Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas again!

Our Christmas was awesome, probably one of the best! We were suuuper spoiled on Bainbridge, and we had so much fun. The ward put on a Christmas Eve service which went really well and there was lots of nonmembers there! We didn't find anyone to teach from it but it was definitely a great experience. I got to play a special piano number that went well thanks to lots of prayer! After it ended, our zone stayed at the building and the ward had prepared a special (waaaay nice) dinner for us! They got each of the missionaries a stocking full of really nice gifts too, it was amazing!!! We played in the gym afterward and had a ton of fun together. 

 

Christmas day we were allowed to sleep in til 8! But we were both up before 7 (I tried to sleep in, really.) So we opened the rest of our packages and went to the Uhl's to skype the Scheer family, and then went to the Harris' after that for brunch where a couple other members were. Then we went back to the Uhl's to skype the Wilson family (wootwoot!) and hung around there for a bit afterwards. Then we went home and helped Sis Haugen (who we live with) wash some dishes and then had dinner with the Close family and then we went to Bishop Cook's house where I played some songs for them and they fed us another super yummy Mexican dinner. We have such a great ward, I love them. I feel super blessed to be here, especially for Christmas! They're also having a New Year's Eve party that we're going to help set up that's supposed to be a huge hit (they deck out the church hardcore) So that will be fun! 

 

We're still just trying to find people to teach, it's a little slow, but good things are ahead! I know from the past 17 months that when we're doing what we can the Lord will bless us. So we're tryin. 

I'm so grateful for Christmas. It was such a great time, and more than ever before I really felt like I was celebrating Jesus Christ. I've never felt so much joy and love when thinking about Him, and especially singing the Christmas songs I truly felt like I was celebrating Him. And it makes me so happy!!! I am so grateful for my Savior and all He has done for me. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity and privilege it is to serve Him and share His gospel with the people here. I love you each so much and I'm grateful for your support and love! Have the best week and a happy new year!

 

Sister Wilson

 

 the mission Christmas party on Tuesday

 matching Christmas presents

 skyping! :)

  It SNOWED!!! Only enough to dust everything and it was gone by this morning, but it snowed! (We've been praying for it) :)

 Everybody ran outside during the break at church to play in the snow for a minute - Ellie Uhl (4) ran up to us [SO excited] and threw her arms up and said "Heavenly Father understood my prayer!!!" It was pretty much the cutest thing I'd ever seen :)

 also, during 5-7s last night somebody had built a little snowman!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

 

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I love you all so much!

 

So we're short on time today, we're spending the day in Silverdale and spending the night so we can leave early with the other sisters (they're helping us conserve miles) to the mission Christmas party! It's all day Tuesday and I'm way pumped. Me and another sister who plays cello are going to play "o come o come Emmanuel" (piano guys version) as a musical number while a couple other people put words to it! Pray it goes well, we don't have much practice time haha

 

So as a thought, we were asked to write a 5 minute talk on "A Savior is Born" for the mission Christmas party (and we'll be called on at random to present them to the mission) so I thought I'd share a couple thoughts with you of my feelings about it.

 

First of all, I made a list the other day of "17 Things I've learned in 17 months as a sister missionary" (I would read it to you, but it's at the apartment) but I know that none of those things that have become so dear to me would be possible without Jesus Christ. I know I could have never overcome any of it without Him. I could not be the person I am now and I could never become the person I want to become if my Savior wasn't born. I know that He has all power and mercy and love, and He gives it so graciously. It is only in His strength that I can do anything, and I am only truly strong when I am weak, when I give my everything to Him. I have done what I never thought I could do, and I am becoming something I never thought I could become, but it's only through Jesus Christ that any of that is possible. I can never express the gratitude and love that I feel for my Savior. 

In the video, my favorite is the little African who is so passionate and HAPPY to tell the story of Jesus, and I feel that this year more than ever I feel so HAPPY to really celebrate the birth of Jesus. In church yesterday (our ward's theme is "thinking outside the box" btw) they did a "Christmas Hymn-along" and whoever wanted to would go up and ask to sing a certain Christmas hymn and then tell what it means to them. It was super cool and the Spirit was super strong - I felt so HAPPY. I am so happy to have a testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel and to have it so much in my life. I am so grateful beyond words for all He's done for me and His grace and love in my life. He came for us, and He died for us. I know that He lives and that He will come again. I love Him so much.

 

I love you all so much and I am so grateful to have you in my life! You mean the world to me and I am forever grateful for all you've done for me! I love you! Have the best Christmas!

 

Sister Wilson

 

 exchanges with Sister Minnich and Sister Harward - I went to Kitsap Lake / Seabeck with Sister Minnich! A kind member gave us blazing hot chocolate

 here's our super quick super bad Christmas picture.. ha. Sorry.

 

 

A day in the life of Sister Wilson

So, sorry I don't have many pictures to share this week. It's been a little crazy!

We had transfers, and Jones left to Tacoma for her final 3 weeks and Sister Scheer came to Bainbridge with me! She's from San Antonio, Texas and she's pretty great. We get along way good and are having lots of fun!

We had MLC (mission leadership council) on Friday which was super good - we've been talking a lot about ways we can use members more in finding and teaching (because that's super important btw) We're starting a "member area book" which probably doesn't make sense if you don't understand missionary life, but it's super cool and I'm excited to start using it.

So since we don't have much going on to report (just lots of finding) I figured I would explain to you what a day in the life of Sister Wilson looks like. if you've ever wondered.

So we wake up every morning (even weekends) at 6:30am sharp. I roll out of bed and say my prayers and we go out into the living room to work out (which typically doesn't begin til 6:40 with potty breaks and prayers) lately we've been using workout videos, which sometimes leave us sore.

At 7am we get ready for the day and one of us showers while the other eats breakfast (usually cereal and we'll do hair and makeup and all that jazz til 8:00 when we start our personal study! (this is my favorite part) I study the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes (roughly, depending on how into it I get sometimes I lose track of time) and usually PMG or a conference talk for the rest of the time. Then at 9 we do companion study together! We share what we learned in study and plan lessons (if any) and practice teaching. Then at 10 we grab our things and go out for the day! We'll usually do service if we have some or go street contacting in the mornings. We'll have lunch eventually (usually a sandwich because they're cheap and easy) and depending on the day we'll have district meeting, weekly planning, or other various activities. In the afternoon we might go street contacting again or go through the ward list to find people we don't know or part member families. 

THEN we have dinner at 4pm (usually with ward members) (the most popular meals are pasta) and every day from 5-7 we go knock doors. Lately it's super dark and pouring rain the last 8 or 9 days, but sometimes it will let up as soon as we start knocking :) #tendermercy People are typically pretty nice, or quick to say "not interested" and shut the door, and usually we interrupt dinners, but people are home! Knocking along the water tends to have less people at home, but there's some beautiful views! (lately our approaches are all focused on #ASaviorIsBorn and inviting people to the Christmas Eve service) After knocking we typically have lessons with people at 7:15 and 8:15. If not, we will go through some part-member families or unbaptized children or potential investigators trying to find people to teach. Then we're in every day between 9-9:30pm. Right when we get home we pray for planning the next day (which usually takes about 20-30min) and then say another prayer for lots of people. Then after that is decomp time, which usually consists of writing in journals or talking or something. It changes every day actually. But it's always a fun day!

So, sorry if that was boring. But now you know what I do at every hour of the day. The fill time between all of those things (and during some of them) is a lot of talking and laughing and praying and sweating and crying and more praying and laughing and fun :) It's not something I can really portray, but missionary life is super awesome and I love it. 

I love this gospel so much and I've been reflecting on how much it has really truly blessed my life. I know that I would not be here physically or spiritually without my Savior Jesus Christ and all He has done for me, a lot of which I'm sure I don't see. I am so grateful for Him and this season to celebrate Him!!! :) 

I love you all so much! 

Sister Wilson

 Jonesie and I beforehand doing her hair for her final testimony

 at transfer meeting with some of my favorites! My new companion is Sis Scheer (blonde on the far right) 

 

 Bainbridge Island ward had a "Marionette Nativity" performance by the youth - they imported (and maybe designed?) marionettes from the Czech Rep and built everything and decked out the gym. It was WAY good and lots of nonmember friends came!

 MLC pictures!

 oh, this is my companion! at MLC

6 Weeks

It's true - My final transfer has begun. It's kind of crazy, and it's kind of sad, but I'm coming to peace with it and looking forward for what's to come!

Sister Jones will be leaving this transfer and I'm staying on Bainbridge Island and getting Sister Scheer! She's only one transfer younger than me so she'll probably die here right after me. I'm excited!

This week was really super insane. It was great and normal til Wednesday night when a series of unfortunate events caused us to have to move houses first thing Thursday morning. So basically all day long we were packing and then unpacking (and poor Sis Jones is packing again today) and we're working on getting settled still. It's a nice house we're staying in but space is very limited so it's a struggle but we're grateful to have a nice place to be! One of the beds has a built in massage to it. (Don't know if that's allowed but it's all we got right now and I won't complain haha) 

 

Aside from the craze of moving, that night we went to Tacoma to spend the night with Sis Rasmussen and Harbaugh - 2 of my old companions that I love!! We had so much fun and the next day Ras and Jones went to the temple and I got to spend the day with Harbaugh! It was exactly what we all needed and so great. :) 

 

On Saturday night I got to drive back to Olympia where Ryan Clark, one of the people I taught for over 4 months, was finally baptized! It was so so awesome to see people I love so much and be with Ryan that day! It's been a long road for him and I'm super excited for him now that he has the gift of the Holy Ghost! Happy day!

What I've decided to focus on this year for Christmas is gratitude and my relationship with Christ. Sure we're always working on that relationship, but there's something awesome and special about this time of year and remembering Him even more. (It's my favorite time of year btw) Pres Uchtdorf pointed out in his talk "Grateful in Any Circumstance" :

"...Choose to be like Nephi, whose grateful heart never faltered. When his brothers tied him up on the ship... his ankles and wrists were so sore “they had swollen exceedingly,” and a violent storm threatened to swallow him up in the depths of the sea.“Nevertheless,” Nephi said, “I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.”

I love the scripture, "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” This takes a whole lot of patience and trust in God, and it's hard. But we are given the scriptures and stories of awesome people like Nephi to help us build that assurance that God will reveal His arm and show the way. There are SO many circumstances in the scriptures (and in my life) where it seems like all is about to fail (or they will be taken over by enemies or killed by angry brothers) but every time God delivers His people. For that we can be grateful always! Our Savior was born and died for us so we can find and maintain true and lasting happiness and peace, and ultimately return to our Father in Heaven who loves us dearly. I am so grateful for that knowledge and peace in my life. I know that God is always there watching over us, even and especially when it seems like all is lost or we feel forgotten. 

I love you all so much!!! Thank you for everything!

Sister Wilson

 

 our poor elders .. hahaha

 We spent the night in Tacoma (the day that we moved) because Sis Jones and Rasmussen went to the temple with the departing missionaries Friday, so I got to spend the day with Sis Harbaugh!

 We had way too much fun :)

 

So long story short we had an emergency move from one house to another this week.

 

It was super exhausting on top of being exhausted, but on the bright side we have super comfy beds! God is good!

 

 

 I <3 Jonesie

 

 

 

crepe shops are way good, btw