thing to be hearing from the assistants mid-transfer. Especially when they sound all business like! Well, this was a business call. Elder Lunt thought I sounded nervous and wanted me to guess what was going on. I had absolutely no idea! He got to the point quickly (that's what he said he was going to do but I don't think he really got there quick!) Long story short... A Sister who had been training for a week was going home for medical purposes and I had been called to train her trainee. Well, I love training so that wasn't a problem but I thought for sure I would have to move. NOPE!! I am, again, in a trio with S. Weng and am training S. Medel. She is great! She is from California. I feel a little left out, though. S. Weng speaks Chinese and S. Medel speaks Spanish.... I only speak English. I do love the trio; these sisters are great. I'm thankful I get to train again and I'm grateful to be able to still learn from S. Weng.

Friday our plans were kind of all over the place. We had our VC training meeting, study time, then went to district meeting in Lee's Summit. Came back to Indepdendence to pick up S. Medel before heading back to Lee's Summit to visit a couple people before having dinner with a recently returning member. It was Asian night so we had curry lettuce wraps. They were pretty good. We then came back to Independence to go to a devtional with Danyell. We used a lot of miles but we had a good day.

Saturday was a VC day. After our shift and study time we visited with a less active member and her care giver, Gail. We had a great lesson with them. We rushed to the church to eat our dinner then had the adult session of stake conference. It was a great day! Not only did we get to see the other missionaries in the zone but I also got to see a lot of my Fleming Park peeps....and Lee's Summit, too.... Sunday was the general session of stake conference. It was...interesting. We were able to have dinner and a great lesson with Danyell and her sister before visiting with Mary, a 92 year old recent convert, and heading to the VC for our night shift.

Monday was an extremely busy day at the VC. There is a basketball tournament going on here and BYU is participating. We had many people come into the VC that were here for the tournament. Kept us hopping, I love it! About half an hour before our shift ended I was on board to take the next presentation. I saw a single woman walking in and jumped up to greet her. As she got closer, I recognized her. It was Heather from the Liberty 1st Ward!!! Heather was baptized about a year ago; right before I left Liberty. I guess the Sisters in the ward told her that I had only 2 weeks left on my mission so she called and got my schedule to come see me!!! Oh my goodness!!! It was such a tender mercy to be able to visit with her. She is doing great! I cannot believe I have been out long enough to have a recent convert be almost ready to go through the temple. Seeing Heather brought up so many memories. I love that woman so much and her family is great! She is going to try to come back to the VC wit her family so I can see her again before I go. Seeing Heather really strengthened my testimony of my mission. I was able to be there and be an essential part in Heather's conversion. She is a much happier person than when I first met her a year ago. Oh, gosh! I really can't express how grateful I was to be able to see her.

Well, that was my week. Lot's of little things going on. I am so grateful to each of you! I keep forgetting that Thanksgiving is in 2 days...Completely unreal to me. I am grateful to be serving a mission. I am grateful for the things I am learning. I am grateful for the experiences I have had to make me a better me. I love each of you so much!!! I have the greatest family ever. I LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Wilson

Pics...

1-Check out my new style! LOVE IT! (Not really new but...you know what I mean)

2-Me, S. Weng, & S. Medel

Nov 15

Hello to my favorite family! Well, I think you're my favorite. I haven't heard from some of you recently.... Wish I had time to write you all! Keep me updated on life, though. I want to know what is going on with you. Gotta keep me in the know, ya know?

It's been a rather uneventful week. I really don't have a whole ton to share with you as far as work in the Lee's Summit 2nd Ward is concerned. Sister Weng and I are going to be staying together for this transfer. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve with her. She is fantastic; she's got a lot of Asian stubborness and sass.... We get along great! We are working hard to find those who are prepared and ready to receive the gospel. We are doing our best to find and meet those in our ward who we don't know. We are staying busy at the VC. Not always with guests but with studying, chatting, and referral calling. Lots for us to do. Each day is continually going faster. Time is definitely flying by.

Remember that girl I told you about that came into the VC? She wanted information on the Mormon culture to do a paper for one of her classes. I have been in contact with her via email. Anyway, the sisters in the YSA she is close to told me the other day that she came to church! On her own! The sisters had been unable to contact her but I had given her the information; and she went to church. I was grateful to hear about it. I haven't really enjoyed referral calling or chat because I haven't really had many positive experiences but I'm grateful for this experience. I know that our Heavenly Father places us where we most need to be so that we can touch those than we need to touch. Definitely boosted my testimony of referrals.

Missouri has turned dreary. All the leaves fell off the trees overnight and now it's kind of gross looking. It got cold, too. Not snowy weather but lots of wind that goes right through you. I've pulled my winter coat out a couple times but try to boycott it when I can.

We had a Bible study a few weeks ago. We were studying John 2. We talked about the miracle of turning water into wine in great detail. As we studied I thought about the fact that many people would have been at that wedding; lots of friends and relatives. How many of those people that were present really knew and understood that they were witnessing a miracle? How many knew that Christ had just performed this wonderful thing? Not many of them. So many people were present and very few of their eyes were open. The Bible dictionary tells us "Miracles were and are a response to faith and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith." Those people that saw that miracle had the faith to do so. I've attached the Bible video below for this miracle.. I LOVE Bible videos.

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-turns-water-into-wine?lang=eng

That's about it from my end; sorry it's so short. I hope you all have a wonderful week. I'll chat with you again soon... P-day will be on Tuesday, now! LOVE YOU!!!!

Sister Wilson

Pics...

1--Inside the Community of Christ Temple. Been 14 months and I just got there...

2--Me and Mary Phillps... She is 92 and got baptized at the beginning of this year-she is great!

3--Me and my stubborn Asian companion

 

 

November 8

Hello! I hope you have all had an absolutely fantastic week! It's finally starting to get cold here in Missouri. We had a great rain storm last week so the leaves are super vibrant right now; lots of colors. I refuse to get out my heavy winter coat, though. Gotta climatize myself so I don't freeze in the next few months.

Sister Weng and I have had a good week. We really don't know a lot of people in the ward so our time has been spent visiting all the members of our roster. It's kind of funny to be on this side of the equation. We've gotten a few members who will ask if we come to visit them because they haven't been at church for a few weeks. Most of them tell us why they haven't been at church. It really makes me laugh; we really are just trying to get to know people in the ward. We have all their names. We don't have faces to go with those names, though. Lesson learned? Be nice to the missionaries when they stop by... maybe they really just don't know who you are.

Greatest moment of the week? Austin got baptized!! Austin is the young single adult I started teaching with Sister Thompson in the Little Blue River Branch. It was so cool! The spirit was really strong at his baptism. Austin is a great guy; I'm grateful I have the opportunity to know him. He's 20 years old and has already served 2 years in the Marines and done just about everything else. He is a great example to me.

Sunday night I had a really cool experience at the Visitor Center. A young woman came in and told us that she was a student at one of the universities in the area. For one of her classes she needed to write a paper on a different culture that she didn't know much about so she came to learn about the Mormon culture. I had the privilege of spending more than an hour with her at the VC teaching her about the doctrine and answering her questions. She left with just about every pamphlet we have available and a Book of Mormon. I got her information to send to the missionaries in her area so they could tell her when her branch would meet and where they would be. I sent her an email the other day-and she wrote back! She is really great and has a lot of potential. I'm grateful for modern technology so that I can email her. Probably the first on-going positive experience I have had with making the referral system at the VC a success.

Tuesday morning we had a specialized mission training. Half of the mission got together to be trained from President Keyes on things that Elder Christofferson had trained him on. It was a great morning. I always feel renewed after big meetings like that. At the same time it is spiritually exhausting. Especially when we got to come back to the VC and study while waiting for guests to come in. I love watching how other missionaries work so my favorite part was a role play the assistants did for us on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Most of the Elder missionaries are a lot younger than I am but it is so great to see the power of the gospel in them as they teach.

The highlight of my Wednesday was being on shift with Elder and Sister Stevenson. I haven't served with them once this transfer so it was a great day!

Last night we ate dinner with the Rowley family. They have 5 kids that are super cute--and energetic. Four of them are boys and 11 month old is the only girl, Piper. Piper really, really wanted me to pick her up... I really, really wanted to but decided to just get down on the floor, instead, and entertain her that way. Three and a half year old, Kohen, tried multiple times to clime on my shoulders to get a ride... Got creative coming up with all sorts of destractions. Sister Weng was funny. She's always wanted kids but after last night she decided that maybe 2 or 3 would be more than enough. For some reason she could tell that I had worked with kids before. What do you know?! Have 8 crazy nieces and nephews has really paid off! I loved being with the Rowley's last night. Though it might have been a little loud, crazy, and hectic it felt like home. It's what I'm use to; what I love!

And here we are to Friday again. This last few weeks has seriously flown by. Tonight Sister Weng and I are hosting a showing of the Joseph Smith movie at the VC. We've been inviting everyone we know. I let you know how it goes. Next Thursday are transfers--see? Time flies! We will have a p-day on Friday next week, though. I should know by then when a new p-day will be; I'm NOT going to have Friday again. Friday is a stinky p-day. I think that's about all the excitement from here for today. Remember, I love you all! I'm grateful to be a missionary. Grateful for your love and support. Grateful for the prayers you send up in my behalf. I know I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to do. I know this gospel is true and that it leads and guides each of us every day. Stay strong. Be courageous. Share the gospel.

LOVE YOU!!

Sister Wilson

Pics...

1--Me, S. Thompson, Austin, S. Liu

2--Say what?

 

 

November 1

Hello family! Have I told you lately how fantastic you all are?! Seriously! I love each one of you a ton and am grateful for all you do to support me. You are great! Well, what happened this week...

Saturday... Danyell got baptized! It was so great! It was slightly stressful that she didn't show up until 9am... right when it was suppose to start; and President was there. But everything turned out well. She had a ton of family and ward support. I am so grateful I have the opportunity to know and work with her. All of us Sisters that had the opportunity to teach her keep telling her that when she and her fiance get sealed we will be there... Even if we have to stand in the back of the sealing room because of all her Polynesian family.

Sunday is still my favorite day ever. I love being at church. I love getting to know the people in the Lee's Summit 2nd area. It's all just so great! We had dinner with the Jeppson family. They like critters. I had the opportunity to hold a snake or 2 but passed it up. One day I might get brave enough to send you a picture... but probably not.

Monday was great but uneventful. Tuesday I got to go on exchanges to Fleming Park. I loved being back there; I know that place like the back of my hand. I had to work hard to make sure we didn't plan to just go see a bunch of the people that I wanted to see. Had to make it a productive day. Sister Liu and I experienced my worst door approach ever. I won't go into detail but suffice it to say... The man wasn't happy to see us. I was grateful to be there for a day but also thankful to be back at the VC and my house, too. Heavenly Father knew Sister Thompson and I needed to separate slowly; I LOVE THAT GIRL! Just so you are all aware, I've officially adopted her into our family. I can't wait for you all to meet her.

Wednesday we had district meeting. I got to give a training on effective study. I've never given a training before. I enjoyed it. Hope I was able to teach them something. I thought it was kind of a funny topic for me. Pre-mission I was awful at studying! I have definitely grown up here in Missouri and become more matures. (HA!) In all seriousness, though, I really have grown a lot. I know what the gospel can do for me and how I need to utilize the Holy Ghost to help me out. I know the structure missionaries live by is inspired and is there to help us learn to become better; and to learn obedience. I won't follow it when I get it home exactly like I am now but I will adopt some of the principles I have learned to my every day life.

Halloween wasn't super eventful; we weren't suppose to be out. We had dinner with the Tonga family. Their kids didn't want to eat because they were going to get candy. We had a lot of pumpkin stuff. Apples are in season, too, so we are getting a lot of those. Last Friday we carved pumpkins. That's about the extent of our celebration... For which I'm grateful. I still don't like Halloween.

Goodness my week sounds really boring. It's not, though, I promise. Time is continuing to fly by. Sister Weng and I are working hard to get to know our area. Our area (Lee's Summit 2nd Ward) begins a half hour away from the VC so we spend a lot of time driving. We don't have a lot of time to find new people to teach, we really rely on the ward members to help us out. Members are extremely important! I really didn't understand that before my mission. It's a great area. I love being here. I love being at the VC. I love serving with the Sisters. I love serving with the Senior couples. I love that I am still in the same zone/stake. I love being a missionary. I am so grateful I chose to serve. I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Sister Wilson

1--Pumpkin Carving

2--Danyell's Baptism