July 26, 2017

Peace Out Vinton

Hey Y'all!

Wow what a crazy last week and a half it has been here in Vinton! As you have already guessed both me and Elder Basteen will be leaving Vinton, and sister missionaries will be replacing us! No its not because we did something wrong, its because there are more sisters coming into the mission then elders so they have to switch some of the areas over to sister areas. So ya the Vinton 1 area will now be a sisters area!

But ya I am definitely going to miss Vinton..  I have met some great people and have grown such a deep love for many of the people that I had the wonderful opportunity to teach. One of the greatest things about missions as I have always said is helping others and witnessing others strengthen their faith in Christ and watching them change into someone that heavenly has always wanted them to become. I love this work so much and I'm so grateful that I made the life changing experience to go on a mission, if you're having second thoughts about serving my advice to you is..... DO IT. You will regret not going but you will never regret your choice to serve. 

So I forgot to tell y'all where I'm going.. I will be going to serve in Hillsville Virginia with a missionary named Elder Clark. So tomorrow I will report to the stake center at 5 am to be on the transfer "Train" to head up to Pembroke. Elder Basteen will be going to Amherst Virginia and will be kickin it with the baptist.. He will do awesome though.. I feel so grateful for the opportunity that I had to train him, He truly has turned into a great missionary!! and to finish us off one of my best friends Elder Crouch will be heading home to start the next chapter of his life. I sure am going to miss him, we have become so close, but I look forward to our adventures after the mission. 

Well other than that not too much happened this past week, said a lot of good byes to alot of people who are close to my heart here in Vinton, If its one thing I hate the most its having to say good bye to people. and as a missionary I swear that's all I'm ever doing, But that's ok cause that just means more hellos right? Last night we were up at Mack and Abbie's house and it was our last time being up there and boy was it rough. I truly am grateful for their friendship and cant wait to see them in a year when they come out to Utah to be sealed in the Temple. They truly have become family!!!!

Well folks for my spiritual thought I wanted to talk about the gift of charity. Earlier this week I was studying the Christlike attributes and came across the charity section and it seemed to really hit me hard. How often do we go through out our day judging others or bringing others down? Obviously some do more then others but we all know that each of us do it. One of the greatest commandments that Heavenly father has asked of us is to love our neighbor as much as we love our selves. This week I wanna challenge you all to just pick some one up each day. It could be as small as telling them that you like what they are wearing or helping them with a task they may be facing. Whatever it may be just strive to help those around you. I promise as you do that you will find a comfort and love for people that you never thought you had. Heavenly Father loves you and so do I, I hope you all have a great week!!

Elder Wilson