Y'all this week was incredible!!
Before I begin I will share the transfer news for my last hoorah. President called me several days before so I have been able to mentally prepare luckily! So Elder Woody and I are staying here in Kenner together to continue to churn some butter, but we are adding another elder. Looks like I will be finishing it out in a trio! We are bringing in an elder that goes home with me, Elder Bailey. This is going to be interesting and definitely a challenge, but I know that with the Lord on my side I can do it! I pray for his strength and help. Bless Elder Woody's heart though, killing two birds with one stone. I am humbled with the additional responsibility, but am a little nervous. All I know is that I won't be holding back on the throttle so here we go! A wise man once said, "You can come willingly or unwillingly." (this was in reference to the family thanksgiving turkey bowl, but I have seen it apply to many things :D) Haha just kidding it will be great! Also, my boy Elder Hoopes is coming down and will be in the district to finish up so I am way stoked about that!
I forgot to mention earlier, but our man Taysom Hill who is playing for the Saints lives in New Orleans and actually just got called as the ward mission leader over there in the ward I started at. Of course I missed him dogonit! Him and Manti Te'o are in the New Orleans ward. Bummer I missed him, but anyways he is in this area! So on Sunday night Taysom Hill and his wife Emily were having a Stake youth/young adult fireside at the church. Michael Dailey loves the saints and was so excited about this event. We brought him with us, and made sure to get some pics. I told Taysom, "We better get a picture so I can send it to Grandpa Longmore." He laughed, agreed, and also asserted that President Longmore is the man. Honestly a great devotional as they shared about overcoming trials and always putting trust in the Lord no matter what.
A Little culture: We headed over to Downtown NOLA for P day last week and had a good ole time jamming out to the Jazz music on the streets, hitting the street car, having beignets, and browsing the french market shops. Home sweet home over there where I started. Just over the riverbend!
Our guys Patrick Orange and Michael Dailey both were able to attend the baptism, and seemed to love it. It has been so cool and kinda funny the progression of these guys. Patrick's first Sunday he came in regular clothes, the next Sunday a white shirt and tie, and this Sunday a full suit. What a man! This Sunday Michael came in a fresh white shirt and tie as well, just looking fly. Patrick asked us after the baptism if he needed to purchase a jump suit. Haha who is this guy? We have been meeting with him several times a week and about ready to put him on date for baptism. He has been reading the Book of Mormon with his RM roommates every single night.
We have been teaching Brie Engle and her family, and it has been amazing to see them come back to church and help Brie prepare for her baptism. Sometimes the spirit just has to remind us. That has made me smile teaching her, reminds me of my younger sisters. It has been very great to see the progress in her mom as well as we have invited her to read and pray. The dad isn't a member and is pretty stand-offish, but is okay with them coming back. The Mom, Jessica, has been bringing her 2 daughters to church with her now though. It is honestly a miracle seeing the spirit and light change in their lives. Along with this though I want to share the miracle this week.
Miracle: I want to call it the miracle baptism. Even though every baptism is a miracle and have many leading up to it, this one was a special one. At the beginning of this transfer Elder Cannon and I came from other areas and had the idea to present for the 4 of us elders. As a quad we committed to find 100 new investigators and asked that in return for our efforts that we would be able to see and take part in the baptism of one of Heavenly Father's beloved children. We committed, put our Faith in the Lord, endured the struggles of finding at times, and expected a miracle. My testimony has only grown that God truly does provide and always keeps his end of the promise if we keep ours. We gave it our all and achieved our goal. And here we were, the last week in the transfer and a special girl, Brie Engle, was prepared by the Lord to be baptized. A miracle finding her so soon in the transfer. The process of teaching her and bringing her family back was truly amazing. Luckily for us she had been taught the lessons before, but many months before. As prepared as they come. And interesting enough Elder Israelsen one of the elders in our quad is going home this week, and actually participated in teaching Brie many months before. What a great way to leave the mission field right? He was able to baptize Brie his final week, and we all felt a huge part in the miracle. The lord has provided so many people that we have been teaching that I know will be ready here in the coming months, but He knew with the time allotted that we needed someone already prepared. He sent us where we needed to go. It was a miracle baptism and the spirit was so strong :) It was right after church on Sunday and Brie's Dad and her extended family all came. We are going to keep reaching out to them, and she will be confirmed next week in sacrament meeting.
I know that God answers prayers. He is there and loves us. He is willing and desires to make promises with us. How joyful He must be when we keep our promises. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and the path I have been able to walk with him. This time is precious to me.
Love,
Elder Wilson
Monday, July 2, 2018
JUNE 4, 2018
What a week! It has only been a few days, but I will share a few highlights. I just keep wondering how it could get any better, but I never cease to be amazed.
We have been teaching Brie Engle and she is doing so great. She gave the closing prayer in one of the lessons this week and had prepared several days for it :) We all showed our family pictures and she opened right up. She attended all of primary this week too, and seemed to love it. Going to try and help her get involved with the activity days.
Church this Sunday was incredible, but so hectic! We had over 10 investigators there this week. The Lord is just blessing this area sooo much. They are just walking themselves through those doors, it is incredible. The short bus turned into a full size yellow school bus this week, it was unreal. We were running around all over the place, but it was awesome.
We met with Kristian/Renika and family this week, and they expressed how 3 hours of church was just too long for them. After a great lesson where the spirit was present, they still made it to church! Apparently Kristian bore her testimony in Relief Society about how how she was so grateful she came even though she had complained about it the night before.
Community Cultural Event:
Just picture this: 20,000 yellow mini rubber duckies floating across New Orleans City Park Lake for the annual Duck Derby. The community was raising money for the Food Bank, and we were able to volunteer scooping them up and taking down booths, etc. It was out in the blistering heat, but I resisted the temptation of taking a soak! It was awesome though and we were able to just get out there and talk with tons of people. And it doesn't get much more cultural than with Rubber duckies. I mean especially the mini ones.. Just a good family friendly event in NOLA :) All sorts of butter being sold, and ducks to be floated. Good time!
Miracle: We received a referral of this guy named Patrick Orange that was attending medical school down in the Carribbean and was rooming with a RM. Apparently he attended church with this guy like 3 or 4 times. He just recently returned home for the summer break, and got in contact with us. We are way excited about him. He made it to church in his white shirt and tie and everything!! The man is so prepared. He came up to us at church with the pamphlet he had read along with a TYPED up 4 pages of additional study questions/notes that he had answered from the back. Quote from Patrick himself, "I love to type." hahahaha what a guy! He texted us later Sunday night telling us that he had read Alma 17 and 18 with his RM friend Santa over the phone. Let's goo! He then texted saying, "I think I have found the church I have been searching for for over 30 years." Just can't even believe it. These quotes must be coming straight from PMG itself, I'm telling ya.
Well, I will leave with my testimony. I had an eye opening experience this week. It is rare down here that I have the opportunity to teach someone that doesn't believe in any form of a God. We asked this man many questions about spiritual experiences in his life and even about having his 2 young kids. I am sad to say, but his answers just seemed so depressing. It was like nothing really mattered to him. Anyways, it really made me think about what my life would be like without a knowledge of a God/eternal families. I just can't imagine it. Whether we have questions about certain things or not, I feel like it would be hard for many of us to deny the happiness of these simple gospel truths. It was a further testimony to me of the happiness and joy that come from the restored gospel. I love y'all and hope you have a blessed week! Ya herrrrd me?
Love,
Elder Wilson
We have been teaching Brie Engle and she is doing so great. She gave the closing prayer in one of the lessons this week and had prepared several days for it :) We all showed our family pictures and she opened right up. She attended all of primary this week too, and seemed to love it. Going to try and help her get involved with the activity days.
Church this Sunday was incredible, but so hectic! We had over 10 investigators there this week. The Lord is just blessing this area sooo much. They are just walking themselves through those doors, it is incredible. The short bus turned into a full size yellow school bus this week, it was unreal. We were running around all over the place, but it was awesome.
We met with Kristian/Renika and family this week, and they expressed how 3 hours of church was just too long for them. After a great lesson where the spirit was present, they still made it to church! Apparently Kristian bore her testimony in Relief Society about how how she was so grateful she came even though she had complained about it the night before.
Community Cultural Event:
Just picture this: 20,000 yellow mini rubber duckies floating across New Orleans City Park Lake for the annual Duck Derby. The community was raising money for the Food Bank, and we were able to volunteer scooping them up and taking down booths, etc. It was out in the blistering heat, but I resisted the temptation of taking a soak! It was awesome though and we were able to just get out there and talk with tons of people. And it doesn't get much more cultural than with Rubber duckies. I mean especially the mini ones.. Just a good family friendly event in NOLA :) All sorts of butter being sold, and ducks to be floated. Good time!
Miracle: We received a referral of this guy named Patrick Orange that was attending medical school down in the Carribbean and was rooming with a RM. Apparently he attended church with this guy like 3 or 4 times. He just recently returned home for the summer break, and got in contact with us. We are way excited about him. He made it to church in his white shirt and tie and everything!! The man is so prepared. He came up to us at church with the pamphlet he had read along with a TYPED up 4 pages of additional study questions/notes that he had answered from the back. Quote from Patrick himself, "I love to type." hahahaha what a guy! He texted us later Sunday night telling us that he had read Alma 17 and 18 with his RM friend Santa over the phone. Let's goo! He then texted saying, "I think I have found the church I have been searching for for over 30 years." Just can't even believe it. These quotes must be coming straight from PMG itself, I'm telling ya.
Well, I will leave with my testimony. I had an eye opening experience this week. It is rare down here that I have the opportunity to teach someone that doesn't believe in any form of a God. We asked this man many questions about spiritual experiences in his life and even about having his 2 young kids. I am sad to say, but his answers just seemed so depressing. It was like nothing really mattered to him. Anyways, it really made me think about what my life would be like without a knowledge of a God/eternal families. I just can't imagine it. Whether we have questions about certain things or not, I feel like it would be hard for many of us to deny the happiness of these simple gospel truths. It was a further testimony to me of the happiness and joy that come from the restored gospel. I love y'all and hope you have a blessed week! Ya herrrrd me?
Love,
Elder Wilson
MAY 30, 2018
Hey y'all,
This week has been crazy with Memorial Day on Monday and Zone Conference on Tuesday, but it was a great week! I never know where to start, but honestly everyday as a missionary is a highlight so we'll see what I pull out this week.
A few highlights:
Exchanges: I had the chance this week to go down the BAYOU of Louisiana down in the Houma/Thibodeaux area. Just straight Cajuns down there it was awesome! Tons of turtles, and ventured to see our friend "Big AL" a big ole gator. One example: We were helping this guy get turtles out of this pond with a rope/cage, and then weeding around it. And out of no where we hear him yelling across the grass, but had no idea what he was saying. We found out shortly he was saying "Cooley get the turtles out of the cage." But it sounded more like "Cullooo geda turdas frm da cashge." haha and that doesn't even do it justice.
So Rodney Hollis turns out to be one of the greatest member missionaries this side of the Mississippi and he doesn't even attend church haha. Let me just help y'all re picture this man. 5 foot 1, like 250 lbs totally jacked out of his his mind. Total swoledier. He showed us this video of him benching 500 lbs. Just good gravy. Anyways, loves the bible and loves the Lord. Also the funniest guy. He told us that when he was baptized, "They had me in a nice warm swimming pool and had me up on the big screen broad casted to Salt Lake City. " Lol we think he was talking about the big mirror above the font :) I love the South. Some of the quotes from this man are just too good.
We show up for our meeting with him, and he invites us in only to introduce us to this 18 year old kid that is preparing to go into the marines in the fall. Rodney's first sentence, "My brothers this is Michael and he is hungering for the Lord. Teach him the gospel." Hahaha let's goo!! We were so stoked! Let's just say like many down in the South Rodney isn't a man with few words, so the first lesson we were mostly just quoting bible scriptures and gaining that trust with Michael. Rodney just starts preaching too haha. So at the end of the visit, we were like, "Rodney you gotta come to church with us tomorrow, and bring Michael with you." Rodney was like, "My brothers in Christ, I have other commitments at another church, but y'all take Michael with you." haha we will keep working with Rodney bless his heart, because this man could bring some influential Louisianians into the church. And he has already set us up! After the lesson Rodney said he wanted everyone to see us with him, so he started waling down the street with us haha. At one point he was yellling down the street saying, "These are the Lord's anointed sharing God's word." Just imagine this man yelling that :D
We got Michael a ride to church, and he loved it. He is sooo prepared it is incredible! As we walked into the church with him, he stopped outside and just stared at the sign "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." It was familiar to him, which isn't surprising, but way cool. We asked him what he thought about church, since it was kinda a lot all at once. He said, that the moment he walked in he felt something different: the spirit of the Lord was there, and he recognized it.
Miracle:
We were tracting a few streets that we had prayed about, and were having great success. We felt like we needed to hit a different street, and ended up knocking on this door and this older lady invited us right in. (Always a pleasant surprise when someone just up and lets you in without even introducing yourself) Well, turns out she is a member of the church, and immediately asked us: "So y'all are here to teach Brie right?" Elder Woody and I turned to each other having no idea what was going on haha. Turns out Brie had been previously taught by missionaries and their family is semi active. Brie was visiting her grandma that night, but isn't usually there since her house is on the other side of town. So we are going to start teaching her since she is almost 10, and hopefully help her family start coming back to church. She is a way nice little girl, and she has a 13 year old sister as well. Brie's dad isn't a member either, so we are going to try and make steps there as well. It was a total miracle, as we had no idea that this family was ready to receive the missionaries. They made it to church too :) I love being in the service of the Lord, being guided by him each and everyday. There is just no denying the guidance we receive on the Lord's errand, it is amazing.
I love this quote by President Monson and I think it doesn't just apply to missionaries, "Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change." I know we have a Heavenly Father that is very aware of each of us.
I could continue to share the spiritual highlights, but I will close with my experience yesterday at Zone Conference. It was a powerful meeting, and spiritually refreshing. Many testimonies were shared, and that was a spiritual high for me. The spirit was so strong and I was grateful for the reminder of my own personal love for my mission as other missionaries bore testimony at the close of theirs. I will forever cherish this journey, and am so grateful I can continue to serve Him. Glad my mission call has been extended to 2020 ;) Now I will really become a Southerner. Hahaha jk don't worry Mom! I love y'all and I love my Heavenly Father.
Love,
Elder Wilson
This week has been crazy with Memorial Day on Monday and Zone Conference on Tuesday, but it was a great week! I never know where to start, but honestly everyday as a missionary is a highlight so we'll see what I pull out this week.
A few highlights:
Exchanges: I had the chance this week to go down the BAYOU of Louisiana down in the Houma/Thibodeaux area. Just straight Cajuns down there it was awesome! Tons of turtles, and ventured to see our friend "Big AL" a big ole gator. One example: We were helping this guy get turtles out of this pond with a rope/cage, and then weeding around it. And out of no where we hear him yelling across the grass, but had no idea what he was saying. We found out shortly he was saying "Cooley get the turtles out of the cage." But it sounded more like "Cullooo geda turdas frm da cashge." haha and that doesn't even do it justice.
So Rodney Hollis turns out to be one of the greatest member missionaries this side of the Mississippi and he doesn't even attend church haha. Let me just help y'all re picture this man. 5 foot 1, like 250 lbs totally jacked out of his his mind. Total swoledier. He showed us this video of him benching 500 lbs. Just good gravy. Anyways, loves the bible and loves the Lord. Also the funniest guy. He told us that when he was baptized, "They had me in a nice warm swimming pool and had me up on the big screen broad casted to Salt Lake City. " Lol we think he was talking about the big mirror above the font :) I love the South. Some of the quotes from this man are just too good.
We show up for our meeting with him, and he invites us in only to introduce us to this 18 year old kid that is preparing to go into the marines in the fall. Rodney's first sentence, "My brothers this is Michael and he is hungering for the Lord. Teach him the gospel." Hahaha let's goo!! We were so stoked! Let's just say like many down in the South Rodney isn't a man with few words, so the first lesson we were mostly just quoting bible scriptures and gaining that trust with Michael. Rodney just starts preaching too haha. So at the end of the visit, we were like, "Rodney you gotta come to church with us tomorrow, and bring Michael with you." Rodney was like, "My brothers in Christ, I have other commitments at another church, but y'all take Michael with you." haha we will keep working with Rodney bless his heart, because this man could bring some influential Louisianians into the church. And he has already set us up! After the lesson Rodney said he wanted everyone to see us with him, so he started waling down the street with us haha. At one point he was yellling down the street saying, "These are the Lord's anointed sharing God's word." Just imagine this man yelling that :D
We got Michael a ride to church, and he loved it. He is sooo prepared it is incredible! As we walked into the church with him, he stopped outside and just stared at the sign "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." It was familiar to him, which isn't surprising, but way cool. We asked him what he thought about church, since it was kinda a lot all at once. He said, that the moment he walked in he felt something different: the spirit of the Lord was there, and he recognized it.
Miracle:
We were tracting a few streets that we had prayed about, and were having great success. We felt like we needed to hit a different street, and ended up knocking on this door and this older lady invited us right in. (Always a pleasant surprise when someone just up and lets you in without even introducing yourself) Well, turns out she is a member of the church, and immediately asked us: "So y'all are here to teach Brie right?" Elder Woody and I turned to each other having no idea what was going on haha. Turns out Brie had been previously taught by missionaries and their family is semi active. Brie was visiting her grandma that night, but isn't usually there since her house is on the other side of town. So we are going to start teaching her since she is almost 10, and hopefully help her family start coming back to church. She is a way nice little girl, and she has a 13 year old sister as well. Brie's dad isn't a member either, so we are going to try and make steps there as well. It was a total miracle, as we had no idea that this family was ready to receive the missionaries. They made it to church too :) I love being in the service of the Lord, being guided by him each and everyday. There is just no denying the guidance we receive on the Lord's errand, it is amazing.
I love this quote by President Monson and I think it doesn't just apply to missionaries, "Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change." I know we have a Heavenly Father that is very aware of each of us.
I could continue to share the spiritual highlights, but I will close with my experience yesterday at Zone Conference. It was a powerful meeting, and spiritually refreshing. Many testimonies were shared, and that was a spiritual high for me. The spirit was so strong and I was grateful for the reminder of my own personal love for my mission as other missionaries bore testimony at the close of theirs. I will forever cherish this journey, and am so grateful I can continue to serve Him. Glad my mission call has been extended to 2020 ;) Now I will really become a Southerner. Hahaha jk don't worry Mom! I love y'all and I love my Heavenly Father.
Love,
Elder Wilson
MAY 21, 2018
Hey Family and friends!
This week was just another incredible week! So many amazing experiences to share, and the good times just keep rolling down here in the South.
First and foremost, just picture this: A white and orange short bus (like literally a bus haha) pulling into the church parking lot with a family of 5 dressed and ready for church. Just a sight to see let me tell you. It was awesome! Heavenly Father has really been blessing this area already. We have been doing this neighborhood "bible study" which just ends up being a Book of Mormon study haha, and all the neighbors trickle in and out. We went one Saturday, and told the family we'd be back in 20 minutes, and to invite everyone they could. We came back and several other neighborhood kids were over ready to study. It turned out great! We have been studying a lot together about the Savior and his Atonement especially in Alma 7. I mean everyone down here loves Jesus, so what better topic am I right? So this Saturday we really invited for church, and luckily a member has a big bus and was willing to go and pick everyone up for church. :) It was way awesome, and they seemed to enjoy it! It was the mom, Kristian, her daughter Renika, son Benny, and 2 younger daughters Lamyra and Mylove. Definitely a little different from what they are used to being Southern Baptist, but we think they liked it and felt the spirit! In Elder's Quorum we were talking about priesthood blessings, and Benny asked if he could receive one. So right there in the middle of EQ we performed a priesthood blessing for Benny. That was way cool. He is 18, and we invited him to the game night and volleyball YSA activities this week.
I received a call from Chris and Paige ( investigators up in Mandeville) saying that Chris is really making those steps to be baptized, and Paige is not far behind him. They said that they have been praying about getting married, and are willing to just do whatever they need to do. Apparently Chris was like, "well I immediately went over to the courthouse to figure out the paperwork I need to sign and the stuff I need to do to make this official so that I can get baptized." haha let's gooo! Anyways, so I was way excited to hear that, but the shocking thing was when they told me that I was an ordained minister, and that they want me to perform the wedding.....!!...Like what? So we'll see what happens with some counsel from the mission President, but sounds like it might be a possibility. Apparently Elder Jensen talked with President Varner and it sounded like it could happen. Haha so I may or may not be conducting a marriage ceremony in the next few weeks and marrying them! Can you just imagine that? Good gravy. Haha who knows though bless my heart, but how cool would that be? Regardless I was very touched when they told me they wanted me to do it if I could. They are amazing!
Miracle:
We were out contacting some LA members, and came across this lady named Diana. After some hard struggles she hasn't been to church in over 20 years. She hasn't even had contact with anyone in the church for years. However, her son actively attends every week. She has been telling her son the last few months that she will be coming back to church soon. She had made a resolution with Heavenly Father that she would be coming back to church this summer. Well, what does He do? He sends the missionaries on May 20th in the summer! She invited us right in and we had a great visit with her. She recognized the miracle of us being there, and we testified using the scripture in Alma 26:37. I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father answers prayers. One of the most incredible feelings of joy has to be being led by the spirit to answer someone's prayer.
Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy came to the mission this week and had a MLC meeting with a group of us missionaries. I was grateful for the opportunity to attend, because it was such an inspiring meeting. He was dropping some serious spiritual nuggets that is for sure. I will share a few highlights:
-In order to BE like Jesus Christ you must first DO as he does.
-Success is going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.
-The battle is His, so leave the worrying to him.
-Teach the doctrine and leave the investigator at the cross roads with the influence of the Holy Ghost. The decision is theirs, but the Holy Ghost is the master teacher to help them make the right decision.
Those were just a few of the incredible insights that I believe can be applied to any aspect of life. So many personal insights for me, and I am so grateful for how the answers to life's questions truly are found in the scriptures you just have to look for them in the right way.
Love y'all. Stay prayed up and blessed!
Love,
Elder Wilson
This week was just another incredible week! So many amazing experiences to share, and the good times just keep rolling down here in the South.
First and foremost, just picture this: A white and orange short bus (like literally a bus haha) pulling into the church parking lot with a family of 5 dressed and ready for church. Just a sight to see let me tell you. It was awesome! Heavenly Father has really been blessing this area already. We have been doing this neighborhood "bible study" which just ends up being a Book of Mormon study haha, and all the neighbors trickle in and out. We went one Saturday, and told the family we'd be back in 20 minutes, and to invite everyone they could. We came back and several other neighborhood kids were over ready to study. It turned out great! We have been studying a lot together about the Savior and his Atonement especially in Alma 7. I mean everyone down here loves Jesus, so what better topic am I right? So this Saturday we really invited for church, and luckily a member has a big bus and was willing to go and pick everyone up for church. :) It was way awesome, and they seemed to enjoy it! It was the mom, Kristian, her daughter Renika, son Benny, and 2 younger daughters Lamyra and Mylove. Definitely a little different from what they are used to being Southern Baptist, but we think they liked it and felt the spirit! In Elder's Quorum we were talking about priesthood blessings, and Benny asked if he could receive one. So right there in the middle of EQ we performed a priesthood blessing for Benny. That was way cool. He is 18, and we invited him to the game night and volleyball YSA activities this week.
I received a call from Chris and Paige ( investigators up in Mandeville) saying that Chris is really making those steps to be baptized, and Paige is not far behind him. They said that they have been praying about getting married, and are willing to just do whatever they need to do. Apparently Chris was like, "well I immediately went over to the courthouse to figure out the paperwork I need to sign and the stuff I need to do to make this official so that I can get baptized." haha let's gooo! Anyways, so I was way excited to hear that, but the shocking thing was when they told me that I was an ordained minister, and that they want me to perform the wedding.....!!...Like what? So we'll see what happens with some counsel from the mission President, but sounds like it might be a possibility. Apparently Elder Jensen talked with President Varner and it sounded like it could happen. Haha so I may or may not be conducting a marriage ceremony in the next few weeks and marrying them! Can you just imagine that? Good gravy. Haha who knows though bless my heart, but how cool would that be? Regardless I was very touched when they told me they wanted me to do it if I could. They are amazing!
Miracle:
We were out contacting some LA members, and came across this lady named Diana. After some hard struggles she hasn't been to church in over 20 years. She hasn't even had contact with anyone in the church for years. However, her son actively attends every week. She has been telling her son the last few months that she will be coming back to church soon. She had made a resolution with Heavenly Father that she would be coming back to church this summer. Well, what does He do? He sends the missionaries on May 20th in the summer! She invited us right in and we had a great visit with her. She recognized the miracle of us being there, and we testified using the scripture in Alma 26:37. I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father answers prayers. One of the most incredible feelings of joy has to be being led by the spirit to answer someone's prayer.
Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy came to the mission this week and had a MLC meeting with a group of us missionaries. I was grateful for the opportunity to attend, because it was such an inspiring meeting. He was dropping some serious spiritual nuggets that is for sure. I will share a few highlights:
-In order to BE like Jesus Christ you must first DO as he does.
-Success is going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.
-The battle is His, so leave the worrying to him.
-Teach the doctrine and leave the investigator at the cross roads with the influence of the Holy Ghost. The decision is theirs, but the Holy Ghost is the master teacher to help them make the right decision.
Those were just a few of the incredible insights that I believe can be applied to any aspect of life. So many personal insights for me, and I am so grateful for how the answers to life's questions truly are found in the scriptures you just have to look for them in the right way.
Love y'all. Stay prayed up and blessed!
Love,
Elder Wilson
MAY 14, 2018
Hey y'all,
It was so great skyping the family yesterday!! Looks like everyone is doing so well. Happy Mother's Day, love you Mom. Could hardly recognize Chris and Mike, but with the weight gain and everything down here in Louisiana I guess I can't say much haha ;) Things here are really turning and burning, but I will just share a couple experiences for this week.
Miracle:
We were doing service at the Food bank in Metairie, and one of the members of the ward came with us. We met so many way cool people. So Nohemi (one of the members) gets talking to this girl working there with us and invites her to get some food afterward. So we end up going to a little fast food restaurant, and Jess (the volunteer we met) came with us. We had a great time talking with her and getting to know her and then like 30 mins in ( even after we had been explaining our missions/leaving for 2 years, etc) she tells us that she is Catholic, but after moving out and going to school at LSU she started questioning it. Anyways, we end up asking her if she had ever attended a Mormon church, and she immediately gets red in the face, eyes widen, and her mouth drops. She was like, "Wait....y'all are Mormons?" hahahaha!! We all busted up laughing, because she had no idea we were Mormons (and Mormon missionaries especially haha). She seriously thought Mormons were crazy weird people and was so confused, it was so funny. The miracle of the story though is that she attended LSU, and after we told her that I served there 1 year ago she said she remembers me on Free Speech alley!!! It was funny though, because she admitted to taking a pass along card and just trying to avoid all eye contact every other time she walked passed and we were there. Haha! She was so embarrassed, but now realizes she just had no idea what we were all about and what we were doing. She expressed interest in coming to church next week too, so we are excited. Been thinking about how cool that would be if I was meant to teach her, and just took a couple opportunities.
Funny tracting story:
We we were down in the hood of Kenner, just minding our P's and Q's, out walking down this street. We made sure to park our car in a different location as well and hit the road on foot haha. So we are trying to contact a people on the roster, and street contact, etc. One of the names we are looking for is this guy named Rodney Hollis. So we are talking to tons of people and eventually come walking passed this car with a few people standing outside of it. One guy waves at us and basically tells us to keep up the good work and the people down here need Jesus haha. We decided to stop and talk with him of course, and turns out the man's name is Rodney. So I'm like, Rodney Hollis? And everyone goes silent, and he was like, "My brothers!! You remember me!" It has been a decade and y'all are still out doing the work of the Lord. (I honestly think he thought we were the same guys that taught him like 10 years ago haha) The funniest thing was the wife standing right next to him with the most shocked look on her face because we knew his last name. Rodney hit us with like 5 NOLA hand shakes and invited us back this week. Gotta love it! Just getting some street cred down here.
I will keep it short this week. I am loving the work down here, and know that it is true. Love y'all. Have a blessed week!
Love,
Elder Wilson
It was so great skyping the family yesterday!! Looks like everyone is doing so well. Happy Mother's Day, love you Mom. Could hardly recognize Chris and Mike, but with the weight gain and everything down here in Louisiana I guess I can't say much haha ;) Things here are really turning and burning, but I will just share a couple experiences for this week.
Miracle:
We were doing service at the Food bank in Metairie, and one of the members of the ward came with us. We met so many way cool people. So Nohemi (one of the members) gets talking to this girl working there with us and invites her to get some food afterward. So we end up going to a little fast food restaurant, and Jess (the volunteer we met) came with us. We had a great time talking with her and getting to know her and then like 30 mins in ( even after we had been explaining our missions/leaving for 2 years, etc) she tells us that she is Catholic, but after moving out and going to school at LSU she started questioning it. Anyways, we end up asking her if she had ever attended a Mormon church, and she immediately gets red in the face, eyes widen, and her mouth drops. She was like, "Wait....y'all are Mormons?" hahahaha!! We all busted up laughing, because she had no idea we were Mormons (and Mormon missionaries especially haha). She seriously thought Mormons were crazy weird people and was so confused, it was so funny. The miracle of the story though is that she attended LSU, and after we told her that I served there 1 year ago she said she remembers me on Free Speech alley!!! It was funny though, because she admitted to taking a pass along card and just trying to avoid all eye contact every other time she walked passed and we were there. Haha! She was so embarrassed, but now realizes she just had no idea what we were all about and what we were doing. She expressed interest in coming to church next week too, so we are excited. Been thinking about how cool that would be if I was meant to teach her, and just took a couple opportunities.
Funny tracting story:
We we were down in the hood of Kenner, just minding our P's and Q's, out walking down this street. We made sure to park our car in a different location as well and hit the road on foot haha. So we are trying to contact a people on the roster, and street contact, etc. One of the names we are looking for is this guy named Rodney Hollis. So we are talking to tons of people and eventually come walking passed this car with a few people standing outside of it. One guy waves at us and basically tells us to keep up the good work and the people down here need Jesus haha. We decided to stop and talk with him of course, and turns out the man's name is Rodney. So I'm like, Rodney Hollis? And everyone goes silent, and he was like, "My brothers!! You remember me!" It has been a decade and y'all are still out doing the work of the Lord. (I honestly think he thought we were the same guys that taught him like 10 years ago haha) The funniest thing was the wife standing right next to him with the most shocked look on her face because we knew his last name. Rodney hit us with like 5 NOLA hand shakes and invited us back this week. Gotta love it! Just getting some street cred down here.
I will keep it short this week. I am loving the work down here, and know that it is true. Love y'all. Have a blessed week!
Love,
Elder Wilson
MAY 7, 2018
Hey y'all,
I am happy to say I made it safely down to New Orleans and am transitioning well back to my Southern roots. It almost feels like I never left haha; it is the weirdest thing. My first week here in Kenner a southern Louisiana family had us over for dinner, and they prepared Seafood Gumbo! Just picture this: A massive gumbo pot filled with tons of shrimp, catfish, oysters (luckily fully cooked this time ;) haha) all on top of a full size Crab smothered in white rice. Definitely a welcome back to New Orleans that is for sure :D And this time I actually really enjoyed it! I have come far and learned a lot since the beginning of my mission I guess, what can I say. Louisiana has changed me, and especially my tolerance to seafood no doubt. I was pounding that stuff. Helped that it was fast Sunday, and we had been fasting all day, but hey....haha
It has been quite the experience pretty much doubling into this area, because sadly the prior missionaries were... let me put it this way, "struggling." It is a quad apartment so there are 4 of us missionaries here, and 2 of them are Spanish elders. I am super excited to have Elder Cannon down here with me, because that man is a celestial being. To quote President Varner, "We are sending y'all down there to cleanse the temple and change culture." I think he was probably just talking about Elder Cannon, but I will do my best to pull my weight ;) So long story short, the area book was "lost" so we have literally been starting from ground zero. Man, not again haha. It seriously is every single time the area just starts getting popping I get transferred lol, bless my heart. We have been hitting the doors like crazy though, and the Lord has been blessing us so much. We set some high goals as a quad and are really working toward them!
We met so many great investigators and have been working many of them. Miracle: Friday afternoon we had been working hard, but really wanted to invite an investigator to come to church with us this Sunday. So we decided to pray of course and call on the blessings of Heaven. Honestly it was pretty brutal in the hot sun for hours and hours, and we weren't having much success. As it always seems to happen, you just have to keep pushing. We kept going and while at a complex we saw this African American family taking groceries up the stairs so we reached out to them. They were sooooo solid!!! We taught the restoration lesson sitting out on the grass, and they are Davin and Sherry. While we were teaching them they were answering all of their own questions! We invited them to church, and they were like, "oh yeah, y'all are coming tomorrow too though right?" We met with them the next day, and they had read everything and just thanked us for the truth. Davin gave the closing prayer and thanked God for this gospel for his future family. They don't have any kids yet, but Davin said this is what he wants for them. It was so incredible! Let's goo! Total miracle and blessing from the Lord. Davin ended up getting called into work, and so I guess we weren't specific enough in our prayer... this week though!! Sacrament meeting was great, and I was grateful for the chance to introduce myself and share my testimony. I shared the analogy of Lehi taking his family into the wilderness and making it to the promised land, and how I was transferred and asked to cross the many waters (Lake Pontchartrain) to make it to the promised land (Kenner/Metairie). Just happy to be here!
One Miracle that I would like to share: I have been thinking a lot about and sharing with other missionaries that you never know the good you do as a missionary. I think we all wonder sometimes if it really matters to be all in, and to give everything to the Lord especially when being one foot in is so much easier. It is especially difficult as a missionary when you don't always see if anything even comes of it all (the fruits of the labor) or if there isn't any visible "success." However, I am truly grateful for this tender mercy the Lord showed me that will continue to help me lay it all on the altar of sacrifice. A couple weeks ago I heard that this family in Picayune, Mississippi was getting baptized and asked how they were found. Well, turns out Elder Heninger (a missionary that went home a transfer ago) and I ended up finding them on exchanges back in January!!! I remember the day specifically and was so excited when we found Yolonda Smith out in front of her trailer. (I had even written her name down and the whole experience in my journal that day) I remember biking back from the exchange thinking how amazing of a family they were, but then never heard anything about it for many months. Until just a couple weeks ago when I heard of the entire family (Mom and her 4 boys) getting baptized. Neither of us were at the baptism, and I only had the opportunity to teach the first lesson, but it sure made me smile. It helped me to remember that we are all in this together and all play a part in this great work of the Lord, even if it just means finding them the first time. And who knows how many people reached out to them and prepared them for the gospel up to this point in their life. Now how many of these things happen? Probably all the time. I was just grateful for this thought, because no matter how small the part we play, we are all important. And ultimately we may never know the seeds we plant as missionaries, and we are all missionaries in the work of the Lord even if we aren't wearing a name tag. I am so grateful for another opportunity to get the work moving forward in this area. There is so much potential, and I am so happy Heavenly Father has given me the blessing of working with Him here.
Well, I will leave it at that this week, and ask for prayers in my behalf and this area. I know the Lord sent me here, and there is work only Elder Woody and I can do here at this time. I am looking forward to working hard, and changing culture down here. I love the Lord, I love the gospel, and I love y'all!! Yaherdme? Oh and looking forward to skyping on Mother's day!!
Love,
Elder Wilson
I am happy to say I made it safely down to New Orleans and am transitioning well back to my Southern roots. It almost feels like I never left haha; it is the weirdest thing. My first week here in Kenner a southern Louisiana family had us over for dinner, and they prepared Seafood Gumbo! Just picture this: A massive gumbo pot filled with tons of shrimp, catfish, oysters (luckily fully cooked this time ;) haha) all on top of a full size Crab smothered in white rice. Definitely a welcome back to New Orleans that is for sure :D And this time I actually really enjoyed it! I have come far and learned a lot since the beginning of my mission I guess, what can I say. Louisiana has changed me, and especially my tolerance to seafood no doubt. I was pounding that stuff. Helped that it was fast Sunday, and we had been fasting all day, but hey....haha
It has been quite the experience pretty much doubling into this area, because sadly the prior missionaries were... let me put it this way, "struggling." It is a quad apartment so there are 4 of us missionaries here, and 2 of them are Spanish elders. I am super excited to have Elder Cannon down here with me, because that man is a celestial being. To quote President Varner, "We are sending y'all down there to cleanse the temple and change culture." I think he was probably just talking about Elder Cannon, but I will do my best to pull my weight ;) So long story short, the area book was "lost" so we have literally been starting from ground zero. Man, not again haha. It seriously is every single time the area just starts getting popping I get transferred lol, bless my heart. We have been hitting the doors like crazy though, and the Lord has been blessing us so much. We set some high goals as a quad and are really working toward them!
We met so many great investigators and have been working many of them. Miracle: Friday afternoon we had been working hard, but really wanted to invite an investigator to come to church with us this Sunday. So we decided to pray of course and call on the blessings of Heaven. Honestly it was pretty brutal in the hot sun for hours and hours, and we weren't having much success. As it always seems to happen, you just have to keep pushing. We kept going and while at a complex we saw this African American family taking groceries up the stairs so we reached out to them. They were sooooo solid!!! We taught the restoration lesson sitting out on the grass, and they are Davin and Sherry. While we were teaching them they were answering all of their own questions! We invited them to church, and they were like, "oh yeah, y'all are coming tomorrow too though right?" We met with them the next day, and they had read everything and just thanked us for the truth. Davin gave the closing prayer and thanked God for this gospel for his future family. They don't have any kids yet, but Davin said this is what he wants for them. It was so incredible! Let's goo! Total miracle and blessing from the Lord. Davin ended up getting called into work, and so I guess we weren't specific enough in our prayer... this week though!! Sacrament meeting was great, and I was grateful for the chance to introduce myself and share my testimony. I shared the analogy of Lehi taking his family into the wilderness and making it to the promised land, and how I was transferred and asked to cross the many waters (Lake Pontchartrain) to make it to the promised land (Kenner/Metairie). Just happy to be here!
One Miracle that I would like to share: I have been thinking a lot about and sharing with other missionaries that you never know the good you do as a missionary. I think we all wonder sometimes if it really matters to be all in, and to give everything to the Lord especially when being one foot in is so much easier. It is especially difficult as a missionary when you don't always see if anything even comes of it all (the fruits of the labor) or if there isn't any visible "success." However, I am truly grateful for this tender mercy the Lord showed me that will continue to help me lay it all on the altar of sacrifice. A couple weeks ago I heard that this family in Picayune, Mississippi was getting baptized and asked how they were found. Well, turns out Elder Heninger (a missionary that went home a transfer ago) and I ended up finding them on exchanges back in January!!! I remember the day specifically and was so excited when we found Yolonda Smith out in front of her trailer. (I had even written her name down and the whole experience in my journal that day) I remember biking back from the exchange thinking how amazing of a family they were, but then never heard anything about it for many months. Until just a couple weeks ago when I heard of the entire family (Mom and her 4 boys) getting baptized. Neither of us were at the baptism, and I only had the opportunity to teach the first lesson, but it sure made me smile. It helped me to remember that we are all in this together and all play a part in this great work of the Lord, even if it just means finding them the first time. And who knows how many people reached out to them and prepared them for the gospel up to this point in their life. Now how many of these things happen? Probably all the time. I was just grateful for this thought, because no matter how small the part we play, we are all important. And ultimately we may never know the seeds we plant as missionaries, and we are all missionaries in the work of the Lord even if we aren't wearing a name tag. I am so grateful for another opportunity to get the work moving forward in this area. There is so much potential, and I am so happy Heavenly Father has given me the blessing of working with Him here.
Well, I will leave it at that this week, and ask for prayers in my behalf and this area. I know the Lord sent me here, and there is work only Elder Woody and I can do here at this time. I am looking forward to working hard, and changing culture down here. I love the Lord, I love the gospel, and I love y'all!! Yaherdme? Oh and looking forward to skyping on Mother's day!!
Love,
Elder Wilson
MAY 1, 2018
Another week that was just great!! It was the last week of the transfer, and couldn't have been better. We started the week of with teaching early morning seminary 2 mornings with the High school kids, and had a blast. Just picture this, "Missionary olympics" with the study of Mormon 8 and 9 :D We found whatever we could from the apartment and had some sporting events. For example, pin the mardi gras beads on the deer skull, and put put golf with a saints cup. It was pretty great let me tell ya :) It sure kept everyone alert at 6 a.m haha.
NEWS: Last night we got transfer calls. It turns out I am headed back down to where I was mission born and raised--NOLA! I will be in a suburb west of mid city where I started and it is a city called Kenner. My new companion will be Elder Woody, and I remember picking him up at the airport many months ago, so that will be great. All I know is that I will be going in swinging and finishing strong, because this may be my last stop! I will be the district leader down there, and rumor has it I will have 12 missionaries in the district, so this may be intense. I am looking forward to the challenge though, and grateful for another opportunity to serve the Lord in a different part of his vineyard. Elder Jensen is trained up and once these reins are off, this man is going to soar. Love Elder Jensen! Honestly feels like yesterday I picked the guy up. Total stud, going to do amazing things.
We had our last couple lessons with Danny and he completely threw coffee. He had been drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee everyday for almost his whole life and on Wednesday he just got rid of the whole coffee maker in the house. Threw the thing right in the garbage. He told us that he gave up alcohol many years ago, and although he was a chain smoker he did the same with tobacco. Such a good man, and so prepared! His baptismal interview went great, and he told the elder he was excited to serve. On Saturday morning bright and early we got to the church at 8 to fill the font, and Danny showed up at 8:15 in prep for the 9 a.m baptism. As Elder Jensen kept saying, "Danny is smiling like a school girl." Haha he seriously was so excited for his baptism, and it turned out so great. Randy Helm one of the members of the ward down here was able to baptize him, and he is a convert himself so that was way special for him. We had a lesson with Danny in his home with his family, and they are awesome. There was such a special spirit at the baptism, and so great that many members could come and support. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true with all my heart, and I felt that confirmation again with Danny's decision to enter the waters of baptism. Danny told us afterward, "I just felt a cleansing feeling and powerful spirit after being baptized, and it stayed with me for several hours." How amazing is that? To see a man humble himself and exercise the needed faith to follow the example of Jesus Christ is just amazing. I am so grateful for the blessing it was to find Danny when he had been prepared by the Lord. It was a miracle. His sister had passed away 3 days before reached out to him a few months ago, and although a very sad event, it allowed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fully enter his life as we taught him many restored truths. The plan of salvation is real. Danny then went with Randy Helm to Slidell to be an Usher at the Glady's Knight event the rest of the day, and was confirmed a member/given the Holy ghost the next day at church.
The Glady's Knight event was such a hit!! Nana Tay, our investigator Grandma that is seriously the nicest lady, gave the sister missionaries a ride, and we rode with Bobby and Joanna Penton. Steve Lee brought his wife Courtney, and Chris and Paige made it to the evening showing. Many others came as well, and it was great to see so many African Americans as well. Those barriers are going down!! During part of the performance Glady's Knight and the choir started jamming out, and next thing I knew tons of us missionaries were clapping, dancing, and praising the Lord in the chapel. Never thought I would see that in an LDS chapel, but boy was it awesome!! Glady's Knight as you can imagine brought a total Baptist music feel and got the crowd singing and praising the Lord with some Amens, hallelujahs, and thank you Jesus' going on. It was such a blast, and Glady's bore powerful testimony of how finding the church has blessed her life tremendously. It was incredible. The stake president at the end was like, "Now if you are interested in learning more from these missionaries now you know these missionaries GOT SOUL!" Amen. So great to be able to break down some barriers and leave it on the dance floor Chapel. Whatever we gotta do to break down those walls, and share the gospel with ALL I say!
I have come to love this area so much, and have made so many lasting friendships that I will treasure forever. It is so hard to leave, but I know the Lord needs me elsewhere. I know that I found those many friends that I promised to find here, and am so grateful. It will be great to be able to keep in touch with them too, and further encourage them :) And Kenner isn't too far!
Well, I love y'all and want to thank you so much for your support. I love my mission so much, and am so thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord.
Love,
Elder Wilson
NEWS: Last night we got transfer calls. It turns out I am headed back down to where I was mission born and raised--NOLA! I will be in a suburb west of mid city where I started and it is a city called Kenner. My new companion will be Elder Woody, and I remember picking him up at the airport many months ago, so that will be great. All I know is that I will be going in swinging and finishing strong, because this may be my last stop! I will be the district leader down there, and rumor has it I will have 12 missionaries in the district, so this may be intense. I am looking forward to the challenge though, and grateful for another opportunity to serve the Lord in a different part of his vineyard. Elder Jensen is trained up and once these reins are off, this man is going to soar. Love Elder Jensen! Honestly feels like yesterday I picked the guy up. Total stud, going to do amazing things.
We had our last couple lessons with Danny and he completely threw coffee. He had been drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee everyday for almost his whole life and on Wednesday he just got rid of the whole coffee maker in the house. Threw the thing right in the garbage. He told us that he gave up alcohol many years ago, and although he was a chain smoker he did the same with tobacco. Such a good man, and so prepared! His baptismal interview went great, and he told the elder he was excited to serve. On Saturday morning bright and early we got to the church at 8 to fill the font, and Danny showed up at 8:15 in prep for the 9 a.m baptism. As Elder Jensen kept saying, "Danny is smiling like a school girl." Haha he seriously was so excited for his baptism, and it turned out so great. Randy Helm one of the members of the ward down here was able to baptize him, and he is a convert himself so that was way special for him. We had a lesson with Danny in his home with his family, and they are awesome. There was such a special spirit at the baptism, and so great that many members could come and support. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true with all my heart, and I felt that confirmation again with Danny's decision to enter the waters of baptism. Danny told us afterward, "I just felt a cleansing feeling and powerful spirit after being baptized, and it stayed with me for several hours." How amazing is that? To see a man humble himself and exercise the needed faith to follow the example of Jesus Christ is just amazing. I am so grateful for the blessing it was to find Danny when he had been prepared by the Lord. It was a miracle. His sister had passed away 3 days before reached out to him a few months ago, and although a very sad event, it allowed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fully enter his life as we taught him many restored truths. The plan of salvation is real. Danny then went with Randy Helm to Slidell to be an Usher at the Glady's Knight event the rest of the day, and was confirmed a member/given the Holy ghost the next day at church.
The Glady's Knight event was such a hit!! Nana Tay, our investigator Grandma that is seriously the nicest lady, gave the sister missionaries a ride, and we rode with Bobby and Joanna Penton. Steve Lee brought his wife Courtney, and Chris and Paige made it to the evening showing. Many others came as well, and it was great to see so many African Americans as well. Those barriers are going down!! During part of the performance Glady's Knight and the choir started jamming out, and next thing I knew tons of us missionaries were clapping, dancing, and praising the Lord in the chapel. Never thought I would see that in an LDS chapel, but boy was it awesome!! Glady's Knight as you can imagine brought a total Baptist music feel and got the crowd singing and praising the Lord with some Amens, hallelujahs, and thank you Jesus' going on. It was such a blast, and Glady's bore powerful testimony of how finding the church has blessed her life tremendously. It was incredible. The stake president at the end was like, "Now if you are interested in learning more from these missionaries now you know these missionaries GOT SOUL!" Amen. So great to be able to break down some barriers and leave it on the dance floor Chapel. Whatever we gotta do to break down those walls, and share the gospel with ALL I say!
I have come to love this area so much, and have made so many lasting friendships that I will treasure forever. It is so hard to leave, but I know the Lord needs me elsewhere. I know that I found those many friends that I promised to find here, and am so grateful. It will be great to be able to keep in touch with them too, and further encourage them :) And Kenner isn't too far!
Well, I love y'all and want to thank you so much for your support. I love my mission so much, and am so thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord.
Love,
Elder Wilson
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