Week - 7 in Bennion West (SLC)

Hey everyone,

     This week has been quite the week.  My companion and I are working hard and having fun along the way.  As missionaries, we try to make the world a better place by bringing others closer to Christ.  I find so much joy in seeing the change that people go through.  But the only way to witness these changes is when we put our faith in God.  When we submit ourselves to his work and trust that everything will fall into place.  And when we do this, we will not only witness our investigator's joy, but we can witness our own joy in this work.  If I could suggest a scripture to help you to understand my experiences, it would be Alma 29:9.  

      Some exciting news!  The Aspeitia family are getting baptized this Saturday!  We've been working with them for a month, and they are so excited for this time in their lives.  We've been trying really hard to get them more involved in the ward and we invited them to the Ward BBQ and they came!!  I can tell that they are feeling more and more comfortable as they progress.   It's amazing what the gospel can do to help improve the attitude of life.  They are such an incredible family and I can't wait for them to have that experience together.  

       Being a missionary in Salt Lake is so crazy, but so rewarding.  After long days of biking in the hot sun or in the wet rain, the happiness I feel at the end of the day is something that I've never really felt before my mission.  I love being a missionary, and I'm incredibly joyful that I get to represent Jesus Christ at this day and age.  Have a good week everyone!

Elder Wilson

Pictures:

1.Getting a feel for my new bike

2.The coolest people around

Week 6 - Taylorsville, Utah

 Ok so being a missionary here is quite the experience.  We go through a lot of different circumstances that help us to grow and be better missionaries so we can bring people closer to Christ.  As I'm studying the scriptures, I'm understanding my purpose more and more each day.  

      Anyways, we had an investigator named Bronson that got baptized on Tuesday!  It took a lot of effort from the family and the mission to get this baptism going because the family had very limited scheduling.  Nevertheless, it happened with the permission from the Seventy.  It was such a great baptism and the spirit was so strong.  This is my first baptism in the field, so it's getting me excited to find more people to help.  

       The family we are working with right now is our biggest priority and their baptism is planned for the 2nd of August.  We are having trouble finding time to teach them because the neighbors are probably the worst people ever.  They even confronted my companion and I, swore at us and threatened to fight with us.  Their reasoning?  They have none; they are just bad people.  But nothing is stopping us from helping this family get baptized.  We even got the mom to stop smoking and all is looking good for these next 2 weeks.

       When in the mission field, you have to enjoy the little things as well as the big things.  We were out looking for people to teach and these 4 guys were playing volleyball at the park.  We had some pretty intense games and we made some new friends.  We shared a little bit about our message and we are hoping to teach them again in the future.  Another day, my companion and I found these guys playing street ball.  We asked if we could join and they agreed.  We destroyed them with our mad skills.  In the middle of us destroying them, one guy accidentally elbowed my companion in the eye and BAM.  Black eye.  But we beat them anyway.  

     So much work in so little time.  But I love it and I'm learning to love it everyday.  Regardless of the crap we get from people, I am learning that I have to stand strong for what I believe, because there will be people trying to tear you down.  I love the Lord, and his gospel.  Have a good week everyone, and don't do anything I wouldn't do ;)

Over and out,

Elder Wilson

Pictures:

Bronson's Baptism!

I finally found Sesame Street

 

Week - 5 Still in Taylorsville, Utah

Hello Friends/Family,

      The heat here is kicking my butt.  My companion said that he thinks I brought Uganda with me.  "Silly Elder, we have showers here, nothing to worry about."  Being on bikes and constantly trying to find more and more people to teach is such a workout.  But I love it.  I'm growing everyday from the experiences that I am going through.  I never thought that there would be so many people in Salt Lake that still need to hear the gospel, but they are out there.

     One family that we are teaching is the Aspeitia family and they are such a blessing even if they don't think they are.  This past week, their door got kicked in, so we helped fix it up.  We are trying to get the mother to quit smoking and she wants to as well.  We were pretty bummed when we couldn't wake them up to go to church, but we talked to them and they still want to learn more and be baptized on the 2nd of august.  The kids are so fun to be around and all I want is for that family to come closer to Christ. 

       Silly stories, but my companion traded in his mountain bike for a BMX bike.  It turns out that he has been riding bikes all his life and he said it's a great way to talk to people, because nobody expects a missionary to do tricks on a BMX bike. and he was right.  We've had so many more people to talk to!  Also, my companion and I were biking around one day, and to our astonishment, we found a small bag of drugs just laying in the street.  I won't say what it is, but it looks a little bit like sugar.  Anyways, we dumped it in the river because someone could easily pick that up and we really don't want that.  Also, now i can officially say that I ripped my pants.  One day we were playing soccer with some investigators of ours and the ball got kicked into a tree which was right above where the fence was.  I gladly volunteered to get it... Wost mistake ever.  I thought I could just simply sit down on the fence to grab it, and as I was trying to get down, *rip*.  I didn't realize that the fence had sharp posts on top.  I feel accomplished mixed with a little bit of embarrassment mixed with a little I don't care.  But that's the life of being a missionary.   

    Even though I've grown up knowing the gospel, I'm still learning how to teach it simply, because that is the hardest part in my opinion.  I'm learning so much from my companion and I plan on taking these teachings with me to Africa.  As far as my visa is concerned, I'm not sure when it will be available, but my temporary mission president has told me that they will notify him when it is.  I'm just dying to go to Africa, but If i stay for one more transfer, it wouldn't be upset because there is a lot of work to be done here.  I love this gospel and I love learning how to share it with others.  I hope you all have a good week.  And always be the best that you can be, because I believe in you and your Heavenly Father believes in you.

Elder Wilson

Week 4 - SLC Central Mission

So much to be done here in such a small area!  But all is well.  i hope everyone had an awesome fourth of july weekend!  I know I did, because I spent my fourth, tracting, sweating, and trying to sleep with fireworks going off all night.  I'm learning so much though.  The weather has been nuts though.  It's about 100 degrees everyday.  But I feel like it's good prep for Africa.  ATTENTION:  I think I discovered something amazing after a full day of work...  Oreos with nutella.  Try it and your'e welcome. 

My companinon and I have been incredibly busy and it pays off with the Lord.  We have seven people scheduled for baptism and on sunday, we brought 15 investigators to church.  The Lord answers our prayers when we keep asking for families of 6 everyday.  Unfortunately, one family we had on date recently, had a unstable mother, who kicked us off of her property.  All is well though, the Lord works in his own due time.  Everyday, I'm continually strengthening my love for the Savior and the people in this area.  I'm starting to truly understand the importance of this work.  Father in Heaven is giving us so many opportunities to share his gospel, and I believe we are taking advantage of those opportunities. 

This letter is a little short this week, but know that the church is true and the work is real!  Read D&C 6 and try to figure out what sacred gift you have been given.

 

Elder Wilson

  Ps. on the photos:  Selfies for dayz

Week 3 Bennion Heights/Murray Utah

What's up everyone!

      So everything is going smooth right now!  I am currently in my temporary assignment in Murray Utah and I have basically had no time to think whatsoever.  I left the MTC on June 25 and took the train over to my mission and met with President and Sister Moffat of the Salt Lake City Central mission.  My new companion is Elder Goins from Tampa Florida, and he is quite the mission trainer.  Since I am here waiting for my visa, I was told not to buy a bicycle because I won't be here for long.  So they gave me a loner bike, which did not work at all. My first two days were just too much on my mind, basically everything just went whoosh past my head because I just thought it was so strange to finally be in the mission field, in Utah even.  On my third day, oh man, my companion and I got the stomach flu and I was struggling on the bike.  I had to go to the bathroom probably 15 times that day.  And I couldn't ride 20 feet without my bike having to break in some way.  Man, THAT was a long day.  After that, things started to get better.  Since my area and the mission here is very small as a whole, we've been teaching a lot of people, that we see nearly everyday.  Elder Goins and I are working hard to encourage them for baptism. 

     One of our families is a fun family.  What a rambunctious group.  Literally everytime I enter that home, it feels like I'm in a tornado.  We try to teach them in their home, but the kids won't stop screaming and it's hard for the spirit to be there.  It’s a challenge and we are trying our hardest to teach them so they can be baptized.  We took three of the kids to church on Sunday and it felt like baby sitting twelve kids and trying to keep them quiet.

      On Sunday, a miracle happened.  There is a hispanic woman, Chastity, who lives near us that lives with her kids and is trying to find peace in their lives.  My companion has told me that the missionaries have taught her family before, but Chastity always sends them away.  But on Sunday, we were bold with her, telling her that we wanted to teach her kids whether she wanted to be taught or not, and her heart was softened and she said she wants a restart in her life and wants to get baptized.  God works miracles.  She's a single mother with a lot of challenges and Heavenly Father knows her heart.  We already taught them once, and the whole family of 7 is scheduled to be baptized on the 26th of July! 

      I definitely feel like I am growing out here in the mission field and in ways that I never would have expected.  For one thing, my leg muscles are growing (slowly) from all of the biking that I've been doing.  I did not expect to bike at all on my mission and now my companion always has to wait for me cuz I can't bike up a hill without sweating out my shirt and tie. I'm also learning that the gospel is the same everywhere and as missionaries, it's our job to share that gospel to help families and individuals find peace and understanding.  I hope everyone has a good week!  My temporary mailing address is:

Elder Wilson

5565 S 3570 W

Talyorsville Utah, 84129

I love you all!! and keep being the best that you can be!  I promise I'll get more pictures next time!