October 11 - Part 2!

Okay... So I neglected to talk about conference. Which was AMAZING!! I'd like to try something just to see what kind of responses I get... Will you let me know what your favorite conference talk was and why in your emails this week? I really want to get your feedback before I give you mine. I loved seeing a family choir from home!!! Sister Smith and I loved picking out people we knew.

Also, this week is the 50th anniversary celebration for the Liberty Jail. On Sunday there is a big fireside that Elder Ballard is coming to. As VC Sisters we get to sing at it. It may or may not be online.... A rumor going around that I can't verify one way or the other.

Life is great! I'm doing fantastic! LOVE YOU!

Sister Wilson

October 11

Oh, my goodness!!!! It has been way too long since a p-day! Because of transfers my p-day was thrown off. Obviously, pday is on Friday now. And guess who my companions are?! 

Sister Smith and Sister Weng!!! It's a crazy small world we live in! I am serving in the Lee's Summit 2nd Ward with these lovely sisters; it is a visitor center area. I was really shocked when I got the call. I knew I was going to be transferred because Sister Thompson was going to be training. When I was transferred to a different ward in the same stake I was surprised. And even more surprised to be companions with Sister Smith! To be in the same mission is crazy. To be companions is a miracle. It's really hard to call her Sister Smith. And Sister Weng is great! I don't know if you remember her? She is from Taiwan; we came out together. She has been serving on Temple Square for the last few months. She is our dear sister that had appendicitis in March. She's doing much better.

Okay... So what has happened in 11 days? (Have I mentioned that 11 days is way too long without a pday?) I love being back at the visitor center but REALLY miss Sister Thompson. I learned a lot from her and have come to love her like family. We're still in the same zone so I get to see and talk with her still. She'll be a great trainer to Sister Liu.

I haven't had a chance to meet many ward members. Between general conference and our VC schedule our time in the area is limited. We had a crazy experience on Monday night. We had an appointment lined up with Danyell (whom I had never met) for 7:00pm at her house. A few hours before the appointment she asked if we could move the appointment to 7:30 at the VC. That was fine with us and worked well for our schedule. We went to dinner and when we came out we had a voice mail from President Keyes. We thought for sure he was going to tell us when S. Weng would be arriving from SLC. NOPE!! He had heard that we had a lesson that night (less than an hour away at this point) and wanted to know if he could come and be a team up for us. WHAT?! I thought it was really cool and looked forward to the experience. President Keyes is great! You don't really say no to President so we agreed then stressed out on our drive to the appointment. The lesson went really well; Danyell set a firm baptismal date for 26 October. President Keyes really helped Danyell's fiance, Jack, so is a less active member who is trying to return to the gospel. President stayed after for a few minutes to talk with Jack. It went great! Later that night President called us to let us know how well we had done and to reassure us that he hadn't been there to evaluate our teaching but to see what missionaries were up against; to help him be a better mission president. He also let us know that he had never been at a lesson that he was SUPPOSE to be at. Only our Heavenly Father could have made that lesson happen the way it did. We were not suppose to meet at the visitor center. Jack was not suppose to be there. God worked it all out. And President was not there for Danyell, our investigator, but for Jack. Jack needed his words of wisdom and advice on what he needed to do to begin the process of returning to the gospel. The experience really strengthened my testimony of our Heavenly Father knowing exactly where we are, what we are doing and what we need. HE KNOWS US! He loves us and will always help to get to where we need to be.

You would think after 11 days I would have more to write! I loved the experience I had in Fleming Park. I LOVE the ward and the people I met there. I love serving with Sister Thompson. I love the Blue Springs area. But I also love the visitor center and am grateful for a new experience. I look forward to working with S. Smith and S. Weng. I look forward to being in the Lee's Summit 2nd Ward; I hear great things about it. I'm grateful to be a missionary at this time and in this place. I know my Heavenly Father needs me here.

I love you all so much and am grateful for the emails I received this week. You are all in my thoughts and my prayers constantly. LOVE YOU TONS!!!!
Sister Wilson

September 30

Another week come and gone! And what a fantastic week it has been! Everything seems like it happened an eternity ago but at the same time... not. Time is so weird! Transfers are on Thursday this week. Sister Thompson was called as a trainer so it's most likely that I will be moved. I don't know when my next p-day will be.

Tuesday we had our zone conference. It was really great. They just came out with a new book "Adjusting to Missionary Life." Wish I'd had that about a year ago. It's a great resource, though, and I'm glad they've got it. I was refreshed and renewed and slightly rebuked at zone conference. It was a great meeting, though. Kind of weird to have only 2 zone's there. Before the mission split we had at least 3.

Wednesday Sister Thompson and I had the opportunity to go to the temple. I really needed that. They just changed our temple attendance policy so we can go once a quarter now; and participate in baptisms. We went through a session. If you haven't been since the temple was cleaned---GO NOW! It's a great place to receive revelation and be reminded of our Heavenly Father's love.

We had a slow week as far as lessons went but.... THE CURLESS FAMILY GOT BAPTIZED!! Saturday night after the relief society broadcast. Long story short, that was the only time we could have it. The baptism started at 8:30 and didn't get over until shortly after 9:30. President Keyes was there with about 10 missionaries all out past curfew. As soon as it was done he was rounding us up and herding us out the door. The spirit at the baptism was so strong. Jay, Becky, and Joanna, are all now members of the church. We had a great turn out. Lot's of support. The missionaries sang "I Feel my Savior's Love." It was fantastic. They all got confirmed on Sunday. AND Jacob received the Priesthood. It was a fantastic way to have the last Sunday of a transfer.

I've been thinking a lot lately about God's love. How we all start at the same place (pre-earth life) and hope to end in the same place (exaltation). But we don't just go from point A to B. We go from A to V to E to R, etc. all the way through the alphabet and possibly make it through a few times before getting where we need to be. This shows me how much God loves me because He is aware of each of us and is helping us along our individual paths. We each have our own IEP's, so to speak. I am so grateful for God's love!!! He loves me. He loves you. He knows each of us individually. He is aware of us and wants to help us on our paths in life. Let Him help you. Let Him lift your burdens. This gospel is true; embrace it! Be strong. Be courageous. Share the gospel.

I love you all!!!

Sister Wilson

1--The Curless Family (Jay, JB, Joanna, Becky, and Jacob)

2--At the temple!

3--Everyone!

 

 

 

 

Sept 23

The person who can tell me where time goes will get a gold star. It's Monday again! Can anyone believe it!? I hope you have all had a fantastic week! What did we do?

Hmmm... Tuesday night we met with Austin. He's a really great guy. There isn't anything that I have found that he hasn't done or isn't doing. He's 20 years old and has a wide variety of talents and hobbies. We went with him to the visitor center on Saturday to watch the Joseph Smith movie. He seemed to really enjoy it. He was unable to find a ride to church and his phone is broken so it could be an interesting week.

We met with Angela on Wednesday. She is a less active member that we have been working with. She is a labor and deliver nurse; I love her a ton! She is super sweet and lots of fun. We read Elder Holland's talk "Lord, I Believe" with her. It was great! I loved the reminder that we needed to be true to the faith that we do have. Sometimes I think that we, as individuals, think that we don't know enough. But we do! What we know, in this gospel, will always trump what we don't know. Angela came to church this week with her 2 girls Super cute family. I have been so blessed to be able to work with them.

Wednesday night we met with the Curless family. We talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Last night we went to the VC with the Curless family and watched the Joseph Smith movie; it's a good thing I like that one. They enjoyed it and were grateful for the visual of everything we have been talking about. We are excited for their baptism this Saturday. It'll be a great day. More news to follow next week on that one!

I spent Thursday in Warrensburg on exchanges with Sister Challis. They only cover the singles branch. I'm grateful to have a family ward and a singles branch. I would go stir crazy just trying to find singles all day. Being away from Blue Springs definitely made me grateful for what I have. (ie: my living quarters) I use to think my bed was pretty crappy, not so much any more. And I get the opportunity to live with fabulous, clean people. I have study space and free use of the kitchen. Yep, definitely grateful for what I have.

Friday we spent a lot of time looking for YSA's... and didn't have a lot of success. We had dinner with Sister Miller, Sister Turk, (both sisters in the ward) and the Elders. It was a funny experience.... Talk about random, and possiby slightly inappropriate, topics of conversation for dinner. Made it entertaining, though. We had lots of appointments scheduled on Saturday but they all fell through.

Yeah, that was our week. Lot's of missionary work going on. We've got a super busy week ahead of us but I won't give you any spoiler alerts. Gotta save that for next week. I love you all a ton! I'm grateful for each of you and the influence you have had/are having on me. I know I am doing what Heavenly Father wants me to be doing. It's hard work but it's rewarding work because it is His work. I'm excited for general conference. I look forward to receiving scripture from our prophets. I look forward to having answered those questions that are on my mind. I love you all!!!

Sister Wilson

Pics!

1--At the VC with Austin! (Katy, Ben, Ashley, Amber, Austin)

2--My district E. Hepworth, E. Powell, E. Lowry, E. Thomas, Me, S. Thompson

 

Sept 16

Good morning to my wonderful family!!! I hope you have all had a great week. It went by amazingly fast for us. Our week started extremely slow but ended on a good note. We are busy doing the Lord's work and seeing lots of blessings for our efforts. Last Monday evening we had the opportunity to watch the CES broadcast by Elder Nelson with the singles branch. It was a great FHE activity; I've missed going to those. Wednesday we had zone training. We learned all about referrals; it was great. We knocked a lot of doors and visited a lot of people, too, but didn't have much, or any, success. Thursday night we met with Austin (after having dinner with the Austin family-confusing!). It went well. We had planned to teach the Plan of Salvation but changed our lesson to reading the Book of Mormon with him since he hadn't been doing that. It went well; the spirit was strong. Austin is a great person; I'm blessed to be working with him. Friday we met with the Curless family. They are so great! We did teach them the Plan of Salvation. It was great; everyone was engaged and asking questions.

Saturday was SLOW. Literally the slowest day I've had yet on my mission. We knocked a ton of doors. Okay, not a ton but lots and lots. And NO ONE answered. It was brutal. Not my favorite thing to do anyway and when I don't have good experiences doing it then I am less inclined to do so. We were talking with our zone leaders, Elders Rudd and Stevens, and were "invited" (missionary lingo for challenged) to place 2 copies of the Book of Mormon, teach lots of lessons, and get a new investigator. Well, we didn't back down on that. After transitioning an investigator over to the Elders around 3pm we drove to Lee's Summit. We were diligent in working and showed faith that we could accomplish the task set before us. And we succeeded! By the end of the night we had taught 7 lessons, placed 1 Book of Mormon, and found a new investigator. It was great! We were excited to have our efforts blessed. I know that as we work hard we will be blessed for our labors and efforts. Maybe we won't always see those blessings but they are there.

So, that Book of Mormon that we placed was to a man by the name of Lynn. As we were talking with him he told us it was his birthday. I was super excited for him and asked if we could give him a gift. We did-the Book of Mormon. I think I bore testimony about why it was the best gift and how it helped me. I hope it makes a difference. Lynn was only visiting at the house we found him at, he didn't become a new investigator, but a seed was planted.

Sunday is still my favorite day. Jacob Curless spoke in sacrament meeting and did AMAZING! He has such a strong testimony for one so young. (I sound really old.) I wish it would have been appropriate to record it but it wasn't... so I didn't. Elder Deschler (area authority) was in our meeting. He spoke briefly about general conference. He left us with a great blessing. He told us that if we would prepare and watch general conference in a few weeks like it was 1 of 2 of the most important events in our lives this year then the blessings we would receive would be great (sorry, left my notes home). We would receive blessings that couldn't be received anywhere else or by any other way. It was a great blessing. I know it's true! I'm looking forward to general conference. To be able to hear from prophets and seers of the Lord. I know that we can receive the insight and wisdom we need to help us get through our every day life, troubles, and trials. So, my invitation to you is to prepare for general conference with a sincere heart and real intent.

Well, I think that's about it for this week. I love you all a ton! I'm grateful for each of you and the blessing you are in my life. I cannot begin to tell you individually how you've each touched and helped me. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily. Stay strong, be courageous, share the gospel. I LOVE YOU!!!!

Sister Wilson

Pics...

1-These are elephant ears. I LOVE THEM!!! I want to have a garden of them one day.

2-The Bosch family! B. Bosch (ward mission leader), S. Bosch and Carol

3-The Miller kids (and a couple friends). Super sweet; they guessed my name on our first meeting...

September 9

ALOHA! One of the members of the singles branch says that alot so I thought I'd share. How are you all doing this week? Can you believe it has been a week already? Time certainly does fly when you are having fun. It was a really good week but not a whole lot to tell. We did a lot of missionary work. Some door knocking. Met some great people. I'm sure they're all great, really, but they aren't always super welcoming to missionaries.

Wednesday night we had an appointment with the Curless family. It was great. We met at the church so the Blue Springs 2nd Ward Sisters could come. (That's the Curless family's home ward.) It went really well. We did a review of a lesson we had already taught them but needed to make sure they understood everything. When we taught Jacob we went super fast so we've been slowing it down for everyone else. Unfortuneately, we haven't been able to see much of them this week. The family who is there fellowship in our ward, the Shelley's, have all had pink eye. Sister Thompson and I are unwilling to go the their house. Never had pink eye and I don't want to start now. We've kept in touch, though, and they are doing well.

Have I told you about Joanna's anology? Joanna is the 12 year old daughter. She told us after Jacob's baptism that she had been on the "Mormon" train for a while but that she was stuck in the station not going anywhere. After the baptism she said that her engine had started and she was slowly moving forward because of "the spirit at Jacob's baptism!" It was a great analogy and one we have adopted for everything we do. There is a 17 year old son in the family who hasn't really been on board the Mormon train. He's polite and listens and what not but doesn't really want to do much more than that. Wednesday night he came to the lesson we had with the family, of his own free will and choice, and was very attentive. He was looking up all the words he didn't know in sign language and interpreting most everything we said. Sister Thompson and I think he may have finally bought his ticket for the train! His mom told us that on Sunday he was the one that reminded the family that they were suppose to be fasting last week. He is also the one that organizes and reminds everyone about lessons with the Sisters. They were talking about moving wards or homes or something and he let them know that he didn't want to change wards because he liked the one they were in. The coolest thing of all, I think, is that he is interpreting for a deaf man in the Blue Springs 1st Ward with a couple of his peers. He's getting a lot of exposure to the gospel and is making progress along his own track. SUPER COOL! I love seeing the Atonement at work in people's lives.

Thursday we met with Austin. Austin is a referral from a family in Far West. He lives in our area, though, so they sent him our way. He is a great guy and is really interested in learning. He loves the things that he has already learned about the church and feels like it is a great fit for him. We taught him the first lesson on Thursday night. We extended a baptismal invite to him and he accepted. As of right now he will be baptized on 11 October. We meet with him again this week. I'll keep you updated.

That's about it as far as excitement goes for me this week. I was studying virtue the other day; that one has always been so obscure for me. The one thing that I got that really stuck with me is the fact that I want to keep my thoughts and actions virtuous; clean and pure. I want to go through life knowing I have done everything I can to keep the theater of my mind clean and pure; my actions will follow my thoughts. As I do that, I will be able to stand before my Heavenly Father without shame. I will be able to look Him in the eye; to see the love He has for me. I am so grateful to be serving a mission. I have learned so much about myself and the gospel. I know I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to do. I am learning that He knows what is best for me and I need to go where He wants me to go; not where I want to be. I know this gospel is true. I know Christ, my Elder Brother, is my Savior and Redeemer. I love you all! Stay strong in the gospel. Be a light and an example of Christ's love. Have a missionary experience this week and tell me about it.

LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Wilson

Pictures...

1-Me and S. Thompson at Lake Tapawingo

2-This is Heaven; love this girl! We are working with her mom

3-Gotta have some fun

 

September 2

Happy Labor Day! Hope you are all busy not working and having a great time. Another week has flown by and Sister Thompson and I have seen a lot of miracles. 

Last Monday we had family home evening with the Curless family. They are so great and so much fun to be around. I feel super blessed to be able to be a part of their conversion. Tuesday we had a great appointment with Terry. Probably the best we had yet. He is unsure of what he needs to do and is confused. He is now earnestly looking for a church to join. As always we invited him to church and HE CAME! It surprised us both but he was there and asked lots of good questions. He has a lot of potential. That said, he asked us to not come back for a month as he has another religion he wants to "try." Well, okay. But I did get his consent to send him scripture texts and if friends from the ward come visit him, and the Elders show up... We're not going to let him forget the feelings or things he has learned when we've been with him.

I don't know if I told you but last week we had a call from a woman in Far West referring her daughter's friend to us; he is in the YSA boundaries. Well, we got hold of him, Austin, and set up an appointment for Thursday but he came to church yesterday with his friend, too! He's really great and has a sincere desire to learn more about the church and how to draw closer to his Savior. I'm excited for the opportunity to work with Austin.

Sister Thompson wasn't feeling so great Tuesday and Wednesday so I made her sleep. Wednesday night she made sure we met with the Curless family again. We reviewed the Restoration and had a great lesson with them. By the end of the evening we had 3 people on date to be baptized (Mom, Dad, and Sister) and had set up a schedule to make all the appointments/lessons they need to have before baptism. It has been so wonderful to see this family grow closer together and more unified. We have seen them open up and draw closer together right before our eyes. I absolutely love seeing the Atonement at work!

Thursday morning we did service for Sister Mack. She owns a company that helps adults with disabilities to get support and care. The company has 2 big events they put on each year to help these adults and also a family event that is really great. The Elders, Sister Thompson, and I went to her storage unit this week to help her organize. She has a couple employees that will go to the Hallmark warehouse once a month and get donations. It is amazing what Hallmark donates. All their surplus and damaged or broken goods (that work perfectly fine). This months donation consisted of a ton of music boxes and snow globes as well as books and stuffed animals. It's really great to know that all these donations will be going to adults with disabilities who generally don't get much. Thursday evening we met with Sister Key. She was baptized a year ago and is preparing to go to the temple to be sealed to her husband. She is an amazing person! I seriously wish you could just meet all the people I know and love here in Missouri!

Friday was a great day. we found a new investigator as we walked around. His name is Errol and he is from Jamaica. We're excited to go back and teach him this week. Saturday we did service for a YSA from the branch. We helped her and her mom move. There was a lot of people there so we didn't really do much but she appreciated it and was grateful to have 'her' missionaries there. We spent some time looking for less active young single adults before heading back to Blue Springs to study before dinner. We met with Jacob that night (his whole family was there!) and taught them about the Priesthood. We also participated in a mission fast; which is always fantastic!

Sunday was the greatest! Jacob was confirmed a member of the Church--so awesome! We had 6 friends come to church (that's a record for me!) David (a less active) came to the single adult branch. Dinner was amazing, especially after fasting. We got to go to the Independence Visitor Center to hear Jacob bear his testimony at President's Devotional. (Once a month Pres. and Sis. Keyes come for a devotional. We get to hear recent convert testimonies before they speak. It's my favorite!) President was excited to meet the Curless family because we tell him so much about them. It was just a great day. I came home physically exhausted from the spiritual overload.

So, yeah, there is my week. I love being a missionary. I love teaching other people about our Savior and Redeemer. I love having a whole cruise ship full of new friends. I love that I get to be enveloped by the Spirit each and every day. I know this church is true and I know I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to do. I love each of you so much! Thanks for keeping me up to date on life and everything you are all doing. My family really is the greatest. Stay strong and be courageous in sharing the gospel. LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Wilson

Pics...

1-Elder Lowry, E. Thomas, Me, and S. Thompson doing service for Sister Mac

 

2-With the Curless fam at the VC

3-Me and Sister Thompson--LOVE THIS GIRL!