August 29, 2016

Hey Y'all!!

Well I'm here in the mission field! I finally made it out here haha! My first area is Ashland Kentucky, and for those of you who don't know where that is, its in Eastern Kentucky, I'm actually in a tristate area!! the people out here have been so nice surprisingly, my area is also the highest baptizing area of my mission which is pretty nice! this past week has been pretty crazy! trying to adjust to the humidity and heat and different people has been a little rough but I'm getting the hang of it! My trainer's name is Elder Wasden and he is a pretty chill dude! he is super willing to work with me and help get me to where I need to be. This past week we have taught a lot in only 5 days, just that greeny magic I guess haha! On friday we had two guys come up to us an ask to meet with them and teach them about what we believe in because they are looking for a way to change their lives. Which was pretty cool cause I guess that never happens! I also got to watch a full on lightsaber battle haha. Out here they have a full on league of light saber battles and they have legit light sabers that they fight with and they study all the arts of fighting like jedis and siths haha! People out here are super humble and love to talk about jesus which is nice because they always have something to say during our lessons. Nothing too crazy has happened out here yet other than I got watch to drugged up rednecks get in a little tussle which was pretty funny haha. Missions are pretty funny, everyone out here looks at us like we are angels which is pretty cool. all of the members love us and feed us very often which is amazing because other wise id starve to death haha. Sorry my letter isn't all that interesting this week! Ill try to be better next week! love you all and look forward to hearing from you guys, I miss you all!

Elder Wilson

West Virginia and their Chew

Ohio River

August 23rd, 2016

Hey guys!

It was so good to talk to you guys today! Just wanted to let you know that I made it to West Virginia! president and sister salisbury are awesome and this place is gorgeous! I feel like im in a jungle haha! My P-Day is on monday so I look forward to talking to you then! love ya!

Elder Wilson

August 19, 2016

Hey Guys!!!!

So crazy to think that next time I write you guys ill be sitting in West Virginia tearing it up with the local hillbillies haha! I cant wait to be there and just finally get out of Utah. It is going to be so much easier once I know that I cant walk to my house whenever I want haha. This last week was good! The time has gone by so fast but so slow.. Its a whole new kind of time zone when you go on a mission haha. Its funny the other day we were sitting in class and one of the missionaries in my district said that the MTC is like spirit prison, You cant escape, and you only hear and learn about the gospel haha which is so true! But the MTC really is a great place! I have learned so much since I've been here. It's crazy how much the lord blesses you with when you fully devote your life to him! 

This last Sunday was awesome. We got to say good bye to some of our missionary buds that left for the field this last week. So weird to think that I might not ever see some of them again. Being a missionary is Low key sad because it feels like you are always saying good bye to people! anyway nothing really crazy happened this last week which was alright but on Tuesday we had a devotional from sister Oscarson who is the young women's general president. And she gave an amazing talk! Though we were kind of bummed out because every one thought that Holland was supposed to come talk so it was kind of a let down haha, but she quoted him during her talk which is just as good right;) haha But she really did give an amazing talk! She talked about being humble and how we need to thank the lord when he humbles us because it means that he is only trying to make us better. She showed a Mormon message about a farmer who was talking to a bush (I know it sound crazy but just go with it) The bush thought it was already beautiful and amazing and didn't think that it needed to be cut down, but the farmer knew that if it wanted to be bigger that it needed to be cut down. After the farmer cut down the bush, the bush was so sad and angry toward the farmer and blamed him for ruining his life and making it so hard. But as the bush started to grow back he noticed that he started to look and feel better than he ever had. The reason why I love this story is because it is so easy for us all to blame god for all of our problems in our life and say that its because of him that we go through hard times. Instead we need to thank him when he humbles us stay close with him so that we can grow back to be a bigger and better person in our lives. I have seen this work for so many people through out their lives and one of them is me! I want to challenge each of you this week to pray to heavenly father and to thank him for cutting you down and helping you grow into something bigger and better, and I promise that as you do that, you will see a great change in your life!

Its nuts to think that I have been out here for 3 weeks already but I am so grateful for the people I have met and things I have learned. Tonight we are throwing a party for one of the guys in my district which is going to be so fun haha. Its kinda nuts how crazy a bunch of Mormon's can get in the MTC. People are talking about shot gunning a mountain dew haha, Mormons man... we are a different breed I swear, but I love it haha! I love you guys all so much and love hearing from you! your emails and letters mean so much! I hope you all have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Wilson

Some of the dudes I hang out with, Half are going to San Fran and the other half are going to Tacoma Washington!

Elder Emler and Elder Owens, Mom and dad you guys need to feed these two when they serve in our neighborhood! they are both awesome!!!

This is Elder Lance, He as been one of my closest friends here since I first arrived, hes such a stud, he left for Eugene Oregon last Tuesday!

. Through out the MTC they have a bunch of pictures of Christ and This one is easily my favorite, I don't know but every time I see it, I just feel comforted.

August 12, 2016

Sup Sup Guys!!

Well this week was pretty crazy. never realize how much you can accomplish all in one week! The MTC has still been pretty good. Everyone in my district is pretty rad so we all get along great. This last Sunday we had a devotional from Mathew Hollands son speak to us which was amazing. He talked to us about Joseph Smith and his story. Usually when ever someone talks about Joseph its hard to relate and understand what he went through. But when president Holland spoke to us it was amazing, It was one of the first times that I have truly been able to understand and feel the what Joseph Smith went through. After the devotional, since I joined the choir, we had the opportunity to sing praise to the man. The spirit in the MTC is so strong and when you have 1500 missionaries sing it brings a spirit that could bring you to your knees. never have I felt the spirit so strong in my life. 

After Sunday the days have started to go by a lot faster. Its crazy how once you get in a routine things all start to blend together! this week we got our first two Investigators and have had the opportunity to teach them about this amazing gospel. Our first investigator is actually has his own Mormon message! He is acting as who he was when he was being converted, which is crazy because he used to be a gang member, so he says what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants haha. last time we talked to him he told us all about his life which was nuts. the dude has been through a lot but the fact that he has came this far is amazing. he truly wants to be like Christ which is so awesome. Our other investigator is Andy. This guy is so hard to teach because he is atheist.. He wants to be baptized and he wants to believe everything we teach him but because he hasn't found out if god is real yet, it is so hard for him to except it. Tonight we are going to teach him about the plan of salvation so we hope that helps a lot.

On Tuesday we had the opportunity to listen to one of the apostles! Neil L. Anderson came and spoke to us about missionary work. The Topic of his talk was "Missionary Work Isn't Complex, But it is not easy." and this is so true, our gospel truly is so simple! in the talk he showed a picture of his grandson standing next to his storage unit in his back yard. When he showed us the picture he asked if there was anyone in the room that was into hunting, when a bunch of us raised our hands he then began to ask us to find the animal life that was in the picture, but no one could. Afterwords he zoomed into the top right corner where a mule deer stood behind a tree. He tied this into missionary work. He said that we need to be more like hunters and seek those people who are ready for the gospel and look in places where others don't. He then stated that its very easy to become a fisher when times get hard, Its so much easier for us to sit and wait for something to happen rather than going and searching for it. and that is so true because I catch my self doing it all the time. during the talk he brought up D&C 4:2 " Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye shall stand blameless before god at the last day." This scripture reminds me of my older brother, right before I left for my mission he read me this scripture and told me that God already knows whats in our mind and he gives us our strength, but if we give him all of our might then we will truly convert our selves to the lord and will be and instrument in his hand. and that has stuck with me ever since!

Well that's all I have for this week I love you all and look forward to hearing from you!

Love ya

Elder Wilson

Temple Day

Study/journal time 

Devotional

Hanging out with Elders from my District

Hanging out with Elders from my District

Sunday walk around the Temple

Hanging with Baseball buddy Jeff Arens

Selfie Sunday

Missionaries serving in West Virginia

Camo Tie Thursday

The really tall blonde elder is going to be serving in the south salt lake mission which is where we live! he is super cool!

August 5, 2016

Wow look at you guys getting two emails from me in one week;) haha the MTC is not to shabby. The first day is like drinking out of a fire hydrant there is a lot to take in and learn. My companion is Elder Sandlin and he is a stud. he's going to play football for SUU when he gets back. We are so much alike in so many ways haha. Its funny to joke around with him telling him that he is getting smaller every day because he is so worried about losing his size. haha he likes to think he is as big as me but he will get there one day;) my district is great though. we are already so close and have grown so much in just three days. Yesterday we studied the second chapter in preach my gospel and it was so amazing to see all of the elders participate and bare their testimony, the spirit was so strong. Yesterday we were able to teach our first investigator who was really just our teacher, but it was so humbling. It's crazy how fast the spirit can come in and help take over. Today we get to play basketball so I get to show all the elders in my district whats up. haha just kidding I'll probably air ball every shot. Anyway that's about all I have for this week's email. sorry its so short but I have only been out here for barely three days. anyway my P Day is every friday while I am here in the MTC so if you want to ever converse back and forth I have an hour to do so! I love you all!!

with swag

Elder Wilson

1. The room I live in For the next 3  weeks!

2. Me and Elder Sandlin!

3. Study time!

4. Elder Wilson! (thats me now)

5. District Watrina! (that's all of our missions combined)

Pictures the day he enters the MTC

Final moments before he enters the MTC

Meeting an Elder in his Mission

See you in 2 years!

Elder Wilson's first email!!

August 4, 2016

Hey pops just wanted to let you know that I made it to the MTC and I am loving it! my P-Day is on Fridays while I am here at the MTC so make sure you are checking your phone because I have a full hour to write back and forth. I love you so much!!! 

Elder Wilson