Life in Deschutes

Okay, so I love the country. We got to go back to Olympia last night for a fireside (which was awesome- I'll talk about that in a sec) and I just immediately wanted to go back into the country-land. I think I'm going to live in the country someday hopefully, because I just feel at home and it's so laid-back and BEAUTIFUL. (and the speed limit is always over 50 which is nice) I don't miss city traffic and buildings everywhere and whatnot. So I do love this area.

The weather lately has been quite an adventure... haha. It gets into the 40's and humidity is at like 98% always. So knocking in the dark pouring freezing sleet-rain is ridiculous - we were walking backwards to keep our hoods on and not face the iciness in our face, but after Saturday night we were literally soaked through everything (my skirt is still drying) and freezing and it's quite an adventure. I couldn't help but just be laughing all night and how ridiculous it was. It's rather exciting cause while Stevens and I were walking backwards shivering yelling over the wind-rain I said "so it's like this every night in the winter right? this is the cold?" and she said "this is nothing.." SO. Winter 2014 here we go!

So the fireside last night in Olympia was AWESOME. I got to sing twice actually! :D I got to duet for a part in the EFY medley we sang (and it's cool cause we say we are now the Lord's missionaries instead of we will be and it gives you the chills) and then got to be part of a elder-sister group singing beautiful savior. It was so great! I miss miss miss singing. It was so fun. AND I got to see David and Eleanor last night!!!! David came and it was SO good to see him! I was joking with him and said "see ya at your baptism ;)" and he just scoffed at me. HA! It's happening. ;) And Eleanor I just absolutely adore. There is the most wonderful feeling in the world seeing the people you love so much again!! It fills your whole soul! I can't even describe it to you! All of the craziness is worth it in the end.
After the fireside we got to sleepover with the STL's in Lacey which was a blast. This morning we got to all study together and went to lunch (at PANERA!!!) and just had a jolly good time.
So anyway. This area has so much going for it and I'm so excited to see how this all turns out! We found a few new investigators and are teaching like 6 unbaptized kids, which is fun stuff.
I am just learning a ton always. It is super humbling being a missionary. I love these people!

And ok here's a thought I was pondering this morning in study. I was reading in Alma 2ish and the Amlicites join up with the Lamanites and come up against the Nephites (the righteous ones at the time) and it says that they see the bad guys coming "as many as the sands in the sea" , so I totally just imagine the scene in Mulan where there's this lil group of them and they see the clouds move and there's these masses of Huns coming over the mountains towards them, and there's no way they can logically defeat these guys. BUT, back to the scriptures, it says the Nephites prayed mightily unto the lord (I would too, rather mightily I might add) and because of their faith it says that the Lamanites began to flee, even though they were still outnumbered.  Its totally a pattern in the scriptures that when a nation wages war in anger/hatred, its those in defense of their land and family, on God's side that always wins. Every time. God's side will always persevere, so why would we ever choose the opposite side? AND, even when they were still outnumbered the bad guys were running away and I think of those people on our side fighting for us that we cant always see. They're there too :)  we are never alone!

I love you!!! I hope you have the best week ever!
Sister Charity Wilson

Pictures!

Charity's camera died and so we haven't seen many pictures lately, but her comp had a camera she wasn't using and let Charity use it this transfer.  So....here are some pictures! Yay :)

 

this is me and sister Chapman (from gilbert - she just went home!)

 

and the massive burger 5 of us split at zone lunch last Monday :)

These are roses Dutch got us - the last ones on his bush. 

Because "life is about giving your last pretty roses to pretty people" 

 

 I LOVE DUTCH D''':

Abbey and Sister Wilson

 

David, Sis Rea and Wilson

(one of their investigators)

Woops! (dropped the frog)

Isn't he cute?!

 

 Another one on someones doorstep

me and sis Stevens! 

we got to pick pumpkins at a members the other day!

and the GORGEOUSNESS of WA!!!!

Deschutes River

So, here in the Deschutes River Ward, basically you can take everything that Olympia was, invert it, and that is what this area is like. TOTALLY opposite. Our area is huuuge, it takes 40 minutes to drive from one end to the other! And the church is out of our area, which is weird too! And it's country. Way country. Everything is little boonies and during 5-7's some nights we knock like 5-10 houses they're so spread out with long driveways. Everyone has horses and cows and goats and llamas and everything, so that's pretty fun. It is b-e-a-u-tiful though. It gets a little sketchy at night walking through the forest and it is pitch black. The first couple nights we forgot our flashlights... and that was worrisome hah but we're alive! We have reflector belts we have to start wearing too (super attractive, you should see). So. Good times are ahead!

Sister Stevens is great! She has had a pretty difficult mission and she's going home this transfer, so I'm killing her here and taking over the area. This area.. it's just so crazy how different even the wards can be. It's a pretty small ward and most everyone is old. But I like it! We go to the Jackson's a lot, Sister Jackson is just wonderful :) We did our laundry over there yesterday and we got permission from President to email at her house while our laundry is going too - so next week will be normal Monday email! (and no computer cutting us off mid-email :D) So I'm excited for that!

Before leaving Olympia we drove around and said bye to some of my favorite people. Dutch was our first stop, and by golly I just love him so much. He gave me this gorgeous (expensive) diamond necklace! He is the sweetest most genuine old man I will ever meet. I just adore him. He says he's going to pop by the Yelm ward one of these days... haha :) Ah. Dutch.

I also got to meet with David! I don't even remember all I've said about him... but it's been going back and forth and back and forth and I know he knows it's true. He wanted me to bear him my testimony before I left, so we did that Monday night before transfers. And it was cool. I know he'll come around some day:) Hopefully soon. But. And I don't know what happens with Robin - they were supposed to teach her the Law of chastity the night I left (poor new missionary.. baptism by fire) So I really hope that went well. 

 

This Sunday in Olympia is a fireside we get to go to so I can see everyone again!! YAY! I'm excited.

So, this week we've been driving a whole lot cause you have to drive forever to get anywhere! haha! Most people are pretty nice. And ok. Ramtha is sketch. My first night knocking here we knocked into a "Ramster" (sorry, they prefer to be called "students") and he spent like 20 minutes telling us all about what they believe and whatnot. It's scary. Ramtha IS Satan. Part of the "School of Enlightenment" compound is in our area and Stevens says you can hear them wailing at night.... But. God is on our side. :) And we all know already that God always comes out on top. (even in movies the good side always wins. even in the moment you think "oh man he's done for" somehow it all works out. it always does!)

I feel like this week I have had so much more faith. There are people out there waiting - we just have to find them! Relying on the Spirit is SO important in this work - nothing will get done if you don't have it with you. The power of prayer is real. I know I have a whole lot to learn and grow from this transfer... It will be difficult, but I know it will be awesome! This is God's church! I love being a missionary!! I love you all!!!

Have a fantastic week!

Sister Charity Wilson

TRANSFERS

Ok! I have 15 minutes to include my life story. Or so it feels.

David DID call us back and told us he watched 17 miracles after conference and it was super inspiring to him and he wants to meet in the future! He's just super caught up with things right now but he still wants to be taught and learn :) YAY!! I was so happy I can't even tell you. I jumped around doing fist pumps forever. So, we kind of put him on the backburner til he called us Friday night in tears... He is having a super hard time with things and he didn't have anyone else to call so we met him at the church and the Elders gave him a blessing, and it seemed to help him- he was able to calm down and stop crying. Then I just felt like I should play him a song, so I got that binder you sent me and played him the arrangement of Nearer My God to Thee and had him read the words while I played, and he totally changed. It was really really cool - remember Mom when we talked about me being able to use my talents to bless people? I totally got to :) And it was really special. He told me before I go he wants me to bear my testimony to him because I haven't really had the chance to. So I get to do that tonight and I think it'll be really special. He said "before sister Wilson leaves I would really like to hear her testimony. I'll meet you at whatever time is good, I can work around it" so that made me feel really happy and I'm excited :)

Speaking of me leaving, I'm being transferred tomorrow!!! First one #holla. I'm going to Deschutes River in Yelm with Sis Stevens! I met her at Zion's Camp a couple weeks ago and she's a natural leader, and I'll be killing her there and taking over the area when she leaves. So, that's exciting! The only thing I have heard about Yelm so far is about Ramtha and that people worship and channel enlightment from lizard people that live in Mt Rainier.... and it's huge there. So. That will be fun? Ha!

Ok really quick I want to share my experience this morning - so, I've kind of been struggling with knowing that "this is the only true church" (we do get a lot of reasons why it shouldn't be and whatnot rather often you know) and if I am doing the right thing telling people that because a lot of people love their church and whatnot. So this morning in my studies I prayed and immediately when I thought if I should be here right now I thought of the night I first opened my papers online - I was sitting on Jennie's couch after Dad had texted me saying it's open, and as soon as it opened and I looked at it I had this super intense burning feeling in my chest. Mind you, I don't ever get that feeling, let alone so intense. And I looked around and walked around a bit to see if I had heartburn or something but it didn't go away, and I was just so so happy inside and I knew it had to be the Spirit telling me that this was right. So I immediately thought back to that and at the time I had wondered like, ok this is great but why is it so so intense? But I knew then so intensely so that now when I look back I can know this IS where I'm supposed to be :) And then I continued to think of what one of the ladies in our ward told Cala before she was baptized, "Even if it wasn't true, I knew it made me a better person" and that I can solidly say. I know that this is God's church. And people argue all the time "well yes my church is too" but I can for sure say I know that this church makes me a better person. I know that I can feel more peace and happiness than I have before because of it and because of Christ. The "rules" and such only make you a better person, and only help you come closer to Him :) I love being a missionary. I totally understand now what people mean when they say it's the most wonderful and hardest thing they've ever done. And it's going by too fast! 

 Already starting transfer #3... Crazy! I love you all SO much!!!

Have a fantastic week! :)

Sister Charity Wilson

 Olympia 3rd Ward Hoe-Down

October 6

Ok, so. Apparently this is my last week of "12week training".. which means I don't get a special extra hour of study in the morning which will be sad, cause that's my favorite part of the morning. But! Now I can be really missionary! Which is scary! 

 

I did get Wendy's package, and Amy's package too!  That was so so fun!! Tell both of them I just love them so so much!! And Sis Rasmussen and Kramer were at Zion's Camp! I just love seeing them more than anything. I feel like that's how it will be in heaven when you see everyone you just love so much and your heart just is over filled and so so happy! 

 

Anyhoo, so. David, after we kept trying to have him keep meeting with us (he loves our discussions) and telling us he knows in his heart the BoM is true, dropped us officially. His pastor suddenly died and no one knows why, and he "has to be there for his congregation" and "took it as a sign" ... So. That's sad. But Sis Rea is convinced he will get there someday. He knows it's true, he just can't wrap his head around some things (he does have a masters in theology so growing up on different ideas is hard).

 

Ok, so, Robin is amazing. I love her to death! I feel like she and I have such similar experiences and I just feel like I really connect with her and it is just awesome!! She watched conference on her own on Saturday and Sunday morning she came with us and we watched it at Bishop's house! (which they made pancakes and we had breakfast and watched - felt like home :) She really liked it, and afterwards she told us "I'm certain I want to be baptized" (YAY) but she wants to do it on her birthday (Nov 4) (same as you ma!;)) so her family can come! Which is a little further than planned, but we also found out she's living with her boyfriend..so. I think it'll be ok. We're a little nervous about teaching that subject, but she is so great and we know it will work out. We're so excited for her!!

 

We kept trying to check on Zach and Holly, but they were never home. And last night we found Holly at home, and she was super awkward/quiet and eventually said "Zach is no longer staying here so...and I'm expecting company" Soo, awk. She didn't want us coming back and apparently Zach's gone. Don't know what'll happen there. 

 

We watched Saturday morning with Julie, and she loved it! I think things are really starting to click with her and I'm so excited. She said "You know, the whole concept of there being a prophet is really new to me.." beforehand and we watched the full-length Joseph Smith movie with her Tuesday and she said how she never realized the church had ever left and it was super thought-provoking so I'm super excited for her. We watched Saturday afternoon with Cala and Jaslynn, (btw, things didn't go well with her telling her mom.. she took it as a joke :( she's having a hard time) and that was way fun. Jas kept trying to steal my candy (and succeeded a couple times) so that was entertaining. I just love them :)

 

Conference was SO great. Them speaking their native language was way cool! I thought the interpreter's voice was kinda funny sometimes, but you know.. whatever. I LOVED D. Todd Christofferson's talk. I loved what he was saying about how you can't make your own ideas truth because truth is truth. I think that all the time when people will tell us "oh, I don't believe in what you guys preach" or "your beliefs don't line up with me" and we're like, well, I hate to tell you this but uh you can't decide what's gonna happen when you die. God has a plan, and we're part of it. HE makes the rules, and has laid out the path for us to get back to Him. I actually stood up to someone the other day. (seeing how far I've come already surprises me hardcore.. who am I even going to be in another 3 months??)  Usually my dear companion will let them know what she's thinking but after she starting closing the door I just said something about "you know we're here because we HAVE prayed about it, and we do know it's true" or something along those lines, and she actually listened to me for a minute.. I speak very differently than that of my comp, and I think maybe it kind of threw her off guard, but she heard me out instead of slamming it. So that was kind of cool. Anyway. I lovellovelove general conference. And Jorg K(german-something)'s talk was way good too. I wish I had my notes, but I just love that we have that kind of guidance today! How cool is it that we know that we have prophets and apostles to lead us! I used to be frustrated being born in the church cause converts seem to get this solid testimony cause they have a past life to compare it to, but I'm so glad to know that there IS a God in Heaven who LOVES us, and He knows who we are! He does! And He called a prophet to help us on our path and I love hearing their words which are totally and completely inspired. 

 

I love you all so much! I hope you have a fantastic week! :)

-Sister Charity Wilson

Week ....10?

It's super trippy to me that it's already been this long, and I'm almost done with my 2nd transfer... WHAT? Missions are a time warp.

 

Ok - so I have 20 minutes to fit 20000 hours of events into this email and it's just not possible,.. so I hope this suffices.

 

David Wallace - that guy that dropped us? We kept praying for him that his heart would soften and guess what happened. We were out knockin in the rain the other day (oh btw, IT'S RAINY SEASON!!!) and he called us saying "I'm so sorry I just texted you that the other day, you guys were so nice to me and that was wrong. I just have so many questions and I don't want to bother you anymore." And we were like, um, David, you do realize that is WHY we are here - to help you answer those questions!! And so we met with him on Friday! Except I wasn't there because we went on exchanges!! I got to go to Elma with sister JULIEN :) Mother and daughter reunited! It was way fun. And they are a tripanionship so Sis Casner was there too (she goes home in like 14 days and is the trunkiest missionary I have ever seen) Elma is SO different than Oly. It was cool to get a glimpse of what else is out there in the world, ya know? We taught this guy James they are teaching and he wants to be baptized but he just isn't sure about it yet. So. Anyway, David believes the BoM is true. He has a masters in theology and he said right when we met him it just makes sense, and he believes it. But on Friday he told Rea that he believes it with his heart now - that he had a spiritual witness that it is true! Way exciting! Except at church yesterday he said he is way hung up on "original sin" and can't wrap his head around all these little things, and I think he is just so frustrated with so much info, so hopefully he can just humble himself a little more to accept something different than what he used to know. That's hard to do, but we believe in him! 

 

Robin is doing SO well :D I love love her. She is tentatively praying about being baptized Oct 11!! We had dinner at the Macdonald's last night and she and her daughter Edie came too! It was SO fun - the Macdonald's have 7 kids :) It felt so much like home.. there were kids at other tables and it was loud and slightly chaotic. I loved it. They are the best. We are teaching her more this week and hopefully things just continue to go up! She came with us to the General Women's mtg on Saturday too - which I just love those things so much now. Before, they were great. But I crave them now. I'm SO EXCITED for conference this weekend!!! Oh, and after the women's meeting this little 8 year old girl came up behind us and tugged on sister Rea's jacket and said all shy, "one day I'M gonna be a missionary..." with this cute little smile on her face and my heart just exploded. I totally teared up and grinned ear to ear cause I realized that I am that person that I used to look up to... And it was just amazing. I still don't realize I'm a missionary some days, but when I do it's just this overwhelming WHAT. I love it. :) 

 

Ok. Zion's Camp was AMAZING. I wish I could say everything about it but I can't right now. We got to pre-see that new movie "Meet the Mormons" though!!! It was GREAT. GO SEE IT. They made us popcorn and everything :) Did they put the video of us singing Amazing Grace on the blog? I hope so. So anyway at Zion Camp we had this one part where we did trust falls off of this thing and the other sisters caught us and that was slightly terrifying, but I did it! And we did the thing with the 11-ish foot wall and we had to get everyone over. I was at the top lifting for a while and when we had to lift some of those heavier sisters I have never prayed so hard in my life - they almost fell a couple times but it was a super spiritual experience the whole day and everything had a comparison to what we do as missionaries. It was so soso great. 

Ok. We also had dinner at Milka's house again... (last time it was boiled brussel sprouts and over-expired salad dressing and whatnot) and this time it was cold pizza, soggy salad soup (doused in that expired dressing - which still exists and is probably STill rotting in my stomach), fruit salad with brown soggy fruit (I claimed allergic. I couldn't.) and melted ice cream. Needless to say, I spent the rest of Wednesday evening hunched over heaving on doorsteps. But I think we're finally recovering.

 

So we are also helping this family move - we've shared some messages with them cause her grandma just passed and she's having a hard time with that. And we helped them pack last night and shared the Resto with them and it was so good. They kept saying "no one ever helps us.. thank you" and they loved the message :) they're moving to Oregon though, so hopefully missionaries find them there.

 

Last thing - we met this guy Zach who has 2 little kids and his wife works and he's struggling to find a job. And we showed up a couple times to check on them and he just got tears in his eyes saying "no one has ever cared about us enough to help us the way you guys have" and it is just the most amazing thing being able to help these people. I love it so much. We told him that there IS a God and he DOES care about you - He is watching over you every day and you ARE loved and we can see him already beginning to change. It is the most amazing thing :)

I love you all SO much. I really really do! You all mean so much to me and your support means the world! Thank you so so much for all you do - I love you all!