December 17

My goodness. I really have no idea where time gets to. Christmas cards are coming, I promise. Hopefully I'll get them in the mail today. Have I told you lately how much I love each one of you? I really, honestly, truly do. You have each touched and blessed my life in so many ways I cannot even begin to count them all. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic holiday season.

Well... I was somewhat frustrated with myself this week and the lack of work that our key indicators show. But, thankfully, it's not all about numbers. It's about quality, not quantity. Monday we had some appointments scheduled but they all cancelled. #lifeofamissionary It was okay, though. We had a good dinner with Sister Ferry. She had her granddaughters there. She wanted us to watch/hold/play with them while she finished dinner. Unfortuneately we couldn't do that (even as much as we wanted to) so we made the rest of dinner instead. It was good; she really needed our help.

Tuesday was a fantastic pday.... Didn't do much; it was great.

Wednesday was a mission wide zone conference. SO COOL! It is an amazing sight to see 280+ missionaries in one place. The spirit was amazing; the trainings were great. I had the opportunity to bear my testimony in front of all of them as this was my last zone conference. It was an intimidating experience but one for which I was grateful. We took a mission photo, which was amazing organzied for having 280 people involved. After lunch we had a Christmas program that was put on by each zone in the mission. It was a great day. Christmas packages were passed out. Thank you, everyone. It's ridiculous how much I'm loved. I forgot to get a picture but I will before I open everything. S. Weng got some packages, too... For some reason she associates everything weird with me. (Oddly enough the return address had been blacked off her packages. Haha!) It's been ridiculously hard to keep her from opening them. I am bound and determined to help her have a good American Christmas and that means not opening presents until the 25th. I hear about it all the time. After the mission conference I went on exchanges to the Blue Springs 1st Ward with Sister Lee. It's always an interesting experience being in someone elses area; always makes me grateful for what I have back in my ward.

Thursday afternoon I got back from exchanges and went to dinner at the other Ferry's house. It was great; I love that family. She loaded us up with cookies and goodies and food. We did our weekly planning that night.

Friday we were suppose to do a lot of service and help set up for the ward Christmas party. BUT... It was freezing rain so our parking lot was like an ice rink. The mission fleet was grounded and we couldn't go anywhere. We did end up walking next door to help Danyell set up for her wedding; so we did get some service in. After studies and lunch we finished weekly planning and did some missionary work via phone. We were not able to get to our ward Christmas party. Our zone leaders and President Keyes wanted us to stay close to home because they didn't know what the weather would do. So we went to Danyell and Jack's wedding instead. Yeah! They are married and one year from now I can come back and go through the temple with them!!! It was a great way to end the night.

Saturday we got out later than we wanted to because of freezing temperatures the night before. We knocked on a lot of doors but didn't have much luck with anyone answering... guess they were all out Christmas shopping? That evening was our Christmas performance at the VC that we have been preparing for for 5 weeks. It was really great. I had about 2 minutes notice before it started that I needed to bear my testimony... Okay, I had about an hour's notice because the Spirit told me but I chose not to think about it.... Won't do that again. The performance was great. I really enjoyed being a part of it... Not in the spotlight, though. I don't like that. Elder Simper recorded the whole thing so I hope to get a DVD to share with you all.

Sunday is still my favorite day. Church. Visit some people. Dinner with the Laudie family. I love it! Monday was a great day, too. Taught 2 lessons and found a new investigator. Great way to start a week!

Well, I love each of you. I'm so grateful to be able to remember Christ this Christmas and the sacrifice He made for us. Remember to serve those around you and help them feel of the love our Heavenly Father has for them. I know Christ lives and loves each one of us. Thanks for all you do for me! LOVE YOU!

Sister Wilson

(P.S. Transfers are on Thursday but I shouldn't be moving...crazier things have happened, though. Pday should still be on Tuesday!)

Pics...

1--S. Harward, Me, Jack, Danyell, S. Smith, S. Weng, S. Medel

2--Me and S. Weng; Love this girl!

3--Me and Danyell

 

 

Dec 10

Hey... I love you all. I honestly and truly do. I don't know what I would do without each of you in my life. I want you to know that I know that this gospel is true. I know Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that He loves each one of us and wants us to return to live with Him. I cannot even begin to cover how each one of you has touched and blessed my life. You are my support team for which I will be forever grateful.

We have had a relatively normal week as far a missionary work goes. Last Wednesday we were on exchanges; Sister Liu came to Lee's Summit 2nd Ward with us. Not as successful as we were hoping but we did get to visit Mona, a less active member. She is super sweet. Always super happy to see us. That night the visitor center closed early so all the Sisters could head over the to the stake center (next door) for a dinner provided by the Independence Stake. We provided the entertainment. Us Sisters played bells and the Elders acted out the nativity. Kind of funny.

Thursday we did our planning and froze because no one answered the door. We had our first performance at the VC that night. It was fun. Felt more like Christmas than it has to this point. We had a sing along; I loved that. Got to sit by the Stevenson's; best day every!

Friday we had zone training, which I always love. The Elders were kind of mad at me (not really but it makes the story great). For our mission wide zone conference tomorrow someone had signed me up to sing a solo (HA!) which gets the Elders out of doing anything. I told them I'd be happy to do so but only if our zone leader would sing a solo, too. Knew I was pretty safe on that one. So, now, the entire zone is singing a musical number. Probably not their favorite person right now but I thought we should all get to share in the joy of the season. Friday afternoon/evening we had 2 member present lessons and found 2 new investigators. GREAT DAY! We were also able to teach Shayla, an 11-year-old girl and her brother. It was a good day.

Saturday was a visitor center day until 3pm... Not too many people came in. We had dinner with the Blake family. We got to be there as Tiffany opened her mission call. It brought back so many memories. We went around visiting people then noticed our phone was missing. We went back to the Blake's but couldn't find it. SIster Medel has super hearing because she was able to find it in some leaves where our car had been parked. Miracle! However, she doesn't hold the phone anymore...

As always, I love Sunday. Shayla came to church with her brother. We are visiting them again tonight. We got fed dinner. And it was the Christmas Devotional... No longer the First Presidency Christmas Devotional... More change. And yesterday was a slow day at the VC... Only 2 presentations in 6 hours. That's typical, though. Last year was slow, too. Lot's of study time.

So... Yeah... That's my week. Missionary work all around. This week is going to by quickly, too. We have mission conference and Christmas parties and another VC performance. I can't wait to tell you all about it. You are all great. I love you!!!! Stay strong. Be courageous. Share the gospel!

LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Wilson

Pics...

1--Independence Stake Sisters... Plus my companionship-We're from KCMOZO!

2--This morning in freezing cold weather!

3--Sister Smith!

 

 

December 3 - part 2

So... I had to switch computers so I sent that last email super fast. I hope I didn't leave anything out. I did want to let you know that the VC has a ton of activities going on throughout the month. Lots of musical groups coming in to celebrate Christmas. Anyway, as visitor center sisters we will be performing twice. We've practicing our songs every night after the VC closes. We will also be playing a medley of songs on the bells. I really think we need to play the bells next year as a family; the kids (of all ages) would love it. Found out yesterday we will also be performing for the Independence stake tomorrow night. I still don't like being in the spotlight. Anyway, I'm counting on one of the Senior Elders recording it and giving me a copy so I can share it with each of you. We've worked hard on this.

Also, I wanted to send pictures. LOVE YOU!!

Sister Wilson

 

1--Dinner at the Maupin's (S. Weng didn't want me to be in the pic...)

 

2--Elder Wright and Elder Gleason... Check out his plate

 

 

3--This is Danyell's daughter, Kahlia. She is adorable! She is always wanting us to pick her up!

 

December 3

Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend.... Okay, sounds like Chuck-A-Rama flopped but sounds good otherwise. The best part is just being with family, I think. I'm looking forward to being with you all next year. It hasn't really felt like the holidays this year (A) because I'm not with you and (B) because the weather is so stinking good. It's almost 60 today. I'm really grateful for the fantastic Missouri weather. I don't think many people know how really great it is. So, yeah, it really didn't feel like Thanksgiving. I kept forgetting that it was. I even thought at one point about making breakfast rolls in the morning but completely forgot that the holiday was coming as fast as it was so I didn't do it. I think that was the biggest disappointment of the day; no sweet rolls.

Not too much new or exciting going on this week. Thursday (aka: turkey day) was good. We had dinner with the Maupin family. The Maupin's lived in the Fleming Park Ward and moved about a month before I was transferred, so I followed them around. It was actually kind of nice to be at a home where I know the people relatively well and feel comfortable just making myself at home. When we got there I just started digging through drawers to find the stuff we needed to set the table. It was great! I could actually serve without having to ask where/what I could do! Don't get that many opportunities.

Thursday night we were on shift at the VC. Last year, at the Liberty Jail, we had absolutely NO visitors. It was packed! There were lots of people with family in town so they came through after their turkey dinner. It was really great. I was able to stay awake because it was so busy. In fact, the entire week of Thanksgiving it was super busy. There was a BYU basketball tournament so we had all sorts of fans coming in while they were in town. I've had lots of people tell me that the VC and the Jail are both packed during the summer months but I don't believe them. I've never seen this place like they are describing.

Friday was a great day. We had a conference call with President Keyes and the assistants. It was our zone and one other zone. We learned a lot about finding and being prepared. I love conferences. I think the call inspired us because Friday night we found 3 new investigators. Fantastic! At one home we went to we ran into a man, Kenny, (who may or may not have had too much to drink) who kept talking about wanting to go home to Michigan. When he found out that Sister Weng was from Taiwan he kept telling her to go home. "Just go home, red. Go home." He made her give him knuckles and then twist it. It was really kind of funny. Add that to the less active we went to visit (and saw inside as we walked up to the house) who didn't answer the door but came out the garage door while we were still on his doorstep but didn't get in his car and drive away until AFTER we walked his direction..... Yep, funny night. These are things to remember.

Goodness, other than that it really has been a normal missionary week. I love the trio that I am in. I love the Sisters that I serve with at the VC. I love my housemates. I love the senior couples. I love Missouri. I am so grateful to be a missionary. To be able to help others come to Christ in the Lee's Summit 2nd Ward and at the VC is fantastic. I took a presentation with S. Medel the other day and one of the ladies told me that I was so smart and just made for doing this! I think she was referring to the public speaking part, oddly enough. Who knew that I would actually be okay with public speaking and singing? Man! The things I didn't realize I was signing up for as a missionary. I know I have become a better me. I know now that I was totally lacking self confidence and the ability to be who the Savior needed/wanted me to be. I know that, if nothing else, I have become my own convert on my mission. That I have learned who I am and who I want to become. I understand now what is important. You know, I never wanted to be one of those weird RM's when I got home but I'm afraid I will be. I'll need each and everyone of you to help me through that awkward phase... Ah.... Who am I kidding? I think awkward is the new me. Love it!

I love each and everyone of you and am so grateful for all you have done for me. Thank you, so much, for continuing to update me and let me know how life is on your side of things. I cannot express to you how much you have each individually blessed my life these last 11 transfers. I love you. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. This gospel is true. I know it! Stay strong. Be courageous. Share the gospel. You are great. Lots of love and happy December 3rd. You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Sister Wilson

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?