August 28, 2017

Spider Bites

Hey Y'all!

Well this past week i'll be honest wasn't too eventful but that's alright cause we were able to still see miracles and we always do. I love the hidden miracles that we are blessed with everyday not only as missionaries but as true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. He truly loves each and everyone of us and has a divine plan for us. We just have to heed to his word and look to him in all that we do.

So the Eclipse was pretty cool... I felt a little weird looking up into the sky where ever we went.. I'm sure if someone were to wake up from a coma last Monday and saw everyone staring at the sun they'd probably think we were all brain washed lol... But it was a cool experience. all of God's Creations are truly wonderful. Now I can say that I have lived to see an eclipse :) 

SO this past week we were able to see Brandon and Angela Jones and had the opportunity to teach them about the plan of salvation. After the lesson they both paused and told us that we bring a feeling to their hearts that they have never felt before and that the spirit is always strong when we are over. It was a cool experience because I know that if I can convey the spirit for my investigators then I know that I am doing as I am supposed to. 

This week I got bit by a spider so that has been quite the treat... so if I don't write an email next week just know that I'm in a better place... lol jk I'm getting it checked out todayyyyy!

We were able to have interviews with President Lindhardt this past week. I truly love the time that I get as a missionary to sit down 1 on 1 with a man called of God to discuss my needs and my areas needs. I know with out a shadow of a doubt that President Lindhardt has been called of God. He knows how to inspire each of us missionaries to be better, to do better, and to bless lives. I'm so grateful for him and his loving heart. In the interview he hinted that I might be training again so I guess we will see what happens this week!

Other than that not too much happened, we had a great week filled with great lessons and good laughs. I love being a missionary and I love spreading the wonderful word that Christ's Church and Christ's Gospel has been restored through a modern day Prophet. and that he continues to communicate to his children today. as I have done this I have been given strength on days I though I didn't have any. I have seen people change for the better, I have seen small things been made great. through his atonement I have grown more and more and have keep becoming stronger and stronger. I know he loves each and everyone of us. Stay near him and look to him in all things. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Wilson  

August 21, 2017

Turtle Club

Hey Y'all!

Well to be completely honest I have no desire to write a weekly email this week but I'm gonna do it anyway so I can keep the streak going haha. Things here in Galax are going pretty good! we found 3 new investigators this week and all of them are pretty promising! One of them is a couple that lives in Fries (pronounced Freeze) We received Brandon and Angela as a referral from the Wytheville Elders about a week ago and we were able to teach them this past week and wow they are awesome! we were able to teach them the Restoration and it went really well. Easily one of the best restorations that I have taught on my mission. After the lesson was over we were able to put them on date for October 7th which was cool. I love when you can put people on date in the first lessons. Just goes to show how much of a desire they have to learn and progress. its great!

Oh ya forget to let y'all know that turtle hunting was pretty fun, I caught the second biggest turtle which was like the size of a bowling ball. haha it was a great time. Afterwards we went back to Brother Vannatter's house and ate turtle later that night it was a lot of fun! 

last week we also had an exchange with the other elders in the ward in Wytheville which was a lot of fun! I got to go with Elder Drennen who's from Fairmont West Virginia (its in the mission) this is his first transfer so it felt like I was training all over again haha it was a lot of fun. we were able to get a lot done! we found 6 new that day and handed out 8 book of Mormons. it was a testimony builder to me that God will help us find people to teach people no matter what the weather or situation is. we tracted all day and half of the day it was pouring rain! so that was prettty sweeeeeeeeeeet.

Well that's all I really have for this week, feel free to update me on all yalls lives and whats going on! things here are going great. I really do love this time I have to serve the lord. 

Stay golden chillenssssss

Elder Wilson

The first turtle I caught.. this was the smallest one of the day!

Virginia is for Lovers

Fiddler's convention

August 14, 2017

Fiddle Dee Fiddle Dum

Hey Y'all!

Well this past week FLEW by! Which is weird because not a lot happened this past week unfortunately.. Its just been super rainy and has been really hard to meet with people. But we still had a lot of fun regardless. Missionary work is fun no matter where you are or what your doing. If there is one thing I've learned on my mission its all about perspectives, If you look at the glass half empty then you're going to be in a bad mood all day but if you look at it half full then you well always go about your day with a smile on your face. 

So the fiddlers convention was pretty sweet! People came in from all over the world just to compete! I even got to talk to a few people from Australia! CRONKY!!! haha but it was a lot of fun we got to go to the amphitheatre on Friday night when we were on exhcanges with the zone leaders so that was a good time. There was a drunk guy dancing with everyone that would walk buy in front of us so he made for a good laugh.. I contemplated going up and dancing with him but I didn't want to embarrass him ;) haha sike I got the dance moves of Donald Trump.

We had Zone Conference this past week which was awesome. It was such a spiritual feast, But I do have to admit it was so different from the other Zone Conferences that I have been to. I think some the that had to deal with the fact that over 80% if the zone is training. It was like being in a nursery class with all the greenies lol. 

Well that's about all that I have for you guys this week.. today we are going turtle fishing so we are pretty pumped about that, The guy that's taking us his daughter caught a 25 lb turtle a couple weeks ago so we are pretty pumped haha. Should be fun!

For my spiritual thought I just want to share a scripture from the Book of Mormon. the section that I want to share is found in Ether 12: 6. How many of us go day to day focusing on the negative things in our lives? As each of you read this I want you to reflect back on all the trials that you have had over the past year, then try and remember the person you were then, and take a look at the person you are now. 

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. 

Remember that heavenly father doesn't give us anything that we cant handle and he puts his toughest soldiers in the toughest battles. Trials are here to help us grow into the men and women that heavenly father wants us to be. the sooner we can recognize that then the sooner we will notice the change and the spirit of love and peace in our lives. Since I have been on my mission I have experienced nothing but trials and hardship my whole time here. Granted I have had a lot of good times as well but instead of getting down and giving up when the hard times come I look to my Savior for help and strength. and how grateful I am for the strength that he has given me. I want each of you this week to try and focus on being grateful for more of your trials and doing your best to look at the glass half full rather than half empty. I sure do love you guys and hope you have a great week!!

Elder Wilson

P.S. I forgot my camera converter so I wont be sending any pics this week...

August 7, 2017

21 Years Later

Hey Y'all

Well what a week its been! This past week was filled with celebration and good laughs! Definitely a week for the books! But I have a feeling that this next week will top it! 

I guess to start off I just wanna say thanks to everyone who wished me Happy Birthday! It really does mean a lot! Hard to believe that next year at this time ill be getting ready to walk off the plane. I still feel green haha. I still have a lot to get done in this next year! But my birthday was a good one. We spent some time with a family in the ward called the Caldwell's and we had one of our investigators over so it was a pretty good birthday! Two down one more to go right?

So this past week was filled with some good lessons! on Monday we went over and taught Jennifer and her brother Lincoln. they are both great people and have a desire to learn. During the lesson we were teaching about baptism and Jennifer looks up really quick and says "I want that super bad" It was pretty cool. I just hope that she will keep that conviction and desire to follow Christ and be baptized. Right now her only day off is Monday so hopefully she will be able to make it to church sooner or later!

Thursday was my year mark and that was a pretty fun day! we went and taught an investigator named Monty Hanks! He lives out in Hillsville but he is a great guy! He loves talking about Jesus Christ and knows his bible pretty well. He has a cousin who is a member that really pushes him to read and learn from the missionaries. He's already reading through the Book of Mormon for the second time! its crazy! He has some health issues that hes trying to overcome but he really wants to come to church and be baptized so pray that he will be able to make it to church and wont be in too much pain!!

Saturday night we had dinner with an investigator who gives tattoos haha he offered to give me one and I'll be honest I have never been so tempted in my life.... But don't worry I didn't get one... I thought about getting on across my chest that said LDS LYFE but I decided not too.. But you could imagine what it'd be like if I did right mom? ;) haha hes a good guy though, we had a lot of really good talks and I got to know him pretty well!

Sunday was my B-Day and like I said already it was a pretty good day! but we are pretty excited for this week. Every year in Galax they have a huge convention called the Fiddlers Convention where people come in from all over to compete in Blue Grass and we got free tickets to go so we are pretty pumped about that!! and Friday we have exchanges with the Zone Leaders :)

For my spiritual thought this week I wanna talk a little bit about the importance of the Holy Ghost.. Yesterday a kid in the ward who was recently baptized bore his testimony and compared the gospel to a bowl of macaroni and cheese. He talked about how when a noodle falls out of the bowl that it gets cold and will sometimes lose its flavor, but when it gets put back in the bowl it warms back up and gets its flavor back. He likened this to the gospel that when we fall away from the gospel we tend to lose the warmth and the comfort of the Holy Ghost and can lose our flavor for the gospel, but when we come back Heavenly Father is going to give us the same warmth and protection as if we had never left. I loved this comparison so much because it is so true!! This gospel and having the gift of the Holy Ghost really does bring happiness in this life. So if your a cold noodle... COME BACK TO THE BOWL! In there lies happiness and cheesy goodness. I love you all and hope you guys have a great week!

Elder Wilson

The Hills of Hillsville!

One of the areas our investigator lives

Burning the shirt, Hump Day!

The Virginia Border!

The North Carolina Border!