9/28/15 Lesson it up

Hello to all :) 

Let me just say, WHAT A WEEK my friends. WHAT. A. WEEK. Wow. One of the hardest weeks so far. But also, one of the most amazing. So awesome how that works. 

First off, we taught SO MANY LESSONS THIS WEEK!  New record! We did a lot better with getting members out with us to teach. It was hard but we did it. 

Update on our friend Melinda. We try to see her every day to help her stop smoking. She is getting there, but she also doesn't really... ahh...she is just like... eh. She will be like, "I'm quitting tomorrow!" But then tomorrow arrives and we are like, "Any cigarettes today?" And she'll be like "Only one! Isn't that great!?" We are like yes....but... gah. No. You need to stop. Slowly but surely. Pray for her! 

Our friend Jackie who we are teaching how to read out of the Children's Book of Mormon FINALLY realized that Joseph Smith and the first vision and the gold plates REALLY HAPPENED and it's not just a story that we read about. Huge break through. #hallelujah Also his nurse Lady who is totally southern baptist and wouldn't even look at us when we first started working with Jackie actually opened up to us and was like, 

**Read with the up-most black lady southern baptist SASS accent:

"I just have to say I think what y'all do is marvelous. We don't believe the same, but the basis Christian life is the same. Y'all have so much patience and love. It is just marvelous. I've seen a change in Mr. Jackie, here. Just the other day I told him my sister was in the hospital and he said he would pray for her. Mr Jackie! Pray for my Sister! He would've never said that. But thanks to you girls he has changed. I just think it's marvelous." 

So that kind of made our day. :) 

Bryant and Sandra Rosales had their baby!! Little Dominick is here! We taught them twice this week. We got to have some members come with us and they are great fellowshippers. Bryant is serious about getting in touch with God and trying to be a good father. Sandra is interested to learn more. And. Get this. THEY CAME TO CHURCH. Yes. Their texted us Sunday morning and said their car wouldn't start. So we called the family that helped teach the lesson and they were able to last minute go pick them all up (all 6 of them, they have 4 kids now!) and bring them to church!! It was so amazing! Satan tried to keep them from church but HA TAKE THAT SATAN. :) 

Also Jackie came to church, last minute we were able to find him a ride. That was ANOTHER miracle. 

We also had Tyler- a 14 yr old boy who stays with his gma on weekends come to church too. Yay for Tyler. :) 

And. Amber. She came to church. She knows it is true. She DOES! She is totally set to be baptized on Oct. 25!! YAYAYAYAYAYAY  I seriously love her so much and she is amazing. 

And Sat. Night I got to go to the Women's session with Sis. Mournsalways. (her husband is Native American...isn't that like the craziest/coolest/kindofsaddest last name you've ever heard??) She served a mission in Switzerland and told us tons of her cool mission stories. So the stake center that we went to looked so much like home...I felt like I was home...because I was like watching the exact same women's session that they were at home. It was strange. But good. I LOVED IT!! So excited for conference. PREPARE NOW, PEOPLE! :) 

Well, that's all I have time for this week. Love you all. 

-Sis. Wilson 

9/21/15 Extra, Extra, Read all about it.... the Mattress Lady is BACK!

Ah, hello to all again from the wonderful state of Texas. :) 

Fun fact: in Texas whenever you see an American Flag flying you will ALWAYS see a Texas flag by its side. Like without fail. That's Texas for ya. :) 

Well. First off, let me just say, the Mattress Lady is BACK! So, remember when we randomly helped this lady with her mattress on the side of the road? And then we started teaching her? And then she randomly moved to DALLAS and we were like WHAT?! #heartbroken. 

Well, my friends, the Lord provides a way. She is BACK!!!! We were visiting her neighbor (the man in a wheel chair who is we are teaching how to read ) and she walked up to say hi! We were like AHHH!!! BRIANNA!!! And she said she wanted to come to church. Well. She is actually around our age so she is YSA. Which is kind of sad because that means that we can't teach her, the Zone Leaders are her missionaries now, but that's ok! So we hooked her up with a ride to the YSA branch about 40 min away and she WENT and she LOVED IT!! YAY FOR BRIANNA WE ARE SO PUMPED FOR HER!!!  She said that she knew she was meant to meet us that night with the mattress. Miracles are real. It's amazing. 

We also had a fantastic lesson this week with Bridget and Gabby and Alley! (the family that just got baptized.) We taught them about Temples and Eternal families. Which is now like my favorite lesson because like WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILY FOREVER?? Bridget said she wants to be sealed to her husband one day but for right now he wants nothing to do with the church. Pray for them! :) They also fed us dinner on Thursday. They are already STALWART members. :) 

Ok. So Crazy amazing story for y'all. Last Saturday we met this husband and wife when we volunteered to help paint signs for the building manager of the apartment complex. Amanda and Mike talked to us a little bit and we shared a quick video with them before we had to head out to an appointment. Well, the Spanish Elders were also there and kept talking to them after we left. We found out later that another woman joined the conversation and there was a HUGE debate and the Elders tried not to get involved but Amanda was totally defending the Atonement. Well we ended up teaching Mike and Amanda this week and I was SO nervous! Like so scared. Amanda was really intimidating for some reason and idk why but i was terrified. But. Then. When we finally got in to teach them the lesson it was by far one of THE MOST AMAZING LESSONS OF MY ENTIRE MISSION SO FAR.  No joke. IT was incredible. She was fascinated and amazed and the husband as well. They had great questions and loved the message and committed to be baptized. 

Then. Get this. 

Elder Wilder (one of the Spanish Elders who met and talked with Amanda) got transferred this past week. Well. He was walking through the store in some completely different area and city. And saw who he thought was Amanda. He went up to her to say hi and quickly realized it was not Amanda... IT WAS HER IDENTICAL TWIN SISTER!!!!  What are the chances?!?! No coincidences, people! It was meant to be!! Now the sister is asking all these questions about missionaries and the church!! Talk about AMAZING!! AHHHH I can't even handle it right now. 

The miracles continue. 

I wish I could share it all. But. No time. 

9/14/15 ONE TRANSFER DOWN... and more miracles to follow :)

Hey y'all. 

So. THis was the last week of the transfer. Yep. I just made it through my first transfer. How crazy is that??? I've been on my mission for almost 2 months!!! Yeah. That's crazy. And my training is half way done! I am almost completely trained. 

So. Updates with everything. Sadly because I started a new transfer this week I FORGOT my planner where I keep track of EVERYTHING so we will have to just do our best with what I can remember. 

Well first off we are working with Melinda to help her stop smoking. She reallllyyyy struggles with it. But we helped her throw away all her cigarettes and ashtrays and she said she wants to quit and she's going to do it! Pray for her. 

ALSO. Crazzy amaizng story for y'all. Miracle. 

So. Amber started investigating the church LAST YEAR when her daughter passed away. THe past missionaries have worked with her and she had committed to baptism 2 different times but they never worked out. A lot of her friends are against the church so she gets a lot of negativity from them. But she wants to keep learning. She even bought her own QUAD! She is super into the Plan of Salvation and how the Spirit world is among us. SHe beleives the Plan of Salvation but is struggling with the Prophet Joseph Smith. Well. The other day her friend Mary was putting tabs on the quad for each of the books and she was getting really frusterated because the pages kept flipping. The fan was on so she turned the fan down but the pages kept flipping. Finally when she got to the Book of Mormon the pages stopped flipping. The fan was still going but the pages were not flipping. At all. Until all at once they flipped again to Joseph Smith History. Right then Mary knew that that was who Amber was struggling with. She also knew that the Book of Mormon was where Amber needed to be reading. Mary is NOT A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. Mary went to Amber and told her what happened. SHe looked Amber in the eyes and said, "The Book is true." Amber and Mary both strongly felt that Amber's daughter who had passed away was totally involved! Amber texted us a few days after telling us this story and told us she wanted to be baptized on November 9, the day her daughter passed away. 

 We also has a lesson with one of our neighbors who claimed he knew "everything about Mormons." He has family that are LDS and some really good childhood friends who are LDS as well. He flat out told us that "Y'all aren't gonna convert me" and that "he already knew all about us and what we believe." Well. We started teaching lesson one once we get could two words out (this guy was SUPER chatty and very excited to tell us what we believe). But once we got his attention and presented Lesson 1 and he said he would have an open mind things changed. The Spirit was there as we testified that the Priesthood had been brought back to the earth. He said that was something he had never considered before and he was intrigued.  By the end of the lesson he had committed to a baptismal date. The church is so true! 

Also at church on Sunday we were able to have one of our investigators who we have been helping teach him how to read again  after his open brain surgery come to church in his wheel chair. 

AND one of the grandma's in our ward has been bringing her grandson (age 14) to church. He wants to get baptized but he "never wanted to bother the missionaries". We were like WHAT?! PLEASE!! BOTHER US!!!! So we taught him as well and he as committed to baptism. 

GAHHH there is so much more to say but there is no time. I wish I could tell it all!! 

Our district here in Liberty has gotten so close this past transfer. One of the Elders is leaving and we are so sad! But we are excited to see who will come. 

The church is true, y'all.  Sing the song of redeeming love ER DAY. (every day in Texan). 

Helaman 5:12, y'all. 

Sister Wilson

THE Mission

#siswilsonhoustoneast  

9/7/15 Bluebell is BACK! Featuring adventures in Spanish Land AND a Subway Miracle

Well Hello again from Dayton! :)

So because today is Labor Day sadly all the libraries are closed. we
are emailing on our IPads which takes forever so this email may be a
little shorter than normal.
And expect lots of spelling and grammar arrears and such. So sorry.

But OH MY GOODNESS WHAT AN AWESOME WEEK!! So sister Casas and I set
our goal of lessons taught this week like REALLY high....and we were
like YEAHS we are going to put our faith in the Lord and make this
happen!

Then. It happened.

Honestly I have a testimony of the power of setting goals and working
hard to reach them! The Lord will truly magnify your efforts.

Oh! And remember that family that got baptized?! They got confirmed!
It was so great! We were so happy for them! And we gave them a little
photo album of their baptism. It was really cool. After they were
confirmed it was like they were truly members of the ward/church. I
could feel the spirit with them.  It was amazing.

Sis Casas and I also bore our testimonies in sacrament meeting. I went
very first! Like out of the whole ward! I think that was the first
time I've gone first since I was like five.

Also! I went on exchanges again! It was really really awesome. I went
to Spanish Land with Hermana Baker! Honestly I've never met someone
more like me than Hermana Baker. It was kinda crazy. We got along
super well! And she is a greenie just like me, we got our here the
same time. And I had to drive because she lost her wallet and it was
kinda nerve wracking because it was a new area and I just barely got
my driving privileges and it was a new car! But it was awesome and I
have been practicing the first vision in Spanish and I got to do it !
It was really cool. Oh! And I almost choked and died during dinner.
But then I didn't. And then I ate pickled pig skin. Ew. But wow. I did
it.

So, Bluebell ice cream is this famous ice cream that you can only get
in Texas and Louisiana. And when I got here here it was all recalled
because supposedly someone died from it....? But they brought it back
because it was totally fine! And I finally got to eat some with
Hermana baker on exchanges. It was so good! Like the best ice cream
EVER. AND we convinced the zone leaders to buy us some and bring it
because it's not in Dayton because Dayton is too small of a town.



One more thing: the church is true. One of our investigators said she
was reading the Book of Mormon but then felt guilty and didn't want to
go to hell. We didn't have time to do a lesson but I flipped the Book
of Mormon in my hands open and it opened right to the scripture I was
thinking of. 2Ne 25:26. And then I shared it! I opened my mouth and
shared the scripture and testified of how the Book of Mormon testifies
of Christ and teaches the true gospel. It was really awesome! Let's
hear it for the Spirit!

2Ne 25:26  And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, 
we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we 
write according to our prophecies, that our children 
may know to what source they may look for a 
remission of their sins.

One more story: so we ended up going to Subway for dinner on Thursday
when like three other plans fell through. Then we met this worker who
was like, what church are you guys from? So we told her and she was
like hey I've been looking for a church can I come this Sunday? We
were like AHHHHH YES! She is amazing. We were just like. Wow. That
like never happens. But it so does.

Have an amazing week. The church is so true.

- Sister Wilson

8/31/15 3 Baptisms, 2 Birthdays, and ONE GIANT Water Balloon Fight

Hello hello hello!! 

OH MY GOODNESS. 

We had the most amazing thing happen on Sunday. 

3. 

Yes. 

3 Baptisms. 

I seriously feel so blessed. Honestly, these people have been prepared and taught by the Lord. I really feel like I have just been along for the ride. 

This family is going to do amazing things. I love them so much! They are incredible. Such faith. It was incredible. Beyond all description. A picture  is worth a thousand words. So I will send some. But really. It's been a miraculous experience. 

It was the Bishop's wife's friend's family. Her husband, the bishop, baptized them. I also got to recite the whole first vision from memory! It was really cool. All of my theater classes in high school really came in handy. It really is like a monologue. :) I was honored to share it.

This past week it was Sister Casas's birthday!!! And also Elder Johnson in our District. We decorated HIS car on his birthday and then they decorated our car for her birthday. :) 

And one week ago we had a HUGE ZONE P-Day with all the districts in our zone. And. We had a water balloon fight. It was awesome. Also, our whole district got superhero t-shirts. It was super fun. 

I also went on my first EXCHANGE!! Hermana Bonar who is the Sister Training Leader for the WHOLE ZONE came with me to Dayton and I had to lead out the area! It was kind of intimidating at first but it ended up going really well. We even got two members present for 2 lessons! :) 

We also had new missionary training. I now have driving privileges! We have a 2014 Jeep Compass. 

We also found another woman named Melinda who has met with missionaries in the past. She committed to baptism! Honestly were lead by the Spirit to find her. We went tracting when we normally don't and that's when she was home. It was awesome! 

Thanks for all the prayers. The ward members are SO great out here and totally do missionary work. 

I just feel so blessed. 

I love you all. 

-Sister Wilson  

8/24/15 One Month Mark! What???

Hey hey hey from Dayton Texas! 

First off, I reached my month mark on Saturday. WHAT? Yes. A month. Not OK. I seriously feel so weird. Part of me is like uh yeah it feels like 6 months! And then part of me is like UHHH no I got here like yesterday. 

So. Go figure. 

But. Some amazing miracles this week!! 

First off, we got to go to the TEMPLE this week!!! Wow. The HOUSTON TEMPLE THO. It's not even funny how beautiful it is. And I LOVED the session! We had an awesome member drive us who just got back from her mission in Mexico like a month ago. She is stellar. :) 

On Saturday, we had a HUGE mission conference because Elder Corbridge of the 70 came to speak with us. Sis. Casas said these like hardly ever happen and it's way unique that I get to go on my first transfer! The message was wonderful and helped us learn how to focus the message on the Atonement and teach clearly! It was awesome. 

Also. This week we got to meet Ashley- she is a single Mom who is totally looking to connect more with God in her life. Immediately when we walked in to teach her I felt like I had known her forever and we talked like old friends. We taught lesson one and answered her questions. Then she accepted baptism and is working towards the 27th of September! AHHHH so excited for her!! 

Also. Dana is a friend of one of the less actives we are working with. Originally, I thought she said yes to letting us come over just to be nice and because we knew her friend. So I thought she wouldn't be very interested and would let us give our spiel and then tell us she's baptist and then have us leave. But. Then we taught the lesson and she TOTALLY listened. And she felt the Spirit and we invited her to be baptized and she said YES!!!  WOW!! I was totally wrong about her. She's amazing and totally open! 

Also. Fun facts about THE mission: 

-Almost every Mexican Restaurant you go to has free serve yourself ice cream cones when you leave. How cool is that??

-Almost every restaurant here IS a Mexican Restaurant hahaha 

-I only pick up a southern accent when talking to black people...according to Sister Casas. We laugh about it all the time lol

- "utsacould" is a word. Like " I ustacould dance." 

Story time. So we knocked on this guys door and he was like, Oh, you're the Mormons? We were like yeah! he was like Hey. My pastor is an EX Mormon. so I know all about you guys. 

We were like. Oh dear. So we offered him service and then took off before he could start bashing us. It was a close call. 

Thanks for all the prayers and support!! LOVE you all!!! The church is SO true. And the Atonement CAN change lives. You just have to give HIM a chance. Hold on to that hope!! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson 

Sister Wilson and Sister Casas

A new friend...

            

8/17/2015 Rapping the Restoration.. Gangster Style!!

Hello from TEXAS!

So basically here are the highlights for the week: 

Thursday there was a HUGE multi zone service project where we helped hand out food from a food pantry. Super awesome! And realllllyyyyyyyy HOTTTT  because we were outside. Yep. It was great! :) 

Also! This week we got a "mini" missionary! They surprised us with her on Friday. Sis. Clarke is from Kingwood (a nearby city) and she is getting ready to put her papers in! She joined us for the weekend and helped us teach! :) She is super cool. :) And Sis. Casas told me, she said, beware, because when mini missionaries come there are always tons of miracles. 

Truth. Right there. 

So many miracles!!! 

We will start with this: 

The three with a baptismal date committed to live the Word of Wisdom! yay for no more TEA! (I swear people drink Sweet Tea out here more than water, haha) 

Our investigators who we met tracting came to the Ward GONG Show (talent show). It was good, we gave them a church tour and they committed to come to church! :) (They did come but left early...:( they had a little baby so it's hard.)

Then later on Sunday we met with Brianna! She is the lady we helped with the mattress, remember her??  Yeah!!! She is seriously SO prepared for the gospel. And her grandma used to be a member!! She is inactive now but hey- we found a lost sheep! :) But Brianna was so open to the Spirit. And she committed to baptism. Sis. Casas and I are seriously so humbled to be her guides on her quest for truth! She is amazing! :) 

So. Rapping the Restoration. The ward asked all the missionaries to do something for the Gong Show (Talent show but if you want to be bad on purpose to get "gonged" off the stage you can). So we like couldn't figure out what to do but then the Elder were like let's rap a hymn! Then Sis. Casas was like OH! I have the "cup-storation song" (which is sung to the tune of Cups from Pitch perfect... the "when i'm gone song." I will have to send the lyrics because they totally explain the restoration!

 Then we were like OK. So let's dress up like gangsters and Rap the Restoration! 

So that's what we did!! It was awesome! 

Just remember this week that little acts of service ( like saving a mattress) can change lives. :) 

Best of luck this week. Praying for you!! 

Love, 

Sister Wilson :)