Quick Note!

Hello!

 

No time today - the libraries were closed yesterday, so here we are. P-day was way fun - we went downtown with the other Oly sisters and our STL's and went to lunch and I showed them around with all the good art-graffiti stuff. (They were joking that I've been in Oly longer than the locals. HA. (because everybody's homeless)). 

 

We had a good week - Sara didn't get baptized because her work scheduled her for the next 2 weekends! She put in her 2 weeks quitting her weekend job so she can come to church! (YAY!) but for her next 2 weeks she got scheduled for 48 hour shifts... So. There's some opposition, but she's so excited for June 6 now. And we are too :) She's so solid, I love her to death. 

 

We got a media referral this past week (a text with a person's name/address and whatnot saying something about they want to learn or want a BoM or something) and usually those don't go too far but I still get super excited. But this time, we tried to stop by this guy's house, and there was a big motorized gate (I hate those things) and so we tried calling the number instead, and turns out he was on a business trip in SLC, took a tour of temple square and talked to the sisters there and they've been in contact and he went to church a couple weeks ago, and he's actually super interested! We are meeting him this week! His name is Scott, and prayers would be appreciated for him :) 

 

Funny story.. We went to a member dinner on Sunday and the mom told us she invited her friend over but her friend doesn't know we'd be there and she lived on the street next over (and we had just knocked that street a couple days earlier..so that could be good or bad) and turns out when this family came in a little bit after us it was this lady who had been particularly not interested and it was this "oh.. shoot.." moment. I was just laughing inside and tried to be especially nice, but she still didn't like us much. It was an interesting dinner, haha. We still snuck in a thought and prayer. Ha.

 

Things are going so well. In the YSA branch on Sunday we got to watch the CES fireside (or at least the first half before we had to run to that dinner) which was WAY good. I want everybody to see it. Ready, go.

 

I love you all so much and hope you have the best week!!

Sister Wilson

 

PS we get to go to the youth's dance festival this Saturday that they've been working on for forever, and I'm SO stoked. We've got several nonmembers coming! Yay! :) 

 

 Lunch with Dutch last Monday! :) It was SO fun and SO good.

 (with the most beautiful view too!)

 

 Fun with sisters

 We went on exchange this week - Sister Bishop came here to Oly with me for the day on Friday! Lots of fun! she did a lot of singing/choir things too, so I had fun singing parts with her and talking about nerdy voice things

 climbing out of this man's ridiculously steep and long driveway... all mind, might and strength was being exercised, I promise.

 My cute little Cambodian companion being Cambodian 

 I LOVE WASHINGTON

 Some fun graffiti downtown. All us sisters went and had lunch yesterday and walked around and took fun pictures (but I don't have any of the good ones.. yet.)

Zone Conference

Life as of late

Well, Sara is officially getting baptized this weekend! :) We are so excited! She talked to her mom, and it didn't go as well as planned, not encouraging but not discouraging. We hope and pray they will come to her baptism. She is amazing, and doing so well. On a fun note, we were having a lesson at the church on Friday afternoon and heard someone walking up the stairs and we were thinking maybe a building cleaner or something but who should walk in but Dutch! I was completely surprised and I have no idea how he got in or what brought him there but it was so fun and so good to see him :) We're going to lunch with him and the Oly 3rd sisters today! So excited! He is one of the greatest people I know, I just love him so much.

 

We're doing a lot of finding and working with members to find people to teach right now, but it's a little difficult. Members have such a HUGE influence on this work - we're trying to help them realize that. :) I love our wards, though! The YSA is so fun and Oly 1st is "a model ward" as a high councilman said it yesterday... It's interesting for me to be on the flip side of a ward where you see everybody's lives - and you really can't judge anybody. There is so much going on in everybody's life, and their appearance for a few hours at church no matter how strong or weak they seem is pretty invalid when you really get to know them or their situation. I have been able to feel so much love for these people - we really cannot judge anybody. I've been learning to love people as the Savior did, and I think that's where real happiness is - when we have that unconditional love for others, without judgment or bias or pride or anything, but just loving them. 

 

I don't have much time, but I want you all to know that I know this work is true. This is Jesus Christ's Church on the earth, and it contains every bit of truth that Christ Himself established while He was on the earth. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and Thomas S Monson is a prophet today, and that they have the Priesthood and it's power is real. The Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Christ, and I love it with all my heart. Standing for truth and making sacrifices has built my testimony so much, and though it is still growing, I know that for the rest of my life I want to build my life on Jesus Christ and His Gospel - something that nothing can corrupt or take away. This church is true, and it has changed me; it has changed my life. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement is real - it is for you. He knows you and loves you, trust Him. I love you all so very much and wish the best of weeks this week!

 

Sister Wilson   

 

 I live in the most beautiful place in the whole world

K'nyom Srolangch!

So, the most exciting news this week is that Sis Loy actually isn't getting transferred back to Cambodia-land in Tacoma! She's staying with me!! <3 YAY! We are so excited and were so happy! I'm excited for next transfer - Sis Rasmussen is getting doubled in and training in our zone so we'll get to hang out all the time with her and her baby! It's going to be good. 

 

So, Sara is doing great. We set a goal with her to talk to her family about joining the church (she tried once and her mom started hating on the Mormons.. dangit) and we've been praying hardcore for them. But she knows that this is true and what she wants to do, and so we know everything will be ok. She wasn't able to come to church yesterday because of work, but she asked us about it and has been reading and praying and fasting. She's totally golden. We love her to death and she was so happy to hear we are both staying here! :)

 

We started working with a couple part member families this week which hopefully continue to progress! Things are going well. I'm still learning more and more Cambodian and can hold a small conversation. By the end of this transfer I'll just be fluent and go Khmer-speaking. ;)

 

Don't have too much time today - we're having a zone activity at a secret forest-beach on the Puget Sound playing volleyball later (if the clouds go away hopefully!) so we gotta run! 

 

I love you all so so much and I'm SO glad I got to see my favorite people in the world yesterday!!! I love my family more than the world! My little brothers are my favorite little (buff) babies! And it was so fun to talk to Emily - we could have gone on for hours. I love you all so so much and I hope you have the best week!! Thank you for everything!

Sister Wilson

 

 

some pretty sick downtown scenes

 I learned how to de-vein and bbq shrimp. YUM

 This is one of my favorite people - June! She looks like she's 80  but she'll be 100 next month!! :) She is the cutest funniest old lady ever

 <3 <3 <3 <3 My favorite ever!!!

(necklace/package from Kathie)

  So we adopted Sis Kama, (who was born and raised in Tonga) for the day and is still learning some English, and Sis Loy and I made some Cambodian food for lunch (actually she made rice and chicken and I made burned potatoes)

Later that day we had dinner with some Brazilians who also were still learning English and it was just a super foreign day for me! I loved it!!

 Guard dinosaur

 takin a walk in the beauties all around

 I love spring!

 Plants be growing out of road signs...

 SKYPE <3

 

Fear not what man [or dogs] can do

This was a pretty exciting week. Lots of just weird things happened. Lots of fun stories, to say the least. In case you didn't know, everybody has at least 6 dogs in Washington (especially in Oly). Not really, but at least one or two (the most I've seen is 16 dachshunds - no puppies) So, that makes for lots of fun stories in going behind people's gates to knock on their door. Sis Loy has a massive fear of dogs, so I try to protect her, and there have been many an awkward moment with dogs trying to attack us. BUT, I haven't been bit in 9 months so far (knock on wood) so let's hope. I understand my parent's reasoning for not getting another puppy for Christmas, cause lemme tell you, they add up quick.

SO, you know how people say that fast and testimony meetings are a missionary's nightmare? We lived that yesterday. It's always sketch. But we had Sara (our solid progressing investigator who's getting baptized) come to church and after I was explaining to her what happens in testimony meeting and how it's cool, the first one was terrifying. The sweet member had no filter and said some insensitive things that related to some sensitive situations and my over-protective-mother-powers kicked in which was a feeling I haven't felt before. But anyway. Sara fasted yesterday! She hasn't told her family about all this yet and needed some help and direction (they believe Mormonisms a cult. woo.) so we're anxiously praying and waiting for that. I love her to death. Extra prayers her way would be greatly appreciated.

I don't have a ton of time, but this morning I studied a bit about grace. I started in 2 Nephi 25 where it says "it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do." Christ already suffered for all of our wrongdoings and pains, and it is only through His grace that we can be saved in the kingdom of the Father, but He does expect us to try our best. He gave us commandments, and He's asked us to follow them, and to follow Him.

"...through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts." 

Our best efforts will never be enough to make up for all that He has done, but He loves us and cares for us enough to help us in every thing. He makes up the difference for the things that we lack. In looking for another scripture, my book opened up to D&C 50:40-44, which is one of my favorite scriptures:

40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
 41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;
 42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.
 43 And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.
 44 Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.

It's such a comfort to me that our Heavenly Father loves us so much, and that His Son Jesus Christ did all that He did and endured everything for you. For me and you individually as His brothers and sisters. He knows and loves us so personally - our strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, struggles and accomplishments. He's there through it all. He lives so that we may live. We give what we can, and he appreciates every bit. He doesn't expect perfection, but He does expect progress, and until He comes again we will grow grace by grace as He did. We don't need to fear because of Him. When we build our selves and our lives on Christ we won't fall, despite the storms and trials that come against us (Hel 5:12). I love the scriptures so very much. I love being a missionary more and more and I love learning everything I am learning. I wouldn't give up this time for anything in the world. I love each of you so much and thank you so much for all of your support and love! I hope you have the most amazing week!!

Sister Wilson 

 Last p-day we went exploring in Downtown Oly

 exploring the state capitol

 me and my buddy GW

  "save our pets in case of fire" sticker that literally every person has in their window

 this is someone's driveway that looked like we were walking through some Asian jungle

 picture taken mid-mosquito-swat 

 LoyLoy and I