Jewel_Eye

This transfer went by so fast it's insane! Next week I will know if I'm getting moved or what's happening with transfers! It's been fun being with Elder Ahrens, we've definitely had some funny moments together.

So we got a text from President Moffat saying: "I'd like to work with a ZL or Assistant companionship from 6-9 tomorrow night. Any volunteers before I choose 1 of you? :) " So scary! Elder Ahrens and I volunteered. But it went really well! He came out with us after dinner from 6:00 til 9:00. That was pretty fun actually. He wasn't sitting back and observing as much as he was helping! He did some OYM's with us and taught Ashley with us. We gave her a calendar and she's like "Oh, you guys did this for ME?? Ah, dang!"  It made her feel special but it was pretty funny. But yeah, President Moffat wasn't that bad, it was actually really fun to spend the night doing missionary work with the President!

Vivian is a new investigator that we found this week. She is very religious and very faithful. She accepted baptism for August 3rd! So that's cool. I hope she reads and prays so she will be ready by then. The member we took with us was a convert to the church from Catholicism, which is what she is so that was good. He really enjoyed coming out with us. He asked if he could come out with us the next time we go over to her house. 

We picked up a new investigator, Chris Senn. He's 11 and recently adopted. His real mom apparently mentally emotionally and physically abused him. So he's really messed up which is sad. :( His mom was on the FBI's top 10 most wanted list for the things she did to him!!!

We took Ashley to a baptism. She really liked it and said that she noticed how everyone was happy, so we pointed out that they were feeling the Spirit and she really enjoyed that. So it's exciting! We also picked up another new investigator named Randy. He lives in some extended stay hotels because his house recently burned down. That would really stink. But he's a really nice, loving guy with a big heart. He as crying when we first talked to him, and during the lesson we taught him yesterday. We taught him the Restoration, and invited him to be baptized. He accepted August 10th! So that's cool. We're finding a lot of people lately, and it's all because of the Lord I absolutely know that. 

Sundays are always so hectic and crazy. And way stressful! Nestor came to church! He was outside waiting for us when we came by to pick him up. Such a huge relief as a missionary, let me just tell you! haha. Then we found out that Chris came to church too. A miracle happened! Britania called us and said she was outside of the church. We taught her a little bit, then gave her a blessing. We invited her to stay for church,m and she said yeah! She really loved sacrament meeting. She asked me how she could always be this happy, and I said well it all starts with baptism. She asked how she could do that. I said well we have to decide on a date. What about August 10th? She agreed! :) :) I love miracles. 

I love this work!!!!

Love, Elder Wilson

Wow crazy week!

This week was insane in the membrane! First off, I had my first zone training meeting as a zone leader. It feels like such a long time ago now since this week was packed full of things, but it was only 6 days ago. It went really well! We focused on getting the missionaries the tools they need to get people baptized. And those are inviting on the first lesson, getting them a calendar to show them the dxays we will come by and when they will be baptized and things like that, getting them a good fellowshipper that will stand with them and encourage them (and read the Book of Mormon with them). Then we did a really fun activity with dodgeballs where the investigators had to run through an obstacle course with "temptations" (dodgeballs) being thrown at them. But they got different shields for different things. They all god different scenarios. 1. if they were invited on first lesson to be baptized then they got a clipboard with a piece of paper saying "baptismal invitation" on it. If they got a calendar they got a big cushion to help block the temptations. If they got a fellowshipper, one of the assistants guided them through the course, heling block the temptations as they were thrown. Then, if they got the fellowshipper to read the BOM with them, they got a chalkboard rolling next to them to completely block the balls so the could get to baptism. The missionaries all loved it! Then we had them practice/role play inviting people to be baptized in the first few minutes they meet someone. (OYM's). That was effective as well.

I went on exchanges with Elder Conley this week, too. We were at an apartment complex called "San Francisco" hahaha. It's a bunch of apartments brightly colored and slammed super close together. But we met a very interesting guy there. He pulled up and started yelling at us accusing us of being racist and that our church is all about money and some other pretty ridiculous stuff. So that was pretty funny. Then we were going through the park and we ran into Jasmine Cozak from midvale!! That was cool. Her and her friend Janessa said they would meet with us the next morning, and so we did. We invited both of them to be baptized, and they both agreed! Pretty awesome what the Spirit can do. 

So I don't remember if I told you about the miracle new investigator, Ashley Welch or not. But if I did oh well. She flagged down missionaries and said that she wanted to meet with us! So Elder Ahrens and I taught her and she agreed to baptism. That was pretty legit. She lives by herself though, so to teach her we have to bring another guy with us. But she is straight from Iowa so she has that accent. Pretty cool to talk to. 

Monday was insane!! At around 3, a freaking hurricane powered rainstorm came! Literally the rain was coming down so hard that the gutters were overfilling and flowing off the roofs, the drain gutters in the streets were filled up to the curbs! CRAZY. We took shelter in a church building for about 10 minutes. It was even hailing. In July! Later that day (after the rainstorm it cleared up and was hot again, probably about 90 degrees. Utah. What do ya expect. We got a call from Bishop saying that there was a house where a flood happened. Apparently the rain was so hard and so fast that it filled up a window well in a house and the pressure from the water burst the window, flooding the whole basement!! That happened with two houses so we spent our time doing that. We had to gut the entire basement. Furniture, flooring, everything. Man that was crazy. I felt so bad for the home owners!

Well this work is amazing and I never want to leave. End of story. I love you!
Elder Wilson

Sorry it's a little washed out, but this is a little gift I got from my parents! 

Elmer gave it to me since he's the homie.

July!

Hey everyone. This week was pretty cool!

I had my first ZLC today. Well actually it's called a MLC now since we have sister training leaders. (Zone leader council and mission leadership council). But that was super cool. Also, VERY long. It started at 9:00, and it ended at 4:00. But it was really informative. The assistants and the mission president were there and they were training us on how to be better zone leaders. We reported our numbers for the zone and the plans we have for the upcoming month of July. President complimented us on our plans so that felt good. He also called on me and Elder Ahrens to demonstrate how to ask members to come out with us on Sundays to help us teach (for the rest of the upcoming week). That went really well too, so that was cool.

No baptisms this week unfortunately, but we have people that we're working with so they will be coming up soon! :) Jordan, a 14 year old and his two younger brothers and then Nick who is in his 30's. :) We went on a ton of exchanges this past week. 3 in a row! And since exchanges last 24 hours each, I wasn't with Elder Ahrens for a while. it was pretty weird. I went with two District leaders in our zone, and one of the assistants, Elder Quesne (cain). He's from England and super legit. [And single!! ;) ] He's going home in September and he's going through Sacramento and then down to southern California to explore the states before he goes home. But I learned a lot from the exchanges so that is always good. I went to the Spanish elders' area and I didn't know how to speak Spanish so I wasn't able to help out very much besides just encouragement and support! But they're doing pretty well. Other than that, things are getting super hot lately and super busy which I love! :) This gospel is 100% true, I guarantee it!!!!

Sorry, I will probably be getting an email from my mom about how this is so short but we are super late and low on time today. And I don't have any pictures since my camera is getting fixed. (the battery flap kept opening so since I had the warranty on it I sent it in.) So when I get my camera back I'll send some home!!

Love, Elder Wilson

This week

So SOMEbody (definitely not my mom ;) ) was wondering what a zone leader does and what his responsibilities are. I guess I didn't really put a lot of detail into my last email. So basically it is a lot of the same responsibilities as a district leader but you're held more accountable and more responsible. We have to do call ins nightly and report them to the assistants to the president, and on Sundays call ins take FOREVER. we start at 8:30, and go until 10:30. Strictly talking about numbers (new people that want to be baptized, people that came to church, etc). Then Mondays we call the assistants and report all those numbers for about an hour to them. (things get filtered as they go up the line, district leaders get all the info, then call us with the things we need to know, then we filter those and give them to the assistants (what they need). Then they spend the rest of Monday until about 4 they call President. So it takes forever.

Then we go on exchanges with the district leaders and the assistants. We're going on one tonight. 

hopefully that's enough!!

Zone conference was Wednesday. That's where President Moffat, the assistants, and the zone leaders teach things to the other missionaries in the mission. It takes forever. 9 until 4:30!! But it was really really good. I got a lot of good insights from the others teaching, and I know the others did too. The zone conference was kind of centered around planning and teaching skills. That's what the mission really needs I think. Because without plans, nothing will get done. At least nothing productive, haha. 

Kirsten got baptized!! That was a really good experience. It was pretty nerve-racking though, because we weren't sure if anyone else was going to show up. President Swain and President /Sister Moffat! There were only about 10 people there. But then at 6:05, all her family showed up. There was easily 70+ people there. Satan worked hard, but God will prevail!! ;) The service went really really well. The spirit was super strong! President Moffat and Swain complimented us on the interlude (the time when they're getting dressed) we read the Joseph Smith History account of the 1st vision. That brought the spirit into the room really strong. :) I'll include a picture of her baptism!!

We're working on finding new people to teach. We fasted to find new people, so I know it's just a matter of time, now. :) We're focusing the zone on teaching people that don't come out to church very often to try and get them to come. The Lord will bless us when we take care of the people He has already given us. Can I just say that I am so glad to be a missionary??? The broadcast on missionary work Sunday was so awesome. It gave me such a huge excitement to go out and serve the Lord! And get as many people as I can to know of the truths that I know. I know for a FACT that this Church and Gospel is Christ's restored Church from the one He set up when He was here. Maybe we as missionaries aren't perfect teachers, but the Spirit is. So when we put ourselves in a position where the Spirit can radiate from us, they'll be able to recognize that we are servants of the Lord. I love you!!

Elder Wilson

 Stefanie's baptism!

Kirsten's baptism!

The Kings of NorCal

My new companion is Elder Ahrens. He's from Lincoln California, about 15 minutes away from me! We know a lot of the same people which is pretty tight. He and I get along really well which is always a plus. We work hard together too. Being a zone leader now I have to make sure that my area that I'm in is in top shape, and then also make sure that the areas of all the elders and sisters in the zone have theirs up to speed too. So that's a lot of responsibility but I can definitely rely on the Lord for help.

Elder Ahrens doesn't have brakes on his bike so it's really fun for me to watch him trying to go down hills hahaha. There's a HUGE one coming from our house into the area, and so he has to try and slow down by going on the rocks and grass and everything he can on the way down. I had to stop in the middle of the street to stop cars from coming while he flew down through the intersection one time that was crazy haha. 

Jed Heath took Elder Franco out to lunch at a place called Joe Morley's before I left last week after emails. He's a really awesome guy, I'm gonna miss him. And we had dinner at the Hoerster's which was also super good. They had steak! That's a really great family that I'm going to miss too.

We did service for a lady in the ward on Saturday morning. She was really appreciative of it. Then later on that day we had a baptism for a girl named Stefanie. She's 17 but doesn't act like it. She could probably pass for 20's. She apparently had been taking discussions from the missionaries for 7 months. So that was probably a really good feeling to be able to finally get her baptized! She is super solid though. She gave a speech thing at the end of her baptism, and gave a talk in sacrament meeting the next day at her confirmation! It was father's day and so a lot of the talks were about fathers. (happy father's day dad!!) Then also, the primary sang the first verse of the army of helaman song. during the chorus of it, the young men and young women of the ward got up and sang the second verse. During that chorus, the ward choir and us missionaries got up and sang the third verse and the last chorus! It was super super powerful. A lot of people in the audience were crying. :) So that was cool! We also have another baptism coming up this Saturday, Kirsten. So hopefully hers will go well and I'll be able to tell you about it next week! I love all of you so much!

Love, Elder Wilson

Getting Transferred...

Well, I found out that I'm getting transferred! Elder Franco will be staying here and he will be getting Elder Bowie who is the one that Elder Turner went to when he left me! So that's kinda cool. Another cool thing is that I will be companions with Elder Ahrens, who is from Lincoln California. It's gonna be pretty cool I think! He's a good missionary and a cool guy from what I've seen. I'll be in the bennion zone again (the city of Taylorsville). And I'll be a zone leader there! Pretty intimidating but I think I'll be able to pull it off. If President Moffat and the Lord trust me to be able to do it then I can do it. :)

Well it was another good week this week. Makaleigh and Deeannaka are going to be baptized this Thursday which should be really good. I really hope that I will be able to make it back to see them get baptized, but if I can't oh well. All that matters is that they get baptized, right?? Elder Franco will be baptizing Makaleigh and I was supposed to be baptizing Deeannaka but I might not be able to since I'm getting moved.

Elder Franco signed my journal and wrote a rap in it! I won't embarrass him by putting it on here but let me just tell ya it was pretty funny! haha. :) It's gonna be sad leaving him but I'll still see him around in the mission. 

This week wasn't super eventful, but it was a really good week. This transfer flew by with Elder Franco. That's what happens when we get along well I guess!

Love, Elder Wilson

This was the all mission p-day that happened last week.

Da na na na na na na na na na FRANCO!

Haha what can I say, I'm out of creative ideas for the subject title. But Elder Franco and I are getting along pretty well. I cut his hair this morning! We were going around to the many garage sales that the wonderful state of Utah puts on around here, talking to people but also looking for things. ;) But I found a hair cutting kit brand new, and got it for $5! So I tried it out on Elder Franco and it didn't turn out half bad! I even faded it, Dad! ;) This week a Jehovah's witness came up to us and tried to offer us some "reading material". We asked him if he wanted some "reading material" from us instead, and he's like no thanks guys, I'm good and walked away. haha it was funny.

Okay before I lose any of you for this being too long, I want to tell you a miracle that we had!! Sunday. We found out from his family that Nick didn't ever come home the night of his baptism, and so he wasn't at church with the rest of his family. We stopped by his house, and nobody was home. Eventually we went back to the church, worried about him and what we would do. So elder Franco and I prayed, (basically begging God to give us a miracle). We confirmed Aubrianna which was admittedly hard to focus on with all the chaos going on. But directly after that we went back to the house, hoping he would be there. Still no answer. So we turned around and started heading back down the stairs disappointed a little, but right then NICK WALKED UP THE STAIRS!! God answered our prayer. It felt so amazing!! I'm sure that it helped that we were fasting for miracles/ baptisms in June!

Aubrianna's and Nick's baptisms went really well. The Spirit was really strong! Aubrianna and Nick are going to be good members of the Church for sure. It's exciting to see them progressing! Aubrianna looked so happy before and during the baptism! Nick after I baptized him gave me a big hug while we were still in the water. He's a good guy. He and Roy live in a really rough part of the town, and I hope that they don't grow up like the rest of the people over there. Drugs, alcohol, smoking, gangs, etc. Seems like I'm back in California!! ;) 

We went out to lunch with President Moffat my mission president on Thursday. That was pretty awesome! He takes the missionary companionships out to lunch if they hit what is called the standard of excellence. That is basically a set of numbers per week that he sets that have to do with things like baptisms, lessons taught, new people found to teach, and so on. But we hit it! It was pretty awesome. We also hit it this last week as well too! :) Elder Franco and I are doin' WORK! ;) haha. No it really is just the Lord doing it, it seems like we're just along for the ride. :) 

Today for p-day we're having an all mission activity thing from 3 until 8. We don't know much about it, so I'll let you know what happens next week. :) 

Man there is so much more that I want to talk about this week! But we're low on time. So that is the main important things from last week! I love you all

Elder Wilson

Nick's baptism! 

Aubrianna's baptism

 Before his haircut

 Halfway through his haircut. We almost kept it!

after! :)