March 2

Well, my friends. This week has definitely been an interesting one. 

 

The persecution was pretty heavy, I won't go into details but it got a little tough. On Friday night after a particularly difficult day we asked for blessings from the Elders and that helped - I have such a testimony of the Priesthood. One thing I have definitely been learning through all of this is that Christ really is the only one we can truly rely on. This past week I have been backed up to the wall of faith and had to take my stand on many occasions - I think we had more Anti in the past 3 days than I have the past 3 transfers. At the end of the day I had no where to go but to my Heavenly Father. That is one of the biggest things I have learned thus far (and I still need to be reminded quite often) is that God is our only constant source of help, comfort, strength, and everything it is that we need. He is ALWAYS there, always aware, and always listening. Even and especially in our darkest moments. 

 

I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. I have had my faith tested again and again and whenever it is that I have to ask myself, "is this right?" I always have that affirmation that it is, and nothing else will ever make me as happy as this Gospel does, and as this work does! I have been studying the Atonement and praying for a deeper understanding, and there's a part in Elder Holland's talk "Missionary Work and the Atonement" that stood out to me - he talks about how in doing the work of Christ it is not and should not be easy, because it was never easy for him. I love that it is hard, because it helps me to grow and he helps me become all that I can become and want to become. I still have a long way to go but I know He will be with me every step of the way. 

 

This week I have been pushing our companionship harder than I ever have before, and in our mass amounts of finding efforts we were able to find 3 1/2 new investigators!! We still have a ton of work to do, but things are ever so slowly moving forward. Most of our numbers doubled or tripled this week, so things are improving! Thank you so much for your love and support - you all are amazing and I love you SO MUCH. 

 

Have the best week!

Sister Wilson

 

and here's a pic of me and Sister Tanner and my new found love: Seattle Chocolates

Olympia Round 2!

So, it's been super weird being so close to my last area! But I LOVE Olympia! It's been so fun being back. I have already seen a few people I knew and I know I'll be seeing a lot more :) It's so so fun being back. 

 

Last night we had a fireside in Elma and we got to carpool with the Oly 3rd sisters (my first area) and I got to see the cottage and all the houses I knocked on and the beauties. Ah. So fun. The only downfall I've seen so far is the spiders are back.. Not super looking forward to that.

 

So anyway! It's also really weird having 2 wards - we spend almost 6 hours at church on Sundays.. and twice as many people to learn but Heavenly Father is definitely helping me. The work in both wards is really super slow right now.. We are going to be doing a ton of finding this transfer but I have complete faith that God really is preparing people and we are going to find them! I love my new companion, Sister Tanner. She is kind of quiet but so sweet and we have fun. Fun fact: she has worn yellow every single day since she was 4. And literally she wears yellow every single day. Yellow everything, in fact. Even her tweezers.

 

We had a fireside last night and it was SO fun to see missionary friends - I got to accompany 2 different musical numbers, which was super fun. One of which I just kind of improv-ed from the hymn book, it was so great. I really miss being able to play more often, but it just makes me appreciate even more the times I do get to play! I LOVE firesides - they are so special. New converts will tell their story and bear their testimony and the missionaries do musical numbers and all of the missionaries will sing "called to serve" and the EFY medley song and "amazing grace" and the spirit is SO strong. I have never felt it so strong as I do when all of us are singing. It is truly one of the most amazing things I've ever felt. There is so much love and strength in those meetings. I love it so much.

 

As is the usual, I'm on computers in Oly again and have approzimately 25 seconds to finish this before I'm logged out so I just will say I LOVE YOU ALL and I hope you have the best week! This work is true! The spirit is real and God loves you!!

 

Sister Wilson

 

 

 Sister Harbaugh and I and Sierra at the temple Friday night!

 also, WA is the most beautiful place ever and I'm sad to leave the country

 

 our district is my favorite

 Diana's baptism! 

 

these are some of the signs outside the library in Downtown Oly... if that gives you a little description of what it's like ;)

There and Back Again!

So, this weekend was probably one of the most busiest weekends of my entire mission thus far. 
 

But first! I found out I'm being transferred this week, and guess what! I'm going back to Olympia!! I'll be in 1st and 5th wards with Sister Tanner, who is going home next transfer so I'll be killing her there and taking over. One of those wards is a YSA ward I think, so it'll be interesting. I got to bear my testimony in church yesterday as a goodbye to Deschutes ward, and it broke my heart. I LOVE this ward, and I'm going to miss them a ton. But I'm super excited to see what this next transfer holds, and see Oly again! 

 

So this weekend we took Sierra to the temple to do baptisms and Diana got baptized and we went to UP to see one of Sis Harbaugh's old people get baptized! And just about everything that could have possibly gone wrong went wrong, haha. It was ridiculous. Sis Harbaugh and I have titled this weekend "Faith Boot Camp" because it really was. But despite the overwhelming odds against us this weekend, everything worked out! :) We even made it to the Seattle temple in an hour and a half during rush hour on a Friday night - which nobody believed it could happen but we had been praying all day and traffic was beautiful the whole way there! (I'll tell you about all the miracles this weekend another day when we're not crunched for time.)

 

Going to the temple with Sierra was so great - even though all her youth friends didn't come we had fun on the drive and it was an awesome experience - she brought her great-gpa's name and she loved the whole thing. And that temple is way beautiful!! I'm SO glad we made it, I've really super missed the temple. 

 

Diana's baptism was a heck of a time, haha. It takes about 2 hours to fill the font so we got there at 7 to start it, and about 30 min later I went to check on it and realized we hadn't plugged it... so it had just been draining. *hits head against the wall* So we fixed it and it started filling for reals, and we'd asked Diana to get to the church around 8:40, and at 8:45 her ride showed up without her... and we were like, um, where's Diana? and right then Diana called us super nervous saying her ride isn't here and she needed to be there and so we sent her ride back to get her. In the meantime, past 9 we didn't have any presiding authority so we called the 1st counselor and he said he told the 2nd counselor to come, so we called him and he was totally in the dark about everything and said he could be there in 30 minutes... So. We started the baptism a lil late, but Diana made it and it all worked out and it was awesome. Her confirmation was fantastic at church yesterday too, and when we all sustained her a member her face just lit up. She is SO happy. I have seen such an amazing change in her since that first night we met her, and she was telling us the past few days "Thank you for coming to my door! Thank you for knocking on my door!" over and over :) It is so humbling and just amazing to be a part of this work. I absolutely LOVE it. I'm glad I could leave this area with a bang and I know Sis Harbaugh will take good care of it :) Well, I have no time to write today because I have to go pack and we have a zone lunch up in Lacey.. so . I love you all so so much and hope you have the greatest week!!

Sister Wilson

 

This is our district. It's a pretty accurate depiction.

 

7 months say what

Illness is hitting this area pretty hard lately - eeeverybody is sick. All our member meals cancelled and we had several lessons fall through, but thankfully we are still going strong.
 

We had a pretty intense explosion in Relief Society yesterday, but thankfully Diana still wants to get baptized this Saturday! :) We are SO excited. We had 4 lessons with her this past week, and on Saturday we were kinda worried because she started to doubt (she had taken herself off her meds but then put herself back on so it was kinda bumpy road) but she walked into church yesterday with this big smile on her face and when I asked how she was feeling she said "I know the Book of Mormon is true!" She has changed so much - that is one of the most amazing things I have been able to see these past 7 months (why yes, today is my 7 month mark) is that the Gospel truly changes people. The light and life and love that has come into Diana's life is remarkable. Since that first night we knocked on her door to now, it's incredible! I absolutely love this work. She is getting baptized this Saturday morning! I showed her the font yesterday and explained to her what will happen and she is nervous and excited :) Prayers her way would be much appreciated this week!!
 

We are hopefully taking Sierra to the temple this Friday night!! We were kind of worried about her getting a family name in time, but her stepmom (Bambi) has apparently done all of Sierra's dad's genealogy!! We're super hoping it works out, I especially miss the temple lately and I can't wait to go! We're taking a mission trip to the temple together in March - I'm stoked :)

 

Transfer calls are this Saturday and I've had the feeling I may be getting transferred.. We'll find out this weekend! I love this ward so much, it would be really hard to leave.
  

I was studying this morning in 1 Nephi 17 where Nephi is commanded to build a ship, and I just love Nephi - he is one of the most amazing examples of faith and trust in God, he is unwavering and I want to be like that. When God told him to build a ship, his response was not "uh, what?" or "why?" or "I don't know how to do that, sorry" it was "where can I find the tools?" Nephi never doubted that God knew what He was doing, and trusted that God would show him the way. And of course, God did - he showed him where he could find things to make tools and how to build the ship. And of course Nephi's brothers were doubtful and said "You don't know what you're doing. You're crazy" There is a quote I like from a talk about missionary work that says "God does not expect immediate perfection, but he does expect immediate progress." Nephi didn't know how to build a ship, and God didn't expect him to have a ship in one day, but he began by asking how it can be done and started building. God commands us to do things sometimes that take time to develop, but He has a plan for you. If we follow His direction and trust in Him, we can become the people He has designed us to become. I know that He knows us individually and we are His children. He wants each of us to return to Him someday as the people we were meant to be. We are given trials in this life to test ourself, become stronger and become those people. More than anything He loves us, and He always will. I'm so grateful for this gospel and for the testimony He has given me of the plan of salvation and that each of us has a purpose here. We can't let ourselves forget who we are and who we are meant to become. Let God shape you and lead you :)

 

I love each of you so much and I can't express how thankful I am for every one of you. I feel so blessed to be so supported and loved. :)

Sister Wilson

some pictures!

 the sisters at zone meeting

and our sleepover last week!

 

 this is us doing some daily planning...

 

and this is me sitting in front of the heater in the bathroom

because it's always so dang cold downstairs

  

 yesterday driving to early church meetings we saw the sunrise coming up behind Rainier (it's been pouring for like 4 days so that was cool) and this does no justice. it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

and this is just the beauty I see every day. It's amazing.

Groundhog Day!

Everybody's been going crazy about the Superbowl - we heard tons of fireworks/guns last night and thought they'd won.. I guess people just wanted to still have fun I suppose.
We got to spend the night in Lacey last night with Sisters Rasmussen and Dunster and had a blast. We had a zone meeting during the superbowl (we played scripture bowl) and instead of driving all the way home and back today we got permission from President to spend the night! We all went home around 6 so we had like all night to have fun and their neighbor brought us tons of leftover superbowl snacks. So much fun.

 

So, we had a Zone Conference this week in Lakewood which was awesome and got me super pumped up. And then our weekend was full of miracles!! That family last week we interrupted during an arugument about Jesus - we went back and taught the Restoration and she told us she'd sincerely pray about it and took us as a sign. I'm so excited for her :) Her name is Lois. THEN... DIANA CALLED US. Yes! Diana! Who had dropped us so violently, she called us Friday morning and when I answered the phone she said "... do you still love me? Will you come back and see me? My family can have their church but I want mine - the Mormons have it" and talked about how she really felt different after her blessing and she came to both the adult session and normal session of stake conference this weekend!! She is back on date to be baptized on Valentines day! :) Woo! I was so happy - I can't even tell you. This gospel brings so much joy - it is true! 

 

Thankfully I was only sick a few days this week and am feeling much better - miraculous recoveries as a missionary :)

 

To all my family members with birthdays this week - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I am sending my love to all the parties!

 

I love you all dearly and hope you have a fantastic week!!

SIster Wilson

Lead Thou Me On

This week went by crazy fast, but it was so great. 

 

I love my companion more and more everyday, we get along so well and I am learning a lot about myself.

 

Something that I've been thinking about this week is the song "Lead, Kindly Light" - I've come to really envision this song, especially during our 5-7 tracting sessions. It's been super foggy/misty this week and with it being dark so early and the fog rolling in, being out in the boonies a lot of the roads we knock are super long farm roads and the only light is our flashlights and the stars (which look amazing out here, btw). But, with the fog, the light only reflects back at us so we can only see like maybe 2-3 feet ahead of us and just surrounded by foresty-jungle trees. It can be scary sometimes. But, one thing I've been thinking about is that first line in the song "The night is dark and I am far from home; Lead thou me on! ... I loved to choose and see my path but now lead thou me on." The concept has become a lot more visual, and it parallels with my mission. I'm the kind of person that very much likes to see where I'm going (ie my flashlight points forward, not at the ground) but as I've been learning, we don't always see where we're headed and we simply have to push forward trusting that God is guiding you. We don't know all the reasons yet, and sometimes it can be scary, but we can let God lead us. I have felt that, not only in His guiding me but in His pushing me on. The days where I don't feel I can keep going I have felt his arms wrap around me and help carry me forward telling me it's going to be ok, you can do it. He is there, and He hears our prayers both silent and uttered. I know He does. 

 

The lady we live with, Kay, came to church yesterday! We talked a lot about prayer, and she has a hard time with it because her prayers didn't save her husband from cancer. But I think she's to a point we can start teaching her again :) Also, her niece Miriam just got out of jail and she said she wanted to meet with us, so we went over there on Saturday the morning after she got out and she told us she's read the whole Book of Mormon and LOVED it, and as soon as she gets permission from the court she's going to start coming to church with her 2 kids! We are so excited about her. She is amazing and has completely turned her life around. She told us she would go around to the other ladies in jail with the Book of Mormon saying - you guys should read this it's amazing. She totally agreed with additional scripture and that God hasn't stopped speaking to us. :) It was awesome and we're so excited to see her again. 

 

We got to see Tea yesterday, who's a recent convert. She went to the temple for the first time to do baptisms for her mom and grandma! She told us that her mom was a super perfectionist and she never felt like anything she did was good enough for her, but as she watched the girl getting baptized for her mom, she had this overwhelming feeling that her mom was pleased :) It was so cool, and she is so happy.

 

Oh! Cool story - knocking the other night we felt like we should go down another street than we'd planned, and the 2nd door we knocked on this lady opened the door with this shocked look on her face, and we said we're missionaries and she was like whoa wait, hold up. We were just arguing about Jesus.. and apparently she and her family were all discussing and got into this argument about Jesus and right after one guy left the table all heated and upset we knocked on the door. haha! We said "well, we teach people more about Jesus and help them to strengthen their relationship with him" and she was super shocked, and just kept staring at us and laughing. And she told us we could come back and share with her! :) It was awesome and I just kept laughing all night about it, it was so perfect.

 

I love this work. I love being able to go out and share what I know with people and see it better their day and their life. I know it's true. I know God knows us and He loves us and He finds a way to bring His children home. I am forever thankful that I get to be here :) Thank you for your support and encouragement, I love you so much!! Have the greatest week ever!

 

Sister Wilson

PS - Happy superbowl! #goseahawks (yes, people are going insane up here - we're on lockdown on Sunday haha)

 

 

 

  this is a tractor getting some gas for his trek back to the farm #yelmlife

 

 

 

 

Exchanges and Exorcisms

Sooo much happens in a week. Where to begin.

 

Well, most exciting this week was probably Tuesday when I got to go on an exchange with Sister RASMUSSEN :) My beloved MTC companion who is one of my favorite people in the world! She came to Deschutes with me and we had one of the best days on my mission so far. It was so fun. We saw so many miracles. We kind of had an exorcism. I'll expound on that in a minutes.

 

So we started out going to lunch with a sweet old lady in our ward and we made it out in less than 45 minutes - the first miracle of our day :) Then we went out to Clearwood and met with a lady we've been trying to set up a time with for like 2 months and had the most amazing lesson with her. She was excommunicated on false accounts and has had a ridiculously hard life and just wants the Holy Ghost back so much. We had such a good lesson with her and after she showed us her craft room which was a dream and she gave Sis Ras some pretty colored yarn (cause she knits too) and she gave me a scarf she made! It was so great.

 

Then we were able to stop by on some people Bishop asked us about that we haven't been able to find at home yet, and they were home! Another miracle!

While we were knocking that night, we had 5 lessons in 2 hours which almost never happens. We work so well together and I just love her. We had such a good day. Oh. And then we went to Diana's for a lesson - she is the one we met last Friday night and let us in and we had an awesome lesson with her. So we got there and she has these super weird twitches and can't focus and talked about things like she couldn't feel and it was just kinda sketchy. She would interrupt us and talk about how she's worthless and Sister Ras asked "have you ever felt peace before" and she shook her head and said "never" and Sister Ras was like, she's possessed, we need Priesthood stat. So I called Brother Blake who lived down the road and he came and talked to her a minute and gave her a blessing - and oh my gosh. She was a new person! I can't tell you how amazing it was, she couldn't stop smiling and I don't think she's really smiled since we met her. He said some stuff in the blessing about the evil influences around her and how she'd be protected if she did things and other things, and the Spirit was so strong. And so we asked her again, "do you feel that peace?" and she smiled and nodded and said, "yes" ! It was so cool. I have never seen anyone so calm and happy. So afterward Sis Rasmussen was telling me how she has never felt that anyone was "possessed" but it just kept coming to her and she knew she needed a blessing right then. And the room was so different afterwards. It was crazy.

So we went back the next morning for another lesson with her and her husband answered the door in his robe and was like "It's too early for this, she's still in bed.." and in the background all the sudden we heard "NOO! I'm coming!!" and hear Diana jumping out of bed and said "I'm coming!" and her husband rolled his eyes and let us in, hahaha. It was awesome. She came around the corner and just had the biggest smile on her face - it was so amazing! We were able to teach her the Restoration for reals and she didn't interrupt once and just kept smiling and we asked her to be baptized and she said yes!! And she was so excited and happy and it was just amazing. 

 

We switched back that day at zone meeting which was super uplifting and wonderful.

As some things go, the end of this week turned for the worst. We went back for a lesson with Diana on Friday and I was so excited to show Sis Harbaugh "new Diana" and we got there and she opened the door and said, "I can't talk to you anymore. My aunt told me about you guys, don't you ever come back here again." and slammed the door shut... I just stood there in shock and couldn't say anything. I have no idea what happened. So we started to walk away and I was so confused so we turned around and I knocked on her door again and she was just screaming at us to leave and I tried to talk to her through the door and she wouldn't listen. So that really put a damper on things. I was super sad. But you can't let things get you down too long. She'll remember that someday and she may not be able to accept it in this life but I believe she'll find it someday. 

 

Sometimes things go downhill, but I know there are people waiting for the Gospel and are being prepared, we just need to find them. We'll be doing a lot of finding this week since we have no more people to teach (everyone else fell off the face of the earth this weekend too) but I know they are there! Our spirits are still high :) I love this work. I love being able to be here every day. I am forever thankful for my experiences here so far, and I can't believe it's already been 6 months. This week was amazing and difficult and I love it. We gotta appreciate the hard times because those are what make us strong, and I want to be stronger and a better person. I don't have too much time cause the other sisters are coming down here to go hiking and spend the day together! Yay! :)

 

I love you all so much and I am so thankful for your support and love! Have the most amazing week!

Sister Wilson

 

 The sisters in our zone and me and Sister Rasmussen!

 

I forgot to tell the story of park day... (we can't use our car) I believe park days are here for the purpose of just showing to us that God is really there haha, everything goes wrong and everything turns out ok. It's awesome.

So this is a pic of Sis Harbaugh carrying rolls while tracting because our member dropped us off and we had nowhere to put them (and it was pouring rain) So we were just laughing like all night because or situation got more and more ridiculous.

We had no way to our appt at 7 but at the last second a member drove by and gave us a ride, and held our rolls for us til we were done :)